Purdue vs Connecticut 9:30 ET

Huskies (-) over Boilermakers- Like I said last time out, ‘until someone beats this team there is no reason to play against the Huskies.’ Yes, of course, unless you are up against Zack Edey the Two-time NCAA Payer of the Year! Both of these clubs are championship worthy and I was surprised the opening number was as high as it was at -6.5. Most of my west coast Vegas friends like I believe the price would be Connecticut around -3...but of course my east coast people showed their bias and said it could have been higher. Now, my thoughts are who’s instincts are better. Las Vegas is very sharp and I respect their opinion as I do New York but in actuality as to who would have more influence over the outcome?...Straight-up, if this game was played without referees (I was one of them) I see Connecticut getting the best of a very good team The key of course is Zack Edey and I wonder after what I saw if he has been up against a player with the size and the talent of  UConn’s  7’2’ 285 Lbs center Donovan Clingan who had four blocks against Alabama and controlled the boards. Take CONNECTICUT!

NC State vs Purdue 6:05 ET

Boilermakers (-) over Wolfpack- Purdue has won 21 consecutive non-conference, regular season or postseason games against power conference or nationally ranked teams. That equals the second longest such streak in NCAA history. Purdue is looking for its first national championship. The Boilermakers have played for the title just once, losing to John Wooden's UCLA team 92-72 in 1969. Their last trip to the Final Four came in 1980, when they lost again to UCLA. On the line for Zack Edey and Purdue (33-4) and DJ Burns Jr. and the Wolfpack (26-14) is a trip to Monday's championship game against the winner of the semifinal between UConn and Alabama. Edey will take center stage Saturday in the first national semifinal when the Boilermakers, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, meet tournament Cinderella North Carolina State, who advanced despite being the No. 11 seed in the South Region. The Wolfpack were never ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 all season. The big man too tough for State...take PURDUE!

Indiana State vs Seton Hall 9:00 ET

Pirates (+) over Sycamores- Indiana State (32-6) and Seton Hall (24-12) are both No. 1 seeds and certainly have looked the part over the last four games. The Sycamores have been impressive offensively, averaging 90.5 points in wins over SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Utah. The Sycamores took advantage of a partisan crowd in the win over Utah, as the Final Four is being played fewer than 100 miles from the Indiana State campus in Terre Haute. Hinkle Fieldhouse will likely be loaded with Indiana State fans again on Thursday, but not much has rattled Seton Hall in this tournament. The Pirates slipped past Saint Joseph's in overtime in their NIT opener before posting double-digit wins over North Texas, UNLV and Georgia. Take SETON HALL!

Utah vs Indiana State 7:00 ET

Utes (+) over Sycamores- Utah (22-14) closed its regular season with eight losses in its final 12 games, followed by a defeat to Colorado in the Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals. Still, the Utes earned an NIT bid as a No. 2 seed and they've certainly made the most of their opportunity. Utah's bumpy finish to the postseason feels like a distant memory at this point. The resurgent Utes find themselves in the NIT Final Four in Indianapolis, where they will battle Indiana State (and likely a large contingent of Sycamore fans) in Tuesday's first semifinal. The top-seeded Sycamores (31-6), who gave up 92 points to SMU in their NIT opener and Indiana State yielded 81 points in a four-point win over Cincinnati in the quarterfinals. Great season for State but the difference in the level of competition played with be on display tonight. Take UTAH!

Tennessee vs Purdue 2:20 ET

Volunteers (+) over Boilermakers- Top-seeded Purdue faces No. 2 seed Tennessee in an Elite Eight, Midwest Region matchup attempting to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980. The Boilermakers (32-4) have won their first three tournament games by double digits, including an 80-68 win Friday over No. 5 Gonzaga. Purdue’s Zach Edey, the potential National Player of the Year for the second straight season has 27 points and 14 rebounds in Purdue’s win over the Bulldogs. Purdue faces the Volunteers (27-8) for the second time this season, having defeated Tennessee 71-67 in the Maui Invitational in November. But unlike the rematch against the Zags the Boilermakers may have a bit more struggles against the Volunteers defense. Take TENNESSEE!

Clemson vs Alabama 8:50 ET

Tigers (+) over Crimson Tide- Saturday's NCAA Tournament West Regional final matchup pitting No. 4 seed Alabama against No. 6 seed Clemson comes with a guarantee to be a landmark moment for either program, as each is vying for its first Final Four spot in school history. The two have faced off in the national title game three times since the inauguration of the College Football Playoff in 2014 which is one time more than either basketball program has appeared in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, including Saturday's contest. Alabama (24-11) beat top-seeded North Carolina 89-87 on Thursday to reach its first Elite Eight since 2004 and it will be difficult for them to maintain that level of play. Defeating Carolina was a huge accomplishment and they are riding high right now. Clemson (24-11) is playing its first Elite Eight game since 1980 after beating No. 2 seed Arizona 77-72 on Thursday. The regional-final round might be unfamiliar territory for the Crimson Tide and Tigers, but the teams know each other. Clemson knocked off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 85-77 on Nov. 28 and they are ready to do it again. Take CLEMSON!

Alabama vs North Carolina 9:40 ET

Crimson Tide (+) over Tar Heels- North Carolina (29-7) has won 10 of its last 11 games after its 85-69 defeat of Michigan State on Sunday in the second round. the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's West Region finds itself two wins shy of the Final Four when it faces No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. The Tar Heels come to Los Angeles aiming for their second Final Four under Hubert Davis and fourth since 2016. The Tar Heels will try to keep the high going against an Alabama team that reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons but is looking to secure its first Elite Eight appearance since 2004. The Crimson Tide (23-11) limped into the NCAA Tournament having gone 2-4 over their last six games before facing No. 13 seed Charleston last Friday. While Alabama's offense features four scorers averaging at least 11 points per game. Take ALABAMA!

UNLV at Seton Hall 7:30 ET

Runnin’ Rebels (+) over Pirates- Seton Hall, an NCAA snub and a No. 1 seed in the NIT, will host UNLV in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J. The winner heads to Indianapolis next week for the tournament's semifinals and championship game. The Big East Conference got a mere three teams into the NCAA Tournament (and all three advanced to the Sweet 16), the conference's fourth-best squad has started 2-0 in the NIT. While the MWC who was 3-32 in NCAA Tournament games had six teams selected and UNLV was not one of them. UNLV (21-12) knocked off No. 2 seed Princeton and Boston College in its first two rounds. The Rebels are much better than they they are rated. Take UNLV!

James Madison vs Duke 5:15 ET

Blue Devils (-) over Dukes- James Madison (32-3), which extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 14 games, will play Duke in a second-round game Sunday. The fourth-seeded Blue Devils beat No. 13 Vermont 64-47 earlier Friday. The Dukes were a Megabucks winner over Wisconsin and this time it will be the ‘Dukies’ who with eight losses is not considered one of the Blue Devils. With James Madison's victory, a 12 seed has won at least one game against a five seed in 33 of the 39 NCAA Tournaments since it expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Take DUKE!

Texas vs Tennessee 8:00 ET

Longhorns (+) over Volunteers- Second-seeded Tennessee (25-8) will meet seventh-seeded Texas (21-12) with the right to advance to the Sweet 16. For Tennessee coach Rick Barnes this is a homecoming of sorts. Texas coach Rodney Terry was an assistant coach under Barnes from 2002-11 at Texas, so he should be familiar with Barnes’ tactics. And there is more as Texas assistant coach Frank Haith was on Barnes' staff before becoming a head coach at Miami, Missouri and Tulsa and then rejoining the Longhorns. The Volunteers had some late-season slippage that probably cost them a No. 1 regional seed. Tennessee depends on toughness, and getting after it defensively is a big part of Barnes' formula for success. Texas scored a season-low point total in Thursday night's 56-44 dismissal of 10th-seeded Colorado State. The Longhorns know they probably need to ramp up production. Texas will join the SEC next season and gets a jump of the conference here. Take TEXAS!  

