Hartford vs. Baylor Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Mar. 19, 2021

David Schwab
NCAA BK Expert
VegasInsider.com

Hartford vs. Baylor Predictions

Baylor comes into Friday’s 3:30 p.m. tip on truTV as a heavy 26-point favorite with the total line for the game set at 140 points.

There is no reason this game should stay close deep into the second half given the complete mismatch on the court. Give credit to the Hawks for an excellent season in America East, but Baylor should roll to at least a 30-point victory to cover the hefty spread.

I'm also going with the OVER in this matchup. The Bears should exceed their 84.4-point scoring average with Hartford getting somewhat close to its 65.9 points per game.

• Score Prediction: Baylor 86 Hartford 56
• Best Bets - Side: Baylor -26
• Best Bets - Total: OVER 140

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Hartford vs. Baylor Betting Odds

Line Movements

• Spread: Baylor -26
• Total: 140
• Money-Line: Baylor -8000 Hartford +1800

Odds to Win NCAA Tournament

• Hartford 500/1
• Baylor 5/1

Odds to Win South Regional

• Hartford 100/1
• Baylor 20/27

Odds Subject to Change

First Round Predictions

Friday's Early Action - Mar. 19 7 vs. 10 3 vs. 14 1 vs. 16 6 vs. 11 2 vs. 15 1 vs. 16 8 vs. 9 5 vs. 12

Handicapping Hartford vs. Baylor

Hartford brings a five-game winning streak into this game, both straight-up and against the spread. It got a huge effort from Austin Williams in the Hawks’ 71-65 victory over Vermont to win this year’s America East Conference Tournament.

Williams could be a factor in the opening half if he comes out hot, but the Bears should be able to keep him in check over the course of the entire game. The lone concern with Baylor is some potential rust early.

It made an unexpected exit from the Big 12 Tournament in a stunning 83-74 loss to Oklahoma State as an 8.5-point favorite. Friday’s game should provide an excellent opportunity to get the Bears’ bench some playing time early in this tournament.

• Region: South
• Matchup: 1 vs. 16
• Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Date: Mar. 19, 2021
• TV-Time: TruTV - 3:30 p.m. (ET)

Handicapping Resources: March Madness Central | NCAA Consensus Picks

Betting Stats & Analysis - Hartford Hawks

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

Hartford is 0-5 SU in its last five games against a Big 12 opponent. Yet, it is 4-1 ATS in its last five games played in the month of March and 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.

The total has gone OVER in four of the Hawks’ last five games. It has also gone OVER in eight of the Hawks’ last 10 games played on a Friday.

Seed: 16
Conference: America East
Bid: Auto

• SU: 15-8
• ATS: 15-8
• O/U: 9-14

• Current Form (Last 5): 5-0 SU, 5-0 ATS, 4-1 O/U
• Notable Wins: None

• PS/G: 65.9 (293rd)
• PA/G: 63.3 (25th)
• Off Rtg: 99 (232nd)
• Def Rtg: 95.1 (59th)

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Betting Stats & Analysis - Baylor Bears

Baylor has failed to cover the closing spread in five of its last seven games. However, it is 14-6 SU in its last 20 Friday games. Baylor is 3-2 ATS in five neutral-site games this season.

The total has gone OVER in 11 of the Bears’ last 12 games. It has also gone OVER in their last 11 games played in March, and in their last five games overall.

Seed: 16
Conference: Big 12
Bid: At-large

• SU: 22-2
• ATS: 15-9
• O/U: 15-9

• Current Form (Last 5): 4-1 SU, 2-3 ATS, 5-0 O/U
• Notable Wins: Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma State, West Virginia

• PS/G: 84.4 (3rd)
• PA/G: 66.4 (64th)
• Off Rtg: 119.5 (2nd)
• Def Rtg: 94.1 (39th)

First Round Predictions

Friday's Late Action - Mar. 19 4 vs. 13 8 vs. 9 2 vs. 15 4 vs. 13 7 vs. 10 6 vs. 11 3 vs. 14 5 vs. 12

Key Players to Watch

Williams is averaging 13.7 points and 6.2 rebounds a game for Hartford. He is also shooting 50.6% from the field. Guard Traci Carter is second on the team in scoring with 11.7 points while dishing out a team-high 3.4 assists a game.

Guard Jared Butler is the team’s leading scorer with 17.1 points per game, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range. Guard MaCio Teague is next on the list with 16.2 PPG while connecting on 48.6% of his shots from the field. He is shooting 39.2% from outside the three-point line.

• HART - Austin Williams (13.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG)
• HART - Traci Carter (11.7 PPG)

• BAY - Jared Butler (17.1 PPG, 4.8 APG)
• BAY - MaCio Teague (16.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG)

Head-to-Head - Hartford vs. Baylor

These two teams played one another twice in recent history at Baylor in 2008 and 2009. The Bears won both games by a combined 17 points with no posted betting lines for either contest.

March Madness Records & Trends

Hartford Hawks

• All-Time Record: 0-0
• Last Appearance: 2020
• Deepest Run: None

-- Hartford has covered the spread in eight of its last 13 games when playing as the underdog.
-- Hartford has covered the spread in five straight games.
-- Hartford has gone OVER the point total in four of its last five games.  

Baylor Bears

• All-Time Record: 14-14
• Last Appearance: 2019
• Deepest Run: Elite Eight (2010)

-- Baylor has failed to reach the Sweet 16 in three of its last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Baylor has lost to a school seeded No. 12 or higher in two of its last four NCAA Tournament appearances.
-- Baylor has seen at least one team score 70 points or more in six straight NCAA Tournament games.
-- Baylor has covered the spread in six of its last eight games when playing on the road.
-- Baylor has failed to cover the spread in six of its last nine games. .

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