A late game that should be entertaining is Texas State vs Southern Utah. Texas State has knocked down two opponents in California and Rhode Island that have boosted their ATS ground. Yet, look for Southern Utah to be their match as they play solid team basketball. This is one that should be a pull away spot for Southern Utah.

One bad half of basketball downgraded the Butler Bulldogs. They held their own for one half against Tennessee and absolutely fell apart in the second half en route to a complete beat down. Yet, they are a team that should get better as the season extends. Facing NC State should be a close neck and neck game but I like Butler’s tenacity and guard play to elevate them. Take Butler.

Mercer has three losses on the season but could very well be undefeated. They let a big lead falter against East Carolina, lost to Georgia State in overtime, and could not pull through against Florida State. Sometimes certain teams are in a bad spot post holiday and this is a letdown spot for Mercer. Tail Robert Morris plus the points.

Friday the NBA is back in action with a full slate. The Philadelphia 76ers toppled the Brooklyn Nets a few nights ago as home underdogs of eight points. Yet, the following night they lost to the Hornets and now will face another team that is near the bottom of the NBA in the Magic. Even with a holiday day off look for the Magic to have enough offense to take down the short handed 76ers. Take Orlando. 

A neutral site game played just off the strip will take place in Las Vegas tonight between UC Riverside and Weber State. Weber State is off to a rough start but have not had the opportunity to face a division one school on their level yet. Look for the Wildcats to settle in the second half as they aim for their first win over a division one school this season. Take the small underdog here in Weber State.

Early season ranked teams from the West Coast are under valued because of their late start times. San Diego State has a golden opportunity with a spotlight showcase today against Ohio State. The Aztecs have focused on pushing the basketball and have improved vastly from a team that averaged just sixty five points per game. Additionally, their top player in Matt Bradley has yet to get going as he has averaged just seven points. He will turn it around today, as San Diego State’s team basketball pushes past the Buckeyes.

Georgia Tech will have their first true test Monday against a power five school. At 3-0, they have had a subpar schedule out the gate with victories over Georgia State, Northern Illinois, and a non-division one school in Clayton. Look for Utah’s size and better execution in half court to be the difference. Take the Utes in a bounce back spot after losing to Sam Houston as a double-digit favorite.

With several neutral site tournaments there is value to be had on small schools. Santa Clara will take on DePaul later this evening as slight underdogs. DePaul already has notched a power five win over Minnesota but will face a Santa Clara team that will challenge them on the defensive end of the floor. The Broncos have an under the radar transfer in Parker Braun and a big time scorer in Brandin Podziemski that is averaging 25 points per game. Take Santa Clara.

An ATS boomerang of value lies with the Phoenix Suns. Down a couple players the Suns have had their issues as of late especially on the road. They lost at Orlando and Miami their prior two road games, but the Jazz have also stumbled with a recent loss against the Knicks. Jordan Clarkson is also in a mega slump. Back the undermanned Suns as a small favorite. 

A team that endured a plethora of injuries last season with players in and out of the lineup was Nevada. To start this year they have come out the gate 3-0. UT Arlington’s weak schedule has seen them defeat two non division one schools. Sometimes that type of tune up can prepare you better for higher level competition. At home look for the Mavericks to keep this close to cover the spread.

Starting off 0-3 has cast a shadow of embarrassment on Leonard Hamilton and his Florida State Seminoles squad. Yet, it is early in the season and I expect the Seminoles to regroup and put forth a better effort today against Florida. This is an over reaction spot spread wise. Take the points with the Seminoles.

An aggressive point spread rise Thursday that proved correct was on Troy. From start to finish they had no issues defeating Merrimack and won by nineteen points. They also have a road victory over Florida State. Yet playing in consecutive days is tough for any team and St. Thomas will want to respond after an embarrassing showcase yesterday against Montana. Play the underdog.

A poor loss early in non-conference can actually create immediate value ATS. Oklahoma State did go down 61 to 60 against Southern Illinois, but quickly regrouped to blowout Oakland 91 to 62. Their balance especially at the guard position will be tough for Central Florida to contain. Look for a solid contribution off the bench from former Texas State guard Caleb Asberry to spark the Cowboys. Lay it -6.

