40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Texas Tech +7)

I will gladly take my chances with the Red Raiders catching 7 on the road against the Jayhawks. These two teams played earlier this month in Lubbock and Texas Tech won that contest 75-67 and were up by as many as 14 in the 2nd half. Red Raiders won that game without two starters in Terrence Shannon and Kevin McCullar. Shannon is arguably Tech's best player. 

It will definitely will be a lot harder on the road against the Jayhawks, but the Red Raiders are built to win on the road with their defense. Not saying they will win the game, but 7 feels like way too many. Give me Texas Tech +7! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Pitt +9) 

I know the Panthers come in having failed to cover 3 of their last 4, but there's just no way I'm passing up on Pitt as a 9-point dog against Clemson. The Panthers are just 7-11 overall and 2-5 in ACC play, but if you have watched this team you know their record is misleading. Pitt has had some horrible luck in close games this season. This isn't just a game they can cover, they are more than capable of winning outright. 

I'm also not so sure what Clemson has down to warrant being this big of a home favorite. The Tigers are just 10-8 overall and 2-5 in ACC play. They have lost their last 3 and it's not been pretty. They lost 56-72 at Notre Dame, 68-70 at home to a bad BC team and 78-91 in their most recent game at Syracuse. 

I just don't know that they can flip a switch here and give the kind of effort and performance to win by double-digits. It's also a bit of a lookahead spot with a game at Duke on deck Tuesday. Give me Pittsburgh +9! 

50* (CBB) Smart Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Tennessee -5.5)

I'll lay the 5.5-points with the Vols in Saturday's home game against LSU. This might seem like a few too many for Tennessee to be playing as they are the No. 24 ranked team and the Tigers are No. 13. 

It tells me the books aren't overly optimistic about LSU's injury concerns. We know Xavier Pinson won't play, but Darius Days is also questionable with an ankle injury. Days hurt the ankle in Wednesday's loss at Alabama and played just 12 minutes in that game. 

That's a lot of outside shooting that could be sidelined. Days leads LSU with 39 made 3-pointers and the next best is Pinson who has made 20 (missed 3 games). While Tari Eason was the star in LSU's 79-67 home win over the Vols earlier this year, Days and Pinson each played 32 minutes in that win, combining for 24 points, 4 made 3's (rest of team made 4), 8 rebounds and 9 assists. 

Even if Days were to play, I still think there's value at 5.5 with the Vols on their home floor playing with revenge. Tennessee is a perfect 9-0 at home this season, where they are averaging 81.2 ppg and giving up 56.0 ppg. Give me the Vols -5.5! 

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Miami -2) 

I will gladly lay the 2-points at home with Miami against Florida State. I think the Hurricanes are one of the more underrated teams not just in the ACC but the country. Miami's 14-4 with their worst loss being against UCF, who ranks No. 79 at KenPom. They are 6-1 in ACC play with wins over NC State, WF, Syracuse, Duke (on the road) and UNC. 

Interesting to note that their only loss came in a crushing 64-65 loss at Florida State a couple weeks ago. You got to believe that the Hurricanes will be up for this one and they will have fresh legs. Miami's hasn't played since Tuesday and they had a week off before that game. 

It's a much different story for the Seminoles. Florida State is in a major letdown spot. FSU won 76-71 at Syracuse last Saturday, then won a thriller at home vs Duke 79-78 in OT on Tuesday, before beating North Florida 86-73 on Thursday. A game they only led 56-53 with 14 minutes to play. Give me the Hurricanes -2! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (Over 138.5) 

This total is way too low. Neither of these defenses are all that great. Both are giving up 70+ ppg in conference play. Commodores have allowed 71.6 ppg and the Gators are allowing 73.4 ppg. 

Both defense figure to struggle given the matchups. Florida's biggest weakness is defending the 3-pt shot. They rank 12th in the SEC in 3-PT% defense. Vanderbilt's strength offensively is there 3-PT shooting. They rank 4th in the SEC in that department. 

The Gators offense is built to score inside the arc, as they are 2nd in the SEC in 2-PT% offense. That's where the Commodores defense struggles. Vandy is 2nd vs the 3-PT shot and 12th vs the 2-PT shot. 

I got both teams eclipsing 70-points and even if one team fails to get there, we still got a great shot at cashing this ticket. Play the OVER 138.5! 

40* (CBB) Early Bird Total KNOCKOUT (Over 154) 

I don't think these two teams will have any problem eclipsing 154 points. Duke is going to be without freshman Trevor Keels, who has been a reliable 3-point shooter, but I don't think it matters in this matchup. The Orange aren't just one of the worst defensive teams in the ACC, they are 226th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and 253rd in defensive effective FG%. They rank 277th in 2-PT% defense. 

Duke should be able to do whatever they want offensively in this game and I got a hard time seeing them finishing with fewer than 80 points at home. 

While the Blue Devils are good defensive team, they are far from elite and they are going to have their hands full against a very good Syracuse offense. Orange rank 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 23rd in 3-PT%. They just played a game at home against Clemson that they won 91-78. That's where I see this game. Somewhere in the 160s. Give me the OVER 154! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Wisconsin -4) 

I'll take my chances with the Badgers as a 4-point home favorite against the Spartans in Friday's Big Ten matchup. I just don't think the Spartans have what it takes to go into Madison and get a win. 

Michigan State just lost at home to Northwestern and their 5-1 record in Big Ten play is a bit misleading. The Spartans have not played any of the top teams in the conference. They have played Minnesota twice, Northwestern twice, Nebraska and Minnesota. This is by far their toughest true road game of the season, as their 3 true road games so far have come against Butler, Northwestern and Minnesota. 

Badgers are 6-1 in Big Ten Play and riding a 7-game win streak. Unlike the Spartans, they haven't had a cupcake conference schedule. Wisconsin has wins over Purdue, Iowa and Ohio State. Give me the Badgers -4! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money VEGAS INSIDER (USC -2)

I'm going to lay the 2-points on the road with USC as they will be at Colorado on Thursday. The Trojans are 14-2, but come in having lost 2 of their last 3 and most recently just lost at home to Oregon. I not only think it's a good buy-low spot on USC, but we should also be getting a big effort here from the Trojans in this one. 

As for Colorado, I just don't think the Buffalo are that good. They certainly aren't as good as expectations. The Buffaloes started the year ranked No. 35 at KenPom and are now No. 78. They have won 6 of 7, but the only win against a Top 60 team was a 83-78 win over No. 54 Washington State. The only other team they played that was any good was No. 9 Arizona and they lost that game by 21 (76-55). Whenever the Buffs have stepped up in competition they have struggled to keep it close. Their home court edge is great, but I don't think it's enough for them to flirt with a win here. Give me USC -2! 

40* (CBB) - Big Money PUBLIC FADE (Pitt +3.5) 

I'll take my chances here with Pitt as a home dog against a struggling Virginia team. This is as down as I can remember Virginia being under Tony Bennett. They are 13th out of 15 in the ACC in offensive efficiency and a shocking 10th in defensive efficiency. 

What made this team so special was they were playing elite defense. Without that, they are going to be widely inconsistent and struggle to win games. They have already lost 4 times at home this year (only lost 3 homes games the previous 3 seasons). 

The Panthers are just 7-10, but have played a tough schedule and have suffered a lot of close losses. One of those being a 56-57 loss at Virginia. A game they have to feel like they should have won. They lost 56-52 with 25 seconds to play. I love that revenge angle here, especially at this price. Give me Pittsburgh +3.5

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Rutgers +2.5) 

I love the Scarlets Knights catching points at home against the Hawkeyes in Wednesday's Big Ten action. I grew up in Iowa and the Hawkeyes were my team as a kid. I follow them pretty closely. 

This year's team is way better than expected after losing two guys to the NBA (Garza & Weiskamp). Largely due to the emergence of Keegan Murray, another future NBA guy. I still don't think there as good as what the numbers suggest. 

There's some other guys who can score, but Murray is their only reliable option. Iowa is also a very bad defensive team. They rank 12th in the Big 10 in defensive efficiency and 13th in effective FG% defense. They also get killed on the offensive glass and send teams to the line a ton. 

Rutgers is a team that started slow, but is really starting to play up to their potential. Scarlet Knights have won 5 of their last 6 and when this team has momentum behind them, Piscataway can be a nightmare for opposing teams. Give me Rutgers +2.5

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (St. John's +4.5) 

I will take my chances with the Red Storm catching 4.5 on the road against the Blue Jays. I think St. John's is vastly underrated. While they don't have a single win over a team ranked in the Top 100 at KenPom, their 5 losses have come against Indiana, Kansas, Pitt, Providence and UConn. They only lost by 2 at Indiana and took the Huskies to OT on the road. 

This is no where close to the level of talent that Creighton has had in previous years. The Huskies in the past have been offensive juggernauts. This year's team is 9th in the Big East in offensive efficiency. 

Their biggest weakness has also been turnovers. They rank dead last in the Big East in offensive turnovers and forcing the other team into mistakes. They are ranked outside the Top 315 in both categories nationally. St. John's is No. 1 in the Big East in forcing turnovers and No. 2 in protecting the basketball. I think the chaos and pace of the Red Storm will be too much for a young Bluejays team. Give me St. John's +4.5!

