"Selection Sunday" has come and gone. Now, the college basketball season brings us March Madness at last! Teams finally play in a single-elimination format until we crown an NCAA National Champion. However, first we have to go from the Field Of 68 to the Field of 64. That's right. Let's head to the state of Ohio. At Online Sports Betting, we look at a matchup with some potential offensive pop. Let's look at March Madness Play-In Picks featuring SE Missouri State and Texas A&M-CC.
- WHAT: 16 - SE Missouri State Redhawks versus 16 -Texas A&M-CC Islanders
- WHEN: Tuesday, March 14th, 2023, 6:40 pm ET on Tru-TV or streamed on FUBO TV
- WHERE: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
- WHY: March Madness Play-In Game
Bettors used to not look at these games so much, but now they do. The March Madness Play-In Picks shine a light on two teams battling to play top-seeded Alabama. Yes, betting on NCAA College Men's basketball futures is challenging. After all, neither one of these teams is worth a wager to win the title. Here is a quick table for this Tuesday evening game, courtesy of Bovada Online Sportsbook.
March Madness Play-In Picks Worry About SE Missouri State
March Madness Play-In Picks worry about SE Missouri State greatly. Why? So, an athletic team that can get up and down the court sounds great in this spot. Naturally, that may be the exact wrong way to think. The Redhawks push pace well, rank in the top 50 in offense, and won ten games in their conference. Again, it does not sound all that bad.
However, Brad Korn knows his Redhawks got hot at the right time and a little lucky too. They went 10-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and gave up 76 points per game. So, despite averaging 77.7 points a contest, this SE Missouri State team gives up points in bunches. They did win four games on consecutive nights, but had ten days off.
Despite all this, the Redhawks are a mere four point underdogs on Tuesday night in Dayton. For a team that was under .500 before their conference tournament, that is more than alarming. Oh, the last team SE Missouri State played that had a positive SRS (Simple Rating System) was Southern Illinois back before Christmas. The Ohio Valley Conference is not exactly close to even a mid-tiered conference.
Let's grapple with this first Tuesday night game. Can we feel any better about Texas A&M-CC or is this game a true flip of the coin?
Steve Lutz Has Faith In His Texas A&M-CC
The March Madness Play-In Picks are bullish on Texas A&M-CC. Steve Lutz has faith in his Islanders. This is a team that gets after it offensively. They average 80.4 points per game which ranks 17th in the nation. Granted, the Islanders yield a little more than the average team at 72.5 points per contest. On the other hand, that almost eight-point differential is sizable.
The other difference between the two teams concentrates on a slightly more digestible simple rating system. Now, Texas A&M-CC plays in the Southland Conference. It ranks slightly more improved compared to the Ohio Valley. Also, the Islanders topped the league with a 14-4 mark in-conference. Another thing to consider is their last game was on March 8th. Lutz should have a less rusty team at his disposal for Tuesday night.
Those are two reasons Lutz can rest easy. For one, the senior led team has three players who average 13+ points per game. It is that balance which helps Texas A&M-CC. Defenders cannot key on just one player. SE Missouri State has a hard enough time playing defense.
Again, do not expect any of these players to be ranked in the Top 100 RSCI. However, there is a slight talent edge leaning toward the Islanders.
March Madness Play-In Picks Giving Up Four Points?
So, what about Texas A&M-CC giving up four points in the March Madness Play-In Picks? The rationale is that the Islanders perform better in these types of games. A neutral-site battle seems to appeal to Texas A&M-CC a bit more. One of the biggest aspects of this game is how consistent the Islanders execute.
The team went on a run through the Southland Conference that included winning 12 of their final 13 games. In that span, the Islanders triumphed ten of 13 times against the spread (ATS). However, the same could not be said for SE Missouri State. Too many games featured the Redhawks not covering as the points piled up. This team only covered once when listed as a four point underdog.
There is a belief that Texas A&M-CC can pull away in this tilt. On the other hand, do the Redhawks continue to ride the wave for a bit? Whether the Islanders lay 3.5 or 4 points means little. Take the points here anyway. Steve Lutz and company will likely push big in the second half to salt this game away.
Are We Heading Over Tuesday Night?
Finally, March Madness Play-In Picks asks are we heading over Tuesday night? This game saw the over shift several times. The recommendation is watch for further slight shifts. After all, this contest moved up to 154.5 points. So, Texas A&M-CC averages 80+ points and we have seen a two point shift just from the open on Sunday night. Shop around but do not let this go much above 155.
Simply, choose the over for the first half at 73 and the game at 154.5 for Tuesday night. Do not overthink this one.
Online Sportsbook Reviews To Examine
Now, examine more online sportsbook reviews where so that one can look at more play-in games and the tournament contests on Thursday and Friday.
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