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NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions for March 9, 2024
With the UConn Huskies clinching the 2024 Big East title, attention is gradually shifting to the Conference tournament. The Villanova Wildcats will play the Creighton Bluejays in their final Big East Conference game at the Wells Fargo Center. Can the Bluejays finish the season on a high before heading to Madison Square Garden for the post-season tournament, or do the Wildcats have other plans?
The Villanova Wildcats
The Villanova Wildcats (10-9, BEC) host one of the biggest teams in the Big East Conference on Saturday, March 9. Coming into this tie, they lost their previous game 66-56 to the Seton Hall Pirates and will hope to bounce back against the Bluejays. Eric Dixon and TJ Bamba were top performers against the Pirates, scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively. However, they couldn’t match up with the host’s Guards, Kadary Richmond and Dre Davis, who recorded 20 and 18 points in the game.
The Wildcats are 10-4 on home court – which isn’t a bad record – and will look to replicate one of their home game heroic moments against the Creighton Bluejays. You will surely expect them to put in a good fight.
The Creighton Bluejays
At this point, the goal of the Creighton Bluejays is to finish the season in second position, ahead of the Marquette Golden Eagles. They must beat the Villanova Wildcats away from home to achieve this. The Bluejays are 7-5 on the road, with the most recent away game ending in a defeat. They couldn’t handle the brilliance of St John’s Red Storm on the night as they fell to an 80-66 defeat. However, they’ve won back-to-back games at the CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Their previous match was against the Marquette Golden Eagles, one of the most competitive sides in the Conference. The game ended 89-75, with Bluejays’ Guard Baylor Scheierman leading his team to victory. This time, they play in another atmosphere against a decent side. While it could be a tough game, we expect the Bluejays to secure victory.
Head-to-Head Villanova vs Creighton
The Villanova Wildcats have won three in the past five meetings between these two sides. Their last encounter was a 68-66 road win in favour of the Wildcats. It’s one of the most exciting games between these two sides, with the Bluejays winning the first half 34-24 and the Wildcats coming back in the second half with a 34-24 win. The game had to be decided in overtime with a 10-8 scoreline, ensuring the Wildcats emerged victorious. Bettors can expect a similar game and wager their favourite options on BetVictor.
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Baylor Bears
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Baylor Bears will compete in their final Big 12 Conference game on Saturday night. It will be one of the most exciting games on the night, with the Red Raiders looking to win and maintain their top-four position to receive a double-bye that automatically qualifies them for the Big 12 Conference tournament quarterfinals. The only hurdle they face is the Bears (11-6, Big 12).
In his first season with the Red Raiders, Grant McCasland is 14-2 on home court and is looking to avenge the loss at the Foster Pavilion back in February. They enter this tie after their road trip win over the West Virginia Mountaineers. It was a slow start for the Red Raiders in the first half before they gained momentum to overturn a first-half loss and ended up winning the game in the second. One thing is certain: they can’t apply this same approach on Saturday night against the Baylor Bears.
On the other hand, Scott Drew and the Bears currently sit at third and will be looking to maintain their position in the Big 12 Conference. They are on a 3-game winning streak, with the victory of the Texas Longhorns being the most recent. Like the Red Raiders, they started poorly in the first half and needed the second half to right their wrongs, which they did convincingly. This time, they face a different opponent and would need to concentrate all through the game if they intend to win.
Head-to-Head Red Raiders vs Bears
It has always been a tough game between these two sides. In their last five meetings, the Bears have won three, while the Red Raiders have won two. Their most recent encounter is a 79-73 win for the Bears at the Foster Pavilion. These two teams were at loggerhead for most of the game, with the Bears Guard RayJ Dennis being the difference, scoring a team-high 21 points. Bettors can also place bets on this game. However, you must know when to take a break if results are not going your way.
