Rating: 2 Units

Aztecs have gone 10-2 in their last 12. However, USU looks to have an easier bout on the weekend’s undercard, taking on cellar-dweller Colorado State. The Aztecs face a much sterner test as Boise State comes to town in a race for the MWC lead. Utah State has fashioned a nice 11-1 SU and 7-4 ATS record at home this season, and the series host is riding a 6-0 ATS skein. The Aggies lost to SDSU by 10 points at home earlier this season and the Aztecs are guilty of a poor 4-19 SU and 7-15-1 ATS effort versus foes with same-season revenge. Bear in mind that San Diego State’s scrap with Boise last Friday was a triple-revenge game for the Aztecs, so they may not have much left in the tank tonight. Aggies throw another wrench in the race.

Rating: 2 Units

Statistically, this is a fairly evenly matched game, although St. Joe’s seems like the team that is a little better offensively. The clubs are allowing about the same number of points per game, so the question becomes whether Loyola-Chicago has enough of an advantage by playing this contest at home. The Ramblers have won their last two games at home, but that came after three straight home losses and they are 2-8 in the conference while the Hawks are 5-6. When these clubs met earlier this season, St. Joseph’s absolutely blew out Loyola-Chicago, winning by 31. That was just three weeks ago, and not a lot has changed for either team since then. No one should expect a 31-point victory here for the Hawks, but do not be surprised if they win by at least 15.

Rating: 3 Units

Penn State is 4-0 ATS in its last four home games vs. a team with a losing road record and Wisconsin is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record. The Badgers are also 1-9 ATS in their last ten games following an ATS loss and 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games overall. These teams are in a similar position right now in terms of NCAA tourney seeding, as both are currently among the "Next Four Out" in ESPN's Bracketology prediction. That said, I view the Lions and Badgers as teams on different trajectories.

CBB Play of the Day

Rating: 3 Units

Pirates have gone 6-1 SU and 5-1-1 ATS, and should add to those figures with a game against pitiful DePaul last weekend. In yet another case of biting the hand that feeds us, we’ll fade Creighton off what we think will be a big win over Villanova. Yes, we know we talked up the Bluejays last Saturday but one of the deciding factors was the game location: Creighton is a great home team but a lousy road team. Not to mention the Jays are just 14-22-1 ATS against foes seeking same-season revenge from a loss of 20-plus points, including 3-8 ATS versus .550 or greater foes. Meanwhile, the Pirates can boast a 5-0 SUATS record at home this season with a sub .700 win percentage. Finally consider that Seton Hall is 8-1 SU and 7-1-1 ATS in this series when the Blue Jays fly in with a sub .700 record, including 8-0 SU and 7-0-1 ATS when the Hall boasts a winning record.

Rating: 3 Units

I have to look at Kansas State in this spot. The Wildcats are undefeated this season when listed as favorites and will be highly motivated to get revenge for that 14-point defeat at TCU in January. Also, the Wildcats want to avoid a three-game losing streak, so I’m backing them to beat TCU by four or more points. Both teams defend the 3-point line very well, and the Wildcats are a more dangerous 3-point shooting team than the Horned Frogs. This could be a decisive factor, as K-State plays at home, and TCU has gone 1-3 SU and ATS in its previous four showings on the road. The Wildcats are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games played on Tuesday. 

Rating: 2 Units

Toledo is 16-6, riding a 6-game win skein, while 16-6 Akron had ripped off 7 straight wins before a Friday game against Kent State, so something’s gotta give. The ATS archives suggest the Rockets are the right side. Not only do they own a 19-7 ATS edge in this series of late, but they’re also 5-2 ATS with LTKO revenge, including 3-0 ATS away. That’s a few light years better than the Zips’ 3-7-1 ATS mark versus foes seeking LTKO revenge, including 0-5-1 ATS when Akron sports a sub .777 win percentage. These two go at it again in two weeks, so pay close attention to this matchup. While grabbing the points, of course.

Rating: 2 Units

Wake Forest narrowly covered as 11.0-point underdogs in the first game, and playing at home I think they cover again. UNC's last two trips to Winston-Salem were blowout losses, and this UNC team has been pretty inconsistent this season. Wake Forest has performed almost identically to UNC this season, albeit with a weaker out-of-conference schedule. Wake Forest hit 47.6% of their threes against them in January, and their three-point shooting will keep them alive all night this time around too. Wake Forest covers against the Tar Heels again.

Rating: 3 Units

Temple is on a solid 4-0 SU run of late overall, but only 4-11 SU and 6-9 ATS in this series, including 3-8 ATS when Houston sports a sub .925- win percentage. In addition, head coach Aaron McKie owns a weak 5-10 ATS with a winning record with the Owls versus foes with revenge, and worse, Temple is 10-100-1 ATS in games they lose outright at home, including 0-38-1 ATS versus avenging foes. Remember, Sampson’s Cougars are a perfect 8-0 SUATS away this season, plus they get added backing from the fact that Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson is 36-17 SUATS with same season conference loss revenge, including 5-0 SUATS when coming off one win.

Rating: 2 Units

From a squad that was a permanent fixture in the Top 25 poll under Wright, this year’s Wildcats still haven’t found their footing, standing 10-12 overall after losing 7 of their last 10 contests. They also bring along an 8-16-2 ATS log in games when sporting a losing record, including 1-5-2 ATS in conference play. Look, we’ll be the first to admit it’s not often you’ll find the Bluejays dressing up as favorites against the Wildcats (just 3 times in 20 meetings since they joined the Big East) but when they do, there is certainly provocation. It starts with last year’s 54-48 loss to Villanova in the finals of the Big East tourney, and with that Creighton brings a 5-1 SUATS record into tonight’s affair when looking to exact LTKO revenge, including 5-0 SUATS when they face sub .900 opponents. Greg McDermott’s troops have been a tough out at home this season, going 10-1 SU and scoring an average of over 81 points per game, and we think they’ll heap a little more misery on Nova here.

Rating: 3 Units

The Hoosiers have won five of their last six games and four of their last five home games. They are very good offensively, especially at home where they are scoring more than 83 points per game while making over 53 percent of their shots. They do a good job finding the open man and they were very aggressive on the offensive glass in their last three games, grabbing more than 10 offensive rebounds per game in their last three games, which will give them more scoring opportunities. They also do a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Boilermakers a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Boilermakers have played well defensively, but they aren’t as efficient on the road and will have a hard time slowing down the Hoosiers in this game. The Boilermakers have won nine straight games. They have played well offensively, but they’re not as good on the road where they are scoring more than 72 points per game. They struggled at the free throw line in their last three games, making less than 68 percent of their shots. They also didn’t rebound the ball as well as the Hoosiers in recent games and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities against the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers are very good defensively and do a better job at home where they are holding opponents under 65 points per game and will keep Purdue’s offense in check. Go with the Hoosiers to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

This has the makings of a fantastic matchup, as Texas is atop the Big 12 (7-2) with Kansas State right behind (6-3). This means a lot is on the line, especially for the Wildcats, who want to keep their home winning streak alive while also ensuring that Kansas, TCU, and Iowa State, who are also 6-3, do not have a chance to jump over the Wildcats in the standings. So, look for Kansas State to play this game like it is a tournament game. They have been absolutely dominant at home while Texas is just 2-3 on the road. The Wildcats have covered the spread it in four of their last five games and eight of their last 10.

