The Arizona Wildcats began the 2023-24 season as the prohibitive favorite to win the Pac-12 Conference championship. But the Wildcats faced an unexpectedly tough challenge from the Washington State Cougars. Arizona won the regular season title but flopped in the Pac-12 Tournament with a College Basketball lines loss to Oregon. Correlate that from a gambling perspective, Arizona was one of the best values on the college basketball board. The Wildcats were able to consistently cover because of a prolific offense that opponents could not keep up with. However, Arizona has a defense that takes too many possessions off.
2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First Round – Salt Lake City Regional
| Date and Time: | March 21, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT |
| TV Coverage: | CBS, TNT, TBS, Tru TV |
| 2024 National Championship SBG Odds: | Click Here |
Salt Lake City Regional – First Round Schedule
Dayton vs Nevada, 4:30 p.m. ET, TBS
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | -1 -110 | 137 -110 | -115 | |
| Dayton | +1 -110 | 137 -110 | -105 | |
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Arizona vs Long Beach State, 2 p.m. ET, TBS
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach State | +21 -110 | 161½ -110 | +1495 | |
| Arizona | -21 -110 | 161½ -110 | -4900 | |
| ||||
Gonzaga vs McNeese, 7:25 p.m. ET, TBS
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese | +6½ -110 | 148½ -110 | +220 | |
| Gonzaga | -6½ -110 | 148½ -110 | -270 | |
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Kansas vs Samford, 9:55 p.m. ET, TBS
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samford | +7½ -110 | 152½ -110 | +250 | |
| Kansas | -7½ -110 | 152½ -110 | -310 | |
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Arizona vs. Long Beach State
Overall, Long Beach State Beach is 18-14 straight up, 13-17 against the spread, and 16-13 over/under the offshore betting total. Long Beach State has national metrics of 76th for scoring offense, 184th for field goal percentage, 337th for 3-point field goal percentage, 252nd for free throw percentage, and 57th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Long Beach State is 292nd for scoring defense, 166th for field goal percentage permitted, 287th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 185th for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Long Beach State has covered three of its previous four March Madness lines games. Long Beach State has gone over the total in three of its last four outings. First among Long Beach State scorers is G Marcus Tsohonis, with 17.8 points per game. F Aboubacar Traore averages 12.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest.
Overall, the Arizona Wildcats are 24-7 straight up, 20-10-1 against the spread, and 16-15 over/under the NCAA Tournament odds total. Arizona has national metrics of 3rd for scoring offense, 14th for field goal percentage, 23rd for 3-point field goal percentage, 156th for free throw percentage, and 2nd for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Arizona is 222nd for scoring defense, 98th for field goal percentage permitted, 189th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 21st for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Arizona has covered six of its previous ten games. Arizona has gone under the total in six of its last eight outings. First among Arizona scorers is G Caleb Love, with 18.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. C Oumar Ballo brings 13.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. G Pelle Larsson is at 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Finally, F Keshad Johnson is at 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per matchup.
Kansas vs. Samford
Overall, the Kansas Jayhawks are 22-9 straight up, 13-18 against the spread, and 14-16-1 over/under the total. Kansas has national metrics of 111th for scoring offense, 11th for field goal percentage, 206th for 3-point field goal percentage, 140th for free throw percentage, and 148th for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Kansas is 84th for scoring defense, 21st for field goal percentage permitted, 149th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 100th for defensive rebounding.
Late on, Kansas has covered three of its previous ten games. Kansas has gone over the total in three of its last ten outings. First among Kansas scorers is G Kevin McCullar Jr, with 18.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. C Hunter Dickinson averages 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest.
Overall, the Samford Bulldogs are 26-5 straight up, 16-13 against the spread, and 14-15 over/under the total. Samford has national metrics of 4th for scoring offense, 10th for field goal percentage, 6th for 3-point field goal percentage, 125th for free throw percentage, and 191st for offensive rebounding. While defensively, Samford is 260th for scoring defense, 163rd for field goal percentage permitted, 252nd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 203rd for defensive rebounding.