Michigan State vs North Carolina 5:30 ET

Spartans (+) over Tar Heels- Top-seeded North Carolina (28-7) will play about a 2 1/2-hour drive away from its campus in Chapel Hill. Ninth-seeded Michigan State (20-14) has taken a winding road this season. North Carolina recorded a 90-62 win over No. 16 seed Wagner on Thursday while Michigan State turned out in nice numbers for the first-round game against No. 8 seed Mississippi State. The Tar Heels are 35-2 in NCAA Tournament games in the state of North Carolina. That mark is 13-1 in Charlotte but MSU coach Tom Izzo holds an NCAA Tournament-record 17 victories in games as a lower seed, including in Thursday's victory. North Carolina began the 2022-23 season with the No. 1 national ranking was were improperly seeded No. 1 and will fall to a club with big game experience. Take MICHIGAN STATE!     

James Madison vs Wisconsin 9:40 ET

Dukes (+) over Badgers- Fifth-seeded Wisconsin and 12th-seeded James Madison will begin NCAA Tournament play when they close out a quadruple-header at Barclays Center in a South Region first-round game. Wisconsin (22-13) received an at-large bid after losing to Illinois, 93-87, in the Big Ten championship game Sunday afternoon. James Madison (31-3) earned the Sun Belt Conference's automatic bid by cruising past Arkansas State, 91-71, in the conference championship game on March 11. Wisconsin, which missed the NCAA Tournament last season for just the second time since 1998, allowed fewer than 70 points in regulation in each of its first three Big Ten tourney games after allowing at least 70 points in nine of the last 11 regular season games. Few teams in the field enter the tournament playing better than James Madison, whose 31 wins are matched only by No. 1 UConn and whose 13-game winning streak is the longest in the nation. The trip to the NCAA Tournament is the sixth for James Madison and its first since 2013, when the Dukes were a 16th seed after earning the then-Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid.

Take JAMES MADISON!  

Colorado State vs Texas 6:50 ET

Rams (+) over Longhorns- Seventh-seeded Texas (20-12) is in the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in the last 25 editions of the event. No. 10 seed Colorado State (25-10) is in the field for the second time in three years and has already padded its March credentials. The Rams throttled Virginia 67-42 in Tuesday night's First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. But that was just the fifth all-time NCAA Tournament victory for Colorado State and its first in 11 years.Texas, which is aiming for a first-round victory for the third season in a row after reaching the Elite Eight last season, lost two of its last three games coming in. The Longhorns haven't played since a March 13 setback to Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament's second round.The Rams want to build on the momentum from Tuesday night when they overwhelmed their opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now, they face a team in its final year in the Big 12. Since losing their last three games in February, the Rams have gone 5-1. Take COLORADO STATE!

Colorado vs Boise State 9:10 ET

Broncos (+) over Buffaloes- Boise State is making a third consecutive appearance in the field and were shaken when their stock dropped and shock set-in that they were being sent to the play-in portion of the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos (22-10) meet Colorado (24-10) in the final game of the eight-team, pre-tournament on Wednesday night. Boise State had seven wins against NCAA Tournament teams and expected to be a part of the core group. The Broncos finished No. 26 in the NET rankings, which projected as the equivalent of a No. 7 seed. They were second in the Mountain West standings with a 13-5 record and the conference has six teams in the Field of 68. Boise State has four players averaging double-figures in scoring but still they are 0-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. That streak ends here. Take BOISE STATE!

North Texas at LSU 7:00 ET

Mean Green (+) over Tigers- LSU is returning to postseason play.

It's not the NCAA Tournament, but the No. 4 seed Tigers' game against unseeded North Texas in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, La., is a notable step in the rebuilding of the program. LSU (17-15) went 9-9 in the Southeastern Conference after winning just two league games in 2022-23 in coach Matt McMahon's first season after he was hired to guide the program in the wake of NCAA sanctions. The Tigers, who defeated the Mean Green 66-62 on Nov. 17 in the Shriners Children's Charleston (S.C.) Classic, won three of their last four regular-season games to earn a first-round bye in the SEC tournament. They lost to Mississippi State 70-60 in their conference tournament opener. North Texas (18-14) is very familiar with the NIT. The Mean Green are in the tournament for the third consecutive season and they won it last season, defeating UAB in the final. North Texas won three of its last four regular-season games, then defeated Tulane 81-71 in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament before losing to Florida Atlantic 77-71. Take NORTH TEXAS!

Florida vs Auburn 1:00 ET

Tigers (-) over Gators- The Gators are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings with Auburn including an 81-65 February win in Gainesville. Florida is off of a huge come-from behind and and ‘cover’ over the nagging Texas A&M Aggies while the Tigers enter with five straight wins and off of a non-cover victory over Mississippi State. Better coaching and better overall talent as cream rises...take AUBURN!

Texas A&M vs Florida 3:30 ET

Aggies (+) over Gators- The Aggies have won five in a row and might be on the right side of the bubble even if they don't beat Florida in the second semifinal of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn. While Texas A&M could use one more win to bolster its chances of an at-large NCAA bid, the sixth-seeded Gators (23-10) are considered a near lock. Their 102-88 win over No. 19-ranked and third-seeded Alabama late Friday night figures to enhance their seeding. Florida owns a top-10 scoring offense at 85.4 points per game, thanks to Clayton (17.3 ppg), Pullin (15.6 ppg, 5.0 assists) and Samuel (14 ppg). The Gators also lead Division I in rebounding at 43.1 per game. Their ability on the boards will be tested by the Aggies, who rank third in the nation at 42.7 rebounds per game. The Aggies eked out a 67-66 win over Florida on Feb. 3 in College Station, Texas, in the teams' only meeting this season behind a game-high 26 points from Radford. They di it again. Take FLORIDA!

Baylor vs Iowa State 9:30 ET

Bears (+) over Cyclones- The Baylor Bears and Iowa State Cyclones will battle for the second and final spot in the Big 12 Tournament bracket final when they clash Friday night at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.  Ranked sixth nationally, the contender Cyclones are just slight 1.5-point favorites against the Bears in the conference tournament odds. Iowa State’s marquee defense  second only to Houston in defensive efficiency helped force 20 Wildcats turnovers, converting them to 23 points. put away Kansas State, winning 76-57 and advancing to the semis. Baylor is the second highest-scoring team in the Big 12, but after an uneven offensive effort against Cincinnati. Take BAYLOR

Mississippi vs Texas A&M 7:00 ET

Rebels (+) over Aggies- The teams met last Saturday in Oxford, Miss., with the Rebels suffering a stinging 86-60 trouncing by the Aggies on Senior Day. Desperate for a couple of wins, the teams meet and both need a deep run in the Southeastern Conference tournament if they hold any March Madness aspirations. Winners of three straight games, the Aggies have done it before. In the first meeting at College Station, Texas, on Jan. 27, the Rebels won 71-68, a victory that moved them to 17-3 (Started 13-0). They have won just three times since 86-82 at home against rival Mississippi State after beating Texas A&M, then Missouri which went 0-18 in the conference twice by single digits. The teams met last Saturday in Oxford, Miss., with the Rebels suffering a stinging 86-60 trouncing by the Aggies on Senior Day. The Rebels respond. Take MISSISSIPPI!

