At 8:30 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (669) and the Austin Peay Governors (670). THE SITUATION: SE Missouri State (4-9) snapped their five-game losing streak on Sunday with their 74-59 win over Missouri Baptist. Austin Peay (6-7) has lost two of their last three games with their 78-48 loss at Georgia on Monday as a 13-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Governors shot just 26.6% from the field in their loss to the Bulldogs — but they have then played 10 of their last 13 games Over the Total after failing to make at least 33% of their shots in their last game. Austin Peay has also played 20 of their last 28 games Over the Total after a straight-up loss — and the Over is 18-7-1 in their last 26 games after a loss by at least 20 points. Additionally, the Governors have play 10 of their last 11 games Over the Total after failing to score at least 50 points in their last game. Austin Peay returns home where they are shooting 52.5% from the field which has translated into 90.6 PPG in their five games on their home court. The Governors have an effective field goal percentage of 59.2% at home which is the 27th best mark in the nation. Austin Peay has played 20 of their last 27 games Over the Total at home — and they have also played 16 of their last 21 home games Over the Total against teams with a winning percentage below 40% on the road. The Governors do struggle on the defensive end of the court as they have allowed five of their last six opponents make at least 50.7% of their shots. Over their last five games, Austin Peay is allowing 75.6 PPG with those five opponents shooting 51.3%. SE Missouri State has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after not allowing more than 60 points in their last game. And while the Redhawks have only covered the point spread once in their last five boarded games, they have then played 12 of their last 13 games Over the Total after failing to cover the point spread in four or five of their last six games. SE Missouri State opens conference play having played 25 of their last 36 games Over the Total against Ohio Valley foes. They have also played 10 of their last 14 road games Over the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% at home. The Redhawks are allowing their home hosts to make 47.3% of their shots — and they have also allowed their last five opponents to shoot 47.4% from the field.

FINAL TAKE: These are two teams that struggle on defense with SE Missouri State ranking 276th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and Austin Peay ranking 321st in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. 25* CBB Ohio Valley Conference Total of the Month with Over the Total in the game between the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (669) and the Austin Peay Governors (670). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the Houston Cougars (827) plus (or minus) the point(s) versus the Washington Huskies (828) in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic. THE SITUATION: Houston (10-3) reached the finals of this holiday tournament with their 70-59 win over Georgia Tech on Monday as a 7.5-point favorite. Washington (10-2) joined them with their 72-61 victory over the host team in Hawai’i by a 72-61 score as a 7-point favorite. This game is being played in Honolulu on the Rainbow Warriors home court.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COUGARS MINUS (OR PLUS) THE POINT(S): Houston has not allowed more than 63 points in seven straight games — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after not allowing more than 65 points in at least five contests. Head coach Kelvin Sampson lost four starters from last year’s Sweet Sixteen team — but six contributors did return from that club. Sampson has built a strong program in Houston that is built on discipline, defense, and rebounding. For the first time since taking over this basketball team, the frontcourt may be a strength for Sampson with 6’8 junior Brison Gresham and 6’10 senior Chris Harris Jr. The Cougars out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets by +17 boards on Monday while pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. This team is second in the nation by rebounding 40.7% of their missed shots — and this is an area of vulnerability for the Huskies as they allow their opponents to rebound 28.0% of their missed shots which is 168th in the nation. The X-factor for this team is the transfer from Kansas in Quentin Grimes who started in all 36 games for the Jayhawks as a freshman. The former McDonald’s All-American scored 26 points against Georgia Tech. This Cougars’ offense is dependent on their athleticism which translates well when playing away from home as they rank 13th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency when playing on the road or neutral courts. Houston has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court. The Cougars have also covered the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Washington lost four starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team — but head coach Mike Hopkins has two McDonald’s All-American freshmen in Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels. Hopkins deploys a similar 2-3 matchup zone similar to the Syracuse system where he served as an assistant. They held the Rainbow Warriors to just 28.4% shooting — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not allowing their last opponent to make at least 33% of their shots. This Washington team thrives inside the arc where they are making 55.4% of their shots which is 20th in the nation. That number does drop to them making 51.6% of their 2-point shots when playing on the road or neutral courts — and they will be challenged by this Cougars defense that is 15th in the nation by limiting their opponents to just 41.3% shooting inside the arc. Washington has covered the point spread in their last three games as the favorite — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after covering the point spread in their last three games as the favorite. The Huskies have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games playing on a neutral court with the Total set in the 135 to 139.5 point range.

FINAL TAKE: Washington’s best win was their opening game of the season when they defeated Baylor — they have since lost to their best two opponents in Tennessee and Gonzaga. Houston’s best win was against South Carolina with their three losses to BYU, Oregon, and Oklahoma State. I like how this Cougars team is developing and their style of play is both a good fit for a neutral court as well as when matching up against the Huskies. 25* CBB Diamond Head Classic Game of the Year with the Houston Cougars (827) plus (or minus) the point(s) versus the Washington Huskies (828). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the South Alabama Jaguars (720) minus the points versus the Appalachian State Mountaineers (719). THE SITUATION: South Alabama (6-4) snapped a two-game losing streak on Tuesday with their 89-79 win over Alabama A&M as an 18.5-point favorite. Appalachian State (6-4) has won their last two games with their 81-59 win at Howard as a 12.5-point favorite on Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE JAGUARS MINUS THE POINTS: South Alabama has covered the point spread in 28 of their last 42 games after a straight-up win where they failed to cover the point spread as the favorite. The Jaguars have also covered the point spread in 6 straight games after a game where at least 165 combined points were scored. This is an intriguing team for second-year head coach Richie Riley who returned two All-Sun Belt forwards, Thrae Mitchell and Josh Ajayi, from last year’s team that finished 17-17. They added a talented transfer point guard in the offseason in Don Coleman who came over from Cal. This is a team that lost by just one point at home to an outstanding Auburn club. They are 4-1 at home with an average winning margin of +14.4 PPG due to their great shooting where they are making 50% of their shots which is resulting in 82.6 PPG. They are also holding their visitors to just 41.3% shooting on their home court. South Alabama has covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games at home — and they have covered the point spread in 7 straight home games with the Total set in the 140 to 144.5 point range. The Jaguars are also 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games against teams with a winning record. Appalachian State has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 29 games after a point spread victory. The Mountaineers have all failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a win by at least 20 points. They held Howard to just 32.6% shooting which was tied for the second-lowest opponent’s field goal percentage this season. But Appalachian State is making only 42.4% of their shots away from home so they will likely struggle in hostile environments against teams who are better on the offensive end of the court. The Mountaineers have failed to cover the point spread in 21 of their last 29 road games with the Total set in the 140 to 144.5 point range.

FINAL TAKE: Appalachian State has yet to generate a winning record to end the season in Sun Belt play since they joined the conference in the 2014-15 season. The Mountaineers opened the season with a 79-71 loss at Michigan which is making the laptops like their numbers given the success of the Wolverines — but that Michigan team improved significantly from their opening game with Juwan Howard as their new coach. Dustin Kerns is also in his first year with this program after coachman at Presbyterian — and they have a bad neutral-court loss to Montana State also on their resume. Appalachian State is not a great offensive team — getting to the free-throw line is their best attribute but that is also the best defensive characteristic for this Jaguars team. 25* CBB Sun Belt Conference Game of the Month with the South Alabama Jaguars (720) minus the points versus the Appalachian State Mountaineers (719). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Saint Mary’s Gaels (697) and the Arizona State Sun Devils (698). THE SITUATION: Saint Mary’s (9-2) enters this game coming off an 89-77 win at California as an 8-point favorite on Saturday. Arizona State (8-2) has won five games in a row with their 79-59 win over Georgia as a 5-point favorite on Saturday. This game will be playing a neutral court at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Gaels have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a win on the road — and they have played 12 of their last 13 road games Under the Total after a win on the road where they scored at least 85 points. Saint Mary’s made 54.3% of their shots in their game against the Golden Bears which was their second-highest shooting percentage of the season. But the Gaels need to tighten things up on defense after allowing Cal to make 50% of their shots after Dayton made 53.8% of their shots in their previous game. Saint Mary’s has played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total on the road after allowing their last two opponents to make at least 50% of their shots. Additionally, the Gaels have played 17 of their last 23 games Under the Total on a neutral court as an underdog. And in their last 75 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%, the Under is 50-24-1. Arizona State has played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a point spread victory. The Sun Devils have also played 7 straight games Under the Total after a win by at least 15 points. Arizona State made 49.3% of their shots which was their best shooting mark of the season. The Sun Devils have scored at least 77 points in three straight games — but they have then played 11 of their last 12 games Under the Total after scoring at least 75 points in two straight contests. But now this team travels from Tempe to play this game in Phoenix — and they are making just 43.6% of their shots on the road.

FINAL TAKE: Arizona State has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total when the favorite — and the Under is 23-9-1 in their last 33 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. 25* CBB Hall of Fame Showcase Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Saint Mary’s Gaels (697) and the Arizona State Sun Devils (698). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Temple Owls (632) minus the points versus the Miami (FL) Hurricanes (631). THE SITUATION: Temple (7-2) has won three of their last four games with their 108-61 win over St. Joseph’s last Tuesday as an 11.5-point favorite. Miami (6-3) has won two in a row with their 88-74 win over Alabama A&M as a 26.5-point favorite last Saturday. This last game of the Hall of Fame Invitational is being played on a neutral court at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

REASONS TO TAKE THE OWLS MINUS THE POINTS: Temple has covered the point spread in 5 straight games after a win by at least 20 points. The Owls have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games on the road after a game where at least 155 combined points were scored. This team has eleven players returning from last year’s group that finished 23-10 with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Fran Dunphy retired but first-year head coach Aaron McKie who was a long-time assistant for Dunphy at his alma mater has this team continuing to play outstanding defense. Temple is 20th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency due to their strong half-court defense as they are holding their opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 42.5% which is 15th best in the nation. This stout play on defense has helped the Owls play well away from home where they are 4-1 with an average winning margin of +8.6 PPG. Temple holds its opponents to just 59.4 PPG on 35.2% shooting when playing away from home. The Owls played an outstanding Maryland team very tough on a neutral court last month as they held a lead with under 4 minutes to play before ultimately losing by 7 points. They also held a lead with under 5 minutes to go in their other loss to Missouri before letting that game slip away. Temple has covered the point spread in 17 of their last 24 games played on a neutral court. Miami has won six of their last eight games but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games after winning four or five of their last six contests. The Hurricanes have also failed to cover the point spread in 22 of their last 30 games after a straight-up win. And while Miami has scored at least 81 points in their last two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games after scoring at least 75 points in two straight games. This Hurricanes team is trying to re-establish themselves after going just 14-18 last year where they failed to make the Big Dance for the first time in four seasons. Miami is making 39.8% of their 3-pointers this season but they are attempting 3s in just 32.3% of their field goal attempts which is 282nd lowest in the nation. Defense is a big problem for head coach Jim Larranaga as they rank 200th in the Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Hurricanes are getting killed on their defensive glass as their opponents are pulling down 34.4% of their missed shots which is 330th in the country — and second-chance opportunities should help the Owls when playing on a neutral court. Miami is being outscored in their five games away from home by -6.0 PPG while allowing those opponents to make 49.7% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: The Hurricanes are 6-20-1 ATS in their last 27 games played on a neutral court while failing to cover the point spread in 7 straight games played on a neutral court as an underdog. Miami has also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games as an underdog overall. 25* CBB Hall of Fame Invitational Game of the Year with the Temple Owls (632) minus the points versus the Miami (FL) Hurricanes (631). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Arizona Wildcats (758) minus the point(s) versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs (757). THE SITUATION: Arizona (10-1) enters this game coming off a 99-49 dominant win over Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday as a 20.5-point favorite. Gonzaga (10-1) has won their last two games after their 83-76 win at Washington last Sunday as a 4.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WILDCATS MINUS THE POINT(S): This is an important game for head coach Sean Miller’s team after his team limped to a 17-15 record with their season ending with an opening round loss in the Pac-12 tournament. Four players returned from that team while Miller reloaded his roster with the 5th best recruiting class. The team is led by a dynamic freshman point guard in Nico Mannion who is scoring 14.9 PPG while averaging 6.2 Assists-Per-Game. This Wildcats team is much better of the offensive end of the court this season. They rank 13th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency led by strong 3-point shooting as they are making 40.6% of their 3-pointers which is 17th best in the nation. Perimeter defense is a vulnerability for this Bulldogs team as they are allowing their opponents to make 34.9% of their 3-point shots which is 244th in the nation. What is encouraging for Miller is the outstanding play he is getting on defense despite having three freshmen in his starting lineup. The Wildcats held Nebraska-Omaha to just 26.6% shooting on Wednesday — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after not allowing their last opponent to shoot better than 28% from the field. Arizona’s only loss this season was in their previous game at Baylor where they lost by a 63-58 score — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not allowing more than 65 points in two straight games. They also have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a win by at least 20 points — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not allowing more than 50 points in their last game. The Wildcats are very tough at home where they are a perfect 8-0 so far this season with an average winning margin of +30.2 PPG. Arizona limits their visitors to just 36.2% shooting which has translated into only 59.4 PPG. The Wildcats are also making 53.7% of their shots at home which has resulted in them averaging 89.6 PPG. The Wildcats have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games at home — and they are 9-3-2 ATS in their last 14 home games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on the road. Gonzaga has failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games after a game on the road where both teams scored at least 75 points. And while the Bulldogs limited the Huskies to just 2 offensive rebounds, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 25 games after not allowing more than 5 offensive rebounds in their last game. Gonzaga lost 79.8% of its scoring along with four starters from last year’s team Elite Eight team — so this is also a group that is highly dependent on freshmen with eight newcomers on the roster. Led by the 6’10 Killian Tillie, this is a big team that relies on their frontcourt — but they will be facing a Wildcats team that is holding their opponents to just 39.4% shooting inside the arc which is 5th best in the nation. This is not a good matchup for this Bulldogs team. Arizona has an opponent’s field goal percentage of 36.7% — and Gonzaga has failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games against teams who do not allow their opponents to shoot better than 42%. And while the Wildcats average 18 Assists-Per-Game, the Bulldogs have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their 10 games against teams who average at least 16 Assists-Per-Game.

FINAL TAKE: This is an important rivalry game for both teams — and Gonzaga won last year’s meeting between these two teams in the Maui Invitational by a 91-74 score. Miller will be using this rematch as a measuring stick for his team. 25* CBB Saturday ESPN2 Game of the Month with the Arizona Wildcats (758) minus the point(s) versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs (757). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Wisconsin Badgers (635) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (636). THE SITUATION: Wisconsin (5-4) snapped their three-game losing streak on Saturday with their 84-64 win over Indiana as a 2-point underdog. Rutgers (6-3) has lost their last two games with their 77-65 loss at Michigan State as a 14-point underdog on Sunday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Badgers have played 7 straight games Under the Total after an upset win as a home underdog — and they have played 27 of their last 32 games after an upset victory over a Big Ten rival. Wisconsin made 53.6% of their shots in that game which was their best shooting effort of the season. But this Badgers team has struggled to make baskets this season. They are 280th in the nation by making only 30.7% of their shots from behind the arc. Wisconsin is solid with a 52.9% shooting percentage inside the arc (75th in the nation) but they are facing a Scarlet Knights team that is 41st in the nation by limiting their opponents to just 43.1% shooting inside the arc. Now this team goes back on the road where they are scoring a mere 54.7 PPG on low 37% shooting. But Wisconsin is still playing solid defense on the road as they are holding their home hosts to just 63.7 PPG on 44.4% shooting. The Badgers have played 4 straight games Under the Total on the road — and they have played 4 straight road games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% at home. Additionally, Wisconsin has played 13 of their last 17 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total as an underdog. Rutgers has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss where they covered the point spread as an underdog. And while the Scarlet Knights have played four straight Overs, they have then played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after playing at least two straight Overs. Now this team returns home where they are holding their opponents to just 56.5 PPG while limiting them to making only 35.6% of their shots. Rutgers has played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total at home against teams with a winning percentage below 40% on the road. The Scarlet Knights have also played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range.

