Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images. Pictured: Reece Beekman #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts with his team
Day one of the 2021 NCAA Tournament is in the books, but need not worry, we’re running it back again today with the second half of the Round of 64 matchups.
From a college basketball betting perspective, yesterday wasn’t the most attractive schedule in terms of value, but according to our College Basketball PRO Report, today is an entirely different animal.
Saturday’s slate is popping off the page, with three games already lighting up at least three of our PRO Report’s five possible value indictors.
Using these tools, let’s examine the three smartest bets for Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Round of 64 matchups.
UC Santa Barbara vs. Creighton Pick
3:30 p.m. ET | truTV
Sharp Action
Action Labs’ Bet Signals, which track and report professional betting action in real-time, have tracked four smart money indicators on UC Santa Barbara thus far, revealing how the wiseguys are approaching this matchup.
PRO Systems
So, why are the pros so bullish on the Gauchos? Potentially because of the contrarian value.
UC Santa Barbara currently fits our NCAA Tournament Contrarian PRO System, which has provided a 86-63-5 (58%) against-the-spread (ATS) record since 2005 by identifying teams undervalued in the market, just like the Gauchos this afternoon.
Model Projection
In addition, The Action Network’s College Basketball PRO Projections make the UC Santa Barbara spread +5, translating to a B-plus graded, 6.8% edge when compared the current consensus line of +7.5.
Top Experts
And finally, three of our top betting experts have wagered on the Gauchos as well, illuminating four of the possible five PRO Report value indicators.
PRO Report Pick: UC Santa Barbara +7.5
Grand Canyon vs. Iowa Pick
6:25 p.m. ET | TBS
Sharp Action
This spread opened at Grand Canyon +14.5 at a handful of influential sportsbooks across the market before leaking to +15, and that’s exactly when sharps struck.
Wiseguys steamed the Antelopes at that number, driving the spread back down to a consensus of +14.5, and even to +14 at a handful of shops across the market.
PRO Systems
Our PRO Report is all over the contrarian value today, as Grand Canyon fits the NCAA Tournament Contrarian PRO System detailed above.
Top Experts
One of The Action Network’s best college hoops bettors is joining the sharps as well by betting the Antelopes to cover this number against the Hawkeyes.
PRO Report Pick: Grand Canyon +14.5
Ohio vs. Virginia Pick
7:15 p.m. ET | truTV
Big Money
Ohio opened at +10 against Virginia, but behind big bets that number has now plummeted to +7 with the vig signaling that it may fall even further on Saturday.
The Bobcats have attracted an incredible 95% of the money on just 26% of the bets, showing exactly why oddsmakers have been so aggressive adjusting the Ohio vs. Virginia spread.
PRO Systems
Let’s make it three games matching our NCAA Tournament Contrarian PRO System!
Model Projection
If you’re concerned that this line has moved too far, you need not worry.
Our projected Ohio vs. Virginia spread is +5.3, showing that there’s still enough value to warrant a wager at Bobcats +7.
Top Experts
One of our experts has also played Ohio, providing another reason to take the points in this matchup.
PRO Report Pick: Ohio +7
