2018 NCAA Championship Favorites Worth Betting

When it comes to sports betting, you should know that there are favorites and then there are real favorites. Some favorites look good on paper but aren’t offering the value you think, either because of some flaws they may have or some undervaluing of their opponents. Then, are favorites that are near-lock selections to cash in against their underdog opponents, no matter where they play. Thanks to the expert March Madness betting advice you’re about to get on three opening round favorites in the quickly approaching 2018 NCAA Championship Tournament, you could cash in big before the weekend ever gets here.

2018 NCAA Championship Favorites Worth Betting

This year’s group text theme…Not Satisfied @JoelBerryII pic.twitter.com/6oQ0OJ13Vb

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) 13 de marzo de 2018

No. 2 North Carolina (25-10) vs. No. 15 Lipscomb (23-9)

• When: Friday, March 16, 2018, 2:45 PM ET
• Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
• TV: CBS
• NCAAB Odds: North Carolina -19.5

North Carolina had their modest three-game winning streak snapped in their 71-63 ACC tournament loss to Virginia this past weekend. The loss dropped the Tar Heels to an uninspiring 3-3 over their last six games. Carolina averages 82.0 points per game while allowing 73.1 per contest defensively. Forward Luke Maye leads five players in double-digit scoring by putting up 17.2 points per contest while senior guard Joel Berry averaged 17.1 points per game. Lipscomb enters the NCAA Tournament on fire, having won eight straight games including a 108-96 win over Florida Gulf Coast on March. 4. The Bisons average a stunning 82 points per game and allow 77.5 per contest defensively. Lipscomb is led by junior guard Garrison Mathews, who led the Atlantic Sun in scoring at 22.1 points while putting up a whopping 28.3 points per contest over his last three games after dropping 33 on Florida Gulf Coast. However, junior forward Rob Marberry was the team’s only other double-figure scorer at 16 points per game. While Lipscomb is 4-1 ATS in their last five games and 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 non-conference games, I like North Carolina for the huge win in this affair, seeing as how they’ve gone 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games, 12-4-2 ATS in their last 18 games following a ATS loss and 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 NCAA Tournament games. Pick: North Carolina -19.5

No. 4 Auburn (25-7) vs. No. 13 Charleston (26-7)

• When: Friday, March 16, 2018, 7:27 PM ET
• Where: Viejas Arena, San Diego, California
• TV: TruTV
• NCAAB Odds: Auburn -9.5

Charleston has won three straight and nine of their last 10 games overall including their 83-76 win over Northeastern on March 6. The Cougars average a modest 75.1 points per game and allow 68.8 points per contest defensively. Auburn has lost three of four and comes into the NCAA Tournament off a pitiful 81-63 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship tournament this past weekend. The Tigers average 83.4 points per game and limit the opposition to 73.3 points per game defensively. While Auburn has looked pretty awful recently, I like the Tigers to take down Charleston by at least double figures in what looks like a feel-good game for the SEC-based ballclub. Auburn star  Mustapha Heron (16.6 ppg) has been in a nasty funk recently, but I think this is a game where he’ll regain the confidence he’s lost recently. Charleston doesn’t pass the ball well at all, seeing as how they averaged just 11.4 assists per game to finish in the bottom 50 nationwide and that means the Tigers should easily win by double digits to remain as one of the favorites to win the 2018 NCAA Championship. Pick: Auburn -9.5

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 Bucknell

• When: Friday, March 16, 2018, 7:10 PM ET
• Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
• TV: CBS
• NCAAB Odds: Michigan State -14.5

Michigan State won the Big Ten Conference regular-season title but had their 13-game winning streak snapped by Michigan in the league tournament semifinals in a complete stunner 75-64, but I think that loss will serve as motivation to get them where they want to be and that is to win the 2018 NCAA Championship. No. 14 Bucknell is on fire, having won eight straight games and nine of their last 10 games overall. The Bison come into the NCAA Tournament off an emphatic 83-54 beatdown over Colgate on March 7 and won both, the regular-season and tournament titles in the Patriot League. Senior forward Zach Thomas (20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds) leads Bucknell for head coach Nathan Davis while center Nana Foulland and guard Stephen Brown averaging 15.4 and 14.9 points, respectively. Michigan State, however, has five double-digit scorers and three stars that are heading toward NBA futures. The Spartans have length and athleticism than any other team in the country and it will be that size and difference in athleticism that makes the difference in this one. In addition to all of that, the Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a double-digit loss at home. I feel for Bucknell, they’re in trouble! Pick: Michigan State -14.5