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) - 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) - 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! 

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) - 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! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Miami -7) 

I think we are getting a great price here with the Hurricanes as a 7-point favorite at FAU. Good buy low spot on Miami after losing outright 89-95 as a 3-point favorite at home to UCF. That's a much improved UCF team that returned all 5 starters and the Knights couldn't miss in that game. 

FAU put up 92 points in their opener and lost. That tells you a lot about this team. They like to play fast, but also don't play any defense. They gave up 99 points on 53% shooting to a rebuilding New Mexico team. Unless FAU shoots lights out, the Hurricanes should win this game by double-digits easy. Give me Miami -7! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Buffalo PK)

I think we are getting some big time value here with the Bulls as a pick'em against the Mean Green. I really like this Buffalo team this year. The Bulls got multiple guys who can score the ball and we saw that in full display in their 76-88 loss in a cover at Michigan to open the season. 

North Texas was a great story last year, winning 4 games in 4 days to win the C-USA tournament to make the NCAA Tournament, where they went on to upset Purdue in OT. This is just not the same team for the Mean Green, who lost their best player in Javion Hamlet (15.7 ppg), as well as two other double-figure scorers in James Reese (10.9 ppg) and Zachary Simmons (10.0 ppg). Give me the Bulls PK! 

40* (CBB) - No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (Drake -16) 

I'll lay the big number here with Drake at home against South Dakota. The Bulldogs won their season opener over Coe College 87-61. They shot 53% from the field and connected on 12 of 23 (52%) from behind the 3-point line. This Drake team is one of the best the MVC has to offer this year, as they returned all 5 starters from a team that received an at-large bid to last year's NCAA Tournament. 

South Dakota brings back 3 starters, but they lost their two best players from last year's team in Stanley Umude (21.6 ppg) and A.J. Plitzuweit (19.0 ppg). Umude transferred and Plitzuweit suffered a bad injury last February that will have him sidelined for this season as well. No other player averaged in double-figures last year for the Coyotes. 

South Dakota won their opener over Air Force 59-53, but failed to cover as 7-point favorites. That's a Falcons team that is picked by many to finish near the basement of the Mountain West. They shot just 36.2% from the field in that win. This has blowout written all over it. Give me Drake -16! 

50* (CBB) - Late Night MAX UNIT Top Play (Texas +7.5)

I've had this game circled for a while now. No way should this Texas team being catching this big of a number against any team in the country. Gonzaga is just way overpriced after what they did last year and coming into this season as the consensus top team. 

I get they brought in some great guys and have some good players back, but losing a player like Suggs and asking this team to be as good as they were last year, is asking a lot. As for the Longhorns, they made an absolute great hire with Chris Beard and few teams worked the transfer portal better than the Longhorns. I not only think Texas covers the big number, I like them to win outright. Give me the Longhorns +7.5! 

40* (CBB) - Sharp Money ATS MASSACRE (San Francisco -6.5) 

I will gladly take my chances here with the Dons as a 6.5-point home favorite against Davidson. These are two teams I got very different views on coming into the 2021-22 season. I really like this San Francisco team, which returns 4 starters from a talented team that just could never get the chemistry right last year. They probably don't have enough to dethrone Gonzaga in the WCC, but I think they could surprise and finish much higher than the middle of the pack, where most have them pegged. 

As for Davidson, I'm way down on the Wildcats this year and it's all centered around the loss of their best player in Kellan Grady. He was their top scorer last year at 17.1 ppg. He left in the transfer portal to go play at Kentucky. Replacing him will be a tall task and I just don't see the Wildcats having a good showing on the other side of the country in their first road game of the season. Give me San Francisco -6.5! 

40* (CBB) - Situational ATS NO-BRAINER (Cincinnati -9.5)

A lot of people are wanting to grab the near double-digits with Georgia and I just don't get it. The Bulldogs lost 4 of 5 starters from last year's team and figure to be at or near the bottom of the SEC standings when it's all said and done. 

I thought they made a good hire in Wes Miller to be their new head coach and they got a lot come back from a team that didn't live up to their potential last year. Cincinnati has a great backcourt and depth. They are also a really good defensive team. They beat Evansville 65-43 as a mere 11.5-point favorite in their opener. The Bearcats held the Purple Aces to just 25.9% shooting, forced them into 15 turnovers and were +7 on the boards. 

Cincinnati's Williams Arena is also very tough place to play for opposing teams. I'm not buying the Bulldogs can make a game of this. Give me the Bearcats -9.5! 

40* (CBB) - Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Iowa -19.5) 

I was mad at myself for not taking the Hawkeyes -20 against Longwood in their opener. Iowa went on to win and cover that game easy 106-73. Most of the starters barely had to play in the 2nd half they were so dominant early (led 56-29 at the half). 

I just think the Hawkeyes are way undervalued coming into this season, as everyone is down on them after not just losing the National Player of the Year in Garza, but also their second best player in Wieskamp. Both of which were taken in the NBA draft. 

Thing is, this is a deep and talented Iowa team that has more than enough talent to compete for a top spot in the Big 10. They have an emerging star in Keegan Murray and a veteran presence and outstanding 3-point shooter in Jordan Bohannon. They are also a much better defensive team and able to get out faster in transition without Garza. 

They take on a Kansas City team that just lost by 15 on the road to an awful Minnesota team that lost all 5 starters and are in the first year of a new head coach. It would take a really bad game for the Hawkeyes to not win this game by 20+ points. Give me Iowa -19.5! 

40* (CBB) No Doubt ATS BLOWOUT (W Kentucky -2.5) 

I'm way down on this Gophers team and I'm not giving this Minnesota team any respect for covering a mere 6.5-point line at home against Kansas City. The same Kansas City team that is a 20-point dog to Iowa tonight. That result combined with the fact that WKU only beat Alabama State 79-74 as a 25.5-point favorite will have a lot of people left scratching their head at how the Hilltoppers can be favored here on a neutral site. 

Looking back I probably should have been on Alabama State in that game vs WKU. The Hornets had 4 of 5 starters back and are an extremely long and athletic team. Either way, it should serve as a great tuneup for WKU for this game and it also should have them 100% locked in after not playing up to their potential. 

Minnesota is all but a lock to be the worst team in the Big Ten this year. They didn't bring back a single starter from last year, are in the first year of a new head coach. Give me the Hilltoppers -2.5! 

