2024 March Madness

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Developing Stories 📰

Tuesday night marks the start of the NCAA Tournament's First Four, featuring the Wagner Seahawks (16-15, 14-15 ATS) against the Howard Bison (18-16, 12-18-2 ATS), both 16-seeds. Wagner clinched the NEC Tournament title as a 6-seed, defeating Merrimack 54-47 in the final as 8.5-point underdogs, while Howard secured the MEAC Tournament crown as the 4-seed, edging past Delaware State 70-67 in the final but failing to cover as 6-point favorites. The victor will advance to face North Carolina, the 1-seed in the West Region. Tipoff is set for 6:40 EST at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, airing on TruTV.

Wagner faced adversity with only seven healthy players for the championship game. Leading the Seahawks is 6'4 junior Melvin Council Jr., named First Team All Conference in the NEC, averaging 14.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 3.4 APG. Tahron Allen adds scoring with 10.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG as a 6'5 junior guard. Julian Brown, a 6'1 sophomore, contributes from deep with 59 made threes and 9.5 PPG, while 6'9, 255-pound sophomore Keyontae Lewis provides inside presence with 6.6 PPG and 5.4 RPG. According to KenPom, Wagner ranks 293rd overall, the lowest among tournament teams, with a slow-paced style at 361st in pace of play. Howard's standout players include Bryce Harris, Marcus Dockery, and Seth Towns, all recognized in the MEAC Conference. Harris leads with 16.6 PPG and 7.6 RPG, while Dockery boasts 93 made threes and 13.7 PPG. Towns contribute 14.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG. Howard ranks 276th overall in KenPom, ranking higher than Wagner, with faster gameplay at 163rd in pace of play but struggling defensively at 334th.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 1991 Philadelphia retires Wilt Chamberlains #13 jersey.

1995 Michael Jordan comes out of 17-month retirement to rejoin the Bulls.

Dak Prescott reworks his contract in his final year, so the Cowboys have more room in their salary cap.

The Chicago Bears trade QB Justin Fields to Steelers for an unconditional 2025 5^th round that converts to a 4^th round if Fields takes 51% of snaps.

The Browns signed Tyler Huntley, adding their 4^th QB to their room for preseason.

All nine FBS Conferences and Notre Dame agree to the next CFP contract which will begin in 2026 with an expected 14 team field.

Mets Steve Cohen doesn’t expect a new deal for Pete Alonso before the end of the 2024 season.

Scottie Scheffler makes golf history as the first player in history to win back-to-back.

PGA tour directors are preparing to meet with Saudi leader of LIV Golf.

Carlos Alacaraz beats Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells finals to retain his title, first player to do since Novak Djokovic.

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏀 Rockets at Wizards

• Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

• Houston is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games when playing Houston

• The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Washington's last 13 games at home 

🏀 Hornets at Magic

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte's last 7 games when playing Orlando

• The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Charlotte's last 11 games on the road

• Orlando is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home

• Orlando is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

🏀 Mavericks at Spurs

• Dallas is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games

• Dallas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Antonio 

🎓🏀 BC at PROV

• Boston College is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Providence

• Boston College is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Providence

• Providence is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston College

• Providence is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games at home

🎓🏀 XAV at UGA

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Xavier's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Georgia's last 8 games at home

🎓🏀 COR at OSU

• The total has gone OVER in 8 of Cornell's last 11 games on the road

🎓🏀 UCI at UTAH

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of UC Irvine's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 5 games at home

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏀 NBA

43% of bets and 65% of money is on UNDER 215.5 NOP at BKN

32% of bets and 60% of money is on UNDER 213 DEN at MIN

🎓🏀 NCAAB

35% of bets and 78% of money is on OVER 157 XAV at UGA

30% of bets and 63% of money is on OVER 158 COR at OSU

35% of bets and 62% of money is on AC +3.5

34% of bets and 78% of money is on OVER 150 MINN at BUT

27% of bets and 63% of money is on OVER 157.5 KSU at IOWA

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Picks 🔒

Howard -3 | Wagner enters this matchup shorthanded with only seven players, while Howard holds the advantage in the paint, led by Towns, an all-conference player averaging 14.2 PPG. Wagner's primary post player, Lewis, only averages 6.6 PPG. Additionally, Howard's Dockery is a prolific shooter with 93 made threes this season, and Bryce Harris is expected to excel as the standout player on the court.