Dayton vs. Nevada Betting Prediction, Best Bets, and Odds

• Dayton was just 5-4 straight up and 3-6 against the spread in its last nine games.

• Nevada won 10 of its last 11 games before losing in the Mountain West Tournament.

• Both Dayton and Nevada have had two Sweet 16 appearances since the turn of the century.

While neither team felt 100% secure heading into Selection Sunday, both the Dayton Flyers and Nevada Wolf Pack were firmly in the NCAA Tournament field when all was said and done. The two mid-majors now have a date with each other on Thursday in the West Region. The no. 7 seeded Flyers haven’t been in the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and haven’t won a tournament game since 2015. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack is hoping to do better than the 25-point loss it suffered in the First Four of last year’s tournament. At least on paper, this promises to be one of the most competitive matchups of the First Round.

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Dayton vs. Nevada Predictions and Odds

Dayton

The Flyers were the only team in the Atlantic-10 to earn an at-large bid despite finishing behind Richmond and Loyola-Chicago in the conference standings. Wins over the likes of LSU, St. John’s, SMU, and Cincinnati, as well as fellow tournament participants Grambling, Oakland, Longwood, and Duquesne, were enough to impress the selection committee. Even with three losses in their last six games, the Flyers were given a No. 7 seed.

Despite a lack of marquee wins, Dayton isn’t lacking talent. DaRon Holmes II shared Player of the Year honors in the Atlantic-10 after averaging 20.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 6’10’’ junior was the driving force during Dayton’s 24-win season. Also, with 2.1 blocks per game, Holmes was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Atlantic-10, so he makes his presence known at both ends.

The Flyers also have a stable supporting cast, with five other players averaging at least eight points per game. Koby Brea is arguably the biggest X-factor because of his shooting ability. Brea made better than 49% of three-point attempts during the season. Kobe Elvis and Javon Bennett also help the Dayton offense flow, while forward Nate Santos is a three-level scorer, giving the Flyers a deep and balanced attack.

Nevada

Many believed that a No. 10 seed was too low for Nevada after a 26-7 campaign. But keep in mind that victories over Washington, TCU, and Georgia Tech were Nevada’s biggest wins outside of the conference this season. On the other hand, the Wolf Pack had two wins over Colorado State, as well as wins over Utah State, San Diego State, and Boise State, to solidify a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Leading the way in many of those wins was fifth-year senior Jarod Lucas. The former Oklahoma State transfer gave Nevada 17.5 points per game this season while shooting nearly 40% from the perimeter. While Lucas is more of a scorer than a facilitator, he gets plenty of help from point guard Kenan Blackshear, who averages 4.9 assists per game and scores over 15 points per game despite making just five shots all season from beyond the three-point line.

The Wolf Pack also has a formidable duo in the frontcourt with Nick Davidson and Tre Coleman. The 6’9’’ Davidson can be inconsistent as a scorer but is a reliable rebounder. The same can be said of Coleman, who isn’t always a high-volume scorer but contributes in a variety of ways at both ends of the court.

Dayton vs. Nevada Pick

• PICK: Dayton ML -102 at DraftKings

According to DraftKings, Nevada is a one-point favorite in this game, which essentially makes this pick a toss-up. Naturally, there are reasons to believe that either of these teams can win this game and advance. The difference is that Dayton has a little more scoring depth and a player like Holmes, who will likely be the best player on the floor. That will be enough to lift the Flyers to victory in the First Round.

How to Watch Dayton vs. Nevada

When: 4:30 PM EST on Thursday, March 21

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: TBS

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