It is officially March and we are less than a week away from Selection Sunday. Conference tournaments are in full swing and automatic qualifiers are being populated everyday.

Best March Madness Betting Sites

This week, the power conferences get their opportunity to showcase their tournaments as the opportunity to make money wagering on college basketball heads down the home stretch. Looking at a loaded Wednesday slate, here are three wagers that you should consider for the March 10th college basketball schedule.

Butler vs Xavier Picks

Butler vs. Xavier Betting Report

Point Spread Odds: Xavier -5.5

This is a game that Xavier absolutely has to win as the Musketeers are firmly on the NCAA tournament bubble. Xavier stumbled mightily down the stretch of the Big East conference season, winning just two of their final seven games.

During the regular season, Xavier was able to sweep the Butler Bulldogs winning each game by double digits. Xavier was also able to turn in quality defensive efforts in each of the contests against Butler, holding them to under 56 points in both games. The Musketeers held the Bulldogs to just 0.86 and 0.80 points per possession in the two games.

Butler actually looked decent coming down the stretch, boasting victories over Georgetown and Villanova but was destroyed by Creighton in the season finale. It has been a long season for Lavall Jordan’s team but they can come away with some semblance of pride if they are able to provide Xavier with a bad loss and a trip to the NIT.

Best Bet: Xavier. This isn’t a good win for the Musketeers but it would be a horrendous loss on their resume and knock them out of the tourney talk. Look for them to play inspired and win the game by double digits once again.

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DePaul vs Providence Picks

DePaul vs. Providence Betting Report

Point Spread Odds: Providence -7

Providence is a dark horse candidate to win this Big East tournament now that Villanova is going to be without both Collin Gillespie (MCL) and Justin Moore (ankle) for the event. However, the Friars struggled with the Blue Demons in both regular season matchups and even needed overtime to defeat DePaul in the first contest between the two teams.

Providence has been hot and cold lately alternating losses and wins over their last four games but did look incredibly impressive in the season finale against Villanova.

The Friars don’t typically lose in the first round of the Big East tournament during the Ed Cooley era however, they are 1-2 straight up in neutral court games this season and 0-3 against the spread. In fact, Providence is 5-9 against the spread in games played away from home this season.

Best Bet: DePaul is terrible but has been able to give Providence fits this season. That fact, along with Providence’s propensity to struggle against the number away from home lead to a wager on DePaul covering the number.

Expert March Madness Predictions

Iowa State vs Oklahoma Picks

Iowa State vs. Oklahoma Betting Report

Point Spread Odds: Oklahoma -11.5

If there is a power six team to fade heading into conference tournament season, it’s the Oklahoma Sooners. Once a top 12 team in the nation, the Sooners are falling on their face coming down the stretch losing four consecutive games including one to lowly Kansas State.

In the two regular season matchups, the Sooners managed to defeat the Cyclones 66-56 and 79-72. Iowa State managed 0.90 points per possession in one game and over 1.00 ppp in the other matchup. Oklahoma has surrendered at least 69 points in each of their last three games. If they are unable to keep the Cyclones under control it is unlikely that the Sooners will cover.

Best Bet: Oklahoma is going to win the game but right now there is zero reason to back this team to cover a double digit spread regardless of the opponent. Rasir Bolton is expected to play, look for Iowa State to cover the number but ultimately lose the game.