It’s a classic matchup between a solid defensive team and a lethal offensive squad this Friday, as the Texas Longhorns and the Nevada Wolf Pack meet head on in the first round. Will the Longhorns prevail by upsetting Nevada? Or will the Wolf Pack get out safely and advance to the next round? Register here to wager with your pick.
Betting Preview for the Texas Longhorns vs. Nevada Wolf Pack College Basketball Game on March 16, 2018
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
When: Friday, March 16, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Texas Longhorns (n/a) vs. Nevada Wolf Pack (n/a) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (19-14)
Texas has had a topsy-turvy regular season, but managed to beat No. 20 West Virginia in the season-finale and followed up that win with a triumph over Iowa State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. The Longhorns bowed to Texas Tech in the quarterfinals, but it was a close 73-69 win. Up against Nevada, the Longhorns need their elite offense to show up. Texas’ defense allows only 68.2 points per game and is ranked 10th by KenPom. One glaring concern for the Longhorns is the health of NBA prospect Mohamed Bamba, who has missed three of Texas’ last four games. That said, Bamba has said that he’s at 100 percent now. Bamba is a walking double-double machine for Texas, as he is averaging 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. That the Longhorns beat West Virginia without Bamba is also a testament that there’s more to Shaka Smart’s team than Bamba.
Betting on the Nevada Wolf Pack (27-7)
While the Longhorns have defense, Nevada has the offense. The Wolf Pack is a blistering offensive team that averages 83.1 points per game on 46.8 percent from the field. That’s not too shabby, but they’re also terrific from behind the arc with a 39.8 percent shooting from the three-point region. The Wolf Pack have five players that put up at least 13.2 points per game led by Caleb Martin and Jordan Carolina. Martin averages 19.1 points, while Carolina generates 17.9 a game. The gap between Nevada’s offensive and defensive capability is huge though. Nevada’s defense is rated 105th on KenPom – lower than those of the likes of San Francisco, Bradley, and Saint Peter. They will almost surely be abused by Bamba and company inside, as the Wolfpack allow opponents to shoot 50.7 percent inside the arc.
Writer’s Prediction
Texas wins, 78-75.
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