Maryland vs West Virginia Prediction March Madness Picks

Odds

2022-2023 season stats

Preview

The NCAA Men's Basketball Championship is upon us, and the first round of the South Region is set to be an exciting matchup between the 8th seed Maryland Terrapins and the 9th seed West Virginia Mountaineers. The game will be played on March 16, 2023, at the Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, and will air on CBS at 9:15 AM.

Both teams have had solid seasons and are eager to make a statement in the tournament. In this article, we will provide an extended preview of both teams, including their strengths, weaknesses, key players, and recent performances. 

West Virginia Mountaineers

The West Virginia Mountaineers finished the regular season with a record of 19-14, going 7-11 in the Big 12 Conference. They have had some ups and downs throughout the season, but they have also shown some flashes of brilliance, such as a big win against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in early March.

One of the strengths of the Mountaineers is their defense. They have a reputation for being tough and physical, and they rank 17th in the nation in defensive efficiency. They are led by senior forward Tajzmel Sherman, who averages 13.9 points per game, and junior guard Kedrian Johnson, who leads the team with 3.2 assists per game.

On the offensive end, the Mountaineers are not as dominant, but they have some players who can make an impact. One player to watch out for is sophomore guard Eron Stevenson, who leads the team in scoring with 15.5 points per game and has a field goal percentage of 43.8%. Another key player is freshman forward Timothy Mitchell, who averages 5.5 rebounds per game and provides a strong presence in the paint.

In their last five games, the Mountaineers have gone 3-2, with wins against Kansas State and Texas Tech, and losses against Kansas and Iowa State. Their most recent game was a 78-61 loss to Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament, where they struggled on both ends of the floor.

Maryland Terrapins

The Maryland Terrapins finished the regular season with a record of 21-12, going 11-9 in the Big Ten Conference. They had a solid season and were able to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament, but they have had some struggles in conference play, losing to some of the top teams in the Big Ten.

One of the strengths of the Terrapins is their scoring ability. They average 73.1 points per game, which ranks 107th in the nation. They are led by senior guard Jared Young, who averages 16.1 points per game and shoots 82.7% from the free-throw line. They also have a strong presence in the paint with junior forward Jonathan Reese, who averages 7.3 rebounds per game and provides a physical presence on both ends of the floor.

On the defensive end, the Terrapins have been solid but not exceptional. They rank 83rd in the nation in defensive efficiency and have had some struggles against top-tier opponents. They will need to step up their defense if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament.

In their last five games, the Terrapins have gone 2-3, with wins against Minnesota and Northwestern, and losses against Indiana, Penn State, and Ohio State. Their most recent game was a 70-60 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament, where they struggled to get their offense going and had a poor shooting performance.

BETTING TRENDS

Maryland are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games.

Maryland are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 9 of Maryland's last 11 games against North Carolina State.

Maryland are 15-0 SU in their last 15 games at home.

Prediction

Both teams have had their fair share of ups and downs throughout the season, but when it comes down to it, we believe that West Virginia has the edge in this matchup. Here are a few reasons why we predict that West Virginia will win and cover the -2 points spread:

Strong Defense: As mentioned earlier, West Virginia has a reputation for being a tough and physical defensive team, and this could give them an edge over Maryland. If they can shut down Maryland's scoring ability and force them into turnovers, they could gain a significant advantage.

More Depth: While both teams have some key players to watch out for, West Virginia has a more balanced roster with more depth. They have multiple players who can make an impact on both ends of the floor, and this could give them an advantage over a Maryland team that relies heavily on a few key players.

Recent Performance: While both teams have had some recent struggles, West Virginia has had some impressive wins against top-tier opponents, including a big win against Texas Tech in early March. Maryland, on the other hand, has struggled against some of the top teams in the Big Ten. West Virginia's recent performance could give them an edge in this matchup.

In conclusion, while both teams have the potential to win this matchup, we believe that West Virginia has the edge. Their strong defense, more balanced roster, and recent performance make them a solid pick to win and cover the -2 points spread.

PICK:West Virginia -2 (-110)

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