40* (CBB) Vegas Oddsmakers LINE MISTAKE (Sacred Heart +15.5) 

I will gladly take 15.5 with the Pioneers as they go on the road to face Providence. Both of these teams opened their season with a win on Tuesday, but only one of them covered. That was Sacred Heart, who went on the road and beat LaSalle 86-81 as a 7.5-point dog. The Friars failed to cover as 15-point favorites in a 80-73 victory against Fairfield. 

While I didn't play it, I wasn't surprised to see the Pioneers cash a winning ticket. They got back all 5 starters from last year. It's rare for Sacred Heart to not lose some guys to the transfer portal, as they have watched a lot of their top guys leave in previous offseasons. With that much experience back and a coach that always seems to get his team to exceed expectations, it's not out of the question they could make a run for the Northeast title. 

Note that the Fairfield team that just covered against Providence also had 5 starters back from last year and they are picked to finish middle of the pack in the MAAC. 

As for the Friars, they get back 4 starters, but they lost the engine that made their offense work in David Duke, who averaged 16.8 ppg and 4.8 apg. He was also their biggest 3-point threat. They also lost two other key rotation players in Greg Gantt and Jimmy Nichols. I just think this is a few too many. Give me Sacred Heart +15.5! 

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

I love Northern Iowa at basically a pick'em at home against Vermont. Most will look to fade the Panthers after watching them just lost outright 58-62 as a 14.5-point home favorite to Nicholls State, but UNI couldn't have shot it any worse in their opener. The Panthers were a dreadful 15 of 50 (30%) from the field, going just 3 of 23 (13%) fromb ehind the 3-point line. 

I'm confident they will have a much better time shooting the ball, as this is a team that's talented enough to win the MVC this year. UNIT gets back all 5 starters, including their star guard AJ Green, who averaged 22.3 ppg before his season was ended just 3 games into last year. 

Vermont is one of the top teams in the America East and get back 4 starters, but this is a big step up in competition for the Catamounts and they did lose one of their top players to the transfer portal in Stef Smith. 

I also think there's an edge for UNI having already played a game, while Vermont is playing their first game. Give me the Panthers -1.5! 

50* (CBB) - Opening Week PLAY OF THE MONTH (Rutgers -19.5)

I'm shocked the Scarlet Knights are only a 19.5-point favorite at home against the likes of Lehigh. I think it's a bit ridiculous that not only is Rutgers not in the Top 25 in the AP or coaches poll, they aren't even one of the 10+ teams that are getting votes. 

This has the looks of Steve Pikiell's best team yet and I think the lack of respect the Scarlet Knights are getting will have them extremely motivated to make a statement in their opener. Things could look a lot different for Rutgers if Geo Baker and Ron Harper Jr. had decided to leave early for the NBA, but both opted to return after testing the waters. 

They will be up against a Lehigh team that went just 4-10 last year playing a conference only slate in the Patriot League. So while they get back 4 starters, that doesn't mean a whole lot when matched up against a Power 5 program like Rutgers. Give me the Scarlet Knights -19.5! 

40* (CBB) Late Night BAILOUT BLOWOUT (Arizona -25) 

I got no problem laying the big number with Arizona at home against Northern Arizona. I thought the Wildcats made an outstanding hire by bringing in Gonzaga assistant Tommy Lloyd. I know there's some sanctions that they will have to overcome, but there's more than enough talent on hand, as the Wildcats bring back 4 of 5 starters. 

Last year, Arizona annihilated the Lumberjacks 96-53. This year's Northern Arizona team looks to be down a notch, as their top two players, Cameron Shelton and Luke Avdalovic both left via the transfer portal. Shelton averaged 19.2 ppg and Avdalovic averaged 10.8 (one of their top 3-pt shooters). Those two had 31 of the 53 points scored against Arizona last year. Give me the Wildcats -25! 

40* (CBB) - Opening Night VEGAS INSIDER (New Mexico St -4.5) 

I will take my chances with the Aggies making a statement in the first game of the 2021-22 season. Last year was completely out of the norm for New Mexico State, as they failed to win either the WAC regular-season or conference tournament title since 2011. Even with the down year, head coach Chris Jans still has a 95-25 record in 4 years with the program. 

Jans knew he needed to improve the talent on this team to get them back where they are accustomed and he did just that. New Mexico State brought in a plethora of talented transfers from both the JUCO level and Power 5 programs. I just don't think people realize how talented this team is and we are getting a great price to back them at home. Give me the Aggies -4.5! 

50* (CBB) - Kansas/Mich St CHAMPIONS CLASSIC Winner (Michigan St +4.5) 

I will gladly take my chances with Tom Izzo and the Spartans as a decently priced dog against the Jayhawks in the first of Tuesday's Champions Classic double-header at Madison Square Garden. 

Last year was not the norm for Michigan State. While they did enough to make the NCAA Tournament for a 23rd straight time, they were just 15-13 overall and at 9-11 they had their first losing season in Big Ten play since the 1992-93 season. 

I really like the talent that Izzo has coming back, but what I really love is the addition of Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker, who gives them the true point guard they lacked last year after having such a stable at the position for years with Cassius Winston. Give me the Spartans +4.5! 

50* (CBB) - Baylor/Gonzaga *MAX UNIT* Top Play (Gonzaga -4) 

I will gladly lay the 4-points with Gonzaga in the title game against Baylor. I just think we are getting a great price here with the Bulldogs after they needed OT to get by UCLA in the Final Four. 

I just feel like the Bruins played about as good as they possibly could have in that contest. Not only was Johnny Juzang incredible with 29 points on 12 of 18 shooting, but 3 other UCLA players had 14 or more points. Gonzaga also had one of it's poorer shooting games, going just 7 of 21 from deep and 12 of 20 (60%) from the free throw line. I'm not saying Baylor won't make a game of it, but I think the Bulldogs are without a doubt the better team. Give me Gonzaga -4! 

50* (CBB) - Final Four *PLAY OF THE YEAR* on Houston +5 

I feel like I'm in the minority here, but I love the Cougars catching 5-points against Baylor in the Final Four. Not only do I think Houston matches up well with the Bears, but the line to me screams bet Baylor. 

No one is giving Houston a chance to win this game. All anyone is talking about is how it's going to be Gonzaga/Baylor in the title game. The betting public isn't going to hesitate laying 5-points with the Bears, as they just assume they are going to win and winning by 6 isn't asking a lot. I'm not saying it's a lock, but whenever you have a massive public play with a line that don't look right in a game of this magnitude, the dog usually cashes. 

