11. Kentucky vs 12. Florida: Preview

Written by Rohit Ghosh
Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

Kentucky vs Florida: College Basketball Saturday

Saturday afternoon features Kentucky and Florida going at it for the SEC's top spot and a potential No. 2 tourney seed. Both sides entering the matchup with the exact same conference (13-2) and regular season (23-5) record.

Kentucky opened up at 3-point favorites, with the total set at 157. At the time of publication, UK is a 4-point favorite, with the total down to 155.5.

What to Watch For

Gators Dominating Lately: Florida is playing some of the best ball in the country right now, winning nine straight including seven by double-digit margins. Florida recorded a 22-point victory over UK down in Gainesville earlier in February. The Gators enter Saturday's matchup following an 81-66 victory over South Carolina in which Florida shot 9-of-19 from beyond the arc.

Fox, Out: UK guard De'Aaron Fox is still listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup, according to head coach John Calipari on Friday. More so than Fox being in or out, what's been UK's biggest hurdle this season is inconsistency. They squeezed out a 10-point victory over Missouri, most recently, but struggled at the charity stripe to start the game - a sign of potential struggles come March.

This game being in Lexington should be enough to see a top-notch performance from the Wildcats.

Florida Dominating the Boards: Florida ranks fairly low -- nationally --in terms of total rebound rate. They're No. 96 in the country, whereas Kentucky is substantially better at No. 33. Surprisingly, though, Florida dominated the boards in their most recent matchup 45-29.

Keep an eye on the offensive boards, especially early on. UK is No. 9 in the nation with an average of 11.8 offensive rebounds per game.

AccuScore has predictions for every major NCAA Division I college basketball game against the spread and on the over/under, along with player projections and hot trends analysis. Starting the week off, the computer was picking 55% winners against the spread for the season for a profit of $13,650… Try a Free 7-day trial - Become a member today!

Betting Trends

• The Gators are 7-2 against the spread(ATS) in their last 9 games overall.
• The Gators are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. SEC opponents.
• The OVER is 12-5 in the Gators' last 17 road games.
• The Wildcats are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
• The Wildcats are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 vs. SEC opponents.
• The Wildcats are 22-10 ATS in their last 32 home games.

Final Word

There's no doubt the game will be a close one. There's just too much on the line, at this point of the season. The Wildcats will be looking to avenge their loss in Gainesville and should cover the 3-point spread listed at the time of publication. UK and the UNDER.

2017 Pac-12 Tournament Analyst Picks

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

Pac-12 Tournament – Analyst Picks & Top Trends

It's tournament season and that means plenty of opportunities to wager on. As the Pac-12 tournament gets set to tip off, let's take a look at some trends and picks for games scheduled for Wednesday.

No. 9 Stanford vs No. 8 Arizona State University

The Cardinal offense has been sub-par this season, lacking any sort of consistency. They averaged just 69.1 points per game, bad enough to be No. 273 in the nation. While Reid Travis has the potential to have a big night -- averaging 17-plus points per game -- the team just doesn't have enough depth to win this matchup.

ASU got an impressive win over USC near the end of the season and should cruise to a win Wednesday led by their offense. Stanford's real opportunity in this game comes from ASU ranking No. 335 in the nation in scoring defense -- giving up nearly 82 points per game.

Betting Trends

• Under is 7-2 in STAN last 9 neutral site games.
• The OVER is 6-2 in ASU's last eight neutral site games.
• Favorite is 7-1-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings. Stanford opened as a 2.5-to-3-point favorite.

AccuScore has Moneyline, Against the Spread & Totals picks for every conference and NCAA tournament game: College Basketball Expert Picks

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No. 12 Oregon State vs No. 5 California

Oregon State and Cal match up in a fairly lopsided contest with the Golden Bears listed as 14-point favorites. Cal has been impressive on the defensive end of the floor this season, making them a dark horse to win this tournament. They're No. 14 in the nation in opponent scoring defense, holding teams to 62.4 points per game.

