Gonzaga Bulldogs versus West Virginia Mountaineers March Madness Betting Preview
Date: Thursday, 23rd March
Place: SAP Center – San Jose, CA
March Madness Odds:
West Virginia +3 (-110) 148 (-110) +130
Gonzaga -3 (-110) 148 (-110) -150
WVU defeated Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday to advance to their third straight Sweet 16. Jevon Carter scored 24 points, Daxter Miles added 18, and Elijah Macon and Esa Ahmad had 11 each. In other words, the ‘Neers can attack just as well as they can defend. WVU entered the tourney leading the country in forced TOs (20.4), while also ranking 15th in averaging 82 points. The Mountaineers scored 80 points for the 18th time, and broke the single-season program scoring record set by the 1958-59 team – which included Jerry ‘The Logo’ West.
The Zags beat Northwestern in the second round 79-73 on Saturday for their third consecutive Sweet 16. Nigel Williams-Goss had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Matthews added 14 points and seven rebounds. The Bulldogs also got a little help from the officials who missed such a blatant goaltending – which indirectly cost the Wildcats a technical foul on their coach – that the NCAA even acknowledged it afterward. In the words of the late, great Gorilla Monsoon, it was “a miscarriage of justice.” All things considered, Zach Collins blocked a shot through the net and the Zags got a couple of free-throws out of it to quash a late-game rally by Northwestern.
Xavier Musketeers versus Arizona Wildcats March Madness Betting Preview
Date: Thursday, 23rd March
Place: SAP Center – San Jose, CA
March Madness Odds:
Xavier +7 (-110) 144½ (-110) +290
Arizona -7 (-110) 144½ (-110) -350
The Wildcats eliminated Saint Mary’s in the second round on Saturday to secure a spot in the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Arizona has won its last six games in a row. Lauri Markkanen had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Allonzo Trier added 14 points and Dusan Ristic 13. Universitas Arizonensis shot 59.1% from the floor in the second half.
Xavier defeated No. 3 seed Florida State in the second round on Saturday to reach their second Sweet 16 in the last three years. Trevon Bluiett scored 29 points, Tyrique Jones added 13 and JP Macura 10. Kaiser Gates had 14 points off the bench. This is the second March madness betting upset the No. 11 seed Musks have pulled, after defying the March madness odds against Maryland in the first round.
Universitas Xaveriana led by as many as 15 points in the first half and had a 44-34 advantage at halftime. Arizona’s defense is going to have their collective hands full with Xavier’s offensive charge, but UA head coach Sean Miller is well acquainted with the Musketeers – having been at the helm of the program between 2004-05 and 2008-09, and coaching against them in 2015, when the Wildcats took the win 68-60. Then again, this is a different, better, Xavier men’s basketball team.