The 2022 NCAA March Madness has already been packed with results that shocked all basketball lovers and stories that are almost too good to be true. As we prepare to meet the first two teams that will make an appearance at the Final Four in New Orleans on Saturday in the Elite Eight, it’s remarkable not only who has made it to this point, but also who isn’t here after a wild Thursday night.
The Sweet 16, the round of 16 of the table or the regional semifinals, or how they want to call it, started with an excellent day full of surprises in which two #1 teams fell, surely the two great favorites to win the championship title. The one that was by consensus, Gonzaga, and Arizona, for many the great threat. Neither of them will say present in the Elite 8, this being the door to the Final Four in New Orleans.
But this was not all, two favorites did win. Villanova controlled Michigan and Duke had to squeeze to the maximum to submit Texas Tech. It was the 100th victory in the great tournament of Mike Krzyzewski, Coach K, more than anyone.
Elite 8: Houston Cougars vs. Villanova Wildcats
When: Saturday, March 26, at 07:09 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Houston -145 / Villanova +125 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? CBS
The actions of this Elite 8 of the March Maness 2022 will have a great match between the University of Houston and the University of Villanova. The Cougars come from crushing Arizona with a very good score of 72-60, while the Wildcats ended the dreams of the Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16, with a score of 63-55.
In this game, we will be able to observe the defensive power that has characterized Houston in recent years, especially in this March Madness where thanks to this defense they have stayed alive. Against the Wildcats they will just have to continue to apply their game, as usual, dominating the three-point shot and the board offensively to limit Villanova’s university from all sides.
This game is, without a doubt, the most complicated that Villanova will play in this March Madness and, as if that were not enough, it is in the decisive stage, so they have no margin for error, and they must try to put together a very well-organized offensive that be able to overcome the strong defense of the Cougars.
Houston Cougars vs. Villanova Wildcats Betting Pick: Houston Cougars
Update
The #2 seed Villanova became the first team in the NCAA Championship, March Madness 2022, to earn a berth to this year’s fourth final. In a game between two of the best offenses in the country, the Wildcats pulled off an excellent victory in a way they don’t usually do, with incredible defense. The Wildcats caught the Cougars, who eliminated the top seed in the Sweet 16. It was Houston’s worst shooting performance since the 2013-14 season and its worst mark from 3-pointers in more than a decade.
This is one of the surprises of this Final Four since we all had our cards played by the Houston Cougars.
Result: Houston Cougars (44) – (50) Villanova Wildcats
Elite 8: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Duke Blue Devils
When: Saturday, March 26, at 08:49 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Arkansas +155 / Duke -185 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? CBS
While to close this first day of the Elite 8 in the March Madness of the NCAA, we have the meeting between Arkansas and Duke, these teams are called the strongest in the West. The Razorbacks come to this game after playing one of the best games in their history, giving a very strong blow to the table in this Sweet 16, since they left one of the favorite teams, Gonzaga, out of the tournament, which they beat with a score of 74-68. On the other hand, the Blue Devils honored Coach K and helped him to his 100th March Madness victory through Texas Tech, with a tight score of 78-73.
Arkansas has been characterized as a very fastidious team when it comes to defending and the athletic conditions of its players make it easy for them to own the rebounds in games, so, despite being fewer favorites to win this game, they should use very well each of the weapons they have to hurt Duke and seek victory.
Whereas the Blue Devils are coming off a game where their opponent was defensively superior to themselves, so the pace and level of play they come into this match with is unbelievable.
Although it is a match that either of the two teams can win, we have that there is a very high probability that Duke will take the victory.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Duke Blue Devils Betting Pick: Duke Blue Devils
Update
Although they are one of the favorites to finish in first place in this March Madness 2022, for the third consecutive game Duke had to suffer to achieve a victory that would give them the ticket to the Final Four.
But unlike the other two games, the Blue Devils didn’t need to deploy their full arsenal late in the game to win. Mike Krzyzewski’s team owned the game throughout the 4 quarters of this Elite Eight over #4 Arkansas in their game on Saturday, and they had a very good victory against the Razorbacks with a score of 78- 69, a board that does not indicate how easy it was for the Blue Devils to eliminate them.
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