NCAAB · 5 months ago

Best College Basketball Bets | March Madness First Four, March 19

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

The NCAA Tournament has arrived! Finally, March Madness is here as the First Four concludes in Dayton tonight with a pair of games. Two winners will advance, and the field of 64 will be officially set. Brackets are still being filled out nationwide, but you can take your shot at securing a shining moment with these best bets from SportsGrid.

We’ve covered you with our favorite plays from Wednesday’s showdowns!

Where to Watch Mount St. Mary’s vs American University

Arena: UD Arena
Location: Dayton, OH
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 6:40 p.m.
Where to Watch: TruTV
Spread: American (-2.5) | Total: 128.5
Moneyline: American -146 | Mt. St. Mary’s +122

Best Bet: Mount St. Mary’s +2.5

A pair of 22-12 clubs battle for the right to make the first round as American takes on Mount St. Mary’s. American is only 4-8 this season as a favorite of three points or more. The Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers finished only fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. American University was tied atop the Patriot League in the regular season, and they entered this contest with a four-game winning streak. The Mountaineers are a good team as an underdog this season and do a better job of controlling the tempo and taking advantage of transition opportunities. That gives them the edge against the Eagles, and Mount St. Mary’s will cover the small spread.

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Where to Watch Texas vs Xavier

Arena: UD Arena
Location: Dayton, OH
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 9:10 p.m.
Where to Watch: TruTV
Spread: Xavier -3.5 | Total: 151.5
Moneyline: Xavier -146 | Texas +122

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Best Bets: Texas +3.5 and UNDER 150.5

The biggest surprise of Selection Sunday was the North Carolina Tar Heels being included in the field over teams like West Virginia or Indiana. Still, including Xavier and Texas was a bit of a shock. Texas had the most quality wins of the bubble brigade but also some awful losses. Xavier has been the better team lately and won seven games in a row before losing a nail-biter to Marquette in the Big East Tournament. The Musketeers should have a significant edge in fan support as they get to stay in-state for this contest. Texas has proven they can beat quality competition, something the Musketeers have not done much of. Of those seven wins, only one came against a team in the field (Creighton), while the Longhorns have recent wins over Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Kentucky. That proven ability to elevate and knock off good teams is the difference team as Texas pulls off the upset as slight underdogs. In addition, take the under, as both teams could play this game in the high 60s to low 70s.