March Madness Friday Betting Preview

The Friday March Madness results could include several close games if oddsmakers are correct, as five games have spreads of less than two points.

Let’s start in the South Region where two games have these small spreads at Bovada Sportsbook.

First up is the No. 10 Loyola Chicago Ramblers vs the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes. At Bovada, the Buckeyes are slim 1-point favorites.

Ohio State has been a bad wager in March Madness

The Buckeyes stumbled late in the season with a 1-4 record straight up and against the spread in their last five games. When favored, they’re only 3-6 SU and ATS in their last nine. Ohio State has also been a bad bet in the NCAA Tournament with a 1-10 ATS record in its last 11 games, and the Buckeyes have lost seven straight ATS as the favorite.

The Ramblers won the Missouri Valley Tournament and are 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six games. In the NCAA Tournament, they’re 6-2 SU and ATS in their last eight games, and 5-1 SU and ATS as an underdog in their last six.

Sticking in the South, the No. 8 Seton Hall Pirates are 1-point favorites in their tournament opener against the No. 9 TCU Horned Frogs.

The Pirates are 6-1 SU in their last seven but only 2-5 ATS. When favored, they’ve won seven straight but have still been a bad bet at 1-5-1 ATS.

TCU is a money-making 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games. As an underdog this season, the Horned Frogs were 8-9 SU and 11-5-1 ATS.

Hurricanes have won 6 of last 9 games as underdog

In the Midwest Region, the No. 7 USC Trojans are 1.5-point favorites vs the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.

USC is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games. As the favorite, the Trojans have won seven in a row SU, but they’ve lost eight straight ATS. The Trojans have been a solid bet in the NCAA Tournament in recent years at 7-1 ATS in their last eight.

Miami is 4-3 SU and ATS in its last seven games. However, as an underdog, the Hurricanes have paid well at 6-3 SU and 8-1 ATS in their last nine. In the NCAA Tournament, the Hurricanes have lost three straight both SU and ATS, and they’re 1-6 ATS in their last seven.

Longhorns favored over Hokies despite losing skid

In the East Region, the No. 6 Texas Longhorns are 1-point favorites vs the No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies.

Texas is on a three-game losing streak and has dropped four in a row ATS. In the NCAA Tournament, the Longhorns have been awful with five straight losses both SU and ATS. In their last 10 tournament games, the Longhorns are 0-9-1 ATS.

Virginia Tech won the ACC Tournament by crushing the Duke Blue Devils 82-67 as a 6-point underdog in the final. The Hokies are 7-1 SU in their last eight games, and they’ve won four straight as an underdog.

Spartans have covered spread in 4 straight outings

Finally, in the West Region, the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans are 1-point favorites vs the No. 10 Davidson Wildcats.

The Spartans have won four straight ATS but haven’t been great when favored lately at 4-3 SU and 3-4 ATS in their last seven. In the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State is 3-6 ATS in its last nine.

Davidson was 4-2 SU and ATS as an underdog this season. In the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats have lost five straight at 2-3 ATS, and as an underdog in the tournament they’re 2-9 SU and 6-5 ATS in their last 11.