FINAL TAKE: Rutgers is getting much of their offense from crashing the offensive glass — they are pulling down 33.7% of their missed shots which is 47th in the nation. But the Badgers are still doing a good job of protecting their defensive glass this season as they rank 22nd in the nation by holding their opponents to rebounding just 23.0% of their missed shots. 25* CBB Big Ten Total of the Month with Under the Total in the game between the Wisconsin Badgers (635) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (636). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Louisville Cardinals (746) minus the points versus the Michigan Wolverines (745). THE SITUATION: Louisville (7-0) hosts this game after their 71-54 win over Western Kentucky as a 10-point favorite last Friday. Michigan (7-0) won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Friday with their 82-64 upset win over Gonzaga as a 4.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CARDINALS MINUS THE POINTS: This is a big letdown spot for the Wolverines after they pulled off two straight upsets last week over North Carolina and the Bulldogs with a third victory over a good Iowa State team to begin that tournament. The travel will be difficult for this team that returned from the Bahamas to Ann Arbor over the week before getting on a plane again for this high-profile showdown between what is now two teams ranked in the Top-Five in the nation. Michigan has covered the point spread in four straight games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread 4 of their last 5 games after covering the point spread in four straight contests. The Wolverines have been simply lights out with their shooting so far this season — they rank 9th in the nation by making 42.4% of their 3-pointers. Credit certainly goes to rookie head coach Juwan Howard who has installed some NBA level schemes into the mix. But this is also the Wolverines’ first true road game of the season — and they will be challenged by the Pack-Line defense of Louisville’s Chris Mack which is difficult to prepare for. Michigan’s role players have been a pleasant surprise so far this season — but I suspect the shots will start to not fall for this team. A problem then for this team given the style that Howard has deployed is that this team does not do many things to create additional scoring chances. Michigan was not a big offensive rebounding team under John Beilein and this year’s team is pulling down only 23.6% of their missed shots. But the Wolverines became very good at forcing turnovers in the half-court when Luke Yaklich became an assistant coach. Yet this year this Michigan team is forcing turnovers in just 16.8% of their opponent's possessions which is 303rd in the nation. I worry this team is becoming “live-or-die” with their 3-point shooting. The Cardinals are holding their opponents to just 28.7% shooting from behind the arc so far this season — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams that make at least 41% of their 3-point shots. Expectations are high for Louisville in Mack’s second season because they returned six of their top seven scorers from last year’s 20-14 team that made the NCAA Tournament — and they added a half-dozen four and five-star recruits along with Saint Joseph transfer Lamar Kimble to make this a very deep roster of talent. While the Cardinals have not faced a daunting schedule, they still rank 2nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 8th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Louisville has only covered the point spread twice in their last six games — but they have then covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after failing to cover the point spread in four or five of their last six games. The Cardinals have also outrebounded their last three opponents by at least 12 boards — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games after out-rebounding their last three opponents by at least 10 rebounds.

FINAL TAKE: With Michigan’s success last week in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, this has become a very important game for this Cardinals team since it is their highest-profile matchup before conference play begins. Getting to host the Wolverines just four days later after they won that tournament is a very favorable situation. 25* CBB ACC-Big Ten Challenge Game of the Year with the Louisville Cardinals (746) minus the points versus the Michigan Wolverines (745). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:30 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Michigan Wolverines (769) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (770) in the Semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantic Tournament. THE SITUATION: Michigan (5-0) won their opening round game in this three-day tournament with their 83-76 win over Iowa State as a 2-point favorite. North Carolina (5-0) joined them in the Semifinals of this event with their 76-67 win over Alabama as a 10-point favorite yesterday. This game will be played on a neutral court in Nassau.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Wolverines have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Michigan has also played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a game where at least 155 combined points were scored. The Wolverines made 10 3-pointers yesterday en route to a 57.7% shooting percentage from the field. That effort came on the heels of their 55.8% shooting mark at home against Houston-Baptist where they nailed 14 shots from behind the arc. This team is playing at a faster pace with the players having more of a green light to shoot under first-year head coach Juwan Howard. Howard is dialing up some nice schemes for this team — but this Wolverines group lacks a reliable go-to scorer. They are also settling for a bunch of lower percentage of 2-point shots. As it is, Michigan has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after making at least 55% of their shots in two straight games. The Wolverines have also played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after making at least 10 3-pointers in two straight games. Michigan will likely struggle to score while playing their worst offensive game of the season against this Tar Heels team that ranks 7th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Wolverines have played 22 of their last 30 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 9 of their last 12 games Under the Total on a neutral court. Michigan has also played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total when playing with one day or less of rest. North Carolina has played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total when playing with one day or less of rest. Additionally, the Tar Heels have played 4 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a point spread loss. North Carolina also pulled down 60 rebounds yesterday — and they have played 11 of their last 13 games Under the Total after grabbing at least 51 boards in their last game. The Heels allowed the Crimson Tide to shoot 38.2% from the field which was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage they have allowed all season. This is a team that has not scored more than 78 points this season which is uncharacteristic of recent Roy Williams teams in Chapel Hill. It is not surprising that the Tar Heels have struggled to find themselves on offense after they lost their top five scorers from last year’s team with three of those players drafted in the first round of the NBA. Williams has a star in freshman Chase Anthony — but he has a very tough assignment with the Wolverines’ Xavier Simpson likely getting the defensive assignment. The Wolverines also have an outstanding post defender in Jon Teste nicknamed the Big Sleep for his defensive abilities down on the block. Michigan ranks 27th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency.

FINAL TAKE: Norther Carolina has played 14 of their last 20 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC. The Tar Heels have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court. 25* CBB Battle 4 Atlantic Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Michigan Wolverines (769) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (770). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Butler Bulldogs (673) and the Stanford Cardinal (674) in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Missouri. THE SITUATION: Butler (6-0) reached the finals of this two-day tournament with their 63-52 upset win over Missouri as a 2-point underdog. Stanford (7-0) comes off a 73-54 upset win over Oklahoma yesterday as a 4.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Bulldogs have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up win. Butler pulled the upset over the Tigers in large measure by making 47.8% of their shots which was the highest shooting percentage for them all season. The Bulldogs have three starters along with two other significant contributors from last year’s team that finished 16-17 after losing in the first round of the NIT. Third-year head coach LaVall Jordan also added three new big men into his rotation this season. Butler is thriving on the defensive end of the court as they rank 26th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Bulldogs have not allowed more than 61 points in a game this season — and they have then played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 65 points in at least two straight games. Additionally, Butler has played 14 of their last 17 games Under the Total against teams outside the Big East — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Furthermore, the Bulldogs have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games on a neutral court as the favorite or as a pick ‘em. Stanford has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. The Cardinal pulled the upset over the Sooners despite making just 38.5% of their shots which was their worst shooting effort of the season. Not coincidentally, that was Stanford’s first game of the new season that they played away from home. The Cardinal has played 8 of their last 10 games on a neutral court Under the Total — and the Under is 20-8-1 in their last 29 games on a neutral court. Stanford has also played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 55 points in their last game. The Cardinal is also played solid defense under fourth-year head coach Jerod Haase. They rank 30th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Stanford has played three straight Unders — and they have then played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after playing at least three straight games Under the Total. The Cardinal has also played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams outside the Pac-12.

FINAL TAKE: Stanford is living by the 3-point shot as they rank 8th in the nation by making 42.4% of their shots from downtown. But Butler ranks 5th in the nation by holding their opponents to just 23.0% shooting from the 3-point line. The Bulldogs have played 12 of their last 17 games Under the Total in November while the Cardinal has played 15 of their last 222 games Under the Total in November. 25* CBB Hall of Fame Classic Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Butler Bulldogs (673) and the Stanford Cardinal (674). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Wright State Raiders (633) minus the points versus the LaSalle Explorers in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase tournament in Estero, Florida. THE SITUATION: Wright State reached the finals of this two-day tournament with their 72-57 win over Weber State yesterday as a 7.5-point favorite. LaSalle (2-2) joined them in this game with their 75-64 upset win over Murray State yesterday as a 7-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RAIDERS MINUS THE POINTS: Wright State has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games when playing their second game in three days. This team returned their top three scorers in center Louden Love, forward Billy Wampler, and guard Cole Gentry back from last year’s Horizon League regular season champions. Wright State has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams outside the Horizon League. The Raiders have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when favored or a pick ‘em on a neutral court. LaSalle has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a point spread victory. The Explorers made 51.1% of their shots from the field which was their best shooting effort of the season. LaSalle also nailed 13 of their 28 shots (46.4%) from behind the arc to help them pull the upset. But it will be difficult for this team to come close to replicating that performance — especially on a neutral court where they have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 15 games. The Explorers were 10-21 last year under first-year head coach Ashley Howard. LaSalle has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 19 of their last 27 games against teams with a winning percentage of 60% or higher.

FINAL TAKE: The Explorers are thin in the frontcourt which is an area that the Raiders should exploit. Wright State is pulling down 35.9% of their missed shots this season which is 29th in the nation — and LaSalle is allowing their opponents to rebound 32.1% of their missed shots which is 274th in the nation. 25* CBB Gulf Coast Showcase Game of the Year with the Wright State reached the finals of this two-day tournament with their 72-57 win over Weber State yesterday as a 7.5-point favorite. Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Oregon Ducks (819) and the Memphis Tigers (820). THE SITUATION: Oregon (2-0) has won their first two games this season after their 106-75 win over Boise State on Saturday as a 10.5-point favorite. Memphis (2-0) has also won their first two games of the new season with their 92-46 win over Illinois-Chicago on Friday as a 20-point favorite. This game will be played on a neutral court at the Moda Denver in Portland.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Ducks were on fire on Saturday as they shot 70% from the field to torch the Broncos. But Oregon has then played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after making at least 60% of their shots in their last game — and they have also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after scoring at least 90 points in their last game. The Under is also 10-3-1 in the Ducks last 14 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is also 9-2-1 in their last 12 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, Oregon has played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a win at home by at least 20 points. The Ducks have played very good defense so far this season — they held Boise State to just 42.9% shooting from the field after limiting Fresno State to just 34.5% shooting in their opening game. This will be Oregon’s first game away from their home court this season — and they have played 8 of their last 9 road games Under the Total after playing two straight games at home. And while their win over the Broncos flew over the 136.5 total on Saturday, they have then played 7 straight games Under the Total on the road after playing a game that finished Over the Total. Furthermore, Oregon has played 17 of their last 24 games Under the Total with the number set in the 140s — and the Under is 8-3-1 in their last 12 games against teams outside the Pac-12. Memphis has played 7 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 7 straight games Under the Total after a point spread win. The Tigers made 59.3% of their shots in their victory on Friday while holding the Flames to just a 24.% shooting mark. Memphis has then played 13 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a game where they shot at least 57% while holding their opponent to no better than 43% shooting. Their victory over Illinois-Chicago was preceded by a 97-64 win over South Carolina State where they held them to just 36.2% shooting — and they have played 17 of their last 22 road games Under the Total after winning their previous two games by at least 20 points. Freshman James Wiseman will likely play in this game with the court-ordered injunction still in effect that has blocked the NCAA’s decision to make him ineligible — the seven-footer had five blocks on Friday. Wiseman should be dominant on defense inside the paint against this Ducks team that lacks size. Moving forward, the Under is 6-0-1 in Oregon’s last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%.

FINAL TAKE: Oregon has seen the Under go 8-3-1 in their last 12 games played on a neutral court — and they have played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total when favored by 3.5 to 6 points. Memphis has played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total on a neutral court with the Total set in the 145 to 149.5 point range. 25* CBB Phil Knight Invitational Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Oregon Ducks (819) and the Memphis Tigers (820). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Michigan State Spartans (689) and the Kentucky Wildcats (690). THE SITUATION: Michigan State (0-0) returns two starters from last year’s team that lost to Texas Tech in the Final Four. Kentucky (0-0) has one starter back from last year’s group that lost in overtime to Auburn in the Elite Eight. This game is the second contest in the two Champions Classic games being played on a neutral court at Madison Square Garden.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Spartans closed out last season having played 4 straight games Under the Total against teams outside the Big Ten. This Michigan State team will once again be led by a Player of the Year candidate in Cassius Winston. But this team lacks a reliable second scoring option given the injuries to Joshua Langford that will keep off the court until at least January at the earliest. It looks like Kyle Ahrens will be able to play tonight but he will not likely be close to 100% given the high angle sprain he is dealing with. The Spartans closed out last season playing 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Michigan State has also played 4 straight games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have also played 11 of their last 17 games played on a neutral court when favored or listed as a pick ‘em. Kentucky is led by sophomore Ashton Hagans who was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC last year. The Wildcats closed out last season playing 6 straight games Under the Total against teams outside the SEC. Kentucky has also played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Furthermore, the Wildcats closed out last season playing 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court as an underdog getting no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: I am comfortable putting some stock in these team trends because they reflect the core personality of the respective head coaches in Tom Izzo and John Calipari. Lastly, because the Spartans out-rebounded their opponents by +8.8 RPG last season, the Under is also supported by an empirical angle that has been 86% effective over the last five seasons. In games played on a neutral court in the first ten games of the season with the Total set in the 130 to 139.5 point range, when one team out-rebounded their opponents by at least +4.0 RPG last season and has two starters back from that team, these games then finished Under the Total in 24 of these last 28 situations where these conditions applied. 25* CFB Champions Classic Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Michigan State Spartans (689) and the Kentucky Wildcats (690). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:20 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (811) and the Virginia Cavaliers (812). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (31-6) reached the National Championship game on Saturday with their 61-51 upset victory over Michigan State as a 2-point underdog. Virginia (34-3) joins them in this showdown with their 63-62 win over Auburn as a 6-point favorite. This game will be played in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as a neutral court.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: We know about the strong defenses both these teams play. Texas Tech leads the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency while Virginia ranks 5th in the nation in that metric. The question is whether the oddsmakers have installed the Total too low with it currently residing in the 118 range. While the Over might look for very tempting to many bettors, don’t take the bait. The Red Raiders allowed only 58.8 PPG this season while limiting their opponents to just 36.8% shooting from the field. Their five NCAA Tournament opponents are scoring at just a 0.85 Points-Per-Possession rate which is the lowest since mark in the Big Dance since 2006. What makes this Texas Tech defense so tough is their ability to seamlessly switch off as defenders to fight off picks with all five of their players on the court. The Red Raiders have played 13 of their last 17 games Under the Total against teams outside the Big 12. Texas Tech has also played 20 of their last 28 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have also played 14 of their last 20 games Under the Total as a pick ‘em or underdog of 3 points or less when playing on a neutral court. Additionally, the Red Raiders have played 18 of their last 25 games in the postseason Under the Total — and this includes them playing five of their last six games in the Big Dance Under the Total. Virginia has played 8 of their last 9 road games against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG. The Cavaliers are holding their opponents to just 55.5 PPG this season while limiting these foes to just 38.4% shooting from the field. Texas Tech has played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total against teams with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 39% or lower. On paper, Virginia has the third highest Adjusted Offensive Efficiency number in the nation. In practice, the Cavaliers have only matched or eclipsed that number once in their last six games this season (against Purdue). Virginia made 49% of their shots against Auburn which was actually their best shooting effort from the field in their last four games — yet they scored only 63 points. The Cavaliers have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a close win by 3 points or less — and they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Virginia has only scored 28 and 29 points in the first half of their last two contests — and they have then played 7 straight games on the road Under the Total after failing to score at least 30 points in the first half in two straight games. The Cavaliers have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court. Virginia has also played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range.