The LA Clippers have caught the betting public’s attention thanks to a 6-2 run ATS. Yet, Thursday night is their biggest favored spread on the season against the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons down Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart combined with the Pistons 0-7 record, the spread is a tad bit high. Take Detroit to sneak within the number.

The Brooklyn Nets lost by double-digits to one of the worst teams in the NBA in the Lakers, and followed that up with a 32 point loss to the Sacramento Kings. Needless to say their west coast road trip has spiraled in the wrong direction. Tonight, they’ll have a chance to regain some confidence before heading back home against Memphis. Take the Nets plus the points with Portland in a back to back spot.

Traveling across the country is not an easy task for any school. Hofstra has been great ATS including a big home win against Iona. Yet, San Jose State has created a bit of a radar blotch on themselves as well. They are 3-0 and have shown to be one of the most improved teams in college basketball. Look for their early season magic to continue. Play the home underdog

Out in the SWAC I’ll do a late add with Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs were competitive against a North Alabama team that was better than their record indicated a season ago. The SWAC is also an underrated conference for it’s skill level especially on the offensive end of the floor. Tennessee State prevails but Alabama A&M gets the cover as an underdog.

A lot of rosters are completely made over in college basketball with transfers that are upperclassmen but inexperienced. UTEP is one of those teams. After losing by fifteen points to a top team in Texas it can be hard to regroup for their second game. UTEP may lack experience but has a group of players that have had high repetition of practices with their former teams. This new playing time is what they covet and should carry over in a win against New Mexico State. Play UTEP.

Binghamton out of the American East conference should have a solid revenge spot today against Marist. A season ago the Bearcats hosted Marist and lost 64 to 51. A spark plug for Marist in that contest was Jao Ituka, who has now transferred to Wake Forest. This should be a slower paced contest and low scoring. Go against the line move here and play Binghamton. 

Amidst the disarray of the firing of Coach Steve Nash and Kyrie Irving’s suspension the Brooklyn Nets have shown momentum. They’ve won three of four games, and only loss was a tight two point game against Dallas. Traveling across the country look for the Nets to stymie the Clippers who have enjoyed a favorable schedule to win five of six. Play Brooklyn.

One more late add with Cal State Fullerton getting a small number at home. Early in the season one can't over react to a big blowout win. Pepperdine blew out an opponent in Rice that they had a revenge angle on. Last year Rice defeated them in double digit fashion to open the season. Cal State Fullerton does not score in bunches but does play solid defense with experience. Take Cal State Fullerton.

Sometimes we see power five schools take a major dip, and take years to rebuild. Georgia has a new look roster of a difficult combination of transfers. It’s going to take some time to build up the talent level of this current roster. Expect Wake Forest to perform better than they did in their first game against Fairfield, and pull away from Georgia.

The Phoenix Suns have managed to get by in recent games without Chris Paul and Cam Johnson. One of the main reasons they were able to blowout Minnesota is because of the poor interior defense of the Timberwolves. That and the fact the Suns just saw Minnesota the prior week. As poor as Orlando has been they have the young athletes to give the bench players that have to play more minutes issues for the Suns. Take Orlando.

It was not going to be an easy transition for new South Carolina Coach Lamont Paris. The Gamecocks former Coach in Frank Martin had three of his former South Carolina players transfer to UMass with him. While the Gamecocks had their issues defeating South Carolina State in their opener, they did shoot 44 percent from the field. Expect better execution Friday and for South Carolina to cover against Clemson.

Coach Pitino has done what expected at Iona and that is maximize his roster year over year. This was on display in Iona’s first game as they stormed the six point spread with ease. Today, expect more of a battle even with Hofstra losing a few key players from last season. Hofstra has grit and always plays tough in non conference. Take the points. 

