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(#675) Purdue @ (#676) Connecticut - 9:20pm EST 

Connecticut -6.5 (-105) 

These two teams have been the two best teams by far in this year's tourney. Purdue hasn't ran into a team that can defend both the 3pt ball as well as Zach Edey down low quite yet over March Madness. Having said that, UCONN is going to be a massive test for a team that isn't used to play both elite offenses as well as elite defenses. 

Talking about the Huskies, they look to be unbeatable right now. Even if you're knocking down your shots, Connecticut will always be right there with you. They've got the ability to take over a game and go on an extreme run whenever they please. Alabama was probably their biggest test so far. The 11 threes that the Tide knocked down were great to stay in the game, but they still weren't good enough to even come close in the end. 

UCONN matches up perfectly with Purdue as well. The size of Clingan down low will be able to help contain Edey. The swarming defense of Castle and Karaban will force Purdue to make their shots early and often. I don't see that happening and therefore the Huskies should be able to cruise to back to back championships. 

Score Prediction: 83-70 UCONN

(good until -7.5) 

(#645) Duke vs. (#646) Houston - 9:40pm EST 

Houston -4.0 (-110) 

Even though I don't think that Duke is going to win this game, I believe that they are better than people think. They are coming into this game off a blowout win against James Madison. Yes, they looked extremely strong. However, this will be a completely different test for the Blue Devils. Duke isn't used to playing defenses like Houston and I expect them to be slightly lackadaisical to start this one. Once they get settled, it'll be too late. 

Houston barely survived what should've been an easy win in the last round. Up double digits with just over a minute left and Texas A&M was able to force overtime. By the end of OT, Houston had four of five starters fouled out. Having survived a massive test like that, it could push them even more to be better in this round as well as going forward. 

I give the coaching edge to Houston as well as the talent edge in this one. The Cougars offense isn't what it was last year, but their defense is what separates them from the bunch. Duke's played two double digit seeds coming in and won't be ready for this one seed, and perhaps the best one seed. 

Score Prediction: 71-58 Houston 

(good until -6.0) 

(#833) Clemson @ (#834) Baylor - 6:10pm EST 

Baylor -181 

Clemson earned a lot of respect from both the oddsmakers as well as the regular fan after their opening round game against UNM. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Tigers and when they took the lead early, they never looked back. However, I think they are getting slightly too over-hyped. This is a team that struggled down the stretch, winning just one of their last four games entering this tournament. 

Looking at Baylor, their 1st Round game was a blowout as well. The offense of the Bears looked like it couldn't be stopped and Colgate didn't look good at all. Having said that, this is a team that I believe could go far in this tournament once again. Let's not forget about their 2020-21 campaign where they won the whole thing. Scott Drew is an excellent coach and they could do it again. 

Baylor is heating up at the right time as well. Now basically fully healthy, this should be another easy win for them. Although they've been solid this year, Clemson's struggled as an underdog in the past. They play at a similar pace and that should favor the better team. This is a 5% max selection on the #3 seeded Baylor Bears to win against the #6 seeded Clemson Tigers. 

Score Prediction: 83-68 Baylor 

(good at 5% until -190 . at 4% until -210 . at 3% until -225) → (can play ATS until -5.0 as well) 

(#773) Longwood @ (#774) Houston - 9:20pm EST 

Houston -23.5 (-120) 

The dream for many teams of Longwood's caliber is to get to this tournament. That being said, only two 16 seeds in over 150 games played have ever beaten a #1 seed. Longwood's chances are very very slim and I think that this game could get ugly with how good Houston's defense can be. Yes, Longwood can score. But, I wouldn't call their offense elite and that is why I believe that they'll have trouble. 

Houston is coming off the worst defeat of their season by far. It was quite horrendous actually. They've now got almost a week to prepare for this game and I expect Kelvin Sampson to have the guys ready for a dominating opening round performance on Friday. Houston's more than capable of blowing out teams as they've beaten teams like Kansas, Texas & Texas Tech by more than 20 this season already. 

Looking at this matchup, Houston should be able to score. Their offense is what sets them back sometimes but I believe that they'll have a lot more success today than against ISU in the Big 12 Final. The Cougars are a top seed for a reason and look for them to show you why in round 1. 

Score Prediction: 73-44 Houston 

(good until -24.5) 

(#777) New Mexico @ (#778) Clemson - 3:10pm EST 

New Mexico -130 

Clemson is overrated. I know that they've got a very talented centre in PJ Hall, but I don't believe that they are good enough to win this game. UNM enters this game extremely hot. Beating BSU, CSU and SDST along the way to claim a tournament spot, they've shown how good they really can be. Clemson have lost consecutive games coming into today's 1st Round matchup. Don't be fooled with the ranks of the two teams in this one. UNM is the favorite for a reason. 

Score Prediction: 83-71 UNM 

(good until -170) 

(#745) Drake @ (#746) Washington State - 10:05pm EST 

Drake -110  

For most of these guys, it's a dream come true to be stepping out on that court with March Madness written all over the place. It's something that these guys have dreamed of, ever since they knew how to walk. Having said that, Drake isn't just here for the scenery. They want to win some ball games and I believe that they can. Led by Tucker DeVries, the Bulldogs come into the dance red hot. They've won five consecutive games, as well as 10 of their last 11. 

Looking at Washington State, they weren't supposed to be here. According to many preseason polls, this is a team that was supposed to finish near the bottom of the Pac-12. Props to them for getting here. However, WSU is starting to show that they aren't really a team that's built to win at this time of year. They've lost two of their last three, and three of their last six entering this tournament. 

I think that Washington State will struggle to keep up with how much Drake scores the ball. With a massive difference in points per game, and huge difference in shooting percentages (both favoring Drake,) I expect them to win this game. Let's not forget that Drake went into Nevada and crushed them on their home court by 19 earlier this season. WSU may have beaten Arizona twice, but they also have had some very bad losses. 