The Beavers are No. 334 in the nation in offensive rating at 93.8. The Golden Bears might even cover that -14 spread easily, but the safe bet's on the OVER.

Betting Trends

• The OVER is 9-1 in Oregon State's last 10 neutral site games.
• The OVER is 15-5 in Oregon State's last 20 Wednesday games.

2017 Pac-12 Tournament Preview & Picks

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

Pac-12 Tournament Preview - 2017

The Pac-12 Tournament tips off Wednesday in Las Vegas, with top four seeds Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, and Utah each earning first round byes. Oregon's win over rival Oregon State this past Saturday secured a No. 1 spot in this tourney, making sure neither UCLA or Arizona would be in their side of the bracket.

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Oregon is favored to repeat as Pac-12 champs, listed at at +160 on the money line in Vegas. UCLA shows some more value at +170, entering the conference tournament on a nine-game winning streak. Oregon's recent play caught the eyes of some scouts around the nation and the +265 ML odds is fairly attractive. The Ducks head into the tournament winning eight of nine games, going 6-2-1 against the spread (ATS) in that stretch. Utah's listed at +1200.

There's no ifs ands or buts - either UCLA, Arizona or Oregon will win this tournament. And a big-time performance could impact seeding for the big dance.

AccuScore has expert picks against the spread & on over/unders for every game...see all game picks here: College Basketball Expert Picks

2016-17 PAC-12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS (as of March 6)

• Oregon +160
• UCLA +170
• Arizona +265
• Utah +1200
• California +1400
• USC +2500
• Colorado +3300
• Stanford +4000
• Arizona State +6600
• Washington State +10000
• Washington +15000
• Oregon State +20000

What to Watch For

Seeding: Oregon is currently projected to be a No. 2 seed in the West bracket, but a dominating performance in the Pac-12 tourney could help make a case for the No. 1 seed. An early exit could even cost them the No. 2 seed. The Ducks play Thursday against the winner of Arizona State (8) and Stanford (9).

Huskies & Trojans: Markelle Fultz and Washington take on USC in the first round Wednesday. The Huskies head into the matchup with the third-worst opponent offensive rating in the nation. Despite Fultz's individual brilliance, the lack of consistency in play from the roster has led to a largely sub-par season. Fultz won't be playing in the tournament (knee) and they just don't take care of the ball well enough to be competitive without him. Watch for SC to get a fairly easy win and build some momentum as a dark horse in the tournament.

Ball Must Lead the Way: Six different Bruins average double-digit scoring, led by guard Lonzo Ball who's making a name for himself as one of the best players in the country. Despite T.J. Leaf's uncertainty for the Pac-12 tourney, the Bruins are expected to make it to the final round. Their first game will be Thursday against the winning of Washington/USC, intriguing since USC did get a win earlier in the season over UCLA.

Picks Analyst's Pick: It's tough to not pick the defending champ Oregon Ducks. Dillon Brooks is playing some of the best ball in the nation and their depth and experience gives them the slight nod over UCLA and Arizona. I'll take Oregon over UCLA in the final round. Dark Horse: In terms of value, though, the best pick is Arizona. Losses to Arizona and UCLA lowered their value a bit, but the talent is there for a run.

2018 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16 Picks

Written by AccuScore Staff
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2018 NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16

After starting with 68 teams, the field is down to only 16 teams, and this year's madness has been a bit crazier than most. UMBC takes the cake at the cover story of the year, but this year's Sweet 16, perhaps, isn't as crazy as we all thought. After all, Duke, Syracuse, Michigan, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Villanova, Purdue and Kansas aren't exactly small upstart programs on the dance floor for the first time. Loyola is probably the best story of the Sweet 16, but it's probably time to pull the plug on the fairytale.

With Thursday and Friday set to cut the field down to eight teams, and the Elite 8 cut to the Final Four by the end of the weekend, AccuScore simulated the remaining bracket 10,000 times, and Villanova comes out on top. But before we get there, let's go region-by-region and work from the Sweet 16 to the Final Four.

