Five-seed Texas Tech Red Raiders are headed to the Elite Eight where they will square off with one-seed Villanova Wildcats, the favorite to win it all this year. At press, the Wildcats are picked to win this matchup by a total of 6.5 points at the sportsbook.
Will the Red Raiders find a way to stop Villanova’s offense? Or will Villanova thrash them just like it did against previous opponents? Read on for a preview of this huge game below and register here to make your pick.
Betting Preview for the Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Villanova Wildcats Elite 8 College Basketball Game on March 25, 2018
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
When: Sunday, March 25, 1:30 PM EST
Line: Texas Tech Red Raiders (+6.5) vs. Villanova Wildcats (-6.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Texas Tech Red Raiders – Elite Eight 2018
Point Spread: +6.5
The Red Raiders are still dancing. This is after they upset Purdue in the Sweet 16, 78-65. Granted that Purdue did not have big man Isaac Haas suited up for this game, the Red Raiders still did an astounding job of containing the offense of the Boilermakers, limiting Purdue to 15 points below its season scoring average. The backcourt duo of Keenan Evans and Zhaire Smith remain steady and reliable for the Red Raiders, and the two will be greatly counted upon by Texas Tech in hopes of keeping in step with Villanova. Texas Tech needs its defense to check all Villanova scorers just enough for the Red Raiders’ offense to hang with the Jayhawks. Texas Tech’s defense is third in KenPom and allowed only 64.6 points per game.
Betting on the Villanova Wildcats – Elite Eight 2018
Point Spread: -6.5
Villanova faced one of the stingiest defenses in all of college basketball and yet managed to hang 90 points on West Virginia in a 90-78 win on Friday to punch a ticket to the Elite Eight. Villanova looked shaky in the first half, but took care of business in the second half when the Wildcats outscored the Mountaineers by 10 points. Faced by WVU’s press defense, Villanova practiced patience in finding the open man, who often found himself free for a three-pointer. All told, Villanova went 13-for-27 from behind the arc. The Wildcats have made an astounding total of 44 threes so far in the tournament, and shot no worse than 41.5 percent in any of their past three outings. It’s just unfair shooting for Villanova, which has shown repeatedly even way back in the regular season that it could shoot the lights out.
Writer’s Prediction
Villanova doesn’t cover, but still sends Texas Tech packing for Lubbock with an 83-77 win.
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