CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The timing is right with UConn hitting the road off a No. 1 seed-clinching home win over Marquette, especially since they own a dismal 0-5 ATS record in the Last Game of the Season versus .600 or greater foes. Not so for Providence, who is 11-2 SU in Last Home Games, including 4-1 SUATS the last five contests. The Friars have been a strong underdog this season, going 9-3 ATS, including 3-0 ATS at home, and they just so happen to own a perfect 5-0 SUATS mark as a dog of more than 1-point in Last Home Games. With Providence primed to get even with the Huskies for a 9-point loss on the last day of January, finally Providence is 10-1 SUATS as a home dog since 2021, including 4-0 SUATS versus .800 or greater foes; and 4-0 SUATS when seeking revenge

Rating: 3 Units

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (18-12, 10-9 ACC) have carved a niche in the Atlantic Coast with dynamic play. The defeat to Georgia Tech in the last outing demonstrated the team's fighting spirit, despite the unexpected setback at home. With an offense that averages 78.6 points per game, Wake Forest slightly edges out Clemson in scoring. The Demon Deacons excel in shooting efficiency, boasting a 47.5% field goal percentage and an impressive 37.4% from three-point range. Free-throw shooting is among the best in the country, with an 80.0% success rate, showcasing the ability to capitalize on all scoring opportunities.

Rating: 2 Units

The Louisville Cardinals are playing for nothing more than pride and the chance to build some momentum heading into Tuesday's opening-round matchup in the ACC. The Cardinals fell to Virginia Tech at home on Tuesday night, 84-60. The loss ensures the Cardinals the 15th seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament and a date with the 10th seed. On Tuesday night, the Cardinals gave up 13 3-point field goals to fall behind early and never fully recovered. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield led the Cards with 19 points while Mike James chipped in with 16.

Rating: 2 Units

The Oregon State Beavers picked up a huge upset win on Thursday night, picking up a 92-85 win over Utah on the road. Jordan Pope had a huge night with 25 points in 7-of-13 shooting while going 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Tyler Bilodeau also had a big night with 20 points and six rebounds. Dexter Akanno rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Beavers with 18 points. As a team, the Beavers shot 51 percent from the floor overall and over 40 percent from the line.

Rating: 3 Units

SC has been quite the surprise this season, going from 11-21 / 4-14 last year to 24-6 / 12-5 this campaign. Meanwhile, Mississippi State sits in mid-pack with an 8-9 conference ledger and a loss here tags head coach Chris Jans with his second straight 8-10 effort in two seasons in Starkville. Even so, we’ve got some good stuff in our corner with the Bulldogs today. For openers, MSU is 27-12- ATS at home coming off a previous home loss, including 22-6-1 against foes that are not coming off a loss of more than 7 points. Next, it’s Senior Day at The Hump, and with five starters who returned from last year’s squad being honored, the cowbells should be at full volume. And finally, there’s a matter of revenge, as the Bulldogs look to even the score for a 68-62 defeat in Columbia back on January 6. All of this leads to max value on this payback rematch, in addition the Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS with revenge in this series.

Rating: 2 Units

Missouri State is playing for the second straight day here as they take the floor looking to advance to the semifinals. The problem for the Bears, other than potential fatigue, is that they have to deal with an Indiana State team that can pile up points in a hurry. We’ve seen Indiana State do a ton of damage on the offensive end as they are deadly inside the arc, from the perimeter and at the charity stripe. While the Bears put up a stellar defensive showing in their win over Murray State, expecting them to slow down the Sycamores the way they handcuffed the Racers is foolhardy. Look for Indiana State to take care of business and punch their ticket to the semifinals with a win here.

Rating: 2 Units

Sitting way back on the ‘Bubble’, the 14-win Bruins (at press time) need every win they can muster, and one or two against ranked foes like the Wildcats. At least UCLA is 9-3 ATS as a dog this season, including 7-1 ATS in Pac12 contests, plus Mick Cronin’s crew is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as a home dog. There’s also a revenge factor at work here in favor of the Bruins: Arizona edged UCLA at home earlier this season, and the desert Cats are a flimsy 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS the last six games in the series when UCLA has same-season revenge. Yep, we’ll be on the take tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

Iowa State is ranked No. 2 in the nation in Turnover Margin (+6.8), No. 8 in Defensive Points Per game (62.9), and No. 9 in overall Scoring Margin (+15). BYU arrives in Ames off a Saturday homer versus TCU, and the Cougars could still have their heads in the clouds following their monumental road upset of Kansas last Tuesday. The boys from Provo are 1-3 SUATS in this series, and after beating Iowa State in an earlier meeting at home, 87-82, they will likely pay the price tonight. 

Rating: 2 Units

I'm going with the better record against the spread and the home record in this one. Let's face it, Indiana is not making the NCAA Tournament unless they win the Big 10 Tourney, so this game doesn't mean a whole lot. Minnesota needs to keep winning to have a shot at an at-large bid. This is also a revenge game where Minnesota shot just 3-of-20 from 3-point range and 13-of-24 (54%) from the free-throw line in that first meeting that ended up in a 12-point loss. At home, Minnesota shoots 35.6% from the three-point line and 70% from the free throw line. Indiana struggles to defend the three-point shot (34.8%) on the road.

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Kansas stands 31-1 SU and 17-11 ATS at home off a previous home loss by an average win margin of 20.1 PPG, including 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS with same-season revenge. The No. 7 Jayhawks have the weapons to do the job again tonight, ranking No. 4 in the land in Offensive Field Goal Percentage, just a bit under 50%. That fits just right with Kansas State’s 2-5 ATS record versus revenge-seeking foes this season (Kansas lost to K-State by 5 points in early February). Consider that Kansas State is 1-14 SUATS in its series against Kansas when the Jayhawks sport a sub .770 win percentage. Finally, Kansas is 5-0 SUATS in this series when seeking revenge from a same-season loss, by an average win margin of more than 15 PPG

Rating: 2 Units

The Bears are 15-5 SUATS in this series, including 14-2 ATS when Texas sports a greater than .555 win percentage, plus they’re 11-3 SUATS in games versus sub .720 foes this season, including 4-0 SUATS in Big 12 games. Yes, the Longhorns are an 18-win squad, but they’ve been major money burners this year, going 9-18-1 ATS at press time. NOTE: Texas owned a 3-14 ATS record this season in games following a win before hosting Oklahoma State on Saturday, and if Bevo banished the Cowboys, tonight’s game becomes an even stronger play on UT. The bottom line is Baylor has the look and feel of a team ready to make a lot of noise during March Madness. It starts tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

This seems like a big spread, but Colorado dominated Stanford the last time these teams met in Colorado (February 5, 2023) when they earned a 22-point victory. In addition, not only have they defeated Stanford in eight of the last 10 meetings, but they are 5-0-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The Cardinals have lost five straight games, and they have lost each of those contests against the spread as well. The Buffaloes have not been great against the spread recently as well (2-6-0), but they have proven they can handle Stanford.

Rating: 2 Units

At first glance, this seems like a big number, but Nebraska has been taking care of business at home recently and winning by double digits. Their last three home games included an 18-point win against Minnesota, a 19-point win over Penn State and a 20-point win over Michigan. Rutgers is another unranked team playing on the road, and their 275th-ranked offense will not be able to produce much against Nebraska's 30th ranked defense. Rutgers' offense is by far the worst-ranked unit in the game, Jeremiah Williams doesn't shoot from the outside, and Omoruyi can only score around the bucket. Nebraska has four players averaging 11.9 PPG or more, they can score inside and out, especially with Tominaga on the perimeter and Mast inside. Rutgers looked good against Michigan, but so has every team in the league, in their previous game they lost by 17 to Maryland and only managed 46 points on offense. Nebraska has more to play for as they will find their way into the tournament and will win comfortably here.

