Arguably March Madness’ finest weekend begins tonight. The Sweet 16 kicks off with two double-headers tonight that will set the Elite 8 match ups in the South and West regions of the bracket. In the meantime, on the ice two NHL heavyweights face off in what could easily be a preview of the Stanley Cup Final.
All told, it’s a great day to be a bettor: read on for all the latest trends and lines you need to get into the betting action on March 27, 2014.
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Best Games to Bet On for March 27, 2014
No. 1 Florida vs. No. 4 UCLA (9:45PM ET)
When: March 27, 2014
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Line: No. 4 UCLA Bruins (+5) at No. 1 Florida Gators (-5); total 138.0 – view lines here
Betting on the Florida Gators
[sc:finalfour240 ]The No. 1 Florida Gators play perhaps the most complete defensive game in college basketball, and after working through some struggles against No. 16 Albany in the Round of 64, Billy Donovan’s team put down a strong No. 9 Pittsburgh team in the Round of 32.
The Gators have looked very good all year, but if one thing has lacked for them in this tournament, it would be their three-point shooting. Their rate from downtown has declined 10% in their first two games, and if they can pick up the long ball against UCLA, the Gators should be able to keep the Bruins guessing.
The Gators are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games, after letting it stay close against Albany, and the under has hit in six of their last seven games against non-SEC opponents.
Betting on the UCLA Bruins
The Bruins are playing their best basketball of the season at just the right time. And on paper, they are stronger than the Gators on a variety of levels. They score 11.1 more points per game, shoot a better field goal percentage (49.1% vs. 46.2%) and three-point percentage (38.6% vs. 36.2%), and rebound more effectively (63.2 vs. 60.4 RPG).
Still, these offensive stats are reasonably close, and the big different is defence: UCLA has allowed opponents to average 70.1 PPG, while Florida has held theirs to just 57.5 PPG. For the Bruins to pull out the upset and cover the spread, they will need to bust that vaunted defense with a balanced attack that shoots well and cleans up the glass.
Prediction
It’s far from impossible for this hot UCLA team to take care of business, but the odds aren’t in their favour. Take the Gators to cover -5 or on the moneyline at -220.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins (7:00PM ET)
When: March 27, 7:00PM ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston
Line: Chicago Blackhawks (+120) at Boston Bruins (-140); total 5.5 – view these lines
The Chicago Blackhawks are returning to Boston for the first time since they beat the Bruins in last season’s Stanley Cup Finals. They will do so with some confidence as the ‘Hawks have owned Boston of late, including beating them in their earlier meeting this season, and in the last four straight match ups between the teams.
Boston, in the meantime, has a great deal to play for in this one. The team can seal the Atlantic Division and lock up at least a 2-seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win, something they’d love to do against Blackhawks team they could easily see in a repeat of last year’s Finals.
As if that weren’t enough, the Bruins will be out to prove their recent win streak was no fluke. Boston went 19-2-3 since losting in a shootout to Chicago on January 19.
Prediction
The Bruins have the mojo and the goaltending at the moment to take what should be a tightly played game. Boston backstop Tuuka Rask has allowed just six goals in his last five games.