Rating: 2 Units

Butler is going the wrong direction with six losses in seven games and their offense has been stuck in neutral for the most part. The Bulldogs have scored more than 61 points just once in their last seven games and have hung 58 or less in five of those matchups. That doesn’t bode well against a Marquette team that is in the top 20 in the nation in scoring offense and who leads the nation in two-point shooting. Butler is a decent defensive team but their inability to scare anyone on the offensive end, coupled with their road woes, is too much to ask for in this one. Take Marquette at home as they prevail in this contest.

Rating: 2 Units

ISU looks to get even for their recent 2-point setback to KU. We like the Cyclones’ chances to do just that: they own a 5-0 ATS series record versus Kansas when playing with same season revenge from a loss of fewer than 20 points, plus the Jayhawks have cashed just a single ticket in their last six games after clashing with K-State. Keep a close eye on the line today, too, as Iowa State stands 5-0 ATS as home dogs of 7-plus points if .666 or greater. Also keep in mind that Iowa State has won the rebound battle in its last 8 straight contests and won’t be overpowered here. With Kansas possibly looking ahead to a bigger game at Texas on Monday, we expect the Cyclones to keep their fans satisfied in this high-noon showdown

Rating: 2 Units

The Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600 and the underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between BSU and SDSU. Give me the Broncos at +7 following a solid road win over Air Force. Boise will have a shot to assume complete control of the Mountain West, especially with a home rematch versus San Diego State in a few weeks. These two teams should determine the conference champion in those games. With its stellar defense, Boise State will cover the spread and give itself a shot at an outright win. The stats don't paint the entire picture, but they give a glimpse into BSU's defensive dominance. Ranked 9th in the country in defensive efficiency with a top 5 three-point defense, the Broncos will make life difficult for the home squad on offense.

Rating: 2 Units

The Aggies are one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country. They heavily lean on 3-point shooting and pace the nation in 3-point percentage, but the Aggies’ defense is far away from an elite level. That’s going to be an issue in this matchup, as New Mexico owns one of the best scoring trios in college basketball. Jamal Mashburn Jr, Jaelen House, and Morris Udeze will torture the Aggies’ D and help the Lobos to keep it close down the stretch. The Lobos defend the 3-point line well and love to get to the free-throw line. They are 17th in the country in free-throw rate. I’m backing the Lobos, who are 5-2 ATS in their previous seven outings on the road. The Aggies, on the other side, are 1-4 ATS in their previous five games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

LSU’s 12-1 start to the season came to a grinding halt with seven straight losses for the Bengal Cats, and as a result they find themselves in a 3-way mess with both of the Mississippi’s at the bottom of the SEC totem pole. They also have to face off against a Missouri team tonight that remembers its season-ending loss to LSU in the Donkey Round of last year’s SEC tourney, and that sets the table here as they check in with a sparkling 3-0 SUATS log in home games when seeking LTKO revenge. The Tigers from COMO have lost just two games in Mizzou Arena this season, against Kansas and Alabama – two squads that are head-and-shoulders above the troubled Tigers from the bayou. With only one conference win in his pocket this season, we don’t see anything changing soon for first-year LSU head coach Matt McMahon. 

Rating: 2 Units

Indiana State won the first head-to-head meeting by 28 points, and I expect another dominating performance here. The Purple Aces' rank in the bottom 40 in the nation in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and scoring on both offense and defense. On the other end, Indiana State is 46th in field goal percentage, scoring and free-throw shooting on offense. The Sycamores are also much better defensively. There's always a chance that Indiana State overlooks Evansville here or falls victim to a late backdoor cover, but the Sycamores are the smart play here.

Rating: 2 Units

Tulsa has been one of the worst teams in college basketball to bet on this season as they have been awful against the spread. The Golden Hurricane is 3-15-2 against the spread this year. Meanwhile, Cincinnati has been a solid bet, going 14-7 against the spread on the season. One concern here is that Landers Nolley is listed as questionable for this game with a banged-up knee. Cincinnati may try to rest him thinking they can beat Tulsa without him as they prepare for bigger games coming up. If this game was at Tulsa I might give the Golden Hurricane a shot to cover, but the Bearcats have been great at home and I like them to cover with or without Nolley. Take Cincinnati here.

Rating: 2 Units

This is too big of a game for the Volunteers to expect any sort of letdown. In essence, Tennessee is in a two-team race for the SEC regular season crown and that outcome could ultimately determine whether or not the Volunteers earn a coveted #1 seed in one of the four tournament regions. Tennessee just has too much talent for this Florida team. Florida was overwhelmed by K-State on Saturday, particularly the Wildcats' defense. Now they face arguably the best defense in the country in the Volunteers. Tennessee has the nation's #1 scoring defense and #1 3pt defense. The Volunteers also have more than enough scoring to get off and running and keep the Gators at bay. I expect the Volunteers to dominate the interior, double Castleton in the post, and force Florida to try to beat them with the Gators' subpar perimeter shooting. Tennessee will roll in this spot.

Rating: 2 Units

Xavier (17-5, 9-2 Big East) enters the game tied for first in the conference but is coming off an 84-67 loss at Creighton on Saturday. The Friars (17-5, 9-2) also sit atop the conference, alongside the Musketeers and Marquette. The Musketeers received untimely news on Tuesday with the revelation that big man Zach Freemantle will be sidelined at least four weeks with a left foot injury. Freemantle is averaging 15.2 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game and is shooting 58.5 percent from the field. Consider that the Friars are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Rating: 3 Units

The fact is Kansas stands only one game out of first place and we expect a strong surge down the stretch. It starts here with KU bringing a 3-0 SUATS mark in this contest in games in which they own the inferior record by an average win margin of 20 PPG. As for the over-achieving Wildcats, they’re just 1-5 ATS against foes they beat earlier in the season by one-point exact. And if that’s not bad enough, they crawl into this week’s contest with a gaudy 7-40 ATS mark in conference games they fail to win against avenging opponents. Let’s face it: Kansas is a ticking time bomb right now and we expect them to hit the 0:00 mark against hated Kansas State tonight. Finally, Kansas is 4-0 SUATS since 1990 when seeking same-season revenge against Kansas State, with every win by a double-digit margin.

Rating: 2 Units

The Fighting Illini are 4-0 ATS in their last four Tuesday games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven games. The Huskers are 0-7 ATS in their last seven road games and  0-6 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. This game should be one-sided, as the Huskers are down a few bodies and the Illini have a significant talent advantage. Nebraska will be boxed out for rebounds all night, and if it can't handle the press, turnovers will lead to easy Illinois baskets.

