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    MIDWEST REGION: Tournament Preview with Picks

    TruTv is back! March Madness officially begins with the First Four on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Round 1 action beginning on Thursday. Here’s an immediate take on the Midwest Region — follow us @WagerEdgeSports on Twitter for picks throughout the tournament.

    Bracket Prediction


    Matchups, Lines & Picks

    DayTimeLineTotalGamePick
    THU6:50AUB -1.5152#8 Iowa vs. #9 AuburnIowa +1.5
    THU7:25TEX -13.5147.5#2 Texas vs. #15 ColgateOver 147.5
    THU9:20HOU -19.5122.5#1 Houston vs. #16 Northern KentuckyHOU -18
    THU9:55A&M -3134.5#7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Penn StateOver 134.5
    FRI12:40XAV -11152.5#3 Xavier vs. #14 Kennesaw StateUnder 152.5
    FRI3:10ISU -4.5131.5#6 Iowa State vs. #11 PittsburghPIT +4.5
    FRI7:25MIA -2.5146.5#5 Miami vs. #12 DrakeMIA +2.5
    FRI9:55IND -4.5140.5#4 Indiana vs. #13 Kent StateKent +5
    Lines Updated Wednesday, March 15th at 7:30am EST

    Midwest Region Matchup Summary

    First Round – Thursday

    #8 Iowa (19–13) vs.#9 Auburn (20–12)
    Date: Thursday, March 16
    Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
    Location: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
    TV: TNT
    Spread: Auburn -1.5
    Total: 152.5
    Matchup Notes: Starting as a pick ’em, I’d expect this line to slowly move in Auburn’s favor as more bettors become aware that the Tigers essentially drew back-to-back home games in Birmingham. There’s already upset alert lookahead for them over #1 Houston in the 2nd round. For that reason, give me Iowa and the over — last team with the ball wins this one.
    PICK: Iowa +1.5

    #2 Texas (26–8) vs. #15 Colgate (26–8)
    Date: Thursday, March 16
    Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
    Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
    TV: TBS
    Spread: Texas -13.5
    Total: 147.5
    Matchup Notes: Colgate can score (44th) but they can’t defend (231st). Texas does both at an elite level — not much of an upset risk here but a backdoor cover is in play.
    PICK: Over 147.5

    #16 Northern Kentucky (22–12) vs. #1 Houston (31–3)
    Date: Thursday, March 16
    Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
    Location: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
    TV: TNT
    Spread: Houston -18
    Total: 121.5
    Matchup Notes: To all our Northern Kentucky readers, sorry nothing to see here, absolutely no chance of an upset so this is all about the spread. I don’t see any posted team totals for this one yet, but I like the Houston to hold NKU under 50 points. It also feels pretty safe to take Houston in any teaser but they should be able to win by 20.
    PICK: Houston -18

    #7 Texas A&M (25–9) vs. #10 Penn State (22–13)
    Date: Thursday, March 16
    Time: 9:55 p.m. ET
    Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa
    TV: TBS
    Spread: Texas A&M -2.5
    Total: 134.5
    Matchup Notes: If you started paying attention to college basketball after the Super Bowl, you’d think Penn State was the higher seed here. They played their way into the tournament by ripping off 8 tough Big Ten Conference wins in their final 10 games. What sticks out to me though is their luck factor, has it run out? They’ve played 8-consecutive games with a final score margin of 4-points or fewer, winning 6 of those including a pair in OT. I’m also taking A&M because of their recent battles against #1 seed Alabama who they defeated at home on March 4th but lost to in the SEC Finals — they’re primed for a win here.
    PICK: Over 134.5

    First Round – Friday

    #3 Xavier (25–9) vs. #14 Kennesaw State (26–8)
    Date: Friday, March 17
    Time: 12:40 p.m. ET
    Location: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
    TV: truTV
    Spread: Xavier -10.5
    Total: 152.5
    PICK: Under 152.5

    #6 Iowa State (19–13) vs. #11 Pittsburgh (22-11)
    Date: Friday, March 17
    Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
    Location: Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
    TV: truTV
    Spread: Iowa State -4.5
    Total: 131.5
    PICK: Pittsburgh +4.5

    #5 Miami (25–7) vs. #12 Drake (27–7)
    Date: Friday, March 17
    Time: 7:25 p.m. ET
    Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
    TV: TBS
    Spread: Miami -2.5
    Total: 147.5
    PICK: Miami -2.5

    #4 Indiana (22–11) vs. #13 Kent State (28–6)
    Date: Friday, March 17
    Time: 9:55 p.m. ET
    Location: MVP Arena in Albany, NY
    TV: TBS
    Spread: Indiana -5
    Total: 140.5
    PICK: Kent State +5

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