March Madness betting might have the #8 seeds favored over the #9 seeds on Thursday and Friday but if you look at NCAA Tournament history you will find that the #9 seeds actually perform better. This matchup is the closest one in terms of March Madness lines and it can be the most difficult one to predict. March Madness betting in this year’s NCAA Tournament has #8 Texas facing #9 Wake Forest in the East Region. It is #8 California taking on #9 Louisville in the South. The West has #8 Gonzaga against #9 Florida State while the Midwest has #8 UNLV vs. #9 Northern Iowa. It would be hard to go wrong if you took all four of the #9 seeds in March Madness betting.
The biggest favorite in March Madness lines in those matchups is Texas who is laying 4.5 points to Wake Forest. The Longhorns were the #1 ranked team earlier this season but they have fallen off the map. Texas has a ton of talent but they have serious chemistry issues. Whether or not they can even find their game or not and play well in the NCAA Tournament is in serious doubt. They have the talent though and that is why they are laying 4.5 points to the Demon Deacons.
The other three 8-9 games have very close March Madness betting. Florida State is the #9 seed and they are actually a 1.5 point favorite against the eight seed Gonzaga. This line is somewhat of a mystery since Gonzaga has the better head coach and the more experienced team. Florida State comes from the ACC which had a down year overall.
UNLV is a one-point favorite over Northern Iowa and this is another March Madness betting line that is somewhat puzzling. The Rebels won the Mountain West Tournament to make it into the NCAA Tournament but that was on their home court. Northern Iowa has been ranked this season and looks like the better team.
The other matchup has Louisville taking on California and this game is a pick. The Bears won a very weak Pac-10 this season while Louisville was up and down in a tough Big East. The Cardinals are the more talented team but they are somewhat like Texas in that you never know what you are going to get.