You have to chalk up the performance of the Florida State Seminoles in the NCAA Tournament as a surprise, because we are sure that no one expected them to get so far that they could be playing for spot in the Final Four. But they are very definitely there, and they have earned their way into the Elite Eight. On Saturday night they will be going up against the Michigan Wolverines, with a trip to San Antonio on the line. The game begins at 8:49 PM ET at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and please keep in mind that VietBet customers can watch the game on CBS and place wagers while it is happening, by accessing the state-of-the-art software from Live Betting Ultra.
2018 March Madness Odds – Florida State vs Michigan:
In the 2018 March Madness Odds posted on this game by the folks at VietBet, Michigan is laying points:
Michigan Wolverines -4.5
Florida State Seminoles +4.5
Over 143.5 points -110
Under 143.5 points -110
Join Vietbet NOW for 2018 March Madness Odds online! Enter promo code VIET35 good for a 35% Welcome Bonus up to $1,000.
2018 March Madness Odds – CJ’s Take on the Elite Showdown Between Michigan and Florida State:
Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles took advantage of a 41-13 run to take care of business against Missouri in their opening round, then came from behind to get a revenge win over Xavier (75-70), let beaten them 91-66 in last year’s Big Dance.
On Thursday night, they were probably at their most impressive, as they beat Gonzaga 75-60. Florida State had only one player in double figures – Terance Mann, who had 18. They got 30 points off the bench, and the reserves have played a key role, as in the four games previous to that, they had scored more points than the starters. Ten players logged at least 10 minutes for FSU in Thursday night’s contest.
Michigan encountered a Texas A&M team that had put away North Carolina with extreme prejudice, and blew them away without any problem. It was 52-24 to half, and it ended up 99-72, with Michigan shooting 62% on the evening. Muhammed-Ali Abdur Rahkman had 24 points to lead the way, with Mo Wagner chipping in with 21. It was the 12th straight victory for the Wolverines.
Michigan was tagged as one of the teams to watch coming into this tournament, as they had beaten Michigan State and Purdue on their way to winning the Big 10 tournament title. This is a disciplined team, taking its time on offense and making opponents work extra hard on the defensive end. It is the defense that the Wolverines get the most plaudits for, as they are ranked third in the nation in Adjusted Efficiency by KenPom.com. But it’s interesting when you look closer at the numbers. Michigan is only 52nd in the nation against two-point shooting (46.8% allowed), and 100th against triples (33.7%). So it’s really the pace they play at that has been the driver for that high ranking. But the fact is, they DO control the pace.
Can they do it against Florida State, which can always have fresh people in the game? This is an interesting proposition, as this is a little different team than Hamilton has had in the past. Florida State is not necessarily as tight on the defensive side as it has been in recent years, though they do have nice numbers defending against opponents inside the three-point arc, allowing only 45.2% from two-point range. And among all of these players they can employ, they have seven-footers who can come in and block some shots, including Ike Obiagu and Christ Koumadje, although Mfiondu Kabengele, the 6-8 forward, had four blocks against Gonzaga.
Florida State does bring some size to the table, even in the backcourt, were they can trot out guards that are 6-5, 6-6 and 6-6. There are a lot of interchangeable parts, and with players coming in and out of the game, they can keep people fresh. That’s an advantage for them against Michigan, which does not use as many bench minutes. On the other hand, Wagner is someone who could drive FSU’s defense crazy, as he cannot only bang on the boards (top 50 in defensive rebounding) but also moves outside to hit the triple (41.4%). These two teams definitely deserve to be there, and the winner will spell problems for whoever they face once they get to the Alamodome.
VietBet gets you started the right way, with a great free play bonus, and reduced juice gives you a chance to get more value in the March Madness Odds……. After the game begins, you can place wagers in real time with Live Betting Ultra, and when you want to open up an account, you can do it with your Visa card, person-to-person transfers and the virtual currency of Bitcoin, which is fast and easy with their automated system, and NEVER incurs a transaction fee!