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Georgia Tech +2.5) 

I'll take my chances with Georgia Tech as a 2.5-point home dog against the Demon Deacons. Based on the records this is going to seem like to low a number for Wake Forest to be laying. I'm not so sure the Yellow Jackets shouldn't be favored. 

Georgia Tech's 5-1 start seems like forever ago, as they have gone just 2-8 over their last 10. Neither win being all that impressive, as they needed OT to be Georgia State at home and beat BC on the road. 

What gets overlooked is the schedule and the margin of some of those defeats. There's really not a bad loss in the 8, outside of maybe a home defeat to Louisville. How they have competed in some of the other games is what I like. They lost by just 4 at home to Wisconsin, took ND to OT at home and only lost by 12 at Duke. 

Wake Forest is 14-4, but their best wins are against the likes of Va Tech, FSU, Syracuse and Virginia. They are just 2-2 in true road games with a loss at Louisville, who is very comparable in terms of talent. Demon Deacons are also off a huge road win at Virginia, which came just a few days after hosting Duke. This has flat spot written all over it. Give me the Yellow Jackets +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS MASSACRE (Florida St +5) 

I'll gladly roll the dice with Florida State catching 5-points at home against the Blue Devils. The Seminoles came into this season with some pretty decent hype, but a lot of that was lost after a disappointing 5-4 start that saw them lose 3-straight to Purdue, Syracuse and South Carolina.

It wasn't a matter of talent and we have seen that talent start to show itself for Leonard Hamilton's team. FSU is 5-1 over their last 6 and are 4-2 in ACC play. Hamilton routinely has this team near the top of the ACC standings. 

The other big thing here is Duke is overvalued because of how big a public play they are. Seminoles are also not afraid of this team whatsoever. I think they got a really good shot here of winning this game outright. Give me FSU +5!

50* (CBB) - Vegas Insider PLAY OF THE MONTH (Miami +2.5) 

I really like the value here with Miami as a 2.5-point home dog against the Tar Heels. I don't think the Hurricanes should be a dog at all in this matchup. Miami is 9-1 in their last 10 games. The lone lost being a mere 1-point loss on the road to a fast improving Seminoles team. The game before that they went on the road and beat Duke. I just don't understand the lack of respect for this Hurricanes team. 

UNC is 12-4, but I've not been that impressed. Their two best wins are against Michigan and Virginia. The Wolverines are nowhere close to as good as what we expected and the same can be said for the Cavaliers. In their big step up games, UNC lost by 9 to Purdue, by 17 to Tennessee and by 19 to Kentucky. Give me the Hurricanes +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (W Virginia +6.5) 

I've made some good money here of late fading Baylor and I'm not going to stop with West Virginia catching this kind of price at home against the Bears on Tuesday, especially with their figuing to be a good chance that Baylor won't have guard James Akinjo (listed as questionable). 

Either way I like the number here with West Virginia, who is going to be a pissed off bunch after the beatdown they just took on Saturday at Kansas (lost 59-85) The Mountaineers are a different animal at home, where they have one of the biggest home court advantages in the country. WV has not lost at home this year (10-0) and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they kept that streak alive. Give me the Mountaineers +6.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Nebraska +8.5) 

This just feels like a few too many for the Cornhuskers to be catching at home against the Hoosiers. Nebraska comes into this game at 6-12 with a 0-7 record in Big Ten play. It's just not as bad as it looks. The Cornhuskers are 1-10 in their last 11 games. Out of those 10 losses, 7 have come against teams ranked in the Top 35 and the three others are against NC State, Kansas State and Rutgers. 

Indiana only won by 13 over Nebraska earlier this season and the Cornhuskers are a much better team at home, while the Hoosiers have looked way worse on the road. Last two home games for Nebraska they lost by just 10 at home to Illinois and by 8 in OT to Ohio State. Indiana has played 4 true road games and lost all 4. They just lost at Iowa on Thursday and could have a tough time not looking ahead to Thursday's big home game against Purdue. Give me the Cornhuskers +8.5! 

50* (CBB) Big Ten TOTAL OF THE MONTH (Over 151.5) 

I love the OVER 151.5 in Sunday's Big 10 showdown between Minnesota and Iowa. This Hawkeyes team is all offense and no defense. Iowa ranks No. 3 in the country in offensive efficiency and 160th in defensive efficiency. Their only hope of winning games against quality teams is to outscore them. 

It's why they are 2-3 in Big Ten play, despite averaging 78.8 ppg. They give up 80.0 ppg. So while the Gophers are only scoring 64.8 ppg in Big Ten play, it would take a real bad shooting day for them to not get into the 70s at home against this Iowa defense. 

The other big thing is, is this Minnesota defense doesn't figure to be able to slow down Iowa's offense. The Gophers are 12th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten in defensive efficiency. I think this total should be closer to 160 than 150. Give me the OVER 151.5! 

40* (CBB) - Undervalued Underdog ATS SHOCKER (Oklahoma St +14.5) 

I got to roll the dice with Oklahoma State catching 14.5-points on the road against Baylor. The Bears are a really good team, but I think having that target on their back and getting the best shot from every team they play is really starting to wear on this team. They are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games and the one game they covered they needed to outscore TCU by 18 in the 2nd half to win by 12 as a 10-point favorite. 

As bad as the Cowboys looked last time out against Texas Tech, I just think you got to take your chances playing against Baylor right now. Bears are going to cover these big numbers every once in awhile, but I think in the long run the money will clearly be on fading the defending champs. Give me Oklahoma State +14.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (TCU +1.5) 

I love TCU as a 1.5-point home dog against the Sooners. The Horned Frogs are off to a 11-2 start but aren't getting a ton of press because of the schedule not being all that challenging. I think it has people sleeping on Jamie Dixon's team. They have an impressive win over Texas A&M on a neutral and really played Baylor well for a half. I also think it says a lot for them to respond to that loss against Bears by going on the road and beating K-State. 

TCU is no easy place to play and this feels like a tough spot for Oklahoma, who just played 3 games against Baylor, ISU and Texas and have Kansas on deck Tuesday and a rematch with Baylor next Saturday. I just don't think the Sooners have done enough to be road dogs here. Give me TCU +1.5! 

40* (CBB) Smart Money ATS ANNIHILATOR (Florida St +2.5) 

I will take the 2.5-points with Florida State at Syracuse. The Seminoles have looked a lot more like the team we expected to see from the start of the season. They got a chance to prove it in this game, as they take on a Orange team that beat them on their home floor 63-60 back in early Dec. 

Since Hamilton took over at FSU, the Seminoles are 42-27 (61%) ATS when revenging a same season loss. Syracuse is definitely a team they should be able to beat if they are a real contender in the ACC. Syracuse has lost 5 of their last 8 with their only wins coming against Brown, Cornell and Pitt. Give me the Seminoles +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Blockbuster Bookie DESTROYER (Iowa St +2.5)

I will gladly take the Cyclones as a home dog against the Longhorns on Saturday. Really big game here for Iowa State, who after back-to-back road losses to Oklahoma and Kansas, are now 1-3 in Big 12 play. I've actually been impressed with the Cyclones. They only lost by 5 to Baylor at home and by just 1 at Kansas. The lone win coming against a Texas Tech team that has looked like the best team in the league since that loss with wins over KU, Baylor and Oklahoma St. 

Texas is 13-3 and fresh off a blowout win at home over Oklahoma. I just don't trust this team on the road. The previous game they lost 51-64 at Oklahoma State. Their only true road win all season is against K-State. I just think with how tough it is to win on the road in the Big 12 and how desperate ISU going to be, the wrong team is favored. Give me the Cyclones +2.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Nebraska +20.5) 

I really thinking we are getting some big time value with Nebraska catching 20.5 on the road against the Boilermakers. No denying that the Cornhuskers are one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and Purdue is one of the best, but this is way too many points given the spot. 

It's hard for teams like Boilermakers to get up for inferior opponents and it's not like they have been cashing these inflated lines the books keep setting on them. Purdue is just 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games. 

I got a hard time seeing the Boilermakers taking Nebraska seriously, especially with a massive game on deck at Illinois on Monday. Fighting Illini are sitting tied on top the Big Ten standings with Michigan State at 5-0. Give me the Cornhuskers +20.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Wisconsin -3.5) 

I got no problem laying the 3.5-points at home with Wisconsin. The Badgers are 13-2 with wins over Texas A&M, Houston, St Mary's, Marquette, Indiana, Purdue and Iowa. The key here is that one of those 2 losses was a early Big Ten matchup at Ohio State, where the Buckeyes won easily 73-55. 

I love the revenge spot for the Badgers at home, especially with how much better this team has been playing since Big Ten play restarted. The other big thing is I don't think the Buckeyes are the same team on the road and the results speak to that. 

Ohio State lost by 16 in their last road game at Indiana and the game before needed OT to win on the road against a bad Nebraska team. I wouldn't be shocked at all if this game got a away from the Buckeyes. Give me Wisconsin -3.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Seton Hall -5.5) 

This just doesn't feel like near enough for the Pirates to be laying at DePaul. Seton Hall has really been a big surprise this year. They went just 14-13 last year. They have started out this season 11-3 with their 3 losses coming against Ohio State by 3, to Providence by 5 and to Villanova by 6. They just beat UConn at home without a key contributor in Alexis Yetna. They also have a 15-point win over Butler, win at Michigan and wins at home over Texas and Rutgers. 

