Sometimes you want to make a quick pitstop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot winning image, here’s a quick thought and lean on a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game.
Quick Pick — SGP: UConn -3.5, San Diego State +20.5, UNDER 145.5 (+100, MGM)
According to BetMGM, UConn’s betting bandwagon has swelled.
Similar to the ridiculous oversized suits from the early 2000s as Carmelo Anthony, Kendrick Perkins and TJ Ford perfectly lampooned in their recent AT&T ad, the Huskies are quite trendy. Over 20% of the handle and nearly 12% of public tickets are on them to win a second consecutive national championship. Witnessed in their beatdowns of Stetson and Northwestern to reach the Sweet 16, the hype is real.
On paper, another spanking is possible Thursday in Boston.
San Diego State, which lost to UConn in last year’s title game, will be driven by revenge, but it is outclassed in several areas. Superficially, Danny Hurley’s Huskies rank top-seven in offensive and defensive efficiency in games played this month. The Aztecs, despite slotting at respectable spots in those areas, are significantly behind (No. 66 in O efficiency, No. 38 in D efficiency).
SDSU’s strong reliance on battering ram Jaedon LeDee and suspect perimeter shooting (No. 238 in 3PT% in last seven games) have it at a stark disadvantage. Unless the Aztecs can quickly entice whistles on lane clogger Donovan Clingan and have Lamont Butler, Micah Parrish, Darrion Trammell and Reese Waters catch fire from three, the game could be a wrap by halftime.
Toying with alternate lines and knowing Brian Dutcher’s group will fight until the bitter end, living in the middle is a seemingly sound approach.
Season record: 28-27, +6.45 units