FINAL TAKE: I would not be shocked if one of these teams gets hot with their shooting. However, I do not see both teams torching the nets — and it is much more likely that both teams will struggle to hit baskets with the pressure of winning a National Championship on the line. Both these teams complement their stout defenses with a slow deliberate pace on the offensive end of the court. The strong fundamental play here is with the Under. 25* College Basketball Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (811) and the Virginia Cavaliers (812). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:20 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Texas Tech Red Raiders (811) plus the point(s) versus the Virginia Cavaliers (812). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (31-6) reached the National Championship game on Saturday with their 61-51 upset victory over Michigan State as a 2-point underdog. Virginia (34-3) joins them in this showdown with their 63-62 win over Auburn as a 6-point favorite. This game will be played in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as a neutral court.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RED RAIDERS PLUS THE POINTS: Texas Tech defeated the Spartans on Saturday despite making only 43.1% of their shots which was tied for the lowest field goal percentage in their last nine games. The Red Raiders did it with defense as they held Michigan State to just a 31.9% field goal percentage. Texas Tech has upset Michigan, Gonzaga, and then Sparty all in a row with all three of those teams ranking in metrics guru Ken Pomeroy’s top seven teams in the nation. And while the Red Raiders have covered the point spread in five straight games, they have then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after covering the point spread in four or five of their last six games. The Red Raiders allowed only 58.8 PPG this season while limiting their opponents to just 36.8% shooting from the field. Their five NCAA Tournament opponents are scoring at just a 0.85 Points-Per-Possession rate which is the lowest since mark in the Big Dance since 2006. What makes this Texas Tech defense so tough is their ability to seamlessly switch off as defenders to fight off picks with all five of their players on the court. The Red Raiders have covered the point spread in 11 straight games against teams with a winning record. Texas Tech has also covered the point spread in 5 straight games played on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or underdog. Furthermore, the Red Raiders have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range — and they have covered the point spread in 6 straight games when playing their second game in three days. Virginia survived their game with Auburn while making 49% of their shots which was the best shooting performance in their last four games. The Cavaliers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a narrow victory by 3 points or less. Virginia has also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games when playing their second game in three days. On paper, Virginia has the third highest Adjusted Offensive Efficiency number in the nation. In practice, the Cavaliers have only matched or eclipsed that number once in their last six games this season (against Purdue). This team just does not seem to play at the same level of efficiency on offense in the Big Dance as they do during the regular season. Virginia has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games in the NCAA Tournament. Much of their improved success on offense during the regular season was head coach Tony Bennett’s move to more ball screen offensive sets. However, that will be difficult to execute given the ability of Texas Tech to switch defenders. The Cavs are likely to lean on their conventional Blocker-Mover offense which has been the source of their past struggles to score baskets in the NCAA Tournament. That offensive system is also slow — and this hinders Virginia from finding good shot opportunities when they need to score buckets in a hurry. Too often, the Cavaliers settle for launching ill-advised long 3-pointers when they get into trouble late in games. Furthermore, Virginia has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite of no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: Virginia has been very fortunate to eke out their last two games against Purdue and Auburn. Pomeroy ranks those teams as the 9th and 11th best in the nation — and that places them all below the Red Raiders’ last three opponents. Texas Tech has developed secondary scorers who have been reliable in offering a scoring punch to complement their star, Jarrett Culver. 25* CBB Texas Tech-Virginia A-List Special with the Texas Tech Red Raiders (811) plus the point(s) versus the Virginia Cavaliers (812). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:49 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Michigan State Spartans (802) minus the points versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (801). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (30-6) reached the Final Four last Saturday with their 75-69 upset victory over Gonzaga as a 5-point underdog. Michigan State (32-6) joined them the next day when they upset Duke by a 68-67 score as a 2.5-point underdog. The Final Four takes place U.S. Bank Stadium on a neutral court in Minneapolis.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SPARTANS MINUS THE POINTS: Like Gonzaga, Michigan State has a balanced offense that, in theory, challenge the Red Raiders top-rated defense in terms of Adjusted Efficiency. But there a couple of things that Sparty does better than Gonzaga that presents a new challenge to the outstanding Texas Tech defense. Like the Bulldogs, Michigan State can score in transition or in their half-court offense as they are proficient both with 3-point shooting as well as inside the arc. But the Spartans are an elite ball movement team who lead the nation by assisting on 67.1% of their made field goals. Ball movement is critical against the Red Raiders’ defense that suffocates opponents onto one side of the court where they then get coaxed to attempt difficult shots along the baseline. While Gonzaga is a good passing team — they assisted on 56.2% of their made field goals which was 58th best in the country — they are not as highly proficient at ball movement as Michigan State who benefits from six days of practice under Tom Izzo to specifically work out a game plan against Texas Tech’s schemes. The Spartans assisted on 76.1% of their made field goals against Duke — and they have had four different players lead them in scoring in their last five games. The other area from which Michigan State should be able to generate points is through second-chance opportunities. Gonzaga pulled down 35% of their missed shots against the Red Raiders which was well above their 31.5% average for the season that ranks 76th in the nation. Now here comes Sparty that pulls down 34.2% of their missed shots which is 21st best in the nation. Texas Tech is vulnerable to teams that commit to crashing the offensive glass as they allow their opponents to rebound 28.7% of their missed shots which is 198th in the nation. In five of the Red Raiders’ six losses this season, they were out-rebounded. Michigan State should build off the momentum of their victory over the Blue Devils as they have covered the point spread in 20 of their last 26 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after a point spread victory. And while allowed only 28 and 30 points in the first half of their last two games, the Spartans have then covered the point spread in 8 straight games after not allowing more than 30 points in the first half of their last two games. Additionally, Michigan State has covered the point spread in 21 of their last 26 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. And in their last 6 games played on a neutral court, the Spartans have covered the point spread 5 times. Texas Tech has failed to cover the point spread in 19 of their last 28 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 130s. Besides defensive rebounding, the issue for this Texas Tech team is that their offense tends to stall if Chris Mooney or Davide Moretti are not providing a scoring boost to complement Jarrett Culver. Mooney scored 17 points against Gonzaga but that was his highest scoring output in two months. Moretti made a whopping 62.5% of his 3-pointers in the two games in Anaheim after missing all seven of his 3-pointers in the first two games in the Big Dance. When neither of those players are contributing points, the Red Raiders offense becomes too one-dimensional as they rely on Culver to create shots in isolation. Michigan State holds their opponents to just a 37.9% field goal percentage — and Texas Tech has failed to cover the point spread in 25 of their last 34 games after fifteen games into the season against opponents with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 39% or less.

FINAL TAKE: The Spartans edge at offensive rebounding along with their more reliable secondary scorers should make the difference in this game. 10* CBB Texas Tech-Michigan State CBS-TV Special with the Michigan State Spartans (802) minus the points versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (801). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:49 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (801) and the Michigan State Spartans (802). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (30-6) reached the Final Four last Saturday with their 75-69 upset victory over Gonzaga as a 5-point underdog. Michigan State (32-6) joined them the next day when they upset Duke by a 68-67 score as a 2.5-point underdog. The Final Four takes place U.S. Bank Stadium on a neutral court in Minneapolis.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: In theory, the Red Raiders were facing their biggest defensive challenge of the season against a balanced and dynamic Bulldogs offense last week. In practice, Gonzaga scored at just a 0.97 Points-Per-Possession pace which was just the third time all season that the Bulldogs failed to score at least 1.0 PPG against their opponent. Yet even still, the 42.4% shooting clip that Gonzaga managed against Texas Tech was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage the latter had allowed in their last five games. The Red Raiders are holding their NCAA Tournaments to only 57 PPG. A key to their defense is the play of their rim protector, the 6’8, 250-lb Norense Odiase who is holding opponents to scoring at a minuscule 0.429 Points-Per-Possession in Post-Up plays which is in the 95th percentile in the nation this season. The issue for this Texas Tech team is that their offense tends to stall if Chris Mooney or Davide Moretti are not providing a scoring boost to complement Jarrett Culver. Mooney scored 17 points against Gonzaga but that was his highest scoring output in two months. Moretti made a whopping 62.5% of his 3-pointers in the two games in Anaheim after missing all seven of his 3-pointers in the first two games in the Big Dance. When neither of those players are contributing points, the Red Raiders offense becomes too one-dimensional as they rely on Culver to create shots in isolation. Texas Tech has played 19 of their last 27 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total in the NCAA Tournament. Furthermore, the Red Raiders have played 12 of their last 16 games Under the Total against teams outside the Big 12 — and they have played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 130s. Texas Tech has also found more offense by scoring in transition — but they are now facing a Spartans team that did not allow Duke to score a single point in transition last Sunday. The Under is 28-10-1 in Michigan State’s last 39 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is 20-7-1 in their last 28 games after a point spread victory. Furthermore, the Spartans have only allowed 30 and 28 points in the first half of their last two games — and they have played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 30 points in their last game. Michigan State has held their opponents in the NCAA Tournament to just 61.3 PPG while limiting them to only 28.2% shooting from behind the arc. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Spartans’ last 27 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have also played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Furthermore, Michigan State has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total on a neutral court — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: Texas Tech averages 18.3 seconds per possession which is the 267th slowest in the nation. With the Red Raiders boasting the top Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation and Sparty not far behind by ranking 9th in the nation in that metric. Points should be hard to come by in this contest. 25* CBB Final Four Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (801) and the Michigan State Spartans (802). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:09 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Auburn Tigers (803) and the Virginia Cavaliers (804). THE SITUATION: Virginia (33-3) reached the Final Four last Saturday with their 80-75 victory in overtime against Purdue as a 4.5-point favorite. Auburn (30-9) joined them on Sunday with their 77-71 upset victory in overtime over Kentucky as a 4.5-point underdog. The Final Four takes place on a neutral court in Minneapolis.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Cavaliers reached the 80-point threshold due to a hot second half of shooting and the extra five minutes of overtime to dispatch of the Boilermakers — but they have then played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after scoring at least 80 points in their last game. Virginia has scored only 30 points in the first half in each of their last two games — and they have played 6 straight games Under the Total after failing to score more than 30 points in the first half in two straight games. Virginia has also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court. And in their last 29 games with the Total set in the 130s, the Cavaliers have played 20 of these games Under the Total. Virginia will be looking to slow this game to a crawl — the 59.2 possessions per game they average is the fewest in the country. This low level of possessions helps the Cavs lead the nation by allowing only 55.4 PPG. Virginia is also 3rd in the nation in 3-point defense as their opponents only make 28.7% of their shots from behind the arc. Auburn will shoot tons of 3s — and they have 38.3% of their shots from downtown which is 15th in the nation. But Virginia has played 24 of their last 35 games Under the Total against teams that make at least 37% of their 3-pointers. The Tigers thrive by making the game chaotic which helps their athletes score buckets in transition — but the Cavaliers' style of play is designed to limit transition opportunities. Virginia does not emphasize crashing the offensive glass as they privilege getting defenders back on defense. They also only turn the ball over in 14.7% of their possessions which is 12th best in the nation. Auburn’s offense tends to stall if they get stuck in a half-court battle. The Tigers made only 43.5% of their shots when playing away from home. The season-ending injury to Chuma Okeke leaves the Tigers without their best scorer inside the arc. Auburn has scored at least 77 points in five straight games — but they have then played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after scoring at least 75 points in five straight games. The Tigers have also played 3 of their last 4 games Under the Total against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG.

FINAL TAKE: In a battle of conflicting styles of tempo, usually the team that wants to slow down the pace tends to more likely get their way. Virginia will eat time off the clock on offense — especially since Auburn full court press is designed to slow down the initial execution of their opponent’s half-court offense. 10* CBB Auburn-Virginia CBS-TV O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Auburn Tigers (803) and the Virginia Cavaliers (804). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:09 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Virginia Cavaliers (804) minus the points versus the Auburn Tigers (803). THE SITUATION: Virginia (33-3) reached the Final Four last Saturday with their 80-75 victory in overtime against Purdue as a 4.5-point favorite. Auburn (30-9) joined them on Sunday with their 77-71 upset victory in overtime over Kentucky as a 4.5-point underdog. The Final Four takes place on a neutral court in Minneapolis.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS MINUS THE POINTS: I suspect that the victory over the Boilermakers was a breakthrough for the Virginia program under head coach Tony Bennett. For starters, advancing to the Final Four is the farthest a Cavaliers team has enjoyed in his ten years with the program. Furthermore, Virginia was forced to flex all of their offensive muscles to survive against Purdue’s Carson Edwards who was simply unconscious in that game in scoring 42 points while making 10 of 19 (52.6%) of his shots from behind the arc with many being well beyond NBA range. The rap on this Cavaliers’ program under Bennett has been that while their Pack-Line defense is very difficult to penetrate, the slow pace that the team deploys on offense makes them vulnerable when their middle-of-the-pack scoring threats are not making shots. This came to a head in their upset loss to the 16-seed Maryland-Baltimore County in the first round of last year’s Big Dance. But this year’s team was elite on the offensive end of the court during the regular season — they rank 2nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. With De’Andre Hunter who is a legitimate future top-ten NBA draft pick and Kyle Guy who nails 42.7% of his 3-pointers, Bennett has the most dynamic scoring threats in his tenure in Charlottesville. They should build off the momentum from their victory against Purdue as they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 7 straight games on the road after a win by 6 points or less. And while the Cavaliers have only allowed 30 and 19 points in the first half of their last two games, they have then covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games after not allowing more than 30 points in the first half of their last two games. Moving forward, Virginia has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games against teams outside the ACC — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Additionally, the Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games with the Total set in the 130s — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court where they were favored by 3.5 to 6 points. Auburn pulled off two straight upset in the Regional Finals with their victory over the Wildcats preceded by a win over North Carolina. What made the win over Kentucky even more impressive is that the Tigers did it even after the season-ending knee injury to their big man Chum Okeke. They were a team that remained determine to finally defeat their SEC rivals on Sunday after losing two them twice during the regular season. But the absence of Okeke and the burden of being the underdog once again may finally be too much for Bruce Pearl’s team. Auburn has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games after being an underdog in their last two games. And while the Tigers have covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after winning three of their last four games. Frankly, this matchup with Virginia is not a good one for this Auburn team. The Tigers lead the nation by forcing turnovers in 24.9% of their opponent’s possessions — but the Cavaliers only turn the ball over in 14.7% of their possessions which is 12th lowest in the country. Auburn also nails 38.3% of their 3-pointers which is 15th best in the nation — but that Caves’ Pack-Line defense is very tough to shoot over as Virginia is 3rd in the nation with their opponent’s making just 28.7% of their 3-point attempts. Without Okeke, Auburn is without their best offensive rebounded. Virginia allows only 55.4 PPG — and the Tigers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after fifteen games into the season against teams who do not allow more than 57 PPG. And while the Cavaliers average 21 shots from behind the arc per game, Auburn has failed to cover the point spread in a decisive 37 of their last 57 games on the road after fifteen games into the season against opponents who launch at least 21 shots from behind the arc per game. And while the Tigers average 11 made 3-pointers per game, Virginia has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 road games against teams who average at least 9 made 3-pointers per game.

FINAL TAKE: I expect the bubble to burst for Auburn in this game. Even after a Herculean effort by Edwards, Virginia was too much for a very good Purdue team in the Elite Eight who had a seven-footer patrolling the middle. The absence of Okeke down low will allow for the Cavaliers to extend their Pack-Line a little further out which will force the Tigers to launch even longer 3-pointers. 25* College Basketball Game of the Year with the Virginia Cavaliers (804) minus the points versus the Auburn Tigers (803). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Lipscomb Bison (727) and the Texas Longhorns (728). THE SITUATION: Texas (20-16) reached the NIT Finals on Tuesday with their 58-44 win over TCU as a 1-point favorite. Lipscomb (29-7) joined them in the Finals of this tournament with their 71-64 victory over Wichita State as a pick ‘em on Tuesday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Longhorns held the Horned Frogs to just 17 points in the first half on Tuesday — and they have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 25 points in the first half of their last game. Texas has also played 18 of their last 26 games Under the Total after a game where no more than 125 combined points were scored. And in their last 57 games after a straight-up win, the Under is 39-17-1. Shaka Smart’s team ranks 28th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. While the Longhorns have held their last five opponents to just a 39.2% shooting percentage, they have made only 41.2% of their shots over their last five contests. Texas has played 5 straight games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. The Longhorns have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 140s. And in their last 6 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or a favorite of no more than 6 points, Texas has played 5 of these games Under the Total. Lipscomb has played 11 of their last 15 games on the road Under the Total after a straight up win. Additionally, Lipscomb has played 4 of their last 5 games when playing their second game in three days. And in their last 7 games playing on a neutral court, the Bison have played 5 of these games Under the Total.

FINAL TAKE: Look for this to be a low-scoring contest. 20* CBB Lipscomb-Texas ESPN O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Lipscomb Bison (727) and the Texas Longhorns (728). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Marshall Thundering Herd (734) minus the points versus the Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (733). THE SITUATION: Marshall (22-14) reached the Finals of the College Insider Tournament on Tuesday with their 80-78 victory over Hampton as a 7.5-point favorite. Green Bay (21-16) joined them in the Finals of this tournament with their 87-86 win in overtime over Texas Southern as a 6-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE THE THUNDERING HERD MINUS THE POINTS: Marshall has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win. They get to host this championship game — and they are 15-3 at home with an average winning margin of +8.3 PPG. The Thundering Herd have covered the point spread in 36 of their last 56 home games as a favorite laying 3.5 to 6 points. Marshall plays at a blistering pace — they average only 14.3 seconds per possession which is the third fastest in the nation. The Thundering Herd score 86.0 PPG on their home court. They have scored at least 80 points in their last three games — and they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 21 games after scoring at least 75 points in three straight games. Marshall has also improved their play on the defensive end of the court as they have held their last five opponents to just 41.1% shooting. The Thundering Herd have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record. Green Bay has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a victory by 6 points or less in their last contest. And while the Phoenix have won five of their last six games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after winning five or six of their last seven games. Green Bay dished out 24 assists as a team on Tuesday — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a game where they had at least 24 assists. Now the Phoenix go back on the road for the first time in their last four games where they are just 6-13 this season with an average losing margin of -7.7 PPG. Green Bay has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 road games after playing their last three games on their home court. The Phoenix will be happy to play at the fast pace that the Thundering Herd will push as they rank 8th in the nation by averaging 14.9 seconds per possession. But Green Bay shoots under 44% from the field when playing away from home. The Phoenix have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games on the road - -and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. Green Bay has also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 road games as a pick ‘em or underdog getting no more than 6 points.