Rating: 2 Units

Ohio State is heating up, motivated for revenge against their rivals, and desperate to win this game for any chance of dancing. Michigan is 2-8 on the road and amid a six-game losing streak. Each defeat during this slide came by double figures. The Wolverines allow 81.7 points per game on the road, so the Buckeyes will feast offensively. Michigan has only reached 70 points once during this losing streak. Ohio State's season average for points allowed is 69.9, so that stretch should continue. Expect the Buckeyes to beat Michigan by at least 15.

Rating: 2 Units

This should be fun, but the Crimson Tide get their revenge at home where they are 13-1. Alabama shot just 4-of-21 (19%) from beyond the arc in that first meeting. Their backcourt of Sears and Estrada shot just 11 of 21 and turned the ball over nine times combined. Expect Alabama to shoot much better considering they are at home, where they shoot 41.1% from beyond the arc. Tennessee struggles to defend the three-point shot on the road (37.2%) and will lose their first game in March.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

As we’ve alluded to previously, MSU was ranked No. 4 in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll, its highest ranking since 2020. And at 17-11 and residing in sixth place in the Big Ten entering this contest, they’ve certainly underperformed this campaign. That makes them a dangerous ‘Bubble Team’ here, playing with a double revenge chip on their shoulder from a pair of losses laid on them by the Boilermakers last season. No doubt that Purdue is one of the nation’s most talented teams and that head coach Matt Painter’s troops want to make amends for last year’s embarrassing first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament, but the Boilers are just 0-3 SUATS in this series when MSU is seeking double revenge from the previous season. Purdue has not performed well this year against avenging Big Ten foes coming off a loss, going just 3-6 ATS, and the Boilermakers might be looking ahead to Tuesday night’s huge road trip to Illinois. Finally, playing on the Michigan State Spartans from Game 20 out if they're coming off an ATS loss of 9 or more points and are seeking revenge in a conference game is 13-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

The No. 11 Tigers (21-7, 10-5) led No. 4 Tennessee by eight points midway through the second half before losing 92-84 in a road game that featured 12 lead changes on Wednesday night. The Tigers are tied for fourth in the SEC with Kentucky and Florida, two games ahead of Mississippi State. Auburn has alternated wins and losses in its last six games. The last time it had consecutive wins or losses was a three-game winning streak that began after a 64-58 loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 27.

Rating: 2 Units

The Stony Brook Seawolves, with a 16-14 overall record and positioning seventh in the Coastal Athletic Association, have displayed a resilient and competitive spirit throughout the season. Their recent clash against Drexel, although ending in a 90-86 road loss, was a hard-fought battle that highlighted the Seawolves' tenacity and skill. Despite the defeat, Stony Brook's performance in this game underscored their offensive capabilities and their never-say-die attitude, as they pushed a higher-ranked team to the brink. This game served as a microcosm of their season, reflecting their ability to compete at a high level, even in the face of adversity.

Rating: 2 Units

George Mason head coach Tony Skinn is aware that the Patriots are 17-6 SU and 12-7 ATS at home when coming off a pair of losses, including 10-2 ATS in games in which Georgie sports the better record. Duquesne won 20 games last year and went to the CBI Tournament, and the Dukes just avenged a conference tourney loss when they beat La Salle 75-63 on Wednesday. unfortunately, they are just 2-9 ATS when coming off a win of 6-plus points this season. The Pats are a solid 13-2 at EagleBank Arena with an average winning margin of 12.2 PPG

Rating: 3 Units

St. Joe’s did not qualify for postseason play last year following an exit in the conference tourney quarterfinals and the Hawks finished the campaign at 16-17, no thanks to a pair of losses laid on them by Fordham. The Rams won 24 games last season under promoted first-year head coach Keith Urgo but have felt the cold sting of reality this year, going 12-16 and just 3-8 SUATS when coming off a win. The Rams’ highly distasteful 1-14 ATS ledger the past two seasons in outright conference losses as an underdog is also a major concern. We’ve always been fans of 5-returning starter teams looking for revenge. Finally, St. Joseph’s is 18-3 SU and 14-7 ATS in this series, including 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS when Joe’s owns a .500 or better win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

Providence is 10-2 with an average winning margin of 10.4 PPG. The Friars will also be looking for some payback from Villanova after the Wildcats rolled in their first meeting earlier this season, 68-50, and they take the court today boasting a 12-1 ATS record with same-season revenge from a loss of 9-plus points in this series, including 9-0 ATS at home. Nova is only 3-7 SU and 3-6-1 ATS away this campaign.

Rating: 2 Units

Fresno State has lost four straight games, while Nevada has won four straight games. There is a time to fade the trends, but there is also a time to realize why the trends are happening in the first place. Fresno State is down this year, the Mountain West is a tough conference, and they are struggling to keep up. Fresno only won four league games so far this season, and San Diego State just beat them by 32 points in a game played on Fresno's home court. The Bulldogs are started to sense the end of the season, as one loss in the conference tourney will wrap up their year. Nevada has everything to play for, they are on the right side of the bubble, and need every convincing win they can get at this point to strengthen their case for the Big Dance. It looks like Fresno will be without their big man Boakye, which will leave a huge hole in the middle defensively. Nevada has the best player in this game in Lucas, and has the most motivation as their season is far from over.

Rating: 2 Units

This is a small line for the much better team to cover. Dayton is ranked 25th overall in KenPom, 21st in the AP Top 25, and are the only team in the A-10 who looks like a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Dayton also has something else Loyola Chicago doesn't; a 6'10 future NBA player in their frontcourt. Holmes is a problem for all Atlantic 10 teams, he leads the conference in scoring and is third in rebounding, and will look to put on a show on national television. Dayton took two unexpected losses recently, but that will only refocus this team that still ranks 16th in the nation in offensive efficiency. Loyola Chicago will have a difficult time keeping up, as their offense is the worst unit in the game ranking in at 183rd in the country. Loyola Chicago had a winning streak against some of the weaker teams in the conference, but they are now running into a powerhouse. Dayton is motivated to improve their league record, because they want to ensure that if they do not win the A-10 Tournament, they still get a spot in the Big Dance.

Rating: 2 Units

The Utes will certainly be glad be back in Salt Lake City after a trio of road games, and also to make amends for a pair of previous losses at the Huntsman Center where they are 9-4 SU and 8-4-1 ATS in this role since 2016. And when we see that Utah dropped a 79-73 contest to Stanford as small road chalk earlier this season – and were also sent packing from the Pac-12 tourney two seasons ago – we think head coach Craig Smith has had just about enough. It helps Utah’s cause that the Cardinal are 2-7 SU and 2-6-1 ATS in this series, including 0-3-1 ATS when the Utes are playing with the revenge chip. It also helps that Stanford has a revenger with Oregon State on deck and the Cardinal are just 1-7 ATS away before the battling the Beavers. Two teams that were neck and neck in the conference race should shake out with the Running Utes gaining the upper hand.

