The favored Radford Highlanders defeated the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds, 71-61, on Tuesday, March 13, in the First Four round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Long Island Brooklyn failed to cover the spread as 4.5-point underdogs while the game went under the total of 138.5. It was the first NCAA Tournament win in Radford history.
The Highlanders will move on to face Villanova in the Round of 64. Odds for that matchup will soon be released by BetDSI Sportsbook, but we anticipate Radford will be at least a 20-point underdog against the Wildcats, who earned the top seed in the East region.
The Highlanders had a balanced attack on Tuesday. Travis Fields Jr. scored 13 points, Carlik Jones added 12, Donald Hicks had 11, and Ed Polite Jr. chipped in 13. The team shot 46.7 percent from the field, while LIU Brooklyn struggled to knock down shots. The Blackbirds shot only 38 percent. Radford led 30-28 at the half.
Radford’s odds to win the NCAA Tournament were as long as they come, with BetDSI pegging the Highlanders at +100000 to cut down the nets in San Antonio. Their next opponent, Villanova, is the favorite to win March Madness with +400 odds.
Here are the pre-tourney odds for every team:
Odds to Win 2018 NCAA Tournament
Villanova +400
Duke +550
Virginia +600
Michigan State +750
Michigan +1000
Purdue +1250
Arizona +1300
Kansas +1700
North Carolina +2000
Xavier +2200
Kentucky +2300
Cincinnati +2500
Gonzaga +2500
West Virginia +3500
Wichita State +4000
Texas Tech +4500
Tennessee +4500
Auburn +6000
Ohio State +7500
Rhode Island +10000
Missouri +10000
Florida +12000
Texas A&M +15000
Clemson +15000
Houston +15000
TCU +17000
Virginia Tech +17000
Alabama +20000
Seton Hall +20000
Butler +20000
NC State +21000
Arkansas +22000
Miami +22000
Nevada +25000
Providence +25000
UCLA +25000
Texas +28000
Creighton +28000
Florida State +28000
Kansas State +30000
Oklahoma +30000
Arizona State +35000
Syracuse +35000
New Mexico State +50000
Davidson +50000
St. Bonaventure +50000
Pennsylvania +55000
Loyola Chicago +60000
San Diego State +65000
Montana +75000
Wright State +75000
Stephen F. Austin +75000
South Dakota State +75000
Buffalo +100000
Texas Southern +100000
Radford +100000
Iona +100000
UMBC +100000
LIU Brooklyn +100000
NC Central +100000
UNC Greensboro +100000
Lipscomb +100000
CS Fullerton +100000
Bucknell +100000
Georgia State +100000
Murray State +100000
Marshall +100000
College of Charleston +100000