FINAL TAKE: The Phoenix are not a good defensive team — their opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 55.3% on the road in hostile environments is 295th in the nation. Marshall should outrun Green Bay tonight. 25* CBB CIT Game of the Year with the Marshall Thundering Herd (734) minus the points versus the Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix (733). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Texas Longhorns (711) and the TCU Horned Frogs (712). THE SITUATION: Texas (19-16) reached the Semifinals of the NIT last Wednesday with their 68-55 win over Colorado as a 5-point favorite. TCU (23-13) joins them in the NIT Semifinals care of their 71-58 won over Creighton as a 3.5-point favorite last Tuesday. The way meet in the Madison Square Garden where the Semifinals and Finals of this event take place.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Longhorns held the Buffaloes to just 32.7% shooting in their win on Thursday. This is a strong defensive unit for head coach Shaka Smart — they rank 35th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Under is 38-17-1 in Texas’ last 56 games after a straight-up win — and they have played 8 of their last 10 road games Under the Total after a straight-up victory. And while they held Colorado to just 19 first-half points — and they have then played 11 of their last 13 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 25 points in the first half of their last game. Now the Longhorns go on the road after playing their last three games — and they shoot just 41.5% from the field away from home. Over their last five games, Texas is shooting only 40.2% from the field. They have played 27 of their last 40 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total on a neutral court with the Total set in the 135 to 139.5 point range. TCU is also playing their first game away from home in their last four contests. The Horned Frogs have played 31 of their last 43 games Under the Total after playing their last two games at home. And while their victory over the Bluejays was preceded by an 88-72 win over Nebraska, TCU has then played 12 of their last 19 games Under the Total after winning their last two games at home by double-digits. Head coach Jamie Dixon’s squad is also very good on the defensive end of the court as they rank 33rd in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency after holding Creighton to just 36.2% shooting. The Horned Frogs have played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court with the Total set in the 135 to 139.5 point range. And in their last 87 games in expected close contests where they are listed in the +/- 3-point range, TCU has played 53 of these games Under the Total — and this includes them playing five of these last seven situations.

FINAL TAKE: The Horned Frogs have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and the Longhorns have played 4 straight games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Texas is looking to avenge a 69-56 upset loss at home laying 7 points to TCU back on March 9th — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when avenging an upset loss. These two teams have played 10 of their last 12 meetings Under the Total — expect another low scoring game between these two teams in the third meeting between these Big 12 opponents this season. 25* CBB NIT Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Texas Longhorns (711) and the TCU Horned Frogs (712). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the South Florida Bulls (702) minus the point(s) versus the DePaul Blue Demons (701). South Florida (21-13) reached the Finals of the College Basketball Invitational with their 56-47 win over Loyola-Marymount on Thursday as a 4-point favorite. DePaul (18-15) joined them the day before with a 92-87 win over Coastal Carolina as an 8-point favorite. The Bulls host the opening game of this best-of-three series before this event travels to Chicago with the Blue Demons hosting the second and potential third games to determine the champion.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLS MINUS THE POINT(S): South Florida should build off the momentum of their victory against the Lions as they have covered the point spread in 17 of their last 23 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games after a point spread victory. Second-year head coach Brian Gregory has done a great job with this team that was predicted to finish last in the American Athletic Conference. Instead, the Bulls finished 8-10 in conference play based on a defense-first physical style of play. South Florida is 41st in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have allowed just 61 PPG in this tournament. The Bulls generated points second-chance opportunities and getting to the free throw line. South Florida is 10th in the nation by pulling down 36.4% of their missed shots — and they lead the nation with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 49.9%. The Bulls will want to win this opening game on their home court with this series moving to DePaul the rest of the way. South Florida is 16-5 on their home court this season with an average winning margin of +6.5 PPG. They hold their guests to just 64.5 PPG on 41.9% shooting from the field. Additionally, the Bulls have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams outside the American Athletic Conference. DePaul may be due for a letdown as they are just 11-28-3 ATS in their last 42 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread victory. The Blue Demons have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after scoring at least 90 points in their last game. DePaul is a high scoring team that has averaged 96.1 PPG in this tournament. But they have played all three of these games at home. Now they go on the road where they are just 3-9 this season with an average losing making of -5.7 PPG while allowing their home hosts to score 80.3 PPG. The Blue Demons have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games on the road — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. DePaul is not a good defensive team — they rank 217th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They have allowed their last five opponents to score 87.0 PPG while shooting 49.7% from the field. The Blue Demons have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams outside the Big East.

FINAL TAKE: This is a contrast of styles with the bruising style of South Florida countering DePaul’s high-scoring finesse attack. With the Blue Demons playing in a hostile environment, the Bulls’ defense should have the upper hand. 25* CBB CBI Game of the Year with the South Florida Bulls (702) minus the point(s) versus the DePaul Blue Demons (701). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:05 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Michigan State Spartans (691) and the Duke Blue Devils (692). THE SITUATION: Michigan State (31-6) has won eight straight games after their 80-63 win over LSU on Friday as a 6-point favorite. Duke (32-5) reached the Elite Eight on Friday with their 75-73 win over Virginia Tech as a 7-point favorite. This East regional game takes place in Washington D.C.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Spartans have seen the Under go 27-10-1 in their last 38 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is also 19-7-1 in their last 27 games after a point spread victory. While Michigan State likes to play at a fast pace at times, the bread-and-butter of Tom Izzo teams have been pushing the game into a physical battle of wills. Don’t be surprised if the Spartans slow the pace of this game down. The 90 points they scored on Friday were the most points they scored in their last seven games. Michigan State has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total on a neutral court. The Under is also 18-7-1 in the Spartans’ last 26 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Duke has seen the Under go 21-8-2 in their last 31 games after a straight-up win. The Blue Devils did shoot 55.4% from the field on Friday which was the best shooting effort in their last eight games. Duke has played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 150s. The Blue Devils have also played 19 of their last 27 games Under the Total when on a neutral court with the Total set in the 150 to 154.5 point range. And in their last 9 games against teams outside the ACC, the Under is 7-1-1.

FINAL TAKE: Both these teams have outstanding defenses. Michigan State ranks 9th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency while Duke ranks 7th in that category. The Spartans have held their last five opponents to just a 37.5% shooting percentage while the Blue Devils have held their last five opponents to only 39% shooting from the field. Expect a lower scoring game. 10* CBB Michigan State-Duke CBS-TV O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Michigan State Spartans (691) and the Duke Blue Devils (692). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:05 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Michigan State Spartans (691) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (692). THE SITUATION: Michigan State (31-6) has won eight straight games after their 80-63 win over LSU on Friday as a 6-point favorite. Duke (32-5) reached the Elite Eight on Friday with their 75-73 win over Virginia Tech as a 7-point favorite. This East regional game takes place in Washington D.C.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SPARTANS PLUS THE POINTS: The Blue Devils may not be at full strength in this game with both Cam Reddish and Jack White listed as questionable with injuries. Duke’s rotation is already thin so not having the services of either player — especially Reddish — would really hurt this team’s chances this afternoon. One could say that the Blue Devils are a team of destiny after surviving two missed layups to advance in each of their last two games. I think these scares are indicative of a very young team who have sky-expectations on them. This Duke team only makes 32.9% of their shots from behind the arc (329th in the nation) so they are often at a disadvantage trading 2 points for 3. The Blue Devils have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games after a straight-up victory. Duke did shoot 55.4% from the field on Friday which was the best shooting effort in their last eight games. But the Blue Devils have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 13 games after making at least 55% of their shots in their last game. Duke has also failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 road games after winning at least fifteen of their last twenty games. Additionally, the Blue Devils are just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games played on a neutral court. Furthermore, Duke has failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State has covered the point spread in 22 of their last 29 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Spartans have covered the point spread in 18 of their last 23 games after a double-digit victory. I suspect the difference in this game will be the leadership of Cassius Winston. While he will be checked by a fabulous defensive player in freshman Tre Jones, Winston elevated his game this year to dominate an even better defensive player in Michigan’s Xavier Simpson three times this season. Michigan State has covered the point spread in 22 of their last 28 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams outside the Big Ten. The Wolverines have also covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games played with the Total set in the 150s — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: Duke has struggled this season when defending ball screens — and the Spartans thrive in this department with Winston running the point. Look for Michigan State to pull the upset — but take the points for some insurance (because winning the bet is more important than a small bump in a money-line payout). 25* CBB Elite Eight Game of the Year with the Michigan State Spartans (691) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (692). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:49 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Virginia Cavaliers (682) minus the points versus the Purdue Boilermakers (681). THE SITUATION: Virginia (32-3) reached the Elite Eight with their 53-49 win over Oregon on Thursday as an 8.5-point favorite. Purdue (26-9) joined them in the Elite Eight with their 99-94 win in overtime over Tennessee as a 1.5-point underdog. This South regional contest take place in Louisville.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS MINUS THE POINTS: Purdue is a team that lives-by-the-3 and dies-by-the-3. The Boilermakers take 45.2% of their shots from behind the arc (36th in the nation) with made 3-pointers representing 39.2% of their points production (21st in the nation). Their alpha-male on the offensive end of the court is Carsen Edwards who has been inconsistent this season: he entered the Big Dance by shooting just 34% from the field in the Big Ten while making only 30% of his 3-pointers against Big Ten foes. After shooting only 37.7% from the field and scoring at just a 0.94 Points-Per-Possession pace in their opening round win over Old Dominion, the Boilermakers have exploded on offense with a 53.7% field goal percentage in their win over Villanova before making 54% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last six games in their victory over the Volunteers. Purdue has made 31 of their 61 shots from behind the arc over their last two games — and, needless to say, if they continue to shoot 50.8% from 3-point land, they will win this game too. But now the Boilermakers are facing the nation’s second most difficult team to convert 3s against as Virginia’s opponents are making only 28.2% of their shots from behind the arc. Purdue would be more likely to continue their shooting spree if they were playing at home where they convert 39.3% of their 3-pointers. But on the road, the Boilermakers make only a pedestrian 35.8% of their 3-pointers which ranks 74th in the country. Purdue experiences the 344th biggest drop in overall efficiency on both ends of the court when playing on the road in hostile environments or neutral courts. They have failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 28 games played on a  neutral court with the Total set in the 120s. Defense is also an issue for the Boilermakers who rank 28th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. While that is a solid ranking, it begins to stand out when we are down to the final eight teams in the tournament. Purdue’s effectiveness on defense owes much to their ability to force turnovers in 18.9% of their opponent’s possessions. However, they face a Virginia team now that ranks 13th in the nation by turning the ball over in 14.9% of their opponent’s possessions. What is worrisome for the Boilermakers in this matchup is that they have an opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 49.0% which is 97th in the nation — and they rank 169th in the nation by allowing their opponents to hit 34.3% of their 3-point attempts. Purdue has failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 12 games after a game where they allowed at least 90 points — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games after a game where at least a combined 175 points were scored. Virginia has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a victory by 6 points or less. They survived their game with Oregon despite making only 35.7% from the field which was the worst shooting effort in their last twenty-six contests. This Cavaliers’ team is the best offensive unit in the Tony Bennett era at Virginia. They rank 3rd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while also ranking 7th in the nation by making 39.6% of their 3-pointers. This team looks due for an offensive explosion — and it will likely be led by Kyle Guy who has missed 23 of his 26 shots from behind the arc in this tournament despite his 42.7% shooting clip from 3-point land this season. Even if the Cavaliers do not get their offensive clicking tonight, their defense should lead them to a point spread cover. Virginia also ranks 3rd in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just 56.2 PPG. Gardner Webb’s 56 points in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament is the most points that the Cavs have allowed in their last three games — and they have then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 games after not allowing at least 60 points in three straight games. Virginia has only covered the point spread twice in their last six games — but they have then covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after failing to cover the point spread in four or five of their last six contests. The Cavaliers have also covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games on the road against teams outside the ACC.

FINAL TAKE: The way to defeat Virginia’s Pack-Line defense is to shoot over it — but that is much easier said than done. Purdue runs a very efficient offense due to the outstanding schemes drawn up by their head coach Matt Painter. But the Boilermakers lack the players who can create scoring opportunities in isolation. Texas Tech demonstrated how a Pack-Line defense can overwhelm opponents whose offense relies on strong tactics when they suffocated the Michigan offense orchestrated by John Beilein. 25* CBB TBS-TV Game of the Year with the Virginia Cavaliers (682) minus the points versus the Purdue Boilermakers (681). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:09 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Gonzaga Bulldogs (684) minus the points versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (683). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (29-6) reached the Elite Eight on Thursday with their 63-44 upset win over Michigan as a 2-point underdog. Gonzaga (33-3) joined them in the Elite Eight with their 72-58 win over Florida State on Thursday as a 7.5-point favorite. This West regional contest takes place in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLDOGS MINUS THE POINTS: The Red Raiders absolutely stifled the Wolverines offense in that game as they held them to just a 32.3% shooting percentage while watching them miss 18 of their 19 shot from behind the arc. But they will be facing a much different challenge tonight against a Gonzaga team that is tops in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. The Bulldogs can shoot, post-up, and execute pick-n-rolls in half-court sets while thriving on scoring baskets in transition — and they have more players that can create their own shot than Michigan does. As it is, Texas Tech has failed to cover the point spread in 42 of their last 65 games on the road after winning five of their last six games of their last seven games. The Red Raiders have won all three of their games NCAA Tournament games by at least 15 points — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 19 games after winning three straight games by at least 15 points. But the concern for this Red Raiders team is their ability to score baskets themselves. Too often this team gets stuck in watching their star player, Jarrett Culver, create his own shot. They scored only 24 points in the first half against Michigan — and they will be facing another outstanding defensive team in the Bulldogs who hold their opponents to just 38.7% shooting from the field. Texas Tech has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after fifteen games into the season against teams with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 39% or less. The Red Raiders have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 135 to 139.5 point range. Texas Tech has also failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games played on a neutral court as an underdog in the 3.5 to 6 point range. Gonzaga will be a confident team who expects to win this game considering this is the team’s third Elite Eight appearance in the last five seasons. The Bulldogs have then covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after winning five or six of their last seven contests. And while Gonzaga has raced out to 36, 16, and 11 point halftime leads in their first three NCAA Tournament games, they have then covered the point spread in 22 of their last 33 games after enjoying double-digit halftime leads in two straight games. Furthermore, the Bulldogs have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games after not allowing more than 60 points in their last game. Texas Tech shoots 47.2% from the field — but Gonzaga has covered the point spread in 38 of their last 58 games against teams who make at least 45% of their shots. Additionally, the Bulldogs have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games against teams outside the West Coast Conference.

FINAL TAKE: Texas Tech earned their most impressive victory of the season with their win over Michigan that ranks in the Top-Ten in most analytical systems. But the Red Raiders lack the size, length, and athleticism of the elite teams like Gonzaga. The Bulldogs’ diversity in scoring avenues should make the difference in this game. 10* CBB Texas Tech-Gonzaga TBS-TV Special with the Gonzaga Bulldogs (684) minus the points versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (683). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:09 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (683) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (684). THE SITUATION: Texas Tech (29-6) reached the Elite Eight on Thursday with their 63-44 upset win over Michigan as a 2-point underdog. Gonzaga (33-3) joined them in the Elite Eight with their 72-58 win over Florida State on Thursday as a 7.5-point favorite. This West regional contest takes place in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Red Raiders absolutely stifled the Wolverines offense in that game as they held them to just a 32.3% shooting percentage while watching them miss 18 of their 19 shot from behind the arc. Texas Tech not only has the top Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation but they rank as the second-best all-time defense according to metrics guru Ken Pomeroy since he started measuring those numbers in 2002. The Red Raiders have held their last five opponents to just 38.0% shooting from the field which has translated into only 62.2 PPG. Texas Tech has then played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 50 points in their last game. The Pack-Line defense that head coach Chris Beard deploys is very difficult to prepare for — and they have played 31 of their last 45 games Under the Total when playing with one day or less of rest. The Under is also a decisive 46-21-1 in this team’s last 68 games against teams outside the Big 12 that are less familiar with their defensive schemes. But the concern for this Red Raiders team is their ability to score baskets themselves. Texas Tech scored only 24 points in the first half against a tough Wolverines defense — and they have played 23 of their last 32 games Under the Total after failing to score more than 25 points in the first half of their last game. They will be facing another outstanding defensive team in the Bulldogs who hold their opponents to just 38.7% shooting from the field. The Red Raiders have played 9 of their last 10 games away from home Under the Total against teams with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 39% or less. Texas Tech has played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 130s — and they have played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court. Additionally, the Red Raiders have played 4 straight games Under the Total in the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total in the Big Dance — and they have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or a favorite of no more than 6 points. The Bulldogs have then top Adjusted Offensive Efficiency numbers in the nation — but they will be challenged by this elite Red Raiders’ defense. Gonzaga’s offense slows down if point guard Josh Perkins has to overcome pesky defensive ball hawks — and Texas Tech has that type of player in Matt Mooney. With their offensive prowess gets most of the attention, the Bulldogs defense is under appreciated as they rank 12th in the nation in Adjusted Efficiency. With Killian Tillie back in the mix after being out with an injury, a strength of this group is that they have athletic players that can effectively play off switches. The Red Raiders make 47.2% of their shots — but Gonzaga has played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total against teams that shoot at least 45% from the field. The Bulldogs have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total against non-conference opponents.

