MARCH MADNESS BAD BEATS BLOG: UConn covers easily, favored over Aztecs

Welcome to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

First, upstart Florida Atlantic, the No. 9 seed from the East Region, faces Mountain West champion San Diego State, the No. 5 seed in the South Region. Then, Midwest No. 5 Miami takes on fourth-seeded Connecticut, which rolled through the West Region and is the favorite to win the national title.

We’ll be following all the action from both games. Refresh this blog throughout the day to track bad beats, movement on the live betting line, props, halftime bets and much more.

UPDATES

8:40 p.m.: That’s it for today. After a buzzer-beater to start the Final Four, the second semifinal lacked the same suspense. Favorites went 2-0 straight-up but 1-1 against the spread. Fifth-seeded San Diego State knocked off Florida Atlantic 72-71 in an instant classic, but couldn’t cover as 2½-point favorites. Connecticut showed why it’s the tournament favorite, steamrolling Miami 72-59 as 5½-point chalk.

Totals split 1-1.

Thanks for reading. We’ll be back Monday for the title game.

Betting results for both games — full game, first half and second half — are listed at the bottom of this story.

8:35 p.m.: Early line at Circa Sports for Monday’s national championship game:

San Diego State (+270) vs. Connecticut (-7, 131, -320), 6:20 p.m.

8:28 p.m.: Miami-Connecticut prop grades:

Team totals: Miami under 71½ (59), Connecticut under 77 (72).

First team to score 10+ points?: Connecticut -140.

Miami props: Jordan Miller under 14½ points (11); Norchad Omier under 11½ points (8), under 10½ rebounds (7); Wooga Poplar under 10½ points (0); Nijel Pack under 13½ points (8); Isaiah Wong under 15½ points (15).

Connecticut props: Alex Karaban under 8½ points (8), over 4½ rebounds (9); Andre Jackson Jr. under 7½ points (6), under 6½ rebounds (2), under 5½ assists (4); Jordan Hawkins under 16½ points (13); Adama Sanogo over 17½ points (21); Tristen Newton under 10½ points (7), over 5½ assists (8).

8:19 p.m.: FINAL. No. 4 Connecticut 72, No. 5 Miami 59. The Huskies overwhelmed another tournament opponent and coasted to the cover as 5½-point favorites. It was the fifth straight win by double digits for UConn, which faces San Diego State in the title game Monday night.

Adama Sanogo led UConn with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Hawkins overcame an illness to add 13 points for the Huskies, who finished with 19 assists on 28 field goals and outrebounded Miami 41-32.

Isaiah Wong had 15 points for the Hurricanes, and Jordan Miller had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Miami struggled from the floor, shooting 32.3 percent.

The game stayed under the total of 148½.

8:06 p.m.: Every time Miami gets within striking distance, UConn makes a play to push the lead back to double digits. UConn leads 66-54 at the final media timeout. UConn is -11½ on the live spread.

7:48 p.m.: Adama Sanogo goes over his points prop of 17½. Miami cut a 20-point deficit down to eight at one point, but UConn leads Miami 58-45 with 9:46 left. UConn is -2500 on the live line (Miami +1100), spread -12½, total 140½.

7:38 p.m.: A quick spurt from Miami, and UConn takes a timeout with its lead down to 49-37. UConn is -1600 on the live line (Miami +850), spread -12½, total 140½.

7:33 p.m.: This is beginning to look like UConn’s first four games in the tournament, when they asserted themselves in the second half. The Huskies lead Miami 46-28 at the under-16 timeout and are -4000 on the live line (Miami +1400), spread -15½, total 134½.

7:25 p.m.: Ready to start the second half. UConn is -900 on the live line (Miami +575), spread -11½, total 138½.

7:13 p.m.: Second-half line: Miami -1, total 77½.

7:05 p.m.: HALFTIME. Connecticut 37, Miami 24. Adama Sanogo led the way with 13 points and five rebounds for the fourth-seeded Huskies, who covered as 3-point favorites. Tristen Newton added seven points, four assists and three rebounds as UConn’s balanced offense ripped Miami to shreds.

The Hurricanes shot 25 percent from the field and tried to hang close thanks to nine offensive rebounds. The half stayed under the total of 69½.