Rating: 2 Units

Talk about instant karma: this is just who the No. 4 Wildcats need to be crossing paths with at this time of the season as they bring an 0-10 ATS series log into contests in games after they beat the Sun Devils by 17 or more points. Bad ‘before and afters’ sound the alarm on the visitors, too, as they arrive off a Saturday game against Washington (2-6 ATS in U-Dub follow-ups) with dangerous Oregon on deck after tonight’s clash (1-5 ATS in games before going Duck hunting). The desert Devils ain’t much, standing 13-13 and tied with three others sporting 7-8 records in conference play, but they are rested with this being the third of a three-game homestand (25-15 ATS as a dog in this role). Realistically, ASU will need a deep run into the Pac-12 tourney to even sniff an invite to the Big Dance, so this becomes their championship game of the year. The Sun Devils are 2-0 ATS as home dogs this season and 10-5 ATS as a home dog of 6-plus points. 

Rating: 2 Units

After upsetting Tennessee 85-69 on February 10, the Aggies took a three game losing skein into Knoxville on Saturday as they continue to unravel after a smart 5-0 start to the season. South Carolina is 6-1 SUATS the last seven games in this series – the loss coming in their final meeting last season – and this 21-win squad has come a long way since winning only 11 games behind first-year head coach Lamont Paris last year. The former UT-Chattanooga mentor brings a super-sharp 18-8 ATS log this season into this payback while A&M can muster only a 2-7 ATS record against avenging conference opponents during the same time span. A win tonight by the Cocks keeps them hot on the heels of current SEC leaders Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn.

Rating: 2 Units

The Iowa State Cyclones have steadily become one of the best teams in college basketball, they have won five of their last six games, with their only loss coming to #2 Houston on the road. The Cyclones are alone in second place in the conference, ahead of typical powerhouses in Kansas and Baylor. In their last game, they were heavy favorites over West Virginia, it was closer than expected as West Virginia led with nine minutes left before Iowa State pulled ahead. The Cyclones were led by guard Tamin Lipsey with 14 points and six assists in the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Jayhawks sent a message over the weekend, dominating a tough Texas team at home. Now, they get to host a BYU team that doesn't travel well. The Cougars are 2-6 (1-7-0 ATS) on the road, and that won't improve today. Their offense only shoots 42.3% in away games (29.6% from three-point range), which will leave them frustrated against a Kansas defense that's one of the nation's best at forcing misses. The Cougars allow almost 80 points per game on the road, a number that the Jayhawks should breeze by. Expect Kansas to win convincingly again.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hoosiers return to Assembly Hall after embarrassingly have dropped each of their previous three home games and the last time that same scenario played out three years ago, Indiana upended Iowa as a 3-point home dog. In fact, Indiana is 4-0 SUATS in this role as a pick or dog of three or fewer points, and 12-5-1 ATS as a home dog when seeking revenge (lost to Wisconsin by 12 points in most recent meeting). Pay attention to the line as Indiana should come off your playlist if favored as the Hoosiers have lost their last three games outright when laying points. The Badgers head into this contest off a revenge scrum against Maryland with another revenge contest against Illinois on deck, so it will be all coach Greg Gard can do to keep his team from falling to 6-14-1 ATS against foes seeking same-season revenge from a loss of 7-plus points.

Rating: 2 Units

Fortunately, one of our favorite handicapping principles is in play here as the Wildcats take the floor knowing they are 22-1 SU in the last twenty-three regular season meetings in this series. And if they are taking points they are 3-0 ATS as a dog in the series – which would make them a DIA DIA dog (Dogs In Action – Doing It Again). It also doesn’t hurt knowing that Coach Cal (John Calipari) is a long-term 91-61-4 ATS in games in which his teams are not laying points, including 34-18-1 ATS when his troops sport the better record. Hail State got bounced in the First Four of last year’s NCAA tourney and thanks to the return of 5 starters, the Bulldogs are still within striking distance at the regular season plays out. However, they’re just 3-6 SUATS the last nine game versus foes with a better record.

Rating: 2 Units

Baylor was also an AP preseason Top 20 ranked team this season, and we look for a season-ending super surge to start here for the No. 11 Bears. They enter off a showdown against conference bear Houston knowing they are 3-0 outright in games following the Cougars. And despite dropping a recent 105-103 triple overtime decision in Waco to the Frogs, the Bears bring a 16-6 SU and 15-7 ATS ledger in this series into this rematch. Baylor also stands 14-8 ATS away with revenge in Big 12 play and rank in the nation’s Top 15 of Offensive Field Goal Percentage. Not so for TCU, who was just 2-3 in the month of February before Saturday’s same-season revenge contest against Cincinnati. The bottom line is with Kansas, Texas, and Texas Tech on tap for Baylor’s stretch run, the Bears cannot afford a loss tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

Minnesota's lengthy winning streak ATS is finally destined to end. Nebraska needs this game for their NCAA Tournament hopes, wants this game for revenge, and is playing well right now with their three straight wins. The Huskers also have an impeccable 16-1 (13-4-0 ATS) record on their home floor. Nebraska has better ball security, which will help them a lot. Minnesota allows 37.4% three-point shooting on the road and 25.4 free throw attempts. The Cornhuskers convert 36.3% of their threes and 75.7% of their free throws. Expect Nebraska to beat the spread in a winning effort.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

This is  Tom Izzo’s time of the season and with his troops sitting on the NCAA Tournament bubble, it’s important to remember that last year Izzo became the first men's basketball head coach in history to lead his team to 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Just days before that record-setting appearance was confirmed, though, the Spartans were bounced, 68-58, in the first round of the Big Ten tourney by the Buckeyes last season, so you know exactly where their focus will be today. After edging Rutgers in the conference opener in January, the Buckeyes have been falling faster than the autumn leaves, going just 3-8 outright since – one of the reasons former head coach Chris Holtmann was issued a pink slip. Even worse for OSU today, the Buckeyes are 2-12 SU and 4-10 ATS in this series with a sub .580 win percentage, including 0-3 SUATS when Sparty is coming off a loss. After suffering a costly home loss to Iowa last Tuesday, we look for Izzo to rally his troops again. Finally, playing on Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo at home with 3+ days of rest from Game 20 out in a conference game when seeking revenge against a sub .714 opponent. is 18-0 SU and 15-2-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

Revenge will be a real factor on Saturday, as the Volunteers got smacked by the Aggies a few weeks ago. Tennessee is also trailing Alabama by one game in the SEC standings, so they can't afford to slip up now. Expect the Volunteers to send a message on their home floor this weekend. They will shoot much better than 37.1% (27.6% from three) now that the game is in Knoxville. The Aggies shot 46.7% (39.3% from deep) in the first meeting, far above their season averages. Tennessee's defense is elite, so that game was an outlier. Anticipate a blowout that sends the home fans streaming out with smiles tonight.