Rating: 2 Units

Neither team has been profitable ATS this season, and while I'm leaning towards the Longhorns winning straight-up, this should be a close game. With the Longhorns coming off a disheartening loss and the Bears riding a six-game winning streak, I'm siding with Baylor. Texas is 8-13 ATS this season, including 3-7 in its last ten overall. While Baylor is just 10-10-1 ATS overall, it has been the better side to back as of late, going 4-1-1 in its past six overall. History tells us the Bears are the profitable team to bet on Monday, as well. Baylor is 4-0 ATS in its last four Monday games and Texas is 0-4 in its last four Monday games. In what should turn out to be a one or two-possession game, I'll take the team that's getting points.

Rating: 2 Units

The Red Raiders are still red-faced thinking about the last time these two met in Ames three weeks ago, where the Cyclones annihilated them, 80-54 – Texas Tech’s worst loss this season, and its worst overall since 2015. The Raiders had gone 7-1 SU and 8-0 ATS in the series with ISU before the blowout, and just so happen to own a 7-1 ATS at home with revenge versus the Cyclones. Iowa State also has a revenge affair with Kansas on deck, and the Clones are just 3-22 SU away before facing the Jayhawks, including 6-10-1 ATS the last 17 games. Tech makes up for a season’s worth of hurt by bringing down the Cyclones.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cavaliers have won six straight games and three of their last four road games. They are playing well offensively, even on the road where they are averaging more than 71 points per game. They do a good job finding the open man and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring opportunities. They also do a good job protecting the ball, turning it over less than 10 times per game, and won’t give the Orange a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Orange usually play well defensively, but they struggled in recent games, giving up more than 73 points per game in their last three games, and will have a hard time slowing down the Cavaliers in this game. The Orange have lost three of their last four games. They struggled offensively during the stretch, scoring a little more than 72 points per game in their last three games. Their rebounding also dropped off during the stretch, so don’t expect them to get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities against the Cavaliers. They were also careless with the ball, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Cavaliers, who average seven steals per game on the road. The Cavaliers play well defensively and they’re just as good on the road where they are holding opponents to 65 points per game, so expect them to keep Syracuse’s offense in check. Go with Virginia to cover the spread.

Rating: 3 Units

Sparty suffered a 64-63 setback at home to Purdue just 13 days ago, stirring up bad memories of being booted from the Big Ten tourney in the semifinals by the Makers last season. The Wizard brings a lofty 18-10 SU and 17-11 ATS career record in conference games when seeking same-season revenge when his troops are coming off an ATS loss, including 5-2 SUATS versus .800 or greater opposition. State’s biggest concern will be putting the clamps on Purdue center Zach Edey, a 7-4, 305-pound monster from Toronto who averages 21 PPG and pulls down 13 rebounds. Still, the Boilermakers haven’t cashed a ticket in the last three meetings with MSU, which is a perfect setup for the fact that playing on the Michigan State Spartans when they are seeking revenge against a Big Ten opponent is 31-11-1 (75%) since 1975.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Panthers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall, 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. While the Thundering Herd are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games, and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games.

Rating: 3 Units

Nebraska is struggling with injuries that minimize their rotation and hamper their ability to rebound. Reese should take advantage of Derrick Walker, who is not as big as some of the other centers in the league at 6-9. That doesn't sound small, but when you face the likes of 7-4 Zach Edey two games before and Reese had great success against him, that's an advantage. The Terps' pressure defense will also be crucial in this matchup Maryland needs to continue to win at home, where they have many students returning from winter break in what should be a raucous atmosphere in College Park.

Rating: 2 Units

Flyers return to UD Arena, where they own a legitimate home court advantage. Dayton has gone 22-2 SU in its last 24 games at home, including 10-1 SU this season where the Flyers have won by an average margin of just over 16 PPG. And when it comes to dueling with foes that own a sub .525 win percentage, Dayton has treated its backers to a 13-0 SU and 9-3 ATS effort. We can’t say the same for the 11-10 Spiders, who arrive on a 1-3 SU and 0-4 ATS slide in their last four games. Even worse, Richmond has gone 0-6 ATS versus foes coming off consecutive losses, including 0-4 ATS this season. Yikes. The hosts are hanging tough in the Atlantic 10 race in 4th place and will be facing a bunch of Spiders that could be more concerned about an upcoming double-revenger against St. Bonaventure. Don't forget Dayton’s 68-64 loss to Richmond in the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 tourney last season snapped a 7-0 SUATS series win skein against the Spiders.

Rating: 3 Units

The Crimson Tide have won nine straight games and six straight road games. They are very good offensively, even on the road where they are scoring more than 80 points per game. They’ve taken advantage of their opportunities at the charity stripe, making over 81 percent of their free throws in their last three games. They are very aggressive on the offensive glass, grabbing more than 10 offensive rebounds per game, which will give them more scoring chances. They also cut back on their turnovers in recent games and won’t give the Sooners a lot of easy scoring opportunities. The Sooners usually play well defensively, but they struggled in recent games, giving up more than 70 points per game in their last three games, and will have a hard time slowing down the Crimson Tide in this game. The Sooners have lost four of their last five games and three of their last four home games. They’re not very good offensively and they played worse in recent games, averaging less than 60 points per game in their last three games while making less than 40 percent of their shots. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Crimson Tide and won’t get a lot of extra scoring opportunities against them. They’ve also been careless with the ball, which will lead to easy scoring opportunities for the Crimson Tide, who average more than five steals per game on the road. The Crimson Tide are very good defensively and they have played better in recent games, holding their last three opponents under 65 points per game. They won’t have trouble keeping Oklahoma’s offense in check. Go with Alabama to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

When looking into the adjusted efficiency margin provided by KenPom, Northern Iowa is 170th in the sport with a -0.21 rating while Indiana State is 128th in the country with a +3.77 rating so far. Looking at the defenses throughout the last few games, there is a difference there as the Panthers are giving up 68.8 points in their last five games while the Sycamores are allowing 76.7 points in their previous three games. Go with the Indiana State Sycamores to cover the spread in their own building. 

Rating: 2 Units

Air Force is 12-9 SU overall this year while New Mexico comes in with an 18-3 SU overall record on the season.  Air Force is 62-34 ATS their last 96 games as a road underdog of 12.5 points or more.  Air Force is 5-1 ASTS their last 6 road games against a team with a winning record.  Air Force is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after a SU loss of more than 20 points.  Additionally, the road team is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in this series.

