Play-In Game Has Winthrop Favored
Today's Play-In Game between Winthrop and Arkansas Pine-Bluff had Winthrop as the -3 favorite early on. That line has moved a half point up to -3 ½ at Sportsbook.com (see website here) 75 percent of the betting action was on Winthrop here.
About the last thing on the mind of the coaches of Winthrop and Arkansas Pine-Bluff early in the season was a NCAA Tournament game. The Eagles from Rock Hill, S.C. started the year 5-9 and the Golden Lions were 9-14 in the middle of February. However, tournament bids from the Big South and SWAC are earned by winning basketball games at the right time and each school did what they needed to survive and advance. Tonight, the teams will compete in the annual "play-in" game of the Big Dance, with Winthrop listed as a 3.5-point favorite according to Sportsbook.com.
Winthrop (19-13) is the known commodity in this event, having been at the Big Dance five of the last six years, which included a memorable victory over Notre Dame three years ago. The Eagles were flying down the stretch, winning 14 of last 18, playing stifling defense, holding opposing teams to 39.7 percent shooting.
This helps overcome some real deficiencies in putting the ball in the basket, where they convert only 38.3 percent from the field and are dead last in the entire country in three-point shooting (not just the tourney teams) at 25.5 percent. It figures Winthrop had the Big South Defensive Player of the Year Mantoris Robinson, who can wipe the ball from offensive counterpart and block shots.
Arkansas Pine-Bluff (17-15) deserves a great deal of credit for courage. This senior-heavy team played its first FOURTEEN games on the road, five against teams in this field and a couple that just missed. Coach George Ivory was a miracle worker not to lose this squad after 0-11 start.
The Golden Lions are also modest offensively, averaging 64.4 points per game, with their leading scorer Terrance Calvin at only 10.4 points per game.
The best bet for the play in-game might be the total, as neutral court teams with a horrible offensive team, averaging less than 63 points a game (Winthrop), against a good defensive team (63-67 PPG), after scoring 25 points or less in the first half last game are 36-13 UNDER the last 13 years.
ESPN has this contest starting at 7:30 Eastern from Dayton, with the winner moving on to face top seeded Duke.
After placing your bets, don't forget to enter the $13 Million Perfect Bracket contest. Fill out a perfect bracket and you cash-in on an eight figure payout. There is also a $10K guaranteed prize pool up for grabs just in case no one predicts a perfect bracket.