This is a top play on the #10 seeded Drake Bulldogs to win against the #7 seeded Washington State Cougars. 

Score Prediction: 77-66 Drake 

(good until -165)

(#631) UTEP @ (#632) Western Kentucky - 8:30pm EST 

Western Kentucky -155 

Yes, I lost against UTEP yesterday. Having said that, I'm against them again today. They were down 14 late in the game and have now came back from use deficits in the 2nd half in consecutive games. They will not be able to keep doing that and I believe that WKU will end their season tonight. UTEP is still just 1-5 straight up against opponents that average 77+ ppg this season (5-20 L3 seasons.)

Looking at the Hilltoppers, they were tremendous at home this year. Now, although this game isn't at home, they still should be able to cruise to a win. They've won eight of the past nine meetings between these teams including the last one back in February. 

All in all, I believe that these comeback wins are going to catch up to this “average” UTEP team. WKU's got the talent and the offensive firepower to absolutely dominate in this game. I'm willing to lay the juice and play this on the money line as a top rated selection. 

Score Prediction: 84-67 WKU 

(good until -200) 

(#867) San Diego State @ (#868) Utah State - 9:30pm EST 

San Diego State -164 

San Diego State won in overtime against UNLV last night. The Rebels were trying the best they could to find themselves a spot in March Madness but I believe that they are going to end up just short with that loss. For SDST, this is good news for them as they might be boosting their rank. With another win today, they could be in a terrific spot to build on last year's amazing performance in March. 

USU also barely survived. However, their game was against a much worse opponent than the Aztecs had to face. Fresno State really took it to the Aggies. Utah State may be ranked right now, but I don't think that they are as strong as this record suggests that they are. 

If we go by KenPom's efficiency ratings, SDST owns the significant edge on the defensive side. Both teams are strong offensively and both teams should make the Big Dance quite easily. However, San Diego State is built to win at this time of year and they are experienced. Prior to USU beating them in their last meeting, the Aztecs had won five straight. I've got SDST today. 

Score Prediction: 68-60 SDST 

(good until -210) 

(#306545) Bethune Cookman @ (#306546) Southern - 9:30pm EST 

Southern -2.5 (-110) 

Bethune Cookman won the first two matchups this season between these teams. Like I've said before, if the teams are close in talent level, I believe that winning a third time is extremely difficult. Having said that, this could be a rough game for the Wildcats as their record suggests that they aren't all that great. BCU was 0-3 straight up and against the spread during their in-season tournament games this year and very well could struggle again here in this conference tournament. 

Although Southern may have lost their two games to BCU this season, they've still looked like a very capable team. Don't get me wrong, they aren't playing their best basketball right now. However, the four full days off should give them enough time to regroup for this important matchup. 

In a smaller conference like this, only the tournament champ will move to the Big Dance. Therefore, all the marbles are on the line this weekend. Southern was 10-4 SU and 9-5 ATS as a favorite this season and I expect them to continue that trend of winning here today. This is a top play on Southern. Roll Jaguars. 

Score Prediction: 74-62 Southern 

(good until -4.5) 

(#709) Montana State @ (#710) Montana - 11:30pm EST 

Montana -6.0 (-110) 

As good as the Montana State Bobcats have looked in this tournament so far, I still don't think that they are as good as this line suggest. They struggled dearly in both meetings against Montana this season and should have trouble again tonight. 

It would be different if Montana was coming in on a losing streak. They've won four consecutive games and have been dominant versus the spread all year long. After a slow start Montana has now won 19 of their last 25 games total this season. 

This game could get ugly and ugly fast. I get that it's a rivalry game and it's difficult to beat a team three times. But neither meeting has been close so far and I don't expect this one to be either. Montana State is 1-3 against the spread in tournament games this season (incl. in season tournaments.) This is a top play on the Grizzlies to cover. 

Score Prediction: 84-67 Montana 

(good until -7.5) 

(#615) Miami Florida @ (#616) Boston College - 7:00pm EST 

Miami Florida -2.0 (-109) 

It wasn't the season that Miami FL was expecting. A lot of negative with the days counting down until the end. However, I still believe that this team is good enough to pull off a couple of upsets in this tournament. They've got the talent still and they very well should be able to win this contest. 

Boston College might hold the better overall record. Having said that, I think that it's very difficult to beat a team three times in one season. BC has struggled as they are just 4-11 straight up and 5-10 versus the spread when playing as the underdog this season. 

Don't get me wrong, taking a team that's favored after losing nine consecutive games is tough. However, I do think that Miami is the better side and they'll be able to come away with the win. It's at neither teams home and that should help their causes. Miami win this one today. 

Score Prediction: 83-68 Miami FL 

(good until -3.0) 

(#863) Arkansas State @ (#864) James Madison - 7:00pm EST 

James Madison -5.0 (-110)  

What an upset it was for the Arkansas State Red Wolves last night. They pulled off the unthinkable against a now 27-6 App State team. However, today's task is an even bigger one. Their opponent, James Madison, owns an extremely impressive 29-3 record. When they played back in February, JMU stole the show, even on the road. 

You though their football season was impressive? This basketball season might be even more impressive. James Madison has been lights out this season. It's been 12 consecutive wins now for the Dukes, including two of those coming in the tournament so far. JMU is 6-2 straight up and verses the spread against opponents with a winning record this year. 

Let's talk about the first meeting again. Although JMU only won by four, it was @ARST. Having said that, I think that Arkansas State will struggle away from home today. It's going to be an offensive clinic from the Dukes today and you better make sure you're on the right side of it. 

