College Basketball Betting – West Virginia vs. Marquette Highlights Late Conference Action

West Virginia versus the Marquette Golden Eagles highlights late conference action in the NCAA betting sportsbook on Wednesday, March 9.

With a ton of games scheduled for the day, it’s interesting what the major college hoops network, ESPN, will be showing on Wednesday night.  Obviously, the folks at ESPN have a great love for the Big East.  Check out a preview of the 3 televised games going on tonight.

March 9 – NCAAB Games

South Florida Bulls (10-22) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (24-7)

Where:  Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
When:  7:00 pm EST
TV:  ESPN

Fair NCAAB Odds:  Cincinnati -8 ½      

Analysis:  The Cincinnati Bearcats are 5 and 1 against the basketball odds spread in their last 6 games versus the Big East.  That right there is a powerful trend telling hoops handicappers that perhaps the best thing to do in this situation is to back the Bearcats, but at what odds?  My guess is that since South Florida is 8 and 0 against the spread in the last 8 meetings between these two that the Bearcats will end up as no more than a -8 ½ point favorite.  South Florida is also 19-6-1 against the spread in their last 26 neutral site games.  So, really, basketball bettors will want to create a betting line cut off for this contest on Wednesday night.  If the Bearcats are at -8 ½ or less, then hoops handicappers should go ahead and back them.  If the Bulls are at around +9 or higher, then hoops handicappers should consider backing them.    

Montana Grizzlies (21-9) at Northern Colorado Bears (20-10)

Where:  Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion, Greeley, Colorado
When:  9:00 pm EST
Fair NCAAB Odds:  Northern Colorado -3 ½  
       
Analysis:  The Grizzlies were favored by 5 ½ points the last time these two teams played.  They beat the Northern Colorado Bears 55 to 42 to easily cover the spread in that contest.  I believe that the college basketball odds makers will have no choice but to favor the Bears in this game on Wednesday night.  Northern Colorado is 6-2-1 against the spread at home this season.  Montana is 5 and 10 against the spread in their away games this season.  The Grizzlies also held Northern Colorado to 23.3% from the field in the last game between these two.  I don’t see Montana’s D playing that well on March 9.  I have to back the Bears in this contest.

Marquette Golden Eagles (19-13) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (20-10)

Where:  Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
When:  9:25 pm EST
TV:  ESPN

Fair NCAAB Odds:  West Virginia -3 ½  

Analysis:  Both of these teams are deserving of a March Madness Tournament bid.  The West Virginia Mountaineers have gone 3 and 2 against the spread in the NCAA odds betting sports book in their last 5 games.  More importantly, they’ve gone 4 and 1 straight up in their last 5 games including beating Notre Dame 72 to 58, Rutgers 65 to 54, Connecticut 65 to 56 and Louisville 72 to 70.  The Mountaineers are obviously the hot team in this matchup.  I love the Golden Eagles.  I truly believe that, with the right seed, they could make some serious waves in this month’s Big Dance, but I can’t just endorse based on my love for them.  West Virginia is playing at too high of a level right now to ignore.  I’ll go with the Mountaineers if the betting line isn’t out of whack.