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USA Today
15-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
SEC, Kansas lead NCAA Tournament seeds release winners and losers
SEC, Kansas lead NCAA Tournament seeds release winners and losers Show Caption Hide Caption College basketball freshmen who are making a case to be lottery picks Here are 3 freshmen who are playing their way into becoming lottery picks for the 2025 NBA Draft. The Division I men's basketball committee's in-season top 16 seeds is a NCAA men's tournament roadmap directly from the source. A year ago, the committee's in-season list nailed all but two of the eventual top 16 tournament seeds, missing on only Creighton and Kentucky. While there's enough time left in the regular season for this early bracket projection to fall apart before Selection Sunday, this year's top 16 seeds released Saturday indicates a few subtle and not-so-subtle ways the committee will approach the selection process. One obvious takeaway from the top 16 is the committee's affinity for several major conferences and lack of affection for one purported basketball conference in particular — the ACC, as we'll touch on below. BRACKETOLOGY: Michigan surges in NCAA tournament projection STARTING FIVE: SEC, Big 12 lead biggest games of the weekend Here are the biggest winners and losers from the in-season rankings: Winners The SEC As expected, the conference dominated the top 16 with six teams, including five of the top six. The list is topped by Auburn, the top overall seed thanks to a Division I-best 13 wins against Quad 1 teams. The SEC has two more projected No. 1 seeds in Alabama and Florida. With this many teams scheduled to land on the top four lines, you can see why this year's SEC is on track to dominate March Madness and potentially have multiple teams deep in contention for the Final Four. And the committee's rankings don't include another seven teams projected to reach the tournament in our latest bracketology. You're beginning to see why this year's SEC is already being talked about in a historic context. Kansas Ranked No. 15 overall by the committee, Kansas is set to receive the committee's benefit of the doubt despite ranking fifth in the Big 12 standings, four games behind Houston, and owning a losing record in games against fellow Quad 1 competition. The Jayhawks do have some very good wins in Michigan State, Duke and Iowa State. They've also lost league games to West Virginia and Kansas State and are 3-5 overall in road games. KU has avoided any bad losses, though, with all seven defeats coming against teams currently slated for tournament play. That's probably the biggest asset in the Jayhawks' favor. Michigan The Wolverines have been on a tear under new coach Dusty May, taking five in a row and six of seven to edge a half-game ahead of Purdue and into first place in the Big Ten. The committee is paying attention: Michigan is a No. 4 seed in the in-season rankings, edging out rival Michigan State. The Wolverines' postseason credentials are polished by a 6-3 mark in Quad I games and a 5-2 record away from home. Five of Michigan's final eight games before the conference tournament come at home, though the three road games are against projected tournament teams in Ohio State, Nebraska and Michigan State. Losers The ACC With just projected No. 1 seed Duke representing the conference in the top 16, the rankings reflect the committee's perception of the ACC as several rungs below the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten. While that wouldn't prevent the Blue Devils from landing on the No. 1 line should they continue to dominate league play, the ACC has none of the depth those three rival conferences will bring into March Madness. As of now, the only ACC teams projected to join Duke in tournament play are Louisville and Clemson. Michigan State A recent slide has dropped Michigan State down the Big Ten ladder and out of the top four lines. After beating Minnesota to end January, the Spartans were sitting pretty at 18-2 overall and possibly in contention for a No. 1 seed should they have continued to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the Big Ten's top tier. But Michigan State has lost three of four this month, including losses to non-tournament teams in Southern California and Indiana. With a brutal stretch ahead – Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Maryland, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan again – things might get worse as we inch toward Selection Sunday.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin at Maryland odds, picks and predictions
Skip Snow USA TODAY Sports The Wisconsin Badgers (16-4, 6-3 Big Ten) visit the Maryland Terrapins (16-5, 6-4) in Monday Big Ten action in College Park. The opening tip at the Xfinity Center will be at 7 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the Wisconsin vs. Marylandodds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. Wisconsin, which is No. 17 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll, is playing its third road game since Jan. 18. On Sunday, the Badgers won 83-55 at home over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, covering a -7.5-point spread. That victory marked a bounce-back after UW fell at UCLA in its last road game, 85-83 on Jan. 21. Maryland is back on home hardwood after clocking road wins at the Illinois Fighting Illini (91-70) Thursday and at the Indiana Hooxiers (79-78) Sunday. The Terrapins own one of the most efficient offenses in the Big Ten and are averaging a robust 83.4 points per game. UM has won 9 in a row at home. Stream select live college basketball games and full replays:Get ESPN+ Wisconsin at Maryland odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:46 a.m. ET. Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY Moneyline: Wisconsin +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Maryland -220 (bet $220 to win $100) Wisconsin +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Maryland -220 (bet $220 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): Wisconsin +5.5 (-115) | Maryland -5.5 (-105) Wisconsin +5.5 (-115) | Maryland -5.5 (-105) Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Wisconsin at Maryland picks and predictions Prediction Maryland 81, Wisconsin 75 No interest. PASS. Maryland is 2-1 ATS across the last 3 series meetings. Wisconsin generates much of its offense from beyond the arc, and its probably not wise to fully buy into the Badgers' overall 51.7% shooting mark from the field in the month of January. And UW is up against a Maryland defense that ranks in the nation's top quartile in defending the perimeter. Look for UM to get a lot of points at the rim and to be the better all-around defense. Consider the TERRAPINS -5.5 (-105) to be the value side of this game. The Over is 3-0 across the last 3 series games and is 8-1 in UW's last 9 contests away from Madison. The Badgers play at an above-average tempo, and the Terps play at a top-quartile pace. The squads have played a combined 15 Quad I games. In those 15 contests, the Over has gone 12-3. BACK THE OVER 153.5 (-105). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X andlike us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School More NCAA College Basketball Picks and Predictions! Alabama at Mississippi State odds, picks and predictions TCU at Texas Tech odds, picks and predictions DePaul at UConn odds, picks and predictions
