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2018 NCAAB First Four Betting Preview: NC Central vs Texas Southern

2018 NCAAB First Four Betting Preview: NC Central vs Texas Southern

Written by on March 13, 2018

NCAAB News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
On Wednesday night, the First Four play-in games continue for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and the doubleheader gets underway with North Carolina-Central facing off against Texas Southern at the University of Dayton Arena. Texas Southern made the Big Dance by winning the SWAC Tournament over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. NC Central made it back to March Madness for a second year in a row by winning the MEAC Tournament, taking down top-seeded Hampton in the process. Check out our First Four betting preview for this Wednesday night’s March Madness affair.

2018 NCAAB First Four Betting Preview: NC Central vs Texas Southern 

When: Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 6:40pm ET Where: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH TV: truTV Radio: None Live Stream: March Madness Live First Four Betting Odds: Texas Southern -4.5

Why should you bet on the Eagles?

NC Central puts together a defense-first approach when they get their wins, as they showed in their upset of Hampton. A gritty, physical game helped them get key stops during a late 7-0 run that gave them a 65-58 lead with under a minute left in regulation. On the night, they held Hampton to 46 percent from the floor and just 4 for 18 from downtown, as they got hands in the faces of the perimeter shooters. Pablo Rivas led the way for the Eagles in their MEAC championship win, putting up 22 points, five boards, an assist and a steal. On the season, the Eagles average 72.8 points per game and shoot almost 47 percent for the floor, including 34 percent from three-point land. Their leading scorers include Rivas (11.8 points per game) as well as Raasean Davis (15 points and 8 boards per game), Jordan Perkins (8.4 points per game) and Larry McKnight (6.1 points per game). The Eagles hold their opponents to just over 69 points per game and outrebound their opponents by about five boards per game. The Eagles came into the MEAC Tournament as the six-seed and used their defensive, physical approach to march to the title. However, they have a hard time with ball security, as their guards commit way too many turnovers. That could be a problem against the speedy guards from Texas Southern. If you like NC Central, you see their defensive rhythm controlling the pace of the game.

Why should you put your money on the Tigers?

Texas Southern wins when they can push the tempo, as they showed in the SWAC final against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. They won the game, 84-69, shooting almost 60 percent form the field and almost 48 percent from downtown. Trayvon Reed led the way for the Tigers, posting 17 points, 10 boards, four blocks and a steal. Those 84 points were seven more than their season average, and they have shot about 44 percent from the floor for the season, including 36 percent from downtown. On the season, their leading scorer has been Demontrae Jefferson (23.4 points per game), and other double-figure contributors have been Donte Clark (18.6) and Derrick Bruce (13.9). One problem that TSU has is on the defensive end, as they give up 79.7 points per game. Texas Southern did play a tough nonconference schedule and actually opened the season with an 0-13 mark. However, SWAC play was kind to the Tigers, and they enter this play-in on a seven-gme winning streak. If you like the Tigers to advance here, you see them applying their run-and-gun tempo and taking the game to the Eagles.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Both of these teams are happy just to be in the First Four, having taken down some top opposition in the conference tournaments to get here. With that said, I like the run-and-gun approach that TSU brings to their games, particularly with regard to how often NC Central happens to turn the ball over. I predict a final score of Texas Southern 81, NC Central 74.
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