6:55 p.m.: Miami is holding its own on the boards and has forced seven turnovers, but Connecticut is on an 8-0 run and leads 27-19 at the under-4 timeout. Connecticut is -500 on the live line (Miami +375), spread -8½, total 138½.

6:42 p.m.: Adama Sanogo is carrying UConn so far with 11 points. The Huskies lead Miami 21-19 at the under-8 break and are -280 on the live line (Miami +225), spread -5½, total 146½.

6:32 p.m.: Miami missed 10 of its first 11 shots, and Connecticut is out to a 16-9 lead at the under-12 break. Connecticut is -450 on the live line (Miami +340), spread -8½, total 145½.

6:25 p.m.: Connecticut wins the race to 10 points and cashes the prop at -140.

6:21 p.m.: Adama Sanogo has hit two 3s for UConn, which scored the first nine points and is up 9-2 at the first media timeout.

6:15 p.m.: The second game is underway in Houston.

6:05 p.m.: Florida Atlantic-San Diego State prop grades:

Team totals: Florida Atlantic over 64½ (71), San Diego State over 66½ (72).

First team to score 10+ points?: San Diego State -115.

Florida Atlantic props: Bryan Greenlee under 6½ points (5); Nicholas Boyd over 7½ points (12); Alijah Martin over 12½ points (26); Vladislav Goldin under 8½ points (5); Johnell Davis under 13½ points (8), under 5½ rebounds (3).

San Diego State props: Darrion Trammell under 9½ points (5); Keshad Johnson under 7½ points (3), over 4½ rebounds (5); Lamont Butler over 8½ points (9 at buzzer), over 2½ assists (3); Jaedon LeDee over 8½ points (12), over 5½ rebounds (6); Matt Bradley over 12½ points (21).

5:57 p.m.: That shot by Lamont Butler cost one bettor at shot at $800,000.

5:50 p.m.: The second semifinal is coming up shortly.

No. 5 Miami (+210) vs. No. 4 Connecticut (-5½, 149, -250)

Here are some of the props we’ll be tracking today for the Miami-Connecticut game:

Team totals: Miami 71½, Connecticut 77.

First team to score 10+ points?: Miami +120, Connecticut -140.

Miami props: Jordan Miller 14½ points (over -120); Norchad Omier 11½ points, 10½ rebounds (under -125); Wooga Poplar 10½ points (under -130); Nijel Pack 13½ points; Isaiah Wong 15½ points.

Connecticut props: Alex Karaban 8½ points (under -115), 4½ rebounds; Andre Jackson Jr. 7½ points (over -120), 6½ rebounds, 5½ assists (over -115); Jordan Hawkins 16½ points (under -115); Adama Sanogo 17½ points (over -120); Tristen Newton 10½ points (under -120), 5½ assists (under -125).

5:29 p.m.: FINAL. No. 5 San Diego State 72, No. 9 Florida Atlantic 71. Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beater gave the Aztecs the straight-up win, but they were unable to cover as 2½-point favorites. San Diego State will play for the national championship on Monday against either Connecticut or Miami.

Alijah Martin scored 19 of Florida Atlantic’s 31 points in the second half and finished with a game-high 26. FAU led by as many as 14 points in the second half before the Aztecs rallied.

Matt Bradley led San Diego State with 21 points. The Aztecs struggled at the free-throw line (13-for-22) but came back thanks to strong offensive rebounding.

The game went over the total of 131.

5:19 p.m.: It’s coming down to the wire. Florida Atlantic leads San Diego State 69-68 with under a minute remaining. Florida Atlantic is -220 on the live line (San Diego State +180).

5:09 p.m.: Offensive rebounding has been key for San Diego State, which has used those extra possessions to get within 67-65 of Florida Atlantic at the final media timeout. The over is in, as well. Florida Atlantic is -170 on the live line (San Diego State +140), spread -1½.

4:53 p.m.: San Diego State is chipping away and Florida Atlantic leads 65-60 at the under-8. Florida Atlantic is -230 on the live line (San Diego State +185), spread -3½, total 154½.

4:43 p.m.: San Diego State woke up after trailing by as many as 14 points. Florida Atlantic now leads 58-51 with 11:11 remaining. Florida Atlantic is -350 on the live line (San Diego State +270), spread -5½, total 153½.