Early season neutral site tournaments can be of opportune value in the betting market. UL Lafayette against Harvard should be an optimal spot. The Ragin Cajuns are a deep talented team that should project to be a dangerous 12 or 13 seed in March. Led by former Power five player Jordan Brown, and former St. John’s guard Greg Williams UL Lafayette has only built a more dangerous squad around them. Play UL Lafayette.

Delaware returns several starters from last year’s March Madness tournament team, and added L.J. Owens a transfer from UMBC. Their talent will put them in the driver’s seat once again to make a big run in the CAA, but for Friday they’ll be on the road for the first time this season. Their next game will also be on the road against Duke. Take the home underdog from the Mountain West in Air Force. 

We will grab the Torreros who will face Florida Gulf Coast tonight. It’s always tough when a team pulls off an upset in their opening game to play a fluid second game. This should the case tonight with Florida Gulf Coast who had no issues in defeating USC. Grab SD as their defense will keep Gulf Coast in check.

The Mercer Bears will have to find a way to replace their top three scorers from last season, including Felipe Haase and Neftali Alvarez who transferred to Southern Miss. While the offense will be a work in progress I expect the Bears to showcase higher energy on the defensive end of the floor. This was an area severely lacking with last year’s team that were blown out of several games in-conference. Take Mercer as East Carolina loses a season opener for the first time in over twenty years.  

Injuries this early in the season can torpedo a team in the standings and ATS. Portland who is already minus Damian Lillard could also be without Anfernee Simons who is listed as questionable. As great as the Suns have been playing at home, their second unit has struggled. Against Minnesota Coach Monty Williams bench allowed a 17 point third quarter lead to drop to 2 points early in the fourth. Take Portland plus the double digit spread. 

Friday the Boston Celtics will have a chance to avenge an eighteen point loss to the Bulls on October 24th. The game started out terrific for the Celtics as they jumped out to a 12 to 0 lead, and a 20-6 lead. At home expect the Celtics to avoid the in-game lag that allowed the Bulls to flip a switch. Take the Celtics and purchase the hook to 7.

Although the Pacers are playing their third game in four nights, they should still have an edge from an ATS stand point over the Nets. Brooklyn’s dropped four straight games and Indiana just defeated them outright on October 29th 125 to 116. Take the Pacers plus the points to play another thorough contest against Brooklyn.

The Sacramento Kings a season ago had an ugly road trip when they traveled to Charlotte. A game that they could of won ended up slipping away to a one point loss. This time Charlotte is enduring without several key players in Rozier, Ball, and Martin, but have played solid basketball and are coming off a victory over the Golden State Warriors. Look for the Hornets to keep their chemistry intact for a Monday ATS casher. 

This year the NBA ATS picks rollout will be a bit slower to gauge teams top to bottom along with rotations. The Memphis Grizzlies possess the same flash and grit we saw take center stage in the postseason last year. Ja Morant will be a force every single night, but the Grizzlies have shown to be a bit more vulnerable with their depth. The Kings at home should keep this close with the insertion of Keegan Murray into the starting lineup. Take the Kings plus three.

Series that go seven games sometimes prolong the inevitable. The Phoenix Suns have been a disastrous road team in this series but the Mavericks have been equally as poor at Phoenix. Expect the Suns to rise to the occasion after an embarrassing showing in game six. Take Phoenix as they make this look like a regular season game and not a game seven. 

With their backs against the walls the Philadelphia 76ers must find a way to stave off elimination. In game five the 76ers had no answer from the start to the Miami Heat’s intensity. Yet, this series has shown us that the home team has a big edge. Take Philadelphia as they regroup in front of their home crowd, and setup a game seven.

The Golden State Warriors may have the big names from their past playoff runs, but on the court they have not looked the part. With the Grizzlies minus Ja Morant they still showcased a solid effort in game four’s loss. In a potential close out game look for another big effort, as the Grizzlies hang around the Warriors once again. Take Memphis.

In game four, Boston appeared to be headed to a 3-1 series deficit. Thanks to a surge of offense from Jayson Tatum and Al Horford the Celtics evened the series. We’ve seen in the past teams that escape a hole usually jump to a higher level of play going forward. Take the Celtics who should be able to ride their home crowd and destiny to get the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Phoenix Suns should answer the bell today after disappointing performances in games three and four. I expect better perimeter defense and for the Suns to get back to establishing the paint. They’ll get a big game from DeAndre Ayton and their role players off the bench. Grab the Suns.