NCAAB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

Self stands 57-8 SU and 44-20-1 ATS with conference loss revenge, including 25-2 SU and 2-5 ATS versus .666 or fewer foes, and Kansas is 6-1-1 ATS in this series with a revenge chip on their shoulder, including 3-0 SUATS at home by an average win margin of 21 points per game. Enter Texas, who has seen an 11-2 season start head south after going only 6-7 since conference play began in January, including 1-5 SUATS when coming off a win. The 19-7 Longhorns did manage to bounce back from a 21-point rout by Houston to edge Kansas State on Monday, 62-56, but it was not enough to keep Bevo from falling out of this week’s AP poll. Texas is a poor 10-24 ATS in outright losses as a road dog against revenge-seeking opponents. Finally, Kansas is 6-0 SUATS playing with LTKO (League Tournament Knock Out) revenge when facing a sub .740 foe.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Panthers have won four of their last six games and six of their last seven home games. They are playing well offensively, especially at home where they are scoring more than 82 points per game. They’ve also taken advantage of their chances at the charity stripe, making over 71 percent of their free throws. Their ball movement is very good and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds per game at home, so expect them to get a lot of second-chance opportunities in this game. The Penguins haven’t played well defensively in recent games, giving up more than 80 points per game in their last three games, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Panthers in this game. The Penguins have lost three of their last five games and two straight road games. They have played well offensively on the road, scoring more than 75 points per game. Their ball movement isn’t very good and they don’t rebound the ball as well as the Panthers, so don’t expect them to get a lot of second-chance points against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Panthers have also struggled defensively, but they played better in recent games, holding their last three opponents to 70 points per game, so expect them to keep Youngstown State’s offense in check. Go with Milwaukee to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker, the former Duke legend, brings a 57-43 ATS long-term dog log into this contest with Harvard, including 22-8-1 ATS in conference play of late. In addition, John Harvard’s initial donation to the University has been paying off in spades for backers of the team lately as they bring an 8-1 ATS mark as a dog in this series, along with a 4-0 ATS ledger in same-season revenge against Princeton from a loss of 23 or more points. On the other side of the coin, the Tigers arrive off a same season revenger with Yale knowing they are just 3-11 SU and 4-10 ATS in Yale follow-ups, including 0-3 ATS against avenging foes. 

For openers, the five-returning starter Bulldogs join second-year head coach Chris Jans knowing they stand 11-4 SU and 10-5 ATS in this series with same-season revenge, including 5-0 SUATS in the last five games. Meanwhile, Ole Miss bolted to a surprising 18-3 start under first-year head coach Chris Beard before suffering a three-game losing skid they took into Saturday when they hosted Missouri. At just 7-21 outright on the road the past two seasons, including 1-7 SU and 2-6 ATS against avenging foes, look for the Rebels to come up ‘soft’ in this Egg Bowl rematch. With both teams within firing distance of one another in the SEC race, this becomes ‘Priority One’ for the homestanding ‘Dogs.

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

It’s been a disappointing season for the 15-10 Hurricanes, who were ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason after losing to UConn in last season’s NCAA Final Four. Jim Larranaga’s troops started this campaign 11-2 before hitting a bumpy road that saw them sitting in 11th place in the ACC at press time, no thanks to three losses in their previous five home games. Couple that with a loss as a No. 1 seed to the Devils in the semifinals of last year’s ACC tourney, one that snapped a five-game ATS winning streak by the ‘U’ in this series, and we expect Larranaga to improve on his 10-3-1 ATS career mark in LTKO revenge affairs, including 8-2 SU and 8-1-1 ATS in games in which his troops sport a greater than .600 win percentage. With Duke just 11-24-1 ATS in games after skirmishes with the Seminoles, and Miami 15-6-1 ATS with conference loss revenge, including 10-1 ATS as a dog, we are on the Canes.

Rating: 2 Units

This number feels like a trap. Pitt has won five straight games, and their leading scorer just had a 41-point game, and they are getting 6.5 points? It seems obvious, but remember, Vegas is not your friend. This is Wake's game to win, they are better in every season-long analytical measure used by KenPom. Wake is 26th overall, while Pitt is just 52d, and Wake is better in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Do not let the recency bias sway your decision-making, Pitt won five straight, but only beat one ranked opponent and it was at home. Wake is coming off two losses, but both were on the road to ranked teams. Wake has more talent at the top, Sallis and Hildreth can be used defensively to slow down Hinson, and Sallis has big game potential as well as he is 4th in the conference in scoring. Pitt does not have a high-scoring big man inside, so points in the paint should favor Wake, especially with 6'10 Andrew Carr inside. Wake is the better team, and will bounce back strong at home where they are undefeated in conference play.

Rating: 2 Units

Consecutive losses begin to place a mental toll on players. Missouri has become accustomed to losing, and may give up if Tennessee is able to get an early lead. This is exactly what Tennessee just did to Vanderbilt in their last outing, getting up 33-8 and closing the door on the Commodores early. The Volunteers will look to do the same here, they will be able to get whatever they want offensively, as they have the 15th ranked offense in terms of efficiency, while Missouri's defense only ranks 172nd. Tennessee is laying a big number on the road here, but that wasn't a problem two games ago when they went into Arkansas and defeated the Razorbacks by 29. Tennessee has also covered 20.5 points against Vanderbilt, and 14 against LSU in recent games, they can cover big numbers. Missouri stayed close against Ole Miss last time out, as they thought they would have a chance to grab their first win, but they will not have the same optimism here. Missouri only covered one game out of their last six, and Tennessee will look to finish this one early

Rating: 2 Units

Despite the Cats’ recent troubles, they hold all the cards in this series, going 6-0 SUATS at home. They’ll also be looking for revenge from an 88-81 setback at Butler three weeks ago. Villanova is 11-1 SU and 10-2 ATS with same-season conference revenge versus .680 or fewer foes while Butler stands just 10-16-1 ATS against same-season conference avengers. The Bulldogs also have a quintuple revenger of their own on deck against Seton Hall, and they’re 1-5 ATS as a dog of 3-plus points before the Pirates. It could be do-or-die for the Wildcats tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

This is too many points to spot a desperate team. Texas is not the class of the Big 12, they are far behind Houston and Kansas in terms of being a national powerhouse, and these two teams actually have the same record in league play. The only reason this spread is so high is due to recency bias. K-State is in a tough stretch, but they did not lose any key players to injury, and it is worth noting four of their last six losses came against ranked teams. Their last three losses have been by six or less points, and they know they need to start winning games for a chance at the postseason. The Wildcats can get there with defense, they are ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and will bring that same energy on the road to Texas. The Longhorns have not been great at home, they have league home losses to Iowa State, Houston, UCF and Texas Tech, they do not protect their home floor. Texas gets strong contributions from their backcourt of Abmas and Hunter, but K-State's Carter and Perry will be with them every step of the way. Kaluma matches up well with Disu, and this game will be much closer than expected.

Rating: 2 Units

Memphis comes in off a road loss and they now have to travel to take on a team that has won five straight games. The Tigers are 6-4 straight up on the road but they have dropped three of their last four games as the visitors, including falling at Tulane and UAB. Memphis is just 4-6 ATS on the road this season and 8-17 ATS overall this season. SMU comes in with five straight wins in their pocket and they have posted a stellar 12-2 mark at home this year. The Mustangs are getting solid production throughout their rotation, making up for the fact that they have only two players averaging in double figures. SMU is an elite defensive team, giving them a big edge over Memphis in that department. That, coupled with home-court advantage and an offense that can hold its own, gives the Mustangs the edge.

Rating: 2 Units

The red-hot Dons enter off their 20th win of the season with a much bigger game on tap against conference bear Saint Mary’s. That’s because the Gaels are a perfect 12-0 in WCC play, a record that includes a 17-point thrashing of the Dons on January 20, so we can’t blame San Francisco for looking ahead to the rematch. The 9-2 Dons currently ride a five game win streak, but they failed to cash a ticket in any of those contests. Huge game for the Lions if they want to stop the bleeding and their recent 6-1 ATS mark as a home dog in this series tells us they may roar loudly tonight at Gersten Pavilion. 

Rating: 3 Units

The Rebels need this win and being at home should be a huge help for them. They are 13-1 at home this season with their only loss coming at the hands of Auburn. The Rebels should roll against the mediocre Tigers' defense. Ole Miss makes up for accuracy with volume when launching 3-point field goals. They are just 9th in the conference in 3-point shooting but are 3rd in 3-point field goals made per game. Missouri is winless in conference play this year and has difficulties putting up points, ranking next-to-last in the SEC in points scored per game. Look for the Rebels to get back on track at the expense of the Tigers today.

