- Stetson Hatters vs UConn Huskies is set to take place in Brooklyn, NY, on Friday, March 22
- The #1 Huskies are massive -26.5 favorites to advance past the #16 Hatters
- Read on for the latest Stetson vs UConn odds, props, and picks for Friday morning’s first-round March Madness matchup
When you qualify for your first-ever NCAA Tournament, you have to celebrate, right?
For the Stetson Hatters (22-12, 16-15-0 ATS), the party started early following their run to the Atlantic Sun title. But all good feelings went out the window on Selection Sunday, when it was revealed the Hatters’ first dance partner would be the reigning champ and #1 overall UConn Huskies (31-3, 22-12-0 ATS).
The #16 Hatters are clearly in for a tough matchup. They go into Friday as massive +2000 underdogs against the #1 Huskies. Tip-off is set for 2:45 pm ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Stetson vs UConn State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stetson Hatters | +26.5 (-110) | +2000 | Over 146.5 (-105) |
| Connecticut Huskies | -26.5 (-110) | -10000 | Under 146.5 (-115) |
With moneyline odds at -10000, the Huskies are big favorites to advance past Stetson. The winner of this first-round matchup in the East Region will face the winner of #8 Florida Atlantic Owls and #9 Northwestern Wildcats.
The point total for Hatters/Huskies is 146.5. UConn hit 147 points or more in just 17 of 34 games this season, while Stetson went over 146.5 in 23 of 34 games.
Odds as of March 21 at BetMGM Sportsbook. Lock in the BetMGM promo code before betting on Stetson vs UConn.
Stetson vs UConn Team Stats
| 209th | NET Ranking | 2nd |
| 1-2 | Quadrant 1 Record | 13-3 |
| 0-2 | Quadrant 2 Record | 8-0 |
| 219th | KenPom Ranking | 1st |
| 102nd (110.2) | KP Adj Off Efficiency | 1st (126.4) |
| 343rd (114.5) | KP Adj Def Efficiency | 13th (94.7) |
| 258th (66.2) | KP Adj Tempo | 330th (64.5) |
| 271st (-3.42) | KP Strength of Schedule | 43rd (+10.05) |
| 74th (+4.83) | KP Non-Conference SOS | 284th (-3.23) |
| 28th (37.0%) | 3P% | 35th (36.7%) |
| 28th (76.6%) | FT% | 86th (74.2%) |
| 75th (77.5) | PPG | 22nd (81.5) |
| 213th (72.8) | Opp PPG | 15th (64.4) |
Stetson Earns Their First Ever Berth to the NCAA Tournament
It’s been a long time coming, but the Stetson Hatters are finally making their first appearance at the big dance!
After moving to Division I in 1971, rarely have the Hatters come close to making the NCAA Tournament. In fact, this season comes as only the 18th time that Stetson has posted a winning record in 53 years. It’s also only the 2nd time the Hatters have won more than 20 games.
Stetson rarely strayed from Quad 4 games to achieve their 22 victories. Wins at Central Florida and against Charlotte were impressive, but four big losses to Quad 1 & 2 teams meant the Hatters’ only path to March Madness was by winning the Atlantic Sun’s automatic bid.
Despite boasting the best overall record in the conference, the Hatters went into the ASUN tournament as the #2 seed behind Eastern Kentucky. But a Colonels loss to 10-seed Jacksonville suddenly opened a clear path for the Hatters to make their first NCAA appearance. Or so you’d think.
Stetson kept things interesting with a one-point win over Jacksonville before beating fourth-seed Austin Peay in the tournament final.
Guard Jalen Blackmon led the Hatters all season long. The First Team All-ASUN standout averaged 21.5 PPG for the season but really turned it on in the conference tourney final. Blackmon posted 43 points against the Governors, shooting 54.5% from the floor and hitting 5 from beyond the arc.
Can UConn be the First Back-to-Back National Champ in Seventeen Years?
Preseason pollsters couldn’t see it at the time, but the UConn Huskies are now in pole position to be the first repeat champ since the 2006 & 2007 Florida Gators.
The 2023-24 season opened with the Huskies ranked #6 and ended with not just a Big East title but also the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Huskies posted a record of 31-3, with 21 wins coming in Quad 1 & 2. Even two of their losses (at Kansas and at Creighton) were impressive in their own right, with the only dud coming in a fifteen-point stinker at Seton Hall.