Rating: 2 Units

UC Santa Barbara has shown no signs of slowing down in conference play, covering the spread in 10 of its last 11 games. I am thrilled to back the Gauchos again on Thursday night against a Hawaii team that has been struggling to put up points. The Rainbow Warriors rank outside the top 200 nationally in multiple key offensive statistics, and they are going to have trouble turning things around against a taller UCSB defense. The Gauchos’ height advantage should allow them to control the paint proceedings on the other end of the court as well, and their experienced lineup makes them a strong team to back on the road.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cougars stunned the Wildcats in their first meeting of the season on the back of Mouhamed Gueye’s 24-point, 14-rebound double-double. Arizona had a horrible shooting night (31.7% from the field and 16.0% from downtown), and the Wildcats’ backcourt couldn’t make the basket to save its life. I think the Wildcats can only play better this time around. The Cougars struggle to defend the paint, so I’m backing Arizona to win and cover. Keep your eyes on Azuolas Tubelis (19.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG) and Oumar Ballo (16.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG). This duo will torture the Cougars all night long. Arizona is 16-4 ATS in its last 20 games against Washington State.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Beavers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Thursday games, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games, and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games following a straight up win.  Additionally, the underdog is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings. While the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

The Alabama Crimson Tide has a high-scoring, elite offense that will tear down one of the top defenses in college basketball. Their explosive, fast-paced play will allow them to grow a comfortable lead very quickly, causing Mississippi State to scramble to keep up. In their last meeting, Alabama had two players put out on offense with Sears scoring 20 points and Miller scoring 19 points while also bringing down 11 rebounds. These two have been the dynamic duo that has a huge impact offensively and defensively, so watch for them to carry their team to their second win against the Bulldogs. In addition, the Bulldogs have a low-scoring offense, so expect the Crimson Tide to punish their slow offensive style. Take Alabama winning by a decent margin.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Beacons are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. While the Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. Additionally, the home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Georgia has the ability to put up big point totals but they have their work cut out for them here when it comes to getting things down offensively against Tennessee. The Volunteers are extremely stingy on the defensive end of the floor, allowing more than 65 points just once in their last eight games entering this one. Tennessee has very good depth in their rotation as they have five guys averaging in double figures this season, so it could be any one of a handful of guys that could go for 20-plus points on any given night. Georgia doesn’t have that kind of weaponry to lean on as they rely mainly on Oquendo and Roberts on that end of the floor. Look for Tennessee to clamp down defensively and earn the home win here.

Rating: 2 Units

This matchup will be between two Mountain West Conference rivals that focus on defense first, which will result in a low scoring game and the advantage here goes to Boise State due to a better offense. The Broncos are allowing an average of only 61.6 points per game and at the same time are scoring an average of 73.2 points per game, while in contrast Fresno State Is tough on defense allowing an average of just 62.9 points per game but struggles offensively scoring just 61.4 points per game. Fresno State's weakness is its shooting, as the Bulldogs hit just 42.6% of their field goal attempts and 29.8% of their 3-point attempts.  Fresno State has failed to cover the spread in four of the last six. Boise State has covered the spread in each of its last five and on the season is an above average 13-5-1 ATS.

Rating: 2 Units

TCU is primed for a big win in this one, especially as they continue to ride the wave of confidence from their weekend win over Kansas. The more pressing concern continues to be Oklahoma's ability to find success in the Big 12 and especially as they hit the road. The offensive struggles are well documented and their issues hitting the offensive glass are only going to add to their issues of finding success in this one. TCU's balance on both sides of the ball has only improved as the season has progressed and with their depth of scoring, they are destined for success at home. Additionally, according to covers.com, TCU is 6-1-1 ATS in their last eight road games and 7-2-1 ATS in their last ten games overall.

Rating: 2 Units

The Golden Hurricane have lost seven of their last eight games and six straight road games. They aren’t very good offensively and they play worse on the road where they are scoring less than 70 points per game. They don’t rebound the ball as well as the Pirates and won’t get a lot of extra-scoring opportunities against them. They were very careless with the ball in their last three games, which will lead to easy-scoring opportunities for the Pirates, who average more than six steals per game at home. The Pirates have played well defensively, especially at home where they are giving up less than 68 points per game, so expect them to keep Tulsa’s offense in check. The Pirates also struggled in recent games, but they’ve won five of their last eight home games. They have played well offensively at home where they are scoring more than 71 points per game. They rebound the ball very well at home and they’re aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring opportunities. They’ve also done a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Golden Hurricane a lot of easy-scoring opportunities. The Golden Hurricane aren’t very good defensively and they play worse on the road where they are giving up more than 77 points per game, so expect them to have a hard time slowing down the Pirates in this game.

Rating: 2 Units

Wisconsin has won seven straight in this series and covered seven straight. It's tough to come back from a long break at this point of the season and play perfect or even solid basketball. Northwestern has the better metrics, but Wisconsin is the better team, especially now that Wahl is back and healthy.  Northwestern couldn't shoot worse at home (38.3) and the Badgers normally-solid defense will slow down a rusty team that hasn't played in over a week.

Rating: 2 Units

California and Oregon State will look to halt skids at the other's expense this afternoon when the Pac-12 rivals meet in Berkeley, Calif. A losing streak is nothing new for the Golden Bears (3-16, 2-6), who began the season with 12 straight setbacks. Now, they find themselves mired in a three-game slide following an 87-58 loss to Oregon on Wednesday. Consider that the Golden Bears are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record, and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Spartans are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games, 11-3 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, and 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Mustangs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss, and 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. While the Aggies are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.

Rating: 2 Units

Southern Mississippi is at the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings with three others and one game ahead of James Madison. The Golden Eagles have used a very strong defense to go along with an above average offense that has resulted in 16 victories in 20 games. Southern Miss has covered the spread in 10 of 17 games with a betting line. James Madison also has a very tough offense that scores the third most points per game in the nation but is allowing 66.7 points per game while Southern Miss is allowing an average of only 63.6 points per game. This matchup will be back and forth and will most likely come down to the final possession as both offenses are tough to stop and the team that makes the most stops on defense down the stretch and does not commit turnovers will be victorious, which favors the home team (USM).

Rating: 2 Units

Despite their overall record, I agree with the oddsmakers that Kentucky is the better team, but I expect the Aggies to keep this game too close to striking distance to lay the five points. The Aggies hold a 74% to 68.2% advantage from the free-throw line, which will help do the stretch. One of Kentucky's biggest strengths is on the boards, where they are fifth in the nation in total rebounding percentage (55.9%), but Texas A&M will be competitive in that area as they are 16th (54.6%). This is a big game on both sides, and Texas A&M is on 5-0 ATS run in road games, but Kentucky is just 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine home games. I will take Texas A&M to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

The Trojans defend the paint extremely well, so I’m backing them to keep it close against the Wildcats on the road and cover a 7-point spread. USC should have enough firepower to contain Azuolas Tubelis (20.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG) and Oumar Ballo (16.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG), while the Trojans’ backcourt will torture the Wildcats’ shaky defense. Arizona has allowed 74 or more points in three straight outings. The Wildcats’ defense has struggled all season, and Arizona will need a tremendous shooting night to beat USC by eight or more points. The Trojans are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall and 6-2 ATS in their previous eight meetings with the Wildcats, who have gone 1-5 ATS in their last six contests overall. Also, Arizona is 1-6 ATS in the conference play. 

