The Second Round of the NCAA Tournament gives up a matchup of legendary college hoops coaches as Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange take on Bob Huggins and the West Virginia Mountaineers.
The Orange had the most impressive opening performance in the Midwest Region, dominating San Diego State 78-62 in a game that wasn’t that close. But the Mountaineers did their job as well, covering as double-digit college basketball betting faves against Morehead State. With WVU laying 3.5-points who has the edge?
Check out our best Syracuse vs. West Virginia March Madness picks and predictions for college basketball betting action on Sunday, March 21.
Syracuse vs West Virginia odds
Sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonWest Virginia hit TwinSpires' odds board at -3.5, peaked at -4.5 and dialed back to -3.5 this morning. The Mountaineers are taking 60 percent of tickets and 68 percent of money on the spread. The total went from 147 to 147.5 and back, with 63 percent of bets and 59 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameSyracuse Orange vs West Virginia Mountaineers betting preview
Injuries
Syracuse: Bourama Sidibe C (Out), Frank Anselem C (Out).
West Virginia: No injuries to report.
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 7-1 in West Virginia's last eight games versus a team with a winning straight-up record. Find more NCAA betting trends for Syracuse vs. West Virginia.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Confession time. I did not expect that type of performance from Syracuse against San Diego State. It was the First Round matchup I was most wrong about. Boeheim’s patented zone defense gave the Aztecs fits while Buddy Boeheim went off for 30 points, which included going 7-10 from beyond the arc.
West Virginia’s star also shone as Miles McBride also put up 30 points in the Mountaineers' win. But it wasn’t just McBride, the Mountaineers had four players score 10 or more points and shoot 50 percent from 3-point range.
While Syracuse’s zone defense befuddled San Diego State, overall the Orange haven’t been as strong at that end of the floor, ranking 91st in adjusted defensive efficiency.
On top of that, you know Bob Huggins has a better plan to break down that defense. West Virginia just is more well equipped to attack the zone with multiple sharpshooters including Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil, while working the ball to Derek Culver in the middle. They should also be able to dominate the Orange on the offensive glass.
This will not be the same sort of game for Syracuse, this will be a battle. While West Virginia has lost seven games in 2021, none have been by more than five points. The Mountaineers will bring back “Press Virginia” to make life tough on Boeheim and force other players to beat them. It won’t happen. Lay the points with the Mountaineers.
PREDICTION: West Virginia -3.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
The total for this Second Round March Madness matchup hit the board at a moderately-high 147, which isn’t too surprising considering the firepower in this matchup.
West Virginia has been an Over bettor’s dream, going 19-9 O/U for the year, while Syracuse keeps cashing Overs on neutral courts, going 10-1 O/U in that situation, including 4-0 in the postseason this season. So, run to go bet the Over right? Well, hold your horses.
Syracuse probably just played one of its best offensive games of the season, and still, put up just 78 points. That’s not the highest of ceilings, and as underdogs, they averaged 70.7 points per game. While West Virginia’s scoring dropped down to 75.6 points per game over the last seven games, but maybe more importantly, the Mountaineers have allowed just 68.7 points per contest in regulation over that same stretch.
While they may not be the exact styles we have come accustomed to, this is a matchup of two of the most famous defenses in college basketball, and they will do just enough to keep this game below the number.
PREDICTION: Under 147 (-110)
First-Half Spread Pick
West Virginia has done a good job recently getting off to good starts. The Mountaineers have headed into the break with a lead of at least four points in six of their last seven games and have an average first-half margin of +4.6 over that span. And outside of Syracuse’s beat down of San Diego State, the Orange’s inconsistency on offense resulted in a +1.7 first-half margin this season, and away from home, that number fell to -1.3. Taking West Virginia on the first-half spread feels like a safe bet.
PREDICTION: West Virginia First-Half Spread -1.5 (-115)
Syracuse vs West Virginia betting card
- West Virginia -3.5 (-110)
- Under 147 (-110)
- West Virginia First-Half Spread -1.5 (-115)
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Where can I bet on March Madness odds?
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