Today March Madness continues with eight more Second Round games to choose from. Let’s examine where smart money is leaning for a trio of matchups using our VSiN CBB Betting Splits, which are updated every 5 minutes and come directly from DraftKings and Circa Sports.

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2:45 p.m. ET: Kentucky vs Iowa State (-5.5, 146.5)

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Kentucky (22-13) is the 7-seed and just outlasted Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime in the first round, covering as 3.5-point neutral site favorites. Meanwhile, Iowa State (28-7) is the 2-seed and just dominated Tennessee State 108-74 in the first round, covering as 25-point neutral site favorites.

This line opened with Iowa State listed as a 5.5-point neutral site favorite.

The public thinks this line is too short and 80% of spread bets at DraftKings are rushing to the window to lay the points with Iowa State.

However, despite receiving such lopsided support we’ve seen Iowa State remain stagnant at -5.5, with most shops juicing up the Kentucky side (+5.5 at +115) while a few other books have even inched down to Kentucky +5 or +4.5. Reading between the lines, all movement and liability has been on the side of Kentucky plus the points.

Kentucky is one of the top “bet against the public” plays of the day as the Wildcats are only receiving 20% of spread bets at DraftKings in a heavily bet, nationally televised game on CBS.

At Circa, Kentucky is taking in 18% of spread bets and 44% of spread dollars, a notable “low bets, higher dollars” sharp contrarian split in their favor.

A big x-factor in this game is the status of Iowa State’s second leading scoring Joshua Jefferson (16.4 PPG), who is questionale due to an ankle injury suffered in the first round.

Kentucky has the better free-throw shooting (177th vs 332nd) and hold their opponents to a better effective field goal percentage (58th vs 82nd).

The Wildcats are also a “dog who can score” system match (81 PPG), thereby increasing the chances they can keep pace or backdoor cover.

7:10 p.m. ET: Iowa vs Florida (-10.5, 145.5)

Iowa (22-12) is the 9-seed and just edged Clemson 67-61 in the first round, covering as 1.5-point neutral site favorites. Meanwhile, Florida (27-7) is the 1-seed and just destroyed Prairie View 114-55 in the first round, easily cruising as 35.5-point neutral site favorites.

This line opened with Florida listed as an 11.5-point neutral site favorite.

The public expects another Gators blowout and 81% of spread bets at DraftKings are laying the points with Florida.

However, despite receiving such lopsided support we’ve seen Florida fall from -11.5 to -10.5.

Why would oddsmakers drop the line to make it easier for the public to cover when they’re already hammering Florida to begin with? Because respected sharp action has sided with Iowa plus the points, triggering sharp reverse line movement in favor of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa is one of the top contrarian plays of the night as they are only taking in 19% of spread bets at DraftKings in a heavily bet, primetime game on TBS.

Ken Pom has Florida winning by seven points (77-70), which offers an actionable edge on Iowa at the current price (+10.5).

Iowa has the better effective field goal percentage (20th vs 64th), three-point shooting (100th vs 315th), free-throw shooting (33rd vs 233rd), commit fewer turnovers on offense (81st vs 156th) and force more turnovers on defense (15th vs 270th).

8:45 p.m. ET: UCLA vs Connecticut (-4.5, 137.5)

UCLA (24-11) is the 7-seed and just held off Central Florida 75-71 in the first round but failed to cover as 5.5-point neutral site favorites. On the other hand, Connecticut (30-5) is the 2-seed and just took down Furman 82-71 in the first round but failed to cover as 20.5-point neutral site favorites.

This line opened with Connecticut listed as a 4.5-point neutral site favorite.

The public likes the Huskies to cover the relatively short number, with 65% of spread bets at DraftKings taking Connecticut minus the points.

However, despite receiving roughly two-thirds of tickets we’ve seen Connecticut remain stagnant at -4.5. Normally, if a team is taking in a clear majority of bets you would expect to see the line rise in their favor. The fact that the line has stayed right where it opened even though the public is loading up on the Huskies indicates a sharp line freeze on UCLA plus the points.

At DraftKings, UCLA is taking in 35% of spread bets and 39% of spread dollars. At Circa, UCLA is receiving 30% of spread bets and 50% of spread dollars. Both books are showing a sharp contrarian “low bets, higher dollars” split in favor of the Bruins, especially the wiseguys in the desert.

Ken Pom has Connecticut winning by four points (72-68), which provides an edge on UCLA plus the hook (+4.5).

UCLA has the better offensive efficiency (23rd vs 30th), three-point shooting (19th vs 132nd), free-throw shooting (40th vs 215th) and also commit fewer turnovers on offense (11th vs 181st).

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