Published Mar 17, 9:49pm ET by
Keith McCarthy - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 17, 9:49pm ET
Updated Mar 17, 9:51pm ET
Troy and Nebraska clash this week in a key first round matchup. The Cornhuskers enter as heavy favorites, but need to avoid a slow start against a big and athletic Trojans team with upset potential.
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| Nebraska Cornhuskers | -1000 |
| Troy Trojans | +650 |
Troy was projected to land as a 14-seed but snuck onto the 13-line after winning the Sun Belt Championship. The Trojans are big and talented, making them a popular pick for a first-round upset. On the other hand, they are inconsistent on offense. Nailing free throws and open 3-pointers will be crucial to their chances of taking down Nebraska. 6'7 Victor Valdes leads the offense, averaging 15 points, 4.5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game.
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Nebraska's 4-seed is their highest placement in the NCAA Tournament in 35 years, showcasing what has been a historic season for the Cornhuskers. They have big aspirations to make a run in this tourney, which will need to start by handling business in this game. Nebraska needs to dominate the glass and limit Troy's second opportunities. If they can manage that, they'll be in good shape to win their first-ever tourney game.
Nebraska is -1000 to win their first-ever NCAA Tournament game, with hopes to advance far past that after a historic season. Unfortunately, they drew an awfully scrappy first-round opponent. With the 0-8 tournament record looming over their back, the Cornhuskers are all too likely to fall victim to the pressure. Look for Troy to play them physically and wear them down, with a late scoring run to pull off a thrilling and devastating upset.
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Pick
Troy Trojans (+650)
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