March Madness Thursday Betting Preview

Prepare to have your bracket busted as the March Madness Round of 64 officially gets underway on Thursday. Here’s a look at a game from each region on Thursday that bettors should think about.

Let’s start in the East where the No. 7 seed Louisville Cardinals take on the No. 10 seed Minnesota Golden Gophers as a 5.5-point favorite at Bovada Sportsbook.

The Cardinals are slumping a bit heading into the tournament at 2-5 straight up and 3-4 against the spread in their last seven games. In the NCAA Tournament, Louisville is 2-5 ATS in its last seven, and when listed as a favorite is 3-2 SU and 1-4 ATS in the last five.

Minnesota somehow made it into the Madness despite going 5-8 SU and 7-6 ATS in its last 13 games. In their last eight games in the tournament, the Golden Gophers are a lousy 1-7 SU and ATS.

Louisville and Minnesota have split two previous matchups both SU and ATS. They last met up in 2014 and the Cardinals cruised to an 81-68 win as a 9.5-point favorite.

Terriers favored over Pirates in Midwest

In the Midwest Region on Thursday, the No. 7 Wofford Terriers face the No. 10 Seton Hall Pirates as a 2.5-point favorite.

Wofford enters the tournament on a 20-game winning streak with a 14-6 ATS record. The Terriers are still looking for their first-ever tournament victory after going 0-4 SU and 3-1 ATS in four previous games.

Seton Hall has won five straight ATS and was a solid bet as an underdog this season at 11-5 ATS. In the tournament, the Pirates are 1-5 SU and 2-4 ATS in their last six, and as an underdog in the tournament have dropped four straight at 1-3 ATS.

Orange have been money in March Madness

In the West Region, the No. 8 Syracuse Orange face the No. 9 Baylor Bears as a slim 2.5-point favorite.

Syracuse is a lousy 2-5 SU and 3-4 ATS in its last seven games. However, in the tournament, the Orange have been money for bettors, winning four straight ATS and eight of their last nine.

Baylor heads into the tournament having lost four straight at 1-2-1 ATS, and is 2-7-2 ATS in the last 11. As an underdog in the tournament, the Bears are 1-4 SU and ATS in their last five.

Gaels look to slay another giant

Finally, in the South Region, the No. 6 Villanova Wildcats face the Saint Mary’s Gaels as a 4.5-point favorite.

Villanova, the defending national champion, is 3-6 ATS in its last nine games, but in the tournament has covered in six straight. The Wildcats are also 13-1 SU and 12-2 ATS in their last 14 March Madness games.

Saint Mary’s is coming off a surprise 60-47 upset over the Gonzaga Bulldogs as a 15-point underdog in the West Coast Conference tournament. The Gaels are 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS in their last eight, but as an underdog in the tournament they’re 2-5 SU and ATS in their last seven.

The Gaels and Wildcats met up in the 2010 tournament and Saint Mary’s upset Villanova 75-68 as a 4.5-point underdog.