A regrettable ending to game three for the Boston Celtics thwarted a tremendous comeback effort. A second round playoff pattern of home teams covering should finally end tonight in game four. Expect the Celtics to heighten their level of play with their backs against the wall. They’ll take game four and get the momentum back in the series. Play the Celtics.

After an odd first round against the Pelicans, the Suns have transformed into top-tier play. Tonight is another high level test for Phoenix who lost three game three’s last post-season. Yet, this is a matchup the Suns have to many weapons for Dallas to counter. Take the Suns as they win their twelfth straight game over Dallas.

In game one the Boston Celtics were caught off guard by a Bucks team that would not back down. Expect quick adjustments to be made, as the Celtics play better half court defense. Isolation basketball by the Milwaukee Bucks should bog down their offense. Take Boston as they play to the level of expectations everyone expected in game one.

Tonight game one will take place between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns. It’s a matchup the Suns have dominated winning nine straight, including all three this season by seven points or more. Expect Phoenix to be prepared to limit Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson’s production, and to play like the top seed that they are. Grab Phoenix

Each team in the postseason has had their downfall of a flat outing. The Philadelphia 76ers had that in game five and had it exacerbated based on the talent on their team and Coach Doc Rivers history. As a veteran squad they will play to a higher level to avoid a more dangerous option of a game seven at home. Take Philadelphia as they find a way to finish the Raptors.  

The Atlanta Hawks had no answers in game four for the Heat’s defensive intensity. Each minor adjustment the Hawks have tried to do has been countered by the great mastermind of Coach Spoelstra. But what the NBA playoffs always teaches you is that even a clear better team is vulnerable to a let down spot. Grab the points here as Atlanta finally gives the Heat a four quarter game in an elimination spot.

It’s hard to fathom the Brooklyn Nets going from last year’s game seven heartbreak to the Bucks, to potentially being swept in round one this season. Yet, they let two golden opportunities slip away in games one and two to the Celtics. Game three the Celtics figured out not just Kevin Durant but the entire bench production of the Nets. Take Boston as the complete a clean sweep, and defeat the Nets for the seventh straight time.

The patterns of the Western Conference mid-tier teams have been glaring with Denver and Utah. The Nuggets showed strong effort in game three against the Warriors but could not finish in the fourth quarter. Close out games are typically a flat spot especially on a teams home floor. One spurt from the Warriors could spell the exits for fans. Split your action full game and in-game as the Warriors may be down early. 

The Milwaukee Bucks know they could easily be down 0-2. The Bulls flipped a gear in the postseason that the Bucks did not see in blowout regular season victories over Chicago. Look for the road element to wake up the Bucks even minus Khris Middleton. Last postseason, Coach Budenholzer showcased that he is capable of making the necessary adjustments after the first two games of a series. Play the Bucks.

With or without Luka Donkic the Dallas Mavericks showed they have the role players to step up when necessary in game two. Tonight, all the pressure is on a Utah Jazz team that has under achieved time and time again in the post-season. While Dallas may not have the same fire power offensively as in game two, look for Utah to keep them in it with poor stretches. Take Dallas.

When it comes to the Boston Celtics they head into game two knowing they nearly let a big lead slip away, and were lucky Jayson Tatum put in the game winner. Now the young Celtics will face a Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving tandem that will be fully engaged in game two. Yet, Boston at home will have the necessary spurts to quell the Nets. Take Boston to cover and take a commanding 2-0 series lead to Brooklyn.  

Pelicans +10.5

All regular season the Phoenix Suns played like a determined team to earn the Western Conference top seed.  They’re back to finish what they couldn’t do last year, when they raced through the postseason until the Bucks stormed back in the Finals. Their first round series against the Pelicans will be a test they won’t be as easy as last post season. In game one take the value here on the Pelicans. 

