Elite Eight 2012 Betting Lines
Carrie Stroup here with all your Elite Eight 2012 betting lines courtesy of Sportsbook.com where you can bet these games LIVE. Receive up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online wagering account here today (restrictions do apply).
FLORIDA GATORS (26-10) vs. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (29-9)
Sportsbook.com Line: Florida -1.5 &
Opening Line & Total: Gators
Two head coaches very familiar with one another match wits on Saturday afternoon when Billy Donovan’s Florida team takes on Louisville and Rick Pitino, Donovan’s former coach.
Because Florida has so many offensive weapons, the team doesn’t get enough credit for its defense. But the Gators are allowing a paltry 51.0 PPG on 31.5% FG in the NCAA Tournament so far, posting a +34 rebounding margin. Louisville has also been tough to score on, allowing 54.0 PPG on 34.7% FG in the NCAAs, but its offense has shot 41% compared to Florida’s 49% FG. In Elite Eight games with point spreads of 3 or less, lesser seeds are on an incredible run of 18-4 SU and 17-5 ATS (77%).
The Gators have won their three NCAA Tournament games by 23.3 PPG, disposing of third-seed Marquette 68-58 on Thursday night. Florida didn’t shoot very well against the Golden Eagles (40.7% FG, 7-of-27 threes), but this squad still leads the nation with 9.7 made threes per game, connecting on 38.0% of its long-range attempts. The Gators run a very intelligent offense with a 1.35 assist-to-turnover ratio (12th in nation) and commit just 15.6 fouls per game (19th in D-I). And although Florida does not have a lot of size in the paint, the team has done a great job limiting opposing star big men this tournament, holding UVa’s PF Mike Scott (18.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG) to 15 points and six rebounds and completely shutting down Norfolk State C Kyle O’Quinn (15.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG), who had just four points (1-of-9 FG) and three rebounds. And on Thursday night, Marquette star PF Jae Crowder (17.5 PPG, 50% FG) shot just 5-of-15 from the floor.
Florida’s best player in March has been 6-foot-3 freshman G Bradley Beal (14.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG). Beal scored a game-high 21 points (8-of-10 FG) with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks against Marquette. He’s now averaging 17.0 PPG and 8.2 RPG in five postseason games (2 SEC, 3 NCAA). Leading scorer G Kenny Boynton (16.0 PPG) has been struggling for the majority of the postseason. He scored 20 points in the Third Round win over 15th-seeded Norfolk State, but has just 8.8 PPG on 9-of-38 FG (24%) in the other four contests. This includes his 2-for-10 shooting night against Marquette. Senior PG Erving Walker (12.1 PPG) leads the team with 4.5 APG, but has just eight assists and eight turnovers in the three NCAA games. He’s also in a prolonged shooting slump, making just 33% of his shots (18-of-54 FG) in March. But the Florida big men did a great job in helping to outrebound Marquette as Erik Murphy pulled down 10 rebounds and Patric Young grabbed nine boards.
Like Florida, Louisville is also red-hot, winning seven straight games (SU and ATS), and limiting these opponents to 54.6 PPG during the win streak. The Cardinals held top-seeded Michigan State to 44 points on 14-of-49 shooting (28.6%) in Thursday’s win.
Freshman F Chane Behanan (9.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) scored a game-high 15 points and also grabbed nine boards in the win over MSU. He’s averaging a strong 13.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG during the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore G Russ Smith was the only other Cardinals player in double-figures on Thursday, pumping in 11 points. Smith has 14.0 PPG in his past two games, making 5-of-7 shots from downtown. Louisville is at its best when junior PG Peyton Siva (9.1 PPG, 5.5 APG) is on his game. After a brilliant four-game Big East Tournament (13.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.8 APG) and a strong NCAA opener against Davidson (17 points, six assists), Siva has just 10 points (4-of-15 FG) in his past two contests combined. But he did dish out nine assists to make up for five turnovers in Thursday’s win. Senior swingman Kyle Kuric (12.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG) is also capable of contributing more than he has this tournament. He’s scoring 10.0 PPG, but has totaled just seven rebounds and one assist in 105 minutes of playing time.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (30-7) vs. SYRACUSE ORANGE (34-2)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Ohio State -3 & 136
Opening Line & Total: Buckeyes
The top two seeds in the East Region clash on Saturday night when either Syracuse or Ohio State will advance to the Final Four.
Favorable officiating has helped Syracuse win two of its three NCAA tourney games (both ATS losses), but its luck is about to run out. The duo of Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas will own the paint against a Fab Melo-less Orange team, and PG Aaron Craft (six steals Thursday) will continue to control the game on the perimeter. And struggling swingman William Buford (31% FG in NCAAs) is overdue to bust out (nine 20-point games this season), as he could wreak serious havoc on Syracuse’s 2-3 zone that Wisconsin picked apart on Thursday night.
The Buckeyes have won their three NCAA Tournament games by an average score of 77 to 64. For the season, they score 75.0 PPG on 48.2% FG (16th in nation), and allow just 59.4 PPG (17th in D-I). They also outrebound teams by 7.6 RPG (6th in nation) and have a strong assist-to-turnover ratio (1.26, 23rd in nation). The offense revolves around PF Jared Sullinger (17.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG), who dominated Cincinnati with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Without Fab Melo in the middle, Sullinger should be able to muscle his way to a big night against the poor-rebounding Orange squad. But sophomore F Deshaun Thomas (16.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG) has been the team’s best offensive weapon late in the season, averaging with 20.7 PPG and 7.6 RPG over his past 11 games. He has 25.3 PPG (56% FG) and 8.7 RPG so far in the NCAA Tournament. Senior F/G William Buford (14.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG) has been wildly inconsistent all season (42.0% FG) and is shooting just 33% FG in his six postseason games (3 Big Ten, 3 NCAA). He was a dreadful 1-of-8 FG against the Bearcats committing four fouls and four turnovers. Sophomore point guard Aaron Craft (8.6 PPG, 4.6 APG) is the key to this offense. After a shaky opening NCAA game against Loyola (MD) when he had four assists and five turnovers, Craft has 14.0 PPG, 7.5 APG and 4.5 SPG in his past two contests. The Orange do a great job creating turnovers (9.2 SPG, 5th in nation), so Craft needs to limit his mistakes (11 turnovers in three NCAA games).
The Orange have been a terrible bet recently, going 2-8 ATS in their past 10 games. However, Syracuse still ranks second in the nation in turnover margin (+5.6) and is also great defensively, allowing just 60.6 PPG on 38.5% FG (8th in nation). The offensive balance continues to be a strength as the team averages 74.2 PPG, but only two players score in double-figures, senior F Kris Joseph (13.5 PPG) and sophomore G Dion Waiters (12.7 PPG). Joseph has really struggled to shoot the ball in the postseason, averaging just 9.8 PPG on 11-of-39 shooting (28%) in five tournament games (2 Big East, 3 NCAA). Despite playing 39 minutes in Thursday’s 64-63 win over Wisconsin, Joseph had only seven points, two rebounds, zero assists, zero steals and zero blocks. Waiters has been outstanding in the five postseason games though, averaging 17.8 PPG on 54% FG. Senior G Scoop Jardine (8.8 PPG, 4.9 APG) had a lackluster Big East Tournament (4.0 PPG), but has come up huge in the three NCAA tourney wins with 13.7 PPG and 6.3 APG. After committing six turnovers against KSU in the Third Round, he only gave the ball away once in his 35 minutes of action versus the Badgers.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