As far as the matchup is concerned, Baylor is a team that really relies on the 3-ball. They are the best in the country in 3p% offense at KenPom. Defending the 3 is a strength of the Cougars, which is no surprise given their length and athleticism. Houston's defense is giving up an average of 5 3-pointers a game, with opponents shooting just 28.3% from deep against them. Holding teams to an average of 5 3-pointers in this day an age is absurd. 

I think they can take the Bears out of their rhythm offensively. I also think Houston's offense is also better than they get credit for. While they don't shoot it at a crazy good percentage, few teams are better in creating second chances with offensive rebounds. It was 100% the difference in their last game against Oregon State when they had 19 offensive boards. They are averaging 15.5 offensive boards over their first 4 games in the tournament. I think they pull off the upset and win this game outright. Give me Houston +5! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament ELITE 8 PLAY OF THE YEAR (Michigan -6.5) 

I love the Wolverines to cover the 6.5 against UCLA. The Michigan team that I have seen in the NCAA Tournament is the one that had everyone saying they were Gonzaga's biggest threat before they had a long break due to Covid back in late January. 

The Wolverines just destroyed a really good Florida State team on Sunday 76-58. What's crazy is they won by 18 and had an awful night from deep (3 for 11, 27.3%) and were uncharacteristically bad from the free throw line (15 of 23, 65.2%....shooting 77.4% on the season). 

UCLA is No. 11 in the country in offensive efficiency, but are a mere No. 84 in effective FG%. In comparison, Michigan is No. 7 in offensive efficiency and No. 17 in effective FG%. As far as the defensive numbers, Bruins are No. 54 in defensive efficiency and No. 178 in effective FG% defense. Wolverines are No. 8 in efficiency and No. 7 in FG%. 

I just think the Wolverines are the superior team on both sides of the ball. I also love that they are such a good free throw shooting team, as that could definitely come in to play. Another thing is the spot for UCLA off that emotional overtime game against Alabama. Might be tough for them to bounce back from that game on just one day of rest. Give me Michigan -6.5! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Elite 8' MAX UNIT Top Play (Baylor -7.5) 

I got no problem laying the 7.5-points with Baylor in Monday's Elite 8 showdown with Arkansas. I was on the Razorbacks against Oral Roberts and that was clearly a mistake. Arkansas was lucky to win that game and now will be lucky to keep it close against a far superior Bears team. 

For the majority of this season it was Gonzaga and Baylor and then everyone else. It's looking like we were right all along. The Bulldogs and Bears have looked like the two best teams. I thought Villanova was going to give Baylor a run for their money and while they kept it respectable, they still lost bye double-digits. I think Villanova was a better team than what they will see here with Arkansas. 

I also don't think we have seen Baylor play their best in the NCAA Tournament. They certainly haven't shot the ball up to their potential. With how Arkansas struggles to defend the 3-point line and all the guys Baylor has that can shoot the 3-ball at a high rate, I think this might be the game where everything clicks. Give me the Bears -7.5! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Sweet 16' BOOKIE SLAUGHTER (UCLA +7) 

I will take the points with UCLA against Alabama. I'm a big Nate Oats fan and have been on this Crimson Tide team a lot this year, but this just feels like they are being asked to lay too many points. It's been pretty obvious the Pac-12 was better than we thought. The thing is the books have just not wanted to adjust their numbers on them. 

We saw this yesterday. I thought the books were setting a trap making Oregon State another big dog against Loyola and they won outright again. I'm not making the same mistake here. UCLA is not going to be intimidated by Alabama and let's not overlook the Tide's easy path to the Sweet 16 with games against Iona and Maryland. I know it was in December, but Alabama lost by 18 to another Pac-12 team in Stanford. Give me UCLA +7! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Sweet 16' MAX UNIT Top Play (Syracuse +6.5) 

I love the Orange as a 6.5-point dog against Houston in the last game on the board for Saturday's Sweet 16 card. I know Syracuse might be the popular side, but I just can't help myself with the price we are getting. 

There's just something about the style that the Orange play under Jim Boeheim that translates to success in the NCAA Tournament. I know this isn't all NCAA Tournament, but it still speaks volumes. Syracuse is 88-61 (60%) ATS in their last 147 neutral site games and have gone a ridiculous 42-19 ATS in their last 61 as a neutral site dog. Orange are also 10-1 ATS last 11 NCAA Tournament games when seeded anywhere from a No. 9 seed to a No. 12 seed. Give me Syracuse! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Sweet 16' ATS SHOCKER (Arkansas -11) 

Everyone is on No. 15 seed Oral Roberts as a double-digit dog. Whenever there's a game of this magnitude with such a big public backing, I'm going to be looking hard at the other side. Even more so when the public is crazy about an underdog. 

There's more than just fading the public with backing Arkansas. These two teams actually played back in late December and while Arkansas only won the game by 11-points at home, they outscored the Golden Eagles 57-36 in the 2nd half after a sloppy start that saw them score just 30 in the 1st half. 

Note that one reason the Razorbacks might have started slow in that game, is they hadn't played in a week, were sitting 6-0 and off 3 straight wins by 25 or more and were a near 20-point favorite. Arkansas isn't going to take Golden Roberts lightly this time around. Give me the Razorbacks -11! 

50* (CBB) Thursday NIT Situational ANNIHILATOR (WKU +1) 

I'll gladly take my chances here with the Hilltoppers at basically a pick'em against Louisiana Tech in the Quarterfinals of the NIT. I had big concerns with Western Kentucky going into the NIT, as I thought they could have a hard time getting up for this tournament after losing in OT to North Texas of the C-USA Tournament title game, which would have landed them in the NCAA Tournament. 

While they barely scraped by with a 69-67 win over St. Mary's in the first round of the NIT, I think they are going to be locked in now that they got a win and will be motivated to win the NIT. I definitely like them to beat the Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech comes in with a record of 22-7, but outside of their conference schedule they didn't really face anyone other than LSU, who they lost to by 31-points. WKU beat Memphis and Alabama in non-conference and only lost by 6 to West Virginia. Give me the Hilltoppers +1! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Round of 32' VEGAS INSIDER (Florida State -1)

I like the value here with Florida State at basically a pick'em against the Buffaloes. I'm a little surprised with the lack of respect the Seminoles are getting in this game. Maybe it's cause they didn't dominate UNCG in the first round, but I actually wasn't surprised with them not blowing out the Spartans. 

