Maryland Sees March Madness Title Odds Improve to +2000 After Beating Michigan State
By Chris Amberley in College Basketball
Updated: March 31, 2021 at 9:58 am EDTPublished:
- No. 9 Maryland’s March Madness Title odds have been shortened to +2000 from +3300Â
- The Terps extended their winning streak to eight games with a 67-60 victory at Michigan State on Saturday
- Are they still a strong value at their new price?
No. 9 Maryland continued its scorching hot play by defeating Michigan State 67-60 Saturday in East Lansing. The victory ran the Terps winning streak to eight games and has prompted sportsbooks to shorten their NCAA March Madness Title odds to +2000.
2020 NCAA Men’s Tournament Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gonzaga Bulldogs | +900 |
| Baylor Bears | +1000 |
| Duke Blue Devils | +1000 |
| Kansas Jayhawks | +1000 |
| Louisville Cardinals | +1100 |
| San Diego State Aztecs | +1300 |
| Dayton Flyers | +1600 |
| Maryland Terrapins | +2000 |
| Michigan State Spartans | +2000 |
| Kentucky Wildcats | +2000 |
Odds taken on Feb. 15th
Their new price puts them among the top eight contenders in the 2020 National Championship odds, and on par with the Spartans who they just beat . They’re 11-3 in Big Ten play and hold a one-game lead over Penn State atop the conference standings.
Captain Clutch
Maryland trailed Michigan State by 7 points with 3:24 to play Saturday before ending the game on a 14-point run to win by 7. The comeback was keyed by Anthony Cowan Jr, who scored 11 straight points to seal yet another Terrapins victory.
Maryland was down 7 at Michigan State with 3:25 to play. Ended game with a 14-0 run. Terps are Final Four good. This Turgeon kid can coach a little.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 16, 2020
Cowan leads the Terps in scoring this season and has saved his best performances for Maryland’s biggest games. In three victories over ranked opposition, he’s averaged 25 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds, and he poured in 24 versus the Spartans, who were the preseason No. 1.
The best closer in COLLEGE BASKETBALL@AnthonyCowanJr pic.twitter.com/53VirTaM6y
— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) February 16, 2020
The Terrapins run primarily a tight six-man rotation, so a lot is demanded of Cowan every night. So far he hasn’t disappointed, hitting double-figures in points in 22 of 25 games, and eclipsing the 20-point mark eight times. He’s a major reason why Maryland is a legit national championship threat, as is forward Jalen Smith.
A Walking Double-Double
The 6’10” sophomore racked up 17 points and 10 boards versus Michigan State, extending his double-double streak eight games. Smith made a game saving block earlier in the week at the buzzer to preserve a victory over Nebraska, and was recently named to the Naismith player of the year watch.
6-foot-10 Jalen Smith draining an off-movement 3 pic.twitter.com/Z82QGf3Fig
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) February 16, 2020
An intimidating force down low at both ends, Smith has expanded his role and his range this season. A year after hitting just 27% of his 3-point attempts, he’s shooting 39% from behind the arc, and has buried multiple triples in six of his past 11 games. He’s 22-of-47 from beyond the arc in Big Ten play this season, and if he can maintain that type of efficiency, he’ll be almost impossible to defend.
Are the Terps a Threat to Win it All?
Most championship contenders have a strong coach, play solid defense and feature two elite scoring options. Maryland checks all of those boxes, as Mark Turgeron’s program ranks fifth in defensive efficiency at KenPom, and is led by Cowan and Smith offensively. What could push the Terps over the top is consistent production from a third scoring option.
Aaron Wiggins makes it look so easy. pic.twitter.com/bfgxsdLHxT
— Cody Wilcox (@Cody_Wilcox15) February 15, 2020
Enter Aaron Wiggins who is Maryland’s sixth man, but essentially plays starters minutes. The sophomore guard is the team’s third leading scorer and can heat up in the blink of an eye. Big games from him will be key come tournament time, and he’ll likely need to average in double figures as the stakes get higher.
Grab the Value on Maryland Now
No Big Ten program was won the national title since 2000, but in a year with no truly elite team, the Terrapins belong in the championship conversation. There’s still value at their current price, but the same cannot be said at all sportsbooks. If you believe in Maryland bet them now, because it won’t be long before their odds are shortened again.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
