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USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Xavier vs. Illinois odds, picks and predictions
The 11th-seeded Xavier Musketeers (22-11) and sixth-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini (21-12) meet in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in the Midwest Region Friday. Tip-off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET (CBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Xavier vs. Illinois odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. Xavier shook off a slow start to take down the Texas Longhorns 86-80 in a First Four game on Wednesday night, outscoring the Longhorns 47-33 in the second half. The Musketeers covered as a 2.5-point favorite as the Over (151.5) hit. G Marcus Foster led the charge with 22 points and 8 rebounds as Xavier has now won at least 1 game in its last 6 trips to the NCAA Tournament. Illinois returns to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year after last season's Elite 8 run. The Fighting Illini finished the regular season strong with 3 straight wins, including 2 over ranked opponents, before tying for seventh in the Big Ten. Their conference tournament run ended with an 88-65 loss to the Maryland Terrapins in the quarterfinals. Freshman G Kasparas Jakucionis leads 5 players averaging in double figures at 15 points per game (PPG). – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Xavier vs. Illinois odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:36 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Xavier +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Illinois -160 (bet $160 to win $100) : Xavier +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Illinois -160 (bet $160 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Xavier +3.5 (-115) | Illinois -3.5 (-105) : Xavier +3.5 (-115) | Illinois -3.5 (-105) Over/Under (O/U): 160.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Xavier vs. Illinois picks and predictions Prediction Xavier 82, Illinois 79 BET XAVIER (+135). Momentum is huge in college basketball, and Xavier has plenty of it. The Musketeers showed their toughness with a comeback win over Texas in the First Four, making it 8 wins in their last 9 games. They've also covered the spread in 7 of those. Experience matters in March, and they've got it with fifth-year senior F Zach Freemantle leading the way at 17.3 PPG. Xavier can score too, putting up 78 PPG—second-best in the Big East. Illinois might be the Big Ten's top-scoring team at 83.8 PPG, but they've struggled against good defenses—Maryland held them to just 65 in the Big Ten Tournament. Plus, their top 3 scorers are either freshmen, or playing in their first year of college ball. That's a lot of inexperience to lean on in a high-pressure game. With Xavier playing great basketball, having the edge in experience, and consistently covering spreads, I like them to keep it rolling. Taking the Musketeers at plus odds on the moneyline feels like the right move. PASS. You may feel more comfortable taking them plus the points, that's understandable. I'd take the better odds on the moneyline. BET OVER 160.5 (-105). Both teams know how to score, which makes the Over worth a look. Illinois has hit the Over in 7 of its last 10 games, while Xavier has gone Over in 11 of its last 14 contests. The Musketeers put up 78 PPG, and the Fighting Illini haven't been great defensively, giving up 74.6 PPG — 14th in the Big Ten. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / 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 / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: North Carolina vs. Ole Miss odds, picks and predictions
The No. 11 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (23-13) battle the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (22-11) Friday in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Tip from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET (TNT). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the North Carolina vs. Ole Miss odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. North Carolina took down San Diego State 95-68 Tuesday in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, covering as a 4.5-point favorite with the Over (141.5) hitting. G RJ Davis scored a game-high 26 points — he was 6-for-6 from beyond the arc — while G Seth Trimble added 16 points off the bench. The Tar Heels shot 58.3% from deep (14-for-24) in the dominant win. Ole Miss dropped 2 of its last 3 games, recently falling 62-57 to top-ranked Auburn in an SEC Tournament quarterfinal March 14. The Rebels did cover as 13-point underdogs vs. the Tigers as the Under (156) cashed. G Sean Pedulla's 14.9 points per game (PPG) leads the Rebels, who feature 5 other players averaging double figures in points. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! North Carolina vs. Ole Miss odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:04 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : North Carolina -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Ole Miss +110 (bet $100 to win $110) : North Carolina -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Ole Miss +110 (bet $100 to win $110) Against the spread (ATS) : North Carolina -1.5 (-110) | Ole Miss +1.5 (-110) : North Carolina -1.5 (-110) | Ole Miss +1.