After another round of amazing upsets and NCAA basketball, the Elite 8 is about to get underway. The best bet for the Elite 8 is that there will be another upset. With so many close games and upsets, it is getting more difficult to make sports betting predictions. With only two number 1 seeds left in the tournament, a trip to the NCAA tournament final is not out of reach for any team. To get there however, teams will need to build momentum in their Elite 8 games. Here is a preview for Butler versus Kansas State.
Butler Bulldogs vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Saturday March 27, 4:30PM (ET)
March Madness Odds
Northbet.com Spread: Butler +4.5, Kansas State -4.5
Butler managed to pull off a stunning 63-59 upset over number 1 seed Syracuse in the Sweet 16 and now must shift their focus to number 2 Kansas State. Butler finished the season a perfect 18-0 in Horizon Conference play and enters this game with an impressive 31-4 record. Kansas State enters this Elite 8 matchup with a 29-7 record after finishing second in the Big 12 conference. As the 8th ranked team in the nation entering the NCAA tournament, making the Final Four would not be a stretch for Butler; however, don’t expect Kansas State to go down without a fight.
What the Butler Bulldogs need to do to win Sportsbook Reviews
Odds: -110
Continue a balanced attack: One point that defenders have struggled with against Butler throughout the season and the NCAA tournament has been their balanced scoring. In this Elite 8 game, balanced scoring for the Butler Bulldogs will be more important than ever. Against Syracuse both Gordon Hayward and Willie Veasley outdid their season points averages while Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard were slightly under their season average. Regardless, these four players have beenaveraging more than 50 points per game all season. In college basketball, it is a huge advantage to have four players that consistently score more than 10 points per game. If these athletes put up numbers similar to their output against Syracuse, the Butler Bulldogs just might find themselves playing in the Final Four next weekend.
Play aggressive defence : One key for Butler defeating Syracuse was their aggressive defence. Butler sophomore Ronald Nored stole the ball 5 times and overall, the Bulldogs took the ball from Syracuse 13 times throughout the game. Their aggressive style caused key turnovers and helped the Bulldogs generate offense from steals. If the Bulldogs dominate this statistic against Kansas State, they might lock their bid for the Final Four.
What the Kansas State Wildcats need to do to win NCAA Basketball Betting
Odds: -110
Calm the storm after the Sweet 16 : Escaping a long double overtime game against Xavier in the Sweet 16 was a huge morale boost for Kansas State, but they can’t let emotion get the best of them. Just as they have been all season, Jacob Pullen (28 points), Denis Clemente (25 points), Curtis Kelly (21 points), and Jamar Samuels (14 points) were the scoring leaders for the Wildcats. With several players topping the 40 minute mark against Xavier, the first quarter of Saturday’s game will be crucial for Kansas State. They will need to weather their emotions and work out any aches and pains they might have after the wild double OT victory. Likely entering the game as slight favorites, Kansas State must be nervous playing Butler in what could be another NCAA upset.