When Virginia became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed back in 2018, the Cavaliers responded the next season by winning the national championship. The #1 Purdue Boilermakers, who fell to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson last season as a one-seed, are now two wins away from doing the same.

A 72-66 win over #2 Tennessee on Sunday in the Midwest Regional final put the Boilermakers into their first Final Four since 1980. Next Saturday (April 6) in Glendale, AZ, Purdue will square off with the #11 NC State Wolfpack, who notched an impressive win over #4 Duke in the South Region Elite Eight.

The opening NC State vs Purdue odds favor the Boilermakers going at least one step further in their quest for the ultimate redemption.

NC State vs Purdue Odds

Purdue has opened as a 8.5-point favorite and -410 on the moneyline. The Wolfpack come back at +320 to win, while the game total is sitting at 147.5. Tip-off of NC State vs Purdue is scheduled for 6:09 pm MT/8:09 pm ET at State Farm Arena.

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Edey’s Huge Game Sends Purdue Past Tennessee

Zach Edey, soon-to-be back-to-back national player of the year, was at is best in the Elite Eight against Tennessee. Edey dropped a career-high 40 points on 13-of-21 shooting while also grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds.

Edey’s big night was imperative in a game where Purdue’s (usually excellent) three-point shooting was way off. A DI-best 41% from beyond the arc this season, the Boilermakers went just 3-of-15 from three against the Volunteers.

Edey is now averaging an even 30 PPG in the NCAA Tournament and raised his nation-leading scoring average to 24.6 PPG.

Purdue remains #3 overall at KenPom (#2 on offense and #16 on defense).  They haven’t played an ACC team this season, but beat Duke 75-56 in Portland last year on the strength of 21 points and 12 rebounds from Edey, and Florida State 79-69 in a true-road game.

The Boilermakers cashed as +165 favorites to win the Midwest in the Final Four odds. Their NCAA Tournament championship odds have improved to +230.

NC State Wins Rubber Match with Duke

Another day, another moneyline upset for NC State. The Wolfpack were NIT bound before a miracle run of five wins in five days (four as underdogs) in the ACC Tournament gave them an auto-bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

NC State’s miracle run has continued in March Madness with four more victories (three as underdogs), including a 76-64 win over in-state rival Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday night in Dallas, coming back from a 27-21 deficit at halftime.

DJ Burns, NC State’s 6’9, 275-pound power forward, had a huge night with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

DJ BURNS SPIN CYCLE 🫨

THE WOLFPACK EXTEND THE LEAD 😳 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/QeMLCXIeEl

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024

The Wolfpack defense was the real MVP of the game, holding the Blue Devils – who rate seventh in offensive efficiency at KenPom – to just 33% from the floor (19-of-58).

The Wolfpack started the tournament with an 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs. In the second round, they gutted out a 79-73 OT win over #14 Oakland as 6.5-point favorites. In the Sweet 16, they put the boots to #2 Marquette, leading by 13 at halftime cruising to a 67-58 victory as 7.5-point ‘dogs. NC State’s lead was never fewer than six in the final 20 minutes.

The Wolfpack were rated 76th in overall efficiency at KenPom before the ACC Tournament began. They had improved 48th (43rd on offense, 57th on defense) ahead of their Elite Eight matchup with Duke and will be knocking on the door of the top 40 tomorrow.

NC State was a +10000 longshot to win the South Region after Selection Sunday.

The post NC State vs Purdue Odds – Opening Spread, Moneyline & Total for Final Four appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Tonight, the St Louis Cardinals (1-2, 1-2 away, 2-1 O/U) close out a four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers (3-2, 2-1 home, 3-2 O/U) in the first Sunday Night Baseball game of the 2024 season.

After starting the season with back-to-back losses, and getting outscored 13-4, the Cardinals got in the win column yesterday with a 6-5 extra-innings victory over LA. Oddsmakers heavily favor the Dodgers taking the final game of the series on Sunday night, despite trotting out an untested starter.

Cardinals vs Dodgers Odds

The Dodgers are -166 chalk in Sunday’s MLB odds with the Cardinals at +140 to earn a split in the four-game series. The over/under is listed at 8.5.

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After a busy offseason that included acquiring Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers are listed as +542 favorites in the World Series odds. At +3383, the Cardinals are right in the middle of the 30-team MLB pack.

LAD vs STL Starting Pitchers for Sunday Night Baseball

The pitching matchup for the fourth and final game of the series sees both teams reaching deep into their rotations. The Cardinals send veteran Steven Matz to the bump opposite young Gavin Stone for the Dodgers.

Matz is coming off of one of the better seasons in his nine-year career, posting a 3.86 ERA with a 1.33 WHIP in 105 innings. His career ERA is still well over four (4.25).

Stone pitched 31 innings last year, his first in the bigs. He had an inflated 9.00 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in that small sample size.

Steven Matz vs Gavin Stone

*All statistics in table from 2023 regular season. 

Matz doesn’t have terribly encouraging numbers against the Dodger lineup. In 127 total at-bats, LA’s hitters are slashing .268/.316/.425 against the 32-year-old lefty. He has limited them to just three homers, though, with Freddie Freeman, Kiki Hernandez, and Teoscar Hernandez each taking him yard once.

Matz faced the Dodgers once in 2023, taking the loss in a 5-0 LAD victory. Matz went 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and two walks but limiting the damage to just one (unearned) run.

Stone, a 25-year-old righty, has never faced any of the Cardinal batters.

Nolan Arenado is hitless in 11 at-bats through three games this season. Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-10 and drove in the game-winning run in the 10th inning last night. Giovani Gallegos picked up the save, striking out the first two batters he faced in the 10th before getting Ohtani to pop out to end the game.

STL Cardinals vs Dodgers LA Prediction

Stone didn’t look ready for the majors last season, and even his triple-A numbers were a little concerning: 100.2 innings, Stone posted a 4.52 ERA and 4.78 xFIP in 2023. With a little major-league time under his belt, it’s possible he starts 2024 much more effectively. But that’s not something I’m prepared to bet on.

While Matz isn’t a pitcher I back often, he’s done a solid job of keeping the Dodgers hitters in the park during his career. I expect him to give the Cardinals a significant advantage in the starting-pitching matchup, and I am going to bet St Louis on the first 5 innings moneyline as a result.

STL vs LAD picks:

• Cardinals first 5 innings moneyline (+124)
• Nolan Arenado over 0.5 hits (-215)

Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 MLB betting record: 2-0 (+1.54 units)

All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise.

The post St Louis Cardinals vs LA Dodgers Odds, Picks & Starting Pitchers for Sunday Night Baseball appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Despite an NBA-best 11-game win streak, the Houston Rockets (38-35, 26-11 home, 41-30-2 ATS) would still be on the outside looking in if the NBA playoffs started today. Sitting a game back of Golden State for the #10 seed, the Rockets will host the in-state rival Dallas Mavericks (44-29, 22-14 away, 42-31-0 ATS) on Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Houston (6:10 pm CT).

The Mavs are riding an impressive streak of their own – winning six straight overall and five in a row on the road –  and oddsmakers slightly favor Dallas keeping its run going in the Mavericks vs Rockets odds.

Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets Odds

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Dallas has moved up to sixth in the West in the NBA playoff bracket, just half a game behind #5 New Orleans and 1.5 clear of #7 Phoenix. If the postseason started today, the Mavericks would matchup with defending-champion Denver in the first round, though the Nuggets are within half a game of the top seed in the West.

Rockets Run Win Streak to 11

Houston stretched its win streak to 11 games on Friday with a narrow 101-100 victory at Utah, its sixth road win during the current streak. For the eighth straight game, third-year guard Jalen Green led Houston in scoring with 34 points plus nine rebounds and six assists.

Green, who has scored at least 26 points in his last eight games (and at least 34 in five of those), is now averaging exactly 20.0 PPG this season along with 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Green’s explosion started at almost the exact time that leading scorer Alperen Senguin (21.4 PPG) went down with a season-ending ankle injury on March 10.

Sengun is joined on the Houston injury report by Tari Eason (9.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG) and Cam Whitmore (12.1 PPG, 39 RPG), who are out with various leg injuries.

Houston ranks just 20th in the NBA in Offensive Rating (113.2) but has moved up to ninth in D-Rating (112.0) and 16th in Net Rating (+1.2) during the last three weeks.

Their 11-game win streak only includes three against teams currently in top-eight positions: 112-104 at Sacramento, 117-103 vs Cleveland, 132-126 at OKC. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not play in Houston’s win over the Thunder.

Doncic, Irving Dominating for Dallas

After going 2-5 in its first seven games after the All-Star break, Dallas has rattled off ten wins in its last 11 games, including six in a row. Luka Doncic continues to have an MVP-caliber season while Kyrie Irving has managed to stay healthy and finally play up to his potential in a Mavericks uniform. Irving (25.4 PPG, 5.0 APG) has scored at least 23 points in seven of his last eight games and averaged 26.0 PPG and 7.0 APG in that span.

Kyrie had a team-high 30 in Friday’s 107-103 win at Sacramento, their second road win over the Kings in three days. Doncic added 26 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds.

Dallas is now sixth in the NBA in O-Rating (117.8) but just 21st in D-Rating (115.8). The antithesis of the defense-first Rockets, Dallas sits ever-so-slightly higher in Net Rating (14th, +2.0).

Doncic remains the third-favorite in the 2024 NBA MVP odds, but with Nikola Jokic (-515) taking his game to a new level in the last month, Luka’s odds have faded to +1050.

