Georgia Bulldogs vs Washington Huskies Betting Odds

Opening Line: Georgia +5.5 / Washington -5.5 Over/Under: 133

Time: 9:45 PM EST Friday March 18, 2010 on CBS

In an East Region second round match up one of the Big Dance dark horses in 7th seed Washington faces 10th seed Georgia. The Huskies are a sleeper, as they are a high scoring team that can hit the boards and come into the tourney hot after winning the Pac 10 conference tournament. Georgia lost 2 of their last 3 games of the season, but even though they played in the tough SEC they only won one of their six games against ranked teams.

In their last game Washington beat Arizona 77-75 in OT in the Pac 10 finals and Georgia lost to Alabama 65-59 in OT in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament.

Both teams were mediocre betting teams on the season with Washington at 15-15-1 ATS and Georgia at 13-15 ATS. This game will be held at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina and Georgia is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games and Washington is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games.

Washington is led by star PG Isaiah Thomas (16.8 ppg 35.7% 3-pt FG%) and F Trey Thompkins (16.1 ppg 7.5 rpg). These guys form a solid inside outside game and Thomas and F Justin Holiday (10.8 ppg) each shot over 35% from beyond the 3-pt arc and the Bulldogs cannot allow these guys to have open looks from deep. The Huskies rank 3rd in the nation in scoring and they will have to score to win, as their defense is not a good one only ranking 231st in the nation in opponents’ points allowed.

Much like the Washington relies on their offense to win Georgia will rely on their 66th ranked defense, as they are not a high scoring team ranking 173rd in the nation in scoring. For Georgia to pull off the upset they will need a solid game from 6”10” F Trey Thompkins (16.1 ppg 7.5 rpg) and G Travis Leslie (14.5 ppg). Thompkins is the key, as if the Huskies can contain him inside and not allow him to have a big game in the paint they will win.

The Bulldogs are averaging 13.2 turnovers per game and they have to be careful with the ball against the Huskies, who have a very athletic backcourt.

Betting Trends

Georgia is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog, e 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, and has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

Washington is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games, 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games against teams with a winning S.U. record, and has an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 games.

Our Selection : Admittedly the Huskies are the better team here, but we feel that Washington may take awhile to hit their stride in this game. The Bulldogs have played decent on neutral courts going 2-3 with two losses being in extra time. Georgia should be in this until the last buzzer. Take the Bulldogs +5.5 at 5Dimes.