Kansas State at Texas 7:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Longhorns- Kansas State (18-13) comes into the tournament as the 10th seed, with the memory of a much-needed victory over then-No. 6 Iowa State in its last game. The Wildcats play seventh-seeded Texas (20-11), which is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament after defeating archrival Oklahoma in its last game. The Wildcats may need to win the conference tournament to feel secure on Selection Sunday, but avenging a 62-56 loss to Texas in Austin in February would be a good place to start. While the Longhorns look like a lock to get into the NCAA Tournament either way, they're focused on eliminating all doubt. They've won two of the past three Big 12 tournament titles but that ends here. Take KANSAS STATE!

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s 9:00 ET

Gaels (_) over Bulldogs- St. Mary’s entered their regular season final on a 16-game winning streak and had a chance to go undefeated in WCC play. They were 17-0 in conference play but the perennial WCC champion Gonzaga pulled off a 70-57 upset to tarnish the Gaels final regular conference record. These two clubs are the only clubs worthy of an invite to the Big Dance and both will get seeded in the upper half of brackets formed. Take ST. MARY’S!

Illinois at Iowa 7:00 ET

Hawkeyes (+) over Fighting Illini- Iowa has won four of their last five games entering this weekend at No. 48 in the Ken Pom rankings and No. 57 in the NET which are two key metrics monitored by the NCAA Tournament committee. For No. 12 Illinois, there's little at stake in the regular-season finale at Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Big Ten title is out of reach, the No. 2 seed in next week's Big Ten tournament is clinched, and a No. 4 or 5 NCAA Tournament seed seems virtually assured. But for Iowa, there's so much more than Senior Night on the agenda. When the teams met in Champaign two weekends ago, Iowa built a seven-point second-half lead only for its offense to go quiet late in a 95-85 Illinois victory. This time they close the deal. Take IOWA!  

Iowa State at Kansas State 2:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Cyclones- Iowa State (26-6, 13-4) is locked into the second spot in the Big-12 trailing Houston who took the conference title from Kansas the first time they have displaced in 15 years. After a great start in conference play and defeating Kansas and other ranked teams Kansas State has played themselves onto the NCAA Big Dance bubble. The Wildcats dropped a 78-67 decision after one of their upset wins. This time they are in need and the Cyclones know win or lose remain the same entering the Big-12 Tourney. Take KANSAS STATE!    

Colorado at Oregon 9:00 ET

Buffaloes (+) over Ducks- The Colorado-Oregon men's basketball game on Thursday in Eugene, Ore., has important implications for both teams. The Buffaloes (20-9, 11-7 Pac-12) can clinch third place in the conference regular-season standings and the No. 3 seed in the Pac-12 tournament next week. The Ducks need at least a win Thursday to take the No. 3 seed. Oregon (19-10, 11-7) hosts Utah on Saturday, and it lost to both the Buffaloes and Utes on the road earlier this season. One more win for either team will guarantee a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Colorado comes in hot, having won four straight overall. However, the Buffs are 2-6 on the road in conference play. Oregon has been up and down since a 5-0 start to conference play. Along the way, health problems have contributed to the Ducks' inconsistency, with three players out due to season-ending injuries and another with an undisclosed illness. Take COLORADO!

Mississippi State at Texas A&M 9:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Aggies- Mississippi State (19-10, 8-8 SEC) is coming off Saturday's 78-63 loss at then No. 11 Auburn in which it trailed for all but 21 seconds before cobbling together a response. Mississippi State looks like a safe bet for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. But two losses last week to ranked opponents mean the Bulldogs could use one more win to stop any thoughts of sliding back on the bubble. The Aggies (16-13, 7-9) snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday night with a 70-56 SEC win at Georgia. But Texas A&M appears to have played itself off the NCAA Tournament bubble with its recent skid. It may have to win the SEC tournament next week in Nashville to earn a bid, a disappointment for a team expected to contend for a league title. Take MISSISSIPPI STATE!

Alabama at Florida 9:00 ET

Crimson Tide (+) over Gators- The Crimson Tide (20-9, 12-4) are looking to bounce back from an 81-74 loss at home against No. 4 Tennessee on Saturday. They now sit one game behind the Volunteers in the SEC standings with two games to play. No. 16 Alabama will go for a regular-season sweep against Florida when the teams tip off Tuesday evening in a Southeastern Conference contest in Gainesville, Fla. Florida (20-9, 10-6) hopes to rebound from an 82-76 loss on the road against then-No. 18 South Carolina on Saturday. The Gators sit in sixth place in the SEC, but only one game separates them from No. 11 Auburn and No. 16 Kentucky. Alabama held on for a 98-93 overtime win against Florida in the teams' first matchup of the season Feb. 21 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Take ALABAMA!  

Duke at NC State 7:00 ET

Wolfpack (+) over Blue Devils- NC State (17-12, 9-9) has lost three of its past four games. The Wolfpack were unable to protect a 10-point lead early in the second half in Saturday's 79-70 loss at No. 9 North Carolina. NC State was outscored 42-25 in the half. The Wolfpack are 0-3 against ranked teams this season. Duke (23-6, 14-4 ACC) convincingly won two home games in the past week as they were able to rest many of its starters for stretches in the second half. The Wolfpack are 0-3 against ranked teams this season but, they had a big upset victory last season at home against the Blue Devils, winning 84-60. Duke could get caught in a look-ahead situation as they host North Carolina in their ACC regular season final game on Saturday. Take NC STATE!

Tennessee at Alabama 8:00 ET

Volunteers (+) over Crimson Tide- Oh these one should be better than the last...a Tennessee blow-out win where is was never close and the Vols held a 27-point lead at one point in the second half. So, won’t Alabama be looking to even the score and they are capable as the Nation’s highest scoring team averaging 91.5 PPG. The Tide have scored triple-digits nine times this season but, defense travels well and Rock Barnes club’s can slow the tempo down enough to frustrate the ebbing tide. Take TENNESSEE!  

Dayton at Loyola-Chicago 9:00 ET

Ramblers (+) over Flyers- Loyola's season-best, seven-game winning streak ended with Tuesday's 79-64 loss at St. Bonaventure. The loss at St. Bonaventure put the Ramblers behind league-leading Richmond while Dayton (22-5, 12-3) had six scorers in double figures during Tuesday's 80-66 home victory against Davidson. The Flyers moved into a second-place tie with the Ramblers (20-8, 12-3) in the conference standings. Take LOYOLA-CHICAGO!

Gonzaga at San Francisco 11:00 ET

Don’s (+) over Bulldogs- Gonzaga is back in the Top-25 but they are a shade off teams in most recent past. The Bulldogs who have already defeated San Francisco 77-72 as host but are just 4-4 on the road. The Dons are 14-1 SU at home and are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. SF is well balanced with five players averaging double figures and pull off the surprise tonight. Take SAN FRANCISCO!

Alabama at Mississippi 9:00 ET

Rebels (+) over Crimson Tide- Sometimes the ranking of NCAA schools seems to be more political then based on performances or results. Here are two schools playing in the same conference the SEC with the same overall record of 19-8 and yet the visitor (Alabama) is a strong favorite. The difference is the Crimson Tide is tied for the conference lead (11-3) and the Rebels have struggled of late losing five of six including last time out a 72-59 loss to South Carolina. The Tide ebb here...take MISSISSIPPI!

Virginia Tech at Syracuse 7:00 ET

Hokies (+) over Orange- Yeah, now that the Orange are thinking NCAA Big Dance after a pair of wins over Notre Dame and NC State we should expect good things But, I don’t think the book-maker things so...I mean they are less than a field goal favorite at home where they are 13-2. Their opponent Virginia Teach has lost five of their last seven games and are just 1-8 both SU and ATS on the road. Syracuse has a better record by 2-games over the Hokies and it ain’t enough. Take VIRGINIA TECH!