DAL vs HOU Player Props

Player prop odds as of March 31 at DraftKings. Claim the DraftKings promo code for new users to bet on Sunday’s NBA player props. 

Mavericks vs Rockets Prediction

An 11-game win streak in the NBA is never something to sneer at, but looking under the surface reveals a fairly modest streak of Ws. Eight of the 11 came against sub-.500 teams. They have only been underdogs three times in those 11 games.

Dallas, meanwhile, has played its best defensive basketball of the season over the last two weeks. The Mavericks have held six straight opponents to 107 or fewer. They’ve also held four of their last nine opponents to single-digits.

Eventually all of the Rockets’ injuries are going to catch up with them, and I expect that to start tonight.

DAL vs HOU pick: Mavericks -2.5 (-110)

Sascha Paruk’s 2023-24 NBA betting record:

• 17-23 moneyline (+2.06 units)
• 22-18-2 ATS (+3.99 units)
• 0-1 over/under (-1.00 units)
• 8-14 player props (-7.08 units)
• 0-3 same-game parlay (-3.00 units)

All wagers one unit unless expressly stated otherwise 

The post Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets Picks, Predictions, Odds & Props (March 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Not your typical “Cinderella”, the #11 NC State Wolfpack (25-14, 9-2 neutral, 19-19-1 ATS) were nonetheless +10000 longshots to reach the Final Four after Selection Sunday. Tonight, the Wolfpack need just one more victory against the #4 Duke Blue Devils (21-13-1  ATS) to capture the South Region.

For the third time in four games, the Wolfpack are sizable underdogs in the NC State vs Duke odds. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT/4:05 pm ET at American Airlines Centers in Dallas, Texas.

NC State vs Duke Odds

The Blue Devils are 7.5-point favorites as of Sunday morning, up half a point from the opening NC State/Duke odds. Duke is a -290 favorite on the moneyline to advance to the Final Four, with NC State a +240 underdog. The total (143.5) has climbed 1.5 points since opening at 142.

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Duke started the tournament as the +295 second-favorite to win the South Region in the Final Four odds, trailing only #1 Houston (+150), whom Duke beat in the Sweet 16.

If the line is going to move further, it’s likely to come back towards the Wolfpack. The college basketball public betting splits show NC State getting 65% of ATS handle as of Sunday morning.

NC State Dominates Marquette to Reach Elite Eight

The Wolfpack’s Sweet 16 victory over #2 Marquette was arguably the most impressive during its current eight-game win streak, which dates back to a run of five victories in five days during the ACC Tournament.

NC State started the game on a 20-12 run in the first six minutes and held a 13-point edge at halftime (37-24). Marquette never got closer than six in the second half of the Wolfpack’s dominant 67-58 win.

DJ Horne led the Wolfpack with 19 points while center Mohammed Diarra had 11 points, 15 rebounds, a block, and a steal. Diarra was the biggest factor in NC State’s 42-35 edge on the glass.

NC State’s tournament run started with an 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs. They needed OT to get by #14 Oakland 79-63 as 6.5-point favorites before the assertive win over the Golden Eagles in the Sweet. 16.

The Wolfpack’s run to the ACC Tournament championship included four straight victories as moneyline underdogs: 83-65 vs Syracuse (+105), 74-69 vs Duke (+500), 73-65 OT vs Virginia (+122), and 84-76 vs North Carolina (+405).

Horne also had a team-high 18 in the win over Duke, when three-point shooting proved the biggest difference: NC State shot 43.8% from three (7-of-16) while Duke was just 25% (5-of-20).

Duke Survives Houston in Sweet 16

The Blue Devils dominated their first two games of the NCAA Tournament, blowing out #13 Vermont (64-47) and #12 James Madison (93-55), easily covering both games against the spread. They headed into the Sweet 16 as 4.5-point underdogs to the #1 Houston Cougars – the first time in eight games they weren’t favored – and immediately fell behind 14-7.

Shortly thereafter, the Cougars would lose Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead to an ankle injury, and Duke would take full advantage. The Blue Devils came all the way back to take a 23-22 lead by halftime. Houston was able to pull even at 32-32 in the second half – and Duke’s lead was never more than six – but the Blue Devils never trailed in the final 20 minutes of their narrow 54-51 victory.

Leading scorer Kyle Filiposki (16.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG) lead the team with 16 points and nine rebounds. Houston’s inability to shoot the three (2-of-8, 25%) was a massive issue for the Cougars. Duke’s defense now sits 14th in the nation in efficiency, while their offense is up to #7.

In the first meeting of the season between Duke and NC State, the Blue Devils cruised to a 79-64 road victory on March 4. Senior guard Jeremy Roach (14.0 PPG) had a team-high 21 points in the win while Duke as a team grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. 

NC State vs Duke Player Props

The college basketball player props for Oakland vs NC State from DraftKings Sportsbook on March 31. 

Filipowski leads the tightly-clustered point totals at 16.5 while Horne (15.5) is the highest on the NC State side. Diarra, NC State’s leading rebounder at 7.9 RPG, has a massive rebound total of 11.5. He’s had at least 11 in four straight games, but only exceeded that number once.

NC State vs Duke Prediction

I was a little shocked to see the line move in the Blue Devils’ direction after opening at Duke -7. NC State has proven it’s a very different team than the one that finished the regular season just 17-14. The Wolfpack were full value for their win over Duke in the ACC Tournament, and they have taken down a litany of quality competition during their current eight-game run.

The injury to Shead was a stroke of serious good luck for Duke, who would likely be at home right now if the Houston point guard didn’t get knocked out of Friday’s game.

NC State vs Duke picks:

• NC State moneyline (+240)
• Diarra under 11.5 rebounds (-120)

The post NC State vs Duke Predictions, Picks & Player Props for the Elite Eight (March 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #1 UConn Huskies dominated another quality opponent on Saturday night at TD Garden in Boston when they blew out #3 Illinois 77-52 thanks to a 30-0 run that spanned halftime.

UConn is now two wins away from becoming the first back-to-back national champion in 17 years (2007 Florida), and oddsmakers aren’t terribly bullish on the Huskies’ Final Four opponent.

In the Final Four for the first time in school history, the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide punched their ticket to the national semifinals with an 89-82 win over #6 Clemson. Alabama was a 4.5-point underdog in its Sweet 16 victory over West #1 North Carolina, but it is staring down a much bigger spread against UConn in the Final Four.

Alabama vs UConn Odds

Dan Hurley’s Huskies have opened as 10.5-point favorites over Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide. The moneyline favors UConn at -600 with Alabama a +440 underdog to reach the national championship game.

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UConn paid out as a +110 pre-tournament favorite to reach the Final Four. Alabama bettors landed a much bigger payday; the Tide were a +1000 fourth-favorite to win the West Region after Selection Sunday.

UConn Dominantes Excellent Illinois Team

An explosive, athletic Illini team looked like it might have the horses to keep up with tournament-favorite UConn early in the teams’ Elite Eight matchup on Saturday night. But after the Illini tied the game at 23-23 with just over a minute left in the first half, the Huskies went on a ludicrous 30-0 run that spanned halftime.

That included scoring the first 25 points of the second stanza. Seven-foot-two sophomore center Donovan Clingan dominated with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting plus 10 rebounds, five blocks, and and three steals.

Four other Huskies finished in double-figures, but it was UConn’s stifling defense that was the true star. Illinois’ offense, which ranks second in efficiency and averages 84.2 PPG, was held to its lowest point total of the season while shooting just 25.4% from the field.

Terrence Shannon Jr, the third-leading scorer in all of DI (23.5 PPG), was held to just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.

The win raised UConn’s overall efficiency rating at KenPom to +35.10, which is nearly four higher than #2 Houston and nearly six higher than their rating at the end of last year’s national-championship run.

Alabama Holds Off Clemson

In a thrilling battle between two schools looking for their first ever Final Four berths, Alabama held of Clemson for a 89-82 win on Saturday night at crypto.com Arena.

Leading scorer Mark Sears was as-advertised with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting (7-of-14 from beyond the arc). Freshman forward Jarin Stevenson had a massive 19 points off the bench on a night when some of Alabama’s starters weren’t at their offensive best. Senior forward Nick Pringle had a game-high 11 rebounds. The Tide finished just 46% from the field but won the rebounding battle by a massive 40 to 28 margin to more than make up for it.

The Tide reached the Elite Eight with an 89-87 victory over #1 UNC on Thursday night. Senior center Grant Nelson starred in that victory with a team-high 24 points and 12 rebounds.

Alabama now sits 13th overall in efficiency at KenPom and 14th at Haslametrics. KenPom has the Tide offense at #3 but their defense at 102nd.

Now 25-11 straight-up this season, the Tide improved their record against top-50 KenPom teams to 8-11 with Saturday’s win over Clemson, but they are just 2-6 against top-15 squads.

Alabama and Purdue will meet at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday, April 6. Tip-off time is still TBD.

The post Alabama vs UConn Odds – Opening Point Spread, Moneyline & Total for Final Four appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The Tennessee Volunteers (27-8) will face off against the Purdue Boilermakers (32-4) in an Elite Eight matchup on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:20 PM ET with the game televised on CBS.

Purdue is currently a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 147.5 points. This betting line has moved towards Matt Painter’s team after opening with the Boilermakers as shorter -2 favorites.

Let’s further examine the Tennessee vs Purdue odds as we make our prediction for this Elite Eight showdown.

Tennessee vs Purdue Odds

In the Tennessee vs Purdue odds, the Boilermakers are narrow -160 favorites on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 61.5%.

