The No. 7 versus No. 10 matchup in the East Region could be one of the best Round of 64 games on the March Madness betting board, when the UConn Huskies face the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday.
Connecticut is a slim March Madness betting favorite, riding the momentum of a strong finish to the year. The Huskies won six of their final seven games and nearly made the Big East Tournament final. Maryland, on the other hand, has lost three of its last four, including a Big Ten Tournament defeat to Michigan.
Check out our free March Madness picks and predictions for Maryland vs. UConn in the Round of 64 Saturday.
Maryland vs Connecticut odds
Sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonFanDuel opened Connecticut a 2-point favorite Sunday night, spent most of the week at -3 and on game day went to -3.5, where the number sits at 3:15 p.m. ET. It's two-way point-spread action leaning toward the Huskies, who are taking 55 percent of tickets and 60 percent of money. The total is down to 129.5 from a 131 opener, although the Over is landing 79 percent of tickets/71 percent of cash.
Check out the full line movement for this gameMaryland Terrapins vs Connecticut Huskies betting preview
Injuries
Maryland: None.
Connecticut: R.J. Cole G (Probable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Huskies are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games as favorites. Find more NCAA betting trends for Maryland vs. Connecticut.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
COVID-19 cancellations prevented UConn from really gelling as a team until the back half of the Big East schedule. And when the Huskies did finally come together, the rest of the conference took notice. This is a big, physical lineup that will make March Madness opponents work for every bucket.
Connecticut sits 25th in adjusted defensive efficiency at KenPom.com, limiting opponents to just over 65 points per game on 41 percent shooting. The Huskies use their size to not only protect the rim, averaging 5.3 blocks per game, but also clean the glass. They boast a rebound rate of 53.4 (39th) and are especially active on the offensive end, pulling in 11.4 offensive boards an outing (10th).
Maryland has only one win in its last four outings and it wasn’t much of a showing. The Terrapins made the most of a sloppy game from Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, capitalizing on 18 turnovers from the Spartans, but shot a dismal 21 of 55 (38 %) from the field including a 6-for-20 showing from 3-point land.
The Terps may have faced a tougher schedule coming out of the Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean they’re the tougher team. Connecticut is a rare breed that actually plays better away from home, going 9-2-1 ATS in road and neutral-site games this season. The Huskies are hungry after making their first Field of 68 in five years and look like a Round of 64 steal at this current spread.
PREDICTION: UConn -2.5 (-110)
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Over/Under Pick
Maryland and Connecticut have similar defensive stats on the season. The Terps wound up 27th in adjusted defensive efficiency and limit foes to around 65 points per game on the season, anchored by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Morsell. Maryland has played below the total in five of its last six games and is 3-11 Over/Under in its last 14 outings overall.
Connecticut’s offense is holding its breath when it comes to the status of guard R.J. Cole, who is in concussion protocol after a gruesome head injury versus Creighton. Huskies head coach Dan Hurley told reporters playing on Saturday and not Friday gives Cole that extra day of rest for UConn to get one of its top backcourt performers back in the lineup.
Cole averages 12.6 points and dishes out 4.3 assists per game for a UConn squad that leans on its guards to shoulder the scoring load. Leading scorer James Bouknight had some off games in the Big East Tournament, scoring just 10 and 14 points in two games on a collective 8-for-25 shooting while also fighting through cramping issues.
PREDICTION: Under 130 (-110)
First half prop pick
Maryland has looked strong off the tip in recent games but just hasn’t been able to finish in the final 20 minutes.
The Terrapins posted 38 points in the first half versus Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament and put up first-half tallies of 34 and 33 in the two games prior. Then the plug got pulled in the second half of those contests, getting outscored 39-28 by the Wolverines and 43-28 by Penn State in the season finale.
On the year, the Terps post 31.8 points in the first 20 minutes and could put up a strong fight in the first half before UConn’s physicality takes over down the stretch.
PREDICTION: Maryland first-half team total Over 30 (-110)
Maryland vs Connecticut betting card
- UConn -2.5 (-110)
- Under 130 (-110)
- Maryland first-half team total Over 30 (-110)
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Where can I bet on March Madness odds?
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