Baylor at TCU 9:00 ET

Horned Frogs (-) over Bears- Baylor is off an overtime home loss against conference leader Houston who led by 17 at the half before the Bears huge second half surge forced he game into the OT. TCU meanwhile was winning their contest over Cincinnati making it 3-of-4 inBig-12 action. Defense is the key for the Frogs as they forced 17 turnovers and held the Bearcats to 41.1% shooting from the field. Bears have lost their last two and fall for the Hat-trick tonight. Take TCU!

Creighton at St. John’s 12:00 ET

Red Storm (+) over Blue Jays- Don’t let the Red and Blue lead you astray this is not a political battle. It is a meeting between a streaking Blue Jay squad that has won four in-a-row including a rout of No. 1 Connecticut securing their ninth straight season with 20 wins or more. St. John’s is falling short of expectations and have lost eight of 11 after starting 4-1 in Big East play, St. John’s coach Rick Pitino was so critical of his cue that he apologized to each player individually. The Jays have won seven straight including a 66-65 win when the crew from Queens blew a nine-point second half lead. Not this time...take ST. JOHN’S!

North Carolina at Virginia 4:00 ET

Cavaliers (+) over Tar Heels- Oh Lordy! I can’t truly explain the sensation that went through my body when I first gazed upon this match-up. No. 10 North Carolina is off their longest break in action (six days) in two months and enter Charlottesville looking for their first win there in 12 years Virginia is off their worst loss of the season falling at Virginia Tech 75-41 (that is not a typo). With only one player scoring double figures the Cavaliers shot 33% and were outscored 62-29 from mid-first half and were already thinking of the Tar Heels. Founder Thomas Jefferson would be proud of his ‘Public Ivy’ who had won 8-of-9 before their debacle. Huge bounce back...take VIRGINIA!   

Yale at Cornell 7:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Big Red- The Ivy’s best go at it in Ithaca, New York as Cornell who has won nine-of-10 host Yale who are off a loss at Princeton to end a 10-game winning streak. In the Bulldogs 73-62 loss 7’0” center Danny Wolf who scored 84 points in the previous four games went scoreless missing all 10 of his shots taken. The Yalie’s have won the past three meetings including an 80-78 victory two weeks ago and are 8-2 straight-up in the last 10 meetings. Take YALE

Ohio State at Minnesota 8:00 ET

Buckeyes (+) over Golden Gophers- It is a rare college basketball experience for a coach to be fired in mid-season but Ohio State made the move that had to be done. The Buckeyes were repeating a scenario that played out last season where they failed to win on the road and this year they are 0-7 SU in Big Ten action this year are that led to Chris Holtmann’s departure. Under interim coach Jake Diebler Ohio State posted a 73-69 win over No. 2 Purdue on Sunday and will keep the momentum here. Take OHIO STATE!

Dayton at George Mason 7:00 ET

Patriots (+) over Flyers- The line tells the tale on this one as the 6th ranked Dayton Flyers come to Washington as small favorites against a Patriot club that is capable of surprising a mid-ranked team at home. George Mason is 12-2 SU at home and are off a 90-57 rout of George Washington and are look for their third straight in over the Flyers. These two clubs usually meet just once a season and this is the first meeting and only meeting barring a play off match-up. Take GEORGE MASON!

Utah at UCLA 7:00 ET

Utes (+) over Bruins- The last time these two met (Megabucks winner) Utah crushed the Bruins 90-44 the worst loss in UCLA Big-12 history. That lost was the eighth in nine games but since then the Bruins turned things around having won 8-of-9 and are looking to avenge the embarrassing defeat. The Utes have dropped three straight and 6-of-9, are off a loss at Southern Cal and are 0-6 on the Pac-12 road. UCLA is tough defensively but challenged offensively averaging just 66.1 while allowing 63.9 ranking eighteenth nationally. Utes scoring 78.5 and surrendering 72.2. This should come down the the final buzzer. Take UTAH!  

Marquette at Connecticut 4:00 ET

Golden Eagles (+) over Huskies- The nation’s top team Connecticut has not backed down like most of the other after being named No. 1 and have won 13 games in-a-row. The Huskies warmed up for this battle with the last Big East champion before UConn by crushing DePaul 101-65 who is 0-13 in conference play. It believe that it does not aid a team to pay a weak-sister before an important match-up as it leads to a false confidence. The Big East Conference Player of the Year Tyler Kolek has led the Golden Eagles to eight straight wins and the confidence need to overcome the Huskies. Take MARQUETTE!

Florida at Georgia 1:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Gators- The impostor Gators have won six of seven including our Highest-Rated Megabucks over Auburn last Saturday 81-65. Florida has defeated the Bulldogs nine straight times winning the first meeting this year 1-0-2-98 in OT as an 8-point favorite. Georgia is on a five game losing streak which started with their loss to the Gators and will end with their loss at Arkansas last Saturday. The Bulldogs have had a full week to put their heads together and will be ready for this huge rivalry encounter. Take GEORGIA!   

Memphis at North Texas 8:00 ET

Mean Green over Tigers- North Texas has been good to ‘us’ the past two seasons even sweeping through the NIT last season and several upset win this year. Memphis has always had the ‘flash’ that draws people into looking for spots the bet on them. But, for the most part the Tigers had been a point spread disappointment when playing in big games and are currently 8-16 ATS. The Mean Green plays a patient offense and a defense that will harass you from baseline to baseline with their constant pressure braking teams down and forcing turnovers. They are also 9-2 SU at home. Take NORTH TEXAS!

Xavier at Seton Hall 7:00 ET

Musketeers (+) over Pirates- This is the second meeting of the year between these two with Xavier winning at home 74-54 over the Pirates the game after they had upset Connecticut in their Big East opener. Seton Hall responded with five straight wins after that defeat and have now lost four of six and is coming off their worst game of the season losing 80-54 against Villanova after wins over lowly Georgetown and DePaul. Xavier has wins in 3-of-4 and have won the past four meetings. The beat goes on...take XAVIER!

St. John’s at Providence 7:00 ET

Red Storm over Friars- When Rick Pitino took over St. John’s coaching job expectations soared as visions a revitalization of New York basketball was on tap. Well, the Red Storm have dropped six of eight including a loss Saturday to Marquette 86-75 after blowing a 15-point lead. Currently at 14-10 the Johnnies will need a late season surge to qualify for the Big Dance. Providence has lost three of their last four and were defeated by the Red Storm 75-73 four weeks ago getting the cover. This time it will be a storm that gets the money. Take ST. JOHN’S!

Kansas at Texas Tech 9:00 ET

Red Raiders over Jayhawks- Kansas rebounded from their loss at Kansas State (Megabucks winner) last Monday with at win over Baylor despite having only seven scholarship player available. Texas Tech had been playing short-handed for two weeks and lost three straight before defeating Central Florida 58-57. Kansas is an underdog here although they have won four straight and 8-of-9 in the series a role that they have not been in against Tech in five years. The Red Raiders are a stellar 12-1 SU at home while the Jayhawks are just 2-4 in true road games. Take TEXAS TECH!

North Texas at SMU 2:00 ET

Mean Green (+) over Mustangs- The defending NIT champions North Texas has already corralled the Mustangs two weeks ago 68-66 as a 1-point underdog at home. They promptly lost their next three games before getting back on the winning side against Tulsa. After that loss and another at Wichita State before reeling off three straight win including a 26-point win over in-state rival Rice  scoring 95 points. The Mean Green will beat you will a defense that frustrates their opponents allowing just 59.7 PPG ranking No. 4 in the nation. SMU will find points more difficult this time out as Mean Green pester you to death. Take NORTH TEXAS!  

Auburn at Florida 3:30 ET

Gators over Tigers- Auburn posted a convincing home win over arch rival No. 16 Alabama on Wednesday while Florida fell 67-66 at Texas A&M Saturday. The Gators failed to score in the final 3:04 ending a four-game win streak and have had a full week to stew over a game that they should have won. Florida has won 14 of the last 18 games between the two and are 5-1 ATS the past six meetings and 8-2 ATS last 10. Take FLORIDA!