These two teams met earlier this season in the Maui Invitational with Purdue prevailing 71-67. It was a defensive slugfest, with both teams shooting under 40% from the field and 30% from deep.

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Tennessee Betting Trends

Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight by defeating Creighton 82-75 in their Sweet Sixteen matchup. The Volunteers trailed 35-34 at halftime but erupted for 48 second-half points to pull away for the victory. Tennessee shot 41.8% from the field and made 11 three-pointers in the win.

Previously, the Vols beat Texas 62-58 in the Round of 32 and St. Peter’s 83-49 in the first round. On the season, Tennessee is averaging 79.1 points, 39.1 rebounds and 16.7 assists per game, while allowing 67.3 points per contest.

walked off the floor and into the Elite 8

our PG pic.twitter.com/J6bmA8ul5K

— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) March 30, 2024

The Volunteers are led by guard Dalton Knecht who is putting up 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. As a team, Tennessee is shooting 44.4% from the field, 74.9% from the free throw line and 34.2% from three-point range.

However, the Vols could be without starting guard Santiago Vescovi who missed the Creighton game with an illness and is questionable to play against Purdue.

While the Vols have some offensive playmakers, Tennessee’s defense is their calling card. The Volunteers are 3rd in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. Their perimeter defenders can make life difficult for Purdue’s guards like Loyer and Braden Smith.

Purdue Betting Analysis

Purdue punched their ticket to the Elite Eight with an impressive 80-68 victory over Gonzaga. The Boilermakers led 40-36 at the half and pulled away after the break, shooting a scorching 57.1% from the field while winning the rebounding battle by 7.

Purdue steamrolled their first two opponents, crushing Utah State 106-67 and Grambling 78-50. The Boilermakers are averaging 83.8 points, 40.6 rebounds and 19 assists per game this season, while giving up 69.4 points per contest.

Purdue’s offense revolves around 7’4″ center Zach Edey who is nearly averaging a double-double with 24.6 points and 12.1 rebounds to go along with 2.1 assists and 2.2 blocks per game. Edey is shooting 62.4% from the field, including 82.1% at the rim.

The Boilermakers are an elite shooting team, making 48.8% of their field goals, 72.1% of their free throws and 40.8% of their three-pointers.

Purdue’s biggest strength is their size and interior scoring prowess with Edey. The Boilermakers rank 2nd nationally in opponent rebounds per game (29.2) and 65th in opponent field goal percentage (41.9%).

Tennessee vs Purdue Prediction

Purdue is the more talented and complete team, as exemplified by the spread for this game. They have Edey, the best player on the floor, and more scoring options to surround him with. The Boilermakers are on a mission to reach their first Final Four under coach Matt Painter and shed their label as March underachievers.

Purdue’s experience in close games, such as its Maui win over Tennessee and recent victories against Marquette and Gonzaga, should serve them well if this is a tight contest down the stretch. The Boilermakers are 7-1 this season in games decided by five points or less.

The Vols will put up a fight with their tough defense and gritty style of play. But unless they shoot significantly better from the field and from three than they did in the first meeting, it’s hard to see them generating enough offense to win.

Expect another hard-fought, physical battle, but for Purdue to make just enough plays to cover the 3.5-point spread. The under also looks appealing given the defensive nature of the matchup.

TEN vs PUR Picks

• Purdue -3.5 (-105)
• Under 147.5 (-110)

The post #2 Tennessee vs #1 Purdue Odds, Prediction & Picks (Mar. 31) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The Boston Celtics (57-16) travel to face the New Orleans Pelicans (45-28) at Smoothie King Center on Saturday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET and the game will be televised on NBA TV, BSNO, and NBCS-BOS.

The Celtics enter as 6-point road favorites with the over/under set at 223 points, according to Bet365. Player props have also been released, with Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson sporting the highest point totals on the board.

Let’s delve into our Celtics vs Pelicans prediction as we analyze the odds and determine the best player props to wager on.

Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans Odds

In the Celtics vs Pelicans odds, Boston is a -245 road favorite, giving them 71% implied win probability. Check out our NBA odds page for moneylines and spreads for all of Saturday’s games.

In the updated NBA Championship odds, Boston is the favorite at +212 average odds, while New Orleans is a +7000 longshot.

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Odds as of March 30, 2024, at Bet365 Sportsbook. Claim the Bet365 promo code to bet on Celtics vs Pelicans.

Celtics Betting Trends

Boston enters this contest looking to bounce back after suffering consecutive road losses to the Atlanta Hawks. In their most recent defeat on Thursday, the Celtics fell 123-122 in overtime as heavy 16-point favorites.

It marked a rare non-cover for a Boston team that has been one of the best bets in the NBA this season, going 38-32-3 against the spread (ATS) overall and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games.

Offensively, the Celtics have been virtually unstoppable lately, eclipsing the 117-point mark in each of their past 11 outings dating back to March 9th. As usual, the catalyst has been All-Star forward Jayson Tatum. The 25-year-old is in the midst of another MVP-caliber campaign, ranking 6th in the league in scoring at 27.3 points per game while also contributing 8.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

Tatum’s partner in crime, Jaylen Brown, has also elevated his play this season. The versatile wing is posting 23.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest. His ability to create his own shot and defend multiple positions makes him the perfect complement to Tatum.

From a betting perspective, there are a few key trends to note. The Celtics have been a solid bet as a road favorite this season, going 17-16-3 ATS in that spot. They have also been a strong over team lately, with the over hitting in five straight and seven of their last eight games overall.

Pelicans Betting Trends

New Orleans comes in playing some of their best basketball of the season. The Pelicans have won six of their last eight games overall, going 5-3 ATS during that stretch. Their most impressive performance came on Thursday when they took down the Milwaukee Bucks 107-100 as short 2-point home underdogs.

For the season, New Orleans has been a boon for bettors, compiling a 40-31-2 ATS record. As usual, the Pelicans are led by Zion Williamson’s freakish talents. The third-year forward is putting up 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting an absurd 58% from the field.

Zion Williamson in his last 3 games for the Pelicans 🔥

28 PTS – 5 REBS – 2 ASTS – 9-of-15 FG
29 PTS – 5 REBS – 10 ASTS – 10-of-17 FG
36 PTS – 7 REBS – 6 ASTS – 13-of-14 FG pic.twitter.com/FPRWZzMrtt

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 29, 2024

Williamson is flanked by veteran guard CJ McCollum, who has provided a steadying presence in his first full season with the team. The 31-year-old is averaging 18.8 points and 4.5 assists per game, giving New Orleans a reliable secondary creator and floor spacer.

Unfortunately for the Pelicans, they will once again be without the services of another one of their top players in Brandon Ingram. The skilled forward has been sidelined since March 15th with a knee injury and remains out indefinitely.

Celtics vs Pelicans Player Props

NBA player props have been released for the Celtics vs Pelicans showdown, with oddsmakers forecasting big nights from each team’s star player. Taum and Williamson both have a projected point total of 25.5, while CJ McCollum is also sitting above 20 (22.5).

Player prop odds as of March. 30, at Caesars Sportsbook.

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Tatum over 25.5 points is a solid bet considering the Pelicans allow the 8th most points to opposing small forwards. Tatum is averaging 27.3 points per season, and his road production is identical to his production at TD Garden. Following a 31-point showing vs Atlanta, Tatum should stay hot as he aims to will Boston back into the win column.

On the New Orleans side, we think McCollum cashes the over on his point total in what should be a high-scoring game. The shooting guard is only averaging 18.8 points on the year, but with Ingram sidelined, he’s scored over 23 points in four straight games. Boston ranks just 18th in opponent three-point percentage, and McCollum has been on fire from deep.

Celtics vs Pelicans Prop Picks:

• Jayson Tatum Over 25.5 Points (-127)
• CJ McCollum Over 22.5 Points (-109)

Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction

When breaking down the matchup, it’s hard not to give the Celtics a significant edge on paper. They have more top-end talent with Tatum and Brown, a deeper roster of complementary pieces, and a championship pedigree having made the Finals last season. The absence of Ingram only tilts the scales further in Boston’s favor.

However, the Pelicans have proven time and again that they are a tough out on their home floor. With Williamson leading the charge and a raucous New Orleans crowd behind them, they certainly have the ingredients to keep this game competitive.

Ultimately, I do expect the Celtics to emerge victorious and continue their march toward the top seed in the East. But I think the Pelicans put up a strong fight and keep it within the 6-point spread. I also lean towards the over given how explosive Boston’s offense has been lately and the potential for a fast-paced, high-scoring affair.

BOS vs NOP Picks:

• Pelicans +6 (-110)
• Over 223 (-110)

The post Boston Celtics vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction, Odds & Player Props to Bet (Mar. 30) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers will face off against the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in an intriguing Elite Eight matchup on Saturday at 8:49 p.m. EDT at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be televised on TBS.

Alabama enters as a slight 3.5-point favorite despite Clemson dominating the recent head-to-head. The over/under has been set at 163.5 points for a matchup featuring the Tide’s top-ranked offense.

Let’s get into our Clemson vs Alabama prediction, as we analyze the odds and determine the best picks to make for the Elite Eight.

Clemson vs Alabama Odds

In the Clemson vs Alabama odds for Saturday, the Crimson Tide are -175 moneyline favorites, giving them an implied win probability of 63%.

These two teams last met in November, with Clemson pulling out an 85-77 victory in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers have won five of the last six meetings dating back to 2008.

