The proliferation of March Madness brackets means the majority of viewers will be concentrating on the victors of Thursday’s NCAA Tournament games. But bettors know there are more ways to make money on the tournament, and one of the underrated ways is on the scoring total.
There are many things to consider when figuring out how many points an individual game will total up. The teams are in new environments without home court advantage for either side, and the opponent is usually an unfamiliar team. The savvy bettors can use these circumstances to pinpoint scoring totals that have a good chance to go “over” or “under” the listed number.
See below for some of the best Thursday NCAA Tournament total plays in March Madness betting.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NCAA basketball season.
NCAA Tournament Betting at Bookmaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The LSU Tigers are a No. 3 seed in the tournament but are only 7.5-point favorites due to the recruiting controversy that has engulfed the team of late. Coach Will Wade remains suspended and he is not going to coach the team in this game. That could be an issue when it comes to adjustments on the defensive end of the court. The scoring total is high at 156.5 points, and the Tigers would prefer to play a wide open pace to allow their talent to beat Yale. There is not much coaching in the transition game so LSU will push the ball when able, leading to the “over” hitting in this game.
The Michigan State Spartans can’t be happy that they ended up in the same bracket as Duke. They will be able to take out all that frustration on Bradley in the first round of the tournament on Thursday. The scoring total is listed at 133.5 points, and the game will be on track to surpass that in the first half. However, Michigan State will let off the gas in the second half when it’s clear the victory is in hand, which will lead to the “under” barely covering.
The Louisville Cardinals have an early game on Thursday against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Louisville plays tough defense and the morning start time could cause for some lethargic play to begin the contest. It all adds up to some struggles on the offensive end. The scoring total isn’t high at 135 points, but the “under” is still the correct play.
One of the most intriguing games of the first round on Thursday features Murray State against Marquette. Murray State has a potential top-3 pick in Ja Morant leading the way, while Marquette counters with Markus Howard. Both are elite scorers and will be going shot for shot in this one. The spread is only 3.5 points, and some late free throws could boost the total in the final minutes if the game is close. The scoring total is listed at 149.5 points and the “over” is the pick.
March Madness Bracket Challenge
Free NCAA Basketball ATS Picks
The best scoring total bet of Thursday’s action comes from the game between the Saint Mary’s Gaels and Villanova Wildcats. Villanova has won the national championship two of the past three seasons but is not seen as a legitimate contender this year. In fact, Saint Mary’s would love to upset it in the first round like it did to Gonzaga last time out.
The Gaels are playing with a lot of confidence, especially after really limiting the Gonzaga offense in the victory. Look for Saint Mary’s to play some tough defense and force this one into a grind-it-out affair. The scoring total is set at 130 points and the teams are not going to reach that combined score in NCAA men’s basketball gambling.
NCAA Basketball Betting Predictions: Villanova-Saint Mary’s to go “under” the total of 130 points
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