Iowa at Penn State 700 ET

Hawkeyes over Nittany Lions- Penn State has dropped a few notches this season from what they have been in most recent seasons but are coming off a pair of road wins at Indiana and Rutgers. Without leading scorer Kanye Clary with Nittany Lions have shown great effort the past five games but this will fade and tonight is the start of their swoon. Iowa is favored on the road in a series where the home team has won the past six meetings. So, why then are the Hawkeyes favored...Take IOWA!

Wisconsin at Michigan 7:00 ET

Wolverines (+) over Badgers- The is the worst Michigan (7-15) basketball team in 16 seasons when they were 10-22 in 2007-08. The Wolverines after winning and covering their first three games of the season have gone a miserable 3-16 ATS in their last 22 games overall. Wisconsin has dropped out of the Top-10 (formerly No. 6) falling to No. 11 by losing their past two games including a 75-69 home loss to No. 2 Purdue on Sunday. But, if one thing that can be said about the Wolves is that they have had double-digit leads in seven of their losses and just need to finish games. Take MICHIGAN!

B.Y.U. at Oklahoma 8:00 ET

Cougars (+) over Sooners- The Cougars have been impressive to date in their inaugural Big12 season leading the nation in 3-point field goals made per game with 12.1. BYU has made at least seven 3-points in every game. Oklahoma has fallen out of favor with the pollsters and have lost three of their last four including being a beaten favorite at Central Florida (Power Play winner) on Saturday. The Cougars center Fousseyni Traore has return to action after missing seven games and in his first start back against Texas he poured in 24 points with nine rebounds. Take BYU!

Kansas at Kansas State 9:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Wildcats- These two rivals had different starts to their season and are currently trending in another direction. Kansas State has lost four in-a-row and are 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall while the Jayhawks are off a huge win over No 2 Houston on Saturday in a game that they took command early and were never headed. his is the first meeting this season and the pair split two games last yer but Kansas had won the previous seven meetings. Hawks are just 2-3 SU on the road while Wildcats are 12-2 SU at home. Take KANSAS STATE!

Purdue at Wisconsin 1:00 ET

Badgers (+) over Boilersmakers- If things go to Hoyle the Badgers should win here. No. 2 Purdue I understand but when I saw Wisconsin ranked at No. 6 my thoughts were that it wouldn’t last long and the next time out in classic fashion they blow a 16-point lead at Nebraska and lost in overtime. Purdue got their revenge for one of their two losses and quelled Northwestern as Zach Edey had 30 points and 15 rebounds. The Boilermakers won last year’s match-up 63-61 in Madison and with the line being what it is you should just have the winner. It should be...WISCONSIN!

Houston at Kansas 4:00 ET

Cougars (-) over Jayhawks- Houston is making quite an impression in their inaugural Big-12 season and have won five straight entering Lawrence to battle Kansas. The Jayhawks on their way to 20 wins or more for the 35th consecutive seasons are just 4-3 in their last seven games. The Cougars are off an overtime (Money Game winner) 76-72 win at Texas while the Jayhawks bounced back from a pair of losses to pound cellar dweller Oklahoma State. There is a new kid on the block and they are challenging the conference bully and they smack the Jayhawks.  Take HOUSTON!

Oregon at USC 10:30 ET

Trojans (+) over Ducks- The Pac-12 has switched roles between their conference football and basketball whereas their once proud Pac-12 basketball level of play is not of previous standards. USC enters this contest against the conference leader Oregon having lost five straight while the Ducks limp into LA losing three of their last four. This is the second meeting of the season with Oregon winning at home 82-74 but this time they are burdened with numerous injuries and the Trojans take advantage. Take SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

Baylor at Central Florida 7:00 ET

Knights (+) over Bears- No. 18 Baylor has dropped three straight conference games by a total of nine points and have played three overtime games already so close games are the norm. Eight of the Big-12 schools are ranked and although Central Florida is not one of them they have posted wins over ranked teams No. 3 Kansas and Texas. The Knights are off a loss at Cincinnati and will be playing their fifth Top-25 ranked opponent. Take CENTRAL FLORIDA!

Mississippi State at Mississippi 8:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Rebels- At the onset of the college basketball season I was slightly taken back at the respect that was given to this Mississippi team which at 17-3 was worthy of the odds-makers regard. But, I am now taken back because they are not ranked in the Top-25. Although undefeated at home 12-0 they aren’t even favored by a bucket against rival Mississippi State who hasn’t won a road game this season going 0-4 SU and 0-4 ATS. The Bulldogs have respect because they have defeated a pair of ranked teams Tennessee and last time out Auburn both at home. State’s defense the key here ranking 45th while the Rebels limp in at 135th but No. 223 in rebounding and 350th in offensive rebounding among 354 teams, Take MISSISSIPPI STATE!  

North Carolina at Florida State 2:00 ET

Seminoles (+) over Tar Heels- A pair of hot ACC schools hook-up in Tallahassee where the Seminoles winners in six of their last seven host No. 3 North Carolina who have won nine straight. The last time the Tar Heels lost was in Atlanta against Kentucky on December 16 and are a perfect 8-0 in conference play. Florida State started 6-6 including a home loss to Lipscomb and since their lone defeat was a home to Clemson. This afternoon they will be ready to ambush the Heels. Take FLORIDA STATE

Maryland at Iowa 7:00 ET

Terrapins (+) over Hawkeyes- Iowa had their three game win streak end Saturday in Ames by Purdue 84-70. They played as well as they could shooting well and protecting the ball with only seven turnovers but a 50-24 rebound deficit was way too much to overcome. Since defeating Illinois 76-67 ten days ago Maryland has dropped their last two including a Sunday loss to Michigan State 61-59 where they had the looks but missed the shots. The Hawkeyes have won the last four meetings but are just 5-6 ATS at home while the Terrapins are snapping at their heel which will be on the floor because they don’t rebound. Take MARYLAND!

Houston at B.Y.U. 9:00 ET

Cougars (+) over Cougars- The most unlikely same conference ‘rivals’ will meet for just the third time is schools history with each winning on the others floor back in 2018 and ‘19. Houston currently No. 4 is 1-2 SU in true road games this season and 0-3 ATS while BYU is 10-1 SU at home going 9-2 ATS and the Cougars return home after a loss Saturday at Texas Tech while Houston recovered from a one-point loss at TCU with huge wins over Texas Tech and UCF. Home cooking is the answer here especially for this dog. Take BRIGHAM YOUNG!

Cincinnati at Kansas 9:00ET

Bearcats (+) over Jayhawks- Over the years Kansas has dominated most of the action the Big-12 except for one nemesis and that is playing at West Virginia where they are 5-7 and lost once again Saturday in Morgantown as turnovers spelled defeat. Cincinnati was blown out in the second half at home against Oklahoma the same day as they got ‘killed on the boards’ said coach Wes Miller. He has put his club threw the riggers of intense practices and the Bearcats will be more aggressive against the No. 3 Jayhawks. Take CINCINNATI!

Memphis at Tulane 1:00 ET

Green Wave (+) over Tigers- Both of these rivals are coming off defeats and more than likely were caught look toward this national TV game in New Orleans. Not many know how intense the rivalry is between these two, so much so that in the point shaving scandal by Tulane they refused to lay down against one team...Memphis. No, maybe the Green Wave can’t stand up with the Tigers talent wise but they will band together to take down a team that only had seven assists in their loss blowing a 20-point lead to Central Florida. Take TULANE!

