Murray State. vs. Florida State Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
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Andrew Rogers
Morant erupted for a triple-double in Murray State’s opener, piling up 17 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds in a shocking 83-64 rout of No. 5 Marquette. The Seminoles had a much tougher time of it, squeaking past No. 13 Vermont 76-69.
Murray State (12) vs. Florida State (4) NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Look for the Racers to be one of the most popular underdogs in the Round of 32, thanks largely to the presence of Morant, considered to be one of the top prospects in college basketball. They’re 5-1 ATS in their previous six games overall and have gone 8-2 ATS in their last 10 contests against non-conference opponents. The Seminoles are 8-3-2 ATS in their past 13 neutral-site tilts but have only one cover in their last five non-conference games.
Given the prevailing trends both teams carry into Saturday’s regional quarterfinal game, there should be strong action on the under. Murray State comes into the matchup having gone 7-1 to the under in its previous eight NCAA Tournament games, and 6-2 to the under in its last eight neutral-site contests. The Seminoles are 2-5 O/U in their previous seven games following a straight-up victory, and have gone below the number in nine of 13 neutral-site games.
Murray St. Racers
The Racers might be a 12-seed in the West Region, but they have proven to be a force both in the regular season and in their tournament opener. They sit just outside the top 10 in points per game (83.3) while ranking sixth in field-goal success rate (49.7 percent), and should make things very difficult for the Seminoles’ long-range shooters as they boast the third-best 3-point rate allowed (28.1 percent). Morant averages 24.4 points and 10.2 assists on the year.
Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles have plenty to work on after stumbling through their tournament-opening win over a plucky Catamounts team. Florida State is fortunate to have survived after shooting just 38.2 percent from the field and 3-of-12 from 3-point range; only a 31-of-37 performance from the free-throw line allowed the Seminoles to advance. On the positive side, Florida State turned the ball over just seven times while forcing 16 Vermont turnovers.
