March Madness odds, picks, best bet for Round of 32 Saturday

Louisville faced off against South Florida in a thrilling matchup that ended with a close 83-79 victory for the Cardinals. The game started with Louisville dominating the Bulls, who were considered underdogs, but South Florida fought back fiercely, nearly erasing a 22-point deficit in the final minutes of the game. Despite the win, Louisville understands that they will need to step up their game if they want to pull off an upset against No. 3 Michigan State in their upcoming matchup.

Michigan State, on the other hand, had an easier time in their game against North Dakota State. They took an early lead, extended it, and never looked back. Coach Tom Izzo was able to rotate his starters and ease off the pedal once the game was in hand. This efficient performance is the ideal scenario for higher seeds in the first round of the tournament.

Looking ahead to the showdown between Michigan State and Louisville, Sparty is favored by 4.5 points. While there are no new injury concerns for Michigan State, Louisville may still be without star guard Mikel Brown Jr., who missed the previous game. Brown’s absence was noticeable in the win over South Florida, as Louisville struggled with turnovers and handling the Bulls’ press.

One key area of concern for Louisville heading into the matchup is Michigan State’s dominance on the boards. The Spartans are known for being one of the best rebounding teams in the country, posing a significant advantage in that aspect of the game. Despite projections aligning with the 4.5-point spread, the signs from Louisville’s performance in the previous game, combined with Brown’s potential absence, make it a comfortable choice to bet on Michigan State covering the spread.

In terms of betting, the recommended play is Michigan State -4.5 with odds of -110 on FanDuel. This pick takes into account the potential impact of Brown’s absence and Michigan State’s strengths in rebounding and overall performance.

For those looking for betting advice, Michael Leboff, a seasoned sports bettor with a decade of experience in the industry, provides insights and strategies to help punters navigate bracket pools, identify long shot opportunities, and outsmart the market in various sports. Trust New York Post Betting for expert analysis and recommendations to enhance your betting experience.