Free College Basketball NCAA Tournament Pick
#5 Butler Bulldogs (28-4, 18-0 Horizon League) vs. #12 UTEP Miners (26-6, 15-1 Conference USA) HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA, 3/18, 4:45 PM
The NCAA tournament, especially the first round, is always about upsets. In 19 of the last 21 years a number 12 seed has knocked off a number 5 seed in the first round of the tournament. Many people are picking this game to be that 5-12 upset game. While this may be a trendy pick, Butler is no slouch.
The Bulldogs finished the season ranked at #11/8 in the polls. They won their conference, the Horizon league with a perfect 18-0 record. They won their conference tournament with a blowout win over Wright State. Granted they don’t have the toughest schedule in the nation, but their current winning streak is at 20, and that isn’t easy. Gordon Hayward (15.4 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game) and three others average double figures for this team. They played four top-25 ranked teams and lost three of them, but their win against Ohio State proves they can play with tough competition.
UTEP had its own 16-game winning streak going until it was snapped by Houston in the Conference USA tournament. That was their only loss against a conference opponent all season. UTEP has no wins against top-25 teams this year. Randy Culpepper’s 18 points per game leads the team, but Derrick Caracter and his 13.8 ppg and 8 rpg will be a force inside. He could be the key to an upset.
Butler only lost one game on the road this season, and were undefeated at home. Those other three losses were on neutral courts, much like this game will be. The Miners average more points per game (75.8) than Butler does (70.1) but they also give up more (64.2) than Butler (60.0).
Both teams have played incredible basketball this year, and they have been rewarded with top-25 rankings and berths in the NCAA tournament. Their lack of schedule strength gave each team a lower seed. It seems difficult to pick against a team that went undefeated in conference and won 20 straight games, but if any 12 seed can beat them, it will be UTEP.
Butler is favored by 2 points. The total is listed at 129.
Butler Betting Trends:
Butler is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games |
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Butler's last 5 games |
Texas El Paso Betting Trends:
Texas El Paso is 16-1 SU in its last 17 games |
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas El Paso's last 6 games |
Pick: Take UTEP +2
Betting Trends by Bodog.com |
