NCAA Basketball Betting: Wichita State vs. Miami-FL
Two games for Wichita State, two easy winners. Maybe the public is starting to realize that just because Wichita was relegated to the #11 ‘play in game’ where they obliterated Vanderbilt this team is no joke. You think a double digit win over an Arizona team that was the darling of many unsuspecting casual fans would convince them if nothing will. At any rate, the Shockers are short priced favorites in this game against Miami-FL. If you think that’s going to get us off Wichita State you haven’t been paying attention though admittedly we’d much rather play this team as an underdog.
#3 seed Miami got a made-to-order opening round matchup against MAC entrant Buffalo. The Bulls never really had to deal with serious athletes before the NCAA tournament and were a one dimensional three point shooting team from a not exactly physical league. But despite Miami holding every matchup edge imaginable the Hurricanes only managed to beat Buffalo by 7 and didn’t come close to covering as a -14 point favorite. If this team thinks that effort is ‘good enough’ to get past Wichita State they’ve got another thing coming.
In my opinion, Gregg Marshall isn’t just the most underrated coach in college hoops or the best defensive coach in the game–he’s the best coach PERIOD. I’ve watched this guy since he was an assistant for defensive genius John Kresse at the College of Charleston back when the Cougars would give higher profile teams fits every year in non-conference play. Now he’s doing the same thing at Wichita State with better athletes. Ask Arizona how easy it is to operate your offense against the Shockers? You’ll find them on a flight heading back to Tucson.
In theory, we’d rather have Wichita State getting points (and they’re now 6-1 ATS as a NCAA tournament dog since 2006) but they haven’t been too shabby as a chalk in recent years. Shockers don’t sneak up on anybody these days and yet they’re 19-11 ATS as a favorite YTD and 58-33 laying points over the last three years. Sure don’t see Miami showing Wichita anything they can’t handle. When linesmakers make the #11 seed a 2 point chalk over a #3 seed–and particularly after the NCAA has subjected them to a ‘play in’ game it’s time to pay attention.
BET WICHITA STATE -2 OVER MIAMI-FL
