Mar 5, 2023; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Northwestern Wildcats guard Boo Buie (0) reacts after making a 3 level basket throughout the second half in opposition to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Area. Necessary Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports activities
- No. 7 Northwestern is a 1.5-point favourite over No. 10 Boise State in an NCAA Event West Area first-round sport on Thursday night time in Orlando
- Boise State is 0-8 all-time in March Insanity
- See the Boise State vs Northwestern odds and picks
No. 10 Boise State will once more search for its first-ever NCAA Event win when it faces No. 7 Northwestern in West Area first-round sport at 7:35 p.m. ET Thursday on the Golden 1 Middle in Sacramento.
Boise State (24-9, 16-14-2 ATS) is 0-8 all-time in March Insanity after dropping to Memphis in final yr’s first spherical. The Broncos have misplaced three of their final 5 video games this season, together with dropping a 72-62 resolution to Utah State in Mountain West Convention Event semifinals.
Northwestern (21-11, 19-13 ATS) has misplaced 4 its final 5 video games, together with falling to Penn State 67-65 in time beyond regulation within the semifinals of the Massive Ten Convention Event.
The sport will likely be televised by truTV.
Boise State vs Northwestern Odds
| Group | Moneyline | Unfold | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise State | +105 | +1.5 (-110) | Over 127.5 (-110) |
| Northwestern | -120 | -1.5 (-110) | Underneath 127.5 (-110) |
Northwestern is a 1.5-point favourite over Boise State and a -120 selection on the moneyline within the school basketball odds, giving it a 56.9% implied win likelihood. The winner advances to the second spherical of the March Insanity bracket to play both UCLA (29-5) or UNC Asheville (27-7).
Odds as of March fifteenth at BetMGM. Declare the BetMGM promo code to guess on March Insanity.
Protection Key for Boise State
Protection is Boise State’s power because it ranks 34th within the nation in factors allowed (64.3), 35th in three-point protection (30.9%) and 43rd in total discipline objective protection (41.3%).
Boise State pressured Utah State into 15 turnovers within the Mountain West tourney however nonetheless misplaced after squandering a 36-28 halftime lead. The Broncos had been additionally outrebounded 39-30.
Boise State has a balanced offensive assault with 5 gamers scoring in double figures: sophomore ahead Tyson Degenhart (14.3), senior guard Max Rice (13.9), senior guard Marcus Shaver Jr. (13.5), junior guard Chibuzo In the past (11.5) and senior ahead Naje Smith (10.1).
Shaver is having a effective all-round season as he’s additionally averaging 6.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals a sport.
#BoiseState G Marcus Shaver, Jr. acquired Third Group All-Mountain West honors immediately.
13.3 PTS | 5.9 REB | 3.8 AST | 1.7 STL
He was 1 of 15 gamers within the NCAA to common 13.0+ PTS, 5.0+ REB, 3.0+ AST and 1.5+ STL this season. pic.twitter.com/0Cl1dtfnjY
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) March 7, 2023
Degenhart’s 53.7 discipline objective share is second within the convention, and he has a 5.4 rebound common. Smith is knocking down 5.5 boards a sport.
Rice is the son of Boise State coach Leon Rice.
Within the loss to Utah State, Shaver and Smith had 14 factors every. Shaver additionally added eight rebounds and three assists whereas Degenhart completed with 13 factors.
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Northwestern Led by Guard Duo
Northwestern is within the NCAAs for the simply the second time at school historical past. The opposite look was in 2017 and the Wildcats then had 5 straight dropping seasons earlier than this yr.
The senior guard duo of Boo Buie and Chase Audige lead Northwestern. Buie is averaging 17.1 factors and 4.5 assists a sport and Audige is scoring 13.8 factors and making 2.4 steals per sport.
Audige is second within the Massive Ten in steals and keys a protection that’s 19th in Division I in scoring (62.6) and 41st in discipline objective share (41.2).
Conversely, Northwestern is 344th within the nation in discipline objective taking pictures (40.6%) although Buie is fifth within the convention in assists. The Wildcats are a lot better on the foul line as their 75.1 free throw share is 49th in Division I.
Buie and Audige each struggled as Northwestern shot simply 31.8% (21 of 66) from the sector within the loss to Penn State, together with 6 for twenty-four (25%) from three-point vary. Buie was 6 of 17 and Audige linked on simply 3 of 14 field-goal makes an attempt.
BOO BUIE 😤 @booboo_buie X @NUMensBball pic.twitter.com/qGc5yWPrAS
— FOX School Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 11, 2023
Buie completed with 16 factors and 4 assists whereas sophomore guard Brooks Barnhizer added 15 factors and 11 rebounds. Barnhizer had double-doubles in each video games of the Massive Ten tourney, the primary two of his collegiate profession.
Northwestern pressured Penn State into 15 turnovers whereas committing simply 4 however wound up dropping.
Boise State vs Northwestern Prediction
Neither workforce enters the event with a lot momentum. Nevertheless, the skilled Northwestern guard tandem of Buie and Audige ought to have the ability to management the tempo in a slow-paced sport.
Decide: Northwestern -1.5 (-110)
Season document: 32-29 (+0.2 models) ATS, 4-10 (-5.5 models) ML
Different first spherical March Insanity predictions:
John Perrotto
John Perrotto has been protecting and writing about sports activities for numerous shops for over 40 years. His work has appeared within the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Related Press, Baseball Digest, and extra. John relies out of Beaver Falls, PA.
