Elite 8 Totals Picks

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Texas Tech and Gonzaga will lock horns in the West Regional Final on Saturday. The opening tip at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California is slated for 6:09 PM ET. Currently, the NCAA Tournament betting odds at Heritage has a posted total of 137.5 on this contest.

Gonzaga ranks 1st nationally in both offensive scoring and field goal percentage. However, what often gets overlooked with this Bulldogs team is how well they play defensively. They’re allowing just 64.6 points per game and are 6th best nationally in defensive field goal percentage.

Texas Tech is #3 in scoring defense while allowing a mere 58.7 points per game. The Red Raiders have held their opponents this season to a combined 36.7% shooting and that’s #1 nationally.

Texas Tech has seen each of their 3 NCAA Tournament games go under the total and there were a collective 124.0 points scored per contest. Throughout that time, Texas Tech allowed just 53.0 points per outing and held opponents to a miserable 35.5% shooting.

This game has all the makings of a low scoring affair, and there’s no sense in over-complicating matters which seem obvious.
Pick: Under 137.5

Purdue Boilermakers vs. Virginia Cavaliers

Purdue and Virginia square off on Saturday night in the East Regional Final with a Final Four berth on the line. According to present betting odds at 5Dimes, they’re displaying a total of 126.0 on this East Regional Final.

Purdue has looked extremely impressive during their first 3 games of the “Big Dance”. They’ve especially been good offensively over their last 2 appearances in averaging 93.0 points scored per game while shooting a sizzling hot 53.9%.

Purdue has gone 14-3 over in games played at a neutral site during the past 2 seasons. Those 17 contests averaged a collective 150.2 points scored per game. Furthermore, the Boilermakers have averaged 11 made three-point shots per game over their last 5 outings while converting on a superb 38.1% of those long-distance attempts.

Virginia gets much notoriety for their defensive play and rightfully so. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers are 6th nationally in offensive 3-point shooting efficiency at 39.6%.

I like this game to produce enough points to exceed this low number. One of my “Elite 8” picks will concur with the assessment.
Pick: Over 126.0

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter: @RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com