Score Prediction: 86-71 JMU 

(good until -7.0) 

(#837) Nebraska Omaha @ (#838) North Dakota - 9:30pm EST 

North Dakota -1.5 (-110) 

Although they split the season series, Nebraska Omaha did not look very strong in the last meeting. That last matchup was about a month ago now and in that game they gave up nearly 100 points. That's been a problem for the Mavericks all year long as they rank 293rd via. KenPom in defensive efficiency. Nebraska Omaha is also just 4-7 versus the spread this season after allowing 80+ in their last game. 

Looking at North Dakota, they are coming off a huge blowout win against their rivals in South Dakota, which should give them plenty of confidence entering the conference tournament. Yes, S-Dakota isn't very good. However, one win is all it takes for momentum in this game. North Dakota is 6-3 against the spread when scoring 80+ in their last game. They've also been excellent against the spread in March in the past. 

Knowing that this game is not at either teams home, this line is respectable. However, I firmly believe that the Fighting Hawks are the much better side and should win this game quite easily. Omaha is also on a two game losing streak coming in. This is a max play on North Dakota. 

Score Prediction: 86-71 North Dakota 

(good until -4.5) 

(#705) Connecticut @ (#706) Providence - 8:00pm EST 

Providence +10.0 (-110) 

It's hard to play against the defending NCAA champions of last year. Especially with how good they've been this year as well. However, I believe that they have a “one seed” locked up already and shouldn't care nearly as much about this game than they will in the conference tournament. 

Providence is in “must-win” mode. They are the definition of a bubble team right now and a win here could boost their case tremendously. Don't act like this team isn't any good either. They are 14-3 at home this season, with quality wins over Creighton, Marquette and Wisconsin. The Friars are also 45-6 at home over the past three seasons. 

It's just too hard to imagine Providence losing consecutive home games by double digits with how good they've been at home over the past years. Yes, UCONN is really good. But, all three of their losses came on the road and they failed to even win by double digits in the first meeting when they were at home. I'll take the points here with Providence. 

Score Prediction: 75-69 Providence 

(good until +8.0) 

(#306603) Gardner Webb @ (#306604) NC Asheville - 2:30pm EST 

NC Asheville -144 

Gardner Webb may have beaten the defending champs in both games during the regular season. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs of GW still are the underdogs in this game. That means something. To my concern, it means that they aren't the better side. They are one of the worst FT shooting teams in the nation which will come back to haunt them in this game today. 

Like previously mentioned, UNC Asheville are the defending champs of the Big South. Led by Drew Pember, this team very well could go back to back. This game might not be at either home, but I'm confident in the Bulldogs of NC Asheville to revenge both losses here today. 

UNC Asheville are the higher seed and come in with confidence despite losing both matchups between these teams. They've won consecutive games now leading into this big time game. It's win or go home for both teams, and I'm riding big on the defending Big South Champions. 

Score Prediction: 82-73 NC Asheville 

(good until -175) 

(#637) Creighton @ (#638) Villanova - 2:30pm EST 

 Villanova +1.5 (-109) 

As good as Creighton has been this season, conference road games (especially in the Big East) seem to get the best of teams down the stretch. Creighton is a very talented team, with tons of shooting. However, when their shots aren't dropping, they can struggle. Villnova held to to just 66 on their own home court the last time these teams played. Not to mention that game went to overtime as well. 

Villanova is in “must-win” mode right now. The metrics and strength of schedule is in their favor. However, they need this win more than anything as one of the “Last Four In” right now according to many. A win here would more than likely solidify their spot in the Big Dance, even if they lose in the Big East Tourney. The Wildcats have been great at home, but you'd expect even better numbers from a team like this. 

Both teams can look tremendous on their day. Today, I believe it will be the Wildcats who take control early and never look back. If they can beat ‘em on the road, they can beat ’em again in a must win at home. This is a top play on Villanova on Saturday. 

Score Prediction: 72-64 Villanova 

(good until -1.0) 

(#749) Seattle U @ (#750) Abilene Christian - 8:00pm EST 

Abilene Christian +2.0 (-110) 

Seattle may have the better record. They may be the better overall team. However, I don't believe that Seattle will have the same success that they did in the first matchup between these teams. The Redhawks are only 4-7 straight up on the road this season and they just got embarrassed in their last game against Texas-Arlington. 

Looking at Abilene Christian, they are hot right now. As a matter of fact, they've won and covered the spread in six consecutive games. Although their record might not be amazing quite yet, I believe that this team could make some noise in the WAC conference tournament. They are hot at the right time and this team gets to the free throw line a lot. That matters a lot, especially in late close games like this one is expected to be. 

The Wildcats are looking for revenge after getting humiliated in the first meeting. They've been very good at home over the years and I believe that they are good enough to win this game by a lot. Remember, ACU just beat Grand Canyon a couple of weeks ago on this court. Expect a Wildcats win on Wednesday. 

Score Prediction: 76-68 ACU 

(good until -1.0) 

(#659) Old Dominion @ (#660) Texas State - 8:30pm EST 

Texas State -150 

As bad as Old Dominion has been this season, this line should not be this low. The Monarchs were not only poor on the road, but they were quite bad at home as well. On a neutral site, this should prove to be too tough for ODU. 

On the flip side of things, Texas State finished the year off with three consecutive wins. One of those wins came against a very solid team in Troy. That should give them plenty of confidence heading into the first conference tournament game for each team. 

These two teams did not play in the “regular season” and their last meeting was last year, when the Bobcats held ODU to just 36 total points in a blowout. TXST's defense should be able to contain the Monarchs offense once again and that should be enough to see the Bobcats into the next round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. 

Score Prediction: 76-59 TXST 

(good until -190) 

(#711) Iowa @ (#712) Northwestern - 5:30pm EST 

Northwestern -155 

Although Iowa have played some very solid basketball recently, they shouldn't be able to win this game on the road. The Hawkeyes only own a 3-8 road record this season and this is the Big Ten we're talking about. Iowa has also been pretty poor against the spread this season - which would also give them another loss if Northwestern were to win this game. 

