Thursday night’s Sweet 16 schedule produced yet another upset, with Syracuse falling to Butler and Xavier came oh so close to upset number two, but fell 101-96 in double OT. That game no doubt launching a million “bad beat” type stories from bettors who backed Xavier as a 4.5 to 5-point underdog. It’s so discouraging when you have the right side – an underdog who plays it tight to very end – but you watch your ‘dog bet slip away in not one, but two overtimes.
Two of the Sweet 16 teams that played on Thursday — Syracuse and West Virginia — had key injuries. Syracuse got bounced, but West Virginia kept rolling (covering the spread as a 4.5-point favorite over Washington).
Now the Michigan State Spartans, who play the surprising Northern Iowa Panthers on Friday night, have to deal with a key injury as well…will they go the way of Syracuse, or overcome the loss and move forward a la West Virginia.
sportsbooks Online have the Spartans as 1-point favorites for this matchup, with the Total set at 121.5, but will play without guard Kalin Lucas.
Lucas, Michigan State’s leading scorer during the regular season, suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon during the team’s 85-83 second-round victory against the Maryland Terrapins (the Spartans covered as 1.5-point underdogs).
Korie Lucious will take over for Lucas.
In the Spartans’ last eight games when favored by 2-points or less, they are both 6-2 SU and 6-2 against the spread.
The Northern Iowa Panthers would have been bigger underdogs had Lucas been available, but the line is very close and betting action at SPORTSBETTING.com reflects this, with only 53% of the betting action on MSU.
The Panthers have been efficient in their last 20 games overall, going 17-3 SU and in their last nine games, are 7-2 ATS, covering the number in their last five-straight games.
In their last 20 when listed as underdogs of any size, the Northern Iowa Panthers are a bettors’ dream, going 15-5 SU and 17-3 ATS.
More Sweet 16 Betting Trends:
Tennessee vs. Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes, Michigan State’s conference rival, tip-off in their Sweet 16 tilt against the Tennessee Volunteers on Friday.
The 2010 Big Ten champion Buckeyes are 4.5-point favorites with the Over/Under at 134.
- In their last 11 games when favored by 6-points or less, OSU are 8-3 ATS.
Purdue vs. Duke
Going into 2010 March Madness, some analysts predicted the Duke Blue Devils would be the first top seed knocked out of the tournament and lo and behold, the Blue Devils are still around while the No. 1-overall Kansas Jayhawks are out.
The Blue Devils have a Sweet 16 date with the Purdue Boilermakers, listed as 8.5-point favorites with the Over/Under at 127.5.
Under Alert:
- In the Blue Devils’ last 14 games overall, there have been 3 Overs and 11 Unders.
- In their last eight games played in the month of March, there have been 2 Overs and 6 Unders.
- Duke has also played Under the total in eight of their last nine when favored by more than 8-points.
- The Purdue Boilermakers have also been below the Total more often than not in their last 11 games overall with 3 Overs and 8 Unders.
- When the Boilermakers are underdogs of more than +8, there have also been 3 Overs and 8 Unders.
Enjoy the Friday Sweet 16 action.
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