Playoff basketball begins for the Bulls and defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. No one expects the Bulls to truly challenge the Bucks for a series victory. From an ATS stand point though Chicago should perform better than how they ended the season. This included two blowout losses by twenty plus points against the Bucks. Yet, look for a clamp down effort in the fourth quarter defensively to push the Bucks past the number.   

Star player additions at the trade deadline made immediate dividends for the New Orleans Pelicans. Immediately CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram meshed together as the Pelicans surged to gain a play-in spot. Record wise the Spurs at 34-46 don’t belong in this scenario, but have a scrappy roster from top to bottom. Led by Coach Popovich look for a solid effort from the Spurs. Take them as an underdog. 

For the second straight season the Charlotte Hornets find themselves in the play-in round. This is a chance for the Hornets to learn from last year’s epic let down when they were blown out by the Pacers. While the Hawks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, they have had a topsy turvy year to expectations. Take the Hornets on a line that is too high based on the Hawks resume last season and their 27-14 home record.

Normally entering the playoffs one would not have a recent matchup and identical point spread to work off of. The opening line of the Nets and Cavaliers play-in game was the exact same as their matchup on April 8th. One that the Nets dominated the first and fourth quarters by outscoring the Cavaliers by 15 and 16 points. Recency bias combined with the Nets star power has pushed this spread up just a bit too much. Play the underdog here. 

Saturday in a light NBA slate look for the Warriors to deliver as road favorites. An anomaly of the Spurs streaking ATS-wise has featured an 8-1 mark. This included defeating the Warriors outright at Golden State on March 20th. Tonight they’ll be a depleted team with Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jakob Poeltl out. Take the Warriors.

All signs point to Ja Morant possibly playing today against the Pelicans. Once officially determined expect a further rise in the current market price ATS. After all Memphis has delivered at home time and time again, even without Morant. Yet, this is a Pelicans team that has soared in confidence since coming back down twenty against the Lakers. Back the Pelicans who have won five of their last six games.  

Sometimes in sports an inevitable team downward spiral is never ending. That appears to be the case for the Chicago Bulls who have lost by double digits in three straight games. While those losses were against upper level Eastern Conference opponents, it does not look to be an overnight fix. Take the Hornets as the Bulls home woes continue ATS.

Assuredly, the New York Knicks season did not live up to expectations after last year’s trip to the post-season. With several key players out down the stretch, the tables have turned to put a spotlight on different Knicks players. Tonight, they’ll face a Wizards team also resting several starters. Grab the Knicks to have a fluid game offensively and cover the number.  

A big surprise in the Western Conference has been the end of season finish for the San Antonio Spurs. They are 8-2 over their last ten games, and throttled the Denver Nuggets Tuesday without Dejounte Murray. On the road once again Thursday, look for the Timberwolves to outpace the Spurs. On March 14th, the Timberwolves scored 149 points at San Antonio in a ten point victory. Play the Timberwolves.

We’ve seen a point spread line swing as the 76ers are now favored against the Toronto Raptors. This is a chance for the 76ers to reach a milestone of fifty wins and also improve their positioning from a fourth seed. Yet, Toronto has played well against the 76ers this season with a 2-1 series lead. They also limited Philadelphia to just eighty eight points in a 93-88 victory on March 20th. Play Toronto.

The Detroit Pistons may be one of the worst teams record wise in the NBA, but ATS they have been superb. Since February 16th they are 19-3 ATS, and are on a three game win streak. Evaluating that stretch they faced just three Western conference teams in Oklahoma City, the LA Clippers, and the Portland Trailblazers. Look for a higher level team in the Mavericks to end the Pistons stout stretch ATS. Play Dallas. 

Duke has grown immensely throughout the tournament, but now they’ll face a North Carolina team with top intel on the Blue Devils. UNC already defeated Duke exactly three weeks ago by a score of 94 to 81. Do not expect North Carolina to be afraid of the moment, and a deficit for Duke would spell trouble. Take the Tar Heels.

