Michigan St versus Connecticut March Madness College Basketball Preview

Published on March 30, 2009 by admin · No Comments

Saturday

Time: 5:30 PM ET TV: CBS

The Michigan St Spartans will face the Connecticut Huskies in a Final Four matchup with the winner headed to the NCAA National Championship game on Monday April 6th.
LVSC sent out the opening line in this game and the Connecticut Huskies were a 4-½ point favorite with the over under coming in at 131. Early money has come in on the underdog Spartans, as the Huskies are a 4-point favorite. The total has shot up as the over under currently is lined at 135. Connecticut has been favored in all 4 of their NCAA Tournament games and has covered each game. Two games were lined in double digits then UCONN covered a 6-½ point spread against Purdue and 5 ½ against Missouri. They have shot for over 50% from the floor in 3 of their 4 games. The Huskies allow only 37.5% shooting which ranks them 2nd nationally. They are also a team that does not foul very much as their opponents average only 12.5 free throws per game ranking #1 nationally. UCONN does defend the three-point stripe as opponents hit on only 30% from beyond the arc ranking them 18th in this defensive category. Teams have shot no higher than 42% from the floor versus UCONN in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan St was a 7-point underdog in their Elite 8 64-52 victory over Louisville. The Spartans held the #1 seed Cardinals to just 38.3% shooting. In the Spartans 2 wins over physical teams they shot for 46.2% from three against USC and 50% from the three-point line against Louisville. Connecticut played at Louisville in conference play and came away with a 68-51 victory. They both played Purdue with UCONN winning 72-60 in the NCAA Tournament and the Spartans splitting the Big 10 season series as both teams won on their home court. In Michigan St’s loss at Purdue they shot for only 32% from the field while allowing the Boilermakers to hit at 48% from the field. In the Spartans 62-51 home victory over Purdue they hit on only 35% from the field.

The Wagerline consensus has 65.7 % of the bettors on Connecticut -4

The Wagerline consensus has 58.7 % of the bettors on over 135

Trend: UCONN is 4-0 ATS as a favorite in the NCAA Tournament this year.