(USA TODAY Sports)`The Michigan State Spartans beat the Michigan Wolverines for the third time in 22 days, adding a Big 10 conference tournament title to their resume. The Sixers made a statement in Milwaukee on Sunday, and the Spurs will try to stay the hottest team in the NBA as they host the Warriors in San Antonio. Here’s a sports betting recap from Sunday and a lookahead to Monday.
Spartans Sweep Wolverines
The last day of Championship weekend didn’t disappoint thanks to rematches between Michigan-Michigan State, Auburn-Tennessee and Cincinnati-Houston.
The Spartans beat Michigan for the third time in 22 days to win the Big 10 Tournament.
Much like the last time the two teams met, Michigan took an early lead but couldn’t close the deal. Michigan lead by eight points at half before Michigan State stormed back in the second half to win 65-60.
The Spartans only scored 23 points in the first half, but nearly doubled that in the last 20 minutes of plays to cover the -2.5-point second half spread.
Additionally, senior guard Matt McQuaid ignited the Spartans with a string of three pointers, helping Michigan State backers cover the 1-point spread. McQuaid lead all scorers with 27 points and 7 three pointers.
The win didn’t come without casualties for the Spartans, though. Senior Kyle Ahrens suffered a gruesome leg injury after landing awkwardly trying to recover a rebound. The injury left teammates and Coach Izzo emotional on the sideline. X-rays came back negative but the senior will likely have to miss the NCAA tournament.
Winning the Big 10 Tournament wasn’t enough to get the Spartans a 1-seed. Instead, Michigan State received the No. 2 seed in the East Region and will face Bradley, the winners of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, in the first round.
Unlike Michigan State, Bradley was not the favorite to win their conference tournament last weekend. Bradley upset No. 1 seed Loyola-Chicago in the final round of Arch Madness to earn their bid to the big dance after entering the conference tournament as 8-to-1 dogs.
FanDuel Sportsbook opened MSU as 18-point favorites in the first round matchup, and the spread is likely to move closer to -20 as public bettors usually back the favorites early in the tournament.
This might be Tom Izzo’s best coaching job yet, and I’m with the public as I see the Spartans blowing out Bradley. Despite the injury to Ahrens, Michigan State is nearly as healthy as they’ve been all season. Breakfast Pick: Michigan State -18 (lock this number as early as you can!)
Michigan State is +400 to win the East Region, but it won’t come easy if they have to meet up with Duke in the Elite Eight. Duke is the No. 1 seed in the East and they are the favorite to win the tournament at just +220. Duke is -175 to represent the East in the Final Four.
Be sure to check out Thomas Casale’s early breakdown of the NCAA Tournament before filling out your bracket.
Sixers Upset Bucks
The Philadelphia 76ers made a statement in Milwaukee on Sunday, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 130-125.
Oddsmakers opened the Sixers as 7-point underdogs, but the line closed at Milwaukee -5.5 by tip-off.
Sixers backers didn’t sweat much, in large thanks to Joel Embiid’s 40 points. Mike Scott enjoyed the game, too:
Philadelphia outscored Milwaukee every quarter but the third, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo going off for a career-high 52 points. Antetokounmpo didn’t stop there. The Greek Freak added 16 rebounds and 7 assists, but Malcolm Brogdon’s presence was clearly missed.
The Bucks will have to adapt to playing without Brogdon, who started all 65 games and averaged a career-best 15.6 points per game prior to tearing the plantar fasciitis in his right foot during Friday’s game versus the Miami Heat.
Brogdon will be out for at least six weeks, probably more, making the Bucks an interesting team to fade going forward.
Luckily Milwaukee has what should be an easy matchup on Tuesday with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Can Golden State (-2.5) slow down San Antonio?
Tonight, the Golden State Warriors try to slow down the San Antonio Spurs, who opened as 2.5-point home underdogs (Over/Under 225.5). The Spurs are NBA’s hottest team, and look to extend their eight-game winning streak.
The Warriors have won two games since last week’s shocking loss to the Phoenix Suns, covering the spread against both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets.
Already, nearly 75 percent of bets are on the Warriors despite Golden State being one of the worst teams to bet on this year. Bettors seem to believe that the loss to the Suns might be a turning point for the No. 1 team in the West.
Though the public is confident in the Warriors, the cover won’t come easy. The Spurs are 39-30 ATS but perform significantly better in San Antonio, covering 23 of their 35 games at home.
Maybe last week was a turning point for the Warriors, but I’m fading the public in this spot. The play is the Spurs but I’m going to wait for more public money to back the Warriors. Hopefully we can get the home dogs at +3 or +3.5 by tip-off. Breakfast Pick: San Antonio Spurs +2.5 (wait until later for favorable line movement).
Injury Report
Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry are likely both out for Toronto’s matchup with the Knicks. Ibaka is sitting out the second game of his three-game suspension after throwing a punch at Cleveland Cavaliers forward Marquese Chriss last Thursday.
Lowry missed his second straight game Sunday and is doubtful Monday as he deals with a sprained left ankle.
Prop Shop: Over/Under Kawhi Leonard Points
With Ibaka and Lowry both out, I like attacking Raptors props Monday. Shops have yet to release player props for the Toronto-New York game, but Kawhi Leonard should continue to make up for a lot of missed production between Ibaka and Lowry. Leonard scored 33 points and added 11 rebounds in the Raptors 107-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons Sunday. Breakfast Pick: Over Leonard Points
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Stat of the Day
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 52-point performance makes him the 11th player to score 50 or more points this season, an NBA record.
Luck of the Irish: McIlroy wins Players Championship on St. Paddy’s Day
Like a bar fight on St. Paddy’s day, the Players Championships featured a crowded field Sunday. Unsurprisingly, it was the Irishman who came out on top. Rory McIlroy started off two-over through his first four holes but finished with four birdies on the back nine, holding off late charges from the likes of Jim Furyk, Jhonattan Vegas and Eddie Pepperell.
It’s McILroy’s first victory since last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and his 15th win on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy is currently the favorite to win next month’s Masters at +750. Tiger Woods is +1300 to win the Masters after finishing -6 at the Players. Woods finished tied for 30th Sunday, but would have had a Top 20 finish if it wasn’t for a quadruple bogey on the infamous 17th hole on Friday.
Quick Links
Don’t forget to check out Casale’s NCAA Tournament breakdown.
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