Rating: 2 Units

State head coach Kevin Keatts took his team to the Big Dance last year but after a first-round exit, he circled today’s game as one of the most important of the season for the Pack. NC State does enter on a 0-2 slide, but those losses came by margins of just 4 and 3 points. The Tigers arrive at Littlejohn Coliseum riding high on a three-game win skein – including the aforementioned upset of North Carolina – but a lousy 0-4 ATS against LTKO avengers coming off a loss. With the host in Clemmie contests this season checking in at 6-13-1 ATS, it's a NC State call today.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Yes, if the Tar Heels’ win-loss chart was converted to a weather map, it would be showing mild turbulence as UNC enters this afternoon’s contest on a L-W-L-W-L pattern. The forecast brightens, though, with its 6-2 ATS recent record in this series, albeit with a pair of losses in the last two meetings, including a Donkey Round loss in the ACC tournament last season. On Tobacco Road, that’s the call for a tar-and-feathering and the Hokies look to be the perfect patsy. One of six teams with a losing record in conference play, Virginia Tech’s home win against Florida State on Tuesday snapped a 0-3 SUATS losing slide for the Hokies. Too bad for Tech that they’re 1-13 SU and 4-10 ATS away after facing the Seminoles, including 0-3 SUATS versus avenging folk. Finally, North Carolina is 27-1 ATS in its last 28 victories when avenging a loss against a conference foe coming off a win. 

Rating: 3 Units

Texas Tech just beat #6 Kansas, but that win is about to be over-valued. Tech was at home, and they were a 3.5-point favorite, this was not an upset. Kansas was playing without their top player, which clearly deflated the team, and once they got down relatively big, they folded instead of fighting back. That win does not erase the fact that three games ago they lost at home to Cincinnati, one of the worst teams in the Big 12. Meanwhile, Iowa State has been one of the best teams in basketball as of late. The Cyclones have the third most efficient defense in the nation, and Lipsey is a headache for opposing guards as he averages 3.0 steals per game. Iowa State has covered in their last four games and in six of their last seven. Tech's strength is their offense, but they have to go on the road in Ames to play one of the top three defenses in the country, any perceived offensive advantage will be taken away. Iowa State has a huge date coming up with Houston, this will not be a look-ahead spot, because they know they need to get to that game with a 9-3 record.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Texas A&M’s 5-0 start to the season has withered to a 10-9 follow-up and with it the Aggies find themselves knocking on the Bubble. Worse, they enter off an embarrassing loss at Vanderbilt as 8.5-point chalk. However, with 4 starters back from last season’s 25-win unit, the talent is there, and all head coach Buzz Williams needs to do is stick to the script as he is 35-21-1 ATS as a visitor with the Aggies, including 19-5-1 ATS when coming off a loss. Despite a comfortable 109-92 win over LSU in their last contest, Alabama stands just 23-25 SU and 15-30-2 ATS after facing the Tigers. The Aggies are currently stuck smack in the middle of the SEC standings at 6-5 but with Tammy owning the No. 8 spot nationally in Rebound Margin, we’ll call for the outright upset.  Finally, Texas A&M is 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS with SEC tourney revenge from the previous season, versus sub .750 opponents, including 5-0 SUATS when the Aggies own a greater than .600 win percentage

Rating: 2 Units

Cornell is coming off a disappointing loss to Yale, which knocked the Big Red out of a first place tie with the Bulldogs. Cornell will take that frustration out on Harvard when the Crimson visit the Big Red on Friday. Cornell's offense, which is averaging 83.7 points per game will be too much for the Crimson defense to contain. Cornell has the fifth best field goal shooting percentage in the nation at 50.2%. Harvard is shooting 34.4% from 3-point territory but faces a Cornell defense that is 73rd in the nation in three-point shooting percentage allowed at 31.6. Cornell won the first game played between the two this season, defeating Harvard 89-76 on the road and covered the spread as 4-point road chalk. In that matchup, Cornell held Harvard to 26% shooting from three-point territory as the Crimson missed 14 of 19 3-point attempts. Harvard has failed to cover the spread in three of the last four and in five of the last seven, while Cornell has covered the spread in six of the last nine.

Rating: 2 Units

Southern Cal hoops squad that finished 22-11 the previous season somehow found its way to last place in the soon-to-be-defunct Pac-12 with a 9-14 / 3-9 disaster. Our stunning stat of the day: USC is 0-25 ATS in its last 25 conference home losses, including 0-10 ATS as a dog. While that sinks in, we’ll remind you that the Utes had the rug pulled out on them twice by the Trojans last season. However, despite those losses, Utah is still 14-7 ATS in this series, including 8-1 ATS as a favorite and 8-1 ATS when playing with 3-plus days of rest.

Rating: 2 Units

When looking at KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin, Portland is 308th in the nation with a -11.93 rating while San Diego is 218th in the country with a -4.18 rating up to this point. When looking at the offenses lately, there is a bit of a difference here as the Pilots are scoring 67.4 points in their previous five games while the Toreros are averaging 79.3 points in their last four games. Go with the San Diego Toreros to cover the spread at home here.  

Rating: 2 Units

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are my definitive pick for this matchup, buoyed by a potent offense and stringent defense that has propelled them to a 16-9 overall and 8-4 conference record. Boasting an impressive average of 77.6 points per game, their ability to maintain a 46.6% field goal efficiency and a stellar 36.9% from the three-point line stands out. This offensive firepower is complemented by a defense that limits opponents to a mere 26.1% from beyond the arc, ranking second nationally, showcasing the Ragin' Cajuns' capability to dominate both ends of the court. With Kobe Julien leading the scoring charge with 18.2 points per game and Joe Charles anchoring the defense across rebounds, steals, and blocks, Louisiana possesses the depth and versatility to outmatch Old Dominion. The Cajuns' recent performances, underscored by a commanding win against BGSU, highlight a team in prime form, ready to extend their winning narrative against the Monarchs.

Rating: 2 Units

Utah State is currently one of four teams tied atop the Mountain West Conference with a 7-3 record but with the league in action over the weekend, a new leader could claim the No. 1 spot before this game takes place. While the Aggies host Boise State on Saturday (1-6 ATS after the Broncos), the Cowboys get treated to a week off, and they’re 4-0 ATS the last four conference games with a week or more of rest. They’ll also be looking to avenge an 83-59 whipping in Logan five weeks ago, and they’re a stout 7-3 ATS in this series when seeking revenge. Wyoming has held its own as a home dog of late, going 15-8 ATS, including 4-0 ATS the last four. 

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Tennessee has had their share of troubles in this series of late, going 1-4 SU the last five and 2-6 ATS the last eight away. If that’s not troubling enough, Tennessee owns a dreadful 1-5 SU and 0-6 ATS record away from Knoxville versus an SEC foe with revenge. These two met just once last season, with the Razorbacks getting roasted by 17 points, and the Hogs are a money-making 11-6-1 ATS as home dogs when playing with the ‘R’ word. Finally, Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman is 11-1 SU and 10-2 ATS at home with revenge with Arkansas, including 10-0 ATS versus sub .800 opponents.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

With this game in Lincoln, the Wolverines should get back to their losing ways. They're allowing more than 80 points per game as the visiting team, which does not bode well for this game. Nebraska puts up more than 80 points per contest at home. On the other end, Michigan's turnover issues will cost them precious points. Nebraska doesn't send foes to the free throw line often either, which will hurt the Wolverines. Expect the Cornhuskers to get back on track with a blowout win.

