Sweet 16 Lines & Odds Previews For Friday, March 28, 2014:

Midwest Sweet 16 Games, Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)

(11) Tennessee Volunteers
vs
(2) Michigan Wolverines

Midwest Sweet 16 Line: Michigan -2.5
Midwest Sweet 16 Total (Over/Under): 132
Midwest Sweet 16 Game Tip Off: 7:15pm (EST)
TV Network: TBS
The Tennessee Volunteers have made most of their opportunity, winning over 8 Kentucky Wildcats vs. 4 Louisville Cardinals (-4.5, 139) 9:45 PM EST Iowa in the first round play-in game. Now they’re in the sweet 16, and will face an experienced Michigan squad that is trying to get to the final four for the second straight year. The Volunteers are playing some great defense, but will be tested by the great shooting of the Wolverines.

(7) Connecticut Huskies
   vs.
(3) Iowa State Cyclones

Midwest Sweet 16 Game Spread: Iowa State -2
Midwest Sweet 16 Total (Over/Under): 146
Midwest Sweet 16 Gametime: 7:25 PM EST
TV Network: CBS
The Louisville Cardinals and Kentucky Wildcats lock horns in Indianapolis, renewing their in-state rivalry. Kentucky defeated Louisville back in late December, yet there’s no doubt these teams are playing at a higher level now. Kentucky knocked off the undefeated Wichita State Shockers in what many feel was the most exciting game thus far in the tournament, while Louisville dispatched of St. Louis in rather convincing fashion.

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East Region Sweet 16 Games, Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

(7) Connecticut Huskies
vs.
(3) Iowa State Cyclones 

East Sweet 16 Line: Iowa State -2
Midwest Sweet 16 Total (Over/Under): 146
Midwest Sweet 16 Game Tip Off: 7:25pm (EST)
TV Network: CBS
Two former teammates will be opposing coaches on Friday evening. Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie were teammates in Chicago back in 2001, now they will try to get their respective teams to the elite 8. Connecticut guard Shabazz Napier and Iowa State guard DeAndre Kane should be one of the more entertaining one on one matchups to watch.

(4) Michigan State Spartans
vs.
(1) Virginia Cavaliers 

East Sweet 16 Line: Virginia -1 @ JustBet
Midwest Sweet 16 Total (Over/Under): 126
Midwest Sweet 16 Game Tip Off: 9:55pm (EST)
TV Network: TBS
The Michigan State Spartans take on the Virginia Cavaliers in what could be one of the better matchups on Friday. The Spartans have been on a mission since getting all of their starters healthy, and face a Virginia defense that is allowing just 55.5 ppg, tops in the nation. It should be a great matchup of Adreian Payne, Gary Harris and the scoring threats of the Spartans against Virginia’s pack-line defense.

Our 2012 bowl predictions continue on Monday, December 31st with the Liberty Bowl, and we are set to make our Liberty Bowl predictions, tips, and keys to the game for the duel between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

2012 Liberty Bowl: Iowa State Cyclones vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane
2012 Liberty Bowl Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
2012 Liberty Bowl Date/Time: Monday, December 31st, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
2012 Liberty Bowl On TV: ESPN, Watch ESPN

Click Here For The Rest Of The 2012-13 Bowl Game Schedule And Other Bowl Game Previews

Key #1: The Golden Hurricane have to do more on the ground
When Tulsa is at its best, this is a team that can run all over the place. The offense operates at a breakneck speed, and the team runs the ball a ton. In fact, the squad averaged 47.3 rushing attempts per game this year, one of the top marks in the entire country. All three of the team’s top backs, RB Trey Watts, RB Ja’Terian Douglas, and RB Alex Singleton carried the ball at least 10 times per game this year, and each averaged at least 58.8 yards per game. Both Watts and Douglas averaged at least six yards per carry, while Singleton was the moose near the goal line, rushing for a whopping 21 touchdowns. The first time that these two teams met though, matters weren’t good for the Tulsa rushing attack. These three men only combined for 24 total carries, and the Golden Hurricane only had a total of 160 rushing yards. That just doesn’t cut it for a team that just doesn’t have a great passing game. We expect to see at least double the carries in this one for Tulsa that we saw from those backs the first time around, and if that turns out to be the case, the Golden Hurricane should be in good shape.

Liberty Bowl Odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook
Iowa State Cyclones -1.5
Tulsa Golden Hurricane +1.5
Over/Under 51
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Key #2: The moment can’t be too big for Sam Richardson
QB Sam Richardson has to be on Cloud Nine right now on the eve of his first ever bowl game. Just last year, he was still in high school in Central Florida, and he had to think that he was either going to redshirt this year or play sparingly. Instead, he has jumped over both QB Steele Jantz and QB Jared Barnett and is now the starting quarterback for the team. There is always a question as to how a freshman plays in a big game like this one, and this could be problematic. Remember that this is only going to be the third start for Richardson in his career. His numbers are good, as he has completed 62.1% of his passes for 412 yards and seven TDs without a pick, and he has rushed for 187 yards and a TD as well. However, he needs to keep his emotions in check and take his time against a Tulsa defense that has made its share of big plays on the season.

Key #3: The Iowa State offensive line has to be careful against a huge pass rush
Part of the problem that Richardson is going to have in this game is that his offensive line is going to have its hands full. Tulsa ranks third in the nation in sacks this year, and the team ended up with 48 sacks on the campaign. The Golden Hurricane also picked off 10 passes, had 55 pass deflections, and ultimately just made big play after big play. Granted, we know that Tulsa has allowed its share of big plays as well, and Richardson is going to have the opportunity to make some big time plays against this defense as well. When it was Jantz that was under center when these teams played at the outset of the season, he ended the day with -9 rushing yards on 13 carries. If Richardson ends up in this same type of a situation, it could be a long day for him and for this offense. If the Golden Hurricane get four or five sacks in this game, they should be in a situation to get the ‘W’.

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