CBB Favorites have it far from easy

Underdogs ruled the day on Thursday, covering over 58 percent of games played by teams that typically have their contests with lines from oddsmakers. With the stakes increase as the tournaments move along, are the favorites more or less vulnerable as these conflicts move ahead? Here are wagering aspects to consider about tonight’s varied line-up and what might occur for those in the favored position.

Starting in the ACC, Florida State won five of last six contests to move up to third seed in the conference and tries to return to championship game for a second straight year. DiamondSportsbook.com has the Seminoles as six-point favorites, which is possible dicey situation since they are 8-17 ATS this season, having dropped their last three.

North Carolina State provides the opposition and they are 4-1 SU and ATS in last five games, shooting over 50 percent three different times. The Wolfpack have been ordinary at best again this season with 18-14 record, however off upset of Clemson last night, they own 14-4 ATS record on Friday’s (the ACC doesn’t play on Friday’s in the regular season), which suggests Florida State could have trouble on their hands.

Michigan State might have tied for the Big Ten championship, but those setting the numbers are far from impressed. The Spartans face a Minnesota squad that also failed to meet expectations this campaign with 19-12 record, nonetheless, the Golden Gophers are burying opponents with 5-2 finish and six covers. Minnesota is long and lost twice to Michigan State by six points and one point and realizes who’s to blame.

"Last time we played Michigan State we lost by one point and we made a lot of mistakes in the last four minutes, so I definitely think we can pull off the upset," said Gophers Devoe Joseph.
The Spartans have won eight straight over Minnesota, covering seven of them, but Minny has shot 58 percent or higher in last two games and is 6-0 ATS after a contest where they made 55% of their shots or better over the last two seasons.

UTEP won its first outright conference title in 23 years and is hardly being rewarded for it in Conference USA. Normally, the league champion plays the earliest game in the quarterfinals, not the C-USA, they had the Miners in the last game of the day and their reward is having to play Tulsa in their home town, about 16 hours after soundly defeating Central Florida 76-54 as 10-point favorites in the first semi-final. "No other tournament in the country is doing that," said Miners coach Tony Barbee.

UTEP has won 16 in a row (10-6 ATS), which included a pair of wins over Tulsa. The Miners are 3.5-point favorites and 7-0 ATS in road games after a win by 15 points or more since last season. The Golden Hurricane will have revenge and partisan crowd in this quasi-home game and Tulsa is 12-3 ATS as a neutral court underdog of six points or less or pick.