UConn would finish off their Big East foes on a seven-game tear, capping it with a 16-point pummeling of Marquette in the Big East Tournament final.
Throughout the season, coach Dan Hurley has utilized a number of weapons on his bench, but this year’s standout has to be senior guard Tristen Newton.
Unanimously named to the All-Big East First Team, Newton paced the Huskies this season with 15.2 PPG and 6.0 APG, while nearly leading the team in rebounding with 7.0 RPG. His backcourt pairing with another All-Big East guard, Cam Spencer, should have the Hatters shaking in their stetsons.
Stetson vs UConn Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alec Oglesby (STET) | 6.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | 3.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +124 | Un -160) |
| Alex Karaban (CONN) | 13.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 4.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov -175 | Un +135) |
| Aubin Gateretse (STET) | 8.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 6.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | OFF | OFF |
| Cam Spencer (CONN) | 14.5 (Ov +100 | Un -130) | 4.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) | 3.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | 2.5 (Ov +135 | Un -175) |
| Donovan Clingan (CONN) | 13.5 (Ov +110 | Un -140) | 8.5 (Ov +114 | Un -145) | OFF | OFF |
| Jalen Blackmon (STET) | 16.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 2.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | OFF | 2.5 (Ov +120 | Un -150) |
| Stephan Swenson (STET) | 12.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 3.5 (Ov -166 | Un +130) | 4.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 1.5 (Ov +180 | Un -238) |
| Tristen Newton (CONN) | 15.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 6.5 (Ov -150 | Un +120) | 5.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 2.5 (Ov +150 | Un -195) |
Hatters/Huskies college basketball player props taken from DraftKings on March 21st.
Stetson vs UConn & Prediction
I don’t think I’m alone in expecting a resounding Huskies win over the 16-seed Hatters, right? Instead, we need to see if there’s money in ATS and O/U bets.
Despite sitting in 209th and 219th in NET and KenPom rankings respectively, Stetson does shoot the ball well, placing 28th in the nation in both 3P% and FT%. It’s clear the Hatters can put the ball in the hoop, but can they keep up with the Huskies?
To do so, they’ll probably need to shoot better than 55% from the floor. That happened exactly three times this season: twice against Jacksonville and once against an NCCAA team. And they’ll have to do it against UConn, a team that’s as ruthless as they come. Look no further than their #1 rank at KenPom as the most efficient team in the country.
My gut tells me that UConn will cover -26.5 while keeping the score under 146.5, after pulling their starters early to prep for the #8/#9 winner.
Stetson vs UConn picks:
- UConn -26.5 (-110)
- Under 146.5 (-115)
- Tristen Newton over 15.5 points (-115)
As the NCAA basketball tournament continues, fans are eagerly anticipating the matchup between Stetson and UConn on March 22. With both teams vying for a spot in the Sweet 16, the stakes are high and the excitement is palpable.
For those looking to add an extra layer of excitement to the game, betting odds and prop bets offer a way to get in on the action. Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds for this matchup and some potential prop bets to consider.
According to oddsmakers, UConn is favored to win this game, with betting odds currently sitting at -200 for the Huskies and +175 for Stetson. This means that a $200 bet on UConn would net a $100 profit, while a $100 bet on Stetson would result in a $175 profit if they were to pull off the upset.
In terms of prop bets, there are a number of options to consider. One popular prop bet is the over/under on total points scored in the game. The current over/under for this matchup is set at 140 points, so bettors can wager on whether they believe the total score will be higher or lower than that number.
Another prop bet to consider is the point spread, which allows bettors to wager on whether UConn will win by more or less than a certain number of points. The current point spread for this game is set at -5.5 for UConn, meaning they would need to win by 6 or more points for bettors who wagered on them to win their bet.
When making predictions for this game, it’s important to consider factors such as each team’s recent performance, key players to watch, and any injuries or other factors that could impact the outcome. UConn comes into this game as the higher-seeded team and has been playing well as of late, making them the favorite to come out on top.
Ultimately, whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just looking to add some extra excitement to the game, there are plenty of options to consider when it comes to betting on the Stetson vs UConn matchup on March 22. As always, remember to gamble responsibly and enjoy the thrill of March Madness!