FINAL TAKE: Gonzaga will want to push the pace to generate scoring opportunities in transition as they play the 7th fastest tempo in the nation. This is why the Total is set in the 130s. The Bulldogs will struggle to score in their half-court sets — but the Red Raiders will also struggle as well. 25* CBB Elite Eight Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders (683) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (684). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:39 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies (669) and the Duke Blue Devils (670). THE SITUATION: Virginia Tech (26-8) has won four of their last five games with their 67-58 win over Liberty last Sunday as a 9.5-point favorite. Duke (31-5) survived a big scare last Sunday to advance to the Sweet Sixteen with their 77-76 win over Central Florida as a 13-point favorite. This East regional matchup takes place in Washington D.C.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Blue Devils have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread loss — and the Under is 21-7-2 in their last 30 games after a straight-up loss. And while their victory over Central Florida finished Over the 142 point Total, Duke has then played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a game that finished Over the Total. The Blue Devils have scored 85 and 77 points in their last two games — but they have then played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total after scoring at least 75 points in two straight games. Duke should play better on defense tonight after allowing the Knights to make 48.1% of their shots from the field which was tied for the highest opponent’s field goal percentage in their last ten games. The Hokies average nine made 3-pointers per game — but the Blue Devils have played 16 of their last 22 games Under the Total after fifteen games into the season against teams who average at least 8 made 3-pointers per game. Duke has also played 9 of their last 12 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against fellow ACC opponents. Furthermore, the Blue Devils have played 24 of their last 32 games Under the Total when favored. Virginia Tech has played four straight Unders — and they have then played 13 of their last 17 games Under the Total after playing at least three straight games Under the Total. The Hokies will try to slow this game to a near halt — they rank 332nd in the nation in pace. They are also 9th in the country by allowing only 61.7 PPG. Virginia Tech has played 13 of their last 17 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: The first meeting between these two teams resulted in a 77-72 upset win for the Hokies. While that result finished Over the 143 point total set for that contest, the Blue Devils were playing without Zion Williamson — and he probably has an even bigger impact on the defensive end of the court for the Dukies then on offense. These two teams have played 13 of their last 17 meetings Under the Total. 10* CBB Virginia Tech-Duke CBS-TV O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Virginia Tech Hokies (669) and the Duke Blue Devils (670). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:39 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Virginia Tech Hokies (669) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (670). THE SITUATION: Virginia Tech (26-8) has won four of their last five games with their 67-58 win over Liberty last Sunday as a 9.5-point favorite. Duke (31-5) survived a big scare last Sunday to advance to the Sweet Sixteen with their 77-76 win over Central Florida as a 13-point favorite. This East regional matchup takes place in Washington D.C.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HOKIES PLUS THE POINTS: Duke has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win. And while the Blue Devils have only covered the point spread once in their last seven games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after failing to cover the point spread in five or six of their last seven games. Duke is uber-talented but their formula for success is antithetical to modern basketball that maximizes 3-point shooting. The Blue Devils only make 30.7% of their 3-pointers which ranks 329th in the nation — and they do not have a player in their regular rotation that makes more than 33% of their shots from behind the arc. One of the things that the Knights did well is to pack the paint and dare Duke to shoot from outside. They had their big man, Tacko Fall, barely shadow freshman Tre Jones while begging him to shoot from outside — and missed eight of his nine shots from behind the arc. Expect Virginia Tech to replicate this strategy as Jones is shooting only 23.2% from the field. The Blue Devils are just 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games in the NCAA Tournament, Furthermore, Duke is just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on a neutral court. Virginia Tech is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games after a point spread win. Justin Robinson seems to be in fine shape after he returned for the NCAA Tournament after being out with an injury — he scored 13 points on Sunday. This is the type of team that can make trouble for the Dukies because they rank 9th in the nation by making 39.5% of their shots from behind the arc — and they are making 42% of their 3-pointers so far in the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Buzz Williams will be thrilled to trade 3-pointers with Zion Williamson scoring buckets in the paint. He has a diverse lineup with Robinson back in the mix with four players that score at least 13 PPG. The Hokies rank 12th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — but they are also outstanding on the other end of the court as they rank 19th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Virginia Tech allows only 61.7 PPG which is ninth best in the nation. They have allowed only 52 and 58 points in the first two games of the Big Dance — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after not allowing more than 65 points in their last two games. The Hokies have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games played on a neutral court. And while they make 47.2% of their shots from the field, the Blue Devils have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 13 games after fifteen games into the season against teams who shoot at least 45% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: Virginia Tech will not lack for confidence in this game as they defeated Duke back on February 26th by a 77-72 score as a 3-point underdog. The Blue Devils did not have an injured Williamson in that game but the Hokies were also without Robinson. With four freshman playing key roles, this Duke team is very young while Virginia has three seniors and a junior in the core of their rotation — and this experience edge should help them keep this game very close (especially because 3-pointers count for one more point that 2-pointers). 25* CBB Sweet Sixteen Underdog of the Year with the Virginia Tech Hokies (669) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (670). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:29 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the North Carolina Tar Heels  (674) minus the points versus the Auburn Tigers (673). THE SITUATION: THE SITUATION: North Carolina (29-6) reached the Sweet Sixteen on Sunday with their 81-59 victory over Washington as an 11.5-point favorite. Auburn (28-9) joined them in the Sweet Sixteen last Saturday with their 89-75 win over Kansas as a 2.5-point favorite. These two teams meet in Kansas City for this Midwest region showdown.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TAR HEELS MINUS THE POINTS: North Carolina should build off the momentum of their easy win over the Huskies as they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 12 of the last 16 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Tar Heels have covered the point spread in 6 straight games after a win by at least 20 points — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a win where they also covered the point spread as a double-digit favorite. Furthermore, Roy Williams team has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games when playing just their second game in seven days. North Carolina is dominating teams inside so far in this Big Dance as they have outscored their opponents by a whopping 86 to 34 margin inside the paint. This high-scoring Tar Heels team has scored at least 73 points in fourteen of their last fifteen games. This team also thrives on the defensive end of the court where they rank 11th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. North Carolina has covered the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Auburn overwhelmed the Jayhawks last week as they made 13 of 30 shots from behind the arc en route to a 52.5% field goal percentage which was the best shooting effort in their last eighteen games. The Tigers enjoyed a 51-25 lead at halftime in that game — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after going to halftime with at least a 20 point lead. They also have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 14 games after holding their last opponent to no more than 25 points in the first half. This is a team that lives-by-the-3 and dies-by-the-3 as they are 8th in the nation with 49.7% of their shots coming from behind the arc. This characteristic makes them inconsistent if these shots are not falling — and the Tar Heels’ consistency makes this a bad matchup for the Tigers. Auburn averages 30 shots from the behind the arc per game while averaging 79.8 PPG — but North Carolina has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after fifteen games into the season against teams who average at least 21 shots from 3-point land and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after fifteen games into the season against teams who average at least 77 PPG. Furthermore, the Tar Heels’ out-rebound their opponents by +10.5 RPG — and Auburn has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games on the road against teams who out-rebound their opponents by at least +7.0 RPG. Remember that this Tigers team almost blew their opening round game against New Mexico State. And their SEC tournament championship game win over Tennessee looks to be against a team that was physically and emotionally gassed after they upset Kentucky the day before. Auburn has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams outside the SEC.

FINAL TAKE: The Tigers have the second worst defensive numbers of all the teams in the Sweet Sixteen — and that is not an encouraging fact against this North Carolina team that is 8th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. Look for the Tar Heels offense to lead them to pull away from the Tigers tonight. 10* CBB Auburn-North Carolina TBS-TV Special with the North Carolina Tar Heels  (674) minus the points versus the Auburn Tigers (673). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:29 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Auburn Tigers (673) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (674). THE SITUATION: Auburn (28-9) reached the Sweet Sixteen last Saturday with their 89-75 win over Kansas as a 2.5-point favorite. North Carolina (29-6) joined them on Sunday in the Sweet Sixteen with their 81-59 victory over Washington as an 11.5-point favorite. These two teams meet in Kansas City for this Midwest region showdown.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Auburn shot 52.5% from the field against the Jayhawks in what was the best shooting effort in their last eighteen games. The Tigers have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a double-digit victory. Auburn has also played 7 of their 11 games Under the Total when playing with five or six days of rest. With both these teams loving to play at a fast pace while scoring many of their baskets in transition, it is tempting to think the final score will finish well above the Total. The Tigers get over 20% of their points from transition which places them seventh in the nation in that metric. But head coach Bruce Pearl may decide it is a losing battle to getting into a drag race with the Tar Heels who thrive in transition and are one of the six teams in the country that generate more points than Auburn that way. Duke also scores more points in transition than the Tigers — and Pearl had his team slow things down when they played earlier this season. That contest saw a moderate 71 possessions in that game with the result being a 78-72 win over the Blue Devils. Expect Pearl to slow the pace of this game down as well with the hopes that his team’s 3-point shooting and ability to force turnovers will make the winning difference. North Carolina averages 67 shots per game which translates into 86.0 PPG. Auburn has played 5 straight games Under the Total against teams that score at least 84 PPG — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams who average at least 62 shots per game. Furthermore, the Tigers have played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total on the road against teams who are winning at least 80% of their games. And in their last 19 games with the Total set in the 160s, Auburn has played 14 of these games Under the Total. North Carolina has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 160 to 169.5 point range. The Tar Heels have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, North Carolina has played 19 of their last 28 games Under the Total after a win by at least 20 points. While the Tar Heels are a high-scoring team, their good play on the defensive end of the court is under-appreciated. North Carolina is 11th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 40.1% field goal percentage. But the Tar Heels are only making 44.6% of their shots over their last five contests which is a few notches below their 46.5% mark for the season. Moving forward, North Carolina has played 13 of their last 18 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC. Additionally, the Tar Heels have played 5 straight games Under the Total in the NCAA Tournament — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: With the Total set in the mid-160s for this game, expect Auburn to try to slow things down to keep the Tar Heels offense in check. 25* CBB TBS-TV Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Auburn Tigers (673) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (674). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:09 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the LSU Tigers (667) plus the points versus the Michigan State Spartans (668). THE SITUATION: LSU (28-6) reached the Sweet Sixteen last Saturday with their 69-67 win over Maryland as a 3-point favorite. Michigan State (30-6) has won their last seven games with their 70-50 win over Minnesota last Saturday as a 10.5-point favorite. This East regional matchup takes place in Washington D.C.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TIGERS PLUS THE POINTS: LSU has failed to cover the point spread in their last three games going back to the SEC tournament. But not only have the Tigers covered the point spread in 14 of their last 20 games after failing to cover the point spread in their last two games but they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after failing to cover the point spread in three straight contests. While it was unclear how this team would respond to the suspension of their head coach Will Wade for offer money to potential recruits, this team is now a very dangerous opponent for the Spartans. LSU may have more talent on their roster than Michigan State — and this will be the first time they are an underdog in a game since March 6th. The Tigers have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games as an underdog. LSU has only lost won game this season by more than the 7 points they are getting tonight (and that was because Oklahoma State made 59% of their shots along with 50% of their 3-pointers). The size and athleticism of this LSU group are similar to an Indiana team that upset Sparty twice this season by having success inside the paint as well as getting to the free throw line. The Tigers do struggle with their half-court offense — but this team does plenty of things to generate additional scoring opportunities. LSU is 9th in the nation by pulling down 36.8% of their missed shots. Defensive rebounding was a surprising weakness for Tom Izzy’s team in conference play as they allowed their opponents to pull down 30.2% of their missed shots which was 12th in the Big Ten. With their high level of rebounding along with them finishing second in the SEC with the second-lowest turnover rate on offense, the Tigers rank 2nd of all power conference teams in Shot Volume. LSU should get plenty of scoring opportunities against this Michigan State team that does not force turnovers — they rank 344th in the nation by forcing turnovers in just 14.7% of their opponent’s possessions. The Tigers should also be able to force turnovers against the Spartans who turn it over in 18.9% of their possessions which is 207th in the nation — and they were 12th in the Big Ten in this category. LSU forces turnovers in 20.3% of their opponent’s possessions. This team is also playing better defense under interim head coach Tony Benford. In those three games since Wade was suspended, the Tigers are holding their opponents to just 39.3% shooting from the field along with only 29.8% shooting from behind the arc. Michigan State played one of their best games of the season last week as they took full advantage of a second-round rematch with the Golden Gophers. The Spartans made 57.1% of their shots from the field which was their best shooting mark of the season. They also held Minnesota to just 30.5% shooting which was their second-best defensive effort all year. Michigan State forced only six turnovers from the Golden Gophers — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games on the road are not forcing at least 8 turnovers in their last game. And while the Spartans have not allowed their last six opponents to rebound more than 30 boards, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after not allowing more than 31 rebounds by their opponents in at least four straight games. Additionally, Michigan State has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games when playing with five or six days of rest. Izzo’s team does play great defense — they have not allowed more than 65 points in four straight games. But Sparty has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after not allowing more than 65 points in four straight games.

FINAL TAKE: Depth is a concern for this Michigan State team with the season-ending injuries to Joshua Langford and Kyle Ahrens leaving Izzo with just a seven-man rotation. The Spartans have not won a game in the Sweet Sixteen since 2015 — they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games in the NCAA Tournament. Expect a close game. 10* CBB LSU-Michigan State CBS-TV Special with the LSU Tigers (667) plus the points versus the Michigan State Spartans (668). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:59 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Virginia Cavaliers (654) minus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (653). THE SITUATION: Virginia (31-3) has won eleven of their last twelve games after their 63-51 win over Oklahoma on Sunday as a 10.5-point favorite. Oregon (25-12) has won ten straight games with their 73-54 win over UC-Irvine on Sunday as a 4.5-point favorite. This South regional game will be played at the Yum-Yum Center in Louisville.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS MINUS THE POINTS: We have been this Oregon team for a handful of nice wins during the Pac-12 season when it became evident to me that head coach Dana Altman had made some effective changes with this team after dealing with some injuries earlier in the season. But the lone double-seeded team in the Sweet Sixteen is due for a rude awakening now. Give the Ducks credit for their continued improvement — but winning eight straight games in a subpar Pac-12 before defeating a regressing Wisconsin team before another double-digit seed in UC-Irvine is not the most challenging schedule. Virginia will be, by far, the best team that this Oregon squad has faced all season. First and foremost, the Ducks are going to struggle to score points against this outstanding Cavaliers’ Pack-Line defense. Oregon is just 72nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they ranked 8th in the Pac-12 in that metric. This is not a good shooting team as they rank 109th in the nation with a 52.1% effective field goal percentage with that mark dropping to a 51.0% mark in Pac-12 play. The Ducks only make 35.1% of their 3-pointers which ranks 133rd in the nation — and that mark dropped to a 33.9% mark in Pac-12 action. They only pull down 29.8% of their missed shots which is 115th in the nation — and that mark, too, fell in conference play to a 28.9% mark. While Oregon’s offensive efficiency has been better during their ten-game winning streak, their lack of a go-to scorer remains an issue. And Oregon ranks 272nd in the nation in free throw rate. Virginia’s Pack-Line defense has stymied far more explosive offenses. What is the Ducks’ Plan B if their shots are not falling? It will now be difficult to force turnovers to get extra possessions against Virginia who ranked 14th in the nation by turning the ball over in just 14.9% of their possessions. The Cavaliers also ranked 3rd in the ACC in limiting their opponents to pulling down only 26.0% of their missed shots. Virginia out-rebounded their opponents by +5.2 Rebounds-Per-Game — and Oregon has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games after out-rebounding their opponents by at least +4.0 RPG. Clearly, the formula for success for Altman tonight will be by frustrating the Cavs with his matchup zone defense. The Ducks have held their last seven opponents to shooting no better than 40% from the field — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after not allowing at least their last four opponents to shoot at least 40% from the field. Virginia head coach Tony Bennett is well-versed in combatting zone defenses from the rigors of ACC play over the years — particularly with the Syracuse 2-3 zone, the matchup zones that Rick Pitino would deploy when he was the steward at Louisville, and with Duke using zone defenses over the last few seasons against them. The Cavaliers usually thrive against fellow elite defensive teams. Oregon holds their opponents to just 62.5 PPG along having an opponents’ field goal percentage of 39.9%. Virginia has covered the point spread in 14 of their last 20 games against teams with an opponents’ field goal percentage no higher than 42% — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after fifteen games into the season against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG. The Ducks have held their last six opponents to just a 23% shooting percentage from behind the arc — but Virginia is 6th in the nation by making 40.1% of their 3-pointers with four different players each nailing at least 40% of these shots. I suspect that the Cavaliers may be due for an offensive explosion tonight. In their scare against Gardner-Webb last Friday, Virginia committed 15 turnovers, shot just 30% from behind the arc, and made only 62% of their free throws — yet they still scored at a 1.13 Points-Per-Possession rate. Then against a Top-25 Sooners’ defense on Sunday, the Cavs scored at a 1.12 PPP rate despite their top scorer, Kyle Guy, missing all ten of his 3-pointers. Virginia still won both those games by double-digits — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after winning their last two games by at least 10 points. The Cavaliers have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams outside the ACC. The low Total may entice some bettors to take the 8-9 points with Oregon — but that logic is typically Fool’s Gold when fading Virginia. The Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 23 games with the Total set at no higher than 129.5 — and they have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games on the road after a victory where no more than 115 combined points were score. Virginia ranks second in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and third in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and these efficiency numbers are what point to their point spread victories even in slower tempo contests.