Rating: 3 Units

Wake is led in scoring by 6'5 junior guard Hunter Sallis with 17.9 PPG, which is tied for 4th in the ACC. He is a 6'5 junior guard with NBA potential, he is projected to be a second-round pick according to NBADraft.net. Sallis is the top shooter on the team with 48 made threes on 39.0% shooting from deep. Kevin Miller is their playmaking point guard, he is a 6'0 sophomore point guard averaging 16.5 PPG and a team-high 3.8 APG. Miller had a 21-point game in the win over Syracuse. Cameron Hildreth is a 6'4 junior guard with a strong floor game, he averages 14.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 2.7 APG. Hildreth had a double-double against Syracuse with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Andrew Carr is their big man inside, he is a 6'10, 220-pound senior center averaging 14.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The 5-returning starter Bulldogs from Starkville will be out for revenge tonight knowing they are 3-0 SUATS at home with the revenge chip. They are also a long-term 139-49-9 ATS as conference favorites with revenge in games they win outright. On the flip side, Georgia is 87-189-4 ATS as a conference dog in games it loses straight-up against avenging foes. Throw in a nasty 11-27-1 ATS mark for the Dawgs in games before hooping it up with the Hogs of Arkansas and we see MSU taking UGA behind the woodshed here. 

Rating: 2 Units

Losing 80-72 to ANYONE would be a leap forward for the 7-14 Wolverines, who have dropped 9 of their last ten games, and gone 7-18 SU and 9-16 ATS overall since March of last year. In the process, they’ve turned up the heat on head coach Juwan Howard, who has nearly exhausted the good will he accrued over the years by being a member of Michigan’s iconic Fab Five team. The Wolverines were winners in the last meeting with the Badgers, 87-79, but Wisconsin boasts a solid 13-4-1 ATS record when seeking revenge against Michigan. Bucky took a 4-0-1 ATS mark this season as a revenge-seeker into Sunday’s hoster against the Boilermakers but regardless of that outcome, we’ll look for the woes of the Wolves to continue tonight.

Rating: 2 Units

Grant McCasland has set Lubbock on fi re with a 16-4 start, including a current run of 10-2. As a result, the No. 15 Red Raiders sit just a half-game back of the top spot in the Big 12. TTRR will be looking to get even tonight with a Baylor squad that annihilated them in their last meeting, 89-62, on February 4 of last year. McCasland’s crew stands 18-10 ATS when seeking revenge in this series and they catch the No. 18 Bears in a bad before-and-after situation: Baylor is off a triple revenger against Iowa State (1-5 ATS post Cyclones) with Kansas revenge on deck (3-7 ATS before Rock Chalk). This is where upsets occur, so grab the points in this classic revenge sandwich.

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

while the Hawks may not be the powerful basketball presence of years gone by (last winning season was in 2015-16), they are 10-5 ATS at home in this series, including 7-2 ATS when seeking revenge. Head coach Billy Lange chips in with a 9-4 ATS record with the Hawks versus .800 or greater foes, including 4-1 ATS with the revenge chip. The fact of the matter is the Flyers have bigger fish to fry on Friday when they visit VCU with LTKO revenge on the their minds, and Dayton is a feeble 2-6 SUATS in its last eight A-10 contests against avenging conference foes. The bottom line is St. Joe’s has won 10 of its 12 games SU at Hagan Arena this season. Finally St. Joseph’s is 9-1 ATS in this series when seeking revenge, including 6-0 ATS at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Redhawks have won two of their last three home games. They have played well offensively at home, scoring more than 71 points per game. They’ve also taken advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, making over 79 percent of their free throws in their last three games. They rebound the ball well and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring chances. They also do a good job of protecting the ball and won’t give the Huskies a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Huskies have struggled defensively and they’re giving up more than 84 points per game on the road, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Redhawks in this game. The Huskies have lost 10 of their last 11 games and seven straight road games. They have played well offensively, scoring more than 76 points per game on the road. They’ve struggled at the charity stripe, making less than 70 percent of their free throws. Their ball movement isn’t very good, but their rebounding has been good and it will give them a chance in this game. They’ve been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Redhawks, who average more than six steals per game at home. The Redhawks have done a good job defensively at home, holding opponents under 68 points per game, and will keep the Huskies’ offense in check. Go with Miami (OH) to cover the spread

Rating: 2 Units

Rating; 2 Units

This is a great buy low moment for the Wildcats. K-State has lost their last four games, but this rivalry matchup will have the team ready to go, and playing at home will give them an additional boost. Kansas State still has their top three players available for this game, Carter and Perry can get hot from the perimeter at any time, and Kaluma plays bigger than his 6'7 frame. Kansas State also has McNair to battle Dickinson inside. McNair is 6'11 and 265 pounds, he has the size to matchup with Dickinson and limit his production. McCullar is a strong scoring guard, but Kaluma and Carter can take turns defensively, each with different defensive strengths to slow down the top scorer in the league. The Wildcats have an elite defense, they rank 26th in defensive efficiency and will be able to slow down the Jayhawks at home.

Rating: 2 Units

The Virginia Cavaliers have proven to be a top team in the ACC this season, sitting in second place. The Cavaliers have won six consecutive conference matchups and have no signs of slowing down for the Miami Hurricanes. Virginia has the second-best defense in college basketball right now, surrendering 57.8 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot less than 40% from the floor. This will be a game-changer when facing the high-caliber Miami offense. When looking at matchups against other high-scoring offenses, the Cavaliers' defense has not shown any signs of breaking. For example, they shut down the Clemson offense — averaging 79 points per game — keeping them at 65 points on the night. The Cavaliers' defense will win this game and add their seventh consecutive ACC win.

Rating: 2 Units

The main catalyst in this matchup is Zona’s stunning 18-point road loss at Stanford as 12.5-point chalk on the final day of 2023. Wildcats’ head coach Tommy Lloyd has done an outstanding job in his 2-plus seasons in Tucson, currently 77-16 overall but a second loss to the Cardinal tonight would remove a lot of that luster. Don’t look for that to happen, though, as the Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in this series with same-season revenge from a double-digit loss. As for Stanford, the Cardinal arrive off a same-season revenger with Arizona State, and they’re just 1-6 SUATS away versus a conference foe after tangling with the Sun Devils. Arizona has no room for error here, not with road games at Utah and Colorado to follow, so expect the Wildcats to deliver a merciless pummeling at the McKale Center tonight

Rating: 3 Units

The Wildcats have barely kept their heads above water in Neptune’s sophomore campaign, currently 11-10 overall with a five-game losing skid. However, three of those losses came by margins of 1, 7 and 5 points, and the Wildcats will be hungry to avenge a pair of losses to the Friars last season. Meanwhile, 14-7 Providence is 5-12 ATS versus conference foes looking to avenge two losses from the previous season, including 1-9 ATS at home. The Friars also show up today off a double revenger with UConn (5-13 ATS at home after Huskies) with another revenger on deck against Creighton (0-4 ATS before the Bluejays). To guarantee that Villanova will send Providence straight to the bottom of the deep blue sea here, let’s turn to the fact that Villanova is 6-0 ATS home with three-plus days of rest and double revenge-exact from the previous season.