I also think we might be seeing an overreaction here with Colorado and their 96-73 win over Georgetown. The Hoyas did come in hot off a Big East Tournament title, but that's far from a great team. The biggest thing in that game is Colorado just had one of those nights where they couldn't miss. They shot 60.7% from the field and were 16 of 25 (64%) from behind the 3-point line. If they shoot like that we are screwed, but I think this FSU defense will be up to the task. Give me the Seminoles -1! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament MAX UNIT Top Play (Michigan -4.5) 

I got no problem here laying the 4.5-points with the Wolverines against LSU in the Round of 32 on Monday. I just feel like there's a little too much being made of the injury to Isaiah Livers and it's creating value with Michigan. There's a ton of talent on this Wolverines team and like we have seen with Villanova after they lost Gillespie. This is still an elite team and I just don't think LSU is anywhere close to them in terms of talent and execution. 

I played against the Tigers in the first round and lost, as they really made easy work of St. Bonaventure. Some of that was the Bonnies just not shooting the ball well and getting owned on the glass. Those are two things that Michigan does extremely well. The biggest thing here is defense. The Wolverines are way more connected on that side of the ball. Give me Michigan -4.5! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament 'Round of 32' ATS SHARP STAKE (Iowa -5) 

I got no problem laying a mere 5-points with Iowa as they take on Oregon in the Round of 32 on Monday. I know it's been a rough go for the Big Ten, who had 3 more teams go out on Sunday, including No. 1 seed Illinois. I actually think it's playing into the value here with the Hawks. 

What people don't realize with Iowa is that this is a really tough team to play when you haven't faced them. They don't turn the ball over, they have the best player in the country in Luka Garza, they got a bunch of guys who can shoot the 3-ball and their defense has been greatly improved as the season went on. 

I really wonder how the Ducks are going to contain Garza. Oregon's tallest guy that plays is 6-8 backup big man Chandler Lawson. Their starting big man is 6-6 Eugene Omoruyi, who is a bigger guy that could run out of gas trying to keep up with Garza. I think with the size advantage and talent that Iowa has down low, Oregon could be in some serious foul trouble early. Give me the Hawkeyes -5! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament Round of 32 VEGAS INSIDER (Oregon St +6.5) 

I will ride Oregon State and the massive wave of momentum that the Beavers will bring into Sunday's game against Oklahoma State. Oregon State came out of nowhere to win the Pac-12 Tournament and not many were giving them any shot against Tennessee on Friday. The Beavers didn't just win, they dominated the Vols in a 70-56 win. 

I just think Oregon State is playing to well to be getting this many points against a Oklahoma State team that doesn't really blow teams out. Liberty who likes to play at a snails pace, was able to slow the game down against Oklahoma State, which I think is a really good sign for Oregon State, who also wants to play at a slow pace. Give me Oregon State +6.5! 

40* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament Round of 32 ATS NO BRAINER (North Texas +5.5)

I really like the value here with North Texas +5.5 against Villanova. It took OT for the Mean Green to get by Purdue, but they really were the better team in that one from start to finish. I think North Texas has a guy that can carry them in Javion Hamlet, but it's not just him. Mean Green had 4 different players score in double-figures. 

At the same time, I think Villanova is in some trouble. The Wildcats were able to put away Winthrop, but I just think without Collin Gillespie their start in the Big Dance is going to be short-lived. I really like the Mean Green to win this game, but I can't pass up on the points. Give me North Texas +5.5! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament MAX UNIT SUNDAY Top Play (Syracuse +4) 

I really like the value here with Syracuse as a small dog against West Virginia. I know I just bet against the Orange in their First Round game against San Diego State, but I really liked what I saw out of this Syracuse team in that game. I also think they got a bigger edge in games where there's just 1 day of prep between games. 

West Virginia looks like they dominated Morehead St with a 84-67 win, but that came was really close until late. It was a 1-point game with less than 15 mins to play in the 2nd half. Mountaineers defense was spotty at best. They just dominated the tournavor department, forcing 18 and only committing 6. That's another thing I like about Syracuse here, as they take really good care of the ball. Give me Syracuse +4! 

40* (CBB) - March Madness 1st Round DOG OF THE DAY (Abilene Christian +9) 

I will roll the dice with Abilene Christian as a 9-point dog to Texas. I think the Longhorns are a good team, but I just think they might be a little overvalued coming into the Big Dance off that Big 12 Tournament title. They were lucky to get out of the first round (trailed Texas Tech by 10 with 12 minutes to play), had their second game against Kansas called off and then beat OK State by 5 in the title game. 

Not only is no one picking Abilene Christian, but a lot of people think Texas is a potential Final Four team. I think it makes the Longhorns a little bit vulnerable here, as they might not give this Wildcats team the respect they deserve. 

It could come back to bite them. The Wildcats led the country in defensive TO% (26.7%), which plays into a flaw of Texas, who ranks 237th in offensive TO% (20.1%). If they let Abilene Christian get easy baskets on turnovers, it will give that team life and momentum. 

Let's also no overlook the fact that this team went on the road and only lost to Texas Tech by a final of 44-51 and later lost by just 13 at Arkansas. That right there shows you the kind of talent this team has being able to hang with two really good teams playing two completely different styles. Give me the Wildcats +9! 

40* (CBB) - March Madness 1st Round SHARP MONEY Winner (UConn -3) 

I’m going to lay the 3-points with the UConn Huskies against the Maryland Terrapins. I get why UConn got the seed they got, but I think if you look at the team that’s coming into the tournament, they might be the most underrated team in the field at least in terms of where they were seeded. 

It’s all about sophomore guard James Bouknight. UConn was 11-3 in games in which Bouknight played. Two of those losses were to Creighton by a combined 5 points and the other was a 8-point loss at Villanova, which was only the second game back for Bouknight after he had missed more than a month. Huskies were just 4-4 in the 8 games that Bouknight didn’t play. 

KenPom has this team ranked No. 16, which says they are much more like a No. 4 or No. 5 seed. 

UConn finished in the Top 25 in the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency. No team in the Big East was tougher to score on in the paint than the Huskies. Opposing teams show just 46.9% on their 2-point attempts. UConn also led the conference and finished 10th nationally in Block % at 14.4%. 

As for Maryland, you got to give head coach Mark Turgeon a lot of credit for getting this team in the NCAA Tournament. Very few thought this team could accomplish what it was able to accomplish this season. With that said, I kinda feel like the Terps overachieved this year. Good teams don’t go into the final two games of the regular-season on a 5-game win streak and lose to the likes of Northwestern and at home to Penn State.  