Talking about the Wildcats, they've been stellar all year at home with their dominant 14-1 record. They've now won three consecutive games (two of them on the road,) which should give them plenty of motivation to keep their streak alive on Saturday. When the season gets older, there's nothing better than finishing the season off strongly on your home court and Northwestern only have two more games left here. 

Considering that this is the first meeting this year between these teams, I believe that we will see a very strong performance from the home side. Iowa is just 3-5 this season in their next game directly off beating a conference opponent. This is a top play on Northwestern, just to win. 

Score Prediction: 84-71 Northwestern 

(good until -200) 

(#619) Illinois @ (#620) Wisconsin - 1:00pm EST 

Wisconsin -3.0 (-110) 

It's been a great season for the Fighting Illini so far as they currently own the #13 rank in the country heading into March. However, this team is slowly starting to fatigue each and every game. That's what happens to many teams when they play with only 6/7/8 max players each and every game of the season. These road games to finish the year against tough conference opponents are always tough, especially in a division like this. 

It's been a struggle as of late as well for Wisconsin, but they should be hungry to close out the season well as well. Although they have had losses coming left and right recently, the Badgers have still done an excellent job on their home court this season with their outstanding 13-2 record. Wisconsin is very deep, and can kill you in many different ways. 

Don't be fooled by recent history between these teams either. Illinois may have won the last six meetings, but the Illini have been very poor when trying to cover the spread in March lately. As a matter of fact, they've only covered in one of their last ten March games. Look for the Badgers to pick up an extremely important win on Saturday. 

Score Prediction: 81-71 Wisconsin 

(good until -4.5) 

(#745) South Carolina @ (#746) Texas A&M - 8:30pm EST 

Texas A&M -5.0 (-110) 

As good as the Gamecocks have been this season, they are simply not as good as everyone thinks. All of their stats this season probably tells you that they've been a team to bet on, which is true. However, it's about time for them to fall off considerably. Other teams are starting to get hot and they are in one of, if not the toughest conference in the nation. Don't forget that SC was predicted to finish near the bottom of the conference at the beginning of the year. 

The Aggies should enter with confidence after beating SC by 41 on the road in the first meeting this year. It was one of Texas A&M's best performances and that should help them bring their A-Game once again here. This time though, they are at home where mostly every team is better. I know that they've lost four games in a row, but the Aggies are the better side here and I don't see them losing a fifth straight. 

Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding. This is what the Aggies are made of. They lead the country in offensive rebounds per game and are third in total rebounds. South Carolina struggled with that enormously in the first matchup. As a matter of fact, it's one of the biggest differences you'll ever see. A&M had 46 rebounds (26 offensive) in that game. Guess how many SC had. 16 total. That's embarrassing. A&M wins this one big again. 

Score Prediction: 76-64 Texas A&M 

(good until -6.0) 

(#681) Alabama @ (#682) Kentucky - 4:00pm EST 

 Kentucky -145 

This should be a very good matchup. Alabama won the first meeting when they were at home by a lot. However, they've had their share of losses on the road this season, despite having a winning road record. Having said that, I don't believe that they'll have what it takes to knock off the Wildcats for the second straight time this season. This is too big of a test for such a different team from last year. 

Kentucky may have had their struggles this season. However, they looked very strong in their last game against LSU in that comeback that resulted in a buzzer beating loss. I had UK in that game, and I'm going to be all over them for the rest of the season. The offense is very strong, but their defense has shown it's weaknesses. However, I believe that this home court advantage will help the Wildcats a lot here today. 

Revenge is a big word in the sport of college basketball. These teams are completely different from when they met the first time this season. With how big this game is for seeding in the SEC conference tournament, I'm leaning to the home team, and a team that I expect to go far in the dance. 

Score Prediction: 87-79 UK. 

(good until -170) 

(#721) Kentucky @ (#722) LSU - 9:00pm EST 

Kentucky -6.5 (-110) 

The Wildcats looked like the best team in the country in their last win against Auburn (on the road.) This one should be much easier for Kentucky as the Tigers of LSU are most definitely not as good as the Tigers of Auburn. With just six games remaining in the so called “regular season," Kentucky has the chance to jump up in the SEC standings significantly before the conference tournament. Therefore, a win here against a very winnable opponent would be huge. 

Looking at LSU, it's been a rough season for them. It's not something you'd expect from a team that was so strong just a couple of seasons ago. Don't get me wrong, their home record is very solid. However, Kentucky's road record is even more impressive. The Tigers are coming off a gruelling win against South Carolina and I don't see them pulling off consecutive upsets. 

UK has been great against the spread while LSU has been sub-par. The Wildcats are simply the better team and should be able to win this game quite comfortably in the end. I expect big things from Kentucky in both tournaments to finish the season. This is a max play on the Wildcats on Wednesday. 

Score Prediction: 94-78 Kentucky

(good until -8.0) 

(#807) Portland @ (#808) Pepperdine - 10:00pm EST 

Pepperdine -5.5 (-110) 

I've said this before and I'm going to say it again. Portland's not the team they were last season. As a matter of fact, I've taken against Portland twice this season, and both were *easy* winners. On the road, it's been a disaster for the Pilots. They've been blown out a bunch and can't seem to string any wins together having lost three consecutive games. 

Pepperdine lost to Portland on the road this year. However, they dominate Portland at home (6-1 over their last seven meetings.) The Waves might not be as strong as the other teams in the conference, but they are more than capable of beating a team like the Pilots. 

Having said all of that, I just don't see Portland winning both games against Pepperdine. They simply aren't as talented and the Waves actually have a solid offense. It should be higher scoring than the average college basketball game, but this is a top play on Pepperdine to revenge their road loss to these guys earlier in February. 