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -115 | U: -105) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! North Carolina vs. Ole Miss picks and predictions Prediction North Carolina 83, Ole Miss 78 PASS. While not by much, there is better value on the Tar Heels (-135) to cover the spread. BET NORTH CAROLINA -1.5 (-110). The Tar Heels will have momentum on their side after the impressive 27-point First Four victory over the Aztecs. They are one of the more criticized teams in the tournament, with their shaky Quad 1 record, but they have scored 81 or more points in 7 of their last 11 games and are 9-2 in that span. Ole Miss is just 5-5 over its last 10 games and has scored 72 or fewer points in 6 of its last 10. They have failed to cover the spread in 8 of their last 10 games. BET OVER 155.5 (-115). The Tar Heels average 81.2 PPG (26th best in the country), while allowing almost 74.8 PPG (249th). They've scored at least 91 points in 4 of their last 8 games, while allowing 73 or more in 5 of their last 10. Against an evenly-matched Rebels team, the offense will be of utmost importance. The Rebels have hit the Over in 7 of their last 10 games and have scored 78 or more points in 3 of their last 5. They average 77.2 PPG (91st), while they allow 71.6 PPG (169th). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @seth_orlemann on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / 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 / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Arkansas vs. Kansas odds, picks and predictions
The 10th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks (20-13) face the 7th-seeded Kansas Jayhawks (21-12) Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's West Region. Tip from Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, is set for 7:10 p.m. ET (CBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Arkansas vs. Kansas odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Razorbacks lost in the second round of the SEC Tournament 83-80 to the Ole Miss Rebels March 13 in Nashville, though they covered as 4.5-point underdogs with the Over (147) cashing. They beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 72-68 in the first round, pushing as 4 point favorites — the Over (139.5) hit in this one, too. Arkansas has won 5 of its last 7 games, going 4-2-1 against the spread (ATS) with the Over cashing 6 times. The Razorbacks are 14-17-2 ATS on the season. The Jayhawks lost in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals to the Arizona Wildcats 88-77 March 13 in Kansas City as 3-point underdogs with the Over (153) coming through. Kansas needed OT in its first-round game to beat UCF 99-94, failing to cover as a 10.5-point favorite as the Over (155.5) hit here, too. Kansas won just 3 of its last 7 games to close out the regular season but squeaked by with a 4-3 ATS mark in those. It is 15-18 ATS on the season. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Arkansas vs. Kansas odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 6:44 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Arkansas +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Kansas -220 (bet $220 to win $100) : Arkansas +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Kansas -220 (bet $220 to win $100) Against the spread : Arkansas +5.5 (-115) | Kansas -5.5 (-105) : Arkansas +5.5 (-115) | Kansas -5.5 (-105) Over/Under (O/U): 146.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Arkansas vs. Kansas picks and predictions Prediction Kansas 81, Arkansas 72 PASS. The only real way to look at the moneyline is in Arkansas' favor — since it's plus-money (+180) — but that's not how I see this playing out. Meanwhile, Kansas (-220) is too expensive to play to win outright. BET KANSAS -5.5 (-105). The Jayhawks have size in C Hunter Dickinson (17.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG), athleticism in F KJ Adams (9.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG) and experience in G Dajuan Harris (9.2 PPG, 5.7 APG). With legendary coach Bill Self at the helm, they should come out aggressive and be able to win and cover. Kansas covered in 4 of its last 5 regular-season games and are 2-1 ATS in its last 3 as a single-digit favorite. The Razorbacks have had an up-and-down season and have a few awful losses, most notably a 19-point defeat at South Carolina (72-53) March 1 and a 78-74 setback at LSU Jan. 14. The Gamecocks finished last and the Tigers 15th in the 16-team SEC, respectively. Excluding the conference tournament in Nashville, Arkansas was 1-3 ATS in a neutral-court setting this season. BACK KANSAS -5.5 (-105). BET OVER 146.5 (-105). Offensively, both teams are hot, and they should stay that way Thursday in Providence. The Razorbacks have scored at least 72 in 4 consecutive games and at least 80 points in 5 of their last 7 games. The Over cashed in their last 4 outings as well — all 4 above this 146.5 total. The Jayhawks have gone Over in 3 straight, scoring at least 77 points in each. The Over is 6-2 in their last 8. Considering these trends, TAKE OVER 146.5 (-105). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / 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 / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Utah State vs. UCLA odds, picks and predictions
The No. 10 seed Utah State Aggies (26-7) square off against the No. 7 seed UCLA Bruins (22-10) on Thursday night in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Tip from Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, is scheduled for 9:25 p.m. ET (TNT). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Utah State vs. UCLA odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. Utah State's 2-game winning streak was snapped with an 83-72 loss against the Colorado State Rams in the Mountain West semifinal, failing to cover as a 1-point underdog. The Aggies finished third in the conference at 15-5 and are led by G Ian Martinez, who averages 16.8 points per game (PPG). UCLA had its 2-game winning streak snapped with an 86-70 loss against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big Ten quarterfinals, failing to cover as a 2-point underdog. The Bruins finished sixth in the Big Ten (13-7) and are led by F Tyler Bilodeau who averages 13.6 PPG. