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Ball bets: 4 best wagers from Friday's tournament action

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament started with a bang, as drama ran high during Thursday's action.

Favorites were 9-6-1 on the day, with Buffalo pulling off the biggest win of the day, smashing Arizona by 21 points despite being nine-point underdogs.

Friday offers 16 more games to lay wagers on, and here are four games to target from a packed betting board.

Providence vs. Texas A&M (-2.5)

Texas A&M is among the best rebounding teams in the country, ranking fifth with over 41 per game. The main reason for that impressive statistic is the duo of Tyler Davis and Robert Williams. The powerful pair averages over 17 rebounds, with Davis leading the SEC in double-doubles.

That's a problem for Providence, as the Friars rank 141st in the country in rebounding, well back of their Friday opponents. Rodney Bullock and Alpha Diallo will put in a good effort for Providence on the front line, but the Aggies' size will be too much in the end. Texas A&M 72, Providence 63

Kansas State vs. Creighton (-1)

It looks as though both Dean Wade and Barry Brown will play for Kansas State, but whether they'll be 100 percent remains to be seen. Those two need to be on top of their games for the Wildcats to have a chance in this one, as they combine for 32 points per game.

On the other side, Creighton's dynamic duo of Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas is among the country's best-shooting tandems, both making over 40 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are 87th in the country in 3-point defense, so if Foster and Thomas can get going early, it could be a long day for Kansas State. Creighton 78, Kansas State 70

Texas (+1.5) vs. Nevada

Texas is as young as any team in the country, while Nevada has four players who score in double figures and have NCAA tournament experience. While that would usually lead to a bet on the Wolf Pack, Shaka Smart's vast coaching experience in the tournament should have the Longhorns more than prepared.

These two teams are polar opposites, as Texas sports one of the country's stingiest defenses, while Nevada can score with anyone. Playing in the Big 12, the Longhorns are experienced in facing high-powered offenses, which will come in handy in this one. Texas 62, Nevada 57

Syracuse vs. TCU (-4.5)

TCU hasn't been to the NCAA tournament in 20 years, but Jamie Dixon is no stranger to the big moment thanks to his time with Pitt. The veteran coach is also familiar to Jim Boeheim and the Orange, with a 15-6 record against them throughout his career with the Panthers.

The Orange survived their opening-round contest with Arizona State, but face a much stiffer test in their second game in three nights. TCU has Ken Pomeroy's eighth-ranked offense at their disposal, and Syracuse just doesn't have the firepower to keep up. TCU 74, Syracuse 62

(Odds courtesy: Covers)
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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