This is the last matchup to determine who will play in the Final Four. Miami has been on an impressive run throughout this tournament and is looking to catch lightning in a bottle once again against Texas. It will be difficult because the Longhorns play well on both sides of the court, but Miami has been able to overcome it in the last couple of weeks. This should be a fun ending to the weekend. Here are our top bets, picks and predictions for Sunday’s Elite 8 showdown.
- Creighton vs. San Diego State Elite Eight Preview
- Miami vs. Texas Elite Eight Preview
- Creighton vs. San Diego Same Game Parlay Picks
- Elite 8 Player Prop Bet Predictions
- NCAA Tournament Survivor Guide For the Elite Eight (Sunday)
Get access to expert NCAA Tournament picks now >>
Best Elite 8 Picks & Predictions: Miami vs. Texas
Same Game Parlay Picks
Miami +4.5 (-104)
Miami will have another tough assignment as they take on Texas. They should be up to the task as they easily took down No. 1 seed Houston 89-75 to advance to Elite 8. The Hurricanes like to use their quickness and will play uptempo throughout the game, and that’s why Miami is one of the better fast-break teams in the nation.
Where Miami also holds an advantage is inside the boards. Forward Norchad Omeier has been cleaning up the glass averaging 14.3 rebounds in the tournament, double what Texas forward Timmy Allen has.
Miami has been able to match up well with each opponent, and Texas plays into some of their strengths that will keep them close.
Game Total Over 149.5 (-115)
These are two top-40 scoring offenses, averaging nearly 78 points per game. They both play at a fast pace and do very well a finding the best scoring opportunity. Miami can score, but they're not as strong on defense, and they will give up points. Five of Miami's seven games have gone over 149 points.
Norchad Omier To Record 12+ Rebounds (-102)
As I mentioned, a factor in Miami's success will be the inside game of Omeier. He has been nearly impossible to contain all season, especially in the tournament. He should continue that tonight against a Texas frontcourt that doesn't have anyone who has the strength to box him out.
Total Parlay: +629
Game Predictions
It is hard not to be impressed with Texas’ NCAA Tournament run. First, the Longhorns showed their experience and discipline in holding a high-powered Colgate squad to 61 points (its second-lowest scoring total of the season). Then, center Dylan Disu carried Texas with a career-high 28 points against Penn State in the Round of 32. And with him in a walking boot in the Sweet 16, the Longhorns’ three-headed guard combination of Marcus Carr, Tyrese Hunter, and Sir’Jabari Rice combined for 53 of the team’s 83 points while going 7-of-9 from 3-point range. However, we are concerned with Disu’s injury entering this matchup, as Miami’s Norchad Omier should feast on the backboards.
Omier had 17 rebounds (eight offensive) against Indiana’s talented frontcourt, and the Hurricanes outrebounded the Hoosiers by 17 as a team. In addition, there has not been a more impressive offensive performance in the tournament than what Miami did against Houston, scoring 1.27 points per possession against a Cougars defense that ranks in the top five nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency (per KenPom), effective field goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage allowed, and 2-point percentage allowed.
Miami is a battle-tested team (27th in D-I experience) and can use its experience from last year’s Elite Eight run to help it this year. In addition, while Rodney Terry is more than worthy of being named Texas’s coach long-term, a significant coaching edge goes to the Hurricanes with Jim Larranaga and his 696 wins (in 37 years of experience). So as long as we are grabbing more than four points on the point spread, which we are at BetMGM, we are eschewing the moneyline and happily backing the Hurricanes, who have covered eight of ten games as underdogs this season.
Pick: Miami +4.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
Player Prop Bets
Miami
| Prop | Odds | Units | To Win | Book |
| Isaiah Wong Over 2.5 Assists | 120 | 1 | 1.2 | DK |
Texas
| Prop | Odds | Units | To Win | Book |
| Sir’Jabari Rice Under 2.5 3Ps | -150 | 1.5 | 1 | DK |
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