A West Region first-round matchup has the No. 7 seed Dayton Flyers and the No. 10 seed Nevada Wolf Pack battling in the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Thursday. This is Nevada’s 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Dayton is set to make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and it’s 19th overall.
Tipoff from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City is set for 4:30 p.m. ET. The Wolf Pack are 1-point favorites in the latest Nevada vs. Dayton odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 136.5. Before making any Dayton vs. Nevada picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Dayton vs. Nevada. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Nevada vs. Dayton:
Nevada vs. Dayton spread: Wolf Pack -1
Nevada vs. Dayton over/under: 136.5 points
Nevada vs. Dayton money line: Wolf Pack -120, Flyers -100
DAY: Dayton is 9-6-1 ATS away from home this season
NEV: Nevada has covered the spread in 22 of its last 32 games
Nevada vs. Dayton picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Nevada can cover
Senior guard Jarod Lucas is a reliable scorer from multiple spots on the court. Lucas does a great job knocking down jumpers to help space the floor. The California native averages a team-high 17.8 points with 2.8 rebounds per game. He totaled 20-plus points in four of the last six games. On March 9 against UNLV, Lucas had 26 points and three boards.
Senior guard Kenan Blackshear gives the Wolf Pack an athletic, slashing scorer in the backcourt. Blackshear uses his length and body control to be effective in the lane. He logs 15.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest. The Florida native dropped 16 points, four rebounds and six assists in his last game. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
Why Dayton can cover
Junior forward Nate Santos can score from all three levels and will get into the lane when his shot isn’t falling. The Illinois native logs 12 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and makes 42% of his 3-pointers. In the March 8 win over VCU, Santos finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, while going 4-of-6 from 3-point land.
Junior guard Kobe Elvis gives the Flyers another smooth ball handler. Elvis can get past defenders with ease and will knock down perimeter jumpers if left open. He averages 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He’s scored in double figures in three of his last five contests. On March 5 against Saint Louis, Elvis had 21 points and five assists. See which team to pick at SportsLine.
How to make Dayton vs. Nevada picks
The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 145 points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.