Sweet 16: South Region Predictions

Thursday's college basketball action tips off with the South Region with no. 7 Nevada and no. 11 Loyola of Chicago tipping off the Sweet 16. This matchup is actually AccuScore's free forecast, and Nevada is 65% to win this game, which is significantly over the 55% Las Vegas currently has the Wolf Pack. There's significant side value on picking Nevada on the moneyline and also a 61% chance they cover the Nevada -1 spread...

click on the image below for free forecast

On the other side, AccuScore projects Kentucky to finally end Kansas State's run and the no. 5 Wildcats to go on to face the no. 7 Wolfpack in the Elite 8. Coach John Calipari has history on his side, so the computer likes Kentucky to advance to the Final Four as a no. 5 seed. Here's a full breakdown of the South Region:

All of AccuScore's College Basketball Picks
Note: AccuScore's Side Value Picks for the tournament are +2401 profit

Sweet 16: West Region Predictions

Along with the South, the West Region also plays on Thursday and Saturday to decide its corner of the bracket. Gonzaga is a HEAVY 70% favorite over Florida State on Thursday, while the AccuScore computer likes Michigan to put down Texas A&M. With the no. 3 Michigan Wolverines facing the no. 4 Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Elite 8, AccuScore likes another upset with the Bulldogs advancing to the Final Four.

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Sweet 16: Midwest Region Predictions

Duke vs Syracuse is a classic matchup, but AccuScore doesn't think the Orange stand much of a chance against the Blue Devils. Of all the Sweet 16 matchups, this game appears to be the most lopsided according to the computer. Duke is a no. 2 seed and Syracuse is a no. 11 seed that barely made the tournament. Add in that the Blue Devils beat the Orange by 16 points this season, and this game could get ugly.

On the other side of the Midwest region, Kansas takes on Clemson, with the no. 1 seeded Jayhawks expected to put down the no. 5 seeded Tigers with a 61% chance. In the Elite 8, Duke is projected to pull the upset in a close game and add another Final Four appearance for Coach K.

Sweet 16: East Region Predictions

Like the Midwest Region, the East Region also has its no. 1 and no. 2 seeded teams alive. No. 1 Villanova is 70% to get past no. 5 West Virginia, while no. 2 Purdue is 61% to advance past no. 3 Texas Tech. As far as regions go, the East has been as clean as they come, so seeing no. 1 Villanova and no.2 Purdue face off in the Elite 8 shouldn't be a shock. AccuScore projects a close game with Nova edging Purdue 54% to 46% to advance as the only no. 1 seed into the Final Four.

NCAA Tournament 2018 - Final Four

According to AccuScore, Kentucky vs Gonzaga is a coin-flip game, with the Wildcats edging out the Bullsdogs by the slightest of margins, 51% to 49%. Meanwhile, Villanova is considered a favorite over Duke with a more notable 54%-46% edge, but that's hardly a heavy favorite. Upon reaching the final, Villanova actually enjoys more of an edge with a 60% to 40% edge over Kentucky.

In terms of raw percentages, Villanova enters the Sweet 16 with a 16.1% chance to win it all, while Duke is close behind at 15.9%. Gonzaga is 11.9% to go all the way, while Kentucky is 9.2% to complete the magical run. On the opposite end of that spectrum, Syracuse is the longest shot to win it all with only a 0.2% chance. Kansas State isn't far behind at 0.3% chance to win it all, while Loyola of Chicago is 2.05% to do the unthinkable.

AccuScore's Sweet 16 Game Picks: Spreads, Totals & Side Value

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Louisville at North Carolina: Preview

Written by Rohit Ghosh
Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

Louisville at North Carolina: College Hoops

Wednesday features a marquee ACC matchup with No. 8 North Carolina hosting No. 7 Louisville in Chapel Hill. UNC enters the matchup ranked No. 1 in the ACC, but recent struggles in February on the defensive end opens the door for a Louisvile squad riding a three-game winning streak.

UNC opened as a 4.5-point favorite at home.

