The 8/9 matchup in the South Region features a battle between two border states in Maryland and West Virginia. The two schools faced off against each other in the second round of the 2015 tournament with the Mountaineers winning 69-59.
Per KenPom, the Big 12 was the best conference in college basketball this season, followed by the Big Ten. West Virginia finished 7-11 in the conference while Maryland had a 11-9 record in the Big Ten.
Read on for my Maryland vs West Virginia prediction and best bets.
Maryland vs West Virginia Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for Maryland vs West Virginia were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of Monday, March 13, at 8 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: West Virginia (-130) | Maryland (+110)
- Spread: West Virginia -2 (-110) | Maryland +2 (-110)
- Total: Over 137.5 (-110) | Under 137.5 (-110)
Maryland vs West Virginia Pick of the Day
Keep reading for more Maryland vs West Virginia betting tips.
Maryland vs West Virginia Prediction
Maryland 72, West Virginia 68
This game is going to be a back-and-forth affair, but I’m going to side with the better defense. Maryland is a top-30 scoring defense allowing only 63.2 points per game. They are 33rd in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency ranking.
Both teams had four players average double-digit points this season, making them a tough team to defend. West Virginia is led by senior guard Erik Stevenson, and Maryland’s top player this season has been transfer Jahmir Young, who earned All-Big Ten second-team honors.
The knock on Maryland all season has been their inability to win on the road with only two wins away from Xfinity Center this year. Kevin Willard’s offense creates plenty of open shots for his players, and if they’re able to knock them down then they will advance to the Round of 32.
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Maryland vs West Virginia Best Bets
Maryland Moneyline (+110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Even though they are the higher seed, Maryland is the underdog in this matchup. I like the value of taking them on the moneyline instead of taking them to cover the 2.5-point spread.
Back the Terps to move on to a potential matchup against Alabama in the Round of 32.
Maryland: Over 68.5 Points (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Terps played at one of the slower paces in college basketball this season but were offensively efficient and averaged 70.7 points per game. They also draw a lot of fouls per game, earning them trips to the free throw line where they shot 73.9% as a team.
Maryland vs West Virginia Same Game Parlay
Maryland vs West Virginia Parlay (+100) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- Maryland +5.5 (-205)
- Over 129.5 (-300)
This will be a close game that could come down to the last possession, so bet on the Terps to cover the 5.5-point spread. West Virginia’s elite offense will look to push the ball, and the Terps have the scorers to match them.
I expect the game total to go Over 130 points, so adding the Over 129.5 total points is a nice addition to the parlay.
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