Rating: 2 Units

This is an exciting matchup of the elite squads of the Big Ten. Purdue is solid but can be beaten on the road. They are only 3-2 in their last five Big Ten road games including a loss to Nebraska. Wisconsin has won eight out of their last 10 games. Purdue and Wisconsin have each lost to Nebraska. Purdue is one of the best scoring teams in DI but Wisconsin is just behind. Purdue is averaging 126 points per 100 possessions compared to 121 points per 100 by Wisconsin, ranking them seventh in the country. Wisconsin has scored at least 83 points in four of their five Big Ten home games. Purdue is dominant due in part to the rebounding however, Wisconsin has the size to compete.  The Badgers are conceding fewer opponent rebounds per game.

Rating; 2 Units

St Marys enters on a 9-game win skein with the best overall and conference record this season. After struggling through a 4-3 December, Gonzaga is playing more like the Zags of old, going 7-1 SU since with that lone defeat coming by just one point at Santa Clara. But even though Mark Few’s Bulldogs are riding a five-game win streak, they’re just 2-5 ATS in this series with the worse record. And when they take on a conference foe off back-to-back wins, the Zags are a weak 5-9 ATS, including 0-3 ATS this season. At 13-6-1 ATS with LTKO revenge, look for the Gaels to keep their foot on the pedal as the better team avenges last season’s LTKO loss. 

SEC Play of the Day

Rating: 4 Units

Mississippi State is playing with revenge from an 8-point home loss this season, and a pair of setbacks last season – including an LTKO defeat. That should find the five-returning starter Bulldogs chomping at the bit for payback today and we won’t have to worry about a letdown following their in-state rivalry battle with Ole Miss as MSU is often in a celebratory frame of mind after taking on the Rebs (27-14-1 ATS the last 20 years, including 18-7-1 ATS as a dog). The Tide is also one leg up on 6-2 Auburn, who waits on deck, and Bama’s lackluster 2-4 ATS mark in games before Aubbie adds to the Crimson woes here. Finally, MSU is 15-10 ATS versus greater than .666 foes with head coach Chris Jans, including 7-0 ATS during the regular season when the Bulldogs sport a sub .700 win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

The Bears got whacked three times by ISU last season – all as a favorite – and it was capped off when the Clones sent the Bears packing in the first round of the Big 12 tourney. Even so, Baylor owns a 17-3 outright record as a host in this series and is 4-0 ATS coming off a win when seeking LTKO revenge. Iowa State has not fared well on the conference road after beginning play in early January, losing SU to BYU by 15 points and to Oklahoma by 8 points, and edging TCU by a single point to avoid a three-game road losing streak. Things get worse when we look strictly at conference road games versus LTKO avenging foes, where Iowa State is a paltry 0-10 SU and 2-8 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

The bad news for Utah State first-year head coach Danny Sprinkle is he knew it would take some time to build a team with zero returning starters from a 26-9 squad. The good news is it took only two games. After opening the campaign 1-1, USU has gone 18-1 since as they enter tonight’s targeted triple revenger, and as a result they reside atop the MWC standings. San Diego State took a different path to today’s clash: following a 13-2 start to the season, the Aztecs have become little more than a middling squad, going just 2-3 since. They have also fallen two full games behind the Aggies in the conference race and must face a Utah State team that’s 3-0 SUATS with LTKO revenge when owning a greater than .750 win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

Ohio State was ice-cold in the point spread department, riding a 1-6 ATS skein before a pair of games against Northwestern and Illinois on Saturday and Tuesday. Turns out the Buckeyes are just 1-5 ATS after taking on the Illini, plus they’ve got a same-season revenger up next against the Hoosiers (1-6 ATS before IU). OSU’s most grievous sin was beating Iowa in the ‘donkey’ round of last year’s Big Ten tourney: The Hawkeyes are 23-10 ATS with revenge in this series, including 16-3 ATS when OSU sports a .750 or fewer win percentage. We close the book with the Buckeyes’ alarming 0-4 ATS mark as a visitor this season.

Rating: 2 Units

The Scarlet Knights’ fast 5-1 start to the season has cooled off (they ride a 5-7 skein into this fray) but these guys are Jonesing to put a Tony Soprano-style hit on the Boilers to make amends for their first-round loss to Purdue in last season’s Big Ten tourney. The Boilermakers are 1-9 ATS in this series, including 0-7 ATS the last seven meetings. They’re also staring dead ahead to a double revenge affair with pesky Northwestern, who handed Purdue one of its two losses this campaign in a 92-88 OT upset at Evanston. That’s not particularly good news for the Boilers, who own a 5-9 SU and 4-8 ATS ledger in games before facing the Wildcats. In this latest episode of The Zach Edey Show, the big guy gets his stats, but the Scarlet Knights pocket the cash. 

Rating: 2 Units

The younger McKillop has gotten his team off to a decent 12-7 record this campaign but he can regain major credibility if he manages to halt VCU’s 3-game series win streak (one of those losses came to the top-seeded Rams in the first round of last year’s A-10 tourney). Virginia Commonwealth sits in third place in the conference race and is riding a 4-game win streak entering tonight’s contest. Unfortunately for the horned ones, they’ve gone 1-5 ATS in this series of late, including 0-3 ATS when going into revenge. First-year head coach Ryan Odom inherited a team devoid of experience (zero returning starters), so we look for Davidson to improve on its 4-0 SUATS mark at home with a sub .615 win percentage when playing off a previous home loss and facing a foe coming off a pair of SUATS wins.

Rating: 3 Units

The regression has continued this season as Michigan currently owns an embarrassing 7-12 record, including a 1-7 SUATS disaster in the last eight overall contests. Remember, this display of futility is set against the backdrop of the Wolverines football program winning the College Football Playoff championship on January 8, so every loss by Howard means the scrutiny intensifies. Following a 2-point loss at home to Maryland on Wednesday, Iowa finds itself going 3-3 in January after a 3-3 effort in December. However, the deuces are wild in this matchup where the Hawkeyes limp in off a pair of home losses seeking revenge from a double-digit loss suffered at Hawkeye-Carver Arena last season in the only meeting between these two Big Ten rivals. Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey excels at getting even, going 9-4 ATS in this series with same-season revenge from a loss of 3 or more points and 7-4 ATS away with revenge versus a foe coming off a pair of losses. More trouble for the Wolves looms on the horizon with a trip to Michigan State to face the hated Spartans, as Michigan brings a 1-4 ATS mark into this showdown in games before MSU. Finally, Iowa is 8-1 SUATS with conference revenge under head coach Fran McCaffrey in games in which Iowa owns a winning record and its opponent owns a losing record.

CBB Conference Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

If you’ve been an ISU backer this season, you probably think there’s a printing press in Hilton Coliseum that cranks out the bucks after a home game as the Cyclones are 12-2 ATS on this floor. They’ll also be looking to square things up from a loss to KU in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament last season. No. 7 Kansas is loaded with talent like most Jayhawks squads under head coach Bill Self, but they’ve had two uncharacteristic stumbles of late, losing on the road to UCF and West Virginia. That’s music to our ears considering the Jayhawks have not dominated this series, going 7-12 ATS, including 0-5 ATS when ISU sports a .777 or greater win percentage. The Cyclones have performed well taking points at home, going 5-1 ATS the last half dozen games and will look to lean on their 4-0 ATS success at home with conference tourney revenge against .800 or greater opponents. Finally, Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger is 9-1 ATS at home with the Cyclones as either a dog or a favorite of 3 or fewer points, including 7-0 ATS with a win percentage of .777 or greater. .

