(USA TODAY Sports)`Virginia needed a miraculous set of circumstances to punch their ticket to the school’s first NCAA championship game. Texas Tech shut down Michigan State to move on to their first NCAA championship game. Either way, a first-time champion will be crowned on Monday. Major League Baseball is jam-packed on Sunday and the Valero Texas Open will come to a close. Here’s a sports betting recap of yesterday’s Final Four and a look ahead to a busy Sunday in baseball.
Virginia Pulls Off Miracle
Virginia seemed poised in the second half to win another low-scoring, defensive affair until Auburn was able to erase a 10-point deficit with five minutes left in the second half. After Auburn was able to take the lead and with a few seconds left, controversy reared its head.
With a few seconds left, Ty Jerome attempted to get past Bryce Brown with a dribble behind his back. The ball hit Jerome’s heel but Jerome was able to recover, pick up the ball, and then commence dribbling.
The double dribble being called would have given Auburn the ball up two and likely a victory after free throws. Instead, this happened.
How would Kyle Guy handle the three biggest free throws in his life knowing his team — check that — university depended on him? Nails. Guy buried all three to send Virginia to their first NCAA tournament final. Virginia was unable to cover the 6-point spread (or 5.5 or 6.5, where it reached just prior to tipoff) but the game stayed under the 131 O/U with a 63-62 final score. After the game, Guy admitted he was terrified at the line but was somehow able to overcome the nerves to punch the Cavaliers’ ticket.
Did Ty Jerome double dribble? Yes. Was Kyle Guy fouled? Yes. Was there drama at the end? Absolutely.
- Use Code: GRINDERS1600
- Exciting Brand
- Beginner Friendly
- Use Promo Code RG2K
- Name Your Own Bets
- NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-WV-IA-VA-NY
- Bet $50, Get $200
- Premium Mobile App
- NJ-CO-MI-VA-IN-TN-AZ-LA-NY
- Bet $20, Get $100
- Use Code "RotoGrinders"
- Great Moneyline Odds
- Risk-Free Bet Pays Cash
- Strong, Trusted Brand
- NJ-IN-IA-AZ-PA-VA
- 2nd Chance Bet up to $500!
- Great Promos
- NY-IN-MI-IL-PA-CO-IA-VA-AZ-LA-NJ
Texas Tech Shuts Down Michigan State
At halftime, Texas Tech and Michigan State were knotted at 23-21 and NCAA fans seemed poised for another thrilling conclusion to a semi-final game. Well, not exactly.
Texas Tech, 2-point underdogs, put the clamps on in the second half and built a 13-point lead over the Spartans. The end seemed to be near for Michigan State.
Then, the Spartans woke up and went on a run to get within one point of the Red Raiders. Jarrett Culver — yet to score at this point — decided to take over and scored 7 points in the final two-plus minutes to help the Texas Tech close out a 61-51 victory. This game also stayed under (132) with Texas Tech bettors cashing +125 ML tickets.
While Culver closed the game out, Mooney was spectacular. Mooney might have stamped the Texas Tech decal to the board after the game but during the game his 22 points were the proverbial stamp for the Red Raiders victory.
What’s left for college basketball fans? Probably not many brackets. There is a championship game however on Monday night featuring two first-time contestants. At the time of this writing, Virginia is favored by one versus Texas Tech with a 117.5 O/U. The game features two of the five top efficient defenses in the nation per KenPom and will likely be a low-scoring affair.
Nets Boost Playoff Hopes
With three games left in their schedule, the Nets traveled to Milwaukee to play the Bucks without their star — Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a 3.5-point underdog, D’Angelo Russell led the Nets to a 133-128 road victory with 25 points and 10 assists.
Caris LeVert added 24 points in the important victory as the Nets hold their sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. The Nets continue their important and extremely difficult road trip with a game against the Pacers today. At the time of this writing the Pacers are favored by five points on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Diamond Notes
The Bronx Bombers were back on Saturday night — scoring all of their runs in the form of home runs in a 6-4 victory over the Orioles. Aaron Judge homered twice and Clint Frazier hit a three-run home run to go ahead in the top of eight inning to propel the Yankees to a -185 victory. The Yankees have now won two in a row for the first time this young season.
At home in New York, the Mets won a back-and-forth affair with the Nationals. Patrick Corbin struck out 9 batters while Steven Matz fanned eight and held the Nationals scoreless through five. The Mets were also helped the the long ball with both Robinson Cano and Peter Alonso going long and J.D. Davis hitting two home runs in the victory. The Mets were +115 underdogs at home. Anthony Rendon and Wilmer Difo homered in the loss. Max Scherzer toes the bump for the Nationals as a -140 favorite today in Citi Field.
Today, the Rockies and Dodgers complete a three-game set in Coors Field on Sunday Night Baseball. ESPN will have competition with WrestleMania on the WWE Network, but runs will be easy to come by in the thin Denver air with two average pitchers meeting. FanDuel Sportsbook marks the O/U at Coorsian 10.5 with the Dodgers as -136 road favorites.
Temperature Meter: Ice Cold Red Sox
The Red Sox continued the long winter with another defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night in dramatic fashion. The Diamondbacks captured their second walk-off victory. The Red Sox? Their eighth loss.
The Sox are 2-8 to start the season and have been favored in every single game. Last night, the 5-4 loss cashed +122 ML tickets for Diamondbacks bettors.
Valero Texas Open Update
Si Woo Kim held onto his lead at the Valero Texas Open on Saturday — shooting a third round 69 to get to -15 for the tournament.
No, that was not a replay. After his ace on 16 on Friday, Kim nearly repeated the effort on Saturday. Kim finished another round with a lead — three in a row — and goes into Sunday with his first 54-hole lead since the Wyndham Championship in 2016. Kim won that tournament.
Kim is +150 to win the tournament on FanDuel Sportsbook. After going six-under on Saturday, Corey Conners is +350 to win the tournament while Jordan Spieth is +12000 after the rollercoaster ride he took on Saturday. Spieth shot a 42 on the front and followed it up with a 31 on the back on Saturday to finish +1 for his round.
- Use Code: GRINDERS1600
- Exciting Brand
- Beginner Friendly
- Use Promo Code RG2K
- Name Your Own Bets
- NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-WV-IA-VA-NY
- Bet $50, Get $200
- Premium Mobile App
- NJ-CO-MI-VA-IN-TN-AZ-LA-NY
- Bet $20, Get $100
- Use Code "RotoGrinders"
- Great Moneyline Odds
- Risk-Free Bet Pays Cash
- Strong, Trusted Brand
- NJ-IN-IA-AZ-PA-VA
- 2nd Chance Bet up to $500!
- Great Promos
- NY-IN-MI-IL-PA-CO-IA-VA-AZ-LA-NJ
Quick Links
Matt Schmitto inspects betting line movement for the Masters 2019.
Are tight lines keeping sharp action away? Here’s the Final Four Betting Action Report.
Thomas Casale and Matt Schmitto give their side and total picks for the Final Four.
2019 NFL win totals are out! Check out Thomas Casale’s breakdown.
Follow us on Twitter @RGSportsBetting. Have you downloaded the SharpSide app yet? Download it, keep track of your bets, seek and give advice with the rest of the SharpSide community.