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Clemson vs Alabama Head-to-Head Stats

Clemson Betting Analysis

Clemson (24-11, 11-10 ACC) is making its first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 after upsetting No. 2 seed Arizona 77-72 in the Sweet 16. The Tigers were led by Chase Hunter, who scored 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. PJ Hall also had a strong game with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

Clemson’s defense has been stifling in the tournament, holding opponents to just 41% shooting. The Tigers rank 33rd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. While their opponent Saturday plays at a fast pace, the Tigers rank 267th in the country in adjusted tempo.

The moment we went from Sweet to Elite 😎 pic.twitter.com/dMFWjtGbNH

— Clemson Basketball (@ClemsonMBB) March 29, 2024

On the season, Hall leads Clemson in scoring (18.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). Hunter is the team’s second-leading scorer at 14.8 ppg over the last 10 games. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 73.3 points on 46.5% shooting over their last 10 contests.

Clemson will need its defense to continue to shine against Alabama’s high-powered attack. The Tigers have allowed just 56 points to New Mexico, 64 to Baylor and 72 to Arizona so far in the tournament. The Tigers have been betting underdogs in all three games thus far.

Alabama Betting Analysis

Alabama (24-11, 13-6 SEC) punched its ticket to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history by knocking off No. 1 seed North Carolina in the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide were paced by a season-high 24 points from Grant Nelson, while Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrada each chipped in 19.

For the season, Alabama boasts the nation’s top-scoring offense at 90.7 points per game and has outscored opponents by an average of 9.6 ppg. Mark Sears is the Tide’s leading scorer at 21.4 ppg while shooting 42.9% from three-point range. Estrada is averaging 15.1 ppg over the last 10 games on 48.9% shooting.

Mark Sears delivered for the Crimson Tide 🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/F4KAgEq472

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 25, 2024

Alabama plays at one of the fastest tempos in the country, averaging 76.7 possessions and ranking 9th in Ken Pom’s adjusted tempo metrics. Their ability to score in bunches has led to the “over” hitting in 12 of their last 14 contests.

The Crimson Tide have been turning a profit for bettors this season, covering the number in 20 of their 35 games so far. They’ve also covered in all three games of the tournament, including as 4.5-point underdogs against UNC.

Clemson vs Alabama Prediction

This game will likely come down to whether Clemson’s stingy defense can disrupt Alabama’s rhythm just enough. The Tide want to speed up the pace and score in transition, while the Tigers prefer a slower, more methodical approach.

If Clemson can control the tempo and get enough offense from Hall and Hunter, the Tigers could be headed to their first Final Four in program history. But if Alabama is clicking on all cylinders, the Tide’s firepower may simply be too much to overcome.

For our Clemson vs Alabama prediction, we like the under in this game. The regular-season meeting resulted in an 85-77 final score, but there is a key difference in playstyle between the regular season and the Elite 8.

The under has hit in eight of the Tigers’ past 10 games, and we expect this trend to continue as Clemson aims to slow this game down. Bet on the two teams falling under the posted total of 163.5 points.

CLEM vs ALA Pick:

• Under 163.5 Points (-105)

The post Clemson vs Alabama Prediction, Odds & Picks for Elite Eight Matchup appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Dating back to last season’s national-championship run, the #1 UConn Huskies (34-3, 9-0 neutral, 25-12 ATS) continue to destroy every team they meet in the NCAA Tournament, winning nine straight games by at least 13 points, including Thursday’s 30-point demolition of #5 San Diego State (82-52).

On Saturday, UConn matches up with the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini in the East Region Elite Eight at TD Garden in Boston at 6:09 pm ET. UConn opened as a 7.5-point favorite on Thursday night but that line has been bet up considerably.

Illinois vs UConn Odds

The Huskies are now nine-point chalk in the Illinois vs UConn odds and -425 to win straight-up (shortening from -325 in the opening odds). The Illini are +330 moneyline underdogs to win their eighth straight game, which includes a run to the Big Ten Tournament title. The game total has come down one point from 156.5 to 155.5 as of Saturday morning.

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Odds as of March 30. Claim the Fanatics Sportsbook promo to bet on the 2024 Elite Eight. 

UConn started the 2024 NCAA Tournament as +110 favorites to win the East Region in the Final Four odds. Illinois was the +700 fourth-favorite in the East on Selection Sunday.

Illinois Takes Down Iowa State to Reach First Elite Eight Since 2005

The Illini had a fairly easy run to the Sweet 16, running over #14 Morehead State (89-63) and then getting a favorable draw against #11 Duquesne, who upset #6 BYU in the first round. Illinois took full advantage, blowing the doors off the Dukes 89-63, including a 50-26 edge in the first half.

The free ride came to an end in the Sweet 16 where the Illini faced #2 Iowa State, owners of the nation’s most-efficient defense. But Terrence Shannon Jr and company used another big first-half performance (36-26) to edge out the Cyclones (72-69).

Shannon (23.5 PPG) finished with a team-high 29 points in the Iowa State victory and is now averaging 28.3 PPG in the tournament.

Illinois’ defense – rated just 84th at KenPom – played one of its best games of the season, holding the Cyclones to just 39.7% from the field and finishing +4 on the boards.

UConn Blows Out San Diego State (Again)

A year after taking down the Aztecs in the national championship game (76-59), #1 UConn put the boots to #5 San Diego State again on Thursday night in the Sweet 16. The Aztecs stayed within contact in the first half, which ended with a 40-31 UConn lead. But the second half was all Huskies, who held a double-digit lead for the last 18 minutes of their 30-point victory.

UConn’s guard trio of Cam Spencer, Tristen Newton, and Stephon Castle all scored between 16 and 18 points while the Huskies absolutely dominated the glass (50 to 29), making up for a subpar 30-of-65 (46.2%) performance form the field.

UConn trounced #16 Stetson (91-52) in the first round and #8 Northwestern (75-58) in the second. Dating back to the regular season, UConn has now held six of its last seven opponents to 60 points or fewer.

The Huskies rate first in overall efficiency at both KenPom and Haslametrics, and it’s no longer close. At +34.09, UConn is nearly three full points ahead of #2 Houston, which bowed out in the Sweet 16 to Duke last night.

ILL vs UConn Player Props

College basketball player props from DraftKings on March 30. 

Shannon has the highest point total of the night at 22.5 but five different UConn players (all the starters) are at 10.5 or higher, led by Tristen Newton at 16.5.

UConn center Donovan Clingan, who’s grabbed at least __ rebounds in the first three tournament games, has a game-high rebound total of 8.5 O/U.

Illinois vs UConn Prediction

If the Illini can keep this game within single-digits, they will be the first team to do so against UConn since the 2022 Tournament, when the Huskies bowed out to New Mexico in the first round.

But Illinois is not built like most college basketball teams. The Illini now have the number two offense in DI in terms of efficiency and Shannon is arguably the most-dynamic player in the country.

The real key to this game will be whether Illinois can contend on the glass. The Illini currently rank an excellent 17th in offensive-rebound percentage and a solid 64th on defense, which are remarkably similar rankings to UConn (12th offense and 79th on defense). Illinois’ trio of Coleman Hawkins, Dain Dainja, and Quincy Guerrier give head coach Brad Underwood a trio of big, athletic bodies to battle in the post.

On paper, Illinois is uniquely suited to matchup with this UConn freight train. They have the firepower to keep up on offense and the athleticism to contend on defense.

ILL vs UConn pick: Illinois moneyline (+330)

The post Illinois vs UConn Predictions, Picks & Player Props for Elite Eight (March 30) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #1 Purdue Boilermakers are living up to their billing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, something they failed to do last year. After falling in the first round to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson a year ago, Matt Painter’s team has strung together three dominant victories to reach the school’s first Elite Eight since 2019 and just its second since the year 2000.

After Purdue took down #5 Gonzaga on Friday night, the #2 Tennessee Volunteers used a huge second half to beat #3 Creighton (82-75) and set up their second game of the season against the Boilermakers.

Purdue took the first meeting in Maui (71-67) and are favored in the opening Tennessee vs Purdue odds for the 2024 Elite Eight.

Tennessee vs Purdue Odds

Zach Edey and company are slim two-point favorites and -142 on the moneyline. The Vols come back at +120 to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. The game total has opened at 148.5.

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Purdue started the tournament as the +165 favorite to win the Midwest Region in the Final Four odds, with Tennessee a +330 second-favorite.

The winner of Tennessee vs Purdue will move on in the March Madness bracket to face the winner of the South Region, which features #11 NC State vs either #1 Houston or #4 Duke.

Purdue Cruises Past Gonzaga (Again)

Purdue blew out its first two opponents (78-50 over #16 Grambling; 106-67 vs #8 Utah State) but looked to be in a dogfight against #5 Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. The Zags left for most of the first half before a late Boilermaker surge gave Purdue a four-point lead at the break. The second half was all Boilermakers: a 16-2 run circa the 26-minute mark gave Purdue a 16-point lead that was never threatened thereafter.

Zach Edey wound up leading the team with 27 points and 14 rebounds, but it was the guard play that kept Purdue in contact early on. Purdue, which leads the nation in three-point percentage, went 9-of-20 from three (45%) while point guard Braden Smith dished out a career-high 15 assists (while also playing every minute of the 40).

Purdue remains the #3 team in overall efficiency at KenPom, sitting third on offense and 17th on defense.

The Boilermakers took a hardfought 71-67 decision against Tennessee at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 21.  Fletcher Loyer had a team-high 27 points in that victory, including a 10-of-11 performance form the free-throw line.