Score Prediction: 87-69 Pepperdine 

(good until -8.5) 

(#661) Massachusetts @ (#662) Richmond - 7:00pm EST 

4% // Richmond -170 - Consensus Line

UMASS' 15-8 record is pretty impressive considering that they are only 1-5 on the road this season. This is a very fast paced team that likes to get the ball and run. Having said that, they might have some trouble doing just that against a very formidable defense that's currently ranked 26th in defensive efficiency via. KenPom. 

Talking about the Spiders defense and how good they are, this team only gave up 38 points in their last meeting back in March. Richmond has been perfect on their home-court this season, winning each of their 12 tests so far. Now, even though their offense isn't considered “elite," they've got a guy named Jordan King. If you haven't watched King play, you're in for a treat. 

The Minutemen have just an “average” defense which might be trouble for them. Richmond will most likely dictate the tempo of this game as they do very often and that should favor them very much. With just one loss over their last eleven games this season, Richmond is the play here. 

Score Prediction: 81-71 RICH 

(good until -200)

(#825) Arizona @ (#826) Colorado - 10:00pm EST 

Arizona +2.0 (-110) 

It's as simple as this. I don't care that the Arizona Wildcats played in a triple overtime game on Thursday and barely survived. These guys are 18-22yr olds playing at top level fitness. They'll be fully ready to go for this game against Colorado and you can be sure they are going to want it more than anything to make it five consecutive wins. 

Colorado have been good, don't get me wrong. However, this will be their first massive test at home. Prior to winning their last game, the Buffaloes had lost consecutive games. Both these teams have proven that they are dominant at home, but I don't believe that the Buffaloes will stay perfect in that category. 

In their last three meetings, Arizona have dominated, winning all of them by double digits. Colorado won't be ready for this explosive team that can hurt you in many different ways. Caleb Love should be a big factor in this game as I see him taking over. This is a top play on Arizona cover the spread and win. 

Score Prediction: 91-75 Arizona 

(good until -1.5) 

(#813) Saint Marys CA @ (#814) Portland - 8:30pm EST 

Saint Marys CA -17.5 (-115) 

I've been extremely impressed with this Saint Mary's teams this season. They've continued to look great both at home and on the road. As a matter of fact, they've yet to lose a single road game this season. It's been dominating performance after dominating performance for the Gaels and I don't see them stopping that for this game against a very poor Portland team. 

Speaking of Portland, they can't seem to find a groove. They are definitely worse than last years team, and have already been blown out a plentiful amount of times this season. In their meeting against SMC earlier in the year the Pilots were only able to score 52 points in a 95-52 blowout loss. 

That makes it five consecutive games now that the Gaels have covered double digits spreads against this Portland side. It's true that the Pilots have been better on their home court. However, we've already seen the skill gap between this teams and this one could get ugly real fast. This is a top rated play on the Saint Mary's CA Gaels to cover the big spread on Saturday evening. 

Score Prediction: 93-58 SMC 

(good until -18.5) 

(#845) UT Arlington @ (#846) California Baptist - 10:00pm EST 

California Baptist -160 

Off consecutive road wins, Texas-Arlington is now 2-9 away from home this season. That still isn't a very good record considering that the WAC isn't necessarily all that strong. Despite the fact that the Mavericks have been excellent against the spread this year, we're talking about just winning this game. UT Arlington is only 1-9 SU as an underdog this season. 

Cal Baptist lost in their last game, but had won five straight prior to that. They are hungry and ready to bounce back after just their fourth home loss of the season (in 13 games.) The Lancers have been great in school history on their home-court and should keep that up with a win here today. 

These teams have only met once and the Lancers were able to take the win both SU and ATS. UT Arlington may have a solid defense, but I'll give the edge to the home team on the defensive side of the ball. It should be a lower scoring game, but this play is on Cal Baptist to win this game. 

Score Prediction: 72-63 CBU 

(good until -190) 

(#727) James Madison @ (#728) Arkansas State - 8:00pm EST 

James Madison -4.5 (-110) 

The Dukes continue to turn heads across the college basketball world with their very impressive 20-3 record. They've won both at home and on the road and continue to be a threat to any team put in front of them. They've also been highly successful against the spread this year, nearly as their wins nearly double the losses ATS. Having never played Arkansas State before, the record alone should strike some fear in their opponents. 

Talking about Arkansas State, their record isn't anything impressive. I do believe that they are better than they've played, but it hasn't come yet and time is running out. The Wolves are off consecutive wins, but this proves to be a bigger test as they've struggled against the top teams that they've played so far this season. 

Simply said, JMU is by far the better side and home-court advantage shouldn't play a huge role in this game. The Dukes play at a fast tempo and should be able to confuse the Wolves as they do to a lot of teams. This is a 5% max selection on James Madison to cover the small spread on the road. 

Score Prediction: 91-74 JMU 

(good until -7.5) 

(#641) Iowa State @ (#642) Texas - 8:00pm EST 

Texas -130  

Iowa State pulled off a miracle comeback in their last game against Baylor, just come come up short in their last game. That should take a lot out of them, especially having battled that hard. Now, they are on the road once again against a Texas team that is much better than their record suggests. 

The Longhorns are not playing as well as I expected. Having said that, I believe that they are ready to turn it up a notch. They just beat TCU on the road by double digits, which should give them momentum into this game. Texas beat this ISU team by 18 last year on this very court. 

As a matter of fact, the Longhorns have won eight consecutive meetings between these two teams on their home-court (14 of the last 15 as well.) Don't be fooled when you see the seven loses that TEX owns. It hasn't been pretty, but I think Texas will make a big run and end up in good positioning come the Big Dance. 

