On Saturday, SEC Regular Season champion Alabama looks to finish off conference play with a victory over second-place Texas A&M. The match takes place at Reed Arena, where A&M is very tough to beat. Will the Crimson Tide head into the SEC Tournament with momentum? Or will the Aggies add another loss to Bama’s stellar record? Check out odds, analysis, and a free pick for Alabama at Texas A&M.

Before all else, Nitrobetting takes a peek at important game details that help you lock in on the best picks. Below, you can find event information, team and player stats, and the latest College Basketball odds. We also have timely betting trends and predictions at your disposal.

West Virginia vs. Maryland 2023 March Madness First Round Game Information

Got our work in.#HailWV pic.twitter.com/on2cV59X0i

— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) March 14, 2023

• When: Thursday, March 16 at 12:15 pm ET
• Where: Legacy Arena at BJCC, Birmingham, AL
• TV: CBS
• Radio: WZST Jack FM 100.9 (West Virginia) // TEAM 980 AM (Maryland)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: West Virginia (-2) // Maryland (+2)

READ MORE: Oral Roberts vs. Duke 2023 March Madness Odds and Preview

Why Bet on the West Virginia Mountaineers?

The West Virginia Mountaineers are back in the national tournament as they reach a full decade under the Bob Huggins regime. West Virginia has made it past the first round in each of its five trips to the Big Dance during this stretch and has a relatively favorable first-round matchup ahead.

The Mountaineers are led by senior guard Erik Stevenson, averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game. Stevenson has been red-hot to close out the season as well, seeing his scoring average jump to 20 points per game with a 44 percent three-point-shooting clip over his last five starts. Fellow graduating guard Kedrian Johnson doubled his scoring production this season and has also turned up his game recently, averaging 12 points and three steals per contest over the last five.

What could be an issue for West Virginia is its defense; one that allowed an average of 71 points per game to their opponents this season. Although the Mountaineers are one of the better offensive-rebounding programs in the country, their transitional defense when their second-chance opportunities don’t go their way is quite a liability.

Why Bet on the Maryland Terrapins?

A fifth-place finish in the Big Ten standings and an overall record of 21-12 was enough for the Maryland Terrapins to earn a bid into the national tournament. That’s now six trips to the Big Dance in nine seasons for Maryland under head coach Mark Turgeon with the team advancing past the first round in all five previous appearances and with three of those five runs going all the way to the Sweet 16 stage.

Similar to the Mountaineers, the Terrapins are also anchored by their veteran guard Jahmir Young (team-highs of 16.1 PPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG). A strong frontcourt tandem consisting of fellow senior Donta Scott and rising sophomore forward Julian Reese round out a Terps offense that prefers half-court tempo sets over a quick-scoring attack.

It’s worth noting that Maryland was one of only five teams this season to have beaten top-seeded Purdue in a 68-54 rout back in February. It was the Terrapins’ amazing effort on the glass that was key to beating the top rebounding team in the nation, with the Boilermakers losing the rebounding battle to the Terps, 35-23.

West Virginia vs. Maryland Betting Trends

• West Virginia went just 2-8 on the road since December (4-6 ATS).
• The Mountaineers are 4-3 in the national tournament since 2018 (SU/ATS).
• The totals went over in five of WVU’s last seven games at the Big Dance.
• Maryland went 2-9 on the road this season (4-7 ATS).
• The Terrapins are 5-5 in the national tournament since 2015 (3-7 ATS).
• The totals went under in nine of the Terps’ last 11 road games.

West Virginia vs. Maryland Expert Prediction

This matchup is as close as it gets, as what the current odds would suggest. We’re more inclined to side with underdog Maryland winning this contest, with the team’s huge win over Purdue selling us over. West Virginia has had more quality wins in a much-loaded Big 12 Conference, but the team is evenly matched with its first-round opponent and the Terps can dictate the pace at which the Mountaineers’ offense can operate.

Where to Bet on the 2023 March Madness tournament with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the College Basketball season with crypto. The power of bitcoin and its lightning-fast transactions make your March Madness betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023 March Madness previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball betting odds on our online bitcoin sportsbook.