Tennessee Uses Huge Second-Half Run to Takedown Creighton

Tennessee trailed Creighton by one after a razor-tight first half (35-34) before a decisive 18-0 run early in the second stanza gave the Volunteers a 55-39 lead that they would not relinquish. The Bluejays made a game of it, trimming the lead to three at one point (62-59) but the Vols regained their composure to close it out

Leading scorer Dalton Knecht led Tennessee with 26 points on 8-of-21 shooting with five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

In the opening round of the tournament, the Vols took down #15 Saint Peter’s 83-49 in a laugher. Their second-round matchup with Texas was tighter, at least at the end. Tennessee held a seven-point lead with just over two minutes to play, yet found themselves up just one in the final 30 seconds before closing it out at the free-throw line.

Knecht also led the Vols in scoring in the first two rounds, dropping 23 against Saint Peter’s and 18 against Texas.

Tennessee is currently seventh overall at KenPom, third on defense but just 29th on offense.

The post Opening Tennessee vs Purdue Odds – Moneyline, Spread & Total for 2024 Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The #11 NC State Wolfpack pulled off their sixth moneyline upset in their last seven games on Friday night with a 67-58 win over #2 Marquette as 7.5-point underdogs in the Sweet 16. The victory sent the Wolfpack through to their first Elite Eight since 1986, where they will face the #1 Duke Blue Devils for the right to represent the South Region in the 2024 Final Four.

The opening NC State vs Duke odds set the Wolfpack as underdogs once again.

NC State vs Duke Odds

The Blue Devils have opened as a seven-point favorite in the NC State vs Duke odds for Sunday’s Elite Eight game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

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Despite an impressive run to the ACC Tournament title, NC State entered the NCAA Tournament as a +10000 longshot to win the South Region in the Final Four odds. Duke opened as the second-favorite to win the South at +295.

Wolfpack Dominate Marquette in Sweet 16

NC State opened its tournament with an impressive 80-67 win over #6 Texas Tech as 4.5-point underdogs, but needed OT to get past #14 Oakland (87-81) in round two. The Wolfpack’s Sweet 16 matchup with #2 Marquette saw the team get back to dominating. NC State opened up a 13-point lead by halftime (37-24) and kept the Golden Eagles at arm’s length throughout the second half.

NC State’s size and length proved too much for Marquette. The Wolfpack finished +four on the boards led by 15 rebounds from center Mohammed Diarra. Marquette, which shot 35.2% from three as a team this season, went an uncharacteristic 4-of-31 (13%) from beyond the arc.

Leading scorer DJ Horne (16.7 PPG) had a team-high 19, hitting four of seven three-point attempts. Big man DJ Burns Jr dished out a career-high seven assists.

Now riding an eight-game win streak that includes five wins in five days during the ACC Tournament, NC State has won six of its last seven as moneyline underdogs. The Wolfpack’s run to the ACC title included wins over the top-three teams in the conference (UNC, Duke, and Virginia).

NC State lost to Duke in the regular season (79-64 home) but avenged that loss in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament with a 74-69 win in Washington, DC.

Duke Outlasts Houston to Reach First Elite Eight Under Scheyer

Duke steamrolled its first two opponents in the NCAA Tournament (64-47 over #13 Vermont; 93-55 over #12 James Madison) before a hard-fought Sweet 16 matchup with #1 Houston. The Blue Devils led by one after a low-scoring first half (23-22) and kept a nose in front throughout the second half of their 54-51 victory on Friday night in Dallas.

Sophomore center Kyle Filipowski lead the team with 16 points and nine rebounds while senior guard Jeremy Roach added 14 points. The Blue Devils had to benefit of facing a Cougars team that lost point guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Jamal Shead to an ankle injury just 13 minutes into the game.

After bowing out in the second round last year – Duke’s first under Jon Scheyer – the Blue Devils will be playing in their third Elite Eight in the last six NCAA Tournaments.

Overall, Duke rates fifth at KenPom (fifth on offense, 18th on defense). They are 7-6 against teams inside KenPom’s top 50, which now includes NC State. The Wolfpack started their ACC Tournament run rated 77th and have now climbed to 49th.

The post NC State vs Duke Odds – Opening Spread, Total & Moneyline for Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Just as they did in 2023 and 2022, Georgia’s sports betting hopes were officially dashed during the final day of the Peach State’s legislative session.

A Georgia online sports betting package never moved out of the House Rules Committee on sine die, officially ending any hope sports betting proponents had for this year as legislators adjourned their session close to 1 a.m. this morning.

Lawmakers will likely try to legalize again in 2025, but it’s difficult to envision an outcome that will be much different.

Quick Start, Sluggish Finish

Georgia’s sports betting efforts came out of the gates quickly this year, with the Senate approving Sen. Clint Dixon’s (R-45) bill, SB 386, in early February by a 35-15 vote. Even though Dixon’s bill was amended to include a constitutional amendment for legalization, sports betting momentum was high as the bill moved over to the House.

The bill called for the legalization of online sports betting for 16 license holders. The legislation set the sports betting tax rate at 25% of gross revenue and licenses would have cost operators $1 million annually.

Prior to Senate approval, Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-46) passed an amendment to the bill to require sports betting be legalized through a constitutional amendment.

Cowsert’s resolution, SR 579, required Georgia voters to approve a constitutional amendment in the November general election to legalize sports betting. It also required that 85% of sports betting tax revenue be earmarked for HOPE Scholarship funding, pre-kindergarten funding, educational training, and capital improvements, with the remaining 15% of revenue be dedicated to a problem gaming fund and capped at $150 million.

Yesterday, the bills needed to be moved out of the House Committee on Higher Education, then moved out of the rules committee, and placed on a House calendar for approval.

From there, the package still faced long odds for approval. The resolution required a two-thirds majority vote for approval, the bill required a simple majority, and then both would have been sent to the Senate for concurrence, as they were amended heavily in committee.

The sports betting package never got a chance, however, as it was approved by the Higher Education committee first thing in the morning and moved to Rules, where it was never called to be placed on the House calendar. The Rules committee met three times over the course of the final day of the session, but never considered the sports betting bills.

In the end the support wasn’t there. Rumblings began to trickle out of the House yesterday that the sports betting package didn’t have the necessary Democrat votes to overcome the two-thirds majority and the bills would not be addressed by the rules committee.

Those rumblings proved correct and the package died in committee.

So here we are. Another several months of discussion, an approval in one of the chambers, and a defeat on the final day. Where does Georgia go from here?

Will 2025 Be Any Different?

It’s likely that lawmakers will again take up sports betting in 2025. It has too many supporters and there is too much revenue at stake to be completely ignored.

But will next year be any different? For the last three years lawmakers in the Peach State have tried to approve sports betting and have all failed. This year, at least, it seemed as if a huge question on how sports betting would be legalized had been answered.

Supporters of sports betting in 2024 seemed to agree early on in the process that a constitutional amendment was the best way to legalize, rather than legalize through a simple bill and designate sports betting as a lottery game.

“This is the politically appropriate thing to do, when you make this type of a major policy shift in the state, to let the people vote. Let them weigh in on it,” Cowsert previously said during a committee hearing on his resolution.

But after the Senate approval, momentum slowed in the House. Disagreements on what sports betting revenue should fund began to crop up, and support for the package started to wane during committee discussions.

So what will 2025 be any different? It remains to be seen. While the legalization method seems to be decided on, now it seems as if the sports betting tax revenue funding question still remains.

Maybe with a full session worth of meetings that question will be answered and sports betting will finally cross the finish line next year.

The post Georgia Sports Betting Dies on Final Legislative Day appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

On a quest to become the first repeat national champions since the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007, the #1 UConn Huskies have already gotten further than any reigning champion since by reaching the Elite Eight. On Thursday night, the Huskies punched their ticket to the East Region final with an 82-52 win over San Diego State .

Standing in the tracks, awaiting the UConn freight train, will be the #3 Illinois Fighting Illini, who took down #2 Iowa State in the late game at TD Garden.

The opening Illinois vs UConn odds heavily favor the reigning-champion Huskies.

Illinois vs UConn Odds

The Huskies are 7.5-point favorites in the opening Illinois vs UConn odds and -325to win straight-up. The Illini come back as +260 moneyline underdogs, while the total has opened at 156.5.

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UConn has been the East Region favorite from the outset, opening at +110 to win the East in the Final Four odds on Selection Sunday. Coming off a Big Ten Tournament win, Illinois was +700 in the Final Four odds ten days ago.

UConn Wins Ninth Straight NCAA Tournament Game by Double-Digits

With Thursday’s 82-52 demolition of #5 San Diego State, the Huskies now have a 28.7 average margin of victory in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and have won each of their last nine March Madness games by at least 13 points dating back to last season’s tear through the bracket.

UConn didn’t shoot particularly well on Thursday night against the Aztecs (46.2% from the field and 38.5% from three) but they finished with a +21 rebounding margin while limiting the Aztecs to just 36.2% from the floor.

Cam Spencer finished with a team-high 18 points while Tristen Newton and Stephon Castle added 17 and 16, respectively.

The Huskies already rated first in adjusted efficiency at KenPom prior to the victory over SDSU, and will only see its +33.14 rating rise. To put that number in perspective, last year’s title-winning team finished at just +29.86.

Illinois’ Offense Stays Hot

While Illinois’ run of four 80-point games was stopped by Iowa State – the nation’s top defense in terms of efficiency – Terrence Shannon Jr and company still put on an impressive display against the Cyclones on Thursday night.

