NCAA Tournament - South Region Betting Power Poll

All the chalk managed to get passed the first sports betting weekend of the 2009 NCAA Tournament, and this is how the South region stacks up against one another at BetUS Sportsbook.

1) Syracuse Orange (28-9 SU, 18-14 ATS, 2-0 ATS in NCAA Tournament) Who said that playing four games and seven overtimes in four nights would hamper Syracuse’s chances of performing well in the NCAA Tournament? Though there were some shaky offensive moments against Stephen F. Austin, there was never really too much of a doubt who was covering the spread. The Orange held the Lumberjacks to just 24.7% from the field but the twenty-one turnovers couldn’t make HC Jim Boeheim too happy though. They turned it over ten times against a stingy Sun Devils squad in the round of 32, but the defense once again was just too much for ASU to overcome. The Orange held HC Herb Sendek’s bunch to 40% from the field in a 78-67 victory that easily covered the short spread. The biggest question Boeheim will have to answer up until next week’s tip is who he’s going to throw at F Blake Griffin. Until someone figures that out, it’s hard to fathom anyone beating Oklahoma.

Up Next: Oklahoma (+1)

2) Oklahoma Sooners (29-5 SU, 15-13-1 ATS, 2-0 ATS in NCAA Tournament) Most CBB bettors were down on Oklahoma going into the NCAA Tournament, as it had gone just 1-5 ATS and 2-4 SU in its previous six games coming in. As a result, the oddsmakers put up some short numbers for a team that went 27-5 in the regular season, and Sooners bettors capitalized. HC Jeff Capel’s squad jumped out to a 19-point lead in the first half against Morgan State, and easily swept away the MEAC champs by 28 points. The game against Michigan was significantly more difficult, as the Wolverines really pushed OU until the final six minutes or so. In the end, 33 points and 17 rebounds from superstar F Blake Griffin was enough to lead the Sooners to the Sweet 16 win a 73-63 victory. Griffin has scored 61 points and pulled down 30 boards so far in this tournament, and no one has been able to match up with him. If he keeps it up, Oklahoma may be in Detroit by this time next week.

Up Next: Syracuse (-1)

3) Gonzaga Bulldogs (28-5 SU, 15-15 ATS, 0-2 ATS in NCAA Tournament) Nobody said that Gonzaga’s road to the Sweet 16 would be an easy one, and without a doubt, it has had one heck of a ride. Akron gave the Bulldogs all they could handle and then some in Round 1, but thanks to a huge run down the stretch, they narrowly missed covering the 13.5-point spread. Still, the 77-64 victory comfortably moved Gonzaga deeper into the tourney. A stingy Western Kentucky squad just wouldn’t let the Zags go, though. They didn’t play the role of 11-point favorites against the Hilltoppers, but a lay-up with 0:00.9 remaining moved the Bulldogs back to the Sweet 16. The Zags led by nine points with two minutes to go, but couldn’t quite seal the deal. They were never in a position to cover the spread. The WCC champs have been awful in the NCAA Tournament of late, as they are 0-4 ATS in the L/3 tournaments.