With March Madness finally here, the Tuesday slate kicks off with a pair of play-in games. This article will examine the most best bets Tuesday and offer professional opinions and evaluations to assist you in making wise and well-informed betting choices, with the aid of OddsShopper’s college basketball odds and best bets resources.
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Best College Basketball Picks & Odds Today | March 14
College Basketball Odds: Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Southeast Missouri State, the winner of the Ohio Valley Conference, finished as the No. 5 seed in its own conference tournament. Through a number of upsets, it will now face off against Southland champion Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The Islanders took down the regular season title as well, but unfortunately, they lost their best player Terrion Murdix in the title game.
With that said, Texas A&M Corpus Christi still has a massive advantage offensively over Southeast Missouri State. Corpus Christi is 37th in offensive efficiency, which includes the 38th-ranked 3-point shooting. This immediately dominates Southeast Missouri State’s 263rd-ranked 3-point defense. Aside from Murdix, Trey Tennyson shoots 42.7% from 3, while Ross Williams and Isaac Mushila shoot 38.6% and 37.1%. Corpus Christi also is 83rd in rebounding, compared to 273rd for Southeast Missouri State.
Best College Basketball Pick: Texas A&M Corpus Christi -3.5 (-115) at BetMGM
College Basketball Odds: Mississippi State vs. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh takes on Mississippi State in Dayton in the First Four play-in games. Pittsburgh entered the ACC Tournament as the No. 5 seed, but the Panthers were bounced by Duke in the quarterfinals. Mississippi State entered the SEC Tournament as the No. 9 seed and was also eliminated in the quarterfinals by the eventual champion. Overall, this game has a clear clash in styles.
Pitt’s 23rd-ranked offense will take on Mississippi State’s eighth-ranked defense. Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s 252nd-ranked offense gets Pitt’s 185th-ranked defense. Within the overall efficiency numbers Pitt appears to have an advantage. The Panthers can score from anywhere on the court, placing 72nd in 2-point percentage and 79th in 3-point percentage. Meanwhile, Mississippi State can only score inside and largely through one player in Tolu Smith. Pitt actually is 98th in interior defense but 141st from 3. Fortunately, Mississippi State is one of the worst shooting teams in the country — 363rd in 3-point percentage. With both teams comparable in height, Pitt is the deeper and more effective team here.
Best College Basketball Bet: Pittsburgh +2.5 (-110) at BetMGM