Maryland isn’t a horrible 3-point shooting team, but they also aren’t great. I just think with how difficult it’s going to be to score inside, it’s really going to make it tough on the Terps to keep this game respectable. 

The only reason this isn’t a Top Play for me is, there is a little concern that starting point guard R.J. Cole did have to leave their loss to Creighton in the Big East Tournament with a head laceration and concussion, but he will have more than a week to get cleared for this game. I’m pretty confident he goes. Not to mention I think we are getting a good 3-4 points in value on this line, so I’ll be on the Huskies with or without him. Give me UConn -3. 

40* (CBB) - March Madness 1st Round NO DOUBT Blowout (Iowa -14.5) 

I will lay the big number with Iowa in their first round game with Grand Canyon. The Hawkeyes might not be on the same level as the 3-big dogs in Gonzaga, Illinois and Baylor, but they are damn close. 

After really getting their butts kicked (only lost by 11) to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament, I think we are going to see a locked in Hawkeyes team. I know Grand Canyon only lost by 1 to Arizona St and by just 10 to Colorado in non-conference, but there's a pretty big gap between the top of the Pac-12 and the top of the Big Ten. 

Iowa is also a team that dominated the competition in non-conference play (only loss was to Gonzaga). I feel like they are a very difficult team to prepare for when you haven't played against them before. It's really hard to know what to expect from a player like Luka Garza. I think he's going to dominate this game and with only a couple big guys on the roster, foul trouble could become a big problem for the Antelopes. Give me Iowa -14.5! 

40* (CBB) - March Madness 1st Round ATS SHOCKER (UC-Santa Barbara +7.5) 

I really like the value here with the Gauchos getting 7.5-points against Creighton. I just really have concerns with the Bluejays. Everything was going great for this Creighton team until head coach Greg McDermott made some racially insensitive things to his players that was brought to the media's attention. He got a whole 1-game suspension for that. 

I know that Creighton won their first two of the Big East Tournament with McDermott back, but they also laid a huge egg in the title game, falling 48-73 to Georgetown. That's about as uncharacteristic of a Bluejays performance as you will see.

I'm not talking about losing by 25, but scoring 48 points and shooting 5 of 12 from the free throw line is quite the outlier. Denzel Mahoney certainly wanted his in that game, shooting 1-13 from the field (1-10 from 3). 

On top of those concerns, another thing to note is based on what we saw in the Big Ten Tournament, Lucas Oil Stadium can be challenging on shooters the first time they play (backdrop takes some getting use to).  Could be a big problem for a Creighton team that is 32nd in the country getting 37.9% of their points from behind the 3-point line. 

UC Santa Barbara brings a solid defense, slower tempo of play and an offense that scores efficiently inside. I think they give the Bluejays a run for their money. Give me the Gauchos +7.5

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament MAX UNIT SATURDAY Top Play (UNCG +11) 

I love UNC Greensboro catching double-digits against Florida State. I got nothing but respect for the Seminoles, but I don't see the Spartans going down without a fight. There's a lot of rumors that head coach Wes Miller, who is a legend at this program, will leave for a better job when this is all done.

I think that in the back of their mind gives this UNC Greensboro team a little extra on the floor. Not to mention no one is picking them to win this game, which not only adds fuel to their fire, but also makes it really hard for FSU players to start thinking ahead to who they might play Monday. 

I like all that, plus they got a stud point guard in Isaiah Miller, who not only can score (19.3 ppg), he does it all. He rebounds (6.9 rpg), distributes (4.0 apg) and defends (3x Southern Conference Defensive player of the year. He dabbled in going pro after last season, but came back to do something special. I think he just might. Give me UNC-Greensboro +11! 

40* (CBB) - March Madness 1st Round ATS SLAUGHTER (West Virginia -13) 

I feel really confident about West Virginia being one of those top seeds that don't have to sweat their first game. The Mountaineers are without question one of the best teams in the country. They only went 18-9 overall and 11-6 in Big 12 play, but only 1 of those 9 losses came by more than 5-points. That includes a 5-point loss to Gonzaga on a neutral court. A game they led in by 9 late in the 2nd half. 

I just don't think Morehead State has any shot here of keeping this close. The Eagles dominated the Ohio Valley, going 17-3 in the regular-season and winning the conference tournament. That's great in all, but they went just 1-5 in non-conference vs D1 schools. They lost by 36 to Kentucky, by 18 to Richmond, by 33 to Ohio State and 15 to Clemson. I just think the Mountaineers can play their "B" game here and win this game by 20+. Give me West Virginia -13! 

50* (CBB) - NCAA Tournament MAX UNIT FRIDAY Top Play (Purdue -7) 

*Analysis Coming* 

40* (CBB) March Madness 1st Round VEGAS INSIDER (Arkansas -8.5) 

I was shocked to see the Razorbacks laying single-digits in this one. Arkansas was one of the hottest teams in the country over the last couple of months. They went 11-1 to close out the regular-season with the only loss being a 4-point setback at Oklahoma State. They did lose in the semis of the SEC Tournament in a hard fought loss to LSU, but overall this team is 12-2 in their last 14.

They also went a perfect 8-0 in non-conference play and while they didn’t face the toughest non-conference schedule., they did face three teams that made the field of 68 in No. 13 seed North Texas, No. 14 seed Abilene Christian and No. 15 seed in Oral Roberts, all of which they beat by double-digits. 

Arkansas finished up at 22-6. Of those 6 losses, the only one that came against a team that finished the year ranked outside the Top 30 at KenPom is Missouri, who finished No. 51. 

As for Colgate, they finished 14-1 and ended the year on a 12-game winning streak. They got the automatic bid into the Big Dance by winning the Patriot League Tournament, where they beat a Loyola Maryland team that went 4-10 in the regular-season. 

For those that don’t know, the Patriot League played a wacky conference schedule, where they broke up the 10 team league into two divisions and then teams just played their division all season. Colgate’s conference schedule included 4 games against Army, 4 against Boston U and 4 against Holy Cross. They played Boston U again in the first round of the tournament, before taking down Bucknell and Loyola Maryland. 

The Raiders have played a whopping 5 different opponents all year and Army is the highest rated of the bunch in KenPom’s rankings at No. 189. Colgate didn’t play a single non-conference game. 