We’ve seen an overnight line move between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls sway towards the Heat side. A big reason for that is the Heat have dominated the season series over the Bulls with a current 3-0 lead. Yet, this is the tail end of the NBA regular season and will mean more to the Bulls as they need to finally defeat the Heat. Play the home team here getting points.

A short handed Villanova Wildcats team will take on a surging Kansas Jayhawks team. The top seed maybe has had the easiest path of all the Final Four teams, which could play into the hands of Villanova. Expect, Jay Wright to devise a game plan that suits Villanova attempting to take the game in the final ten minutes of the second half. This will be a tight game and one Villanova keeps within the spread.

The Basketball Classic championship will finally take place tonight as Fresno State travels to Coastal Carolina. This is the Bulldogs longest road trip of the season, as the furthest they’ve traveled is against Mountain West opponents. Yet, expect the Bulldogs to be focused and handle a Coastal Carolina team that has shown a knack for getting behind the past two matchups. Grab Fresno State.

A team that is tumbling down the stretch of the NBA regular season has been the Cleveland Cavaliers. They’re just 1-4 over their last five games, and are coming off surrendering 120 points last night to the Dallas Mavericks. This spells trouble as they will be in a back to back situation as well as their opponent in the Atlanta Hawks tonight. Look for the Hawks to get out early, and hold off the number just enough late. Back Atlanta.

In their respective NIT semi-final matchups on Tuesday both Xavier and Texas A&M put together complete games. This will make Thursday’s championship a true must watch game. Prior to the championship all matchups in the NIT were spaced out. Expect the two day turn around to bode to the advantage of the Aggies, as they continue their strong defensive effort in the NIT. Buy the hook and purchase the Aggies -4.

Wednesday, the NBA slate features eleven games. One of the few teams playing in a back to back scenario are the Washington Wizards who will host the Orlando Magic. The month of March has not been kind to the Wizards as they are just 3-9 over their last twelve games. Still, expect the Wizards to topple a Magic team that’s just 10-29 on the road this year.

A team that has shown to be susceptible in the latter stages of the NBA season has been the Bulls. Chicago is just 4-6 over their last ten games and is coming off a road loss Monday night against the Knicks. Today, they’ll travel to face the Wizards in what will mark their eighth of nine games on the road. This should be a great in-game spot if the Bulls trail, nevertheless will take the Bulls full game to end the Wizards two-game win streak. 

The NIT semifinals will take center stage Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Musketeers needed all forty minutes to topple Vanderbilt in their latest NIT victory. Short handed minus Paul Scruggs, Xavier has very little room for error. Although St. Bonaventure has the experience edge, they struggle to put teams away. Grab Xavier as they give the Bonnies a hard fought game.

The Basketball Classic continues Monday evening with two matchups. One is a spotlight matchup between two Sun Belt conference teams in Coastal Carolina and South Alabama. The Jaguars got the upper hand in the lone matchup this season, thanks to a buzzer beating three point shot. Expect the Jaguars to gain the upper hand as they continue to excel at home, where they have a 15-2 record. 

Decimated by injuries the Indiana Pacers look to be turning the page for the final stretch of the season. Earlier this morning key star Myles Turner was declared out for the season. This has ballooned tonight’s spread against an Atlanta Hawks team that is typically a road fade. On the year they are just 13-23 on the road, but even this Hawks team should not slip up against Indiana. Take the Hawks on the big number. 

Surprisingly there is just one top seed left, and that is the Kansas Jayhawks. Expect Bill Self and company to remain alive as they take on a Providence team that had weak opponents to begin March Madness. The Jayhawks should be able to neutralize the excellent shooting exhibited by Providence thus far, and get past the number with their defense.

The Wizards anomaly of an elongated stretch of poor basketball hit another milestone yesterday. They had a disastrous first half before closing the gap to eight points with a few minutes left. That type of play with bad teams can sometimes help into the next game. Expect the Wizards to come out sharp against the Detroit Pistons and cash plus four.

Every March Madness there is a top team that survives a game they should not have won. It typically creates great value ATS in their next matchup. The Houston Cougars have looked every bit as strong as last year’s team, but Arizona is a different caliber. Look for Arizona to make a big statement and come out as the new favorite amongst the Elite Eight teams left. 