On the flip side, the Blue Demons have completely fallen flat on their faces after an impressive 9-1 start. DePaul has lost 5 straight since that hot start and that includes a 17-point home loss to Providence and a 15-point loss at home to Villanova. I just don't think it's asking a lot for Seton Hall to win this game by 6 or more. Give me the Pirates -5.5!

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS MASSACRE (Wake Forest +6) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Demon Deacons as a 6-point home dog against Duke. You know going into just about every game that Duke plays they are going to be overvalued with how big a public team they are. I think it's even more so when the Blue Devils are coming off a loss like they are here. The public perception is they are going to bounce back, but they got to do a lot more than just win the game to cash a ticket here. 

Wake Forest is also one of the most improved teams in the country. The Demon Deacons were ranked 105th at KenPom coming into the season and are now 53rd after starting the year 13-3. They are a perfect 10-0 at home and have one of the better home court advantages in the country. Give me Wake Forest +6! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (UCF +2) 

I love UCF as a home dog against Memphis tonight. This is the perfect buy-low spot on the Knights, who have lost their last two. The first wasn't all that bad, as they fell at SMU. The following loss at home to Temple was a bit of shocker. I just think the poor showing against the Owls had a lot to do with this game being on deck, as Memphis is the team everyone wants to beat in the AAC. I expect a huge effort here from the Knights. 

It's also a good time to sell-high on the Tigers, who come in having won 3 straight. Memphis has all kinds of talent, but they are not the elite team we thought they were going to be when the season started. Give me UCF +2! 

40* (CBB) - Big East PLAY OF THE WEEK (Xavier -1) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Musketeers as a slim 1-point home favorite against Villanova. Xavier will be out for some serious revenge as these two teams played at Villanova earlier this season. The Wildcats won that game 71-58, but the final score doesn't tell the whole story. 

It looks like Villanova dominated that game, but Xavier led by as many as 10-points late in the 1st half of that game. This time I look for the Musketeers to get out to another early lead and not take their foot off the gas. Xavier is a perfect 9-0 at home, while Villanova is just 6-4 on the road compared to 5-0 at home. Give me the Musketeers -1!

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (West Virginia -2.5) 

I will gladly lay the 2.5-points with the Mountaineers at home against Oklahoma State. West Virginia feels like a team to me that is flying way under the radar. The Mountaineers are 12-2 with their only two losses coming on a neutral floor to a good Marquette team and at Texas. This is a team that in my opinion deserves to be a Top 25 team and yet they aren't. 

Oklahoma State is pretty average if you ask me. The Cowboys come in off a big home win over Texas, but had lost 4 of their previous 5 with 3 of the 4 defeats coming at home. The only true road game Oklahoma State has played was at Oral Roberts on Nov. 26 and they needed OT to win that game 78-77. I don't think this is going to be close. Give me the Mountaineers -2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Texas Tech +12.5) 

We took one on the chin betting against Baylor in their last game at TCU, as they were a 10-point dog and went from trailing 31-37 at the half to winning the game 76-64. It's not going to keep me from fading the Bears with these inflated numbers the books are setting on them. 

I also have come to accept that this is a really good Texas Tech team. The Red Raiders are 11-3 with a loss to Gonzaga on a neutral, 4-point loss at Providence and 4-point loss at ISU. They just beat Kansas 75-67 at home on Saturday and while I don't know that they can win this game, I do think they can keep this one within 12-points. Give me the Red Raiders +12.5! 

50* (CBB) - Smart Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Pittsburgh +10.5) 

I love Pittsburgh catching double-digits on the road against the Orange. The Panthers are one of the most undervalued Power 6 teams in the country. Pitt is 6-9 overall, but could easily have a completely different record. 

Just in their last 5 losses, all 5 of them have come by 4-points or fewer. Syracuse has no business laying this big of number, as I'm not so sure they even win outright. The Orange are just 7-8 themselves and come in having lost 3 straight and the most recent was a grueling 74-77 OT loss at Wake Forest on Saturday. Give me the Panthers +10.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational VEGAS INSIDER (Penn State -2) 

I'll take my chances with the Nittany Lions as a 2-point home favorite against the Scarlet Knights. This is a great sell-high spot on Rutgers, who has won 4 straight and covered each of their last 3. The most recent being a 93-65 blowout win over Nebraska. 

Big thing to note with the recent surge for the Scarlet Knights, is all 4 wins during the win streak came at home. Rutgers is 0-4 in true road games with a couple of ugly losses to DePaul and UMass and lopsided defeats to Illinois and Seton Hall. 

Penn State is just 7-6, but a lot of that is schedule. The Nittany Lions' last 5 losses have come against the likes of LSU, Miami, Ohio St, Michigan St and Purdue. The only one of those teams ranked outside the Top 21 at KenPom is Miami, who is 13-3 and riding a 9-game winning streak. Give me Penn State -2! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Northwestern +8) 

I will gladly take my chances with Northwestern catching 8 points on the road against the Buckeyes. I think the Wildcats are being greatly undervalued by the books in this one. Northwestern is a legit NCAA Tournament team, but their stock is low right now after back-to-back losses at home to Michigan St and Penn St. Both of those games came down to the wire. In fact, the Wildcats haven't lost a game all season by more than 6 points. Give me Northwestern +8! 

40* (CBB) - Prime Time VEGAS INSIDER (LSU -1.5)

Great matchup here with No. 21 LSU hosting No. 18 Tennessee and I just can't help myself but to back the Tigers at basically a pick'em at home. You are clearly getting respect when you are ranked in the Top 25, but I think LSU is way better than the No. 21. KenPom has them as the No. 13 ranked team in the country. They are 13-1 with their only loss coming at Auburn. I also think their homecourt edge is sneaky good when the fans have reason to be excited about the team. 

Tennessee is a good team, but they are far from elite. They have had some slip ups away from home, losing by 18 to Villanova on a neutral,by 5 to Texas Tech on a neutral and by 5 at Alabama. I just don't think the Vols are a great road team with how much they rely on their defense, especially against a team that is every bit as good defensively as they are. Give me LSU -1.5! 

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS BLOODBATH (TCU +10) 

I will take my chances with TCU as a double-digit home dog against the Bears. Baylor is a team that I'll be looking to fade as much as possible, as the books are surely going to inflate their lines given they are the defending champs and off to such a great start again this year. Bears figure to win a lot of games, but covering the big numbers won't be easy with the constant target on their back. 

As for the Horned Frogs, this is a team that I think is clearly better than what we expected. I get their 10-1 start has been aided by a soft schedule, but they have been impressive in those wins over lessor teams. You know we are going to get their best effort here and I'm not so sure Baylor will be as invested. Give me the Horned Frogs +10! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Kansas -4.5) 

I got no problem laying the 4.5 with the Jayhawks on the road against a depleted Texas Tech team. The Rad Raiders only lost by 4 in their Big 12 opener against a highly ranked ISU team, but the only reason that game was even remotely close was because of how bad the Cyclones are offensively. Not that Tech's defense didn't have something to do with it, but it was a lot of ISU just shooting the ball poorly. 

This is also a Red Raiders team that is far from full strength. They only had 5 scholarship players available for that game Wednesday at ISU and might have to work with the same group in this one, which doesn't include arguably their two best players. Kansas might not be as good as ISU defensively, but they are pretty strong on that side. The bigger thing here is they can score. Jayhawks are 4th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 8th in effective FG%. Give me Kansas -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Wake Forest -4.5) 

I got no problem laying the 4.5 with Wake Forest at home against the Orange. I just don't like what I've seen out of this Syracuse team to start this season. This is a team that when they have been good under Jim Boeheim, they have been good defensively. The Orange are not good defensively. They are one of the worst in the country. Not only do they not defend the basket, they don't force many turnovers and give up way to many offensive rebounds. 

Wake Forest has been one of the big surprises out of the ACC. The Demon Deacons are 12-3 and have went from being ranked No. 105 at KenPom to start the year to No. 53. Their only 3 losses coming away from home against quality teams in LSU, Louisville and Miami. Give me Wake Forest -4.5!

50* (CBB) - Big 12 GAME OF THE MONTH (Texas -2.5) 

*Analysis Coming* 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money ATS SLAUGHTER (Texas A&M +1.5)

I will gladly take my chances with the Aggies as a small home dog against the Razorbacks. Arkansas came into this season way overvalued and are still getting too much love. The Razorbacks started out as the No. 15 ranked team at KenPom and are now No. 50, which means they aren't even a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. They come in having lost 4 of their last 5. The losses aren't great. They lost by 22 to Oklahoma, by 8 to Hofstra, by 13 at Miss State and by 1 at home to Vandy. 

Texas A&M's rankings haven't changed much, as they started out No. 76 and are now No. 66. With that said, I do think this Aggies team is flying under the radar. They are 12-2 with their only two losses to TCU and Wisconsin. The Horned Frogs are 10-1 right now, while the Badgers are 12-2. Texas A&m comes in having won 5 straight and have one of the better homecourt edges in the country. Give me the Aggies +1.5! 

40* (CBB) - Early Bird ATS MASSACRE (Seton Hall -4.5) 

This might seem like a little too much for the Pirates to be laying at home against a good UConn team that is expected to have everyone back from either injury or Covid. I don't think it's enough. This Seton Hall team has really exceeded expectations this year and they got the resume to back up their strong 10-3 start. 