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UCF at Kansas odds, picks and predictions
UCF at Kansas odds, picks and predictions The UCF Knights (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) and the Kansas Jayhawks (14-5, 5-3) clash in Lawrence on Tuesday. The opening tip at Allen Fieldhouse will be at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the UCF vs. Kansas odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. Central Florida, which lost to Kansas by 51 points on Jan. 5 (99-48) is 2-3 straight up and 4-1 against the spread (ATS) since Jan.11. The Knights are an up-temp squad which excels in getting frequent trips to the free-throw line. Since that Jan. 5 debacle, UCF has averaged 81.0 points per game(PPG). Kansas is ranked No. 11 in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll. The Jayhawks are fresh off a Saturday loss to current-No. 5 Houston. Favored-by-1 KU led by 6 points with 90 seconds remaining, but the Cougars came back to tie the game in regulation and go on to defeat the Jayhawks 92-86 in double-overtime. Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+ UCF at Kansas odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:24 a.m. ET. Moneyline: UCF +650 (bet $100 to win $650) | Kansas -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): UCF +13.5 (-110) | Kansas -13.5 (-110) UCF +13.5 (-110) | Kansas -13.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 152.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) UCF at Kansas picks and predictions Prediction Kansas 84, UCF 69 No interest. PASS. Kansas excels in forcing poor shots on defense, and in the Jan. 5 meeting in Orlando UCF shot just 20.6% from the floor. In looking to bounce back from Saturday's tough loss to Houston, look for the Jayhawks to contest shots to the hilt and continue to find a better shooting stroke on their home floor. KU had scuffled at home over a few late-December-early-January games, but has scored 170 points over its last 2 games at Allen Fieldhouse. Consider a partial-unit play on the JAYHAWKS -13.5 (-110). The Over has cashed in KU's last 2 home games. The Jayhawks play at a slightly above-average tempo. UCF plays quick and has upped its pace over the last few weeks. The Knights have found their way to double-digit free throws in 3 of their last 4 contests. Decent overall shooting in recent road games against foes like the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Iowa State Cyclones is another green check mark in the Over column. Since Nov. 22, the Knights have played 7 Quad I games and the Over went 5-2 in those contests. The value side is the OVER 152.5 (-115). But this total is up a couple of points from its open, and the lean is light-to-moderate. Play accordingly. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School More NCAA College Basketball Picks and Predictions! Marquette at Butler odds, picks and predictions UCLA at USC odds, picks and predictions Iowa State at Arizona odds, picks and predictions
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Marquette at Butler odds, picks and predictions
Skip Snow USA TODAY Sports The Marquette Golden Eagles (17-3, 8-1 Big East) and Butler Bulldogs (9-11, 2-7) tussle in a Tuesday contest in Indianapolis. The opening tip from Hinkle Fieldhouse will be at 8:30 p.m. ET (FS1). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college basketball odds around the Marquette vs. Butlerodds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. Marquette, tabbed ninth in the USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll, lost at Dayton Dec. 14. Since then, the Golden Eagles have gone 8-1, including 4-0 on the road. They head to Butler off a Friday home win against Villanova, winning 87-74 as 9.5-point favorites with the Over (142.5) hitting. G Stevie Mitchell scored 21 points, tying a career-high, while G Chase Ross added 18 as Marquette beat 'Nova for an eighth consecutive time. Butler suffered 4 straight home losses, which were part of an overall 9-game losing streak from Dec. 7-Jan. 11. But the Bulldogs have won their last 2 home games, including its last outing -- an 86-69 win Saturday vs. DePaul as 6-point favorites with the Over (143.5) cashing. F Pierre Brooks II scored a career-high 29 points with 13 rebounds. Stream select live college basketball games and full replays:Get ESPN+ Marquette at Butler odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 11:53 p.m. ET. Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY Moneyline: Marquette -285 (bet $285 to win $100) | Butler +225 (bet $100 to win $225) Marquette -285 (bet $285 to win $100) | Butler +225 (bet $100 to win $225) Against the spread (ATS): Marquette -6.5 (-115) | Butler +6.5 (-105) Marquette -6.5 (-115) | Butler +6.5 (-105) Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) Marquette at Butler picks and predictions Prediction Marquette 77, Butler 74 No interest. PASS. Marquette's last 2 games have been solid -- wins and covers -- but the previous 4 games were not too impressive as they went 0-4 ATS and 3-1 straight up. It was the end of a 2-9 ATS run -- in which they were 8-3 SU. Butler has played 7 Quad I games, going 5-2 ATS in those outings. That set of games includes Butler covering as a 14.5-point underdog in an 80-70 loss at Marquette Dec. 18. Peg the Bulldogs as being enough of a danger for notching 3's and free throws to keep this battle within 2 possessions. TAKE BUTLER +6.5 (-115). The Dec. 18 meeting tilted just past the 148.5 total to score an Over, and that snapped an Under streak of 5 in a row for the series. This matchup sets up for an average pace and a game with plenty of turnover/transition buckets, 3's and a decent number of Butler throws from the charity stripe. Butler averages 73.2 points per game, but 80.5 PPG over its last four. BET OVER 146.5 (-115). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X andlike us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School More NCAA College Basketball Picks and Predictions! UCLA at USC odds, picks and predictions Iowa State at Arizona odds, picks and predictions Iowa at Ohio State odds, picks and predictions
