Longwood vs. Houston Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
Longwood vs. Houston Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups for the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
The 1-seed Houston Cougars face the 16-seed Longwood Lancers in the South Region of the March Madness bracket during tip-off at 9:20 p.m. ET on Friday night from the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Houston's last outing was disappointing, getting routed by Iowa State during the Big 12 conference tournament 69-41. The Cougars were dominant in the regular season, going 30-4, but lost three conference games. Renowned for their defense, holding teams below 58 points per game, Houston will face Longwood, who averaged over 73 points per game in the Big South Conference.
The Lancers did go 6-10 in conference play though, before going on a run in their conference tournament, winning all three games, including four-in-a-row to find themselves in Round 1 against Houston. Their offense will need to be sharp to counter the stingy defense the Cougars deploy.
Here's the current odds for Longwood vs. Houston, including starting lineups, that we'll use to find our favorite bet in this Round 1 matchup in the South Region that tips off late Friday night from Memphis, Tennessee.
LONGWOOD VS. HOUSTON START TIME, WHERE TO WATCH, AND ODDS
- Date: Friday, March 22, 2024
- Start Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
LONGWOOD VS. HOUSTON ODDS AND BETTING DATA
| TEAM | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | IMPLIED CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longwood Lancers | +23.5 (-110) | 2400 | 4% |
| Houston Cougars | -23.5 (-110) | -10000 | 99.01% |
Bettors are all in on Houston, laying -23.5 on the point spread. Despite the Cougars' 28-point loss to the Cyclones during the Big 12 conference tournament, Houston is getting a lot of money and wagers placed to beat Longwood by 24 points.
The Lancers went on a double-digit win streak earlier in the season, before going 2-10 in the middle of their schedule. Since that slump, the Lancers are 7-2 SU in their games, so it'll be interesting to see how they show up against Houston's defense, which protects their mediocre offense, which averages under 44 percent from the field.
The point total is set at 127.5, which is low compared to the majority of other Round 1 games. This is likely due to the Cougars' defense, paired with Longwood and the competition they faced in the Big South Conference this season. The Lancers only have a four percent implied chance to win this matchup outright, but this is higher than other low-seeds we've seen compete thus far in Round 1.
LONGWOOD VS. HOUSTON PREDICTION
If Longwood wants to win this game, they need to score. This shouldn't be a problem in theory, since the Lancers average 45.6 percent from the field, including 34 percent from three-point range.
Houston's offensive woes have shown up in recent contests, scoring 70 or fewer points in three of their past five games. The Cougars are 73rd in total rebounds, compared to the Lancers, who sit all the way up at 35th. This disparity could wind up being the difference between covering the +23.5 point spread that oddsmakers have assigned to Longwood.
With 80 percent of money coming in on Houston, including 72 percent of wagers, we're going to go against the grain and play contrarian, backing Longwood to cover +23.5. Their ability to make shots and grab boards, combined with the Cougars' struggles on offense, makes Longwood +23.5 the best bet to make in this Round 1 South Region matchup between the 1-seed Houston Cougars and 16-seed Longwood Lancers.
Longwood vs. Houston Prediction: Longwood +23.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
LONGWOOD VS. HOUSTON PROJECTED LINEUPS
Longwood projected lineup:
- F Michael Christmas
- C Szymon Zapala
- G Walyn Napper
- G D'Avian Houston
- F Jesper Granlund
Houston projected lineup:
- G LJ Cryer
- F Ja'Vier Francis
- G Emanuel Sharp
- F J'Wan Roberts
- G Jamal Shead
LONGWOOD MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Longwood is getting +100000 odds in the National Champion futures market. This is no surprise, since all 16-seeds in this year's tournament are coming in with the longest odds, indicating the lowest probability of making a run to contend for the title. The Lancers aren't the worst 16 seed to qualify, and they may cover against Houston, but their ability to advance is very suspect at best. Don't invest in the Lancers in the futures market.
HOUSTON MARCH MADNESS ODDS
Houston has the second shortest odds to win March Madness at +600. This feels way too short, considering their struggles on offense, but it may be based on their defensive effort. The South Region has some strong teams, like Marquette (2) and Duke (4), but it's definitely not the most loaded region in the bracket. This is another likelihood for why the Cougars are getting so much respect. At the same time, this doesn't feel like great value to acquire, so if you want to invest, a one unit wager suffices.
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Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.