The Pirates have wins over Michigan, Texas and Rutgers. They also showed well in all of their losses, losing by 3 to Ohio State, 5 to Providence and by 6 to Villanova. 

Not that I don't think this UConn isn't any good. When they are at full strength they are a very dangerous team. The problem here is they aren't at 100%. While everyone is expected back, a lot of those guys coming back figure to be on a minutes restriction and I don't think it's a guarantee that Sanogo plays. Huskies may also be dealing with some rust, as they haven't played since Dec. 21. Give me Seton Hall -4.5! 

50* (CBB) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (California +5.5) 

Give me the Golden Bears as a 5.5-point home dog against the No. 7 ranked Trojans. I think we are getting some exceptional value with Cal in this one. USC comes into this game 12-0. When a team is undefeated in January, people start to take notice. So do the books. The lines on these teams start to get inflated. 

Not having a loss on your resume this late in the season is impressive, but you also can't ignore the soft schedule that USC has played. The Trojans have played just three teams at KenPom who rank inside the Top 100 overall. Those being No. 41 San Diego St, No. 47 Washington St and No. 90 Utah. 

Cal is just 9-5, but they are 7-1 over their last 8 and come in on a 5-game winning streak. The Golden Bears are really good defensively and offense doesn't always come easy for the Trojans. 

Another factor that could hinder USC's offense is rust. The Trojans haven't played since Dec. 18. It will be 18 days between games for USC, which I think it's been long enough to where the time off hurts you more than it helps. Give me Cal +5.5! 

50* (CBB) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Iowa St -3.5) 

I love Iowa State as a mere 3.5-point home favorite against the Red Raiders. The Cyclones are no longer undefeated after a 72-77 home loss to Baylor on Saturday, but there's no shame in losing that game and if ISU goes better than 1 for 14 from behind the 3-point line they probably win that game. 

I just don't think 3.5 is near enough for the Cyclones to be laying at home, as they have one of the biggest home court advantages in college basketball and will be locked in after that loss to the Bears. 

I'm also not sold on Texas Tech being as good as their 10-2 record. Sure their only to losses are to providence and Gonzaga, but they got just 1 respectable win, a 57-52 OT win over Tennessee. The guy who carried them in that win over the Vols, Terrence Shannon, won't play in this game with a back injury. 

The other big thing is turnovers. Iowa State is one of the best teams in the country in taking the ball away (No. 5 in defensive TO%) and Texas Tech is one of the worst in protecting the basketball (No. 248 in offensive TO%). Give me the Cyclones -3.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Miami -2) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Hurricanes as a short 2-point home favorite against the Orange. Miami is a team that I think is a little better than what people think. They are 11-3 with no bad losses (UCF, Dayton and Alabama). They come in with a ton of confidence having won 7 straight and are 3-0 in conference play. 

On the flip side, SYracuse is a team that has been a disappointment. They started the season ranked No. 42 at KenPom and are now No. 71. They are just 7-6 with their best wins coming against Arizona St, Indiana and Florida State. Three other teams I would say have not lived up to the hype this season. I just don't think with how bad they are defensively and how good Miami is offensively, they can go into the Watsco Center and get a win. Give me the Hurricanes -2! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Pittsburgh +12.5) 

I think we are getting a steal here with the Panthers at +12.5. It's easy to see why Pitt is undervalued right now. The Panthers look like a horrible team with a 5-8 record, but that's not the case at all. Their last 4 losses have all come by 4 points or fewer, including two gut-wrenching losses to open ACC play with a 56-57 loss at Virginia and a 67-68 loss at home to Notre Dame. 

Louisville is 9-4 and 4 of their best wins against Maryland, NC State, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech have all come by 8 or points or fewer. 

Another factor here is rest. Louisville just played on Sunday at Georgia Tech, so they will be on just 2 days of rest. Pitt hasn't played since last Tuesday. Give me the Panthers +12.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Clemson -3) 

I will gladly lay the 3-points at home with Clemson, as they host Virginia Tuesday night. The Tigers will be coming into this game with a ton of confidence, as they have won 4 straight and their most recent win came against the same team they are playing tonight, as they rolled the Cavaliers 67-50 back on Dec. 22. 

Usually I'm a little skeptical of taking a team in a rematch, but that's more so when the rematch comes quickly. It's been two weeks since these two teams played and while Clemson has been off since that game, Virginia had to play on Saturday, so they are on just 2 days of rest here. 

I just think we have two teams that have went in opposite directions since the start of the season and there's value with the line because of how slow the books can be to adjust their numbers. Give me Clemson -3! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money PLAY OF THE MONTH (Wake Forest -1) 

I love Wake Forest as a mere 1-point home favorite against Florida State. This not only feels like a great spot to back the Demon Deacons coming off road losses at Louisville and at Miami, but this is also a Seminoles team that I think is still way overvalued. 

Florida State has not lived up to their preseason hype. They are just 7-4 with their best win on their resume based on KenPom's rankings being a victory against No. 113 ranked Loyola-Marymount. 

Wake Forest had started out 11-1 before losing their last two and even with those losses they still come in ranked No. 65 at KenPom, which is quite a jump from there they started the year at No. 105. 

Home court is also a huge factor in this play, as Wake Forest had one of the best home court advantages in the country. Give me the Demon Deacons -1! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS ANNIHILATOR (Iowa St +7.5) 

I will gladly roll the dice and take the Cyclones as a 7.5-point home dog against Baylor in huge Big 12 opener between two teams that come in 12-0 in Non-Conference play. While it's been an impressive start for the Bears coming off last year's National Championship, especially given what they lost, it doesn't come close to the surprise start of Iowa State. 

A lot of people had this Cyclones team picked to finish last in the Big 12. That's not going to be the case. ISU's 12-0 start is no fluke. They have wins over Oregon St, Xavier, Memphis, Creighton and Iowa. 

They remind me a lot of the great Virginia teams of recent years. The offense isn't going to wow you, but the defense is so good that it doesn't matter. The Cyclones rank 7th in the country in defensive efficiency, 6th in effective FG% defense, 7th in opponent TO% and 3rd in 3PT% defense. 

Even when ISU is bad, Hilton Coliseum is a tough place for an opposing team to get a win. It's extremely tough when there's this kind of hype around the team. I give them a good shot to win this game outright. Give me the Cyclones +7.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money Vegas Insider (UCF +3.5) 

I will take my chances with the Knights as a 3.5-point home dog against the Wolverines. I've really been impressed with what I've seen out of UCF so far this season. The Knights are 8-2 with their only two losses coming to Oklahoma and Auburn. 

On the flip side, Michigan has not lived up to the preseason hype. This was a team that many thought was Final Four worthy and they are just 7-4 with two home losses to Seton Hall and Minnesota and a two blowout losses on the road to Arizona and UNC. 

Even with what we have seen, the betting public won't be able to help themselves. They are going to lay the short number with Michigan on the road. That tells me the books are more than happy with needing UCF to cover this short number. Give me the Knights +3.5! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total ANNIHILATOR (Under 139.5) 

I think the books have completely missed the mark with the total for Wednesday's Big East clash between Providence and Seton Hall. Neither of these teams shoot the 3-ball all that well and both are pretty stout defensively. 

Providence is also a team that wants to play slow. They rank 219th in adjusted tempo. They should be able to dictate the tempo at home. At the same time, Seton Hall's defense is really good. Their opponents average possession length is 18.1, which is 309th longest in the country. 

The other big thing is the spot. Seton Hall hasn't played since Dec. 12 and Providence has been off since Dec. 18th. You got think both of these offenses will be a little rusty. Give me the UNDER 139.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Va Tech +9) 

I got to take the 9-points with the Hokies on the road against the Blue Devils. Duke is such a public team that you bet against them blindly and know that you are getting value and I just think after three straight cupcake wins (all covers), we are seeing max inflation on the Blue Devils. 

This Virginia Tech team is no joke. The Hokies are just 8-4 and while that might not seem all that impressive for a team that was expected to be pretty good, it's been good enough for them to go from being the No. 39 ranked team at KenPom to the No. 22. They have nothing to be ashamed about with their 4 losses, which have come against Memphis, Xavier, Wake Forest (undefeated) and Dayton (beat Kansas). 

I think the Hokies can make a game of this and while I don't know that they can pull off the upset, I see this coming down to the wire. Give me Virginia Tech +9! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Drake -24) 

This is a situation that I think you have to play no matter what and that's fading a team like Chicago State in this spot. The Cougars find themselves playing on no rest after taking on No. 9 ranked Iowa State last night. A game they lost by 31 points. 4 different guys played 30+ minutes for Chicago State in that game. 

You see teams play on no rest early in the season in some of these tournaments, but it's always both teams playing on no rest. I get there's not much travel from Ames to Des Moines, but it's still back-to-back road games in two really tough venues. KenPom has Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum ranked as the 18th toughest place to play and Drake's Knapp Center is 21st. 

This is also a Drake team that is starting to find themselves after a slow start. Bulldogs have won 5 of 6 since their 3-3 start and the only loss during this is a OT setback against Clemson on a neutral floor. This is a hungry team that should feast. Give me Drake -24! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (OVER 148) 

I see Alabama and Davidson having no problem going OVER the total of 148. The Wildcats haven't seen an offense anywhere close to what they will be up against tonight in Alabama. The Crimson Tide rank 9th in the country in offensive efficiency and are 10th in average possession length.