At the 14-minute mark, Shannon was personally outscoring the Cyclones (14-12) while his Illini held a 12-point cushion. Iowa State showed its championship mettle in coming back from a ten-point halftime deficit (36-26) in the second half, narrowing the gap to two (53-51) with 5:48 to play. But Shannon proved too much down the stretch in Illinois’ 72-69 win.

The nation’s third-leading scorer (23.3 PPG) finished with 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field.

In the first round, Illinois ran over #14 Morehead State (85-69) and followed that up with an 89-63 blowout of #11 Duquesne with Shannon scoring 26 in round one and 30 in round two.

The post Opening Illinois vs UConn Odds for the Elite Eight – Spread, Moneyline & Total appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

Picked by many – including oddsmakers – to lose in the first round, the #6 Clemson Tigers have won three straight as moneyline underdogs to reach the school’s first Elite Eight since 1980. The Tigers will face the West Region #4 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday at crypto.com Arena for a spot in the Final Four.

To no one’s surprise, the Tigers are underdogs once again in the opening Clemson vs Alabama odds.

Clemson vs Alabama Odds

The Clemson vs Alabama line has opened at Alabama -1.5 with the Tide -125 on the moneyline. The game total is at 165.

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Alabama was +1000 to win the West Region on Selection Sunday, while Clemson was a +4000 longshot in the Final Four odds.

Clemson Outlasts Arizona

Clemson has used a trio of dominant first halves to book its ticket to the Elite Eight.

In the first round, the Tigers led #11 New Mexico 42-28 at the break before cruising to a 77-56 win; in the second round, Clemson opened a 35-25 lead on #3 Baylor and held on for a 72-64 win; in the Sweet 16, the Tigers held a 39-31 lead on #2 Arizona and, despite falling behind by one (46-45) five minutes into the second half, stormed back to earn a 77-72 win.

Chase Hunter had a team-high 18 points against the Wildcats, while center PJ Hall added 17 and a team-leading eight rebounds.

The Tigers showed that they had this type of run in them early in the season. Clemson started the year 11-1 win victories over Boise State (85-68 home), Alabama (85-77 away), Pitt (79-70 away), South Carolina (72-67 home), and TCU (74-66 neutral).

But many left the Tigers for dead after they went just 10-10 the rest of the way, and bowed out to Boston College (71st at KenPom) in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

Clemson did manage to split its two meetings with UNC in the regular season, dropping a low-scoring 65-55 verdict at home on Jan. 6, but repaying the favor in Chapel Hill on Feb. 6 with an 80-76 road win.

Alabama Comes Back to Upset UNC

The Crimson Tide’s Final Four chances were on life support against #1 UNC at halftime, trailing the Tar Heels by eight at the break. But a consummate team effort allowed Alabama to come all the way back for a 89-87 win as 4.5-point underdogs. Grant Nelson led the Tide with 24 points while Aaron Estrada (19), Rylan Griffen (18), and Mark Sears (18) all approached 20 as well.

The offensive explosion was just the latest for Alabama’s electric offense. The Tide trounced #13 Charleston (109-96) in the first round and then survived a 72-61 decision against #12 Grand Canyon in the round of 32.

Led by Mark Sears (21.5 PPG), Alabama rates fourth in offensive efficiency, but a lowly 101st on defense. Clemson beat the Tide 85-77 in Alabama during the regular season.

The post Clemson vs Alabama Odds – Crimson Tide Open as Betting Favorites in Elite Eight appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The Creighton Bluejays and Tennessee Volunteers are battling for a spot in the Elite Eight in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket. Creighton defeated Akron 77-60 in the first round then beat #11 Oregon in a double overtime thriller to get to their third Sweet 16 in four years. Tennessee took down #15 Saint Peters in the Round of 64 83-49 then defeated #7 Texas in the Round of 32 to make the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row.

Creighton got to their first Elite Eight since 1941 last year and would like to make it back there. Tennessee lost to FAU in the Sweet 16 last season and are looking to get back to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2010. The Volunteers have been lost three straight Sweet 16 games.

Creighton vs Tennessee Odds

Friday’s college basketball odds list Tennessee as a 3-point favorite over Creighton. The line has moved slightly after opening at Tennessee -2. The Volunteers are -150 on the moneyline, which gives them an implied win probability of 60%. The total has shot down since it opened at 148.5, as the O/U is now down to 143.5

Heading into the Sweet 16, Tennessee has the sixth-best NCAA Tournament Championship odds at +1400, while Creighton is currently +2500 to win it all.

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Creighton Betting Trends

Creighton is 19-15 against the spread this season and has covered in both of their two NCAA Tournament games so far. The Bluejays entered March Madness hot winning seven of their last eight games of the regular season before falling to Providence in the Big East Tournament. Creighton has covered the spread in nine of their last 11 games, but they are 0-2 against the spread as an underdog of at least three points.

The Bluejays love the three-ball. They score over 80 points and shoot over 10 three pointers per game. Their offense is ranked eleventh in adjusted efficiency and is led by Baylor Scheierman who puts up 18.3 points per game as well as over 9 rebounds a game. Creighton’s offense is difficult to stop because they have so many players that can score the basketball with ease. Trey Alexander and 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner both average over 17 points per game and are trusted down the stretch.

Creighton does a good job of defending shots as well. They allow opponents to shoot just 41% from the field and allow teams to shoot 31% from behind the arc.

Tennessee Betting Trends

The Volunteers are 17-16-1 against the spread this year and are 1-1 against the spread in the tournament. They have only covered once in their last four games, and the over has only hit twice in their last ten games.

Tennessee had one of, if not their worst shooting game of the season against Texas and they still found a way to win. The Volunteers were 3/25 from three and shot just 33% from the field in the Round of 32. They were able to rely on their defense and held the Longhorns to 58 points. Tennessee is ranked third in defensive efficiency, so when the shots are not falling, Tennessee can stay in any game with their defense.

Tennessee’s offense has played well this year outside of their last game. SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht averages 21 points per game and has the ability to take over games. The Volunteers will be looking for Knecht to have a big game against Creighton.

Creighton vs Tennessee Prediction

This is one of the most exciting Sweet 16 games this year as both teams have had Final Four expectations since the start of the year. It should go down to the wire, but Tennessee has the slight edge.

It is hard to imagine the Volunteers having another offensive performance like they had against Texas. If their offense gets back to scoring the way they can, they will be tough to beat. If Creighton is hitting all their threes, it could be difficult for Tennessee, but I will trust the Volunteers’ defense to hold them in check. The Volunteers advance to their first Elite Eight since 2010.

Pick: Tennessee -3 (-110)

The post Creighton vs Tennessee Expert Picks and Predictions for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

The seventh game of the Sweet 16 sees #4 Duke take on #1 Houston in South Region action. These have been two of the top teams in the country all year and it’s bound to be a great game. The two teams enter their Sweet 16 matchup coming off very different experiences in the Round of 32.

The game is scheduled to tip-off on Friday, March 29 at 9:39pm ET and can be seen on CBS. (Just be aware that this game is being played at America Airlines Center right after NC State vs Marquette. So, if that game runs a little long, the tip for Duke vs Houston will also get pushed back.)

Duke vs Houston Odds

The #1 Houston Cougars are 4.5-point favorites in their matchup with Duke. Houston is given -190 odds to win the game, which comes out to a 65.5% probability to win the game.

If you bet $20 on Houston to win, you would stand to win $10.53 and return $30.53. If you placed that same $20 bet on Duke at +160 odds, your potential profit would be $32 while returning $52.

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Houston opened as a 4-point favorite in their Sweet 16 matchup with Duke, and the total opened at 133. Some sportsbooks still have Houston -4, but most have moved to 4.5 now. One betting app has gone the other way with the spread, moving to 3.5.

The Duke vs Houston odds in the table above are from ESPN Bet.

If you already have a bet in mind and are only here to find the best odds, I have rounded up the best sportsbook to place each bet at below:

• Best sportsbook for Houston ML = BetMGM (-189)
• Best sportsbook for Duke ML = bet365 (+165)
• Best sportsbook for Houston spread = BetMGM (-3.5 at -120)
• Best sportsbook for Duke spread = FanDuel (+4.5 at -115)
• Best sportsbook for over = FanDuel (133.5 at -115)
• Best sportsbook for under = DraftKings (134.5 at -112)

But if you’re not seeing this article right away – check the publish date at the top – then you should also consult our college basketball odds to ensure a better price hasn’t emerged since publish.

Duke Offense Enters Sweet 16 Red-Hot

After a pretty mediocre shooting performance against Vermont in the first round, Duke’s offense exploded against James Madison in the Round of 32. As a team, they shot 52% from the field and an extremely impressive 50% (14/28) from behind the three-point line. The ball was moving from side-to-side and players were passing up decent looks to give their teammates even better looks. The Blue Devils only had 11 made field goals that went unassisted against James Madison.

JARED McHIM 🕺🕺

🔥 30 burger with 11 minutes to go

🔥 Most 1H points by any player in this tourney

🔥 Most 3pt FGM in an NCAA Tournament by a Duke player (8) pic.twitter.com/azdmyZ9b0H

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 24, 2024

Jared McCain and Tyrese Proctor did the majority of the damage from behind the three-point line, shooting 8/11 and 4/10, respectively. McCain led the team with 30 points in just 31 minutes, while Proctor, Jeremy Roach, and Kyle Filipowski all scored double-digit points as well. It will be important that Roach is available for Duke after suffering a dislocated finger on Sunday – early reports suggest he will be able to go.

