March Madness odds: Stanford vs. Texas

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

March Madness Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

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Friday night's South Regional semifinal between No. 3 seed Stanford and No. 2 Texas will be contrasting styles, with the Longhorns 2-point betting favorites (over/under: 134.5) on WagerWeb.com.

The Cardinal like to pound it down low with the 7-foot Lopez twins, who are shooting 61 percent combined so far in the tournament, with Brook going for 30 points and the game-winning shot against Marquette.

Brook averages 19.0 points per game and 14.3 shots a game, five more than anybody else on the team. That doesn't factor in all the times he has been fouled while shooting. He attempts seven free throws a game. Robin, meanwhile, averages 10.3 points.

Stanford takes an impressive 14 offensive rebounds a game, including 2.8 by Brook Lopez. The Cardinal outrebound opponents by eight a game, including both ends of the court. Stanford has depth as well up front. Lawrence Hill and Taj Finger, both 6-8, combine to play 41 minutes a game.

Horns coach Rick Barnes said this one of those games in which he will likely rely on all of his big reserves, all of whom are inexperienced: 6-10 Dexter Pittman, 6-7 Alexis Wangmene, 6-7 Gary Johnson and 6-10 Clint Chapman. Pittman is a sophomore, the other three freshmen.

"There's no question we'll have to have all those guys ready," Barnes said.

Swingman Damion James will play a big role as well. He was awesome against Miami with 16 points, 16 rebounds, three blocked shots and three 3-pointers.

Texas, meanwhile, has a stellar backcourt in A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin. Abrams has hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points in each of the Longhorns' two NCAA Tournament victories. Augustin, the team's leading scorer at 19.2 ppg, will attack the paint, then kick the ball out to Abrams or attack the goal to try and get the Lopez twins in foul trouble.

 

"They're good off the dribble," Stanford coach Trent Johnson said. "We have to defend them like we've been doing. We treat every game like another game. Sure, the magnitude of the game is greater, but, it's just another game. The kids have to understand that."

Texas has also been successful in forcing turnovers and opponent miscues. They've forced opponents into 437 turnovers, 92 more than Texas has turned it over.

Stanford has turned the ball over 23 more times than its opponent, although it has been better of late.

Cardinal point guard Mitch Johnson had a great game against Marquette, with 16 assists and one turnover. Johnson has 180 assists on the year to 75 turnovers, a ratio of 2.4-to-1, the best in the Pac-10 and 25th in the nation.

He'll need to continue that ratio against pressure-heavy Texas.

Against the spread: Stanford 18-17, Texas 16-13-1.

Over/under records: Stanford 16-18, Texas 13-17.

Prediction: Texas has more in the frontcourt than Stanford has in the backcourt, assuming the teams' other strengths even out. Plus the game is in Houston, so a massive advantage there. Horns win and cover.