Best best from VSiN experts for the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
For more picks from VSiN hosts and guests, check out our college basketball best bets at a glance.
James Madison ranks in the top 23 in the country in both points scored and points allowed on a per possession basis, while ranking second in the nation in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. James Madison also enters Sunday with a nation’s-best 14-game winning streak.
Colorado +4 vs. Marquette
The Buffaloes have Marquette outgunned on the glass, as Colorado is 11th in the country in rebound rate, while Marquette is 286th in this category. The Buffaloes also have a superior 3-point shooting percentage, ranking 55th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage while Marquette is 156th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. The Buffaloes pair this with ranking sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage and 29th in points scored per possession, while Marquette is 38th in points scored on a per possession basis.
The Dukes were a trendy underdog play in the First Round and the public rejoiced as the Dukes dominated Wisconsin, 72-61. This was not a fluky victory by James Madison. Wisconsin committed a season-high 19 turnovers on Friday night. Similar to Wisconsin, Duke does not typically turn the ball over – the Blue Devils rank 31st in the country in turnover rate. Duke F Kyle Filipowski only had two points on one shot attempt against Vermont in the first round. If Filipowski gets going, that could be a concern for backing the Dukes. However, James Madison will not be blown off the court from an athleticism standpoint and if the Dukes can turn the Blue Devils over like Wisconsin, James Madison could be a live underdog on Sunday evening in Brooklyn.
This handicap is less about numbers and more about the action on the court during the first round. I am backing Texas A&M here with the points (+10.5) based off of the Aggies 98-83 blitzing of Nebraska on Friday.
While Houston has the No.1 defense in the country and plenty of people supporting their Final Four run, if the Texas A&M team that beat Nebraska makes another appearance, the trip for the Cougars won’t be as easy as expected.
Besides scoring nearly triple digits, which won’t happen against Kelvin Sampson’s defense, the Aggies showed impressive off-the-ball speed, both offensively and defensively, that stunned Nebraska in every way.
The Texas A&M backcourt of Wade Taylor IV, Tyrece Radford and Manny Obaseki all reached the 20 point total because every time they touched the ball, it was a race to the other end. The Aggies have that gear and can use it to stay close to Houston.
Give Buzz Williams credit for making a zig during the postseason when they normally zag to a much slower pace on offense. That surprised Nebraska to a certain degree and now gives Sampson some uncertainty to what the Cougars will face.
Texas A&M has now played three consecutive games scoring at least 90 points.
Allowing 83 points doesn’t sound like they played much defense, however, that was more a result of playing at a frenetic pace for 40 minutes.
What Texas A&M did well defensively against Nebraska and what it can hopefully duplicate after a day’s rest is a physical helping style that gassed the Nebraska scorers.
Tiring an opponent is an important aspect here since Houston’s biggest weakness is a lack of depth.
The Cougars had an easy first round game against Longwood (86-46), still only two players came off the bench to play close to meaningful minutes. Houston doesn’t have a legitimate backup big man behind J’Wan Roberts. If he gets in foul trouble or tired when the Aggies speed up play, Houston becomes vulnerable.
A fast paced Texas A&M style will force Houston’s talented backcourt of Jamal Shead and L.J. Cryer to perform well in double duty – as in produce the bulk of the Cougars’ scoring and running around trying to stop Taylor.
Back in mid-December, these two teams played and Taylor dropped an impressive 34 points in the Cougars 70-66 win.
It’s doubtful Taylor (17.5 points player prop at DraftKings) scores that much again but from what I saw from Texas A&M in the first round, the Aggies can once again make it a close game.
March Madness Second-Round Predictions
A list of best bets from VSiN experts for the second-round action.For more picks from VSiN hosts and guests, check out our college basketball best bets at a glance.
Sunday Games
Greg Peterson
James Madison +7 vs. DukeJames Madison ranks in the top 23 in the country in both points scored and points allowed on a per possession basis, while ranking second in the nation in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. James Madison also enters Sunday with a nation’s-best 14-game winning streak.
Colorado +4 vs. Marquette
The Buffaloes have Marquette outgunned on the glass, as Colorado is 11th in the country in rebound rate, while Marquette is 286th in this category. The Buffaloes also have a superior 3-point shooting percentage, ranking 55th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage while Marquette is 156th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. The Buffaloes pair this with ranking sixth in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage and 29th in points scored per possession, while Marquette is 38th in points scored on a per possession basis.
Tim Murray
James Madison +7.5 vs DukeThe Dukes were a trendy underdog play in the First Round and the public rejoiced as the Dukes dominated Wisconsin, 72-61. This was not a fluky victory by James Madison. Wisconsin committed a season-high 19 turnovers on Friday night. Similar to Wisconsin, Duke does not typically turn the ball over – the Blue Devils rank 31st in the country in turnover rate. Duke F Kyle Filipowski only had two points on one shot attempt against Vermont in the first round. If Filipowski gets going, that could be a concern for backing the Dukes. However, James Madison will not be blown off the court from an athleticism standpoint and if the Dukes can turn the Blue Devils over like Wisconsin, James Madison could be a live underdog on Sunday evening in Brooklyn.
Aaron Moore
Texas A&M +10.5 vs. HoustonThis handicap is less about numbers and more about the action on the court during the first round. I am backing Texas A&M here with the points (+10.5) based off of the Aggies 98-83 blitzing of Nebraska on Friday.
While Houston has the No.1 defense in the country and plenty of people supporting their Final Four run, if the Texas A&M team that beat Nebraska makes another appearance, the trip for the Cougars won’t be as easy as expected.
Besides scoring nearly triple digits, which won’t happen against Kelvin Sampson’s defense, the Aggies showed impressive off-the-ball speed, both offensively and defensively, that stunned Nebraska in every way.
The Texas A&M backcourt of Wade Taylor IV, Tyrece Radford and Manny Obaseki all reached the 20 point total because every time they touched the ball, it was a race to the other end. The Aggies have that gear and can use it to stay close to Houston.
Give Buzz Williams credit for making a zig during the postseason when they normally zag to a much slower pace on offense. That surprised Nebraska to a certain degree and now gives Sampson some uncertainty to what the Cougars will face.
Texas A&M has now played three consecutive games scoring at least 90 points.
Allowing 83 points doesn’t sound like they played much defense, however, that was more a result of playing at a frenetic pace for 40 minutes.
What Texas A&M did well defensively against Nebraska and what it can hopefully duplicate after a day’s rest is a physical helping style that gassed the Nebraska scorers.
Tiring an opponent is an important aspect here since Houston’s biggest weakness is a lack of depth.
The Cougars had an easy first round game against Longwood (86-46), still only two players came off the bench to play close to meaningful minutes. Houston doesn’t have a legitimate backup big man behind J’Wan Roberts. If he gets in foul trouble or tired when the Aggies speed up play, Houston becomes vulnerable.
A fast paced Texas A&M style will force Houston’s talented backcourt of Jamal Shead and L.J. Cryer to perform well in double duty – as in produce the bulk of the Cougars’ scoring and running around trying to stop Taylor.
Back in mid-December, these two teams played and Taylor dropped an impressive 34 points in the Cougars 70-66 win.
It’s doubtful Taylor (17.5 points player prop at DraftKings) scores that much again but from what I saw from Texas A&M in the first round, the Aggies can once again make it a close game.
