Two games with four big teams cap off the sub-regional action about 5 p.m. Sunday ET when eight-seed Kentucky tips-off against top-seed Kansas and fifteen minutes later, four-seed Texas will battle five-seed Southern California. The winners go on to the final sixteen at their respective regional sites.
Kentucky is 19-5 all-time against Kansas , although the Jayhawks have defeated the Wildcats in each of the last two regular seasons. Last year’s 73-46 Kansas win in Lawrence was Kentucky’s worst loss under Tubby Smith. Oddsmakers don’t care much for Kentucky’s chances in today’s game with Kansas favored across the board at offshore sportsbooks by an -8.0 chalk with a 138 ½ total. The Wildcats have fared well against the spread in their last five games in covering three-of-five ATS as to Kansas covering only twice in its last five games. Over the same period, the OVER has cashed on the total in four-of-five Kentucky games and three-of-five in Kansas games. Point-Spreads.com pick: Kentucky +5.
Texas defeated New Mexico State 79-67 i n its first-round game on March 16, as freshman Kevin Durant scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Durant averages 25.7 points to lead the Longhorns. Texas lost in overtime to Kansas in the Big-12 finals on March 11, 88-84. USC is 4-4 all-time against Texas, winning the last meeting in 1986.
USC defeated Arkansas 77-60 on Friday in the NCAA first round at Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash. for its first NCAA Tournament win since reaching the Elite Eight in 2001. Nick Young led USC with 20 points and Taj Gibson added 18 points and eight rebounds. USC trailed 14-6 six minutes into the game, but outscored Arkansas 32-13 the rest of the half to take a 38-27 lead at the break. The Razorbacks cut the lead to seven early in the second half, but a Gabe Pruitt three-pointer at 18:37 of the second half ignited a 7-0 run and USC led by double digits the rest of the way.
Oddsmakers like Texas but only by a bucket installing the Longhorns a -2.0 favorite with a 146 ½ total. The Longhorns have been an excellent bet for backer of late by going four-of-five ATS in their last five games and covering eight of their last 10 games. The UNDER has cashed on the total in seven of 10 games. USC has also covered four of its last five games ATS while covering in six of their last 10. The OVER has been very profitable in SC games cashing on the total 13-straight times. The Pick: Texas -2.