Another thing I think worth mentioning is that Navy posted the best conference record in the Patriot League at 12-1 and they did play some non-conference games. One of those being a 82-52 loss to Maryland, which I think kinda speaks to the gap in talent we are seeing here. It’s not like Colgate dominated the competition. Also, I’m aware that this was a really good Colgate team last year, which finished up 25-9, but they played 3 big programs last year in non-conference, losing by 23 to Clemson, by 16 to Syracuse and by 29 to Auburn. While they did return a lot from that team, they arguably lost their two best players. 

I just have a hard time seeing the Raiders keep this close. Not only is this a massive step-up in competition, but this an Arkansas team that can really cause some problems. The Razorbacks want to speed up the game and make it uncomfortable for their opponent. They do that by not only playing fast, but they force a bunch of turnovers and do a great job on the other side of protecting the ball. Arkansas finished 35th in offensive efficiency. Colgate didn’t face a team that finished in the Top 200. Razorbacks also were 14th in defensive efficiency. The best team the Raiders faced defensively was Army at 149. Every other team by Loyola Maryland ranked outside the Top 286, so I would be cautious when looking at the fact that this team put up 86.3 ppg and gave up just 68.6 ppg. 

50* (CBB) - First Four MAX UNIT Top Play (Davidson -1.5) 

I love the value heere with Davidson as a slim 1.5-point favorite against N.C. State in Thursday's First Fout matchup. I've not really been a big believer in this Wolfpack team this year. They started out 6-1 against a soft schedule and finished 5-1 in their last 6, which I think covers up an awful 2-8 stretch from early January to mid-Feburary. 

Sure they had a couple nice wins, but for the most part they struggled against the better teams in the ACC. I think it says a lot for them to lose by 21 (68-89) to Syracuse in their first game of the ACC Tournament. 

Davidson is a team that I think flies a bit under the radar. They more than held their own in A-10 play and had to deal with a long Covid break. Of their 5 losses in A-10 play, their largest margin of defeat was just 12. The ability to always be in a game is the sign of a good team. The Wildcats also proved how good they were in non-conference play, losing by just 2 to Texas and by 1 to Providence on neutral courts. Give me Davidson -1.5! 

40* (CBB) - First Four VEGAS INSIDER (Drake -1.5) 

I really like Drake at basically a pick'em against Wichita State in Thursday's First Four action. The Bulldogs were far better than anyone expected them to be. They started out 18-0 and even after losing their best player to injury, they kept playing at a high level. 

They will get back their senior stud in Shanquan Hemphill. I also think people are sleeping on the maturation of sophomore point guard Joseph Yesufu. He scored 20 or more in 5 of their last 7, including back-to-back 30+ point games. 

Wichita State is a good team, but can really be stagnant on offense. They finished a pathetic 279th in the country in effective FG %. Drake in comparison was 30th and had the No. 19 ranked offensive efficiency in the nation. Bulldogs also are great at taking care of the ball and defend at a high level. I just think they are without a doubt the better team. Give me Drake -1.5! 

50* VCU/ST BONAVENTURE *AAC PLAY OF THE MONTH* (St. Bonaventure -2.5) 

I'll take my chances here with the Bonnies at basically a pick'em against VCU in the A-10 Championship game on Sunday. St. Bonaventure has really been impressive in this tournament. They took care of Duquesne 75-59 as a 7.5-point favorite on Friday and then crushed St. Louis 71-53 as a 2-point dog on Saturday.

Not that VCU hasn't played well, I just think that the Bonnies are not only the more talented team, but they are the more experienced team. They are also locked in defensively right now. They haven't given up 60 points in any of their last 6 games. 

St Bonaventure is a perfect 7-0 ATS last 2 seasons in neutral site games, while VCU is just 2-10 ATS last 12 on the road against a quality team that's outscoring opponents by 4+ ppg. Rams are also a mere 3-13 ATS last 16 on the road vs a team like the Bonnies that takes good care of the ball and averages fewer than 14 turnovers/game. Give me St. Bonaventure -2.5! 

40* GA TECH/FLORIDA ST NCAAB SHARP STAKE (Florida State -4.5)

I really like Florida State as a 4.5-point favorite against Georgia Tech in Saturday's ACC Title game. I was really impressed with how the Seminoles let a big lead slip away against UNC, fell behind and then came back and finished the job in a 69-66 win. I think that really gives this FSU team a lot of momentum going into this matchup. 

Georgia Tech on the other hand was not that impressive in their first game on Thursday, barely escaping with a 70-66 win over Miami. They then had their game against Virginia called off on Friday. A game I don't think they would have won. 

The other thing I love here is this game feels like unfinished business for Florida State, who lost out on the ACC regular-season title because of a loss at Notre Dame in the final game of the season. I see this as a big time statement game for the Seminoles and I just think if they play with that mindset they are going to win here going away. Give me FSU -4.5! 

50* IOWA/ILLINOIS NCAAB *BEST BET* TOP PLAY (Iowa +4) '

I love the value here with Iowa as a 4-point dog against the Fighting Illini. I was really impressed with the Hawkeyes 62-57 win over Wisconsin in the Quarterfinals on Friday. Iowa was able to win a game, despite one of their worst shooting performances from deep this season. The Hawkeyes were just 2-20 from behind the 3-point line. 

I think that really shows how dangerous this Hawkeyes team is and how much better they have got defensively over the last month of the season. Illinois has played great down the stretch, but they did just barely hold on to beat Iowa 80-75 at home in the only meeting between these two. I just think Iowa is going to come in with a real chip on their shoulder in this game and I really like them to win outright. Give me the Hawkeyes +4! 

40* TENNESSEE/ALABAMA NCAAB VEGAS INSIDER (Alabama -4.5) 

I think the Crimson Tide made it pretty clear they aren't just satisfied with winning the SEC regular-season title. Alabama absolutely destroyed Mississippi State 85-48 on Friday and that's a Bulldogs team that had given them fits in two regular-season meetings. I just feel a motivated Crimson Tide team will have no problem taking down Tennessee in the Semifinals on Saturday. 

The Vols did play well in yesterday's 78-66 win over Florida, but that's a Gators team that was a 1-man show with Tre Mann, scoring 30 of the teams 66 points. Alabama has a plethora of weapons that can really make life miserable on this Tennessee defense. I also don't trust this Vols offense against this Crimson Tide defense. Keep in mind Tennessee could only muster 63 points at home against Alabama earlier this season. As long as the Crimson Tide don't have an awful shooting game, I think they win this game by double-digits. Give me Alabama -4.5! 