Score Prediction: 76-67 Texas 

(good until -160) 

(#789) Iowa State @ (#790) Baylor - 8:00pm EST 

5% // Baylor -3.5 (-110) - FanDuel

Iowa State have been very impressive to start the season. Picked by many to be middle of the pack in the Big12, the Cyclones sit in 2nd in the conference at the moment. ISU have been perfect on their home-court, but have shown signs of weakness away from home this season. As a matter of fact, they are just 3-4 on the road or on a neutral court this season. The Cyclones have also been a lot worse than Baylor beyond the 3pt arc this year. 

Talking about three's, the Bears have shot the ball at higher than 40% from three this year. They are averaging the 16th most points per game in the country and have one of the best offenses in the nation. The one game that Baylor has lost at home came very recently, and I do not expect them to lose consecutive games on this court. 

Both of these teams have been very similar so far this season. However, this is one of the toughest conferences to win on the road as there is so much talent. I've already won a big play on a rare occasion with Houston on the road against BYU. Having said that, I think that this is Bears team is hungry to get back on a winning streak having dropped three in a row, each game by less than five points. This is a max play on Baylor to cover the small spread. 

Score Prediction: 83-69 Baylor 

(good until -5.5) 

(#691) Richmond @ (#692) Fordham - 7:00pm EST 

Richmond -130 

It was a pretty poor start for the Richmond Spiders as they began the year just 5-5. Since then (December 16th,) they've won 10 consecutive games en route to their 15-5 record. They are currently sitting in 1st place in the A10 conference and the Spiders look to keep their perfect conference record in tact for this game against Fordham. 

The Rams of Fordham are struggling right now. They didn't exactly have the same expectations that the Spiders did at the beginning of the year, but they still were looking for a better start than 9-11. In their last 20 meetings with Richmond dating back to 2008, the Rams have won just one of those games. The other 19 have all been at least 2-pt wins by the Spiders. 

Ranking significantly higher in offensive and defensive efficiency (via. KenPom,) I'm surprised that Richmond isn't a bigger favorite. Being at home hasn't been particularly kind to Fordham as they bring in a 4-7 record on this court. Richmond is simply the better team. The play is on them to win this game by more than a bucket. 

Score Prediction: 76-62 Richmond 

(good until -160) 

(#763) La Salle @ (#764) George Washington - 6:00pm EST 

George Washington -5.5 (-110) 

Off four consecutive defeats, the Explorers of La Salle's now just one win away from a 10-10 record. Road games haven't been friendly for them as they are only 2-5 this season in those games. Losing this many games in a row, La Salle sees themselves near the bottom of the A10 right now (1-5 conference record.) 

Their opponent, the Revolutionaries, have also lost consecutive games. However, they still own a fantastic 14-5 overall record on the season (3-3 conference play → 6th of 15.) Owning an 11-1 home record, they should be the favorite and they are in this game. George Washington is one of the best scoring teams this year as they are averaging 81.4 points per game (36th in the country.) 

With the heavy scoring advantage, and home court, I think that the Revolutionaries should be favored by quite a bit more than they are in this game. They are simply better all around and should win this game by double digits. This is a top rated selection on George Washington. 

Score Prediction: 87-72 GW 

(good until -7.0) 

(#787) Florida Intl @ (#788) Western Kentucky - 8:00pm EST 

Western Kentucky -5.5 (-110)

We are now past the midway point in the college hoops season and the Panthers of FIU still haven't really found their identity. They are coming off another road loss, which now makes them 1-9 away from home this season (1-6 on the road.) Florida International have also been quite bad at covering the spread on the road as they are 10-22 over the past three seasons (2-5 this season.) 

Western Kentucky's offense may not be considered as top tier, but they can score the bucket. Leading the entire nation in adjusted tempo (via. Kenpom,) the Hilltoppers score a lot of points even with their below average 3pt shooting. Having said that, they are extremely strong on the defensive end which has led to their 13-6 record so far this season. Home advantage has also been key for WKU as they've yet to lose a single game at home this season (8-0.) 

Having lost consecutive games in a row, the Hilltoppers are in need for a win. I don't believe that FIU will have the offense to outscore this WKU team and therefore this should be the perfect chance for Western Kentucky to bounce back. The Hilltoppers have won each of the last four meetings at home against FIU by double digits. Look for that to happen again on Thursday. This is a MAX 5% PLAY on Western Kentucky against the spread. 

Score Prediction: 92-75 WKU 

(good until -8.5) 

Houston -2.0 

Something that is often said around the college basketball world is that teams struggle on the road. Well, that is true. However, in some circumstances, home/road doesn't really matter. Houston hasn't been great on the road (1-2,) but they've shown what they are capable of and I expect them to prove themselves once again today. Like advertised, Houston has been a step ahead of everybody on the defensive side of the ball and we should see that again against a conference opponent in BYU.

Talking about Brigham Young University, they have slightly over-performed so far this season (in my eyes.) Don't get me wrong, these guys are very solid. Nonetheless, they aren't nearly as talented as their opponent. BYU is coming off a loss against Texas Tech on Saturday where they allowed 85 points. They will continue to struggle greatly against Houston if they give up even close to that number again.

Both of these teams are ranked so it should be a battle. Houston's been slightly disrespected in my eyes as I believe that they are better than the #5 team right now. Expect Houston to make a statement with a big road win here on Tuesday. I simply just don't see BYU having the fight and tenacity to win this game. Therefore this play is on Houston to cover the small spread.

Score Prediction: 74-62 Houston
(good until -4.0)

(#773) Portland @ (#774) Santa Clara - 7:00pm EST 

Santa Clara -11.0 (-110) 

Having watched a lot of the Portland Pilots this season, this spread seems a bit off. Portland just doesn't really have it this year and have been crushed in consecutive games now. Defensively, the Pilots have been a disaster (especially on the road.) In fact, they've allowed an average of 84.7 points per game in seven road games this season. 