Rating: 2 Units

I don't get this line. I get the revenge factor but the Wolverines beat the Terps 81-46 on Jan. 1 and 83-64 on Jan. 18, 2022, at home because the Terps don't match up with Dickinson. He's just too big. Last year, he had 21 points and went 10-of-14, but also had six assists due to the double teams. Maryland will play better than the first game, because they are at home. But when you are smaller and you can't really force many turnovers or make 3-pointers to neutralize their size advantage, you are in trouble.

Rating: 2 Units

The Purdue Boilermakers are entering this matchup hot after winning four consecutive games while also knowing that they beat the Golden Gophers once before this season. For this reason, the Boilermakers have an edge entering this contest that Minnesota will be without. In addition, Purdue has a pretty explosive offense that Minnesota will not be able to handle, so expect the Boilermakers' offense to run the score up and beat the Golden Gophers by a decent amount. With Edey having a dominant season, expect him to have another strong performance. In his last game against the Golden Gophers, Edey scored 31 points while bringing down 22 rebounds, so watch for him to be unstoppable once again and lift his team above Minnesota. Take the Boilermakers.

Rating: 2 Units

It will be much easier for Xavier to cover 8.5 points in this matchup than in a normal game, as Wednesday’s contest will be played at a blazing tempo. The Musketeers and Blue Demons both love to get out in transition, so there are going to be possessions galore when these teams match up. This makes it easier to create a wide scoring margin, especially since Xavier ranks fifth nationally in offense. The Musketeers are riding an 11-game winning streak and have covered the spread in five straight games. Their offensive-based game plan makes them extremely dangerous when they are confident, which is certainly the case right now. DePaul is 2-7 in its last nine conference games and lacks the firepower to challenge Xavier 

Rating: 2 Units

After upsetting Arkansas at home and then losing a three-point battle at Kentucky, things have gotten progressively worse for LSU culminating in that 40-point loss to Alabama. The LSU offense has gone south in that stretch, scoring under 60 points in two of the three games. In comes an Auburn team that specializes on the defensive end. Auburn is dominant on the glass and comes off its best 3pt shooting performance in the last game. Auburn is the stronger and more physical team in the paint and does an outstanding job on the perimeter, ranked third in the nation in 3pt defense. Auburn has only allowed over 70 points once in their last three games. Look for Auburn to roll in this battle of the Tigers.

Rating: 2 Units

The Lobos own one of the most dangerous scoring trios in the nation. Jaelen House, Jamal Mashburn, and Morris Udeze combine for 51.2 points per game, but the rest of the pack is far away from their level. The Spartans are not a great defensive unit, but they defend the paint well and avoid sending their rivals to the foul line a lot (77th in defensive free-throw rate). Also, SJSU ranks tenth in the country in defensive rebound percentage. Hereof, I’m backing the Spartans to hang around and cover a ten-point spread. SJSU is 8-1 ATS in its last nine games overall and 6-1 ATS in its previous seven outings on the road. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Houston Cougars have a crazy talented team on both sides of the ball. They are equipped with players who are dominant when it comes to scoring and aggressive when it comes to defense. On offense, they are averaging 75.9 points per game while defensively they are only allowing 52.9 points per game. I expect the Cougars to win this matchup because of their ability to stop their opponents from scoring. Each of these offenses can score but only one defense is elite and that's Houston's defense. With this being said, I expect the Cougars' offense to have a larger time of possession and more points because the defense will force Tulane's offense to turn over the ball or miss shots. Along with that, Sasser is coming off a 31-point performance, so expect him to come in with some energy and perform well again. Take Houston's consistent offense and high-caliber defense coming out on top.

Rating: 2 Units

This spread gives too much credit to a Tar Heels team undeserving of a large spread. The Eagles have been through a tough stretch of games against ranked Duke and Miami teams, plus a 13-5 Wake Forest team. Prior to that, they beat Notre Dame and played hard against a solid Syracuse team until the closing minutes and beat a ranked Virginia Tech team in the prior game. The Tar Heels have a winning record, but they're 6-11-1 ATS. The Eagles won't win this game on offense, but they can slow the pace and get necessary defensive stops to keep it close.

Rating: 2 Units

It’s tough to back the Matadors despite a huge 16.5-point spread. They are one of the worst offensive teams in the country and will have a mountain to climb against the Warriors’ defense. Also, CSUN struggles on the defensive glass (275th in the country in defensive rebound percentage), and Hawaii ranks 83rd in offensive rebound percentage, so I’m going with the Rainbow Warriors to win and cover. It’s a tough wager, and I’m looking for Hawaii’s defense to make a difference. The Warriors are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall, though they’ve gone just 1-5 ATS in their last six showings as double-digit favorites. On the other side, the Matadors are 0-7 ATS in their previous seven games in the conference play. 

Rating: 2 Units

Syracuse has been underrated since its rough start to the season, winning nine of its last 11 games. The Orange have one of the youngest rosters in college basketball, so it took them time to get into a rhythm. They have won four of their last five games coming into this matchup, and they are catching nearly double digits on Monday. Miami has lost two of its last three games and has only covered the spread twice in its last nine home games against Syracuse. The Orange are going to have a big advantage in the paint on Monday, creating even more value on this spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The UConn Huskies have won two of their last five matchups and are looking to get a winning streak going. They currently hold a winning record in the Big East and are sitting in fourth place. The Huskies have an overall better team with the offense averaging 80 points per game while the defense is conceding just 62.6 points per contest. With this being said, the Huskies' offense is explosive and talented enough to put a lot of points on the boards, so expect them to do that against a defense that is surrendering over 70 points per game. The Huskies' defense has been unbreakable this season, giving up just 62.6 points per game, so watch out for them to make huge plays and cause chaos for the St. John's offense. With the elite defense and successful offense, take the Huskies.

Rating: 2 Units

One player that wasn't mentioned in the write-up for Clemson was P.J. Hall. At 6-10, 245, he gives the team the size to help keep Duke off the boards. Ben Middlebrooks (6-10, 232) can also add size off the bench so Clemson won't get crushed on the boards in this one. Duke has struggled on the road and without Roach, this is going to be a very tough place to play. Littlejohn Coliseum will be up for this game as much as any in years. Clemson's tough defense and that atmosphere will cause another 15+ turnover game for the Blue Devils and a win for the Tigers to keep them undefeated in the conference. Duke is also a bit overvalued as they have covered just once in their last six games.

Rating: 2 Units

Kansas has won 15 straight games at home and hasn't lost to a Big 12 opponent at home since the 2019-20 season. The Jayhawks can defend the ball very well and are a far superior offensive team than Iowa State. Iowa State will get its share of stops in this game but it will come down to each team's ability to create second shots. In that regard, the 54th-ranked rebounding unit of Kansas far trumps the 254th-ranked rebounding team of Iowa State. Kansas will get second chances and more possessions than Iowa State. Kansas also protects the ball better than Iowa State, as evidenced by the Jayhawks' six turnovers against Oklahoma in their last outing. It will be a dogfight but Kansas will pull away late with its ability to create offense.

