Above all head coach Tony Bennet and the Virginia Cavaliers will never live down their epic catastrophe of last year. As the top seed of the entire tournament the Cavs lost to a team called Maryland Baltimore County 74-54 in one of the biggest upsets with Vegas lines NCAA basketball of all time. It marks the first and only time that a number one seed blew it to a 16th seeded team. As a result, there is plenty of skepticism about UVA in the Big Dance. And their poor showing in the ACC Tournament casts further doubts upon them.
2019 NCAA Tournament Columbia Regional
Date and Time: March 22 and March 24, 2019
Location: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Regional TV Coverage: Tue TV, CBS
Let’s look over Friday’s regional action from Columbia, SC!
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Ole Miss Rebels, 12:40 p.m. ET, Tru TV
Extending the feeling that 64 teams is too many for the NCAA tournament is this matchup. As a consequence, neither Oklahoma nor Ole Miss has any real shot with Vegas lines NCAA basketball to make a deep run. In fact, Oklahoma being in the Big Dance is an utter absurdity. OU finished only 19-13 straight up as a Big 12 also-ran. However, the Sooners lost only 10 of 32 games on the board this season. Along the same lines the Rebels paid in 23 of 32 games this campaign. Ole Miss is also in good form with four payouts in five games.
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | +1½ (-110) | 142½ (-110) | |
| Mississippi | -1½ (-110) | 142½ (-110) | |
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Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs vs. Virginia Cavaliers, 3:10 p.m. ET, Tru TV
Certainly, Virginia was a top offshore betting sportsbook value this season. For example, UVA has a record of 29-3 straight up and 23-9 vs. the odds. Of great concern was the Cavaliers 69-59 loss in the ACC tournament to Florida State. As usual Tony Bennett’s team has the nation’s top ranked defense. Concurrently Bennett’s offense remains sluggish and plodding. Not withstanding that is a Gardner Webb team that has covered seven of their last eight. And they are fresh off winning the Big South tournament. Here we go again?
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Webb | +23½ (-110) | 130½ (-110) | |
| Virginia | -23½ (-110) | 130½ (-110) | |
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First Four winner vs. Duke Blue Devils, 7:10 p.m. ET, CBS
Zion Williamson returned to the lineup for Duke. Owing to his return was a championship in the ACC Tournament. Because of this the Blue Devils are an entirely different team with Williamson in the lineup. On the contrary Duke is now going to be a major public team. The biggest worry for Blue Devil backers will be overlays.
Central Florida Knights vs. Virginia Commonwealth Rams, 9:40 p.m. ET, CBS
Overall UFC and VCU are one of the top matchups on the board for Friday. Central Florida has covered eight of their last 10 and boasts the nation’s 28th ranked defense. Balanced against that is a Virginia Commonwealth team that has lost only three of their last 10 to the line maker. Consequently, VCU ranks 10th in the nation for defense.
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Florida | -1½ (-110) | 126½ (-110) | |
| Va Commonwealth | +1½ (-110) | 126½ (-110) | |
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Matchup to Watch
Gardner Webb could cause Virginia another Vegas lines NCAA basketball crisis. To begin with UVA will have to prove they can be trusted in a tournament environment. Of great concern is their perpetual failures in that role as major overlays. Likewise, the tournament’s Amateur Hour betting public will overlook Gardner Webb.
Columbia Regional NCAA games Betting Odds Picks
In this situation Gardner Webb could bring enhanced value against shaky and expensive Virginia.
Columbia Regional NCAA Betting Online Pick: Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
Columbia Regional NCAA Betting Online Score Prediction: Gardner Webb 70, Virginia 71
Catch highlights of Duke winning the ACC Tournament!