That's not a number you want to see when Santa Clara is looking very good at the moment. Despite losing to Saint Mary's, the Broncos have won four of their last five games, three of those wins being on the road (more impressive.) Having mentioned that, I believe that they'll have no problem taking care of business at home against a weak opponent in Portland.  

In their last fifteen meetings with each other, Portland has failed to win a single one (last win was in 2015.) That's straight up embarrassing if you ask me. Santa Clara is looking to do damage this year and Portland is just one slight obstacle in the way. It shouldn't slow them down and the Broncos should improved to 14-7. This is a top play on Santa Clara. 

Score Prediction: 91-67 Santa Clara 

(good until -13.0)

(#831) Hawaii @ (#832) Long Beach State - 10:00pm EST 

Long Beach State -145 

Other than the fact that they are coming off a win, Hawaii hasn't really looked like anything special this season. They don't score many points per game and they struggle in games as an underdog (0-3 this season so far.) They are also just 1-7 against opponents with winning records. 

Long Beach State should benefit greatly by being back home in this game. They are coming off consecutive defeats which has dropped their record to 11-7. They were without their top scorer in Marcus Tsohonis in their last game, due to an undisclosed issue. However, I expect him back for this game. 

Even if Tsohonis doesn't play, LBSU will rely more on the Traore's to score their points. The offense of LBSU will be enough to pull away in the later stages of this game and I expect them to be too much for the Rainbow Warriors. Hawaii may have a good defense, but that won't help if they can't make shots. This is a top play on the 49ers who are looking to rebound big time. 

Score Prediction: 81-71 LBSU. 

(good until -175) 

(#719) West Virginia @ (#720) Oklahoma - 8:00pm EST 

Oklahoma -12.5 (-110) 

West Virginia shocked the world after upsetting the Texas Longhorns in their last game. They are now still just 6-10 and nobody expected that whatsoever. Having played just “one” game on the road, and three neutral site games, this will be their first road test. Having said that, they haven't won a single one of those games played that weren't at home over the course of this season. 

Coming off consecutive defeats, the Sooners look to bounce back here. Both of those games were on the road and both were against very strong opponents in TCU & Kansas. Now, back at home where they are an outstandingly perfect 10-0, I expect another big win from OU. They are simply much better on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. 

The Mountaineers might be without the guy that dropped 16 against Texas for this game as he's fallen ill. They also still won't have Jesse Edwards back who has averaged nearly 15 a game this season. Oklahoma should be able to capitalize and take advantage of the much smaller team here. 

Score Prediction: 86-64 OU. 

(good until -14.0) 

(#843) Utah @ (#844) Stanford - 5:00pm EST 

Stanford +3.0 (-110) 

After having started out so well, the Utes have came back to earth. They've lost two of their last three games, and now own a 12-4 record. Utah relies on their big 7footer in Branden Carlson. He will have a tough matchup against another 7footer in Maxime Raynaud for Stanford. I believe that Utah won't be able to score their normal amount of points with how the matchups aline here. 

Although they have just a 8-7 record, the Cardinal's have actually turned it up a notch over the past few games, They are off a road OT win against Oregon St which should boost their confidence a ton. They also hammered the 4th best team in the country by 18 just two weeks ago. 

At home, this Stanford group is a completely different team. They play very sound basketball and have five guys that average north of 10 points a game. For the Utes, they only have two of those guys. Getting a couple of points at home makes this play bigger than the average selection. This is a top play on Stanford ATS. 

Score Prediction: 88-75 Stanford. 

(good until +1.0) 

(#649) Xavier @ (#650) Providence - 1:00pm EST 

Providence -150 

It's been a rough start to the season for the Musketeers. In fact, they currently own the second worst overall record in the Big East Conference. That's rough considering how big of a named school they are and have been in previous years. The record is only 7-8. 

Looking at the home team, Providence has been shaky over the past few games as well. Having lost three consecutive games, one might think that their confidence has dropped. However, this team is still an incredible 41-4 over their last 45 home games. Oh, and they've won 20 consecutive games against teams with a losing record - [*20-0 system.]

Despite being ranked above Providence in KenPom, I believe that the Friars are the better side. They've looked better this season and the Musketeers are having to play without some of their better players. I've got Providence making it 21 straight against opponents with a record less than .500. 

Score Prediction: 79-69 Providence. 

(good until -190) 

(#306521) Jacksonville @ (#306522) Stetson - 2:00pm EST 

 Stetson -6.5 (-110) 

Jacksonville owns a 9-6 record and have actually been solid to start the new season. However, they've had quite an easy opening schedule, only having to play a few power five schools. Looking at them as a team, they struggle offensively and defensively. I don't believe that they'll have the fire power to outscore the Hatters on Saturday. 

The home side also owns a 9-6 record and they've been good. Their offense is what stands out as they rank in the top 85 in offensively efficiency on KenPom. I've got them finishing with a solid record and maybe even challenging for a conference title/march madness appearance. 

Neither team is exceptional, but Stetson is by far the better team. Being at home will help them drastically and they should be able to win this game by double digits. Expect a great performance on both sides of the basketball. 

Score Prediction: 87-71 Stetson. 

(good until -7.0) 

(#725) Idaho State @ (#726) Denver - 9:30pm EST 

Denver -8.0 (-115)

Idaho State just hasn't really gotten anything going this season. Overall, they are 4-9 and have now lost five consecutive games. They are simply under-par and should be a team to avoid this season. The Bengals are also just 1-6 on the road this season in seven games. 

On the flip side of things, the Pioneers are looking for a bounce back performance after losing to Oral Roberts in overtime in their last game. This will be their first game of 2024 and it should be one that they come away victorious in. Denver is 5-1 at home and they are also 6-5 ats on the year. 