Brigham Young at Texas Tech 6:00 ET

Cougars (+) over Red Raiders- In recent seasons all we hear from the media is how the SEC dominates the football scene the ACC the basketball but for the past number of seasons the Big-12 has stepped up and can play with anyone at any level in any sport. Texas Tech was handed their first conference loss on Wednesday as Houston ended the Red Raiders nine game winning streak. Like in most sports when a team has the breaks going their way their confidence is high and then a simple loss allows doubt to creep into your head, and then...Bang-Bang! The lose again! BYU leads the Big-12 in scoring averaging 85.7 PPG and have five players averaging double figures in scoring. take BYU!   

Illinois at Michigan 8:30 ET

Wolverines (+) over Illini- I expect Illinois even at No. 14 to be the same as they have always been and that is over-rated and able to disappoint their backers at the most inopportune time. The Illini have dropped four spots in the rankings after losing two of their last three including a 76-67 to Maryland on Sunday. Michigan is off to their worst start that I can remember but are off a 73-65 win over Ohio State on Monday (there first ATS win in seven games) and are looking for their first back-to-back conference wins. Wolves are 0-6 SU L-6 meetings but got the money last time out and the previous four meetings. Take MICHIGAN!

UCLA at Arizona State 9:00 ET

Bruins (+) over Sun Devils- Both of these clubs ended four-game streaks last time out as UCLA won over Washington on Sunday and Arizona State was defeated by the Huskies on Thursday. The Bruins had lost to Utah 90-44 the previous game and that was a lesson they won’t forget all to soon as they are filed by a new spirit. UCLA’s confidence should be high as they have defeated the Sun Devils three straight times and six of the last seven meetings with their lone loss having to go overtime. Take UCLA!

Texas A&M at Arkansas 9:00 ET
Razorbacks (+) over Aggies- Texas A&M finally defeated a ranked team Saturday on their third try as they upset No. 6 Kentucky (Megabucks winner) at home 97-92 in overtime. The Aggies now take to the road where they are 2-2 to play Arkansas who they defeated in both meetings last season and are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 encounters. But, this time around A&M is off an emotional overtime win and will have trouble getting ‘up’ for the Razorbacks who are 0-3 in SEC play. Their coach Eric Musselman demands that their defense must improve and they play it better at home. Take ARKANSAS!

Purdue at Indiana 7:00 ET

Boilermakers (-) over Hoosiers- Purdue formerly ranked No. 1 has played three true road games this season and they have won just one of them losing at Northwestern and Nebraska. Indiana has been outstanding at home going 9-1 SU (6-4 ATS) with their lone home defeat coming at the hands of Kansas 75-71 in which they were plus+6.5 and got the money. The Hoosiers swept the series (2-0) last season and have won 3-of-4 meetings including the last two in Bloomington. The Boilermakers have the best big man in college basketball in Zach Edey and a number of capable 3-point shooters which helps open the interior. Take PURDUE!

Cincinnati at Baylor 8:00 ET

Bearcats (+) over Bears- I guess if you are a Bearcat that is a step above being just a Bear. Cincinnati burst onto the Big-12 scene with a win over BYU (really they are Big-12) and blew a late lead by missing free throws in a home loss to Texas. Baylor enters this f ray on a four-game win streak after a come-from-behind victory over BYU last Saturday (defeating our Power Play) outscoring the Cougars by 15 points in the second half. Bearcats out to prove they belong and give the No. 14 Bears all that they can handle. Take CINCINNATI!

Kansas State at Texas Tech 4:00 ET

Red Raiders (-) over Wildcats- Coaching match-up today features a pair of former assistant coaches that worked on the same staff at Baylor . They will face off in Lubbock where Kansas State coach Jerome Tang and Red Raiders coach Grant McCasland won’t be able to pull any tricks on each other and know what to expect. The Wildcats may be 2-0 on the road but the Red Raiders home court advantage is Gaels something to acknowledge as they are 9-0 and on a current eight game win streak as they have a high assist rate and low on turnovers. Take TEXAS TECH!

Kentucky at Texas A&M 2:00 ET

Aggies over Wildcats- What we have here is a failure...nah, so No. 6 Kentucky has opened and underdog at Texas A&M and the last time I checked the Aggies have yet to be ranked. The Wildcats opened 2-0 in SEC play while A&M (0-2) is still looking for their first conference victory. It seems a bit ‘strange’ that having reeled off six straight wins and covers (6-0 ATS) with four of their six wins by double-digits. Although Kentucky has won 8-of-10 meetings but the odds makers say not today...take TEXAS A&M!  

Stanford at Oregon State 11:00 ET

Cardinal (-) over Beavers-  Maybe there is something going on that I am not aware of but make me understand how a 7-7 team who is 1-2 on the road can be the favorite that they are at a 9-6 team that is 9-1 SU at home. Stanford is off a loss at USC while Oregon State is off a pair of losses to the two Washington schools. The Cardinal have won the past three meetings and have gotten the money four straight. Despite the defeats I like to believe that although Stanford is just  at 500 a win over Arizona has shown that they are better than that. Take STANFORD!

Kansas at Central Florida 7:00 ET

Knights (+) over Jayhawks- Talk about expectations, Kansas has won nine straight games and managed to fall a spot in the national rankings this week. The Jayhawks who defeated TCU 83-81 Saturday were dropped to No. 3 while No. 2 Houston was beaten by Megabucks winner Iowa State last night. UFC was routed in their first Big-12 encounter by Kansas State who also routed West Virginia last night so maybe they are not so bad. The Knights had their worst shooting night of the season and will be more comfortable a home where they are 7-2 SU. Take CENTRAL FLORIDA!

Houston at Iowa State 7:00 ET

Cyclones (+) over Cougars- The Cougars are ranked No. 2 in the nation and many have said that with nine of their 14 wins are by 30 or more points that they could easily be Number One over Purdue. For starters Houston entered the Big-12 Saturday with an 89-55 home win over West Virginia. The Cougars will be playing their 2nd conference game but it will be their first one on the road and jst their second of the season. Iowa is off a disappoint performance at Oklahoma where hey struggle from behind for 35 minutes, take the lead and then falter losing 71-63. But, it seems like every year I see T.J. Otzelberger coaching the Cyclones and I am reminded how fundamentally sound his coached teams are and they are in good hands. Take IOWA STATE!

Michigan State at Northwestern 7:30 ET

Wildcats (+) over Spartans- Feel good here having used MSU as a Power Play winner over Penn State on Thursday while the Wildcats were getting pounded by No. 9 Illinois. Northwestern coach Chris Collins attested that his cats were so bad that there is too many issues to address and we should just flush it (the NY version is ‘fagetboutit), put it behind you. His club is looking for their third straight win over the Spartans something NW hasn’t done since 1962 (the NY Mets inaugural season). PS they lost 120 games, but the Wildcats used up one of their nine lives Thursday and tonight the visitor pays (no matter who it is) Take NORTHWESTERN!  

Utah at Arizona 8:00 ET

Utes (+) over Wildcats- Whoa Nellie...Thursday, I let it be know that Utah had a terrible record in Arizona and that the Sun Devils had beaten the Utes the last four games in Tempe (ASU Megabucks winner) and it gets even worse in Tucson where they have lost 11 straight times not winning there since 1986 when the New York Mets were World Series champions. Arizona destroyed Colorado Thursday night leading by 50 points at one time and finishing 97-50 dominating all phases of the game. Utah may have struggled in the desert but they are well coached and fundamentally sound. I expect a fierce competitive battle with the decision going down to the final buzzer. Take UTAH!   

