Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers March Madness Betting preview
Date: Thursday, 16th March
Place: BMO Harris Bradley Center
Middle Tenn St PK (-110) 136 (-110)
Minnesota U PK (-110) 136 (-110)
MTSU won their last 10 straight games on the way to their second consecutive Conference USA Men’s Basketball Tournament title and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tourney for the first time in the history of the program. The No. 12 seed is the second highest in school history. The Blue Raiders will be facing No. 5 seeded Minnesota. The U lost to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament semis on Saturday. That won’t keep the Gophers from returning to the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2013, though. MTSU and U of M have met five times before, but two of those contests were later vacated. Minnesota leads the series 2-1, including a 78-72 win in Murfreesboro in the NIT quarterfinals in 2012.
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Northwestern Wildcats March Madness Betting preview
Date: Thursday, 16th March
Place: Vivint Smart Home Arena
March Madness Odds:
Vanderbilt -1 (-110) 132 (-110) -117
Northwestern +1 (-110) 132 (-110) -103
Vandy lost to Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals, but the fact alone that they made it that far was impressive enough for the Comms to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 9 seed. This will be Vanderbilt’s second straight appearance and 15th ever. NU was eliminated in the semis of the Big Ten Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament by Wisconsin. The Wildcats will make their NCAA tourney debut regardless after being given a No. 8 seed in the West Region. Northwestern finished the season 23-11 (10-8 in conference play) to tie for fifth place. As the No. 6 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, NU beat Rutgers and Maryland. The winner of this contest will go on to face the winner of the game between Gonzaga and South Dakota State on Saturday.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Maryland Terrapins March Madness Betting preview
Date: Thursday, 16th March
Place: Amway Center
March Madness Odds:
Xavier +2 (-110) 142 (-110) +115
Maryland -2 (-110) 142 (-110) -135
The Musketeers finished the regular season with 19-12 (9-9 in conference play) for seventh place. Xavier defeated DePaul and Butler before losing to Creighton in the semis of the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament. XU received an at-large bid as a No. 11 seed in the West region, thus advancing to their 27th NCAA tourney. Maryland lost to Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Terps earned the No.6 seed in the West Region to qualify for their third NCAA tourney in a row and 27th overall. UM has reached the Sweet 16 fourteen times, the Elite 8 four times, the Final 4 two times, and won the NCAA Tournament in 2002. The winner of this contest will meet the winner of the Florida State versus Florida Gulf Coast game on Saturday.