FINAL TAKE: Oregon’s offense is dictated by senior guard Peyton Pritchard — but he will have his hands full with the Cavs’ pesky 5’9 defender in Kihei Clark. Virginia’s NCAA Tournament struggles have often been mental — but I think the new challenge of the Ducks’ matchup zone will help them focus on executing their tasks at hand rather than worry about not fulfilling their vast potential. 25* CBB Sweet Sixteen Game of the Year with the Virginia Cavaliers (654) minus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (653). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:39 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Michigan Wolverines (658) minus the point(s) versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (657). THE SITUATION: Michigan (30-6) has won four of their last five games to reach the Sweet Sixteen with their 64-49 victory over Florida on Saturday as a 6-point favorite. Texas Tech (28-6) joined them in the Sweet Sixteen with their 78-58 win over Buffalo as a 4-point favorite on Sunday. These two West regional teams meet on a neutral court in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WOLVERINES MINUS THE POINT(S): This game features what is widely considered to be the top two defensive teams in the country. I trust the wily veteran in John Beilein to coax more points out of his offense — and this Michigan team is a bit more battle-tested to respond well in this high-pressure situation. Texas Tech reached the Elite Eight last season before losing to eventual National Champion in Villanova — but Michigan benefiting from advancing two more rounds to the National Championship game where they lost to the Wildcats as well. This season, the Red Raiders’ best non-conference victory was against a Nebraska team that did not reach the NCAA Tournament after going through the rigors of the Big Ten season. Texas Tech’s best win overall this season was against Iowa State — metrics guru Ken Pomeroy ranks the Cyclones as the 16th best team in the nation with the Cornhuskers ranking 47th best in the country. Michigan not only avenged their loss to Villanova (ranked 29th in the nation by Pomeroy) but also defeated North Carolina, Purdue, and Wisconsin that Pomeroy ranks as the 6th, 9th, and 15th best teams in the country. While the Tar Heels and Boilermakers remain alive in the Sweet Sixteen, none of the opponents that the Red Raiders’ defeated are still alive in this Big Dance. Beilein remains an offensive genius with this team ranking in the Top-20 once again in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. While the Texas Tech offense is highly dependent on their superstar, Jarrett Culver, to generate offense, the Wolverines diverse offensive sets have facilitated a different leading scorer in four straight games. Led by point guard Xavier Simpson, Michigan is patient and methodical on offense who are happy to wait to find an open shot. Furthermore, much of the Red Raiders’ defense is predicated on forcing turnovers as they are 10th in the nation by forcing turnovers in 23.1% of their opponents’ possessions. But Beilein’s offenses are very stingy in protecting the basketball — this year’s team ranks third in the nation by only turning the ball over in 13.3% of their possessions. Taking advantage of each possession combined with their (admittedly below average) offensive rebounding to produce the nation’s 19th best Shot Volume number out of major conference teams in the nation. On the other hand, because Texas Texas turns the ball over in 17.1% of their possessions while ranking just 7th in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding rates, they rank 46th in the nation amongst power conference teams which is right smack in the middle of the pack. In a game that is expected to be a low-scoring slog, this metric is very illuminating. Here is another one: while one analytics system ranks the Red Raiders 23rd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, that mark plummets to just 78th in the country when they are playing away from home on neutral courts or hostile environments. Michigan, on the other hand, sees their 17th overall ranking in that metric fall to just 20th when away from home. Even better, another analysts system ranks Texas Tech just 159th in the nation in their efficiency drop off when playing away from home versus on their home court — while ranking the Wolverines as 14th best in the nation in the discrepancy between home and road performance. So, just how is Texas Tech going to score if they are not generating extra scoring opportunities from forcing turnovers? While the Red Raiders were second in the Big 12 in Free Throw Rate, the Wolverines rarely foul — they rank 9th in the nation in opponent Free Throw Rate. Michigan has an elite defensive player in the now healthy again Charles Matthews who may not need double-team help in covering Culver. But when Texas Tech struggles to score, it is usually because they lack a reliable secondary scorer. That role is typically filled by Chris Mooney — but he will be guarded by Simpson who is an elite level defender with plenty of NCAA Tournament experience breaking the heart of more skilled offensive players with his man-to-man defense. Michigan gets more of their points from behind the arc — with three rotational players hitting at least 37.5% of these shots. If the Wolverines get help from one of their other supporting players from long range, they should win comfortably. But, assuming this goes down to the wire, let's invest in the Beilein system that is 25-10-1 ATS in Michigan’s last 36 games against teams with a winning record. The Wolverines are also 42-19-4 ATS in their last 65 games played on a neutral court which includes them covering 6 of their last 7 games played on a neutral court. Furthermore, Michigan has covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 tournament games along with 21 of their last 28 tournament contests — and they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games played on a neutral court as an underdog or pick ‘em — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 13 games with the Total set at 129.5 or lower. And while the Red Raiders have covered the point spread in eleven of their last twelve games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 42 of these games.

FINAL TAKE: I think the matchups — both schematically and in personnel — favor the Wolverines. The proverbial ace-in-the-hole that Beilein has in this game is to deploy a smaller lineup with an under-the-radar talent in Isaiah Livers serving in the traditional 5 slot with his 6’7 build. Livers was a starter for last year’s team and while coming off the bench this year, the sophomore has developed into a nice scoring threat off the bench. 20* CBB Texas Tech-Michigan CBS-TV Special with the Michigan Wolverines (658) minus the point(s) versus the Texas Tech Red Raiders (657). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:29 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Tennessee Volunteers (652) minus the point(s) versus the Purdue Boilermakers (651). THE SITUATION: Tennessee (31-5) has won four of their last five games after their 83-77 win in overtime over Iowa on Sunday as an 8-point favorite. Purdue (25-9) has won eight of their last ten games with their 87-61 victory over Villanova as a 3-point favorite on Saturday. This South regional game takes place on a neutral court in Louisville.

REASONS TO TAKE THE VOLUNTEERS MINUS THE POINT(S): Tennessee disappointed their bettors in the first game on Sunday by blowing a 44-19 lead before eking that game out in overtime. While that betting loss was very frustrating, this team continues to show resiliency from their mental toughness. Remember that this group rallied from a 7-point deficit with three minutes to go in the SEC Tournament semifinals to upset Kentucky — and they pulled away from a narrow 3 point lead with under five minutes ago on the Round of 64 when Colgate was looking to pull a big upset. This an experienced team that returned six of the top seven players from last year’s group that was upset in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. In this de-facto pick ‘em contest, the mental toughness and emotional maturity of this group that has helped them pull out close games should help them do what it takes to advance to the Elite Eight. While the Volunteers have not covered the point spread in their last three games, they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after failing to cover the point spread in three straight contests. Head coach Rick Barnes can take heart in the good starts his team has enjoyed so far as they have gone into the locker room at halftime of both games with a 12 and 21 point lead. Tennessee has then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after having halftime leads of double-digits in at least two straight contests. The Vols have also scored at least 77 points in both of their NCAA Tourney games — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games on the road after scoring at least 75 points in two straight contests. It is the high level of efficiency with the Tennessee offense that makes them more reliable that Purdue when playing away from home. The Vols do not rely on 3-point shooting — they get 55.6% of their points from field goals inside the arc which is 25th highest in the nation. Tennessee makes 55.6% of their 2-point field goal attempts while they also hit 76.8% of their free throws which is the 15th best mark in the nation. The Volunteers make 48.9% of their shots on the road which has helped them generate the most efficient Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in games on neutral courts or in hostile environments away from home in the country. Purdue exploded with one of their best games of the season against Villanova as they made 16 of their 30 (53.3%) shots from downtown while shooting 53.7% overall which was the best field goal percentage in their last five games. Carsen Edwards broke out of his shooting slump by nailing nine 3-pointers en route to 42 points. But regression is likely for this team that too often “lives-by-the-3 and dies-by-the-3.” The Boilermakers have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a victory by at least 20 points — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after scoring at least 85 points in their last game. Edwards takes 37.4% of his team’s shots this season which is the tenth highest usage rate in the nation. Yet he entered the Big Dance shooting just 34% from the field and making only 30% of his 3-point shots. He was dealing with a bad back that Purdue’s early exit from the Big Ten tournament may have served to help in the healing process. Yet the Boilermakers scored at just a 0.94 Points-Per-Possession clip in their opening round game against Old Dominion. This team makes only 41.6% of their shots on the road — and their 35.1% shooting mark away from home is just 112th best in the nation. That is an ominous number when considering that 39.0% of Purdue’s points come from made 3-pointers which is the 25th highest number in the nation. Going deeper into the numbers, the Boilermakers Adjusted Defensive Efficiency that ranks 27th in the nation overall plummets to 54th in the nation when only accounting for games played away from home. Furthermore, Purdue experiences the 345th biggest drop in Adjusted Efficiency overall when playing away from home (where the 3s are less likely to fall).

FINAL TAKE: There is a reason that the Boilermakers have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games in the Sweet Sixteen. While at first glance, both these teams appear inconsistent, it is the Volunteers that are much more reliable to meet expectations when playing on a neutral court given their low-risk highly efficient offense. They are worth an investment. 10* CBB Purdue-Tennessee CBS-TV Special with the Tennessee Volunteers (652) minus the point(s) versus the Purdue Boilermakers (651). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:09 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Florida State Seminoles (655) plus the points versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs (656). THE SITUATION: Florida State (29-7) reached the Sweet Sixteen with their 90-62 blowout win over Murray State as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Gonzaga (32-3) joined them in the Sweet Sixteen with an 83-71 win over Baylor as a 14-point favorite on Saturday. This West regional game is being played in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEMINOLES PLUS THE POINTS: Head coach Leonard Hamilton has waves of long and athletic bodies who can play position-less basketball. While Florida State will be without Phil Coker who is mourning the death of his father last week and David Nichols who is dealing with a rib injury, they did not play on Saturday either — yet the Seminoles generated 40 points from their bench as nine players contributed at least 10 minutes of playing time. Most of the group that reached the Elite Eight last year will be on the court tonight. Florida State has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after a straight-up win — and they are 20-8-2 ATS in their last 30 games after a point spread victory. The Seminoles do not shoot the ball that well — but they are outstanding in generating more scoring opportunities. Florida State pulls down 33.3% of their missed shots which is 37th in the nation and they force turnovers in 20.4% of their opponent’s possessions which is 66th best in the country. This style of play translates very well into situations like this. The Seminoles are 9-3-2 ATS in their last 14 games played on a neutral court — and they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games in the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga made 54.4% of their shots against the Bears which was the best shooting mark for them in their last three games. But this team takes a very big step up in the level of their competition after cruising through the West Coast Conference regular season — the last time they played a team this good was back on December 15th when they lost to North Carolina. What is concerning for me is the Zags’ 60-47 loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference championship game which may have borne the fruit for how Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton will have his team play. Admittedly, Hamilton will have his team play at a much faster pace than the crawl that the Gaels usually engage. But Saint Mary’s found success in dropping their guards off ball screens who allowed them to contest 2-point shots that frustrated the Bulldogs. Gonzaga point guard Josh Perkins also was bothered by the Gaels’ pressure they applied against him — and Perkins is susceptible to having very bad games. When that happens, the Zags’ offense can stall. They shot only 37.5% against Saint Mary’s in that loss. Hamilton has five tall guards with length who can throw at Perkins with pressure to veer the Bulldogs offensive flow off balance. Florida State has the tenth best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation with their outstanding athleticism and length — and Hamilton can play position-less basketball with his one through five players all being able to switch off ball screens. Gonzaga has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games with the Total set in the 140s. The Bulldogs also tend to underachieve in the NCAA Tournament (despite their run to the championship game two years ago). Gonzaga is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games in the Big Dance — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games when seeded as #4 or better. And in their last 7 games in the Sweet 16, the Bulldogs have failed to cover the point spread 5 times.

FINAL TAKE: It was Florida State that eliminated Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 last year by a 75-60 score as a 6-point underdog. Of course, the Zags’ learned just before that game started that Killian Tillie would be unavailable to play in that game — so not only does this year’s group have Tillie but they also added San Jose State transfer Brandon Clarke who has starred for them this season. But I think that game was more about style than it was about the talent on the court. Hamilton is a great coach — and his system makes it very difficult on finesse scoring teams like the Bulldogs. 10* CBB Florida State-Gonzaga CBS-TV Special with the Florida State Seminoles (655) plus the points versus the Gonzaga Bulldogs (656). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:09 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Florida State Seminoles (655) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (656). THE SITUATION: Florida State (29-7) reached the Sweet Sixteen with their 90-62 blowout win over Murray State as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Gonzaga (32-3) joined them in the Sweet Sixteen with an 83-71 win over Baylor as a 14-point favorite on Saturday. This West regional game is being played in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Seminoles shots 50.7% from the field against the Racers on the strength of nailing 11 of their 27 shots (40.7%) of their shots from behind the arc. They are unlikely to replicate that effort tonight against this Bulldogs team that ranks 16th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Gonzaga is even better in defending the half-court as they rank 7th in the nation with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 44.0% — and they also rank 21st in the nation by limiting their opponents to just a 30.5% shooting mark from behind the arc. Despite torching the nets against Murray State, Florida State is making only 42.8% of their shots over their last five games — and they rank just 210th in the nation by making only 33.7% of their 3-pointers. The Seminoles raced out to a 50-34 halftime lead on Saturday in that game — but they have then played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after enjoying at least a 15 point lead at halftime of their last game. That result finished well above the 146.5 point total — but Florida State has then played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total on the road after a game that finished Over the Total. And while the Bulldogs have an opponents’ field goal percentage of 38.7%, the Seminoles have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after fifteen games into the season against teams that do not allow their opponents to make more than 38% of their shots. Additionally, Florida State has played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or underdog — and they have played 10 of their last 15 games Under the Total in the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga has played 11 of their last 16 games Under the Total in the Big Dance. The Bulldogs have given up only 23 and 17 points in the first half of their first two games in the NCAA Tournament — and they have then played 19 of their last 26 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 30 points in the first half of their last two games. However, it is Gonzaga’s 60-47 loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference championship game which may have borne the fruit for how Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton will have his team play. Admittedly, Hamilton will have his team play at a much faster pace than the crawl that the Gaels usually engage. But Saint Mary’s found success in dropping their guards off ball screens who allowed them to contest 2-point shots that frustrated the Bulldogs. Gonzaga point guard Josh Perkins also was bothered by the Gaels’ pressure they applied against him — and Perkins is susceptible to having very bad games. When that happens, the Zags’ offense can stall. Hamilton has five tall guards with length who can throw at Perkins with pressure to veer the Bulldogs offensive flow off balance. Florida State has the tenth best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation with their outstanding athleticism and length — and Hamilton can play position-less basketball with his one through five players all being able to switch off ball screens. Furthermore, the Seminoles out-rebound their opponents by +4.9 Rebounds-Per-Game — and Gonzaga has played 14 of their last 19 games Under the Total after fifteen games into the season against teams that out-rebound their opponents by at least +4.0 RPG. Additionally, the Bulldogs have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against teams outside the West Coast Conference.

