Gonzaga looks for Hawaiian punch in Maui
Maryland is the only ranked team in this year's EA Sports Maui Invitational, but that doesn't mean the quality of play on the court or opportunities at the window will be lessened. The tournament gets underway on Monday when the Gonzaga Bulldogs carry 10 ½-point chalk into their opening round match with the Colorado Buffalows. Host Chaminade draws the Terps later in the day as part of the eight-team field.
The only thing better than seeing your favorite college basketball head coaches in Hawaiian attire is betting on the games at the EA Sports Maui Invitational at Chaminade University.
While this year’s eight-team field doesn’t boast the elite programs of year’s past, the three-day event beginning on Monday presents plenty of value for bettors. The tournament is also a good opportunity to see how some power conference programs fare against decent opposition for the first time this season – giving you insight into how these teams will do later on in the preseason and into conference play in January.
One Maui Invitational participant bettors don’t have to think too much about is Gonzaga, which is a 10 ½-point favorite for its first-round matchup on Monday (3 PM ET, ESPN2) against Colorado. The Bulldogs are 2-1 (1-0 ATS) on the season, but their one loss came at then-No. 2 Michigan State last Tuesday. The Zags stuck with the Spartans all game, eventually falling 75-71 as 11.5-point underdogs after throwing a scare into last season’s national runner-up.
For a team that had questions on the interior heading into the season, Gonzaga’s forwards sure answered the bell against Michigan State. 7-foot center Robert Sacre dropped 17 points against the Spartans, while 6-foot-7 freshman Elias Harris scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the payday.
On top of that, the Bulldogs have the horses to match up with Cory Higgins and the Buffaloes’ perimeter players. Look to play Gonzaga as 10.5-point chalk, and handicap it to meet up with either Arizona or Wisconsin in Tuesday’s semifinals.
The Badgers are giving three points to the Wildcats for their late-night quarterfinal on Monday night (Midnight ET, ESPN 2). Both teams have yet to lose this season, but that’s not saying much considering they’ve played the likes of Northern Arizona and IUPU Fort Wayne. In a season of change in Tucson under new head coach Sean Miller, Arizona could use a win over Wisconsin to jump-start its campaign. These aren’t your father’s Wildcats: After 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Arizona is likely headed for the NIT this year.
Wisconsin is a better play simply because of its experience and depth, but it also has issues of its own. Have Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon, and Jon Leuer improved enough to make the Badgers a profitable wager this season?
In any case, Wisconsin figures to give Gonzaga a tougher game than Arizona in a potential semifinal tilt on Tuesday night (9:30 PM ET, ESPN). It’ll be interesting to see how oddsmakers handle the line for that game, especially if the Zags roll over the Buffaloes.
On the other side of the bracket, Vanderbilt is a 4-point fave in its quarterfinal pairing with Cincinnati on Monday (5:30 PM ET, ESPN2). The Bearcats have to answer for their slim 69-62 win over Prairie View A&M last Monday, and they’ll certainly have their hands full with the Commodores. A sleeper pick behind Kentucky and Tennessee in the SEC, Vandy has the talent to be ranked in the national top 25.
Look for center A.J. Ogilvy to bounce back after a lackluster performance in its 72-70 win at Saint Mary’s last Friday. Ogilvy had only two points and seven boards on 1-of-6 shooting against the Gaels, and should put up better numbers against guard-oriented Cincy.
The winner of the Bearcats-Commodores tilt on Monday will no doubt meet up with Maryland in Tuesday’s other semifinal (7 PM ET, ESPN). Barring a vicious Hawaiian hangover, the Terrapins should roll past host Chaminade on Monday (9:30 PM ET, ESPN U), setting up a trip to the semis.
Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for the game, although you can expect to the Silverswords to be getting upwards of 30 points from the Terps. Don’t necessarily fade Chaminade: The Division II school was among the best bets in the tourney last year, going 2-1 against the number in losses to North Carolina, Alabama, and Indiana.
Like Cincinnati, Maryland is a perimeter-oriented team that matches up better with the Bearcats than the Commodores. The Terrapins should see chalk against either team on Tuesday, but they could be ripe for an upset against the spread. With wins against Charleston Southern, Fairfield, and New Hampshire, Maryland has yet to play a formidable program this season.