What to Watch For

Offense vs Defense: This matchup features a Carolina team putting up nearly 87 points per game and a Louisville defense limiting its opponents to just 64 points. One has to give Wednesday night and given the track record the Heels have at home, it's tough to pick the underdog.

This season Louisville is 4-5 against AP Top 25 teams, with wins against Purdue, UK, Indiana, Duke, and losses to Baylor, Virginia twice, Notre Dame and FSU.

Dang, Deng: Louisville's sophomore standout Deng Adel has to be a big night for them to stay competitive on the road at UNC. He's been a bit inconsistent this season, but has found rhythm in 2017, scoring in double-digits in eight of his last 10 games.

He has struggled noticeably this season against ranked opponents and as a result, continues to be the team's x-factor in big matchups like this one. On a good night, he gives Louisville a deep threat they don't otherwise have, shooting close to 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Other than Deng, keep an eye out for Junior guard Quentin Snider to make an immediate impact. He's averaging 12.1 ppg and 4.1 apg, but has been on a tear since returning from his hip injury.

Theo Pinson, Matchup Nightmare: UNC's Theo Pinsen is going to be a tough cover for Louisville -- or any opponent for that matter. He was put in the starting lineup two games ago, averaging 10.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25.5 minutes per game.

He missed the first 16 games of the season with a broken foot, but that's all old news with his play of late. Able to play the guard and forward spots, Pinson gives UNC a certain level of versatility other schools just don't have. He's too big for a traditional guard to defend him, and he's too quick for a forward to contain him.

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Final Word

UNC has the edge at home, no doubt, but Louisville has plenty of size and athleticism to make this a close one. They'll compete on the boards, a facet of the game UNC usually dominates their opponents in. Louisville is top-5 in the nation in offensive rebounds; UNC is No. 2 in offensive rebounding, No. 13 in defensive .

Expect a close one -- especially in the first half -- but road games in the ACC are tough, no matter who you are. UNC margin of victory at home in ACC play this season? +25.2 pts/game.

Free Pick of the Day:

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Tennessee vs Vanderbilt Free Forecast

March Madness Favorite to Win and Top 5 Seeds

Up until a short while ago, there were three teams co-favored to win the Big Dance in 2020:
Kansas Jayhawks, Baylor Bears, and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

But that has changed over the last 10 days.

Up until a few days ago, this year’s field was considered the most open in many years. And it still is … but one team has taken root firmly at the top of the odds boards.

The Kansas Jayhawks are the favorites on the college basketball odds boards, still, Baylor isn’t too far behind. But the 64 to 61 victory the Jayhawks got over the Bears at Baylor on February 22nd is what solidified them as the clear-cut leaders in the race for the NCAA title.

We could see some more shifting. If the Texas Tech Red Raiders get a win on March 7th, there could be a flip-flop in the projections. Remember, Texas Tech took the Jayhawks down to the wire on February first at Allen Fieldhouse, losing by just 3 points. Now the Red Raiders will be hosting the Jayhawks so it isn’t outside of the realm of possibility to see Texas Tech win at home.

Ok. Beyond this, what else do we know?

The Big East has the most teams likely to be bracketed on Selection Sunday, and the Pac-12 is second … also, with a ton of bubble teams. Another favorite, pushing out Gonzaga is Dayton. They are now 3rd highest on the odds boards and are the mid-major team, other than Gonzaga that everyone should fear.

That said, I don’t see Dayton getting a No. 1 seed. It should still go to the Zags.

Most of the top analyst’s bracket predictions agree on four No. 1 teams:
● The Kansas Jayhawks
● The San Diego State Aztecs
● The Baylor Bears
● The Gonzaga Bulldogs Possible No. 2s:
● The Dayton Flyers
● The Florida State Seminoles
● The Seton Hall Pirates
● The Maryland Terrapins

The Likely No. 3s:
● The Duke Blue Devils
● The Villanova Wildcats
● The Kentucky Wildcats
● The Creighton Bluejays

No. 4s We Should See:
● The Oregon Ducks
● The Louisville Cardinals
● The Penn State Nittany Lions
● The Michigan State Spartans

Rounding Out the No. 5 Seeds:
● The Iowa Hawkeyes
● The Arizona Wildcats
● The Wisconsin Badgers
● The Auburn Tigers

Teams on the Bubble

Saturday and Sunday will be big days for Xavier, Wichita State, Indiana, and Cincinnati.

