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Carrie Stroup here with your Texas-Cincinnati line for the 2012 NCAA Basketball Tournament betting.
You can get all the updated odds at Sportsbook.com and be sure to claim up to $250 in FREE CASH based on an initial deposit. Let’s get started….
Sportsbook.com Line: Cincinnati -2
Opening Line: Bearcats -2.5
Texas is still searching for a signature win this season, but a victory over Big East Tournament runner-up Cincinnati on Friday will be something to feel good about.
The Bearcats pulled off the big upset over Syracuse in the Big East semifinals before running into a Louisville buzzsaw that held them to 44 points. Although Cincy was out-rebounded 37-28 by the Cardinals, the Longhorns do not have the size or skill down low that Louisville possesses. Texas is basically a one-man show with G J’Covan Brown scoring 28% of his team’s points (20.1 PPG). But the junior shoots a woeful 41.7% from the floor, and the Bearcats defend the perimeter very well, allowing just 41.2% FG and 31.7% three-pointers.
Texas is just 2-5 ATS (3-4 SU) in its past seven games and the offense is shooting just 40% from the floor in its past five contests. One area the Longhorns have excelled in is at the free-throw line. Despite being known historically as a poor foul-shooting team, Texas makes 73.1% of its free throws this season. In addition to Brown, the Horns rely on a pair of freshman to help out with the scoring load, Sheldon McClellan (11.3 PPG) and Myck Kabongo (9.8 PPG, 5.3 APG). C Clint Chapman (7.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG) and freshman Jonathan Holmes (7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG) will be tasked with attacking the glass and slowing down Cincy star forward Yancy Gates.
Cincinnati allows just 61.2 PPG for the season. The senior PF Gates (12.4 PPG) leads the team with 9.2 RPG and he came up huge in his team’s two wins in the Big East Tournament with 20.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG. But he was held to nine points and six boards in the championship game loss. Sophomore G Sean Kilpatrick leads the Bearcats with 14.3 PPG and also contributes 4.6 RPG. Like Gates, he was great in the two tourney wins (15.0 PPG, 3.5 SPG), but struggled to a 2-of-9 shooting night in the final. Senior G Dion Dixon (13.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG) was just 2-for-8 that game, and is now shooting just 37% FG (27% threes) for the season.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
