Dayton vs. Nevada: 2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament game: Dayton vs. Nevada. And make sure to check out our 2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Optimizer to take down your pools!
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2024 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: Dayton vs. Nevada
Dayton 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview
Yet another 1-seed to fall in its conference tournament, Dayton enters the NCAA Tournament without much momentum. DaRon Holmes is a monster down low who is projected to be an NBA Draft pick and still has room to improve. He can score anywhere on the court and is a solid defender. Dayton will slow down opponents and shoot the lights out from beyond the arc, averaging better than 40 percent from deep, highlighted by Koby Brea’s near 50 percent clip from deep. The Flyers’ defense is controlled, rarely fouling while allowing near-proximity looks at the second-lowest clip in the country.
What’s concerning is the number of close games Dayton has played, and how Shot Quality metrics expected the Flyers to lose five more games than they did. Since February 1, Dayton ranks 66th overall on Bart Torvik, double their 33rd overall KenPom ranking, so the Flyers haven’t exactly been playing their best basketball. Their defense ranks outside the top 100 against quality opponents, which makes me question their ability to pull off upsets, and they have little depth, which is concerning if they face a faster-paced team or get into foul trouble. There is a wide range of possible outcomes for Anthony Grant’s squad in this tournament, but their subpar defense will limit their ceiling.
Nevada 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview
Nevada is yet another Mountain West team flying under the radar entering the NCAA Tournament. With an offense and defense, both ranked inside the top 40, the Wolf Pack seems to do everything right. Their free throw rate ranks fifth in the nation, which should give problems to teams with little depth. Nevada shoots nearly 37 percent from beyond the arc but can score at al three levels. Kenan Blackshear can be a go-to guy, and Nevada has seriously stepped up its game in the second half of the season, going 10-2 down the stretch and ranking 17th on Bart Torvik over that timeframe. The Wolf Pack’s near-proximity defense ranks in the top 30 percent, and they won’t allow many offensive boards.
The question is how Nevada will fare against the elite teams. When facing top-100 opponents, Nevada’s defensive efficiency drops from 36th to 81st in the nation. That rate is expected to drop against better competition, but that is a concerning drop-off considering that Nevada had an 89th-ranked strength of schedule. The Mountain West (besides San Diego State) has had litttle tournament success of late. Nevada might be more trustworthy because it will never defeat itself. Opponents have to play 40 minutes of consistent basketball to take down the Wolf Pack, and that’s never easy to do in the elevated atmosphere of the tournament.
2024 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Dayton vs. Nevada
Both teams here limit free baskets with solid defensive rebounding and defense-against-transition games. Dayton will get a pace-up spot against Nevada’s defense, which allows a higher number of perimeter looks, where the Flyers rank third in the nation. Both teams got tough draws because they are solid, but Nevada depends a lot on points from the charity stripe with almost 24% of their scoring coming at the free throw line.
With Dayton’s defense ranked at the third-lowest free throw rate allowed, those points won’t be as easy to come by. Dayton is the better team here and Nevada will have to adjust their play style more. Give me the points with the dog.
2024 NCAA Tournament Picks: Dayton vs. Nevada
Bet: Dayton +1.5 (-110 via DraftKings Sportsbook)
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2024 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks
Now that the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets have been announced, it’s time to make your sports betting picks to increase the excitement of March Madness. Let’s take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2024 NCAA Tournament
EAST REGION
- UCONN v Stetson (1v16)
- Iowa St. v South Dakota St. (2v15)
- Illinois v Morehead St. (3v14)
- Auburn v Yale (4v13)
- San Diego St. v UAB (5v12)
- BYU v Duquesne (6v11)
- Washington St. v Drake (7v10)
- Florida Atlantic v Northwestern (8v9)
MIDWEST REGION
- Montana St/Grambling St PLAY IN
- Virginia/Colorado St. PLAY IN
- Tennessee vs. Saint Peter’s (2v15)
- Creighton vs. Akron (3v14)
- Kansas vs. Samford (4v13)
- Gonzaga vs. McNeese (5v12)
- South Carolina vs. Oregon (6v11)
- Utah St. vs. TCU (8v9)
SOUTH REGION
- Boise St./Colorado PLAY IN
- Houston vs. Longwood (1v16)
- Marquette vs. Western Kentucky (2v15)
- Kentucky vs. Oakland (3v14)
- Duke vs. Vermont (4v13)
- Wisconsin vs. James Madison (5v12)
- Texas Tech vs. NC State (6v11)
- Nebraska vs. Texas A&M (8v9)
WEST REGION
- Howard/Wagner PLAY IN
- Arizona vs. Long Beach St. (2v15)
- Baylor vs. Colgate (3v14)
- Alabama vs. Charleston (4v13)
- Saint Mary’s vs. Grand Canyon (5v12)
- Clemson vs. New Mexico (6v11)
- Dayton vs. Nevada (7v10)
- Mississippi St. vs. Michigan St. (8v9)
2024 NCAA Tournament Bracket Pool Strategy & Picks
Below we provide strategy, advice, and picks to create the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket. And be sure to use our FREE bracket optimizer to build a winning men’s NCAA tournament bracket and take down your contest!