The best team Davidson has played so far in terms of offensive efficiency is San Francisco, who is 73rd, but the Dons are just 205th in possession length. ECU is the fastest team they have played in possession length and they rank 98th. 

On the flip side, Alabama has faced 4 teams this season that rank in the Top 50 in offensive efficiency and all 4 of those teams scored at least 78 points. Davidson ranks 29th in the country in offensive efficiency. They are also 4th in 3-PT% at 41.6%. Crimson Tide faced a very similar team in South Dakota State, who ranked 19th in offensive efficiency and 2nd in 3-PT% and that game was won 104-88 by Alabama. Give me the OVER 148! 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money VEGAS INSIDER (New Mexico +5)

I'm going to take my chances here with the Lobos as a 5-point home dog against the Mustangs. KenPom says this line should be around 8, yet it opened at 6.5 and is moving hard in favor of the Lobos. Some books are already down to 4.5. That's a pretty clear indicator of where the big money is. It's certainly not the public driving this line move. 

New Mexico is a difficult place to play. KenPom ranks their home court edge at 4.2, which is the 6th best mark of any team in the country. The environment could be a problem for a SMU team that has played a true road game since losing by 23 on the road to Oregon back in early November.

I also think this SMU team could be a little rusty in this game, as they haven't taken the floor since they hosted Dayton way back on Dec. 8th. Give me the Lobos +5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Iowa -6) 

This feels like a great buy low spot with Iowa laying only 6 at home against Utah State. Some might think the 7-0 start wasn't all it was made out ot be after watching the Hawkeyes lose 3 in a row, but all 3 of those were against NCAA Tournament teams in Purdue, Illinois and Iowa State. I still think this Iowa team will be in the Big Dance when it's all said and done. 

Utah State is a good team, but they don't have the the defense to slow down this Iowa offense like the last 3 teams the Hawks have faced. After a bad showing against ISU, I look for one of the nation's best scorers, Keegan Murray, to have a monster game, as this Iowa team feeds off one of the best home court advantages. Give me the Hawkeyes -6! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (E Carolina +3.5) 

I'll gladly take the 3.5-points with the Pirates as they take on Liberty in the Hall of Fame Shootout in Charlotte. KenPom has Liberty rated No. 126 and ECU ranked No. 157, but I'm not buying into the Flames. Keep in mind they started out ranked No. 92, so they are the decline and may not be properly rated just yet. 

The biggest thing I look at is the Flames haven't beat anybody. Out of their 6 wins, 3 have come against teams ranked No. 342 or worse, two have been against Non-DI opponents and the other is to an awful Missouri team. 

ECU is 8-2 with their only two losses coming on a neutral floor to No. 35 ranked Oklahoma (lost by just 5) and No. 62 Davidson (lost by 9). Give me the Pirates +3.5! 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money ATS SLAUGHTER (Chattanooga +5.5) 

I will gladly take my chances here with the Mocs as a 5.5-point dog against rival Belmont. These are two in-state rivals from the state of Tennessee and with how good both teams have been early, this game is going to be a big deal. I just think you got to take the points with Chattanooga in this spot. 

The Mocs only loss this season is a 2-point setback at home against Charleston. A team they should beat, but you can't win them all. I think we really learned a lot about this team when they went on the road and beat VCU. They also won on the road against a decent Loyola Marymount team. 

Belmont's resume is equally impressive, but what I think gets overlooked is 4 of the Bruins 8 wins have come by 7 or fewer points. Give me the Mocs +5.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Memphis +4) 

I think we are getting an exceptional price here with Memphis as a 4-point home dog against Alabama. It's the perfect buy low spot on the Tigers. Everyone is jumping off the Tigers' bandwagon after their 72-74 home loss to Murray State as a 4-point favorite for their fourth straight loss. 

Yes. The Tigers are not the elite team we thought they were going to be, but there's no denying the talent and we know we are going to get their best here against a team like Alabama. On the flip side, I think this is a really tough spot for the Crimson Tide, who are coming off two massive games against  No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 14 Houston. Give me Memphis +4! 

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS BLOODBATH (Furman +10.5) 

I will follow the money and back Furman as a 10.5-point dog against North Carolina. The betting public is all over North Carolina in this game, yet this line has dropped from the opening number of 12 to as low as 10 in some spots. Big money is on the Paladins and it's easy to see why. 

This is a talented Furman team and we know they are going to give it all they got here against a program like North Carolina. I don't know that the Tar Heels are going to be anywhere close to as invested in this game. UNC is feeling really good about themselves after 4 straight wins and have a massive game against UCLA in Saturday's neutral site showdown in Las Vegas. Give me the Paladins +10.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS ANNIHILATOR (Stanford +1) 

I will back the Cardinal at basically a pick'em on their home floor against the Ducks. This Oregon team has been one of the most overvalued teams in the country early on. The Ducks have been a favorite in every game but one (+5 on neutral vs Houston) and yet are just 5-4. They have gone just 2-7 ATS and are 0-4 ATS away from home. 

Stanford is a perfect 4-0 SU at home this season and that's not a big surprise, as they have one of the best home court advantages. Eventually the books are going to price the Ducks based on the talent they have this year and not what they have done in the past, but until they do they have to be a team you look to fade. Give me the Cardinal +1! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (UConn -3.5) 

I will gladly lay the 3.5-points with UConn on a neutral floor against St. Bonaventure. I really like this Huskies team and I think we are getting them in a good buy low spot after a loss last time out at West Virginia. Morgantown is one of the toughest places in the country for opposing teams to play, so I'm not worried about that result, especially since they only lost by 3. The only other loss for UConn is a 4-point loss to Michigan State on a neutral floor. 

No disrespect to St Bonaventure, who has been impressive in their 7-1 start, but this is by far the best team they will have played this season and I just think the talent gap will be too much for them to overcome. Give me UConn -3.5! 

50* (CBB) - Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Drake +2.5) 

I love Drake as a 2.5-point dog against Clemson on Saturday. This game will be played on a neutral site at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. My numbers actually have the Bulldogs as the team that should be favored in this matchup. 

Drake came into the season as a legit NCAA Tournament caliber team and while it's not a sure thing after their slow start, this is still one of the best teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs could easily be 7-1 and even 8-0. They had a 5-point loss to Belmont, 9-point loss to Alabama and a 3-point loss to North Texas. 

Clemson started out the season 4-0 behind a soft schedule and as the competition has picked up they have faded. The Tigers have lost 4 of 5. Clemson's struggles continue. Give me Drake +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Oklahoma -1.5) 

I will roll the dice with the Sooners as a slim 1.5-point against Arkansas. This is all about the line, as we got an unranked Oklahoma team listed as the favorite against the undefeated and No. 12 ranked Razorbacks. 

I'm not dissing Arkansas and their 9-0 start, but you can't look at their strong start without looking at the fact that they have played the 316th easiest schedule in the country so far. The only two teams they have played that are ranked in the Top 100 are No. 66 K-State and No. 69 Cincinnati. They won both but didn't dominate either game.

Oklahoma comes in at No. 43 and could easily be 9-0 themselves, as they have a 3-point loss to Utah State and a 4-point OT loss to Butler. Give me Oklahoma -1.5! 

40* (CBB) Early Bird ATS MASSACRE (Ohio State -4.5) 

I will gladly lay the 4.5-point at home with Ohio State at home against Wisconsin. I love to back home teams as a short favorite or dog in the Big Ten, as I think there's just a massive home court edge in that conference. 

Ohio State didn't get off to the best of starts, but it feels like that big come from behind win over Duke a couple weeks back really sparked this team. The Buckeyes opened up Big Ten play last Sunday with an impressive 12-point road win over Penn State. 

I like this Wisconsin team, but I don't love the spot at all. Badgers played a big game last Saturday at home against Marquette and then opened up Big Ten play at home against Indian a on Wednesday. Wisconsin won and covered against the Hoosiers in a 64-59 win as a 4.5-point favorite, but really should have lost that game outright. I think they struggle here on the road on just 2 days of rest. Give me the Buckeyes -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Iowa -3.5) 

It's one thing to see an unranked team laying points against a ranked opponent when they are at home. It's another when it's on the road. The betting public is flocking to back undefeated an No. 17 ranked Iowa State in this game, yet Iowa is the favorite at -3.5. 

I will gladly fade the public in this spot and lay it with the Hawkeyes. No question this Cyclones team is WAY better than expected. This is more about the matchup and the fact that I think this Iowa team is also WAY better than everyone expected. 

As far as the matchup. The Cyclones have lived off of their defense to their 8-0 start. They have been outstanding at forcing turnovers (at least 14 in every game, 20+ 4x). Couple things with that. Out of the 8 teams ISU has played, 7 hace come against teams who rank outside the Top 25 in offensive TO%. The Iowa Hawkeyes rank No. 1 in that department. 

ISU's defense has also not been tested by even a good 3-point shooting team. Prior to this game the best 3P% offense they have faced is Grambling St at No. 119. The Hawkeyes come in at No. 44. 

Iowa also by far has the best player on the floor in Keegan Bradley. This guy has done the near impossible and filled the massive shoes left by Luka Garza. 

