While there are many mid-major conference tournaments taking place, we’ve still got massive rivalry regular season games at the high-major level. Don’t forget about those matchups tonight! Here are our three NCAAB best bets for March 9.
Here are the NCAAB odds we’re looking at today. Remember they are available at the top-rated sportsbooks!
Top NCAAB Pick: New Mexico +3.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Baylor Bears vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Saturday, March 09, 2024 – 06:00 PM ET at United Supermarkets Arena
Revenge Spot?
The Baylor Bears escaped the Texas Tech Red Raiders earlier in the year with a 79-73 victory at home. Now they’ll play on the road, which won’t be an easy task.
Texas Tech is still a top-20 offense in the nation. The Red Raiders have drilled 36.4% from three and 51.8% from inside the arc. More importantly, Texas Tech has nailed 77.8% from the foul line. That will only help down the stretch at home.
Best Bet
Meanwhile, Baylor has allowed teams to shoot 52% from inside the arc and has allowed an effective field goal percentage of 51.3%. That’s not ideal defensively.
Baylor’s offense is still one of the best in the nation. The Bears have hit 41% from three and have the fifth-highest adjusted efficiency in the country. The Bears should earn a few more offensive rebounds, but they’ll also turn the ball over more often in this game.
Baylor is also used to getting to the foul line at a high rate, but against Texas Tech at home, that’s more unlikely.
I’ll roll with Texas Tech to win the final game of the season against Baylor. They could use this one too.
NCAAB Pick: Texas Tech -1.5 (-110) at BetOnline
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils
Saturday, March 09, 2024 – 06:30 PM ET at Cameron Indoor Stadium
NC Rivalry
The second North Carolina-Duke matchup will take place tonight.
North Carolina knocked off Duke in their building earlier in the year. Now, Duke will look for revenge in their building.
The North Carolina Tar Heels aren’t earning a high rate of turnovers. But they’ve still held teams to 31% from three and 45.6% from inside the arc. Opponents have also only added 24.1% of offensive rebounds against North Carolina, which is tremendous.
But while North Carolina’s defense is superior, Duke’s offense is also better. Duke has shot 38% from downtown and 54.8% from inside the arc. They’ll do a good job at keeping turnovers down, which only means they’ll get more shots in this game.
Best Bet
On the other hand, North Carolina has nailed 35.6% from three and 50.1% from inside the arc. The rate inside is a bit concerning for North Carolina. They’ll likely struggle to score down-low more. However, Duke still isn’t terrific defensively around the rim. It’s just hard to find success shooting the ball on the road in this environment.
Ultimately, Duke will get more looks from the field. The rebound battle will be nearly equal, but Duke will hit more threes and have a better percentage from inside.
Therefore, we’ll roll with Duke at -5.5 on the Blue Devils’ home floor.
NCAAB Pick: Duke -5.5 (-110) at BetOnline
New Mexico Lobos vs. Utah State Aggies
Saturday, March 09, 2024 – 08:30 PM ET at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum
That’s A Wrap!
The Utah State Aggies are wrapping up the regular season with a home game against New Mexico. Riding the wave of four consecutive victories, the Aggies are looking to avenge their earlier loss to New Mexico on the road, 99-86.
On the other hand, New Mexico has dropped two of their last three games and is an underdog on the road against Utah State tonight.
The Lobos have done well offensively this season, shooting 33.7% from three and 51.6% from inside the arc. New Mexico doesn’t take a ton of three-point shots, but that’s a good thing tonight. The Aggies have allowed only 28.3% from three but have given up 53.1% from inside the arc.
That’s ultimately why New Mexico defeated Utah State earlier in the year. They can score at a high rate down low, and Utah State can’t stop it.
Best Bet
On the other hand, Utah State has struggled from three but has nailed 57.2% from inside the arc. Like New Mexico, Utah State won’t attempt a crazy amount of threes. But it should be harder for the Aggies to score, with New Mexico allowing only 49.4% from the field inside the arc this season.
New Mexico should win the rebounding battle and have also done better protecting the basketball.
It’s never easy on the road in the Mountain West Conference. But New Mexico stands out tonight. Let’s back the Lobos at +3.5.
NCAAB Pick: New Mexico +3.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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