The Phoenix Suns have time and time again been a juggernaut all season long, and answered the bell when least expected. Today, look for their six game win streak to be tested against the Denver Nuggets. Over the years Denver has given the Suns fits, especially at home. Grab the Nuggets. 

The Wizards have been a completely different level of team minus Bradley Beal, especially on the road. Overall they’ve lost seven straight road games by an average of ten points. Yet, we are evaluating the spread here and the Bucks might be in a let down spot. After a four game road trip that featured, the Bucks faced a Bulls team at home that was in a back to back spot. Look for the Bucks to have an off quarter that impacts the spread enough for the underdog. Take Washington

Time and time again we have seen an eleven seed get hot in March. The time off between their opening round wins, actually helps the underdog believe even more. Michigan went through a roller coaster season, but has the size to give Villanova problems. Look for Michigan to have better offense when it matters most, and to cover the five. Play the Wolverines.

Standings in the NBA are tricky to evaluate from an ATS stand point. On paper the Spurs are just one game above the Portland Trailblazers. Yet, Portland is in the midst of a team overhaul as they have a majority of their roster out. The Spurs are coming off a big win over the Golden State Warriors and should carry that momentum over tonight. Grab the Spurs.

The Basketball Classic has had a bit of disarray in organizing their college basketball tournament. A team that by default has advanced to the quarterfinal has been Youngstown State. Wednesday, they’ll travel across the country to take on a Fresno State team that’s half court defense should stifle a guard oriented Youngstown State team. Look for big man Orlando Robinson to continue his excellent play.

The WCC conference truly believed that it’s level of basketball was on par with power five schools. BYU actually had an advantage when it came to non-conference play against the PAC-12. They defeated Oregon, 81-49, and also Utah 75-64. Look for their high scoring of play to affect the Washington State Cougars. Grab BYU to cash on the small favored number.

An intriguing matchup will take place this evening in The Basketball Classic, as UTEP hosts Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds used their experience to knock off whom many deemed a dangerous Kent State team in the opening round. Overall, Southern Utah has four starting seniors, along with a sixth man in Nate Fleming. They’ll give the Miners a run for their money, but look for UTEP to make the necessary halftime adjustments to take care of business. Grab UTEP.

Thus far today both CBI matchups have been terrific. That should continue all the way through the nightcap which features Ohio and Abilene Christian. Ohio was one of the better mid-major teams for the first 2.5 months of the college basketball season. A late season slide snowballed as they lost five of their last seven games. Look for Abilene Christian to be the latest to get by Ohio, with their attention to detail on the defensive end. Grab Abilene Christian.

Coastal Carolina out of the Sun Belt will host a second round matchup today against Florida Gulf Coast. Both teams won convincingly in their opening round victories in The Basketball Classic. Tonight though look for Coastal Carolina’s physicality to offset Florida Gulf Coast. Expect the Chanticleers to control the paint and have a strong rebounding edge, as they were 28th in the country with an average of forty rebounds per game. Take Coastal Carolina.

New Mexico State controlled the UConn Huskies from start to finish, in a point spread that was way off from the on court performance. Saturday, the Arkansas Razorbacks will pose a different challenge for New Mexico State. Look for Eric Musselman’s pace of play to affect the offensive production of the Aggies. Take Arkansas.

UCLA’s opening round victory over Akron showed that the Bruins may not be able to match last year’s tournament run. St. Mary’s maybe had the least of a challenging opponent in their 82 to 53 annihilation of Indiana. The Gaels are the real deal and should keep this within a one possession game. Take St. Mary’s.

In consecutive days the Atlantic 10 has a chance to knock off a Big Ten opponent in March Madness. Davidson should give the Spartans troubles with their ability to shoot the three ball. On the season they averaged over forty percent from distance. Additionally, Coach Izzo’s Spartans have had issues when not on the top seed line in March Madness. Take Davidson. 

