College Basketball Betting Trends

Scott KinserCal Sport MediaSipa USA – Photo by Icon Sport

We are in the Sweet 16, and four exciting games are on the Friday schedule. We all know that everything is possible at this stage of the tournament, but we still dive deep into the college basketball betting trends for the four games scheduled for Friday.

NC State has beaten the odds many times this season, and they will try to do the same when they face Marquette. Purdue is considered one of the favorites to win the championship, but first it will have to go past Gonzaga. Duke is one of the best schools in the history of the NCAA tournament, but they are underdogs in the matchup against Houston. In the last game of the night, Tennessee will take on Creighton.

Let’s take a deeper look at the college basketball betting trends for these four games.

NC State vs Marquette

The NC State Wolfpack are coming off a tough 79-73 overtime win over Oakland in the second round of the NCAA tournament. They were with their backs against the wall in the final minute of regulation but managed to survive. Ben Middlebrooks led the team with 21 points in that one. Previously, the Wolfpack defeated Texas Tech 80-67 and won the ACC championship, defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels. NC State is 31st in the nation, averaging 7.3 steals per game, and is ranked 17th with only 9.5 turnovers per game. DJ Horne is the best player on the team, averaging 16.7 points per game.

The Marquette Golden Eagles are coming off an 81-77 win over Colorado in the season round after going past Western Kentucky with an 87-59 win in the opening round. Marquette was 27-9 in the regular season but failed against UConn in the Big East final. The Golden Eagles are 22nd in the nation, shooting 48.2% from the field, and are ranked 48th with nine three-pointers made per game. Kam Jones is the best player on the team, with 17.1 points per game.

NC State vs Marquette: College basketball betting trends

NC State is 23-14-1 over the total point line for the season, 8-2-0 on neutral site and 15-7-1 following a win. Marquette is 15-21-0 over the total point line for the season, 3-5-0 on neutral site and 11-15-0 following a win.

Prediction and Conclusion

NC State has shocked many by getting this far in the tournament. They barely survived the last game, but that wasn’t the first time they beat the odds this season. Marquette has had one of the best seasons in the past decade and looks like a sleeper in this year’s tournament. They are playing well on both sides of the floor and are 6.5-point favorites in this game, which will take place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. However, no one can deny the Wolfpack a chance. They are ready for a fight, and given the stakes and the total point line being set at 151.5 points, this game will most likely go under.

Gonzaga vs Purdue

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are having an amazing tournament so far, reaching the Sweet 16 after two blowout victories. First, they defeated McNeese 86-65, which was expected, but then cruised past Kansas with another comfortable win, 89-68. The Zagz lead the nation with 32.1 field goals per game and are ranked second, shooting 51.9% from the field. Graham Ike is the best player on the team, averaging 16.4 points per game.

The Purdue Boilermakers were brutal in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. They started with a 78-50 win over Grambling and then moved on with a 106-67 win over Utah State. The Boilermakers are second in the nation with 40.9% shooting from the field, fourth with 3.9 blocks per game, and 11th with 83.9 points per game. Zach Edey has had an impressive season for Purdue, averaging 24.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.

Gonzaga vs Purdue: College basketball betting trends

Gonzaga is 17-16-0 ATS for the season, 5-4-0 ATS on neutral site and 11-14-0 ATS following a win. Purdue is 18-15-2 ATS for the season, 6-2-1 ATS on neutral site and 14-14-2 ATS following a win.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both teams have bounced back after failing in the conference tournaments. Gonzaga was a major favorite in the WCC but lost by a point to Saint Mary’s, while the Boilermakers lost overtime against Wisconsin in the Big Ten semis. That is all behind them, and both teams are confident enough that they can go to the next round. Gonzaga has won both previous games against Purdue in the past two years, but now the Boilermakers are -5.5-point favorites. That is understandable since Zach Edey makes the difference on the court, but the Zags are a team that can make fast transitions from defense to offense and turn things around in their favor. This game can easily go either way, and therefore, we go with the Bulldogs covering the given spread.

Duke vs Houston

The Duke Blue Devils had an excellent start to the NCAA tournament. First, they defeated Vermont 64-47 and then won 93-55 against James Madison. Jared McCain had one of the best games of the season, scoring 30 points in that one. Duke is 13th in the nation, shooting 38.1% from deep, and is ranked 45th, scoring 79.8 points per game. Kyle Filipowski leads the team, averaging 16.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

The Houston Cougars were ranked among the top two teams most of the season, but they barely made it to the Sweet 16. Houston was pushed to the limit in the second round of the tournament, escaping with a 100-95 win over Texas A&M. Previously, they defeated Longwood 86-46. The Cougars are the best defensive team in the nation, allowing 57.7 points per game, and are ranked second, allowing 37.8% shooting from the field. LJ Cryer is the best player on the team, allowing 15.5 points per game.

Duke vs Houston: College basketball betting trends

Duke is 20-13-1 ATS for the season, 4-1-0 ATS on neutral site and 14-11-0 ATS following a win. Houston is 17-17-2 ATS for the season, 5-4-0 ATS on neutral site and 14-15-2 following a win.

Prediction and Conclusion

As usual, the Blue Devils had a solid regular season with a 26-8 record, but losing to North Carolina at home in the last game of the regular season and then to NC State in the conference quarterfinal showed all their vulnerabilities. The same can be said about Houston as well, who had a dominant season before being blown away 69-41 in the Big 12 final against Iowa State. Interestingly, this will be the first game ever between these two schools, and it will definitely feel like a final game. The Cougars have the best defense in the league, but things may not work well against a system like Duke. The Blue Devils are capable of beating anybody and will at least cover the +4.5-point spread in this one.

Creighton vs Tennessee

The Creighton Bluejays needed double overtime against Oregon State to make it to the Sweet 16. They won by 13 at the end but were very close to elimination in regulation. They had no such challenge in the opening round, defeating Kroon 77-60. Creighton is sixth in the nation, making 10.6 three-pointers per game, and is 18th in shooting at 48.5% from the field. Baylor Sheierman leads the team with 18.3 points per game.

The Tennessee Volunteers proved their class with a 62-58 win over Texas in the second round, which came after an 83-49 win over Saint Peter’s. Regaining the conference was crucial for the Volunteers after a 73-56 loss to Mississippi State in the SEC quarterfinal. Tennessee is 43rd in the nation, scoring 79.1 points per game, and is ranked in the top 10 in the assist/turnover ratio. Dalton Knecht is the best player on the team, with 21.1 points per game for the season.

Creighton vs Tennessee: College basketball betting trends

Creighton is 17-17-0 over the total point line for the season, 3-3-0 on neutral site and 11-13-0 following a win. Tennessee is 17-17-0 over the total point line for the season, 3-4-0 on neutral site and 11-14-0 following a win.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both teams are having their best seasons in a while, and this looks like a real chance for a historic success. They had their ups and downs in the season, but it seems like both teams have saved their best game when it matters the most. The Voulonteers are a -2.5-point favorite in this one, but a great shooting team like Creighton can be very difficult to handle. The total point line is set quite low at 143.5 points, and this one will most likely go over it.