North Texas at Wichita State 9:00 ET

Mean Green (+) over Shockers- A couple many a few more years back Wichita State made a great run entering the post-season undefeated. As a matter of fact it was 2014 and the Shockers finished the season 34-0 with the Missouri Valley Championship and lost to Kentucky 78-76 in the third round ending 35-1. That started a four year conference championship run and they have been nothing special ever since even going 17-18 last season. Paul Mills is in his first season as head coach with the Shockers and he and his squad will get a lesson in ugly basketball and tough tenacious defense tonight by the current NIT champions. I saw them defeat UAB in the NIT finals at the Orleans in Las Vegas and it is unbelievable they way they can take a team out of their game out of their comfort zone. I really like this side tonight after all Wichita State is 7-0 at home and the odds makers give the visitor and even money shot to win outright. Take NORTH TEXAS STATE!

Clemson at Miami-FL 8:00 ET

Tigers over Hurricanes- This one is a tough call for me but one that I had to make. Miami the city and University is one of my favorites places to be for sporting events and everything else that it has to offer. What is offered here is a well coach basketball team headed by Jim Larrannaga who is in his 14th season guiding the Hurricanes. The Miami is 8-0 SU at home and opened a small underdog to No. 16 Clemson (11-1, 1-0) in this one. The Canes have won three straight and are off a 95-55 rout of North Florida and coming off such an easy romp like that does nothing to help against a ranked club like Clemson. Just as long as the Tigers stay focused here and not have thoughts wondering to Saturday’s hosting of North Carolina they should prevail. Take CLEMSON!

San Diego State at Gonzaga 9:00 ET

Aztecs (+) over Bulldogs- Each of these two programs have represented the west in the NCAA Final Four over the past three years with San Diego State falling this past April and Gonzaga in 2021 and 2017. These two programs have split four previous meetings and the Aztecs have won their last three with their two losses coming against BYU and Grand Canyon (much better than people realize). Gonzaga is the big name team coming from the west but San Diego State has won 20 games or more in 17 of 18 seasons and will keep this one close with their stellar defense. Take SAN DIEGO STATE!

Baylor vs Duke 7:00 ET

Bears (+) over Blue Devils- The old gray mare just ain’t what she used to be...and neither are the Blue Devils. Duke has won their last two games against Charlotte and Hofstra (not exactly powerhouses) and are now 7-3 on the year. Now, a Duke team that already had three losses and were 5-3 before playing a pair of powder puffs. Baylor after winning their first nine contests is off a loss at another supposed neutral site in Detroit falling to Michigan State (Megabucks winner). Ranked No 10 the Bears come up a small dog at Madison Square a place the Blue devils love to play and their history is to put on a show. The defenses of these two are very comparable but the Bears get the edge on offense and are ranked #2 in shooting 42.1% from 3-point range as well as being #3 with defensive rebounds. Take BAYLOR!

Florida at Michigan 7:00 ET

Wolverines (+) over Gators- Every year I can count on one thing, and that is that the Florida Gators will be over-rated in basketball. The impostors are a shinny 7-3 SU but once again are a deal breaker when it come to turning a profit as thy are just 2-7-1 ATS. Michigan has had a rough road playing and losing to the likes of Memphis, Texas Tech, Oregon and Indiana while the Gators fell to Virginia and Baylor. Both clubs average 82.4 PPG with Florida holding a defensive edge, But, this is where improvement form scheduling help along with paying at home where the Wolves defense will stiffen. Take MICHIGAN!

Seton Hall vs Missouri 5:00 ET

Pirates (+) over Tigers- I know how bad Seton Hall can actually be and when I saw Missouri come up such a short favorite my thoughts were that the tigers are probably over-rated by the public. It just looks so easy I have seen the Pirates up close and personal and maybe I am expecting too much early in he season but I was not impressed. With this game in Kansas city I expected Mizzu to be at least a 5.5-6-point favorites but the bookmaker thinks otherwise and I truly believe he knows more today than I do. The injury to Tigers guard Caleb Grill must be having a huge impact. Take SETON HALL!

Clemson at Memphis 3:00 ET

Tigers (+) over Tigers- Ha! Okay, so that their no confusion right off and that is Clemson is  he side for me. Some have questioned me because well, for the most part the rule to me is that when a non-ranked team is favored over a ranked team fade then ranked and that would Clemson. But, I am beginning to believe that after what I saw last season that maybe they have gone too far with unranked teams being favored over undefeated teams again Clemson. The difference should come down to the ACC defense because Memphis doesn’t play it as well. Take CLEMSON!!

Baylor at Michigan State 2:00 ET

Spartans (+) over Bears- I really like this Baylor club they are ranked No. 6 and are undefeated at 9-0 opening the year with a win over Auburn and currently they are 6-1-1 ATS overall. I can’t say too much that I like what I have seen from Michigan State (4-5) as ‘we’ have faded them three times Nebraska, Wisconsin and Arizona and won them all. But, MSU coach Tom Izzo is a great motivator and always gets the most out of his players even when their talent level is a step below their opponents. The Spartans have dropped from a preseason No. 4ranking to out of the Top-25...but, they must have something that we haven’t seen yet. Take MICHIGAN STATE!

Connecticut vs Gonzaga 10:00 ET

Huskies over Bulldogs- With this line (Connecticut favored) and these two clubs meeting in Seattle in the virtual home game for the Bulldogs and  it appears the Huskies are by far the superior team with this price. Gonzaga has been recognized with national prominence in recent seasons and UConn is the defending national champions but still, this price I would have thought if the Zags had a legitimate chance to win this line would be closer to pick-em. Bookmakers re .making it easy to take Bulldogs at home in their backyard. Huskies prevail. Take CONNECTICUT!

Rutgers at Wake Forest 6:00 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Demon Deacons- Under ordinary conditions I would think that Rutgers might struggle here as it is their first true road game (I always consider that) and that Wake Forest is 3-0 (2-1 ATS) at home. These two met last season with the Scarlet Knights winning big 81-57 as a 9-point home favorite. This time around the points are very short and I don’t think that we will even need the (always take them) points as the Deacons are top heavy with virtually all their scoring coming from just four players and the rest of the squad averaging just 3.3 ppg (the remaining roster). Depth is the Knights huge advantage. Take RUTGERS!

Oklahoma State at Southern Illinois 9:00 ET

Huskies over Cowboys- This is the first true road game for Oklahoma State and for a team that is 2-5 ATS in games on neutral and home courts that spells trouble. Add that the Cowboys are one of the worst shooting teams in the nation making just 45.3% for their field goal attempts ranking 154th and they are even worse from the free throw line hitting only 61.9% ranking 343rd. Southern Illinois has always been a personal favorite of mine since watching them playing in the NIT at Madison Square Garden and seeing a youthful Salukis in Walt Frazier who become ‘Clyde’ once he arrived in New York with the Knicks capturing the only two New York Knicks NBA Championships. Don’t be afraid of this non-power-5 club because these Cowboys are broke back...Take SOUTHERN ILLINOIS!

Cornell at Syracuse 8:00 ET

Big Red (+) over Orange- When these two colors clash there is nothing attractive from the result. Syracuse with Jim Boeheim or without him of late are not the Big East power many associate them to be.  In head-to-head match-ups which they play every season Syracuse has won the last ten but Big Red have covered 3-of-4 and are 7-1 this season with their only loss  at George Mason. The Orange are in the red going 1-6 ATS with their only cover against Chaminade. Take CORNELL!

Creighton at Nebraska 4:00 ET

Cornhuskers (+) over Bluejays- No. 15 Creighton understands they are a target for most unranked clubs but the Rivalry for bragging right in Nebraska does exist and the Cornhuskers are ready for bear as they have the confidence needed with seven wins under their belt without a loss. It has been 30 years since Nebraska started 7-0 and each of their wins without a complete roster for any game by 10 points. Take NEBRASKA!