4:33 p.m.: Maybe a little frustration showing from San Diego State? Micah Parrish gets a technical foul for a little People’s Elbow to the gut of a Florida Atlantic player. The Owls lead 51-40 with 14:58 to play.

4:25 p.m.: Florida Atlantic continues to get penetration against the San Diego State defense and leads 49-40 at the under-16 break. Florida Atlantic is -300 on the live line (San Diego State +240), spread -5½, total 145½.

4:17 p.m.: The second half is set to begin. Florida Atlantic is -180 on the live line (San Diego State +150), spread -3, total 143.

4:04 p.m.: Second-half line: San Diego State -4, total 70½.

3:55 p.m.: HALFTIME. Florida Atlantic 40, San Diego State 33. The No. 9 Owls went on a late 14-4 run and covered as 1-point underdogs and +110 on the money line. Nicholas Boyd made three of Florida Atlantic’s six 3-pointers and had a team-high nine points. Nine players scored for the Owls, who shot 53.6 percent from the floor.

Matt Bradley had 11 early points for No. 5 San Diego State but was held scoreless the rest of the half. The Aztecs made five 3-pointers to stay within single digits and help push the half over the total of 59½.

3:43 p.m.: Florida Atlantic is on a 10-2 run and owns a 36-28 lead with 3:30 remaining in the first half. FAU is -210 on the live line (San Diego State +170), spread -4½, total 144½.

3:41 p.m.: The first half goes over the total of 59½ with plenty of time to spare.

3:34 p.m.: Florida Atlantic went on a 17-3 run to regain the lead before San Diego State answered. Both teams are shooting well from the floor. It’s tied at 26 with 6:40 until halftime. San Diego State is -130 on the live line (FAU even), spread -1½, total 143½.

3:23 p.m.: The teams are trading runs early. San Diego State leads Florida Atlantic 16-15 at the under-12 timeout. San Diego State is -170 on the live line (FAU +140), spread -3½, total 137½.

3:19 p.m.: Matt Bradley hits his third 3 and San Diego State (-115) cashes the first team to 10 points prop.

3:14 p.m.: Good start for San Diego State, which leads Florida Atlantic 8-5 at the first media break. San Diego State is -210 on the live line (FAU +170), spread -4½, total 132½.

3:10 p.m.: Underway in Houston.

2:52 p.m.: Betting splits at BetMGM.

2:50 p.m.: Big bets earlier at Caesars Sportsbook.

2:45 p.m.: Here are some of the props we’ll be tracking today for the Florida Atlantic-San Diego State game:

Team totals: Florida Atlantic 64, San Diego State 66½.

First team to score 10+ points?: Florida Atlantic -105, San Diego State -115.

Florida Atlantic props: Bryan Greenlee 6½ points; Nicholas Boyd 7½ points (under -115); Alijah Martin 12½ points (over -115); Vladislav Goldin 8½ points; Johnell Davis 13½ points (over -115), 5½ rebounds (over -130).

San Diego State props: Darrion Trammell 9½ points (over -120); Keshad Johnson 7½ points (under -120), 4½ rebounds (over -145); Lamont Butler 8½ points, 2½ assists (over -125); Jaedon LeDee 8½ points (under -120), 5½ rebounds (under -115); Matt Bradley 12½ points.

2:25 p.m.: Here is today’s schedule, with point spreads, money lines and totals:

No. 9 Florida Atlantic (+125) vs. No. 5 San Diego State (-2½, 131, -145), 3:14 p.m.

No. 5 Miami (+200) vs. No. 4 Connecticut (-5½, 149, -240), 5:55 p.m.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

— San Diego State 72, Florida Atlantic 71

Full-game winners: Florida Atlantic +2½, over 131, San Diego State -140 ML

First-half winners: Florida Atlantic +1, Florida Atlantic +110 ML, over 59½ (FAU 40-33)

Second-half winners: San Diego State -3½, total 70½

(San Diego State 39-31)

— Connecticut 72, Miami 59

Full-game winners: Connecticut -5½, under 148½, Connecticut -250 ML

First-half winners: Connecticut -3, under 69½ (UConn 37-24)

Second-half winners: Connecticut +1, under 77½ (Tied 35-35)

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.