Free College Basketball NCAA Tournament Pick
#2 Kansas State Wildcats (28-7, 11-5 Big 12) vs #6 Xavier Musketeers (26-8, 14-2 A-10) Energy Solutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT, 3/25, 9:37 PM
Despite losing three times to Kansas this season, it is Kansas State that is still vying for a national championship. Xavier isn’t ready to roll over and let the Wildcats into the Elite 8 though. This should be a hard fought, physical game.
Xavier beat Minnesota in the first round of the tournament, and then outlasted Pittsburgh in the second round. Out of all the storied programs that make are in the NCAA tournament every year, only Michigan State and Xavier have made the Sweet Sixteen in three straight years. Jordan Crawford continued his dominating play in the tournament with 27 points against the Panthers. Xavier controlled most of the game, but Pitt kept on coming back. It wasn’t until the very end, with a breakaway dunk by Crawford, that the Musketeers were finally able to wrap the game up.
Kansas State probably didn’t expect to be the only representative from Kansas left in the tournament at this point. Kansas State has played great basketball so far, beating North Texas and then BYU. They were led by Jacob Pullen, who simply couldn’t be stopped. He took a hard fall after making a steal, but refused to let any injury shake him. All he did was put up a career high in points with 34, including 20 in the first half. But the game started out looking like both Kansas teams would be in for a big upset. BYU took a 10-0 lead off the bat. The Wildcats chipped away though, and with about four minutes to go in the first half, they took the lead and never looked back.
Both Xavier and Kansas State score about the same (79.3 and 79.8 points, respectively) and give up about the same (68.6 and 69.3 points, respectively). Kansas State has a chance to get back to the regional final for the first time since 1988, losing to Kansas. Xavier was last in the regional final in 2008, losing to UCLA. The winner of this game will face the winner of Syracuse and Butler.
Kansas State is favored by 5.5 points. The total is listed at 151.
Kansas State Betting Trends:
Kansas State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games |
Kansas State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games |
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Kansas State's last 9 games |
Xavier Betting Trends:
Xavier is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games |
Xavier is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games |
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Xavier's last 5 games |
Pick: Take Xavier +5.5
Betting Trends by Bodog.com |
