2018 March Madness Elite 8 Prediction: Over/Under Total Picks

With Saturday’s pair of matchups set and just over 48 hours away from getting started, now is a perfect time for a pair of total picks for all of you Over/Under 2018 March Madness Elite 8 betting enthusiasts. Let’s get started with Saturday’s opening matchup between two national championship hopefuls that no one had made it this far, so be sure to check the NCAAB odds right before submitting your betting ticket.

2018 March Madness Elite 8 Betting Prediction: Over/Under Total Picks

No. 11 Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs. No. 9 Kansas State Wildcats

• When: Saturday, March 24, 2018, 6:09 PM ET
• Where: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
• TV: TBS
• Radio: TuneIn
• Live Stream: MM Live
• Elite 8 Betting Odds: Pick ‘Em (Over/Under at 127 points)

The first thing you should know about this matchup is that both, Loyola-Chicago and Kansas State both average just over 71.0 points per game with the Ramblers putting up 71.8 per contest and the Wildcats averaging 71.3 per game. You should also know that both of these national championship longshots are really good defensively and Loyola-Chicago in particular. The ramblers ranked fifth in the nation in points allowed by limiting the opposition to just 62.2 points per game. K-State was also rock-solid defensively in limiting the opposition to just 66.7 points per contest to finish 42nd nationally in points allowed. Loyola-Chicago has played Under the total in all three of their NCAA Tournament games so far – and a whopping eight straight games overall. K-State has also played Under the total in all three of their tourney games and four of their last five games overall. The Under is also 5-0 in the Ramblers last 5 non-conference games, 7-0 in their last 7 neutral site games and a consistent 19-7 in their last 26 games overall. The Under is 6-1 in K-State’s last 7 neutral site games, 7-2-1 in Wildcats last 10 games following a straight-up win and 6-2-1 in their last 9 NCAA Tournament games.

Expert Elite 8 Betting Pick

While the 127-point total looks low, I’m expecting this matchup to be a knock-down, drag-out brawl that plays just Under the total, although I will admit, it’s going to be very close! Final Pick: Under 127 Total Points

No. 9 Florida State Seminoles vs. No. 3 Michigan Wolverines

• When: Saturday, March 24, 2018, 8:49 PM ET
• Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
• TV: TBS
• Radio: TuneIn
• Elite 8 Betting Odds: Michigan Wolverines -4.5 (Over/Under at 143 points)

No. 9 Florida State averages a healthy 80.9 points per game to rank 35th nationally while allowing 73.3 points per game defensively (199th). The Seminoles put 67 points on the board in their opener against Missouri and then got past No. 1 Xavier and No. 4 Gonzaga by scoring an identical 75 points in each contest while limiting the Musketeers to a modest 70 points and the Bulldogs to just 60 points in a completely dominating performance. No. 3 Michigan averages a modest 74.5 points per game (157th), but the Wolverines have been one of the best defensive teams in the country by limiting the opposition to just 63.3 points per game defensively to rank ninth in points allowed. The Wolverines put 61 points on the board against Montana in their opener (61-47) and then squeaked past Houston by putting 64 points on the board in a one-point win. The Wolverines then exploded on Texas A&M in their stunning 99-72 Sweet 16 win on Thursday night. Florida State has played Under the total in all three of their NCAA Tournament games while Michigan went over the total for the first time this March Madness against Texas A&M. The Under is 7-1 in the Seminoles last 8 non-conference games, 5-1 in their last 6 neutral site games and 9-3 in their last 12 NCAA Tournament games overall. The Under is also 4-0-1 in Michigan’s last 5 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game, but the Over is 6-2-2 in the Wolverines’ last 10 games overall.

Expert Elite 8 Betting Pick

To get right to the point, I’m going with the Over. Michigan is elite defensively, but Florida State looks like it will at least reach the 70-point plateau in a contest that I expect to be decided by just a handful of points. Final Pick: Over 143 Total Points