- Northwestern vs UConn takes place on Sunday, March 24, at the Barclays Center in NYC
- Northwestern survived an OT game with FAU while UConn ran over Stetson
- See the opening Northwestern vs UConn odds and expected line movement
The #8 Northwestern Wildcats are back in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season after taking down Florida Atlantic – a Final Four team just last year – on Friday morning. But if Northwestern is going to reach its first ever Sweet 16, it’s going to do so the hard way. Awaiting the Wildcats in the round of 32 is #1 overall seed and defending national champion UConn, which blasted #16 Stetson 91-52 on Friday.
The opening Northwestern vs UConn odds heavily favor the Huskies
Northwestern vs UConn Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Wildcats | +13 (-110) | +575 | Over 136.5 (-110) |
| UConn Huskies | -13 (-110) | -850 | Under 136.5 (-110) |
The Huskies are 13-point favorites in Sunday’s college basketball odds and -850 on the moneyline. Northwestern comes back as a +575 underdog to dethrone the reigning champions.
UConn remains the favorite in the March Madness championship odds at +383. Northwestern improved to +12000 after squeezing past FAU.
Northwestern Survives Florida Atlantic
Chris Collins’ Wildcats looked to be in full control against the #9 FAU Owls early on Friday, holding a nine point lead (54-45) with just 6:43 remaining. But the Owls clawed back to take a 58-56 lead in the final minute before a Brooks Barnhizer layup with nine seconds remaining forced OT.
The extra frame was all Northwestern, which emerged with a 77-65 win, cashing as +130 underdogs.
Senior guard Ryan Langborg (12.2 PPG) scored a career-high 27 points in the win with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Leading scorer Boo Buie (19.2 PPG) added 22 points but was just 8-of-20 from the field in a fairly sloppy game from both teams. Northwestern’s defense, which only sits 52nd at KenPom in efficiency, forced 21 FAU turnovers and held the Owls to 38.6% from the floor.
The Wildcats managed a 12-8 record in the Big Ten this season and are now 7-7 against top-50 KenPom teams. Northwestern’s biggest win of the season came against then-#1 Purdue, beating the Boilermakers 92-88 in overtime at home on Dec. 9.
UConn Starts Title Defense in Style
The Huskies left no doubts during their first-round rout of the #16 Stetson Hatters. UConn started the game on an 8-0 run and led by 20 after 10.5 minutes. After a dominant 52-19 first half, UConn cruised to a 91-52 win with all five starters scoring at least 12 points.
The Huskies have now won eight in a row, including a Big East Tournament title over Marquette (73-57) at MSG.
UConn rates first at KenPom in overall efficiency and is first on offense, as well. Five different Huskies are averaging at least 10.8 PPG, led by Tristen Newton (15.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 6.0 APG), who was named to the All-Big East First Team alongside teammate Cam Spencer (14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.6 APG).
UConn’s only losses this season came in true road games against Kansas (69-65), Seton Hall (75-60), and Creighton (85-66). They went 12-2 against top-50 teams.
Expected UConn vs Northwestern Line Movement
The public heavily faded Northwestern ahead of the FAU game. The Wildcats opened as slight favorites but were 3.5-point underdogs by tip-off time. The public wasn’t loving the Huskies as 27.5-point chalk against Stetson either, though. Roughly 90% of ATS handle was on the Hatters by tip-off time.
The KenPom prediction for UConn/Northwestern is 74-65 for the Huskies, and I expect the line to move closer to single digits over the next 48 hours.
In a highly anticipated matchup between two powerhouse college basketball teams, the Northwestern Wildcats will face off against the UConn Huskies in the opening game of the season. The Huskies are coming into the game as the clear favorites, with oddsmakers giving them a 13-point spread over the Wildcats.
The Huskies, led by head coach Dan Hurley, are coming off a strong season where they made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. They return key players such as guard James Bouknight and forward Isaiah Whaley, who will be looking to lead the team to another successful season.
On the other hand, the Wildcats are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season last year. Head coach Chris Collins will be relying on senior guard Boo Buie and forward Pete Nance to step up and lead the team to victory against the tough competition of the Huskies.
The 13-point spread in favor of the Huskies reflects their strong roster and recent success, but anything can happen in college basketball. The Wildcats will be looking to prove the oddsmakers wrong and pull off an upset in their season opener.
Fans can expect an exciting and competitive game between these two teams, as they battle it out on the court for early-season bragging rights. The game will be a great opportunity for both teams to showcase their talent and set the tone for the rest of the season.
Overall, this matchup between Northwestern and UConn is sure to be a thrilling one, with both teams hungry for a win. Whether the Huskies can cover the 13-point spread or if the Wildcats can pull off an upset remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – it will be a game worth watching.