Rating: 2 Units

Following a 2-3 start that had fans reaching for their brown paper head sacks, UGA suddenly caught fire to go on a 12-2 winning run. However, the O’Connell Center will be revved up and rabid today considering it was their Mike White who left Gainesville to take the job at Georgia last year “due to a toxic environment created by the fanbase and fear it would begin to affect his five young children” (we shudder to see some of the signs in the stands). As a result of White’s departure, the Gators were forced to hire Todd Golden and the arranged marriage produced a 16-17 record. He’s off to a better start this season, going 13-6 overall but Florida has split its last six games on the scoreboard and has this standing in its way here: the series host is currently on an incredible 1-14 ATS slide, including 0-11 ATS the last eleven games! That’s all we need to know in this bad blood slugfest. 

CBB Game of the Week

Rating: 5 Units

The Spartans fell 70-57 as a -5.5-point home favorite to the Badgers in an earlier meeting back on December 5. What would make this win even sweeter for Izzo is the fact that Wisconsin will still be sitting atop the Big Ten should they defeat Indiana and Minnesota before facing Sparty, so knocking off the conference leader would look really good for a Michigan State squad that struggled to a 4-5 start to the season. The Badgers have not fared well in this series recently, going 8-17 SU and 9-16 ATS, including 1-7 ATS as a favorite. Finally, playing on Michigan State from Game 20 out when they are seeking conference revenge with 3 or more days of rest is 34-12-1.

Rating: 2 Units

Coming into this game are the 15-4 San Francisco Dons, who have almost become an annual call selection when clashing with the Zags. This year Frisco checks in with a 15-8-1 ATS log in conference tourney revenge losses (fell to the Zags in the semis of last year’s West Coast conference event) and they’re currently riding a red hot 7-0 SU and 6-1 ATS train. A concern is USF’s 0-2 SUATS slide in this series when they own the better record, but they are 12-1 SU and 9-4 ATS in games this season in which they boast the better record. With the Zags 8-1 SU at home this season, we can’t call for an outright win but their 1-5 ATS effort against foes coming off consecutive wins this campaign says you should grab the points with an avenging squad that just may be the better team.

Rating: 2 Units

A visit to the Sun Belt Conference finds us on the 5-returning starter Mountaineers, who arrive with a lofty 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS mark in this series when they own a winning record. They’ve also been red hot, winning 13 of their last 15 games on the scoreboard to improve to 14-4. As for Georgia Southern, first-year head coach Charlie Henry’s Eagles appear to be anything but the ”sleeper team’” they were tabbed to be. Instead, they look anything but, after nodding off to a dreadful 3-15 record this season at press time (0-15 outside the Sun Belt).

Rating: 2 Units

The Wildcats are in a desperate situation and with the spread now at 4.5, I feel confident backing them to cover today at MSG. Nova has lost three of its last four and has only beaten two Big East teams not named DePaul, so it has some work to do if it hopes to earn a bye for the conference tournament. It has faced a tough schedule, 15th per KenPom, including an average offense ranked 20th and an average defense ranked 10th. With wins over North Carolina, Texas Tech, Maryland, Creighton, Memphis, and Xavier, there's no denying the Cats can play but will their shooters show up tomorrow? When Nova shoots over 37 percent from deep, it's 7-1, and when its opponent shoots under 29 percent, it's 5-0. St. John's ranks 212th in three-point percentage and its perimeter defense isn't elite. With one guard sidelined and another currently dealing with COVID, I'm not confident the Red Storm guards will outplay the Wildcats' guards.

Rating: 2 Units

This has not been a vintage season for the X-men. Despite winning 3 of their last five games, they were just 9-8 this season and must pay the piper here for knocking the Bluejays out in the semifinals of last year’s Big East Tournament. That’s because Creighton stands 5-1 SU and 5-2 ATS with LTKO revenge while Xavier is just 2-4 ATS against foes with LTKO. The Jays also own a 5-2 ATS mark in the series with the Musketeers when playing with revenge. The killer, though, is that Xavier is 4-38 ATS in games they lose on the scoreboard as underdogs against avenging conference foes. 

Rating: 2 Units

Ohio State is averaging 76.4 points per game. They scored 79 points in their last game, making 45.8 percent of their field goals and 16.7 percent of their three-pointers. Roddy Gayle Jr. led the Buckeyes with 16 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Evan Mahaffey finished with 16 points and five rebounds, while Jamison Battle added 11 points and six rebounds. Ohio State has played well defensively, giving up 66.6 points per game. They gave up 67 points in their last game and will need a similar effort if they want to win this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Utes after watching their promising 11-2 start to the season dissipate by dropping three of their last four contests entering this game. That’s not good news for a Utah team that’s forgotten how to win a game in this series as they are 1-20 SU against Oregon since 2013, including 0-5 SUATS as a favorite. Neither are the Utes’ 1-7 ATS failures after squaring off against Stanford and their 6-17 SU and 6-15-2 ATS mark against foes that own the better record. Must give a coaching edge to Oregon here as Utah’s 3rd-year HC Craig Smith has to match wits with the veteran Dana Altman, now in his 14th season with the Ducks and the 39th year of his career. Altman is 3-0 ATS off a loss this season, so you know the state and the team we’ll be lining up with today. Ducks get off the mat to hand Utah its first home loss of the campaign.

Rating: 2 Units

The Wildcats beat the top-seeded Bruins, 61-59, in the finals of last season’s Pac-12 tourney and remember Zona is a money-burning 7-22-1 ATS against Pac 12 foes with a revenge chip on their shoulder, including a brutal 2-18-1 ATS as a favorite of 7 or more points. The Bruins may be down a tad this season, but rest assured they will be fully focused here. Finally, UCLA is 9-2 SU and ATS with revenge in this series, including 5-0 SUATS when the Wildcats own a sub .840 win percentage.

Rating: 2 Units

We’re going with the Trojans, who were upset by the Sun Devils in the opening round of last year’s Pac-12 Tournament, and the Trojans just so happen to own a 6-0 ATS mark in this series when seeking revenge. That should provide plenty of incentive for a team with Big Dance aspirations who is languishing around the Mendoza line as we come up on February. It helps too that Arizona State is just 2-4 SUATS versus conference foes seeking Pac-12 tourney revenge. Enfield and company simply cannot afford another loss with UCLA and Oregon on deck after this one, so take a shot with the Traveling Trojans.

Rating: 2 Units

 Virginia Commonwealth team that went 27-8 last year is barely treading water under fi rst-year head coach Ryan Odom at press time with a 9-7 record. A lot has to do with the fact that the Rams were decimated by graduation and transfers with ZERO returning starters back from last year’s unit, so it’s time to hop on their misfortune – especially with VCU still looking to cash a winning ticket at the Siegel Center in a conference game this season. Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford brings a stellar 27-8 SU  

Rating: 2 Units

Zips remember being trashed in all three meetings last season, including a loss in the semifinals of the MAC tourney. They also enter this fray at 11-7 ATS when seeking conference tourney revenge, including 7-1-1 ATS against foes coming off a win. As for the Flashes, they’re barely glowing this season with Kent just above the Mendoza line at press time. Worse, the Flashes are 0-3 ATS against avenging foes this campaign.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

The Utes might miss junior center Lawson Lovering (7.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG) and senior guard Rollie Worster (9.9 PPG, 5.5 APG) due to injuries, but I still expect Utah to dominate Oregon State in front of the home audience. However, I wasn’t expecting the bookies to set a 15-point spread, so I’ll take the underdogs in this game. If Rollie Worster remains on the shelf, the Utes will struggle to beat the number. Utah is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall and 2-7 ATS in its previous nine outings in the conference play. On the other side, Oregon State is 5-1 ATS in its last six contests overall.

Rating: 2 Units