One weakness Iowa has is post defense, which we saw in the Illinois game. ISU doesn't have a guy like Kofi Cockburn. Give me the Hawkeyes -3.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Kansas St -1) 

I like the value here with Kansas State as a slim 1-point home favorite against Marquette. The Golden Eagles got off to that great start with wins over Illinois, Ole Miss and West Virginia, but they have since lost by 16 on a neutral site to St Bonaventure and by 13 at Wisconsin. 

K-State is coming off an impressive win over Wichita State on the road and their only two blemishes came to Arkansas and Illinois, who are both ranked in the Top 25. Neither of those were at home, where the Wildcats have one of the bigger home court edges in the country. I like the Wildcats to win this one. Give me K-State -1! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (W Virginia -2.5) 

I will gladly lay the short number with West Virginia at home against UConn. The books are telling you all you need to know with this one. You have the No. 15 ranked Huskies as a dog agaisnt an unranked Mountaineers team. 

This is all about home court for me, as well as the fact that the Huskies are not at full strength. West Virginia's only blemish on the record is a neutral site loss to Marquette in a game where they played with no ret. Give me the Mountaineers -2.5! 

50* (CBB) - Big Ten PLAY OF THE MONTH (Wisconsin -4.5) 

I'll take the Badgers as a slim 4.5-point home favorite against the Hoosiers. Home court is huge in the Big Ten and I just think the Hoosiers are getting a little too much love after their 7-1 start. Indiana's only road game was at Syracuse, which they lost in 2OT. The Badgers are a much better team than the Orange and are going to be extremely motivated here in their Big Ten opener. I just don't trust that Indiana offense on the road against a top tier team like Wisconsin. Give me the Badgers -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Villanova -8.5) 

I'm going to lay it with Villanova against Syracuse at Madison Square Garden. The betting public is all over Syracuse in this game and I'm more than willing to fade a public dog, especially in a big game like this that we know is getting a lot of action. 

I get Syracuse comes in off back-to-back wins over Florida State and Indiana, but I'm not so sure either of those teams are as good as what we thought and they were lucky to win both.I just think the Orange are really limited on the defensive end. THis team has given up 80 or more in 4 of their last 6. Now they face a Villanova offense that ranks No. 4 in the country in offensive efficiency. Syracuse can score, but not enough to keep it close. Give me Villanova -8.5! 

50* (CBB) Sharp Money MAX UNIT Top Play (Tennessee -3.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with the Vols as a slim 3.5-point favorite against Texas Tech, as the two face off in New York at Madison Square Garden. I really like what I've seen out of this Tennessee team early on. They had a bad showing against Villanova, but have since beat up on the likes of UNC (89-72) and Colorado (69-54). I think this team is the real deal. 

I don't think the same of the Red Raiders, who had started out 6-0 before losing at Providence last time out. I just think this team is a bit overvalued based on what they did under former head coach Chris Beard, who is now calling the shots at rival Texas. Prior to losing to Providence, Tech's 6-0 start was aided by playing 6 teams ranked outside the Top 240. Give me the Vols -3.5! 

40* (CBB) No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Iowa -2.5) 

This is too good a price to pass up with the Hawkeyes at home. This Iowa team is way better than expected after not only losing the player of the year in Garza (NBA), but also second and fourth leading scorers in Wieskamp (NBA) and Fredrick (transferred to Kentucky). 

They had started out 7-0 before losing Friday at Purdue 70-77. While a loss is a loss, that was without their best player in Keegan Murray, who has been one of the most productive players in the entire country. That's also against a Purdue team that is a legit Final Four caliber team. The game before they put up 75 on the road against Virginia in a win. 

The key here is Murray is expected to play and with him I think they are going to have no problem winning this game at home against an Illinois team that I don't think is as good as what people thought they would be. Give me the Hawkeyes -2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS ANNIHILATOR (Oregon State +12) 

I'll take my chances with the Beavers as a 12-point home dog against Arizona. I just think we are getting too good a price to pass up with Oregon State as they are being way undervalued due to the fact that they are 1-7 and have lost 7 straight since opening their season with a win over Portland State. 

Big thing is most of these losses for the Beavers have come against quality teams and several of those games could have went their way. This team is due for a breakout win and while I don't if they get it here, I think they are going to give Arizona all they can handle. 

Wildcats are sitting at 6-0 and have looked impressive to this point, but they will be playing their first true road game of the season. Not only that, but I think we could see a bit of a sloppy showing here from Arizona. The Wildcats only game in the last two weeks was a cupcake game against No. 311 ranked Sacramento State last Saturday. Give me the Beavers +12! 

40* (CBB) - Late Night ATS ANNIHILATOR (Creighton -4.5)

Not a lot to think about with this one. Iowa State comes into this game 7-0 and ranked No. 19 in the country and are a 4.5-point dog on the road against an unranked Creighton team. You got to lay it with the Bluejays in this spot. 

It's been an impressive start to the season for the Cyclones, who caught everyone's attention in the NIT Tip-Off with their two big upset wins over Xavier and Memphis. Clearly this team is better than expected, but I wonder if some of that wasn't those teams overlooking the Cyclones. 

You can bet those two wins and national ranking will have the attention of Creighton and I just think it's a tough spot for ISU. They play really hard defensively, but the offense is not great and this Bluejays team knows how to put the ball in the hoop. This is also the first true road game for the Cyclones, which is never easy. Give me Creighton -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS MASSACRE (Wash St -1) 

What more do you need to know that the Cougars are the smart bet here than the books have an unranked Washington State team listed as the favorite against undefeated No. 20 USC.

Winning on the road is not easy in CBB and the Pac-12 always seems to have a strong home court edge. I also like what I've seen out of this Washington team, who has went from starting out the season ranked No. 63 at KenPom to currently sitting at No. 48. The Cougars are a great defensive team that can really make it tough to score inside. While they don't shoot it great all the time, they are Top 15 in the country in offensive rebounding and are very good at getting to the free throw line. 

USC has a lot of strengths, but they are one of the worst in the country at forcing turnovers and dreadful at free throws. As a team they are shooting 56.4%! Cougars in comparison shot 75% from the charity line. Give me Washington State -1! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Colorado +5.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Colorado as a 5.5-point home dog against the Vols today. I just think we are getting great line value with Buffalo because of the fact that Tennessee comes in ranked #13 and the Buffaloes are not in the Top 25. 

I think Colorado has a very underrated team this year and we saw some flashes of that in their last game when they went on the road and only lost by 12 to a really good UCLA team.

The big difference with this game, is they get a good Tennessee at home. Colorado has one of the best home court advantages in the country and this will be the Vols first true road game of the season. Would not surprise me at all if the Buffaloes won this game outright. Give me Colorado +5.5! 

40* (CBB) - Early Bird ATS BLOWOUT (Ole Miss +1) 

This line is screaming to the public to take No. 18 Memphis as a mere 1-point road favorite against an unranked Ole Miss team. I'll gladly go the other way and back this Rebels team at home. 

This is a good Rebels team under head coach Kermit Davis. They are off to a 6-2 to start with their only two losses coming on the road against Marquette and Boise State, who are two teams ranked inside the Top 80. 

Memphis came into the season with a lot of hype, but they have lost their last two, falling 59-78 to ISU and 79-82 to Georgia. The Tigers like to play fast, but they also play sloppy. They rank 349th in TO%. Ole Miss in comparison ranks 48th. Hard to win on the road when you lose the turnover battle. 

The other big thing is the Rebels have a great interior defense, as they are 24th in the country in 2P% defense. Memphis isn't a big 3-pt shooting team. If the Rebels can get back and not let the Tigers run, they should make it really tough on Memphis to score. Give me Ole Miss +1! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (Over 158.5) 

This might be a little bit of a square play taking a public OVER with a high total, but I just don't think 158.5 is anywhere close to enough for this matchup. Everyone knows that Purdue is good. They were expected to be coming in and they are not only scoring 92.4 ppg, they are ranked No. 1 in the country in offensive efficiency. 

Iowa wasn't suppose to be this good. Not after losing two guys to the NBA, including the player of the year in Garza. They are and it's because they got another NBA caliber guy shouldering the load in sophomore Keegan Murray, who is averaging 24.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 2.3 bpg. 

The Hawkeyes offense is averaging 94.0 ppg and are No.3  in the country in offensive efficiency. I did have some concern whether the offense was just beating up on bad teams, but to go on the road and put up 75 points on 54% shooting against a defensive minded Virginia team (Cavs hadn't given up 70 in a game prior to that) tells me their offense is the real deal. 

The other big thing is Iowa's defense let a bad Virginia offense score 74 and shoot 53%. That's concerning given that was the first offense they had faced this year that ranked inside the Top 220 in offensive efficiency (Virginia is No. 78). Purdue is going to score at will. Give me the OVER 158.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS MASSACRE (Utah St +1.5) 

We cashed a couple of home dogs last night on the college hardwood and I think we are going to do the same here with the Aggies as a small home dog against St. Mary's. I just think this Gaels team is bit overvalued after their 7-1 start. 

The Gaels got what looks like a couple of impressive wins on a neutral floor against Notre Dame and Oregon, but neither of those teams have looked that great to start the year. This will also be their first true road game of the season, which I think is a tricky spot, especially when it's against a quality team. 

I believe Utah State is that. The Aggies had a bad loss at home to UC Davis to open the year, but have won 6 straight since and two of those wins are against Richmond and Oklahoma. I think the wrong team is favored. Give me Utah State +1.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (UNC +2.5) 

I'll take my chances with the Tar Heels as a slim 2.5-point home dog against the Wolverines. I'm just not so sure the Wolverines should be favored on the road here. I just think Michigan was viewed so highly coming in, that they still are the team trust more. 

