March Madness Opening Odds
(The Spread) – After a three-day hiatus, March Madness finally resumes Thursday night with the first four of eight Sweet 16 games.
View Current College Basketball Odds
One top seed is in action and that would be the Duke Blue Devils as they prepare to square off with the fifth-seeded Arizona Wildcats. Duke comes into play with a 32-4 record, while Arizona is 29-7. Action begins at 9:45PM EST.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have listed the Blue Devils as 8.5-point favorites in the matchup, while the over-under rests at 148. Duke is winners of five in a row, while Arizona has rebounded after an overtime loss to Washington on a buzzer-beater in the Pac-10 Tournament final.
According to latest college basketball trends, Duke is 43-30 against the spread in all games over the last two seasons. Duke is also 43-29 ATS as a favorite over the last two seasons.
Nolan Smith (21 ppg) will be asked to help carry the Blue Devils, while Derrick Williams (19.1 ppg) will try to build on his last effort when his basket and free throw in the closing seconds downed Texas in the Third Round.
Among the other games on the docket sees No. 4 seed Wisconsin (25-8) take on No. 9 Butler (25-9) at 9:57PM EST. Wisconsin is a 5-point favorite and the over-under is 124. In earlier action, third-seeded Connecticut (28-9) is a 1-point favorite over second seed San Diego State (34-2) at 7:15PM EST. The over-under is 128.5. No. 2 Florida (28-7) is a 3-point favorite against No. 3 Brigham Young (32-4) at 7:27PM EST. The over-under in that one is listed at 149.
Thursday March Madness Opening Odds & Totals
805 Brigham Young +3 (149)
806 Florida -3
807 Butler +5 (124)
808 Wisconsin -5
809 Connecticut -1 (128.5)
810 San Diego State +1
811 Arizona +8.5 (148)
812 Duke -8-5
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