What should be most concerning to Houston, in my opinion, is that we have yet to see Filipowski do much this tournament. After averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game this season, Duke’s star center attempted just one shot against Vermont and only needed eight attempts against James Madison. This is a player who was pretty regularly pouring in 20-25+ points when Duke needed him.

If Filipowski gets going down low and McCain, Proctor, and Roach stay hot from deep, this Duke team will be tough to stop.

Houston Must Stay Out of Foul Trouble & Rebound

According to TheGameHaus.com, Houston has been an early pick from the start of the tournament. However, they were given quite the scare in the second round.

One of the reasons for Houston’s scare in the second round was the foul trouble they got themselves into. The Cougars committed 28 personal fouls, and had to play without LJ Cryer and Emanuel Sharp, both fouled out, down the stretch. For perspective, the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles averaged the most personal fouls per game this season at 21.6.

Houston only averages 17.9 personal fouls per game for the season, which ranks 268th in the country. The good news is Duke only draws an average of 16.2 fouls per game on their opponent (244th), while their Round of 32 opponent, Texas A&M, was 16th in the country, forcing their opponents to commit an average of 19.7 fouls per game.

LJ Cryer buries a triple and Jim Nantz is loving it 🙌#MarchMadness @UHCougarMBK pic.twitter.com/Ga7rSesRLV

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 25, 2024

The Cougars cannot get themselves into foul trouble again. Not only will Duke make them pay from the charity stripe – A&M only made 29 of their 45 free throws (64%) – but Houston is going to need all their shooters on the floor in the game’s biggest moments.

Another factor that led to Houston’s near-exit was all the offensive rebounds they gave up to A&M. The Aggies grabbed 22 offensive rebounds, which included 12 in the second half. Once again, there’s a bright light here in that Texas A&M led the nation, by a fair amount, in offensive rebounds per game – they averaged 15.3 per game and the second-best was just 13. Duke only averages nine offensive rebounds per game (129th), and Houston only allows 8.7 per game (196th).

If Houston allows Duke to hit the glass and get some second chance looks, that’s where the Blue Devils could start heating up from behind the three-point line.

Duke vs Houston Team Stats Comparison

While there are plenty of college basketball stats I could list our for comparison, the stats below are the ones I believe to be most important for this matchup:

As I mentioned above, I believe three-point shooting and offensive rebounding will play a big role in determining who advances to the Elite Eight.

Duke vs Houston Predictions & Pick

In spite of Houston’s struggles in the second round, I do still see them as the better team in this matchup. I believe A&M was able to exploit Houston in ways the vast majority of teams cannot – on the offensive glass and by putting them in foul trouble by slashing so well. I don’t believe Duke can apply the same pressure.

However, Houston’s inability to put the Aggies away late does concern me a little. They don’t have a ton of scoring depth and can be a little too reliant on offensive rebounds at times. So, I don’t feel great laying the points here, as I think Duke has the offensive firepower to keep this one close. Instead, I am going to craft another same-game parlay with Houston moneyline and LJ Cryer to score 12+ points.

Cryer has scored 20 and 17, respectively, in Houston’s two tournament games, and has scored at least 12 in ten of Houston’s 12 wins that came by 10 points or less. When the Cougars win close games, which this one projects to be, Cryer scores.

Pick: Houston moneyline & LJ Cryer 12+ points same-game parlay (-110) at DraftKings

If you find yourself in a state that does not allow college basketball player props, you can swap out Cryer’s points for the over on an alternate team total for Houston. The Cougars have scored 100 and 86 points, respectively, in their two tournament games, and have posted at least 67 points in all but five games this season. I don’t believe they’re beating Duke with any less than 67.

Alternate Pick: Houston moneyline & Houston over 66.5 points (-115) at BetMGM

The post Duke vs Houston Predictions, Odds & Picks for Sweet 16 Matchup appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

No. 11 seed NC State (24-14) and No. 2 seed Marquette (28-9) will meet in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 29th at 7:09 PM ET on CBS. The game will take place at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Marquette is currently a 6.5-point favorite with an over/under of 151.5 points, according to ESPN Sportsbook Sportsbook. NC State has been on a remarkable underdog run, but will it continue against the Wolfpack?

Let’s further breakdown the NC State vs Marquette odds, as we provide our prediction and best March Madness picks.

NC State vs Marquette Odds

In the NC State vs Marquette odds at ESPN, the Golden Eagles are 275 favorites on the moneyline, giving them an implied win probability of 73%.

The latest 2024 March Madness odds show the Golden Eagles as +1600 to win the entire tournament while the Wolfpack are +10,000 longshots (worst odds of any remaining team).

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NC State Betting Trends

NC State enters on a remarkable 5-game winning streak, including winning 5 games in 5 days to capture the ACC Tournament title as a double-digit seed. In the NCAA Tournament, they defeated No. 6 Texas Tech 80-67 in the first round and No. 14 Oakland 79-73 in overtime in the second round.

The Wolfpack have been underdogs in four straight games but keep finding ways to win. Forward DJ Burns Jr. is the engine that makes the offense go, averaging 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. He scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against Oakland.

don't waste your time trying to steal the ball from DJ Burns Jr. in the paint @PackMensBball pic.twitter.com/XS8GOgixAd

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 23, 2024

The key for NC State in this game is getting production from their supporting cast like guards Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith to take scoring pressure off Burn. Mohamed Diarra also had double-doubles in both games and is averaging 14 points and 12.5 rebounds in the tourney.

NC State ranks 42nd in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metrics, but they only rank 76th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Part of those struggles can be attributed to their three-point defense, which ranks outside the top-200 nationally.

Marquette Betting Trends

Marquette advanced by beating Western Kentucky 87-69 in the first round after trailing by 7 at halftime. In the second round, they held off Colorado 81-77 despite Colorado tying the game late. The Golden Eagles are 12-3 in their last 15 games overall.

Star point guard Tyler Kolek, who recently recovered from an oblique injury, averaged 19.5 points and 11 assists and shot 63 percent from the field in the two wins. In the victory over Colorado, Kolek had 21 points and 11 assists, while Kam Jones added 18 points.

Tyler Kolek is CLUTCH.

Marquette with the late lead pic.twitter.com/ePRLp0jbrx

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2024

The advanced metrics paint Marquette in a good light, as the Eagles rank 19th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 21st in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. According to that same website, they have also played the eighth-hardest schedule in the country.

Marquette is 21-14-1 ATS on the season, covering the number in 12 of their past 17 games. They were favored by 4.5 points against Colorado in the Round of 32 but missed out on covering the spread by an ever-so-slim margin.

NC State vs Marquette Prediction

While NC State has been a great story, Marquette’s combination of elite guard play, defensive intensity, and coaching from Shaka Smart gives them a significant edge in this matchup. Expect the Golden Eagles’ depth and athleticism to eventually wear down the Wolfpack over 40 minutes.

Marquette’s ability to force turnovers and score in transition will be the difference. Look for Kolek and Jones to set the tone on both ends. Burns will get his points inside for NC State, but it won’t be enough to overcome Marquette’s balance and defensive pressure.

NC State vs Marquette Pick:

• Marquette Golden Eagles -6.5 (-105)

The post NC State vs Marquette Odds, Prediction & Picks (March. 29) appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

A second neutral-site game between the #5 Gonzaga Bulldogs (27-7, 5-2 neutral, 17-16 ATS) and #1 Purdue Boilermakers (31-4, 7-1 neutral, 18-15-2 ATS) will take place on Friday, March 29, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI, as part of the Sweet 16. The winner will move onto the Elite Eight in the Midwest Region of the March Madness bracket.

The Gonzaga vs Purdue odds opened at Purdue -5.5 last Sunday and the spread remains unchanged as of Thursday night.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Odds

Purdue is still a 5.5-point favorite for Friday’s game and -230 on the moneyline. The total, however, has moved up significantly over the week: after opening at 152.5, the over/under has been bet up two full points to 154.5.

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The winner of Gonzaga vs Purdue will face the winner of #3 Creighton vs #2 Tennessee on Sunday in a very chalky Midwest Region. The Boilermakers enter the Sweet 16 as a +120 favorite to win the Midwest in the latest Final Four odds. Gonzaga is the longest of the quartet at +500. Tennessee sits at +210 with Creighton at +450.

Gonzaga Steamrolls McNeese, Kansas

Mark Few’s Bulldogs have been nothing short of sensational while reach the school’s ninth straight Sweet 16. Gonzaga blew out upset-minded McNeese (86-65) as 6.5-point favorites in the first round, and then used a big second half to gap Kansas (89-68) in the round of 32 as 4.5-point chalk.

Gonzaga’s depth has been on display so far. Five different Zags were in double figures both wins, while eight scored at least seven points in the McNeese game.

Point guard Ryan Nembhard has only scored 13 points combined in the tournament (after scoring at least 13 in the five previous games) but his ball-handling and vision have been crucial to Gonzaga’s success on offense. The junior Creighton transfer has 21 total assists so far and has dished out at least nine dimes in five straight.

Gonzaga’s size has been a big problem for both its Tournament opponents to date. With four rotation players 6’8 or taller, the Bulldogs finished +12 on the boards against McNeese, and +5 against Hunter Dickinson’s Jayhawks.

The first time they met Purdue this season, Gonzaga ended up on the wrong side of a 73-63 decision in Maui on Nov. 20, but that was due to cold shooting (37.7% from the field and 18.2% from three). The Zags actually managed to play Zach Edey and company even on the boards (38 rebounds apiece).