I see them as equals. UNC's only two losses are to Purdue and Tennessee on a neutral floor. The Boilermakers look like one of the best teams in the country and the Vols only loss is to Villanova. Michigan's also 4-2, but their two losses aren't nearly as good. They lost at home to Seton Hall and got destroyed on a neutral site by Arizona. Give me the Tar Heels +2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Oklahoma +1) 

I will take my chances with the Sooners as a short home dog against the Gators. I think home court has proven to be a big thing in these bigger non-conference games and I'm not so sure Oklahoma isn't the better team. 

I know they lost on a neutral site to Utah State, but it was by just 3 points and that's a good Aggies team. Florida is 6-0 and have what looks like two big wins over FSU and Ohio State. I'm not sold on either of those teams being as good as what people think and that's with the Buckeyes big win over Duke last night. This will be there first true road game of the season in one of the tougher places to play. Give me Oklahoma +1! 

50* (CBB) - Missouri Valley PLAY OF THE MONTH (UNI -4.5) 

I love the Panthers laying a mere 4.5 points on the road against Bradley. It couldn't have been a much worse start to the season for UNI, wh lost 3 of their first 4. We knew this team was better than that and they showed some of that in their 13-point loss to Arkansas (led 75-72 with 4:25 left in the 2nd half). They then went on the road in a true road game and beat a really good St. Bonaventure team 90-80. I just feel like now is the time you want to be on this team. 

Bradley is definitely a team they can not just beat, but handle pretty easily. The Braves are 2-5 with their two wins coming against a non D-I school in Missouri S&T and No. 349 ranked Maine. They got no business making a game of it. Give me UNI -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Wake Forest -1) 

I'll take my chances with the Demon Deacons as a slim 1-point home favorite against Northwestern. I just think when you dissect this Wildcats team, they are probably a little overvalued right now. 

Northwestern is 5-1 and ranked No. 40 in KenPom, but what have they done. They started out 4-0 against a bunch of bad teams (all ranked 266th or worse), lost 72-77 to Providence (trailed 37-55 11:22 left in 2nd half) on a neutral floor and beat a bad Georgia team. 

Wake Forest is 6-1 and only ranked No. 90. They too started off with an easy schedule, but they did get a neutral site win against Oregon State and lost to a really good LSU team. I also think Wake has one of the best home court advantages in not just the ACC but the country. Give me the Demon Deacons -1! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money VEGAS INSIDER (Oregon -13) 

I think this is the perfect spot to buy low on the Ducks as a mere 13-point home favorite against Montana. Oregon has lost 3 of their last 4 and failed to cover in all 4 games, making them a very difficult team for the public to trust right now. 

Thing is, it's not like they have been losing to bad teams. The losses have come against BYU, St Mary's and Houston. All of which rank in the Top 40 in the country. I get they weren't exactly competitive in those games, but that doesn't mean they can't have their way with a team like Montana. 

You know the Ducks are going to give everything they got to get back in the win column and this is not a good Montana team. The Grizzlies are 4-2, but all 4 wins have come against a Non Div. I team or a team ranked outside the Top 225. They lost to No. 330 ranked North Dakota and lost by 37 at Mississippi St, who is ranked just 10 spots better than the Ducks. Give me Oregon -13! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Evansville -6.5) 

I think we are getting big time value with the Purple Aces laying single digits against this awful Eastern Illinois team. Evansville comes into this game having lost 4 straight and are just 2-6 to start the season. 

A lot of that is the schedule. They have 3 losses against teams ranked in the Top 80 at KenPom (Cincinnati, Belmont, UCF). The other 3 are all against quality teams who are ranked between 100 and 160. 

The Panthers from Charleston are ranked No. 345 out of the 358 teams that are ranked. Eastern Illinois is 1-5 with their only win coming against a smaller division opponent in Rockford. The only time they haven't lost by more than 20 is when they have faced an opponent that is also ranked outside the Top 300. 

Evansville is currently sitting at No. 232, but I believe are better than that. I still think their closer to their preseason rank of No. 170. Either way, they should win here by at least 10 points. Give me the Purple Aces -6.5! 

40* (CBB) - Public Money ATS SLAUGHTER (UNLV +10.5) 

I'll take my chances with the Runnin' Rebels catching 10.5 at home against UCLA. There's been so much hype around this Bruins team and rightfully so, that loss to Gonzaga isn't going to keep the public from laying big numbers with this team. I just think we are getting value with an inflated number. 

I also like what I've seen out of this UNLV team. While they are just 4-2, two of those losses came against NCAA Tournament caliber teams in Michigan and Wichita State. They were competitive in both. They lost by 13 to the Wolverines and by just 1 to the Shockers. I don't know if they can win this game outright, but keeping it within the number shouldn't be a problem. Give me the Runnin' Rebels +10.5! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total KNOCKOUT (Under 140) 

Based on the spread, the books are projecting a score here with a total of 140 in the lines of something like Memphis 76-64 and I just don't see it. I think as good as the Cyclones looked in their upset win over Xavier, they are going to have a miserable time trying to score against this Memphis defense.

The Tigers are No. 1 in the country in defensive efficiency right now. They are No. 4 in 2pt% defense and No. 3 in block%. Iowa State simply doesn't have the shooting to get a lot of easy looks in this one. The key here is I think the Cyclones can hold their own defensively and make it tough on Memphis to get to 70 points. Give me the UNDER 140! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS DESTROYER (Va Tech -2.5) 

I'll lay it with the Hokies as they take on Xavier in a matchup between two teams that lost their first games of the NIT Season Tip-Off special. It was just much different showings from these two teams. The Musketeers lost by double-digits to a very mediocre ISU team as a near double-digit favorite. Va Tech more than held their own in a 71-77 loss to a really good Memphis team. 

It really looked like the Cyclones defense got to Xavier, which is really bad news for them because Va Tech is a much better defensive team than ISU. I just think the number here is too low. Give me the Hokies -2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS SLAUGHTER (Xavier -8) 

I will gladly lay the 8-points with the Musketeers as they take on Iowa State in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn. I just think this is a much bigger mismatch than what the books are suggesting. 

Xavier comes in ranked 33rd in the KenPom rankings and have started out 4-0. They didn't play great in their opener against Niagara, but have looked really good in 3 games following. They rolled a quality Kent St team 73-59, beat Ohio State at home 71-65 and crushed Norfolk St 88-48. 

Iowa State is also 4-0 and I believe that record is what really has the number lower than it should be. The Cyclones have played 3 teams who rank outside the Top 290 and the one impressive win came at home against Oregon State, who had to travel quite a ways to play in a very tough environment at Hilton Coliseum. That's also an Oregon State team that has started just 1-4 with their only win against Portland State and have lost to the likes of Samford at home. 

I still think this is an ISU team that is closer to the team that went 2-22 last year than what their 4-0 start would lead you to believe. Give me Xavier -8! 

40* (CBB) - Over/Under Total NO-BRAINER (UNDER 143) 

I think we are getting some big time value with the UNDER at 143 in Wednesday's early matchup between No. 22 UConn and No. 19 Auburn in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. I think we are seeing an inflated total due to the big numbers that these two teams have put up early against some much weaker defenses. 

UConn is one of the highest scoring teams in the country right now, as they are averaging 92.0 ppg on 50.2% shooting. That's going to happen when you are as talented as the Huskies against the schedule they have faced. UConn's highest ranked team they have played in KenPom's rankings is LIU at No. 275. The other 3 teams all ranked outside the Top 315. All of those teams rank outside the Top 200 in defensive efficiency. 

Now they face an Auburn team that is 34th in the country in defensive efficiency and 31st in effective field goal defense. Tigers also rank 7th in the country in block%. 

Auburn is averaging 76.0 ppg, but we saw how their offense looked against a good defense in their last game, as they managed just 58 points against a USF team that ranks 91st in defensive efficiency and 32nd in effective FG%. UConn is a big step up for them as well, as they are 19th in defensive efficiency and 5th in EFG%. Give me the UNDER 143! 

50* (CBB) Situational MAX UNIT Top Play (Oakland -1.5) 

I'm a little surprised that we are getting such a great number here with Oakland. Both of these teams won their first game in the Gulf Coast Showcase that's taking place in Estero, FL on Monday. Might seem like an even handicap in terms of rest, but that's not the case. 

While Oakland had a battle in a 63-61 win over a good Vermont team, the Owls played 15 extra minutes in a 109-104 3OT win against Evansville. Rice had 4 of their 5 starters log at least 40 minutes, with senior guard Carl Pierre logging 51 minutes. While 5 guys played off the bench for the Owls, three of the 5 logged fewer than 10 minutes, as Rice essentially used a 7-man rotation. 

I also think you got look at what these two teams have done early. Rice is 4-1, but all 4 wins have come against teams ranked outside of the Top 200 at KenPom. Oakland is just 3-2, but all 5 of their games have come against teams ranked in the Top 120, with 3 of the 5 coming vs teams in the Top 50 (W Virginia, Oklahoma St and Alabama). Give me the Grizzlies -1.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Providence +2.5) 

I think the wrong team is favored in this neutral site matchup between the Big Ten's Northwestern and the Big East's Providence. Both of these teams come into this game 4-0, but only one of these two teams has been tested. 

