Sometimes early games and the pressure of the NCAA Tournament can result in some low-scoring affairs to start March Madness, but the teams on Thursday did a nice job of hitting the ground running. It will be interesting to see if the Friday participants can pull the same trick.
The unique environment is certainly something to keep in mind when it comes to the scoring total wagers in NCAA men’s basketball gambling. While there is a regular season worth of data on every team, it must be determined how well they will all adjust to the bright lights of March Madness.
Check below for the best scoring total plays for the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.
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Odds Analysis
It’s never easy to play the first game of the day as the college teams are used to playing at night. The No. 10 seed Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 7 Cincinnati Bearcats will look to overcome any objections from their circadian rhythm and come out at a quick pace. The scoring total for this game is listed at 137.5 points, and even if the earlygoing is slow, these teams will heat up. Look for the “over” to hit as the shots will start falling.
The Kansas State Wildcats are the No. 4 seed but they need to be on upset alert against the UC Irvine Anteaters. The Big West champions only averaged 72.9 points per game this season but were up over 90 in the conference championship game. Kansas State will want to slow it down as the scoring total is listed at 119 points. While this game could be low-scoring, the oddsmakers have overestimated just how few shots will be made. The “over” is the pick as these teams will take advantage of their opportunities.
The Virginia Cavaliers are a No. 1 seed again after getting shocked in the first round a season ago. They are huge favorites against Gardner Webb and are expected to cruise to the win. Virginia’s defense is always sound and this team will want to make a statement. The scoring total is listed at 129 points and the “under” is the pick.
The Arizona State Sun Devils won their First Four matchup over St. John’s to make the field of 64, and will aim to pull the upset over No. 6 seed Buffalo on Friday. Arizona State played sloppily in the win but has the high-end ability to make this a good game. The Bulls love to push the pace as they average 84.5 points per contest, and Arizona State has enough athletes to oblige. This game is going to be a track meet, and even though the scoring total is high at 157 points, it’s not high enough. The “over” is the pick here.
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The Oregon Ducks played great at the end of the year to get an NCAA Tournament bid and will be upset-minded when they face off against the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin is the higher seed and is notorious for playing a slow-down brand of ball, which is why the scoring total is listed at only 116.5 points.
However, the Ducks’ offense has found a nice groove and this team will do a good job of executing in the half court. Oregon is going to make a push for the upset, and if the Badgers are trailing they will be forced out of their comfort zone. The “over” is the pick as Oregon’s efficient early offense will cause this game to have a faster pace than expected in NCAA men’s basketball gambling.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Oregon-Wisconsin to go “over” 116.5 points
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