A case can be made that the biggest upset in the first round came in Yale versus Auburn. The Bulldogs, that’s Yale, were massive underdogs versus the SEC Tournament winning and 4-seed Auburn Tigers. Yale scored the straight up win, which is why on Sunday, the Ivy League Dawgs hope to knock off 2023 tournament runner up San Diego State. Will Yale get it done? Or will the Aztecs show they’re ready for another deep tournament run? Check out March Madness odds, analysis, and a free pick for Aztecs versus Bulldogs.
2024 March Madnes Vegas Lines for Region East Bracket, Round 2 Spokane: San Diego State vs Yale | March Madness Money Line
Round 2: March 23rd-24th
Sweet 16: March 28-29
San Diego State Aztecs vs Yale Bulldogs
When: Sunday, March 24 at 9:40 pm | TBS
Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
Spread Odds: San Diego State -5.5
Moneyline Odds: Yale +190 / San Diego State -240
Total Odds: O 129
Why San Diego State is a good bet versus Yale
The Aztecs had their hands full with underrated 12-seed UAB. The Blazers almost pulled off the upset, but SDSU got it done. The reason the Aztecs won is because they’re one of the most experienced teams in this year’s NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.
One of the stars from last year’s Final Four run, Jaedon LeDee, paced SDSU with 32 points and 8 boards in 35 minutes. Another star from 2023’s tournament, Lamont Butler, chipped in 15.
If LeDee and Butler are on this Sunday, forget it. The Aztecs roll into the Sweet 16.
San Diego State Last 5
- W – 69-65 vs UAB
- L – 68-61 vs New Mexico
- W – 86-70 vs Utah State
- W – 74-71 vs UNLV
- L – 79-77 vs Boise State
San Diego State Predicted Starting Lineup
- F – J. Pal
- F – J. LeDee
- G – M. Parrish
- G – D. Trammell
- G – L. Butler
Why Yale is a good bet versus San Diego State
The reason the Ivy League Dawgs upset Auburn is because guard John Poulakidas was unstoppable. Poulakidas dropped 28 points when shooting 66.7% from three.
It won’t matter if LeDee and Butler are as hot on Sunday as they were on Friday. If Poulakidas shoots a similar percentage from behind the arc in the game, Yale will be in a great position to pull off another big time upset victory.
Yale Last 5
- W – 78-76 vs Auburn
- W – W – 62-61 vs Brown
- W – 69-57 vs Cornell
- L – 84-81 vs Brown
- W – 80-60 vs Harvard
Yale Predicted Starting Lineup
- F – D. Wolf
- F – M. Knowling
- G – J. Poulakidas
- G – B. Mbeng
- G – A. Mahoney
Final Betting Analysis: 5-San Diego State vs 13-Yale
Yale beat Auburn for one of the first round’s most stunning upsets, but we shouldn’t expect Yale to do the same versus San Diego State. The Aztecs allow 30.6% from three. Poulakidas won’t get nearly as many open looks, which means Yale will have to find another way to score. The issue the Bulldogs will have is that their may not be another way to score.
LeDee is going to dominate inside because Yale has nobody who matches up with him. So if SDSU contains Poulakidas, the game could be over by halftime.
NCAA Tournament Round 2 Pick: San Diego State Aztecs -5.5
2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament | 2024 March Madness Calendar
| Round | City | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Four | Glendale, Arizona | State Farm Stadium | April 6 |
| NCAA Championship Game | Glendale, Arizona | State Farm Stadium | April 8 |
Updated March Madness lines to win this season.
Updated Top 25 College Basketball National Championship Odds to Win
| Teams | Odds |
|---|---|
| UConn Huskies | +980 |
| Duke Blue Devils | +1075 |
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +1225 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | +1225 |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | +1275 |
| Houston Cougars | +1475 |
| Auburn Tigers | +1550 |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +2300 |
| Iowa State Cyclones | +2300 |
| Arizona Wildcats | +2600 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +2700 |
| Baylor Bears | +2900 |
| Arkansas Razorbacks | +3500 |
| Purdue Boilermakers | +4300 |
| Creighton Bluejays | +4400 |
| Tennessee Volunteers | +4600 |
| St. John's Red Storm | +4700 |
| Michigan State Spartans | +5400 |
| Texas Tech Red Raiders | +6000 |
| Indiana Hoosiers | +6200 |
| Illinois Fighting Illini | +6400 |
| Florida Gators | +6400 |
| Michigan Wolverines | +6400 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | +6400 |
| Texas Longhorns | +6600 |
I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?