FINAL TAKE: The Total for this game is set in the high-140s because both teams like to play at a quick tempo. But both defenses should have the upper hand in this contest — so expect a lower-scoring game. 25* CBB Sweet Sixteen Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Florida State Seminoles (655) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (656). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Lipscomb Bisons (625) and the North Carolina State Wolfpack (626). Lipscomb (27-7) advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NIT on Saturday with their 88-69 upset win at UNC-Greensboro as a 2-point underdog. NC State (24-11) joined them in the Quarterfinals with their 78-77 victory over Harvard on Sunday as a 9.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Lipscomb has played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after an upset win on the road. The Bison has also played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total on the road after a victory on the road. This team stays on the road where they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total. Lipscomb has also played 6 of their last 8 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on their home court. The Bison led the Ohio Valley Conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They limit their home hosts this season to just 40% shooting from the field. This team will be challenged by the Wolfpack who led the ACC by pulling down 34.9% of their missed shots — but Lipscomb is very good at defending their defensive glass. The Bison are 14th in the nation by limiting their opponents to rebounding only 22.4% of their missed shots. Furthermore, the Bison have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total with the Total set in the 160s. NC State has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total when the Total was set in the 160 to 169.5 point range. And while the Wolfpack have not covered the point spread in their last three games, they have then played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after failing to cover the point spread for three straight contests. NC State shot only 40% from the field in their win over Harvard. Over their last five games, the Wolfpack are making only 40.9% of their shots. They survived the Crimson Tide despite allowing them to make 52.7% of their shots. Yet NC State has played better defense as of late as they have held their last five opponents to just a 41.0% shooting clip which is a bit better this than their 43.9% opponents’ field goal percentage for the season. Now the Wolfpack return home where they have played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total — and they have also played 8 of their last 9 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning record on the road. And in their last 10 home games as a pick ‘em or favorite laying no more than 6 points, NC State has played 9 of these games Under the Total.

FINAL TAKE: The Total is set in the 160s since both these teams play at a fast pace. Despite that up-tempo play in this game, expect a lower scoring game. 25* CBB NIT Quarterfinals Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Lipscomb Bisons (625) and the North Carolina State Wolfpack (626). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Indiana Hoosiers (618) minus the points versus the Wichita State Shockers (617). Indiana (19-15) advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NIT on Saturday with their 63-60 victory at home over Arkansas as a 5.5-point favorite. Wichita State (21-14) joined them in the Quarterfinals on Sunday when they upset Clemson on the road by a 63-55 score as a 7-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HOOSIERS MINUS THE POINTS: Indiana should build off the momentum of their narrow victory over the Razorbacks over the weekend as they have covered the point spread in 5 straight home games after a win by 3 points or less. The Hoosiers have also covered the point spread in 7 straight home games after not allowing more than 60 points in their last game. Indiana defeated Arkansas despite making only 41.2% of their shots which was the worst shooting effort in their last five games. Yet the Hoosiers are still making 49.3% of their shots over their last five games. They have the advantage of staying at home for the third straight game in this tournament where they will be favored for the third straight time — and they have covered the point spread in 26 of their last 39 home games after playing their last two games at home where they were laying the points. Indiana is 15-5 on their home court this season — and they are outscoring their opponents by +10.5 PPG. The Hoosiers make 48.1% of their shots at home — but they also play very good defense in Bloomington as they are holding their visitors to just 62.9 PPG on 39.9% shooting from the field. This team ranks 29th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Indiana has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games on their home court. The Hoosiers have covered the point spread in seven of their last nine games — and they have then covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 home games after covering the point spread in five or six of their last seven games. Additionally, Indiana has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams outside the Big Ten. Their star freshman, Romeo Langford, remains questionable for this game with his back injury — but they have played their previous two games in the NIT without him already. Wichita State has pulled off two straight upsets in this tournament as their win at Clemson was preceded by an upset win at Furman. But the Shockers have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after playing their last two games as an underdog. Playing their third straight game on the road on short rest will likely catch up with this team. Wichita State has failed to cover the point spread in 9 straight games on the road after a game where no more than 125 combined points were scored — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight road games after a game where they did not allow more than 55 points in their last contest. And in their last 8 games when playing just their second game in three days on the road, the Shockers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of these contests. Head coach Gregg Marshall has done a great job in getting improvement out of his young team after seeing all five of his starters graduate last season. But this team struggles to score baskets — they make only 39.4% of their shots when away from home. Wichita State went to the free throw line 21 times less than the Tigers did not Sunday which may be a bad sign for them moving forward as they have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after a game where they attempted at least 20 fewer free throws than their opponent. The Hoosiers were fourth in the Big Ten in free throw rate — so they should have a big advantage in the free throw department tonight.

FINAL TAKE: While I am impressed with the continued improvement of Wichita State this season, this is a difficult challenge for them to play on the road for a third straight game in this tournament as an underdog. With the opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden in the Semifinals of the NIT, this should be a motivated Indiana team — and their second-year head coach, Archie Miller, needs his team to get more postseason experience. 25* CBB NIT Quarterfinals Game of the Year with the Indiana Hoosiers (618) minus the points versus the Wichita State Shockers (617). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Colorado Buffaloes (602) minus the points versus the Norfolk State Spartans (601). Colorado (22-12) has won six of their last seven games with their 78-73 win over Dayton as a 4.5-point favorite last Tuesday in the opening round of the NIT. Norfolk State (22-13) upset an Alabama team by an 80-79 score in overtime as a 16-point underdog in their gym last Wednesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUFFALOES MINUS THE POINTS: Norfolk State shocked a Crimson Tide team that was one of the four number one seeds in this tournament. It is not uncommon for teams that failed to get off the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament then show little interest in exerting much effort in the NIT — especially on those opening Tuesday games just 48 hours after the deflating news that they were not selected for the Big Dance. Alabama then fired their head coach, Avery Johnson, later in the week. But the Spartans will be facing an engaged opponent in this game. Norfolk State’s twenty-two wins came from the 5th easiest schedule in college basketball according to metrics guru Ken Pomeroy. Even with that soft schedule, the Spartans rank 282nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and rank 199nd in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Norfolk State has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 boarded games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. The Spartans have also failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight road boarded games after winning three of their last four games — and they are just 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 boarded games after a point spread win. Colorado has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win. They get to host this second-round game given the Crimson Tide being upset as the top seed in their bracket. The Buffaloes have a strong home-court advantage — they are 14-3 at home this season with an average winning margin of +11.7 PPG. They score 80.2 PPG on their home court while making 48.8% of their shots. Colorado has covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games on their home court — and they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 12 home games with the Total set in the 145 to 149.5 point range. The Buffaloes should control the boards in this contest as they pull down 31.4% of their missed shots — and Norfolk State ranks 220th in the nation by allowing their opponents to rebound 29.0% of their missed shots. The Spartans also commit tons of fouls — they rank 338th in the nation with an opponent’s Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 42.7%. Colorado makes 75.1% of their free throws which is 38th in the nation. The Buffaloes made 16 of their 18 free throws (89%) against the Flyers last week — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after making at least 88% of their free throws in their last game. Norfolk State will struggle to score points against this Colorado team that ranks 40th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. And while the Spartans make 37.4% of their 3-pointers, the Buffaloes also ranks 39th in the nation with their opponents making only 31.6% of their 3-pointers. Colorado has also held their last five opponents to shooting just 40.8% from the field. Norfolk State is shooting just 40.6% from the field over their last five games. The Buffaloes are laying around 14 points in this game — but they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 home games as a double-digit favorite.

FINAL TAKE: It is also a challenge for east coast teams to adjust to playing in the high altitude in Boulder. Head coach Tad Boyle missed the postseason for the first time in eight seasons at Colorado last season — and with his top seven rotation players all coming back next year, this tournament is an opportunity for this team to take the next step to prepare for a possible NCAA Tournament bid next year. 25* CBB NIT Round Two Game of the Year with the Colorado Buffaloes (602) minus the points versus the Norfolk State Spartans (601). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the DePaul Blue Demons (610) minus the points versus the Longwood Lancers (609). THE SITUATION: DePaul (16-15) snapped their two-game losing streak last Wednesday with their 100-86 victory over Central Michigan as a 6.5-point favorite. Longwood (16-17) snapped a four-game losing streak last Wednesday with a 90-68 upset win at home over Southern Mississippi as a 9.5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BLUE DEMONS MINUS THE POINTS: DePaul should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after losing two of their last three games. This is the first postseason tournament opportunity for this team in four seasons under the leadership of head coach Dave Leitao. He has a core of three motivated seniors in Max Strus, Eli Cain and Femi Olujobi. Leitao also has a potential NBA player on his roster with 6’9 sophomore Paul Reed. The Blue Demons are no longer the doormats of the Big East after they swept two NCAA Tournament teams in Seton Hall and St. John’s. They get to host this game where they are 13-6 this season. They have covered the point spread in 6 straight home games with the Total set in the 155 to 159.5 point range. DePaul has also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 home games after a game where both teams scored at least 75 points. This is a high scoring team that finished third in the Big East in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They average 79.5 PPG on their home court while shooting 47.5% from the field. The Blue Demons have made 49.4% of their shots over their last five games. They made 38.2% of their shots in conference play which was second best in the Big East — and they led the Big East by pulling down 31.9% of their missed shots. DePaul has allowed at least 82 points in three straight games but they have then covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after allowing at least 75 points in three straight games. The Blue Demons have also covered the point spread in 18 of their last 26 games after allowing at least 80 points in their last contest. Longwood may have caught an interested Southern Miss team last week. They made 52.6% of their shots from the field in that game which was the best shooting effort in their last 18 games. But the Lancers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight boarded games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 boarded games after a point spread victory. This is not a very good team who benefited from a non-conference schedule that metrics guru Ken Pomeroy ranks as the eighth easiest in the nation. In Big South play, Longwood finished in ninth place with a 5-11 record. Pomeroy ranked the Big South as the 19th best conference in the nation with the Big East ranking fifth best. The Lancers Adjusted Offensive Efficiency ranks 284th in the nation (9th in the Big South) while they rank 221st in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (9th in the Big South). Longwood did not show improvement down the stretch of the season either as they lost four straight games along with eight of their last ten contests before upsetting the Golden Eagles. Now they go on the road where they are 6-12 while scoring only 64.8 PPG and making just 42.2% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: I think Longwood’s victory last week speaks more to the lack of motivation of Southern Miss than it does about this team. DePaul should be motivated to keep playing in a postseason tournament and their high-scoring offense should produce a double-digit victory where they cover the point spread. 10* CBB Blowout Bookie Buster with the DePaul Blue Demons (610) minus the points versus the Longwood Lancers (609). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the UC-Irvine Anteaters (873) plus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (874). THE SITUATION: UC-Irvine (31-5) has won seventeen straight games after the upset Kansas State on Friday by a 70-64 score as a 4-point underdog. Oregon (24-12) has won nine straight games after they upset Wisconsin on Friday by a 72-54 score as a 2-point underdog. This South regional game is being played in San Jose.

REASONS TO TAKE THE ANTEATERS PLUS THE POINTS: UC-Irvine will enter this game with tons of confidence that they can advance to the Sweet Sixteen. They are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games after a straight-up win — and they are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games after a point spread victory. This team thrives with their play on defense. They lead the nation by holding their opponents to just a 40.7% shooting percentage inside the arc as they are buoyed by three giant rim protectors 6’9 or taller led by the 6’10 Jonathan Galloway. They held Kansas State on Friday to just a 43.7% shooting clip inside the arc. Head coach Russell Turner ensures that at least one of these three players is on the court at all times. The Anteaters also defend the perimeter as they hold their opponents to just a 33.2% shooting percentage inside the arc. UC-Irvine is also a quality offensive team that does plenty of things well on that side of the court. With their size, the Anteaters are 32nd in the nation by pulling down 33.5% of their missed shots. UC-Irvine led the Big West Conference by making 52.4% of their shots inside the arc — and they make a healthy 36.1% of their 3-pointers. The Anteaters play at the 275th slowest pace in the nation — yet they still manage to score 72.8 PPG. Over their last six games, UC-Irvine has raised their scoring average to 82.6 PPG. This balance on offense and defense has helped them cover the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. The Anteaters have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games played on a neutral court as an underdog or pick ‘em. And in their last 11 games with the Total set at 129.5 or lower, UC-Irvine has covered the point spread 10 times. Dana Altman has done a great job with his Oregon team. His decision at the beginning of the Pac-12 season to have his team press more was an effective way to create more scoring opportunities for his challenged shooting team. The Ducks’ defense also improved when Altman inserted the 6’9 freshman Francis Okoro into the starting lineup. But winning eight games in a row against suspect Pac-12 competition needs to be taken with a grain of salt. And while I strongly endorsed Wisconsin to cover the point spread on Friday, I was anxious to bet against them in this round given the deterioration of Ethan Happ’s game for the Badgers (his shooting woes had become a negative). I think the Oregon bubble gets burst against this outstanding Anteaters defense. The Ducks made 54.9% of their shots against Wisconsin which was the best shooting effort for them in their last thirteen games. Oregon ranks 99th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and that number drops to 129th in the nation when they playing away from Eugene. This Ducks team just does not do many things well on that side of the court. They ranked 9th in the Pac-12 with an effective field goal percentage of 51.0 while ranking 7th in that mediocre conference in offensive rebounding rate and 11th in getting to the free throw line. They also made only 66.7% of their free throws in conference play. Oregon has made 9 of 11 and 20 of 22 shots at the charity stripe in each of their last two games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after making at least 78% of their free throws in two straight games. The Ducks have only scored 25 and 28 points in the first half of their last two games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after failing to score at least 30 points in the first half of their last two games. Oregon was 2nd in the Pac-12 by forcing turnovers in 21.9% of their opponent’s possessions — but UC-Irvine turned the ball in just 16.0% of their possessions in conference play. The Anteaters allow only 63.3 PPG — and the Ducks have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG. And in their last 13 games played on a neutral court as a favorite laying 3.5 to 6 points, Oregon has failed to cover the point spread 8 times.

FINAL TAKE: Oregon plays at the 318th slowest pace in the nation — so this shapes up to be a slog between two strong defensive teams. The Ducks are overrated by those observers who failed to appreciate the moves Altman made to make his team better during conference play. This should be a coin flip game that the Anteaters can pull out — making their 4-5 points as the underdog very valuable. 25* CBB Bailout Game of the Year with the UC-Irvine Anteaters (873) plus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (874). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Houston Cougars (872) minus the points versus the Ohio State Buckeyes (871). THE SITUATION: Houston (32-3) has won five of their last six games with their 84-55 win over Georgia State on Friday as a 12.5-point favorite. Ohio State (20-14) joins them in the Round of 32 with their 62-59 upset win over Iowa State as a 5-point underdog on Friday. This Midwest regional contest takes place in Tulsa.

REASONS TO TAKE THE COUGARS MINUS THE POINTS: Houston is underrated — they are one of the few teams in the nation ranked in the top-25 in both Adjusted Offensive Efficiency (12th in the nation) and Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (22nd in the nation). Remember that this team was a miracle Jordan Poole buzzer-beating shot for Michigan away from reaching the Sweet Sixteen last year. The Cougars are 24-10-1 ATS in their last 35 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a win by at least 20 points. What is impressive about this team is how good they play away from home. According to the deeper metrics, Houston ranks 3rd in the country in the net efficiency improvement when playing away from home on neutral courts or true road games. The Cougars have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games played on a neutral court. Houston has also covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams outside the American Athletic Conference. Ohio State is likely due for a letdown after their upset victory. They have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a straight-up win — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a point spread victory. The Buckeyes only made 39.7% of their shots against the Cyclones yet still upset that Jekyll-and-Hyde team. Ohio State was second-to-last in the Big Ten in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They rank 188th in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 50.3% — and their eFG drops to a 47.1% mark when playing away from home which is 281st worst in the country. Over their last five games, the Buckeyes are making only 38.7% of their shots. This spells trouble against this elite Houston defense that has the lowest opponent’s field goal percentage in the nation at 42.1%. The Cougars have the second best opponent’s 3-point field goal percentage of 27.5% — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 31.6% shooting percentage overall. The problem for Ohio State in this game is that they do not put up a ton of shots either — they rank just 77th out of all power conference teams in Shot Volume that measures offensive rebounding and turnover rates. The Buckeyes do not get to the free throw line either as they rank 167th in the nation with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 33.7%. Ohio State has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: The Buckeyes will struggle to get points in this game — and they will be facing a much more consistent team than they did on Friday. 20* CBB Ohio State-Houston TNT Special with the Houston Cougars (872) minus the points versus the Ohio State Buckeyes (871). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:45 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Virginia Cavaliers (862) minus the points versus the Oklahoma Sooners (861). THE SITUATION: Virginia (30-3) has won ten of their last eleven games after they rallied from an anxious first half to dispatch of Gardner Webb by a 71-56 score as a 22-point favorite on Friday. Oklahoma (20-13) comes off a 95-72 upset victory over Mississippi on Friday as a 1-point underdog. This South regional game is being played on a neutral court in Columbia, South Carolina.