Purdue at Northwestern 9:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Boilermakers- Can the do it again? Does lighting strike twice do the Wildcats have the Boilermakers number...we shall kind out Friday night in Evanston. Last season No. 1 Purdue was upended by the Wildcats 64-58 knocking Purdue off the Top ranking. The ‘Iron workers’ are undefeated and once are ranked No.1 and are 7-0 already with wins over three ranked teams #11 Gonzaga, #7 Tennessee and #4 Marquette. Northwestern has only one loss and is determined to have their basketball program recognized that they are the rise. This is Purdue first true road game and it being a conference game adds intensity from the Wildcats who are 4-0 at home. Take NORTHWESTERN!

Texas Tech at Butler 6:30 ET

Red Raiders (+) over Butler- Neither of these clubs are ranked among the Top-25 but that doesn’t mean that one or the other or both won’t get there or end up there, they both have programs that have played quality basketball over time. Butler seems to be a bit short here after posting wins over Penn State and Boise State after getting tripped up by No. 19 Florida Atlantic 91-86 getting 6.5 and are 3-0 ATS in their last three and 3-0 at home. Texas Tech has gone 5-1 SU but just 2-4 ATS ad this is their first true road game and that is something that I usually like to play against but they have had two neutral tournament games. After losing to a weak Villanova squad 85-69, they responded with a 73-57 win over Michigan as a 2.5 home dog. The number tell me that it is a Red Raiders day. Take TEXAS TECH!

Texas A&M at Virginia 7:15 ET

Cavaliers over Aggies- Well, this will be my attempt this season in college basketball where I will be using a tried and true trend in NCAAM. Texas A&M is ranked No. 14 and they come to Charlottesville in the SEC/ACC Challenge and here we have an un-ranked Virginia team a favorite on the opening line against a ranked team Texas A&M club. The Cavaliers (5-1) are a gutty crew that wears you down and are 3-0 at home while the Aggies are 2-0 in their only two road games. This will be a contrast of styles as A&M likes to run the court and throws up over 64.4 shots per game averaging 79.3 ppg while the Cavs attempt just 51 shots but hold their opponents to 53.1 ppg ranked No. 2 in the nation. Take VIRGINIA!

San Diego State at BYU 9:00 ET

Cougars over Aztecs- Now, here we have one of those situations where the odds-maker have make a Final Four participant an underdog against a un-ranked team. No. 17 San Diego State who caught the attention of America last year making it to the NCAAM Finals has always had trouble when playing BYU. The Cougars hold a 50-27 series edge over the Aztecs including 30-4 all-time in Provo. Take BYU!

New Mexico vs St. Mary’s 10:00 ET

Lobos (+) over Gaels- This will be the second straight season that New Mexico (1-0) has made the trek to play the Gaels. The Lobos enjoyed a successful journey last year as they stopped the St. Mary’s 23-game home winning streak with a 69-65 decision, part of a 14-0 start that briefly got New Mexico ranked in the Top 25. The Lobos tuned up for the rematch by walloping Texas Southern 92-55 on Monday night in its season opener in Albuquerque. It was the largest margin of victory for the Lobos vs. a Division I foe under third-year coach Richard Pitino. Ordinarily, I would look to play against the Lobos with a win like that and with revenge in Saints favor but I was reminded that a Pitino was coaching. Take NEW MEXICO!

Auburn vs Baylor

Tigers (+) over Bears-  No. 20 Baylor and Auburn will meet Tuesday when they open their respective seasons at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Baylor was 23-11 last season and lost to Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears return just one starter, forward Jalen Bridges from the 2022-23 team. Auburn is also in rebuilding mode, but not as drastically as the Bears are. The Tigers went 21-13 in 2022-23 and also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Houston. Five-star freshman Aden Holloway, a 2023 McDonald's All-American, is the highlight of the Tigers' incoming class and is expected to step into the starting point guard position. Of the 10 players in the Tigers' anticipated rotation, eight are upperclassmen. Take AUBURN!

San Diego State vs. Connecticut 8:30 ET

Aztecs (+) over Huskies- What can be said about Connecticut that you haven’t already heard or already know and that is they are the best of all this season hands down when it counted. The Huskies were 14-0 on December 30 and ranked No. 1 before starting Big East play. They promptly lost seven of nine and then went untouched until Marquette got them 70-68 in the conference tourney. San Diego State plays really tough defense and never gives you anything easy. They also have something no one else has and is rarely seen today, and that is a veteran senior laden team. A roster that has been together for four and five years. They know each other and are mature enough to handle this moment. Aztecs will keep this close! Take SAN DIEGO STATE!

Alabama-Birmingham vs North Texas State 9:30 ET

mean green eagles (+) over Blazers- UAB lost to North Texas twice this season before taking them down in the USA conference semi-finals and then lost to Florida Atlantic in the Final. The Mean Green looks terrible on offense with more dribbling than ball movement but they are tenuous on defense. They limited Wisconsin to 13 second half points while and shut them out the final 9:07 playing with half and full court pressure and the Badgers missed 15 of their last 16 shots. North Texas is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings and are 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games at neutral sites! Take NORTH TEXAS!

Utah Valley vs UAB 9:15 ET

Wolverines vs Blazers- An pair of clubs with 28 wins each square off in Las Vegas in the second NIT game at the Orleans. maybe no one know who Utah Valley actually is but they are cover machine and went 22-5 ATS on the year and are 20-7 in their last 27 games against teams with winning records. UAB has been good to me this season and I like the squad as they are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games at neutral sites but are just 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 games following an ATS win. Take UTAH VALLEY!

North Texas vs Wisconsin 7:00 ET

Mean Green over Badgers- This is he first NIT Championship for either school but for sure we are more surprised about Wisconsin never having been there. I sort of understand North Texas as they really haven‘t seen on the map since they played football against Mercury Morris and Duane Thomas. It seems strange to me that the Mean Green would be favored as they are not a household name. But they have won 29 games and are 10-3 ATS against wining teams and are 14-6 ATS at neutral sites. Note that Wisconsin is 1-9-2 ATS after a straight-up win. Take NORTH TEXAS

Miami-FL vs Texas 5:05 ET

Longhorns (-) over Hurricanes- A really tough call as Texas has been so good to me and to themselves winning the Big-12 regular season and Playoff Title and have continued their fine play through this tourney. Miami under Jim Larranaga can never really surprise me and to find them here is actually a shock as I firmly believed that Houston was going to be here today. I am sure that he will have his Hurricanes well prepared but the Longhorns have physical qualities that can’t be matter and their overall size has them at an advantage along with their season’s schedule. Longhorns are 7-0-1 ATS in their last eight games against teams wit winning records and 5-0-1 ATS at neutral sites. Take TEXAS!

Connecticut vs Gonzaga 8:45 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Huskies- Crush, romp, stomp and annihilate the opposition that is has been the mantra of the Huskies. Connecticut was called arrogant by some when they arrive in Las Vegas and their response we are not here on vacation. One that may have put them in a foul mood was the condition of the Luxor Hotel which they had to lave because of issues that I won’t mention at this time. Hey, how bout dem Bulldogs...they won the game they wanted over UCLA and many question if thy will have anything left in the tank after their dramatic victory. All the trends and stats point to U Conn but the odds maker thinks not so much. Zags still seeking the title and their third trip to the Final-4. Dog is 3-0-1 ATS in four meetings. Take GONZAGA!

Florida Atlantic vs Kansas State 6:05 ET

Owls (+) over Wildcats- Whoo, whoo, whoo the Owls are calling and are one improbable game away from the Final-4. I know there are so great stories in this NCAA Tournament and Florida Atlantic is one of them with 34 wins the MSG stage in New York City has brought out the best in them.Kansas State has been solid the entire season posting an amazing 23-12 ATS out of the tough Big-12. They defeated Montana State, Kentucky and Michigan State after dropping their final two regular season games. Once again the Owls will rule the roost. Take FLORIDA ATLANTIC!