40* COLORADO/USC NCAAB LATE NIGHT BAILOUT (Colorado -1.5) 

I think we are getting a great price here with Colorado as a mere 1.5-point favorite against USC in Friday's action out of the PAC-12 Tournament. This is just a really tough spot for the Trojans, who will be playing on no rest after last night's game against Utah went to double-overtime. USC had 3 different players play more than 40 mins and 5 guys who logged more than 30 minutes. 

I just don't see the Trojans having enough gas in the tank against the Buffaloes. Colorado continued their strong play with a 61-58 win over Cal. The other big thing is how these two teams matchup. Buffaloes won both meetings in the regular-season by double-digits, winning 72-62 on the road and 80-62 at home. Give me Colorado -1.5! 

40* WISCONSIN/IOWA NCAAB ATS SLAUGHTER (Iowa -4) 

I will gladly take my chances here with the Hawkeyes as a mere 4-point favorite in Friday's Quarterfinal matchup against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament. The big concern here with Iowa is the healthy of Joe Wieskamp, but he's been seen in practice without a boot and I think there's a decent chance he plays. 

Even if he can't go, I still like Iowa at this price. The Hawkeyes destroyed Wisconsin 77-62 on the road in the first meeting between the two and then won 77-73 at home in the regular-season finale. While the second meeting was much closer, Iowa did have a double-digit lead in the 2nd half of that game. Iowa is also the fresher team having a double-bye. Give me the Hawkeyes -4! 

50* N CAROLINA/FLORIDA ST *BEST BET* TOP PLAY (Florida State -2) 

I had Florida State as a small favorite yesterday against Duke before that game got called off due to a positive Covid test in the Blue Devils program. I feel like that only works in the Seminoles favor here, as they will be playing their first game of the ACC Tournament, while UNC is getting ready for their 3rd game in 3 days. 

Tar Heels have been impressive in their first 2 games, beating Notre Dame 101-59 and Virginia Tech 81-73, but I look for them to run out of gas here against a hungry Florida State team that has not forgot about a late season loss at home to the Tar Heels. Give me the Seminoles -2! 

40* ILLINOIS/RUTGERS NCAAB VEGAS INSIDER (Illinois -7) 

I think we are getting a great price here with Illinois only laying 7-points against Rutgers. The Fighting Illini 11-1 over their final 12 games and really looked like a team on a mission the last couple of weeks of the regular-season. 

As for Rutgers, they were able to beat Indiana 61-50 on Thursday, but that was more of just the Hoosiers being awful offensively than anything. Indiana didn't make a field goal over the final 9+ minutes of that game and were just 6-15 from the free throw line for the game. It covered up a pretty bad offensive game for the Scarlet Knights. 

They just aren't going to get away with shooting as bad as they did against a team like Illinois, who can light it up offensively. I'm confident the Illini win here by double-digits. Give me Illinois -7! 

40* PURDUE/OHIO STATE NCAAB SHARP STAKE (Purdue +1.5) 

I like the value here with Purdue as a slim dog against the Buckeyes in Friday's Quarterfinal matchup in the Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State was able to hang on for a 79-75 win against Minnesota on Thursday, despite completely falling apart in the final few minutes of that game. 

That's not a good sign for a team playing a depleted Minnesota team, as you really would have expected Ohio State to dominate that game, especially given how they lost their last 4 games in the regular-season. 

Buckeyes just don't have a great inside presence on defense and that's a major problem against this Purdue team, which is led by 6-10 junior center Trevion Williams and 7-4 freshman Zach Edey. Those two were a big reason why the Boilermakers swept the 2-games against the Buckeyes in the regular-season. I just think the wrong team is favored, especially given how Purdue had a double-bye and Ohio State is playing on no rest. Give me the Boilermakers +1.5! 

40* S CAROLINA/OLE MISS NCAAB ATS SLAUGHTER (Ole Miss -7) 

I got no problem laying the 7 with Ole Miss against South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels really came on strong in the 2nd half of the season. They went from sitting at 8-8 overall and 3-6 in SEC play to finishing the season 15-10 and 10-8 in league play. 

They did only beat South Carolina by 7 in the only meeting between the two in the regular-season, but that was a bit of a misleading final, as they led by as many as 18 with just under 6 minutes to play. 

Simply put, this is just not a very good Gamecocks team. They went just 1-8 in their final 9 games with the only win coming against a bad Georgia team. Their last 5 losses have been by 20 to Tennessee, by 15 to Missouri, by 21 to Miss St, by 28 to Alabama and by 28 to Kentucky. Give me Ole Miss -7! 

40* PENN ST/WISCONSIN NCAAB ATS KNOCKOUT (Wisconsin -5.5)

I really like the Badgers as a mere 5.5-point favorite against the Nittany Lions in Thursday's Second Round matchup with Penn State. I know Wisconsin stunk it up down the stretch, losing 5 of their last 6, but it's not as bad as it looks. They all came against the Top 4 teams in the Big Ten Standings in Iowa (2x), Michigan, Illinois and Purdue. 

I think we are going to see a very motivated Wisconsin team here against a pretty average Penn State team. The Nittany Lions were able to pull off an impressive 72-66 win over Nebraska, but they had to rally from 15 down in that game. Having to use so much energy to fight back and now having to play on no rest, really makes this a difficult spot for Penn State, especially against a team like Wisconsin that wants to grind you into the ground. Give me the Badgers -5.5! 

40* INDIANA/RUTGERS NCAAB ATS MASSACRE (Rutgers -2) 

I like the value here with Rutgers as a slim 2-point favorite against Indiana in Thursday's Second Round matchup in the Big Ten Tournament. Having the Big Ten Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium would have been a big advantage for Indiana in most years, as it would have felt like a home game for them. But that's just not the case during Covid with little to no fans in attendance. 

Without that, I just don't see the Hoosiers being able to pull off the small upset against the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers won both regular-season meetings, beating Indiana 74-70 on the road in the first matchup and 74-63 at home in the rematch. 

Another big thing here is the healthy of this Hoosiers team. We know they won't have one of their top guards in Armaan Franklin. They could also be without starting power forward Race Thompson, who is questionable with an ankle injury. On top of all that, Rutgers has the bigs inside to make things really difficult on Indiana's best player Trayce Jackson-Davis. Give me Rutgers -2! 

