Media by Associated Press – Mississippi State guard Cameron Matthews (4) watches as he scores a layup basket between Texas A&M guard Dexter Dennis (0) and forward Andersson Garcia (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Mississippi State won 69-62. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The First Four has been a big boom for Dayton, Ohio. While it has been a cool event for local basketball fans, it isn’t a place teams want to land when they start their journey in the NCAA Tournament.
However, for a team like Pitt, which hasn’t been in the NCAA Tournament in seven years, having an opportunity to be involved in March Madness is a big relief.
Here’s how to bet on the NCAA Tournament’s opening games.
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders (-3.5)
The Redhawks made a surprising run through the Ohio Valley Conference and qualified for the NCAA Tournament with a 19-16 record. Southeast Missouri State last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2000, losing by three points to LSU in the first round as a 13 seed. The Redhawks prefer to play an uptempo brand of basketball.
SE Missouri State averages 78.1 points per game and has three players who average in double figures. The Redhawks, who are 19-13-1 against the spread this season, are led by Phillip Russell, who averages 18.2 points and 5.0 assists per game. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
The Islanders lost to Texas Southern 76-67 in the First Four last season. Senior guard Trevian Tennyson, who led the team with 18 points against Texas Southern last season, averages a team-high 15.7 points per game this year. The Islanders also prefer to play an up-tempo style and average 80.4 points per game.
Texas A&M Corpus Christian is 17-12 against the spread. The total has gone over in 21 of SE Missouri State’s games, while the Islanders have seen the over go 18-11 in their games. Expect Texas A&M Corpus Christi to lean on its experience and cover the spread.
Pitt Panthers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (-2.5)
Panthers big man Federiko Federiko, who started the season slow before becoming an all-ACC player, is a game-time decision for Pitt. The Panthers’ 6-foot-11 center averages 7.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. More importantly, Pitt will need his toughness to beat a deliberate Bulldogs team.
Mississippi State leans on its defense because the Bulldogs struggle to shoot. The Bulldogs shoot 26.6 percent from the 3-point line, which is the worst percentage in the country.
Mississippi State ranks 10th nationally in scoring defense and opponent field goal percentage, limiting teams to 61 points and 39.4 percent shooting per game.
The Panthers are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. Pitt’s offensive attack is heavily reliant on making 3-pointers.
The Panthers average 9.2 treys per game and shoot 36 percent from the perimeter. Blake Hinson leads Pitt by averaging 15.6 points per game and shoots 38.4 percent from the outside. Pitt will struggle to keep up with the Bulldogs’ defense, and Mississippi State will cover the spread.
You can find more NCAA basketball picks here.