Betting Preview: 3/18/2022

Today we will be previewing three games. One game on the NBA slate and two NCAA Tournament games.

NBA:

Lakers @ Raptors

The Toronto Raptors (39-30) will look to extend their winning streak when they return home from a 5-1 west coast road trip. The Los Angelas Lakers (29-40) are 1-4 in their last 5 games before taking on Toronto tonight. In their last loss to the Timberwolves, Carmelo Anthony had 16 points off the bench while Russell Westbrook had 15 points. The Raptors are coming off an impressive road trip. After dropping game one of the six game trip to the Cavaliers, they proceeded to win 5 in a row on the road, tying themselves with the Cavs in the Eastern Conference. Last time these two teams met, the Raptors defeated the Lakers at the Crypto.com Arena on last Monday.

CBB:

Virginia Tech @ Texas

After coming off of an incredible run winning the ACC tournament, the Virginia Tech Hokies (23-12) take on the Texas Longhorns (21-11) who are coming off a loss in the Big 12 quarterfinal to TCU. The winner of this 6-11 matchup in the East Region will take on the winner of 3rd seeded Purdue. The Hokies are one of the hottest teams in college basketball right now, winning 13 of their last 15 games including rolling through the conference tournament, beating Duke in the championship. On the other hand, the Longhorns have dropped their last three games, and are 2-3 in their last 5.

Davidson @ Michigan State

Michigan State’s (22-12) first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament on Friday night features an intriguing subplot. The seventh-seeded Spartans not only face a dangerous No. 10 seed in Davidson, they will have to clamp down on their former point guard in order to advance in the West Region. Foster Loyer spent the first three years of his college career in East Lansing. He transferred to Davidson seeking more playing time and appears to have found what he was looking for as he faces his former teammates as the Wildcats’ leading scorer. Loyer is averaging 16.3 points and 3.3 assists for Davidson (27-6), which won the Atlantic 10 regular-season title. Both teams are 2-3 in their last 5 games.