Top College Basketball Bets for Today:
A significant day in sports has arrived as we dive into the second day of the NCAA Tournament. Following some exhilarating matchups in the First Four and entertaining games on Thursday, we anticipate more excitement this Friday. It’s a full day filled with basketball, wagering, drinks, friends, and various other ways to celebrate.
Our March Mania Betting Guide is ready for VSiN Pro subscribers, which can be accessed for just $9.99 for the first month. Additionally, we will release previews for every NCAA Tournament game as the competition progresses.
Below are my top picks for the evening games on Friday, allowing everyone ample time to review this article.
You can find the tracking sheet here, and for reference, the 2023-24 sheet is here.
This article will be updated daily with college basketball games until the season wraps up. Odds will be sourced from DraftKings, a widely accessible option for our readers. Remember to compare prices for the best deals.
Special thanks to Bart Torvik, Erik Haslam, and Ken Pomeroy, as they are my key resources for information while analyzing matchups.
Check the latest odds for college basketball from legal sportsbooks across the U.S. and our Vegas odds if you are in the same state as VSiN. Don’t forget to check the betting splits for any college basketball games today that catch your interest.
Akron Zips vs. Arizona Wildcats (-14.5, 165.5)
7:35 p.m. ET
In Seattle, the Zips will face the Wildcats in what is considered a neutral-site game in the East Region. Akron, coming off a victory in the MAC, will meet Arizona, who reached the Big 12 title game, indicating both teams are in good shape. Under Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have been a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in three NCAA Tournaments, showcasing mixed results in their performances, including a 17-point win over Wright State, a narrow defeat to Princeton, and a solid win against Long Beach State, led by departing coach Dan Monson.
Akron is positioned as a potential surprise in this matchup. They excel at shooting both two-pointers and three-pointers, ranking among the top 35 for 2P% and top 50 for 3P%. As a result, they hold a top-30 eFG% on offense. Arizona’s defensive struggles, especially against three-point shots, and a tendency not to force turnovers may expose them against an efficient Zips team. Given the similar rebounding statistics and doubts around Arizona’s readiness, I favor Akron to keep the score close.
Pick: Akron +14.5
Xavier Musketeers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (-4, 161.5)
9:45 p.m. ET
Xavier secured their spot in this game by winning in Dayton, which was akin to a home game for them. Given their proximity, I expect a supportive crowd for Illinois at this matchup. I believe Illinois enters the tournament strongly; they possess a solid profile but faced challenges during the regular season due to illness impacting their play. Currently, they rank as a top-15 team by adjusted offensive efficiency, despite their low three-point shooting percentage.
Xavier excels at three-point shooting, yet Illinois excels at defending against it, marking a low 30.4% 3P rate against, among the best in the nation. Furthermore, Xavier’s defensive capabilities are subpar, ranked poorly for both 3P% and 2P% defense, and they struggle to generate turnovers. Given this, I doubt they can contend effectively with Illinois’s presence in the paint unless they capitalize on contested shots. Having performed poorly in Quadrant 1 games this season, I favor Illinois, set at -4 based on current market trends and using DraftKings’ numbers.
Pick: Illinois -4