Let’s start with the Bearcats. Cincy has had four nonconference losses to well, bad teams. So if they don’t get a win over Houston this week, who are another team on the bubble, they are likely to get left out. They simply don’t have a schedule left that has enough significant wins to move them beyond those four ridiculous losses.

Xavier has a rough road ahead. They take on Providence and also host a tough Butler team. But they also have to defeat the Hoyas. If they can run the table, they will probably land somewhere in the middle of the bracket. If not, they may be left out.

Indiana was looking good, and then they faced Purdue and couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from the field. So, now the Hoosiers find themselves back on the bubble. But a win against Illinois could’ve spared them the need to beat Wisconsin. Now they have to beat Minnesota and Wisconsin or they are out. And even so … it’s still pretty dicey. The Shockers are back on track, winning 4 of their last 5. But they don’t have any real quality teams left on their schedule, even though it’s not an easy one. They need to keep rolling if they want to stay alive in the upcoming AAC tourny.

UCLA took down both the Arizona State Sun Devils and then the Arizona Wild Cats to rise like Phoenixes! Still, they are not completely out of the woods yet. They face a USC Trojans team at Galen Center. The Bruins have won seven straight games; the Trojans dropped one to Utah but also beat Arizona and Arizona State back-to-back. A hostile environment rivalry game is a tough challenge, and UCLA needs this win to enter an extremely tough Pac-12 tournament with any hope of surviving into the later rounds. Many have the Bruins on the list as one of the first four out.

Miami at Virginia: AccuScore College Basketball Preview

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Midwest Region: NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2017

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

2017 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Midwest Region

The Midwest Region -- filled with uptempo offenses and prolific backcourts -- features guards like Frank Mason III, Jawun Evans, Monte Morris, Derrick Walton, and Tyler Dorsey, to name a few.

While many pundits initially picked Kansas to have a deep run, certain matchups in this region suggest the road won't be so easy.

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The No. 1 Seed

Kansas had a disappointing loss to TCU in the Big 12 tourney, but they're just what their record (28-4) says they are -- really good. They finished the regular season with an 8-2 record against the RPI top 50 and enters the Big Dance for the second straight year as the top seed.

How far should you have them in your bracket?

Michigan State may not have the consistency fans are looking for, but have the coaching and talent to make another deep run. AccuScore sim data has Kansas' journey ending in the round of 32 against the Spartans. Bold.

AccuScore has Moneyline, Against the Spread & Totals picks for every NCAA tournament game, including the play-in games: AccuScore’s College Basketball Expert Picks

Double-digit Seed to Watch

Keep an eye on No. 11 Rhode Island, a top-25 team at one point this season. AccuScore sim data absolutely loves Creighton to go far, but don't expect that first-round matchup against the Atlantic 10 champs to be a cakewalk. Rhode Island does have wins over Cincinnati and VCU.

Chalk

The Midwest region -- in terms of AccuScore sim data -- looks to be the most susceptible to lower seeds making it to the Sweet 16 and on.

With the Spartans knocking off the Jayhawks in the second round, the field opens up for a team like No. 4 Purdue to knock on the door of the Final Four.

No. 2 Louisville would also benefit from the early Kansas loss, but the sims suggest Creighton's recent play will be too much for even the defensive-minded Cardinals.

AccuScore sim data has Purdue and Creighton matching up for a spot in the Final Four. Purdue last reached the Final Four in 1980.

Final Word

Numbers don't like and AccuScore's history in tournament-style events is proven. With Purdue getting that kind of value, it's tough to shy away from a wager.

At the time of publication, Kansas is the favorite in this region, getting +200 odds. Louisville (+350), Oregon (+450) and Purdue (+600).

