March Madness Betting Look at Cinderellas, Sleepers and Bracket-Busters

Come Sunday, America, and the world will have a full look at the Field of 68, the bracket for the 2023 rendition of March Madness. As is the case each and every year, pundits, fans, and bettors alike will begin to fill out their brackets in search of that delectable 5/12 upset special or a team seeded low to make a magical run.

This year many in the know have said that the tournament figures to be chock full of upsets, shocks, and teams that transform themselves into America’s darling right before our eyes. In this piece, we will focus on a few teams that do not hail from major conferences and possess the potential to survive and advance and thrust themselves into national recognition and even prominence.

Without further ado, let’s check out college basketball betting predictions and analysis for these teams in the 2023 NCAA Basketball Tournament games.

 

March Madness Betting Look at Cinderellas, Sleepers and Bracket-Busters

 

The Red Raiders

Champions of the Patriot League and slated by many to be either a 14 or, most likely a 15-seed the Red Raiders of Colgate are a team that can potentially wreck a bracket and send a high seed packing. They’ll be making their third consecutive appearance of March Madness and played Wisconsin close in 2022.

Matt Langel’s team ranks 46th overall in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pom’s metrics, and unlike many low and mid major teams they have some size, big men that can play and contribute. The two-headed monster of 6-10 Keegan Records and 6-11 Jeff Woodward can potentially post a matchup problem for a first-round opponent.

While we don’t see the Red Raiders making a deep run, we can definitely foresee them as a 14 or 15-seed getting a ton of points in a first-round game and not only making it close but potentially winning.

Bet Red Raiders to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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Pair of 30-Game Winners

Two teams that figure to garner 12 seeds are College of Charleston (31-3), champions of the CAA, and Oral Roberts (30-4), the Summit League titlist.  

First let’s look at Pat Kelsey’s Cougars. Not much of a tournament history to speak of, just four trips since 1997, but this team plays fast, they can score, and they’ve had a remarkable season. They rank 29th in adjusted tempo according to KenPom and average 16 seconds per possession, 28th quickest in all of D1 basketball.

Plus, all this team does is win, and if you look at past Cinderellas, they not only have won their conference tournament to solidify a bid, but they’ve dominated. These guys haven’t tasted defeat since February 2, and in their current 10-game winning streak have won four of those contests by more than 20. Yes, they’ll definitely be put to the test against a middling team from a high major conference, but they should advance.

Oral Roberts is a squad that captured America’s imagination in the 2021 tournament, advancing all the way to the Sweet 16 in their first tourney appearance since 2008. They went unbeaten in the Summit League, and coach Paul Mills, who led them to the Sweet 16 is still at the helm.

What appeals to us about this team is not only do they play fast (38th in tempo), but they are the 23rd most efficient team offensively according to KenPom. Anyone who knows anything about college buckets will tell you guards win in March, and you’ll be hard-pressed at any level to find a more proven backcourt than Issac McBride and Max Abmas.

Abmas averages a double-double (26 points and 11 assists) while playing 38 minutes, and McBride is a defensive stopper who himself averages nearly 12 a game. Now, they are armed with 7-5 center Connor Vanover, a human eraser at the rim. Of the three teams mentioned in this space, we like the Golden Eagles to be alive come the second weekend.

Bet College of Charleston / Oral Roberts to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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I’ve read enough, now I have to place my bet, what do I do?

Bet College Basketball Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

 

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2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Schedule
Men's College Basketball Playoffs Betting Predictions and Analysis:

 

Friday, March 24 | Sweet 16

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 5 San Diego State	6:30 p.m.	TBS
No. 1 Houston vs. No. 5 Miami	7:15 p.m.	CBS
No. 6 Creighton vs. No. 15 Princeton	9 p.m.	TBS
No. 2 Texas vs. No. 3 Xavier	9:45 p.m.	CBS

 

2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Betting Tips
Men's College Basketball Playoffs Betting Predections and Analysis:

March Madness Against The Spread Picks & Lines for Sweet 16 Game
March Madness Odds & Predictions for Sweet 16 Betting Games
March Madness Parlay Picks & Lines for Sweet 16 Betting Games
March Madness Odds Updated for 2023 National Championship
NCAAM Sweet 16 Underdogs: Dark Horses to Survive and Advance

 

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College Basketball Betting Center

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