The Western Conference finals between the Mavericks and Timberwolves are set to begin, with both teams showcasing strong defensive units and big-name offensive producers. The series is expected to be defensive-minded and low-scoring, with bets favoring under 207.5 total points and players like Rudy Gobert and Derrick Jones Jr. expected to make an impact. Additionally, there's speculation on Luka Doncic recording a triple-double, given his recent performance in the playoffs.
UConn and Duke are the early favorites to win the 2025 NCAA men's basketball championship, with varying odds across different sportsbooks reflecting the volatility of the college basketball landscape, influenced by factors such as the transfer portal and NIL. Other top contenders include Kansas, Houston, Alabama, Arizona, North Carolina, and Kentucky, while NC State, despite its recent Final Four run, faces long odds for the upcoming season.
Paige Bueckers leads UConn to its 23rd Final Four appearance with a 28-point performance, despite the team facing multiple injuries and early struggles. UConn secured an 80-73 victory over USC in the Portland regional final, earning a spot in the national semifinal game against 1-seed Iowa Hawkeyes. Bueckers' impressive performance included 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, extending her streak of scoring 20-plus points in seven consecutive games.
With Dusty May taking over as head coach for the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball program, he faces the challenge of rebuilding the roster following the departure of Juwan Howard. May may look to bring three key players from Florida Atlantic University - Vladislav Goldin, Johnell Davis, and Alijah Martin - to Michigan due to their remaining eligibility and potential to make an impact in the Big Ten. The transfer process may be complicated due to Michigan's academic standards, but these players could provide a significant boost to Michigan's depleted roster.
The Colorado Buffaloes are aiming for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1969 but face the challenge of defeating the two-seed Marquette Golden Eagles. Colorado holds an advantage in rebounding, while Marquette's offense is boosted by the return of point guard Tyler Kolek. However, Marquette's defense may be vulnerable if they fail to force turnovers, and Colorado's superior 3-point shooting and scoring efficiency could put them in a strong position for an upset. The recommended play is to pick Colorado +5 in the upcoming game.
Here are some betting recommendations for Friday's Round of 64 slate in the NCAA Tournament, including Yale (+12.5) over Auburn due to their previous strong performances, Florida Atlantic (-3.5) over Northwestern with a core capable of upsets, Charleston (+9.5) over Alabama with their high-scoring offense, Baylor (-13.5) over Colgate as a strong favorite, and UAB (+6.5) over San Diego State with potential for an outright upset.
Grambling State University's basketball team, the Tigers, coached by Donte Jackson, has secured a spot in the NCAA tournament with a 20-14 overall record and a KenPom ranking of 267. Key players include Tra'Michael Moton, Kintavious Dozier, Jourdan Smith, Antwan Burnett, and Jonathan Aku. The team's offensive performance, particularly standout performances from Jimel Cofer, Jourdan Smith, and Antwan Burnett, will be crucial as they face Purdue in the first round.
Sportsbooks are using advanced statistics and betting action to predict potential upsets in the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. Teams like Michigan State, TCU, New Mexico, and Nevada are favored to pull off upsets based on betting lines and handle percentages. Line movement and big-money bets are also indicating potential upsets for teams like Texas A&M, UAB, Charleston, Morehead State, and Drake. The article highlights specific matchups and how the betting action is influencing the odds for these underdog teams.
The college basketball transfer portal has opened, with over 200 schools already focusing on the 2024-25 season. Michigan's Dug McDaniel is among the top names to enter the portal, while other notable players include Jevon Porter, Darlinstone Dubar, Jacob Crews, and Brandon Garrison. The rankings will be updated as more players enter the portal, with the window remaining open until May 1.
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas criticizes the rushed process of making NCAA tournament predictions and sarcastically presents his annual bracket picks, highlighting the lack of time for thoughtful consideration. Despite the constraints, he provides his selections for the benefit of viewers, acknowledging that they can choose to follow his suggestions or take an opposite approach.
Stanford and Iowa move up in the women's basketball Top 25 rankings behind No. 1 South Carolina, with Fairfield making its first appearance at No. 25. Stanford secured the No. 2 spot after a weekend sweep, while Iowa's victory over Ohio State propelled them to third. Fairfield's historic ranking comes as they have won 24 straight games, joining South Carolina as the only teams with one or fewer losses. The Pac-12 leads with three of the top seven teams, followed by the ACC with five teams in the Top 25.
Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley, a two-time ACC Player of the Year, suffered a noncontact left knee injury in the third quarter of the team's 80-75 loss at Virginia. The 6-foot-6 forward had 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks before leaving the game. Her status is uncertain, but she is a projected late first-round pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Despite the loss, Virginia Tech clinched the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament, while Virginia secured their first win over a top-five opponent in the Amaka Agugua-Hamilton era.
VSiN betting analyst Matt Youmans shares his college basketball picks for today, favoring Kentucky (-2.5) against Alabama due to their talent and situational advantage. He also provides additional picks for other games, including Baylor, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.
Vaughn Dalzell provides insights and picks for college basketball games, including Iowa State vs. West Virginia and Villanova at UConn. He suggests betting on West Virginia's first half team total under 28.5, Villanova's first half team total under 28.5, Virginia's first half team total under 30.5, and Texas Tech's first half team total under 32.5, as well as UCF's moneyline. Dalzell's season record stands at 42-35 with a 54.5% win rate and +2.31 units.
NC State's 67-64 loss to Pitt was largely attributed to poor free throw shooting, with the team missing 9 crucial free throws in a 3-point game. Despite outperforming Pitt in various aspects such as field goal shooting, three-point shooting, turnovers, and points in the paint, the Wolfpack's inability to capitalize on free throw opportunities ultimately cost them the game. DJ Horne and DJ Burns delivered standout performances, but the team now faces the challenge of building an NCAA Tournament-worthy resume primarily through away games.
