March Madness Picks: West Region Betting Predictions

Guess what? The OddsShark.com scores computer is predicting it will happen again in 2012, with Davidson forecast to defeat the Cardinals 83-81.

The West Region of the bracket features a questionable No. 1 seed (Michigan State) and the consensus best No. 2 seed (Mizzou). Is winning the Big Ten a bigger deal than winning the Big 12?

“We don’t think so and we see the Spartans having trouble right away, just as the West Region odds indicate,” said Mike Pickett of OddsShark.com. “We are also shaky on Marquette as the No. 3 and our computer has them losing to BYU.”

Indeed, Marquette is forecast to lose as the third seed to a Cougars team that pulled off a crazy rally in the Play-in game Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Murray State is favored and one of the few chalk predicted to cover the Vegas spread here in the West. The 6 seed battles Colorado State, which enters the tournament as one of the hottest betting teams (7-1 ATS past 8 games).

West Region - Thursday

(11) Colorado St. (20-11) 12:15 pm ET Predicted Score: 82-71 Racers

(6) Murray St. (30-1)
Pick: Murray State -2.5

KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, KY)

(13) Davidson (25-7) 1:40 pm ET Predicted Score : 80-77 Davidson

(4) Louisville (26-9)
Pick: Davidson +7.5

Rose Garden (Portland, OR)

(14) BYU (26-8) 2:45 pm ET Predicted Score : 83-82 BYU

(3) Marquette (25-7)
Pick : Cougars +5.5

KFC Yum! Center (Louisville, KY)

(12) Long Beach St. (25-8) 4:10 pm ET Predicted Score: 82-78 New Mexico

(5) New Mexico (27-6)
Pick: Long Beach +4.5

Rose Garden (Portland, OR)

West Region - Friday

(10) Virginia (22-9) 2:10 pm ET Predicted Score: 75-74 Florida

(7) Florida (23-10)
Pick: Cavaliers +3.5

CenturyLink Center Omaha (Omaha, NE)

(15) Norfolk St. (25-9) 4:40 pm ET Predicted Score : 85-73 Mizzou

(2) Missouri (30-4)
Pick : Norfolk +22.5

CenturyLink Center Omaha (Omaha, NE)

(9) Saint Louis (25-7) 6:50 pm ET Predicted Score : 80-78 Memphis

(8) Memphis (26-8)
Pick: Saint Louis +3.5

Nationwide Arena (Columbus, OH)

(16) LIU Brooklyn (25-8) 9:20 pm ET Predicted Score: 86-77 MSU

(1) Michigan St. (27-7)
Pick: Long Island +22.5

Odds to Win the West Region courtesy of Bovada:

Michigan State (1) 11/5

Missouri (2) 9/4

Marquette (3) 13/2

Louisville (4) 13/2

New Mexico (5) 9/1

Florida (7) 14/1

Memphis (8) 14/1

Murray State (6) 25/1

St. Louis (9) 30/1

Virginia (10) 50/1

Long Beach State (12) 75/1

Davidson (13) 100/1

BYU (14) 100/1

Colorado State (11) 150/1

Iona (14) 150/1

Norfolk State (15) 200/1

Long Island (16) 200/1