Rating: 2 Units

North Carolina is 0-4 on the season on the road and 3-2 in neutral-site games. The Tar Heels have yet to beat anyone by more than eight points away from Chapel Hill this season. In addition, the Heels' major advantage in this game, rebounding, will likely be hampered with the questionable availability of both Bacot and Nance. The Heels will win this game, but they will not likely win this game going away without two key interior weapons on offense and likely more reliance on a perimeter offense that has been marginal at best.

Rating: 2 Units

The Purdue Boilermakers have been unstoppable this season, mowing down teams left and right. They have lost just one game this season and don't seem to have another loss scheduled anytime soon. They are averaging 75.9 points per game while conceding 61.5 points per game, so expect them to crush Nebraska on both sides of the ball. The Cornhuskers are in for a treat when they face the Purdue defense, so I expect the Boilermakers to easily earn another win with Nebraska unable to be productive on offense. Loyer is coming off a 22-point performance and I expect him to have a similar performance against a defense that is allowing 66.8 points per game. Edey is a solid impact player who leads Purdue on the boards and in points per game, so I also expect him to dominate in this game. Take Purdue with their successful offense and elite defense.

Rating: 2 Units

The Scarlet Knights are 14th in the nation according to KenPom. The defense is excellent rated third in adjusted efficiency, and top-six in three-point percentage, field goal percentage, and points allow. The offense is 113th in adjusted tempo. The Scarlet Knights have four players on the team averaging double-digits, led by 6'11 junior Clifford Omoruyi averaging 14.1 ppg, 10 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Creighton Bluejays have had UConn's number over the years, beating them twice last year and four times in a row. Given that fact, and the fact that the Huskies have lost two straight, I love the Huskies to get a bounce-back win. Make no mistake, this will be a great game as the Bluejays are an excellent basketball team and they match up very well with the Huskies. But I just can't see a team this good losing three straight, particularly coming home after two road losses, Gampel should be rocking and carry the Huskies to a long-overdue win over Creighton. take UConn to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

Virginia might be off to an excellent start this season, but it has been massively overvalued in the betting market. The Cavaliers have only covered the spread once in their last eight games, so I have no interest in backing them right now. Pittsburgh has been a completely different story, covering the spread in nine straight games. The Panthers are coming off a solid win over a ranked team, giving them some additional momentum coming into this matchup. They are going to be playing in front of a raucous crowd, so I am thrilled to back them as home underdogs. Virginia has only played three true road games this season, with one of them being a loss at Miami.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a straight-up loss of more than 20 points, and the Orange are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Louisville is also 0-4 ATS in its last four Tuesday games. The Orange are prepared for the Cardinal's best shot. They, too, know what it's like to be desperate for wins after losing four of their first seven, including three consecutive to St. John's, Bryant, and Illinois. Now that they're back on track, keeping focus is crucial, particularly with a game against #11 Virginia looming. Syracuse looked solid in its win over Boston College, holding the Eagles to 65 points on 40.4 percent shooting, including 33.3 percent from long range. I believe the Cuse defense will swarm and suffocate a Cardinals offense that's 307th nationally in offensive efficiency and turns the ball over far too often.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kent State Flashes are off to an excellent start at 10-3 straight up and an impressive 10-1 against the spread while in contrast Western Michigan is only 4-9 straight up and 5-5 against the spread. Home court is big during conference games and Kent State will use that to its advantage on Tuesday. The Golden Flashes will use their tough man to man in your face defense that is allowing an average of only 60.8 points per game to shut down a Western Michigan offense that is generating only 68.4 points per game while shooting just 44.2%.  Western Michigan has covered each of its last two games but were 20-point and 23.4-point underdogs, losing each of the two outright. However, the spread for this matchup will be much less and the Broncos failed to cover the spread in each of the six games prior to the two most recent with much smaller spreads.

Rating: 2 Units

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are a legit contender propelled by the stifling defense. They beat #10, Indiana by 15 points in their first Big Ten action and only lost by one point on the road against ranked Ohio State in their next one. Purdue is obviously a great squad but has only covered the spread four times all season. Rutgers has an incredible defense that will keep Purdue in check. The Scarlet Knights are only conceding 84.7 points per 100 possessions, ranking them 3rd in adjusted defensive efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy's ratings while Purdue is conceding 91.7 points. Purdue relies on center Zach Edey heavily and Rutgers has an answer for Edey in Clifford Omoruyi who is elite defensively. 

Rating: 3 Units

UCLA has played very well over the last few weeks. The Bruins possesses great depth, and the Huskies will have a mountain to climb in front of the home fans. Washington lacks a quality scorer besides Keion Brooks. The Huskies defend the 3-point line at a high level, but their interior defense cannot contain the Bruins, who have gone 6-0 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six meetings with Washington. UCLA is 4-1 ATS in its last five games played in January, whereas Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last five games overall. 

Rating: 2 Units

Cornell has gotten off to a hot start, namely with a high octane and efficient offense. They are slightly stronger on the glass than Dartmouth, so they won't be controlled in terms of pace. They are very effective with the basketball, while Dartmouth turns the ball over frequently. While Dartmouth has been fairly effective protecting against the 3pt shot, they will be facing a Big Red team that is ranked 89th in the country shooting the long ball. Cornell isn't great on the perimeter but Dartmouth doesn't have the shooters to take advantage of that. The Big Red will roll in their first Ivy matchup of the season and make it four straight wins.

Rating: 2 Units

The Kansas defense has been the strength of their team, but their offense has been nothing to slouch at either. They are shooting 35.9% from 3-point range and are knocking down 54.5% of their 2-point tries. Their lone weakness on that end of the court has been their free throw shooting, as they are knocking down less than 70% of their tries. This will be a strong test for them, as Oklahoma State is fifth nationally in defensive field goal percentage. Star forward Jalen Wilson leads Kansas with 21.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Gradey Dick (15.4) and senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (11.9) are both in double figures as well. Consider that the home team is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

There's a lot to like about the Hokies, but how will they respond if they fall behind early? They've played just two road games, at Charleston and Boston College, and lost both times. With upcoming road matchups versus Syracuse, Virginia, and Clemson, it's time for VA Tech to figure it out on the road. They might have to go without Cattoor (9.6 PPG), who is questionable after leaving the BC game with a left forearm injury. With that said, I'll side with the home team in this ACC matchup.

Rating: 2 Units

The North Carolina Tar Heels are having an inconsistent season and are only 4-4 in their last eight games. They have only won three of their seven games against a power conference opponent. Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in the ACC. They are 2-0 in ACC play and have won eight out of their last nine games. Furthermore, the Tar Heels' defense continues to squander too many points. They have conceded at least 76 points in five out of their last six games against a power-conference squad. They gave up 80 against Virginia Tech and 76 against Michigan in their latest action. Also, Pittsburgh has netted at least 82 points in three consecutive games.