Purdue Dominates First Two Opponents

Coming off a devastating first-round loss to #16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round last year – becoming just the second #1 team to lose in the first round – Purdue showed no jitters in the first weekend. The Boilermakers ran over #16 Grambling State (78-50) before demolishing #8 Utah State (106-67) in a game that was decided by the 17-minute mark after Purdue went on an 18-1 run to build a 15-point lead.

Soon-to-be two-time national player of the year Zach Edey has been as advertised. The 7’4 center is averaging 26.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per game in the Tournament so far (after leading the nation at 24.5 PPG and finishing second in rebounding at 12.1 RPG during the regular season).

Purdue still sits third at KenPom in overall efficiency behind UConn and Houston, third on offense and 15th on defense. Unlike last season, when the offense was basically Edey-or-bust, this year’s Boilermakers have an excellent supporting cast. Sophomore Braden Smith, in particular, has developed into an elite point guard, averaging 12.3 PPG on a ludicrous 44% clip from beyond the arc, along with 7.3 assists per game, which is third in DI behind Marquette’s Tyler Kolek (7.9) and Minnesota’s Elijah Hawkins (7.5).

With Smith leading the way, Purdue currently ranks first out of all 362 DI teams in three-point percentage (40.9%). Last year, they shot just 32.2% from beyond the arc (276th).

GONZ  vs PUR Player Props

Gonzaga vs Purdue college basketball player props from DraftKings on March 28, 2024.  

Edey’s point total has been set at 25.5, exactly one higher than his season average and half a point more than he scored in the first meeting with the Zags. His rebound total of 12.5 is 0.4 higher than his average; he finished the first game against Gonzaga with 14.

Graham Ike, Gonzaga’s leading scorer at 16.5 PPG, leads the Bulldog player at 16.5 points O/U, while Nembhard has the highest assist total at 7.5.

Gonzaga vs Purdue Predictions

The first matchup between the teams ended with a double-digit deficit but the game was competitive throughout. Gonzaga led by as many as nine in the first half (30-21) and were still up five at halftime (35-30). The Zags weren’t overwhelmed by Edey’s size inside and they are one of the few teams that has enough big bodies to really make the Purdue center work.

If Gonzaga shoots slightly better than it did in the first meeting, this game will be a back-and-forth affair. I love the value on the Zags’ moneyline at +188, which gives Gonzaga just a 34.72% implied win probability.

Gonzaga vs Purdue picks:

• Gonzaga moneyline (+188)
• Nembhard over 7.5 assists (-115)

The post Gonzaga vs Purdue Picks, Predictions & Player Props for the Sweet 16 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

We’re down to the final 16 teams! The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament gets back underway Thursday night with the Sweet 16 and by the time we hit Monday, we’ll have our Final Four. On top of that, today marks MLB’s Opening Day. Though we have seen two games postponed due to rain, we still have 13 other games to be played today.

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Bonus bets expire in 7 days. New customer only. Limit one (1) Promotion Offer per Account. 21+ only. NC only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.

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CODE: DIMENC

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Aside from needing to be a new user that’s 21+, you also need to be physically located in North Carolina to collect all $725 in bonus bets.

ESPN Bet Promo Code DIME for the Rest of the Country

If you’re not in NC, don’t fret! New ESPN BET users in AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, or WV can instead use promo code DIME to get $150 in bonus bets + $500 deposit match.

For anyone not in NC, follow the steps above after clicking the banner below to get up to $650 in bonuses, but only when you use promo code DIME!

Remember, bonus bets will expire after 7 days, while any deposit match will expire after 30 days. Don’t sleep on your bonuses, use them up!

ESPN BET

Bet Anything and Get $150 + Up To a $500 Deposit Match!

Must manually enter promo code DIME to claim offer.

LOCK IN PROMO

CODE: DIME

CODE: DIME

SIGNUP OFFER

USE PROMO CODE
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Get Up To $1,000 in Sweet 16 Bonuses from bet365

There are some of us out there who love having options to choose from. Sometimes, one choice just isn’t enough!

That’s where bet365 zigs where others would zag, offering new users one of of two possible bonuses when signing up. Depending on your choice, you could wind up with a $1,000 first bet safety net.

But first, who can cash in on this bet365 bonus code?

You need to be a new user that’s 21+ years of age and physically located in AZ, CO, IA, IN, KY, LA, NC, NJ, OH, or VA to qualify.

Before introducing the two great offers available at bet365, let’s go over how to successfully claim them:

1. Click HERE to start your bet365 signup.
2. After clicking the “JOIN NOW” button, enter your personal info: e.g. your name, email address, and your last 4 SSN digits.
3. Provide your address, then enter a username, password, and promo Code SBDXLM. (Use SBDNC if you’re in North Carolina for a bigger bet/get bonus!)
4. After verifying your account, make a first deposit of $10 to your account.

You then choose one of two signup offers: a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000 or the Bet $5 & Get $150 bonus. (Users in North Carolina have the option of the first bet safety net or a bet $5, get $200 bonus.)

The First Bet Safety Net provides protection on your first wager. If it’s a winner, congratulations! You’ll be paid your winnings. But if it loses, bet365 will offer a matching refund, up to $1,000 in bonus bets.

BET365
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Offer

T&Cs

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Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New Customers only. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply

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CODE: SBDXLM

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Your other option? The classic Bet $5, Get $150. Make a qualifying bet of at least $5 and you’ll get $150 in bonus bets deposited to your account. (Or $200 if you’re in NC.)

Be sure to review the Terms & Conditions for both offers but know that, regardless of the bonus chosen, you’ll have 7 days to use your bonus bets before they expire.

Use Your Bonuses on These March Madness Sweet 16 Games & MLB Opening Day

We may not see as much madness during the tournament’s second weekend, but there will be plenty of action as the NCAA Tournament moves closer to finding its champion.

Below, we’ve listed all eight Sweet 16 matchups, with the first tipping off on Thursday just after 7 pm ET:

March 28, 7:09 pm ET – West Region: #6 Clemson Tigers vs #2 Arizona Wildcats
March 28, 7:39 pm ET – East Region: #5 San Diego State Aztecs vs #UConn Huskies
March 28, 9:39 pm ET – West Region: #4 Alabama Crimson Tide vs #1 North Carolina Tar Heels
March 28, 10:09 pm ET – East Region: #3 Illinois Fighting Illini vs #2 Iowa State Cyclones
March 29, 7:09 pm ET – South Region: #11 NC State Wolfpack vs #2 Marquette Golden Eagles
March 29, 7:39 pm ET – Midwest Region: #2 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs #1 Purdue Boilermakers
March 29, 9:39 pm ET – South Region: #4 Duke Blue Devils vs #1 Houston Cougars
March 29, 10:09 pm ET – Midwest Region: #3 Creighton Bluejays vs #2 Tennessee Volunteers

And once the Elite 8 teams are set, the regional finals will round out the weekend. The East and West finals are set for Saturday, while the South and Midwest finals follow on Sunday.

On top of the great March Madness action, users also have plenty of MLB games they could use these bonuses on as Thursday, March 28 marks Opening Day. Here are some of the most anticipated matchups of the day:

4:10pm ET – San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres
4:10pm ET – Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays
4:10pm ET – New York Yankees vs Houston Astros
4:10pm ET – St Louis Cardinals vs LA Dodgers
7:35pm ET – Chicago Cubs vs Texas Rangers

Then we have plenty more MLB games all weekend as the regular season gets into its groove!

The post ESPN Bet & bet365 Promos: Get Up to $1,725 in Bonuses for Sweet 16 & Opening Day appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.

North Carolina online sports betting had a brisk first week of business.

The North Carolina Lottery Commission reported $198.1 million in online sports bets for its first week, with nearly $24 million being placed during its first day on Monday, March 11.

If the estimates stay true, the state will likely net more than $7.5 million in sports betting tax revenue for its first week.

North Carolina Launch Sees Millions Bet

Sterl Carpenter, deputy executive director of gaming compliance and sports betting, presented the state’s first week online sports betting numbers to the commission. He noted that these are preliminary figures and aggregate amounts, which may ultimately different from the final totals reported to the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

For the Monday, March 11 online sports betting launch, Carpenter reported $23,945,654 in online sports betting bets, of which $12.3 million were promotional wagers. In total, the state reported $11.03 million in gross sports wagering revenue for its first day.

As for the first week’s total, the state reported $198,102,112 in online sports betting handle, with $81.3 million of the total being paid for with promotional wagers.

“By all accounts, North Carolina online sports betting is off to a strong start,” Carpenter said.

For its first week, North Carolina is estimate $42,683,281 in gross wagering revenue. At the state’s 18% sports betting tax rate, North Carolina stands to see $7.68 million in sports betting tax revenue for the week.

Outpacing Similar State Launches

While comparing state launches can be like comparing apples and oranges, Carpenter said Massachusetts is the most similar state for North Carolina to compare its launch. Both states launched sports betting in March just prior to the NCAA basketball tournament (Massachusetts launched on March 10, 2023) and have similar populations.

Carpenter estimated that North Carolina will likely see $594 million in online sports bets for the first month. Massachusetts’ first month saw $548.23 million during its March 2023 launch.

The director’s numbers backed up recent data published by GeoComply, a geolocation compliance company. During the first 48-hours of online sports betting activity, GeoComply reported more than 5.36 million geolocation checks in the state. A geolocation check does not equate a placed bet, but is more closely associated with a user logging onto a sports betting account.
By comparison, GeoComply recorded just a little over 2 million geolocation checks from neighboring Virginia during the same time period. Virginia has been live with online sports betting since January 2021.

The post North Carolina Sees Millions During First Week of Online Sports Betting appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.