in NCAA B Betting Trends

I’m going to suggest that BetUS provide an NCAA Tournament prop bet next year with an over/under on how many teams with the nickname Wildcat makes the field of 65. This year I counted, oh, six and I might be missing a few. There was the Washington State Cougars…okay; “cougars” technically doesn’t count. But a cougar is a sort of wildcat.

Then, of course, there are the two remaining teams with the nickname wildcat, Davidson and Villanova.

Out of all of the fantastic teams that played out of the Big East Conference this season, did anybody really think the one that would make it this far would be Villanova? Yes, Louisville made it too, but ‘Nova? Nobody saw this coming, right?

And Nova has done it in style. These Wildcats are flat out good. Scottie Reynolds is a playa!

Because of that I actually believe that the Villanova Wildcats have an excellent shot at upsetting the Kansas Jayhawks in their Sweet 16 game on Friday night. Now, before all of you jump down my throat about this, let me explain something.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is like nothing else in the world. One game and you’re done in the tournament. That means that you can’t sleep on any team - - I mean, any team - - that shows some sort of heart. The problem that I see Kansas having with ‘Nova is ‘Nova doesn’t just possess heart, they actually match up well with the Jayhawks. Yes, the Villanova Wildcats will be without their starting center, but I don’t think that will matter too much. Scottie Reynolds doesn’t play center. He plays guard and he’s freakin’ awesome at the position.

Here’s the thing - - the Kansas Jayhawks have come into tournaments hyped to the ceiling before. They are definitely without a doubt one of the top teams in the tournament. But this is where all of the hype means nothing. This is where the All-Americans mean nothing. This is where Ed Pinckney and a team like Villanova upset Patrick Ewing and a team like Georgetown.

As good as Kansas is, I just don’t get that special feeling from them, that one shining moment crap that for some reason means something in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

I’m betting Kansas Jayhawks.

Of course the team with the nickname wildcat who sports the hottest player in the tournament is Davidson. Stephen Curry is unbelievable. Yes, we all knew he could shoot the three, but the way he sliced through the Georgetown defense late in their second-round game was a thing of beauty.

The problem I see with Davidson is a match-up issue. Wisconsin is simply the most well-coached, well-disciplined team in college basketball right now. Believe the hype about these slow-footed, seemingly stoppable playmakers that call themselves Badgers. They aren’t a joke. They aren’t the team keeping Indiana and Michigan State from the Big-Ten title anymore.

They are one of the top five teams in the tournament because they understand fundamental basketball about as well as any team I’ve seen in a very long time. Wisconsin will put themselves into the Final Four and might even win the entire thing because they are simply one of the best teams left in the tournament. They may not have the best player or even one of the top thirty players still left in this tournament. It won’t matter. This team will find a way to get it done.

The bottom line between Wisconsin vs. Davidson is that Wisconsin will not blow a 17 point lead. Stephen Curry will probably have a huge game against the Badgers. It won’t matter.

Wisconsin is the team that Curry won’t be able to single-handedly take down.

The BetUS Davidson Wildcats in the Sweet 16.

I’m taking Wisconsin to cover.

Who wins in a game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Villanova Wildcats? Against the spread I like Villanova if the spread is at least 8 points or more. Wisconsin should definitely be favored. But if the spread is lower than 8 points take, the Badgers.

As much as I would love to see Villanova continue a miracle run, I just can’t look past the Badgers. Too much discipline. Too much great coaching. Too much heart.

Wisconsin will make the Final Four.

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