Rating: 2 Units

UConn has been a machine all season, but Villanova is showing steady improvement under their new head coach and won't go down without a fight. The Wildcats have been extremely efficient offensively and have faced a slightly tougher schedule than UConn this season. The Wildcats are also the best free-throw shooting team in the country and have been undefeated since Cam Whitmore has been active. Villanova has also won six of the last seven games against UConn head-to-head. Take Villanova to cover.

Rating: 2 Units

Missouri has an excellent record, but they have only faced the 346th-rated schedule according to KenPom and only one team in the Coaches Poll Top 25. Illinois is much more battle-tested having faced the 135th-rated schedule, and four top-25 teams, with wins over two top-10 teams. Illinois has the offensive firepower to match Missouri and also loves to play at a fast tempo. The Fighting Illini do have a huge advantage on the defensive end and also on the boards, where they are outrebounding foes +7.1 per game. At the same time, Missouri is dead even in rebounding margin on the season. I will lay the points and take Illinois.

Rating: 2 Units

The Cardinals have one of the country's most under-whelming teams this season and there's little reason to think that things will change as they hit the road in this one. They only have two wins on the season as a whole and without a win away from home, this isn't an opponent that they match up well with. The Wolfpack have one of the ACC's best scoring duos and Louisville will not only not be able to stop them, nor will they be able to come close to matching the scoring punch. Additionally, according to covers.com, Louisville is 1-5 ATS in their last six road games, while NC State is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games following an ATS loss.

Rating: 2 Units

The Saint Mary's Gaels’ defense, which is allowing an average of 57.7 points per game and 39.9% shooting will be too much for the Wyoming offense. Wyoming is shooting a below average 44.4% overall and will get very few second look opportunities as St Mary's is allowing an average of only 25.8 rebounds per game including just 5.6 offensive rebounds, which is third best in the country. St. Mary's has covered the spread in six of the last seven games played on a Wednesday on the road. Wyoming has failed to cover the spread in 12 of its last 16 games overall. The Cowboys are scoring a respectable 73.6 points per game but are shooting just 44.4% and rely on a more up-tempo game and St. Mary’s will take the wind out of the sails as the Gaels will use as much of the shot clock as possible on each possession.

Rating: 2 Units

I know bettors are going to be wary of backing North Carolina after its slow start to the season, but the Tar Heels have started to round into form and were able to gain some confidence with an overtime win against a ranked opponent. They also match up very well in this game, as they have the size to counter Dickinson along with the guard play to match Howard. Neither team has been good on the defensive end of the court, but North Carolina has more firepower offensively. Michigan needs Dickinson to play a perfect game today, while the Tar Heels have numerous high-level scoring options.

Rating: 2 Units

UConn has covered a 33-point spread and a 39.5-point spread already this season. They have also beaten an excellent Alabama team by 15 points and showed no mercy beating Butler by 22 in the conference opener. With so many transfers leading the way, the Georgetown defense has struggled as they lost to Northwestern, Loyal Marymount, Texas Tech, Syracuse, and Xavier by double-digits. I am not a fan of laying this many points, but UConn has been excellent, and I don't want to go against the nation's top team against the spread at home. It's either UConn or pass.

Rating: 2 Units

While it may very well be that Charleston comes away with a victory, expecting them to win by more than 4 or 5 in this game could be a stretch. They are on an impressive 10-game winning streak but have earned five-point victories in two of their last three games. In both of those games, they failed to cover the spread. Coastal Carolina has the offensive firepower to stay in this game, and they hit from the free-throw line. Should this be a close game or a contest where both teams are trying to be more aggressive to create turnovers, the Chanticleers can hold their own to stay in this game by hitting free-throw attempts. That should keep this game close, if not help Coastal Carolina earn the victory.

Rating: 2 Units

The Trojans are playing some of their best basketball over the last few seasons and even though they'll be welcoming a dangerous team to town, they'll come away with the win in this one. For Auburn, potentially being without their top guard and top scorer is bound to take its toll on this team, especially as they hit the road in this one. The Tigers' lack of convincing results on the road this season is going to make this one a wake-up call and what USC bringing back quite a bit of experience, they'll be able to coast to the upset at home. Additionally, according to covers.com, Auburn is 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games and are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight-up win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Beavers aren't bad, but they'll look like a very good team versus Green Bay. They're a solid offensive club who didn't quit on themselves after a poor first-half shooting versus Seattle, pouring in 48 second-half points. They'll carry momentum from that shooting performance into this matchup, putting the Phoenix away early enough to coast to a comfortable victory. The Beavers' defense (189th in defensive efficiency) should also have no problems containing Green Bay (354th in offensive efficiency). The Phoenix has not shown up in these non-conference matchups, as Georgetown and Stanford blew them out. Against in-state Wisconsin, they couldn't take advantage of an ice-cold Badgers squad (30.2 FG%), as the Phoenix scored just 15 first-half points and 45 total points.

Rating: 2 Units

The betting trends, though, do not look favorably on Gonzaga's chances. The Bulldogs are 1-8-2 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS loss and 1-12-3 ATS in their last 16 games following a straight-up win. They're even performing poorly ATS in neutral site games (1-9-1 ATS in their last 11). I'll bet the more balanced squad playing closer to home to cover the spread.

Rating: 2 Units

Besides Dillon Jones, the Wildcats lack a decent scoring option. Cal Poly is arguably a better defensive team than Weber State, and the Mustangs own three guys who average points in double digits, so I’m backing the hosts to come out on top and cover a 5.5-point spread. The only thing I’m worried about is the fact that Cal Poly’s defense ranks 309th in the nation in free throw rate, while Weber State’s offense ranks 48th in free throw rate. Anyway, the Wildcats have been one of the worst defensive units in the nation thus far (358th in effective field goal percentage, 58.8%). Weber State is 1-8 ATS in its last nine games overall and 1-7 ATS in its previous eight showings on the road. On the other side, Cal Poly has covered in five straight contests and seven of its last eight outings on the home court. 