40* OREGON ST/UCLA NCAAB VEGAS INSIDER (UCLA -4.5) 

I'm going to take the UCLA Bruins -4.5 against the Oregon State Beavers in Thursday's Second Round matchup in the Pac-12 Tournament. I think we are a getting a big discount here with UCLA due to the fact that they closed out the regular-season on a 3-game losing streak. 

Thing is, those 3 losses came against 3 really good teams in Colorado, Oregon and USC. Both games against the Buffaloes and Ducks were on the road and really should have beat the Trojans at home. 

I'm confident because of how the season ended, we are going to get a max effort here from UCLA in their game against Oregon State. The Bruins did only beat the Beavers by a final of 57-52 at home in the only meeting between the two in the regular-season. However, UCLA couldn't have shot it any worse in that game. They only hit 32.7% from the field. No way they shoot that poorly again against Oregon State. It was also a tough spot, as they had a huge home game against two days prior get called off because of Covid. 

Another reason this line might be a little lower than it should be, is the fact that Oregon State won 3 of their last 4, with all 3 wins coming on the road. However, those were against the likes of Cal, Stanford and Utah, none of which are on the same level as this UCLA team. 

I'm also aware of the fact that Bruins star shooting guard Johnny Juzang is questionable with an ankle injury that kept him out of the USC game, but word is that he will be ready to go for this game. Even if he can't go, I still like UCLA to at this price. Give me the Bruins -4.5! 

50* MINNESOTA/OHIO ST *BEST BET* TOP PLAY (Ohio State -10.5) 

I got no problem laying the big number with Ohio State, as they get set to take on Minnesota in the Second Round of the Big Ten Tournament. The Gophers were able to find a way to knock off Northwestern on Wednesday, but it wasn't pretty. Minnesota scored just 51 points and shot just 36.7% from the field. If the Wildcats don't go scoreless over the final 4+ minutes they lose that game. 

It was nothing new in terms of poor shooting by the Gophers. That's now 5 straight games where they have shot 37% or worse from the field. That kind of offense just isn't going to cut it against a very hungry and motivated Ohio State team that will be itching to take the floor after losing their final 4 Big Ten games to close out the regular-season. 

Add in the rest edge the Buckeyes have with them getting a 1st Round bye and this has blowout written all over it. Give me Ohio State -10.5! 

50* GTOWN/VILLANOVA *BEST BET* TOP PLAY (Georgetown +9) 

We cashed in on the Hoyas +3.5 in yesterday's 68-49 thrashing of Marquette and will gladly fire back with Georgetown as a big dog against Villanova on Thursday. Typically I'm a little hesitant backing teams playing on no rest against a team that had a bye, but I just feel this is too good a price to pass up with the Hoyas. 

The biggest thing here is Villanova is not anywhere close to full strength. They suffered a massive blow at the end of the regular-season, losing star senior point guard Collin Gillespie to a season ending injury. On top of that, they aren't expected to have sophomore guard Justin Moore, who would have been the one to fill in for Gillespie at the point. 

I'm not saying Villanova can't win this game without those two, but I definitely think Georgetown has a really good shot of winning here. Give me the Hoyas +9! 

40* NEBRASKA/PENN ST NCAAB SHARP STAKE (Nebraska +6.5) 

I really like the value here with Nebraska as a 6.5-point dog against the Nittany Lions. I just think there's a ton of value with this Cornhuskers team right now. Nebraska finished just 3-16 in Big Ten play a full 3 wins less than the next worst team. 

However, the Cornhuskers really showed some big improvement down the stretch. They finally started to hit the 3-point shot and put up close to 77 ppg in their last 6 contests. On top of that, they nearly swept the season series with Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions on the road and losing by just 3 at home. I really think this line should be closer to 3 than 7 and I got a good feeling Nebraska wins this one outright. Give me the Cornhuskers +6.5! 

40* NOTRE DAME/N CAROLINA NCAAB VEGAS INSIDER (North Carolina -6.5) 

I think we are getting a great price here with North Carolina as a 6.5-point favorite against Notre Dame. I was on the Irish yesterday and they let me down, beating an awful Wake Forest team 80-77 as a 8-point favorite. They were lucky just to win that game, as they trailed by as many as 16 in the 2nd half before eventually winning on a last second shot. 

I just think the Irish had to use up a ton of energy to rally for that win against the Demon Deacons. That's a big problem with them having to play on no rest against a rested and motivated North Carolina team that really seemed to find their groove late in the year. I wouldn't be shocked if this ended up being a blowout early in favor of the Tar Heels. Give me North Carolina -6.5! 

40* TEXAS A&M/VANDERBILT NCAAB ATS NO-BRAINER (Texas A&M +1.5) 

I will take a shot here with Texas A&M as a slim dog against Vandy in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. The Aggies are a team that are getting zero respect right now. A big reason for that is they only went 2-8 in SEC play. They also didn't play a single game in the month of February because of Covid and lost their first two games back. 

While they did lose at home to Mississippi State and on the road to Arkansas, I was impressed with how well they played given the massive layoff. They could have easily won that game at home against the Bulldogs and led by as many as 14 in the 1st half in their loss to the Razorbacks. 

Vandy is a team that went just 3-13 in SEC play and while they do have one of the better players in the SEC on the floor here in Scotty Pippen Jr., they lost their other stud late in the year in Dylan Disu. For a team that gave up 76.5 ppg in SEC play, I just don't think they have the scoring to advance to tomorrow. Give me the Aggies +1.5! 

50* MINNESOTA/NORTHWESTERN *BEST BET* TOP PLAY (Northwestern -1.5) 

I will gladly take my chances here with Northwestern as a slim 1.5-point favorite against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats surprised everyone when they started out 3-0 in Big Ten play, but then proceeded to lose their next 13 conference games before ending the year on a 3-game winning streak. 

One of those wins was a 67-59 win on the road over these Gophers. I just don't see the outcome being much different. Minnesota completely fell apart in the 2nd half of this season. They were at one point sitting at 11-4 and ended up 13-14. They come in having lost 7 straight and its not a matter of if but when head coach Richard Pitino will be fired. 

The biggest thing for Minnesota is they are really banged up. Two of their better players, Gabe Kalsheur and Liam Robbins are both out with injuries. They also could be without senior forward Brandon Johnson. Keep in mind this is a team that struggled to score even when healthy. They were also 0-10 away from home this season, losing by an average of 14.8 ppg. Give me Northwestern -1.5!