March Madness Odds: Furman vs San Diego State Betting Odds

Every year during March Madness, we all sit back and wait to see which team will emerge as the Cinderella team of the tournament. There are, though, some questions about the definition of that. Does a lower seed getting a win in the opening round make them a Cinderella, or do they need to go on a bit of a deeper run? I think we can settle for the big opening round win as fitting the bill, especially when that win comes in dramatic circumstances. Furman fits that bill, but we will get into all of that in a minute. Round 2 of March Madness is already upon us, with this game serving as the opener on Saturday afternoon. Are we looking at another upset here or will we see the higher seed take control and move on? The Aztecs are in as a 5 ½ point favorite, with the point total for this game set at 137 ½. Let’s take a look at the NCAA basketball odds, so you can prepare your betting strategies for this second round game.

#13 Furman Paladins Vs #5 San Diego State Aztecs Game Info

When: Saturday, March 18 at 12:05 PM EST
Where: Amway center, Orlando
TV: CBS

Why bet on the Furman Paladins

Like we said at the top of this piece, the Furman Paladins have already met the criteria of Cinderella team after their dramatic win over Virginia in the opening round. This is a team that is now essentially playing with house money, but you can also bet that they are not going to be content with just that single win in the tournament. That said, this is another tough matchup for them, but the Paladins are rolling, extending their win streak to 7 with that stunning victory over the Cavaliers. They have been a very good bet in Saturday games, going 11-2 SU in their last 13, as well as going 6-1 SU in the month of March. They are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 overall, as well as 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games played away from home. The OVER has hit in 4 of their last 5.

Why bet on the San Diego State Aztecs

In order to win a National Championship, you have to stay steady, consistent, and not worry too much about the next team you have to face. The Aztecs were all business in their opening game against Charleston, which they won 63-57, and they will be looking to maintain that strong defense against a hot Furman team on Saturday. The Aztecs have now won 5 in a row and are beginning to build some momentum. They have also won 6 straight games played on a Saturday and have covered the spread in 4 of those last 5 wins, so there is certainly a lot to like here. Their defense is strong, which has helped them keep the point total UNDER in their last 9 games.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is one of those head versus heart situations. My head says that the Aztecs will win and move on, but I am more than a little tempted to jump on the Paladins bandwagon. I am going to go with the upset here, while admitting that it is a seriously risky bet. Furman Paladins 71 San Diego State Aztecs 70

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?