Few teams in college basketball bring the blue blood cache of the Kansas Jayhawks. Name brand status for KU has long meant potential public betting NCAA basketball overlays. And as great as KU has been for head coach Bill Self they have suffered notable March Madness losses. Playing in nearby Wichita the Jayhawks will open NCAA Tournament play on Thursday. Another high-profile team, Michigan, will open their road to the Final Four in Wichita. In fact, it can be said that the Intrust Bank Arena got one of the best sets of opening games on the bracket.
2018 Basketball Tournament in Wichita
Date and Time: March 15 and March 17, 2018
Location: Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kansas
NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: Click here!
2018 Tournament TV Coverage: TBS
Matches and their Schedule
Top seed Kansas will open things at 1:00 p.m. against #16 Pennsylvania. Looking even is #9 NC State vs. #8 Seton Hall at 3:30 p.m. Tipping off at 6:20 p.m. is #11 San Diego State vs. #6 Houston. The night cap is #14 Montana vs. #3 Michigan at 8:40 p.m. Winners will move on to play on Saturday. Michigan and Kansas provide public betting NCAA basketball marquee brands.
Kansas
Closing well with six payouts in eight games Kansas has been a top online sportsbook value. Once again KU was regular season and tournament champs of the Big 12. Devonte Graham triggers one of the best offenses in the country. He leads KU with 17 points and seven assists per game. Penn was regular season Ivy League champion. Also closing strong, the Quakers covered six of their last eight games. Quietly, Penn is one of the better-balanced teams in the tournament.
NC State and Seton Hall
NC State made money down the stretch with five covers in their final seven games. Offensively the Wolfpack ranked 33rd best in the country. Seton Hall also has the hot hand vs the odds with five straight covers. Desi Rodriguez led the Pirates with 18 points per game. Angel Delgado is a top rebounder for The Hall with 12 per game.
San Diego and Houston
Many gamblers are giving San Diego State a good look. Most relevant is the Aztecs paid in 20 of 30 games this year. Highly balanced with a fill court game SDSU got the money in eight of their last nine tilts. Houston was a big money maker as well at 18-10 vs. the line. Paying out in eight of their last ten they have the hot hand. With the nation’s 22nd ranked defense they are tough as nails. Rob Gray adds 19 points per game for the Cougars.
Michigan
Yet another team ruling the cashier’s cage was Michigan. Winners of the Big Ten Tournament the Wolverines covered 21 of 32 games. Maize and Blue backers have been paid in eight of UM’s last nine games. Defensively Michigan ranks an elite ninth best in the country. Profitable Montana won the Big Sky and was 19-11 vs. the oddsmakers.
Matchup to Watch
NC State and Seton Hall make for a competitive matchup. But Kelvin Sampson’s Houston team looks strong for public betting NCAA basketball. Few teams offer their combination of value and defense. San Diego State will have their hands full against the Cougars.
2018 NCAA Tournament in Wichita Betting Odds Picks
Houston over San Diego State is the pick!
NCAA Betting Online Pick: Houston Cougars
NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Cougars 79, Aztecs 68