It’s the most exciting time of the year – March Madness!!!
By now, most of you have your brackets filled out completely. However, just because a bracket is complete doesn’t mean you can’t still find a way to have some fun and potentially win some additional money.
Of course, where there are sports, there is plenty of sports betting to go around. With 16 games on the slate for the first day of the Round of 64 on Thursday, here are our top 5 best bets ATS:
No. 6 Colorado State (+2.5) over No. 11 Michigan
For those unfamiliar with the Rams, they are probably the least talked about team in this year’s tournament and primed to make a deep run. Although they deservedly earned a 6-seed, the Rams find themselves underdogs, to an overrated Michigan squad that has been an extreme disappointment all season. The Wolverines are lucky to have even made it into the tournament, given the controversy surrounding head coach Juwan Howard along with their lackluster record in Big Ten play.
Colorado State is exceptionally efficient on both the offense and defense sides of the court. They are also a tremendous free-throw team which can be a make or break for some teams come tournament time. Michigan, meanwhile, has struggled all season and suffered several ugly losses along the way. One can argue the selection committee seeded them on name recognition alone.
For me, this is not just a cover but an upset win by Vegas standards. The Rams are the superior team and have what it takes to advance to the Sweet 16 and potentially the Elite 8. Expect the Wolverines to have an early exit this March. Take the points and the money line with the Rams.
No. 13 South Dakota State (+2) over No. 4 Providence
This is by far my favorite upset of the First Round of play. Providence enters the tournament following a nearly 30-point blowout against Creighton in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament. SDSU, on the other hand, is a highly underrated squad of talented upperclassmen who can shoot and score on demand. The Jackrabbits average 86.7 points a game and play at a fast pace, contrary to the Friars’ preferred style of slowing down and dragging out the contest.
This is another game that has upset written all over it. This matchup could not have two more opposite teams and, in the end, rely on the Jackrabbits to come out firing on all cylinders. If they can build an early lead, Providence will have a tough time coming back from behind.
No. 12 New Mexico State (+6.5) over No. 5 UConn
This is a game that has the potential for an outright upset. Since mid-January, the Aggies have not lost a game by more than four points. They are a well-rounded squad that keeps the game close, relying on their tough defense to force their opponents to miss shots. They are an excellent rebounding team, given their size, and are also more than efficient on offense.
UConn possesses NBA-level talent on their roster and plays fierce defense, but they lack the experience that the Aggies have with their upperclassmen. This should be a low-scoring affair. Even though the Huskies should avoid the upset, it will be a close game until the end. In that case, take the points.
No. 13 Vermont (+5) over No. 4 Arkansas
Here is another one of my favorite upsets. This is essentially a home game for the Catamounts in Buffalo, NY. They are a dangerous squad that has won 22 of their last 23 games, and they rank in the top 5 in field goal efficiency in the nation. Vermont rarely turns over the ball, giving them more opportunities to display their high field goal percentage from the floor and drive up the points.
This isn’t a good matchup for the Razorbacks, despite their impressive season in the SEC. At times, Arkansas can struggle shooting from the perimeter, and that does not bode well against a team as efficient on offense as Vermont. The Catamounts are vastly underseeded since they are a mid-major and should cover the 5-point spread at least. Take the points, but go for the Moneyline if you agree that this has upset written all over it.
No. 8 UNC (-3) over No. 9 Marquette
The Tar Heels had the chance to face off against the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament Championship but fell to Virginia Tech in the semifinals. However, they ended the regular season riding a 5-game win streak, including defeating their rival in Coach K’s home farewell. The Tar Heels are one of the top-scoring teams in the nation and have no trouble putting points on the board.
Marquette, like UNC, plays an up-tempo, fast-paced game. Despite their overall record, they hold a 6-6 mark against Top 25 teams, so they should not be overlooked. However, their similar style of play does not give them a favorable matchup against the Tar Heels. Though both teams possess questionable defenses, there is no denying that UNC is the team to be feared on the offensive front. The Tar Heels should separate themselves from the Golden Eagles and move on to take on No. 1 Baylor in the Second Round. Lay the points.