AccuScore’s Bracketology Previews
South Region
West Region

NCAA Bracketcaster - Simulate The 2018 NCAA Bracket

The 2018 NCAA Tournament is upon us, and AccuScore has its bracketcaster live! Start simulating your bracket now!

Click Here to pick your bracket, check all possible matchups and check the computer's odds!

March Madness is tipping off, Selection Sunday has passed, and now, it's all about which teams will survive and move on and which teams will be sent home early from the big dance. This is the best time of the year whether you're a college basketball hoops head or not because the madness takes over every sports fan's life. You can't ignore it, and AccuScore provides the perfect analysis to build out your bracket whether you're an NCAA basketball expert or a complete novice trying to take home some extra cash in your office pool. After every round, AccuScore will update the bracket and probabilities. As always, our super computer has simulated out every game 10,000 times to come up with odds for every team. Of course, AccuScore also has game picks against the spread and totals on every matchup, so be sure to check out AccuScore's college basketball game picks all month long.

AccuScore is the best sports prediction resource on the planet, and we have been making expert game picks for about a decade as the industry leader sports prediction and simulations.

Let the Madness begin!

NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2018 - West Region

Written by AccuScore Staff
Follow @AccuScore on Twitter

2018 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: West Region

Xavier has the no. 1 seed in the West after losing in its conference tournament final to Providence, and thought that doesn't spell upset for the Bulldogs against the winner of the North Carolina Central Eagles or the Texas Southern Tigers, AccuScore has Xavier exiting in the Sweet 16 to fellow Bulldogs, Gonzaga.

The Zags have become tournament regulars, and that means something this time of year. UNC Greensboro doesn't expect to pose much of a challenge, but the game against Ohio State should provide a tougher test before Xavier arrives at the Sweet 16. On the bottom half of the bracket, North Carolina and Michigan are the two clear favorites to make the Sweet 16. No.3 Michigan wins the proverbial coin flip with a 51-49 edge in simulations over no. 2 North Carolina in what promises to be a heck of a game if both teams can survive and advance to that point. Then, the computer is calling another 51-49 coin flip on Gonzaga advancing to the Final Four as a no. 4 seed. Gonzaga claimed its sixth straight WCC title with a 20-point beatdown of BYU in the championship game, so the Bulldogs are tournament ready and have the right pedigree to cause a couple upsets along the way.

Simulate your own bracket by clicking on the image below

In terms of raw percentages, AccuScore calculates Gonzaga has a 33.54% chance of making the Final Four and 5.27% chance of winning the championship, while North Carolina is close behind with 20.86% chance of making the Final Four and 4.6% chance of winning it all. Michigan is the third most likely team to win the West at 16.63% to reach the Final Four, followed by Xavier at 11.75% emerge as the no. 1 seed out of the West region.

AccuScore has expert picks against the spread and totals for every single tournament game: College Basketball Picks

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Be sure to check out all of AccuScore's Region-by-Region Bracketology Previews:
South Region
MidWest Region
East Region

Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes: Analyst Preview

Written by Rohit Ghosh

South Region: NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2017

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

2017 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: South Region

Odds to Win South Region

North Carolina 5/4
Kentucky 11/4
UCLA 5/1
Butler 10/1
Wichita State 10/1
Cincinnati 14/1
Dayton 28/1
Minnesota U 28/1
Middle Tennessee St 40/1
Arkansas 50/1
Seton Hall 50/1
Wake Forest 75/1
Kansas State 100/1
Kent State 200/1
Northern Kentucky 200/1
Texas Southern 200/1
Winthrop 200/1

Click on the image above to simulate your own bracket

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Deserving of the Nod?

Not everyone agrees on UNC getting the No. 1 seed, having lost to Duke two-of-three times this season. With 11 top-50 wins this season tho, it was tough for voters to shy away.

If you don't agree with AccuScore's upset pick of Middle Tenn. over UNC in the Elite 8, the Tar Heels just might deserve a lot more Final Four-related discussion than the sim data suggests.