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Utah State vs. UCLA odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 6:43 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Utah State +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | UCLA -235 (bet $235 to win $100) : Utah State +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | UCLA -235 (bet $235 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Utah State +5.5 (-110) | UCLA -5.5 (-110) : Utah State +5.5 (-110) | UCLA -5.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Utah State vs. UCLA picks and predictions Prediction Utah State 77, UCLA 73 BET UTAH STATE (+195). The Aggies are one of the most efficient shooting teams in the country shooting 49% from the field, which is good for 11th-best. They average nearly 80.9 PPG and pose a real threat against a UCLA team that has scored 73 or fewer points in 6 of its last 7 games and has allowed 76 or more points in 2 of its last 4 contests. Traditionally, the 7-10 matchups cause a lot of havoc and the Bruins have a high chance of being on the wrong end of that on Thursday. PASS. The moneyline has the best value on the Aggies. BET OVER 144.5 (-110). The Aggies have scored 70 or more points in 8 of their last 10 games while allowing 82 or more points in 3 of their last 5 contests. They have hit the Over in 7 of their last 10. The Bruins have scored at least 70 points in 6 of their last 9 games, including 3 straight, and have allowed at least 69 points in 3 of their last 4 games. They have hit the Over in each of their last 4 games. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @seth_orlemann on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / 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 / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Drake vs. Missouri odds, picks and predictions
The 11th-seeded Drake Bulldogs (30-3) and sixth-seeded Missouri Tigers (22-11) meet in an NCAA Tournament first-round game in the West Region Thursday. Tip-off from INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas, is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET (truTV). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Drake vs. Missouri odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Bulldogs are dancing for the third straight year after another strong season in the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished 17-3 in league play and made their fifth consecutive MVC Tournament final, winning the title for the third year in a row. A 63-48 win over the No. 2 seed Bradley Braves Sunday sealed their automatic bid. Junior G Bennett Stirtz has been the go-to guy, averaging 19.1 points per game (PPG). No. 24 Missouri is back in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since 2018 after finishing sixth in the SEC with a 10-8 conference record. The Tigers struggled late, dropping 4 of their last 5 regular-season games before falling to the Florida Gators 95-81 in the SEC quarterfinals Friday. Despite the rough finish, they'll lean on junior G Mark Mitchell, who leads the team with 14.1 PPG. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll THE BRACKETS ARE BACK! The USA TODAY Sports Bracket Challenge is back! $1 MILLION grand prize for a perfect bracket, $25,000 prize for top bracket. Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Drake vs. Missouri odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 6:29 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Drake +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Missouri -275 (bet $275 to win $100) : Drake +220 (bet $100 to win $220) | Missouri -275 (bet $275 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Drake +6.5 (-118) | Missouri -6.5 (-102) : Drake +6.5 (-118) | Missouri -6.5 (-102) Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -105 | U: -115) Can you survive? USA TODAY Sports' Men and Women's Basketball Tournament Survivor Pools are here with a $2,500 prize for each contest! Free to enter, 21+. Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules. Play now! Drake vs. Missouri picks and predictions Prediction Drake 68, Missouri 64 BET DRAKE (+220). Momentum is everything in college basketball, and Drake has it heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have won 7 straight, including a dominant run through the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. While the SEC is undoubtedly tougher, Drake handled its schedule and picked up solid wins over Miami, Vanderbilt, and Kansas State. Drake thrives on defense, allowing just 58.4 PPG — the best mark in the country. The Bulldogs slow the game down, force 13.8 turnovers per contest, and have held opponents to 60 or fewer points in half of their games. That's a major challenge for a Missouri squad that shoots 37% from beyond the arc and has scored 80-plus points in 25 of 33 games. Missouri limped into the tournament, losing 5 of its last 7 games, and has just 1 NCAA Tournament win since 2010. With Drake's defense and momentum, the Bulldogs are primed to pull off the upset. PASS. If you'd feel more comfortable taking Drake with the points, that's completely understandable; I'd rather take the better odds on the moneyline, believing the Bulldogs can win this game outright. PASS. Drake's defense makes the Under tempting, but it's not the right play here. The Bulldogs have hit the Under in 6 of their last 8 games, but Missouri's high-scoring style has led to the Over hitting in 8 of its last 10 outings. With the total set lower than expected, it's a tough call. If it were closer to 140, the Under would be worth a look, but instead, I'll stick to betting the moneyline. Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @DrewPhelps05 on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / 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 / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
