Best March Madness betting sites favor Baylor over Hartford by 26 points. According to the best online sportsbooks, the Bears (22-2 SU, 15-9 ATS) are heavy chalk in their South Region opening game against a Hawks squad (15-8 SU, 15-8ATS) that snagged the America East title.
Baylor opened as a humongous 26-point fave. This is the Bears’ largest spread since December 30. That line has stayed the same. The total of 142 has come down a couple of points, on the other hand.
Hartford vs. Baylor Odds by MyBookie.ag
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | +26 (-110) | 140½ (-110) | +2500 |  |
| Baylor | -26 (-110) |
140½ (-110)
|
-5000 | |
|
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Betting Hartford Hawks
The Hawks are big underdogs, per top sportsbooks online. Defense has been Hartford’s forté this season. This is largely because of the slower pace of the America East. Particularly compared with the Power 5 conferences.
Hartford has the No. 24 scoring defense in the country. They allow just 63.3 points per contest. The Hawks saved their best effort for the conference tourney. They held Vermont and UMass Lowell to an average of 57.5 points.
Hartford’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament should be brief. This is due mainly to a few huge offensive shortcomings. The Hawks scored fewer than 66 points on 32.9% shooting from long range. They rank far outside the top 300 in the nation in assists (11.0) and rebounds (33.2). They have a ghastly a dreadful 0.87 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Hartford is 5-0 ATS in their last five games. The total has gone OVER in four of Hartford’s last five games. Hartford is 5-0 SU in their last five games. Hartford is 5-1 ATS in their last six games this season.
Hartford is 0-5 SU in their last five games against an opponent in the Big 12 conference. Hartford is 4-1 ATS in their last five games played in March. The total has gone OVER in eight of Hartford’s last 10 games played on a Friday. The total has gone OVER in five of Hartford’s last six games played on a Friday when on the road.
Betting Baylor Bears
The Bears are the favorites at top sportsbooks online. Not even an 83-74 setback to Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game could keep the Bears from earning the No. 1 seed in the South Region.
That was a well-deserved outcome for the No. 2 school in the nation. Baylor has the No.2 offense in the nation thanks to a superb 41.2% success rate from the three-point line. That is the best percentage in Division I.
Baylor’s long-range shooting is as versatile as it is lethal. Three of the squad’s top five scorers shooting upwards of 42% from the distance. Including team scoring leader Jared Butler (17.1 points per game). He hits at a 42.9% rate. He averages just under 20 points in his past five games.
Baylor is third in the nation in average scoring margin (plus-18.0).
Baylor is 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. The total has gone OVER in five of Baylor’s last five games. Baylor is 18-2 SU in their last 20 games. The total has gone OVER in 11 of Baylor’s past 12 games this season.
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Baylor’s past 11 games played in March. Baylor is 14-6 SU in their last 20 games played on a Friday. Baylor is 10-0 SU in their last 10 games played on a Friday when playing at home.
Hartford vs. Baylor NCAA Basketball Picks
Baylor should be able to score relatively easily. However, it is hard to see Hartford doing enough damage on the offensive end to get this one to go over the total. Baylor wins and covers.