The Friars went on the road and beat a very good Wisconsin team 63-58. Northwestern on the other hand has just feasted on bad teams. All 4 of the Wildcats' wins have come against teams ranked outside the top 240 in KenPom's rankings and 3 of the 4 have come outside the Top 315! The Friars worst team they have faced is ranked 290. 

I think it's going top be tough for Northwestern to travel out to Newark, NJ and play well in a big step up game like this. I also think there's going to be a lot more Providence fans in attendance, which will make it feel more like a road game. It's a 2 hour flight for Evanston and less than a 4 hour drive from Providence. Give me the Friars +2.5! 

40* (CBB) Late Night Total KNOCKOUT (UNDER 145) 

I think we are getting some great value with the UNDER at 145. These are two of the best defensive teams in the country according to KenPom. Arizona ranks 19th in defensive efficiency and are No.1 in the country in defending the 2-point shot. There will be no easy baskets for the Wolverines in this one and they aren't exactly a great 3-point shooting team. Michigan is shooting just 32.1% from deep and only average 6 made 3-pointers a game. 

We saw a good Seton Hall defense that ranks No. 1 in defensive efficiency and No. 25 in 2-point defense hold the Wolverines to just 65 points on 41.9% shooting in their big upset loss earlier this week. 

Arizona comes in averaging an impressive 91.0 ppg on 48% shooting, but a lot of that is because they played 3 cup cakes to start the year. They only had 69 points at the end of regulation against Wichita State and shot just 40.7% from the field and were 5 for 27 (18.5%) from deep. Give me the UNDER 145! 

40* (CBB) - Early Bird ATS ANNIHILATOR (Drake -4) 

I think we are getting a great price here with the Bulldogs as a slim 4-point home favorite against the Spiders. Drake is absolutely loaded this year. The Bulldogs return all 5 starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team. They have all the pieces in place to be even better this year. 

Richmond returns 4 starters, but I just haven't been impressed with what I've seen out of the Spiders early on. They beat a bad NC Central team by just 10 in their opener and lost outright 74-85 as a 6.5-point favorite to Utah State. Drake is simply the better offensive and defensive team in this matchup and just aren't getting enough respect at home. Give me the Bulldogs -4! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Oakland +16.5) 

I'll take a shot here with Oakland catching 16.5 points on the road against the Crimson Tide. I just think this is a classic case where you have a ranked Alabama team (No. 14) being overvalued against an unranked opponent. 

This is far from a pushover for the Crimson Tide. This Oakland team is legit. They have already played two teams ranked in the Top 50 of KenPom's rankings in West Virginia and Oklahoma State. They lost by just 7 as a 17.5-point dog on the road to the Mountaineers and beat Oklahoma State 56-55 as a 17-point dog on the road. They also covered their other game with ease, knocking off Toledo 80-59 as a mere 2-point favorite. 

I also think this could be a bit of a tricky spot for Alabama, as it's their last game before they get ready to go to Orlando for a Thanksgiving Tournament that will likely end up with a showdown against Kansas. Give me the Golden Grizzlies +16.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS SLAUGHTER (Wyoming +1.5) 

I'll take my chances with the Cowboys cashing as a slim 1.5-point road dog against the Huskies. Wyoming is talented team that I think is flying a bit under the radar to start the year. The Cowboys went just 14-11 last year in the first year under new head coach Jeff Linder, but this guy has a great track record. He had a 15-win jump from year one to year two in his last sting at Northern Colorado. 

What I think has them ready to take that next step is the emergence of 6'9 sophomore Graham Ike. He was limited to just 12 games last year and averaged just 11.2 ppg. He's put up 20+ in each of Wyoming's first two games this year. He gives them a potent 1-2 punch with senior point guard Hunter Maldonado, who many considered one of the top returning players in the MWC. 

The other big thing for me, is I think Washington isn't very good. The Huskies have started 2-1, but lost outright in their opener to Northern Illinois 64-71 and that's a Huskies team that is ranked outside the top 310 in the country at KenPom. They only beat Northern Arizona 73-62 and Texas Southern 72-65. Both of those teams are outside the Top 220 with Northern Arizona ranked even lower than Northern Illinois. Give me Wyoming +1.5! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Ole Miss -3.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Ole Miss as a slim 3.5-point favorite against Marquette. This game will be played on a neutral site at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. I really like what Kermit Davis is doing in Oxford and I think he's got a very underrated team coming into the year. This is a team that a lot of people have closer to the bottom than the top in the SEC in their predicted standings and I think they got the goods to compete. 

On the flip side of this, I think Marquette is getting way too much respect from their last game, where they upset No. 10 ranked Illinois 67-66 as a 8-point dog. Keep in mind that's an Illini team that hasn't exactly looked great early and were without one of the best players in the country in Kofi Cockburn. That game was also played on Monday, so just a two day turnaround sets up a possible letdown. Ole Miss on the other hand has been off since whooping Charleston last Friday. Give me the Rebels -3.5! 

40* (CBB) - Smart Money ATS MASSACRE (Ohio St -2) 

I will gladly take a shot here with Ohio State as a slim 2-point road favorite against the Musketeers. I think we are getting a great price with the Buckeyes do their lackluster ATS start. Ohio State barely beat Akron 67-66 as a 16.5-pt favorite and then only beat Niagara 84-74 as a 20-pt favorite. They did bounce back in a big way in their next game, beating Bowling Green 89-58 as a mere 16-pt favorite. 

I just think because the game is being played at Xavier and the Musketeers are 2-0 to start the year, we are getting a great price with the Buckeyes in this matchup. Very similar to last night, when Michigan State was laying such a short number against Butler and wound up winning 73-52. 

Other big thing with the Musketeers is they are still without big man Zach Freemantle, who was one of the top big men in the Big East last year, averaging 16.1 ppg and 8.9 rpg on 51% shooting. I think they are going to really miss him against a big, strong and athletic front of Ohio State, especially with how Xavier has struggled from deep (shooting 25% from behind the 3-pt line). Give me the Buckeyes -2! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Indiana -4.5) 

I just think this is too good a price to pass up with the Hoosiers at home. Not to take anything away from St. John's, who figures to finish in the top half of the Big East this year, but I think there's a pretty big gap in the Big East after the top teams of Villanova and UConn. 

So while Indiana is picked by many to finish middle of the pack in the Big Ten, I think they are clearly the better team and there's not enough being factor into this line for how tough it is to win at Assembly Hall. I think the atmosphere could really prove to be a problem for a St. John's team that endured a lot of turnover from last year. Give me the Hoosiers -4.5! 

50* (CBB) - Vegas Insider PLAY OF THE MONTH (Mississippi St -15.5) 

I love Mississippi State as a mere 15.5-point home favorite. I really like what Ben Howland is doing in Starkville and I've been impressed with how good the Bulldogs have looked to start the year. This is a team that added in some big time talent to already talented roster in the transfer portal. They brought in Rocket Watts from Michigan State, D.J. Jeffries from Memphis, Garrison Brooks from North Carolina and Shakeel Moore from NC State. 

They are scoring 80.5 ppg on 50.4% shooting from the field and 46% from behind the 3-point line. They absolutely destroyed North Alabama and Montana in their first two games and have another cupcake here in Detroit, who is giving up 83 ppg on 52% shooting and that's against the likes of Wyoming and Toledo. Give me the Bulldogs -15.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Michigan St -2.5) 

I just think the books have made a big mistake here with making the Spartans a mere 2.5-point road favorite against the Bulldogs. Butler has fallen off quite a bit since LaVall Jordan took over. They haven't made the NCAA Tournament in 3 years and even with 5 starters back, they have the looks of the middle of the pack team in the Big East this year. 

Butler has started out 3-0, which I think is definitely playing into the number being lower than it should be. Thing is, the 3-0 start is nothing to write home about. They have beat IUPUI, Central Arkansas and Troy. All 3 of those rank outside the Top 200 teams in KenPom's ranking with two of those outside the Top 325. Michigan State is a big step up in competition and the Bulldogs just don't have the coaching or talent to win this game. Give me the Spartans -2.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS ANNIHILATOR (Seton Hall +8.5)

This is just too good a price to pass up with the Pirates as a 8.5-point road dog against No. 4 ranked Michigan. The Wolverines are a good team, but them being ranked in the Top 5 and Seton Hall not being ranked in the Top 25 has this line inflated. 

Pirates did lose some big pieces from last year, but they have looked outstanding in their first two games. They won 93-49 over Farleigh Dickinson as a 27-point favorite and 80-44 as a 11.5 point home dog to Yale. They are getting scoring from just about every player who steps on the floor. We saw Michigan struggle with a good Buffalo team at home in their opener and I think we could potentially see the Wolverines go down in this one. Give me Seton Hall +8.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (St Louis +10.5) 

This is just too many points to pass up with St Louis, as they are catching double-digits on the road against No. 11 Memphis. The Tigers are a big public team and are simply being overvalued here. 

The Billikens are off to a strong 3-0 start and are a team that I think can not only contend in the A-10 but has a legit shot at making the NCAA Tournament. In their two lined games they have covered with ease, beating Central Arkansas 96-61 as a 22 point favorite and Eastern Illinois 86-44 as a 21-point favorite. With how they play defense, it's not out of the question they could win this game outright. Give me the Billikens +10.5!