March Madness kicks into high gear today with no less than eight games on the schedule, including a game that could bust brackets early on with No. 7 Connecticut Huskies taking on No. 10 Saint Joseph’s Hawks. Meanwhile, it’s a critical game in the NHL playoff race as the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Detroit Red Wings.
Read on for everything you need to know to bet on these two big games amidst an amazing Thursday night sports schedule.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Best Games to Bet on Today
No. 7 Connecticut Huskies vs. No. 10 Saint Joseph’s Hawks (7:00 PM ET)
Line: Saint Joseph’s Hawks (+5.5) vs. Connecticut Huskies (-5.5); total 131.5
Betting on the Connecticut Huskies
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]This game features two teams who many have picked to make a run beyond the Round of 32, and for No. 7 Connecticut, the key to making it that far will be patience and execution on defense. The Huskies have one of the best defenses in the nation, allowing 63.1 points against per game. They are led by seven-foot Amida Brimah in the paint, who simply does not like the basketball going in his team’s basket.
Connecticut comes into this game playing well. They are 7-3 SU in their last 10, and two of those losses came to a Louisville team that many expect could win the Big Dance. Shabazz Napier (17.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG) needs to play well offensively for the Huskies if they hope to keep up with a strong Hawks offense.
Betting on the Saint Joseph’s Hawks
The Saint Joseph’s Hawks enter into the tournament with one of the most dangerous 3-point shooters, Langston Galloway. Galloway burned it up from a distance throughout the Atlantic-10 tournament, dropping 13 of the 23 threes he attempted, averaging 22.6 PPG.
Galloway must be money in order for the Hawks to get by the Huskies, which seems doable: Connecticut’s 3-point defense is ranked 103rd in the nation, so he should have room.
Prediction
The game comes down to the best two players on the court, Napier and Galloway, and Napier shines in a close one. Take the Huskies to win but the Hawks to cover.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings (7:30 PM EST)
Line: Pittsburgh Penguins (-135) at Detroit Red Wings (+115); total 5.5
Betting on the Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has seven points in his last seven games against the Red Wings, but then, who isn’t he scoring a point-per-game against? Crosby and the Penguins beat the original six club 4-1 SU back in December, but come into a building that has been very good to GM Ken Holland’s group, as they are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home.
Pens goalie Marc Andre-Fleury will be key tonight as he has not played well against the Wings historically, going just 3-7 against them in his career.
Betting on the Detroit Red Wings
The Wings are in a desperate battle for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting one point behind the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wildcard spot. They will be without their top-line defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who will be out for four to six weeks.
Despite Detroit’s overall struggles, they have been near impossible to beat at home. They are 7-0-2 in their last nine at the Joe. Meanwhile, Jimmy Howard has played well, putting up a 2.12 GAA at home over his last eight.
Prediction
Though they need it less, the Penguins skate to a confident victory on the backs of a stronger offensive effort.
Need more games to bet on tonight? March Madness has begun, so there’s no shortage of options. Good luck!
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