Yale’s struggles in non-conference were a big issue in their season. At one point they were just 6-8 overall. In fact, they faced four tournament teams and lost by an average of twenty three points. Take the Boilermakers as they come out focused to avoid a lapse after going down in the opening round last year. 

One of the trickiest games to breakdown is San Francisco and Murray State. The Dons lone weakness during the season was Gonzaga, while Murray State did not face a daunting schedule in a poor Ohio Valley conference. Still look for Murray State to have the edge with better offensive sets. San Francisco relies to heavily on their perimeter players, and the offense bogs down at times. Expect 6’10 forward KJ Williams to give the Dons big problems, and for the Racers to get the win.

Several newcomers to the WAC conference did not deter New Mexico State, as they took home yet another conference title, and conference tournament championship. The Aggies do have former Mountaineer and Cornhusker in Teddy Allen, as well as Johnny McCants who helped nearly knock off Auburn in 2018’s tournament. Yet, UConn has the weapons defensively to hinder the offense of the Aggies. Take UConn to play two complete halves as the Big East impresses opening weekend.

There may have not been a team that disappointed in the final month and a half of college basketball more than Xavier. Since January 23rd, they have gone 4-10. There’s no denying the wheels fell off for the Musketeers, but maybe it was for the better. Clearly Xavier overachieved early in the season, and an NIT tournament is better suited for them. Expect a showcase performance as Xavier went 11-1 in non-conference play, with a lone loss to Iowa State. Take Xavier over Cleveland State on the big number. 

The level of focus for teams entering the NIT is difficult to gauge. A week ago VCU looked like a team that could get an at large bid with an Atlantic 10 title. They had won eight straight conference games, but lost a close game to Saint Louis to end the regular season. This was followed by a quick exit in the A-10 tournament. While VCU was stout in-conference with a 14-4 record, they were just 7-5 in non-conference play. Take Princeton plus the points.

Texas Southern had their ups and downs throughout conference play, but had one of the more difficult non-conference schedules of a non power five team. One key win was over Florida. The Tigers also have the experience from last year’s play-in game, in which they defeated Mount St. Mary’s. Buy the half point here as Texas Southern survives a close battle with Texas A&M CC. 

Abilene Christian will attempt to win their fourth game in four days as they take on New Mexico State. The Aggies are well rested thanks to just one tournament game, and handily defeated Abilene Christian earlier this season. Yet, Abilene Christian has stepped up when needed and will keep this close. Grab Abilene Christian on the big point spread jump.

Thursday in the MAAC semi-finals surprising Rider will face Monmouth. Rider knocked off the top team in Iona Wednesday, and already defeated Monmouth towards the end of the regular season. Their confidence will be high against a Monmouth team that squeaked by Niagara on Thursday. Buy the half point here as Monmouth may win another close game, but Rider gets the cover.

Byes in tournaments especially in the lower level conferences are a moot point. Cal State Fullerton will face a UC Davis team that already had the opportunity to test out the brand new Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada. It’s also extremely difficult to defeat a team in the final game of the regular season, and face them in a tournament format as is the case for Cal State Fullerton. Play the points here with UC Davis.

What happens in February is often times not what you can base a March betting view point on. With Wyoming that’s not the case. Throughout most of the regular season they got by with an uncanny ability to close games. As the season waned down the Mountain West caught up to them. They went 3-4 down the stretch, with one of those losses against UNLV. Expect the Rebels to get the win in a hard fought game.

The turmoil surrounding Louisville’s season is remarkable. Off the court issues and the departure of former coach Chris Mack led to a complete downward conference spiral. Tonight, the Cardinal face a Virginia team that’s already defeated them twice on the season. For Virginia their last action was actually against Louisville. That can be an issue as rust and complacency sets in to start the game. Take Louisville to hold on within the number.

One of the more inconsistent underperforming teams in mid-major college basketball this season was Charlotte. The 49ers come into the Conference USA tournament having won four of their past five games. This included a big win over Middle Tennessee. Yet, this is a case where experience can be a downfall. Expect the 49ers to play down to the level of Rice, who lost to Charlotte by just three points earlier this season. Take Rice.