CBB | UConn @ Gonzaga | 03/26 | 12:49 AM UTC
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ANALYSIS: After Thursday night's scoring-fest against UCLA, I've learned my lesson when it comes to over/unders and Gonzaga games
ANALYSIS: After Thursday night's scoring-fest against UCLA, I've learned my lesson when it comes to over/unders and Gonzaga games
ANALYSIS: When many college basketball fans think of Princeton, the days of Pete Carril and the days of low-scoring, defensive games come to mind. But outside of their win over Arizona in the first round, Princeton can score...a lot. In 13 of their last 16 games, they have scored 70 or more points. In all eight losses the Tigers have suffered this season, they have given up 70+ points. Creighton has scored 75 or more in nearly 60% of their games this season and I expect they'll do so tonight. While I don't see this one flying into the 150s necessarily, I think there's value on the Over as a mid-140s total seems highly possible.
ANALYSIS: As an Arizona fan who watched Sean Miller teams fall short in the NCAA Tournament year-after-year, I know that Xavier is overdue. The Musketeers have been great this season and shot the lights out against Pittsburgh in Round 2. But the reason Texas wins and covers on Friday night is defense. During their current six game winning streak, Texas has given up 59, 47, 60, 56, 61, and 66 points. The lowest number of points that Xavier has scored in a win this year is 72, ironically in their first round game against Kennesaw State. I believe that Texas' elite defense holds up and the Musketeers are held to the mid-60s, while Texas scores at least in the low-70s.
ANALYSIS: I can't wait to watch this game! I've seen the Bruins twice in person this season, both against my Arizona Wildcats in losses, but UCLA's defense was incredible. They held one of the top-7 highest scoring teams in the country to 58 and 61 points in those contests and I'm fairly confident that they'll slow down the fast-tempo Bulldogs' offense. In Gonzaga's four losses this season, they've been held to 74, 66, 63, and 70 (in OT) points. UCLA has given up 75 or more points three times and is 0-3 in those games. If Gonzaga scores 75, I think they win. But I'll back the UCLA defense to hold them below that number and win the game outright. It doesn't help that the Bulldogs are 4-15 against the spread in away / neutral site games either.
ANALYSIS: This game has the feel of one where free throws at the end will push it over. Michigan State's last three games have ended up below this total, though the five games before that flew over this number. Meanwhile, Kansas State likes to push the pace with each of their last seven games totaling at least 140 points. In 9 of their last 10 games, they've allowed 65 or more points to their opponent. In this Sweet 16 matchup at Madison Square Garden, I see a game played in the upper-60s, if not higher.