The tournament final is scheduled for Wednesday night at 10 PM ET (ESPN), with the third-place game set for 4:30 PM ET on ESPN2
Maryland is the only ranked team in this year's EA Sports Maui Invitational, but that doesn't mean the quality of play on the court or opportunities at the window will be lessened. The tournament gets underway on Monday when the Gonzaga Bulldogs carry 10 ½-point chalk into their opening round match with the Colorado Buffalows. Host Chaminade draws the Terps later in the day as part of the eight-team field.
The only thing better than seeing your favorite college basketball head coaches in Hawaiian attire is betting on the games at the EA Sports Maui Invitational at Chaminade University.
While this year’s eight-team field doesn’t boast the elite programs of year’s past, the three-day event beginning on Monday presents plenty of value for bettors. The tournament is also a good opportunity to see how some power conference programs fare against decent opposition for the first time this season – giving you insight into how these teams will do later on in the preseason and into conference play in January.
One Maui Invitational participant bettors don’t have to think too much about is Gonzaga, which is a 10 ½-point favorite for its first-round matchup on Monday (3 PM ET, ESPN2) against Colorado. The Bulldogs are 2-1 (1-0 ATS) on the season, but their one loss came at then-No. 2 Michigan State last Tuesday. The Zags stuck with the Spartans all game, eventually falling 75-71 as 11.5-point underdogs after throwing a scare into last season’s national runner-up.
For a team that had questions on the interior heading into the season, Gonzaga’s forwards sure answered the bell against Michigan State. 7-foot center Robert Sacre dropped 17 points against the Spartans, while 6-foot-7 freshman Elias Harris scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the payday.
On top of that, the Bulldogs have the horses to match up with Cory Higgins and the Buffaloes’ perimeter players. Look to play Gonzaga as 10.5-point chalk, and handicap it to meet up with either Arizona or Wisconsin in Tuesday’s semifinals.
The Badgers are giving three points to the Wildcats for their late-night quarterfinal on Monday night (Midnight ET, ESPN 2). Both teams have yet to lose this season, but that’s not saying much considering they’ve played the likes of Northern Arizona and IUPU Fort Wayne. In a season of change in Tucson under new head coach Sean Miller, Arizona could use a win over Wisconsin to jump-start its campaign. These aren’t your father’s Wildcats: After 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Arizona is likely headed for the NIT this year.
Wisconsin is a better play simply because of its experience and depth, but it also has issues of its own. Have Trevon Hughes, Jason Bohannon, and Jon Leuer improved enough to make the Badgers a profitable wager this season?
In any case, Wisconsin figures to give Gonzaga a tougher game than Arizona in a potential semifinal tilt on Tuesday night (9:30 PM ET, ESPN). It’ll be interesting to see how oddsmakers handle the line for that game, especially if the Zags roll over the Buffaloes.
On the other side of the bracket, Vanderbilt is a 4-point fave in its quarterfinal pairing with Cincinnati on Monday (5:30 PM ET, ESPN2). The Bearcats have to answer for their slim 69-62 win over Prairie View A&M last Monday, and they’ll certainly have their hands full with the Commodores. A sleeper pick behind Kentucky and Tennessee in the SEC, Vandy has the talent to be ranked in the national top 25.
Look for center A.J. Ogilvy to bounce back after a lackluster performance in its 72-70 win at Saint Mary’s last Friday. Ogilvy had only two points and seven boards on 1-of-6 shooting against the Gaels, and should put up better numbers against guard-oriented Cincy.
The winner of the Bearcats-Commodores tilt on Monday will no doubt meet up with Maryland in Tuesday’s other semifinal (7 PM ET, ESPN). Barring a vicious Hawaiian hangover, the Terrapins should roll past host Chaminade on Monday (9:30 PM ET, ESPN U), setting up a trip to the semis.
Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for the game, although you can expect to the Silverswords to be getting upwards of 30 points from the Terps. Don’t necessarily fade Chaminade: The Division II school was among the best bets in the tourney last year, going 2-1 against the number in losses to North Carolina, Alabama, and Indiana.
Like Cincinnati, Maryland is a perimeter-oriented team that matches up better with the Bearcats than the Commodores. The Terrapins should see chalk against either team on Tuesday, but they could be ripe for an upset against the spread. With wins against Charleston Southern, Fairfield, and New Hampshire, Maryland has yet to play a formidable program this season.
The tournament final is scheduled for Wednesday night at 10 PM ET (ESPN), with the third-place game set for 4:30 PM ET on ESPN2