Key Numbers For 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament

Posted by Eric Williams on Friday,March 17, 2017 8:45, EDT in

Are you a college basketball betting lines buff that is getting fired up for the quickly approaching 2017 national championship tournament? Do you live for eye-opening statistics that often provide a great glimpse into what lies ahead for the annual March Madness championship chase?

Well, if you answered ‘yes’ to either of the aforementioned questions, then you’re in luck. Thanks to this expert breakdown on the key numbers surrounding this year’s national championship and the expert college basketball predictions that you’re about to get, you’re going to be well-prepared to cash in early and often when March Madness gets underway in just a few days. Now, let’s get started.

Analyzing The Key Numbers For 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament

 

 

ATS Best

SMU (22-6-11 ATS)
Gonzaga (22-7-1 ATS)
Middle Tennessee State (23-10 ATS)
Nevada (23-10-1 ATS)
Dayton (19-10 ATS)
Notre Dame (19-10 ATS)

Analysis: If you were expecting to see teams like Villanova and Kansas atop the ATS leader board, think again. Underrated, but dangerous SMU Mustangs and once top-ranked Gonzaga has both cashed in at insanely high rates this season, as has the other leaders on this eye-opening list.

Rebounding Leaders

North Carolina +12.1
SMU +9.4
St. Mary’s +9.1
Wichita State +9.0
Gonzaga +7.9
Baylor +7.6

Analysis: Everyone knows Carolina’s huge front line consistently outrebounds the competition, but there go those SMU Mustangs again – and oh yeah, Gonzaga and St, Mary’s are grabbing boards like crazy, mostly because they both have paint-dominating 7-footers.

Sweet Shooting Teams (FG Percentage)

UCLA 51.9%
Gonzaga 51.8%
Creighton 50.8%
Florida Gulf Coast 50.2%
Villanova 49.7%

Analysis: Some teams can get wins but simply shooting the lights out on their dazed opponents. Not only does UCLA led the nation in scoring, but the Bruins also shoot it better than any team in the nation. Now, if only Lonzo Ball’s daddy would shut the hell up. Seriously, the man is as irksome as The Donald!

Not in Here Buddy (Defensive FG Percentage)

Gonzaga 36.8%
Wichita State 37.8%
SMU 38.4%
Cincinnati 38.5%
Virginia 39.6%

Analysis: Some teams can score the ball with the greatest of ease while others make life miserable for those trying to put the ball in the hole against them. If you haven’t figured out by now, Gonzaga is the only team in the nation in the top five in all of the aforementioned statistical categories.

If It’s Three, It’s For Me!

Wichita State 41.6% (6.4 per game)
Purdue 40.8% (9.0 per game)
SMU 40.6% (8.1 per game)
UCLA 40.5% (9.9 per game)
Kansas 40.5% (8.7 per game)

Analysis: If you love mid-major programs that make a habit out beating their more nationally-known opponents, then you should love the way the Wichita State Shockers have built theirs into one of the best mid-major hoops programs around. The Shockers are good people, very good.

Predictions

No. 5 Iowa State vs. No. 12 Nevada

I’m thinking the winner of this opening round Midwest region matchup could very well reach the Elite Eight opposite third-seeded Oregon – after beating No. 1 Kansas in the Sweet 16.

No. 1 Villanova and No. 2 Duke

The Wildcats and Blue Devils are on a collision course to meet in the Elite Eight in the East Region. While most of the country loves the way the Blue Devils are playing right now, I’m going with the steady-as-a-rock Villanova Wildcats to reach the Final Four for the second straight season.

West Region

Four teams will brawl for it all in the West Region as No. 2 Arizona and No. 3 Florida State meet in one Sweet Sixteen matchup and No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 5 Notre Dame meet in the other.

South Region

In the South Region, North Carolina has an almost ‘free pass’ to the Elite Eight while I fully expect Kentucky and UCLA to meet in the Sweet 16 – with the winner taking out Carolina to reach the Final Four.