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Mocs are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game, 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game. While the Blue Raiders are 19-6-2 ATS in their last 27 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record, 15-5-2 ATS in their last 22 Thursday games, and 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a ATS win.  Additionally, the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Rating: 2 Units

Consider that the Consider that the Buccaneers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Wednesday Games, 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 games following an ATS loss, and 0-3-1 in their last 4 games following a double-digit loss. While the Tigers are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400, 19-7 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a losing road record, and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

Rating: 2 Units

DePaul ranked 60th compared to the Dukes' 75th ranking, while they are far more efficient on defense - 122nd to 249th. In addition, DePaul has played a much more challenging schedule thus far, with the 111th-ranked schedule. Duquesne ranks just 287th in terms of strength of schedule thus far. I expect the Blue Demons to exploit the Dukes' shaky perimeter defense and put up high 3pt numbers. Roll with the Blue Demons for a critical road win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Tigers (8-2) roll into the matchup with the Tide riding a six-game winning streak following an impressive 82-73 win over No. 11 Auburn in Atlanta on Saturday. Kendric Davis, the reigning American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, had a season-high 27 points and nine rebounds in the victory over Auburn. DeAndre Williams (16 points, team-high 11 rebounds), Alex Lomax (13 points, four boards) and Keonte Kennedy (nine points, three rebounds) also played key roles in the upset, as did Memphis' scrappy defense. The Tigers limited Auburn to 38.1 percent shooting from the field (24 of 63) and 25 percent from behind the arc (6 of 24).  Finally consider that Crimson Tide is 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 home games.

Rating: 2 Units

Tennessee comes in as the hotter of the two teams with seven straight wins and the more impressive resume that includes wins over Gonzaga and Kansas. They have the #1 ranked defense in college basketball and are holding the opposition to 33% shooting. They are 3-1 in neutral games thus far and also possess the 35th most efficient offense in college basketball. Maryland has played well to date and does have quality wins over Miami and Illinois thus far. With the game played at a neutral site, expect defense to travel better than offense. With that in mind, the relentless Volunteers' defense will carry the day and add an 8th straight win to the Volunteers resume.

Rating: 2 Units

We have a pair of elite teams on the floor in this contest with no home court advantage to speak of as this one takes place on a neutral floor. These teams are two of the top three shooting teams in the country, so it is going to be a highly entertaining contest. Arizona is a very team-oriented offense and they are good on the glass. The Wildcats do have issues on the defensive end of the floor as the Hoosiers have the advantage in that department. With that said, Arizona has four guys that average in double figures this season, two others that put up more than nine points a night and a dynamic point guard in Kriisa, who seems to be a step ahead of opposing defenses. The Wildcats scratch out a win in a terrific basketball game.

Rating: 2 Units

The Zags will keep their home streak intact with a win in this game but this is too big a spread for the Zags based on their recent play. They are turning the ball over too much and haven't necessarily been suffocating on the defensive end. Washington should be able to hang close enough in this game thanks to the Zags turnover issues and Washington's efficiency on the defensive end, ranked 55th in the country. Gonzaga has not yet hit their stride and are still trying to find themselves. They have only beaten two opponents by more than 16 points this season. The Huskies will hang in this game enough to cover the point spread.

Rating: 2 Units

The Hoosiers have won seven of their last eight games. Even though they were held to their lowest offensive output of the season against Rutgers, they are very good offensively, especially at home where they are scoring more than 85 points per game while making 56 percent of their shots. They have also shot the ball well from the free throw line and they’re very aggressive on the offensive glass, which will give them more scoring opportunities. They also do a good job protecting the ball and won’t give the Cornhuskers a lot of easy scoring opportunities.

Rating: 2 Units

Duke has been overvalued in the betting market so far this season, covering the spread just twice in its last six games. Iowa has been undervalued dating back to the end of last year, covering in 11 of its last 15 contests. The Hawkeyes have won six straight games against ACC opponents and have been one of the top offensive teams in college basketball. Duke does not have good shooting numbers, which is going to be tough to correct in a neutral-site venue.

Rating: 2 Units

Kent State is exactly the opposite of the type of team that you want to face after a crushing loss. The Golden Flashes are a sneaky-good opponent that are flying under the radar, covering the spread in every game this season. They are one of the most experienced teams in the country, led by a trio of seniors, so they are prepared for this type of game. Kent State gave Houston all it could handle, so I am not worried about the Golden Flashes being overwhelmed. I would be concerned about Gonzaga’s intensity level if I were a Bulldogs’ fan, as they are coming off a crushing loss and will not be motivated by the name on the jersey in this spot. They have been overvalued this year, covering the spread once in their last seven games.

Rating: 2 Units

Oregon has owned UCLA over the last two years, and I’m expecting the Bruins to get revenge today in front of the home fans. At the moment, UCLA looks like a better team than the Ducks, who have struggled to shoot the rock so far this season. I’m looking for the Bruins’ backcourt to make a difference, so keep your eyes on Jaquez, Bailey, and Tyger Campbell, who had eight assists against Stanford. On the other side, the Ducks will try to attack the rim and feed N’Faly Dante and Kel’el Ware in the paint. But without a solid shooting night from deep, I highly doubt their chances to keep it close or upset the Bruins in LA. 

Rating: 2 Units

The Ohio State Buckeyes are the real deal. Their only loss of the season occurred against a ranked San Diego State team. They beat Cincinnati 81-53 and defeated #21 Texas Tech 80-73 on Wednesday. Offensively, the Buckeyes are more efficient than Duke, averaging 115.9 points per 100 possessions, ranking them sixth in DI compared to Duke with 112.3 points. The Buckeyes' defense has also been spectacular. Duke will take a lot of threes, averaging 22.4 three-point attempts per game and the Buckeyes are limiting foes to 26% shooting from deep. Duke has been inconsistent in the offensive end. They only scored 56 points in Sunday's loss and have yet to prove themselves offensively. They are shooting a poor 41.7% and are relying heavily on the defense.

Rating: 2 Units

Rating: 2 Units

Pitt may have three straight wins coming in but they are facing a Northwestern team that is battle tested in the early going. The Wildcats have beaten Georgetown on the road and took Auburn to the limit before falling a point short in Cancun. While Northwestern does miss the presence of Pete Nance, the fact remains that they have plenty of returning talent, led by Buie and Audige, to keep the Wildcats in games. The major difference we’ve seen between these teams so far is what we’ve seen on the defensive end of the floor. Pitt, while they have been average, has to contend with a Wildcats team that has stifled opposing teams to the tune of 32.1% shooting from the floor, which is second in the nation. Look for Northwestern’s defense, and home-court advantage, to be the difference in this one.

Rating: 2 Units

The Tar Heels had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Pilots in their last game. They will try to bounce back from the loss with a win over the Crimson Tide, which will give them their sixth win in their last seven games. North Carolina is averaging 79.5 points per game. They scored 65 points in their last game, making 44 percent of their field goals and 16.7 percent of their three-pointers. R.J. Davis led the Tar Heels with 15 points and three rebounds. Armando Bacot finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Caleb Love added 12 points and three assists. North Carolina has played well defensively, giving up 70.5 points per game. They gave up 70 points in their last game and will need a similar effort if they want to get the win.

Rating: 2 Units

The Pirates enter with a far better as they have won 5 games and only dropped one this year. The Monarchs are 3-3 this year and are coming off a close loss to Davidson this week. Eastern Carolina is led by Javon Small, who is scoring over 20 points per game. East Carolina has shown that they score big with four of their fives wins coming by double figures. The Monarchs have lost two of their three losses by single digits. The scoring ability of the Pirates will keep them in this game and show that they can win on the road.