Look for Denver to explode out of the gate to an early lead and cruise to an easy double digit win. They are the better team with the more athletic guys. With that being said, this is a top rated play on the Denver Pioneers to win on Wednesday. 

Score Prediction: 87-69 Denver. 

(good until -10.0) 

(#613) Seton Hall @ (#614) Xavier - 2:00pm EST 

Xavier -165

Seton Hall has been strong this year and could make a run in the Big East tournament. They are coming off one of the biggest upset wins of the year with a win against UCONN and should be ready for this game. However, I believe that, that last win might cause them to be a bit overconfident for this matchup against an underrated Xavier side. 

The Musketeers haven't had the best of starts, but they are still definitely a good basketball team. In fact, they rank more than ten spots ahead of Seton Hall in KenPom's rankings despite having the worse record. As we are now in conference play for a lot of these conferences, being at home is extremely important. 

Having said that, Xavier should be ready for this game on their home court. This is a big game for them as they don't want to drop below .500. Their defense should be able to contain Seton Hall a lot more than some of the teams that the Pirates have played this year. The play is on Xavier to win this game at home. 

Score Prediction: 83-70 Xavier. 

(good until -200) 

(#687) North Carolina @ (#688) Oklahoma - 9:00pm EST 

North Carolina -140 

Like they do every single season, the Tar Heels had big expectations entering this campaign. Although they haven't been perfect by any means, I'm sure they'll be fine with the start they have had (though they probably think they could've won an extra game or two.) Losing Caleb Love to Arizona was tough, but this team is very strong still, and very big still. 

To some, it's surprising to see that Oklahoma is still undefeated. They've been very good throughout the start of the season, but have yet to play really anybody incredible. USC when they weren't fully healthy and Providence have been their toughest matchups and everyone knows that they are due for a loss soon. 

I believe that the Tar Heels are the better team in this matchup. This game will be played at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, which will lead to more UNC fans being in the building. UNC will take down the Sooners on Wednesday evening. 

Score Prediction: 86-74 UNC. 

(good until -170) 

(#733) North Texas @ (#734) Mississippi State - 4:00pm EST 

Mississippi State -6.5 (-110)

North Texas is better than people realize. But, they still aren't as good as these top teams like Mississippi State. The Mean Green have now lost consecutive games and have dug themselves into a bit of a hole in the AAC. On the road, they've struggled having won just one of their three games. 

The Bulldogs are quite dominant on the defensive side this season. They've got two losses that could've been easily avoided, but have gotten passed those speed bumps now, Last time out, they survived an epic battle against Murray State which should give them plenty of confidence for the future. 

Now we all know that the SEC is king in college football. Well, the SEC is definitely up there in the college basketball world as well. Mississippi State should be among the best in the conference at the end of the year and a win here against a very strong AAC team would go a very long way. They should get the job done. 

Score Prediction: 73-60 MSST. 

(good until -6.5) 

(#601) LSU @ (#602) Texas - 12:00pm EST 

Texas -6.5 (-115) 

As we are getting closer to Christmas, everyone has a pretty strong idea of who's good and who's bad now in college basketball. Watching the Tigers so far this season, I have not been very impressed with how they've played and matched up against the stronger teams. As a matter of fact, they've gotten blown out by Syracuse as well as Kansas State, both teams of which I believe Texas is better. 

The Longhorns have lost twice this season, but both come against very strong teams in Marquette and UCONN. Texas is very strong, despite losing some of it's key players from last season. They've now got Max Abmas, who simply is a bucket getting. Dylan Disu, one of their better players from last season, has yet to play a game this season as he's dealing with a foot injury. However, there is an outside shot that he might be ready for this game. 

Though Texas would definitely be a better team with Disu in action, they will be just fine without him, as they have been all year. LSU is just not the same team that they have been over the past few season's and Texas is ready to break through and start a long winning streak. This top play is on the Longhorns to cover the spread at home. 

Score Prediction: 83-66 Texas. 

(good until -8.0) 

(#699) Cincinnati @ (#700) Xavier - 6:30pm EST 

Xavier +1.0 (-110) 

Cincinnati's record looks impressive, and there's no doubt about that. To stay perfect up until this point is something to be excited about. However, if you look at their schedule, you'll find that they've played practically nobody. The best team they have played so far is a 4-3 Georgia Tech side that's ranked #125 in KenPom. 

Xavier hasn't been stellar this year, as they bring in just a 4-5 record. But, unlike the Bearcats, the Musketeers have actually played some very tough competition. Those include teams like Purdue, Washington, Houston & Saint Mary's. Don't get me wrong, they are coming off a terrible loss against Delaware. I expect them to rebound here in a massive way though as they look to get back to .500. 

In recent meetings between the two sides, Xavier has dominated. They've won four consecutive encounters as well as eight of the past ten & 19 of the 28 total meetings. Even with the poor early season record, I believe that the Musketeers are better than people realize. This is the perfect spot to rebound and win this big game against a big time opponent. 

Score Prediction: 83-72 Xavier. 

(good until -3.0) 

(#306589) Tex A&M Commerce @ (#306590) SMU - 3:00pm EST 

SMU -16.5 (-110)

Texas A&M Commerce has surprisingly won four games already this season. Those four wins have came recently as well having just lost one of their last five games. However, those came against very weak opponents. When they've played any sort of competition so far, they've lost by at least double digits. 

SMU is a very underrated team. They crash the offensive board with authority and look for quick transition buckets to help add to their point totals. That's crucial in a game like this where they should be leading throughout. I expect them to get a lead early and keep extending it as the game goes on. 

This is simply a mismatch. The Mustangs are faster, stronger, and more athletic. Being at home, they should be able to bounce back and dominate in this game after losing last time out. The play is on SMU to win big. 

Score Prediction: 81-56 SMU. 

(good until -17.5)