Upset Alert, or Not

When the bracket was set, there was some notable action on No. 13 Winthrop taking it over No. 4 Butler. It's the highest the Bulldogs have ever been seeded and the public seems to disagree. AccuScore sim data, however, would go with the seeded-favorite in this first-round matchup.

Players to Watch

With UCLA in the field, we already know Lonzo Ball will garner more than enough attention. At 6'6", the freshman guard has made a name for himself and will look to catapult that legacy to the pro level with his play in the tourney.

Beyond the hype, though, most hoops fans know not to overlook Kentucky's Malik Monk in this region. Averaging nearly 21 points per game, watch for Monk to try and lead his No. 2-seeded UK squad to the Final Four.

Value Pick & Final Word

If you're scowering the bracket looking for value picks -- either to reach the Final Four or win the tourney -- look no further than the South region.

At 40:1 odds, Middle Tennessee provides some hidden value -- a lot for a little. What's hidden though is the fact that while it has a 40:1 chance to win the region, it -- by far -- has the best odds for a No. 12 seed to win the tourney at 250:1. Nevada and Princeton are at 500:1, while NC Wilmington is at 1000:1.

AccuScore data has Middle Tennessee reaching the Elite 8 for a matchup against the UCLA Bruins.

AccuScore’s Bracketology Previews
West Region
Midwest Region

UCLA at Washington State: Analyst Pick

Written by Rohit Ghosh

West Region: NCAA Tournament Bracketology 2017

Written by Rohit Ghosh

Follow @rohitghosh on Twitter

2017 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: West Region

Let's just say the West region will garner some extra attention -- and wagering opportunities -- with No. 1 Gonzaga atop the standings. Having net made the Final Four, the Bulldogs are already being picked as an upset-victim by the third round.

Click on the image above to simulate your own bracket

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What does AccuScore data have to say? Let's take a close look at the West region.

Just how Good is Gonzaga?

Look, you don't win 29 straight games without being that good. They had some big wins over the likes of Florida, Iowa St., and Arizona. And even further, they beat a good Saint Mary's team three times.

Make sure to take a deeper look at AccuScore's bracketcaster. Both Gonzaga and St. Mary's have something to say in the sims when it comes to which team represents the West region in the Final Four. Value-pick alert!

What to Watch

If there's one first round matchup you watch, make it the 8-9 seed game with Northwestern and Vanderbilt. Vandy has depth of shooters at every position - keep an eye on the three-point attempts.

Causing Trouble

While offense tends to get the highlights, it's a team's defensive consistency that often determines their tourney run. No. 4 West Virginia was No. 1 in the nation in forcing turnovers in the regular season, boasting an average turnover margin of +8.2 TOs.

West Region Odds to Win

Gonzaga 8/5
Arizona 2/1
West Virginia 11/2
Florida State 8/1
St. Mary's CA 10/1
Notre Dame 14/1
Maryland 22/1
Northwestern 50/1
Vanderbilt 50/1
VCU 50/1
Xavier 50/1
Florida Gulf Coast 100/1
Princeton 125/1
Bucknell 150/1
North Dakota 200/1
South Dakota State 200/1

Value Pick

AccuScore sim data would suggest a wager on Saint Mary's. There's a good chance they reach the Elite 8 - why not take them to win the region?

In terms of No. 6 seeds, SMU has the best odds to win the tourney at 40:1. Cincinnati and Maryland are at 100:1, while Creighton is at 150:1. What that means is that SMU has a much better chance -- relatively to other teams at their seed -- to reach the Final Four.

Final Word

It's no South region, but Gonzaga does have a fairly tough path to the Final Four. Their biggest hurdle -- somewhat early on -- should come against West Virginia. At least that's what most would have you think.

AccuScore data does have Notre Dame showing the kind of production to put up a fight against both WVU and Gonzaga, but it's the Bulldogs that reach the FInal Four at the end.

AccuScore’s Bracketology Previews
South Region
Midwest Region