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS MINUS THE POINTS: Virginia exorcised the demons from their opening round loss to sixteen seen Maryland-Baltimore County last year by blasting Gardner Webb by a 41-20 margin in the second half. This is a better team than last year’s group because they are much better on the offensive end of the court. After finishing 30th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency last year, the Cavaliers this season rank 2nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They also rank 3rd in the country in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency which is why many of the laptops consider them the best team in the nation. They should build off the momentum of their strong second half on Friday as they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 19 games after a victory where they failed to cover the point spread — and they have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 19 games after a point spread loss. Virginia has also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams outside the ACC. Additionally, the Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 28 of their last 44 games as a double-digit favorite. Oklahoma may be due for a letdown after pulling the upset over the Rebels as they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread victory. The Sooners made 57.6% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last four games while scoring the most points that they have all season. They may not reach half that amount tonight against the Cavs’ difficult Pack-Line defense. Despite Virginia leading the nation with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 27.5% outside the arc, the most effective way to break their defense is to shoot over the Pack-Line from the outside (there is a reason why Tony Bennett’s defense is so good). Oklahoma is unlikely to get the job done here as they are just 168th in the nation by making only 34.5% of their 3-pointers. The Sooners ranked 9th in the Big 12 in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while ranking 58th in the nation overall in that metric. This teams also ranks just 66th in the nation amongst power conference foes in Shot Volume that takes into account Offensive Rebounding and Turnover percentages. Oklahoma has failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 19 games when playing their second game in seven days. Additionally, the Sooners have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games played on a neutral court as an underdog getting 6.5 to 12 points — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: Oklahoma will struggle to score — and the Cavaliers are a better scoring team this season with the continued development of a future NBA player in De’Andre Hunter. 10* CBB Oklahoma-Virginia tru-TV Special with the Virginia Cavaliers (862) minus the points versus the Oklahoma Sooners (861). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:45 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Oklahoma Sooners (861) and the Virginia Cavaliers (862). THE SITUATION: Virginia (30-3) has won ten of their last eleven games after they rallied from an anxious first half to dispatch of Gardner Webb by a 71-56 score as a 22-point favorite on Friday. Oklahoma (20-13) comes off a 95-72 upset victory over Mississippi on Friday as a 1-point underdog. This South regional game is being played on a neutral court in Columbia, South Carolina.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Sooners made 57.6% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last four games while scoring the most points that they have all season. They may not reach half that amount tonight against the Cavs’ difficult Pack-Line defense. Despite Virginia leading the nation with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 27.5% outside the arc, the most effective way to break their defense is to shoot over the Pack-Line from the outside (there is a reason why Tony Bennett’s defense is so good). Oklahoma is unlikely to get the job done here as they are just 168th in the nation by making only 34.5% of their 3-pointers. The Sooners ranked 9th in the Big 12 in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while ranking 58th in the nation overall in that metric. This teams also ranks just 66th in the nation amongst power conference foes in Shot Volume that takes into account Offensive Rebounding and Turnover percentages. Oklahoma has played 12 of their last 18 games Under the Total after an upset victory. The Sooners have also played 16 of their last 22 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And while their win over Ole Miss finished Over the 142 point total, they have then played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after playing a game that finished Over the Total. And in their last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%, Oklahoma has played 5 of these games Under the Total. Virginia has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. They also have played 21 of their last 33 games Under the Total when playing their second game in eight days. Additionally, the Cavaliers have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC.

FINAL TAKE: Expect a lower scoring game between these two teams with the Sooners struggling to score baskets against the outstanding Cavaliers defense. 10* CBB Sunday Daily Discounted Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Oklahoma Sooners (861) and the Virginia Cavaliers (862). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:10 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Virginia Tech Hokies (876) minus the points versus the Liberty Flames (875). Virginia Tech (25-8) raced out to a 40-18 first-half lead in an easy 66-52 victory over Saint Louis on Friday as a 10-point favorite. Liberty (29-6) has won six straight games after their 80-76 upset win over Mississippi State on Friday as a 7-point underdog. This East regional game takes place on a neutral court in San Jose.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HOKIES MINUS THE POINTS: It has been a magical ride for head coach Ritchie McKay’s team who has pulled off two straight upset victories after they won the Ohio Valley Conference championship by defeating Lipscomb as an underdog. But the Cinderella story likely ends tonight as the Flames have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a point spread loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games after a point spread victory. In hindsight, perhaps we all should have been on this Liberty team on Friday that was facing a fading Bulldogs team that entered that game having lost four of their last six games. The Flames were red-hot from behind the arc in that game as they nailed 12 of their 25 (48%) of their 3-pointers despite a meager 34.4% shooting percentage behind the arc in conference play. Liberty has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a game where at least 155 combined points were scored. Making all those 3-pointers helped the Flames deal with the Mississippi State size advantage. But their 6’8 big man in the post, Scottie Jones, will be challenged by the Hokies 6’10 center in Kerry Blackshear tonight. The problem for this Liberty offense is that they do not have much of a “Plan B” if their shots are not falling in their half-court offense. The Flames only rebound 25.7% of their missed shots which is 260th in the nation — and they rank 315th in the nation in getting to the free throw line. Liberty has failed to cover the point spread in 23 of their last 32 games when playing their second game in seven days. And in their last 12 games played on a neutral court, the Flames have failed to cover the point spread 9 times. Virginia Tech got an encouraging effort from Justin Robinson on Sunday who scored 9 points while adding 2 assists in 27 minutes of action after missing the previous 12 games to an injury. Head coach Buzz Williams’ group is one of the most balanced teams in the nation. The Hokies rank 10th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they rank 20th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Virginia Tech has held their last five opponents to just a 38.7% field goal percentage — and they have not allowed more than 63 points in their last three games. The Hokies have then covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after not allowing more than 65 points in two straight games. Williams deploys a four-guard starting lineup which can make this team vulnerable when facing bigger opponents. However, this is a small Liberty team they are facing tonight. Virginia Tech has covered the point spread in 20 of their last 28 games against teams outside the ACC. They also thrive on neutral courts where they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games. Additionally, the Hokies have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 12 games played on a neutral court when favored by 6.5 to 12 points — and this includes six straight point spread covers.

FINAL TAKE: I have seen multiple takes this morning about the dog being intriguing in this game since Liberty plays at one of the slowest paces in the nation with McKay being a Tony Bennett disciple. Well, this Virginia Tech plays Virginia twice a year — so they will be quite familiar with this style of play. The Hokies are very comfortable in this type of game since they also play at a slow pace — and they still outscore their opponents by +12.0 PPG. Efficiency is as important as tempo. Lastly, the Flames lost by at least 9 points to Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Alabama, and Austin Peay despite their slow pace and Pack-Line defense. Virginia Tech is, by far, the best team that Liberty has faced all season. 25* CBB NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Game of the Year with the Virginia Tech Hokies (876) minus the points versus the Liberty Flames (875). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:25 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Central Florida Knights (863) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (864). Central Florida (24-8) has won five of their last seven games with their 73-58 win over VCU as a 1.5-point favorite on Friday. Duke (30-5) has won their last four games after they disposed of North Dakota State by an 85-62 score as a 27.5-point favorite on Friday. This East regional contest takes place in Columbia, South Carolina.

REASONS TO TAKE THE KNIGHTS PLUS THE POINTS: Central Florida is the type of team that can give this Blue Devils’ team trouble. Duke is not a good 3-point shooting team — they rank 315th in the nation by making only 30.5% of their 3-point shots. With the 7’6 Tacko Fall patrolling the middle, the Knights hold their opponents to just a 44.3% shooting percentage inside the arc. They also limit their opponents to just a 31.0% field goal percentage from behind the arc which is 28th best in the nation. Zion Williamson is a phenom — but at 6’7, he is a full foot shorter that Fall. Head coach Johnny Dawkins team — a former Duke player and assistant coach himself — will have a confident bunch for this game. Central Florida has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Knights have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a blowout victory by at least 15 points. Additionally, UCF has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games against teams with a winning record — and they have covered the point spread in 12 of their last 16 games against non-conference opponents. The Knights have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 144 to 144.5 point range. Duke has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after a straight-up win. And while the Blue Devils have failed to cover the point spread in five of their last six games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after failing to cover the point spread in five or six of their last seven games. Furthermore, Duke is just 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 20 games played on a neutral court as a favorite laying 12.5 to 15 points.

FINAL TAKE: Central Florida has the pedigree of a team that can make this game very interesting. They have two very talented guards in B.J. Taylor and Aubrey Dawkins — and this team makes 36.1% of their 3-point shots. They play at a slow pace as well — so the Duke freshman may get lulled into a low-scoring affair where all of the sudden their national championship aspirations could expire. Expect the Knights’ defense to keep them competitive in this game. 10* CBB Central Florida-Duke CBS-TV Special with the Central Florida Knights (863) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (864). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 2:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the North Carolina Tar Heels (868) minus the points versus the Washington Huskies (867). THE SITUATION: Washington (27-8) has won three of their last four games with their 78-61 upset victory over Utah State on Friday as a 3.5-point underdog. North Carolina (28-6) has won nine of their last ten games with their 88-73 victory over Iona on Friday as a 24.5-point favorite. This Midwest regional game is being played in Columbus, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TAR HEELS MINUS THE POINTS: The Huskies made 49% of their shots against the Aggies which was the best shooting mark in the last five games. That was an outlier effort for this challenged team on offense — Washington ranks 109th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while also ranking 102nd in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 52.3%. Overall, the Huskies score 70.1 PPG on 45% shooting from the field — but those numbers drop to just 63.4 PPG along with a 41.0% shooting mark when playing away from home. Washington also made 10 of their 17 (58.8%) of their shots behind the arc to far 35.2% shooting percentage from 3-point land — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after making at least 50% of their 3-pointers in their last game. The Huskies have also failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread win. And while Washington has covered the point spread in two of their last three games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after covering the point spread in two of their last three games. And in their last 5 games against teams outside the ACC, the Huskies are just 1-3-1 ATS. North Carolina has covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a straight-up win. They should build off the momentum of their big second half against the Gaels as they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 18 games after a win by at least 10 points — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after a win by at least 15 points. Washington deploys a matchup 2-3 zone on defense which is vulnerable to leaving room for offensive players to crash the glass. The Huskies rank 345th in the nation by allowing their opponents to pull down 34.7% of their missed shots — and the Tar Heels rank 17th in the nation by rebounding 35.0% of their missed shots. Washington wants to force turnovers as they rank 4th in the nation by getting turnovers in 24.3% of their opponent’s possessions. North Carolina is solid in this area — they ranked 4th in the ACC by turning the ball over in just 17.1% of their possessions. Protecting the basketball and getting second chance opportunities has been a bedrock for Roy Williams’ teams — this year’s team ranks 9th best in the nation in Shot Volume. The Tar Heels have generated 73 and 75 shots in each of their last two games — and they have then covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after taking at least 70 shots in two straight games. This team is also very familiar with the Huskies defense since their head coach Mike Hopkins modeled off the Jim Boeheim Syracuse schemes. What is underappreciated about this North Carolina team this season is just how good they are playing on defense. Roy Williams’ team ranks 11th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 39.2% field goal percentage. The Tar Heels have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%.

FINAL TAKE: Because North Carolina’s Shot Volume is so high from game-to-game, they rarely experience subpar games on offense. They should overwhelm an offensively-challenged Huskies team. 10* CBB Washington-North Carolina CBS-TV Special with the North Carolina Tar Heels (868) minus the points versus the Washington Huskies (867). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 2:40 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Washington Huskies (867) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (868). THE SITUATION: Washington (27-8) has won three of their last four games with their 78-61 upset victory over Utah State on Friday as a 3.5-point underdog. North Carolina (28-6) has won nine of their last ten games with their 88-73 victory over Iona on Friday as a 24.5-point favorite. This Midwest regional game is being played in Columbus, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Huskies made 49% of their shots against the Aggies which was the best shooting mark in the last five games. That was an outlier effort for this challenged team on offense — Washington ranks 109th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while also ranking 102nd in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 52.3%. Overall, the Huskies score 70.1 PPG on 45% shooting from the field — but those numbers drop to just 63.4 PPG along with a 41.0% shooting mark when playing away from home. Washington has played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And while that game finished Over the 136 point total, the Huskies have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a game that finished Over the Total. What this Washington team thrives at is playing defense as they rank 18th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Senior guard Matisse Thybulle may be the best defensive player in college basketball. Head coach Mike Hopkins was a long time assistant of Jim Boeheim at Syracuse so this team deploys a similar 2-3 matchup-zone which can be very difficult to prepare for in tournament action on the weekend with the short turn-around time. The Huskies have played 19 of their last 27 games Under the Total on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. Furthermore, Washington has played a decisive 37 of their last 55 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams outside the Pac-12. North Carolina made 46.7% of their shots over the Gaels on Friday which was the best shooting mark in their last eight games. The Tar Heels are only making 43% of their shots over their last five games. North Carolina has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. They also have played 13 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a victory by at least 15 points. The Tar Heels did control the glass against Iona as they pulled down 52 rebounds. The vulnerability of the 2-3 zone is that it leaves open space in front of the basket for offensive rebounds. Even if North Carolina gets plenty of second-chance opportunities, it helps the Under since it extends possession length. The Tar Heels have played 13 of the last 17 games Under the Total after rebounding at least 52 boards in their last contest. They have also played 15 of their last 21 games Under the Total when playing their second game in three days. What is underappreciated about this North Carolina team this season is just how good they are playing on defense. Roy Williams’ team ranks 11th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 39.2% field goal percentage. This strong defensive play has helped the Tar Heels plate 12 of their last 17 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC. Furthermore, North Carolina has played 11 of their last 16 games Under the Total on a neutral court — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: Washington will try to slow this game down to limit possessions. With the Total creeping into the 150s, expect a lower scoring game. 25* CBB NCAA Tournament Round of 32 Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Washington Huskies (867) and the North Carolina Tar Heels (868). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 12:10 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Tennessee Volunteers (860) minus the points versus the Iowa Hawkeyes (859). THE SITUATION: Tennessee (30-5) has won three of their last four games after they outlasted Colgate on Friday by a 77-70 score as a 17.5-point favorite. Iowa (23-11) comes off a 79-72 upset victory over Cincinnati on Friday as a 4-point underdog. This South regional game takes place in Columbus, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE THE VOLUNTEERS MINUS THE POINTS: It does not bother me at all that Tennessee failed to blowout a pesky Colgate team. The Volunteers have not covered the point spread in two straight games — but they have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 19 games after failing to cover the point spread in two straight games. Head coach Rick Barnes team has one of the most reliable scoring attacks in the nation because they do not rely on 3-point shooting which accounts for just 25.8% of their scoring production. Instead, the Volunteers thrive inside the arc where they make 55.7% of their shots which is 19th best in the nation. While this strategy is not “modern” basketball, it has helped this team enjoy the most efficient offense in the country when playing away from home. Tennessee will score in bunches against this Hawkeyes’ team that struggles on the defensive end of the court. Iowa ranks 110th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They also allow their opponents to make 53.6% of their shots inside the arc — and that mark rose to an ugly 54.7% mark in Big Ten play which was dead last in the conference. The Volunteers are also 6th best in the nation in Shot Volume due to leading the SEC for the lowest turnover rate while pulling down almost 32% of their missed shots. Tennessee only turned the ball over 8 times on Thursday (12.3% of their possessions) — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after not turning the ball over more than 8 times in their last game. Furthermore, the Volunteers have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games on the road against non-conference opponents — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 150s. Iowa was red-hot against a tough Bearcats defense as they shot 54.6% from the field which was the best shooting effort for them in their last 15 games. But a letdown is likely for this team as they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games after a straight-up win. And while the Hawkeyes have covered the point spread in two of their last three games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after covering the point spread in two of their last three games. Additionally, Iowa has failed to cover the point spread in 19 of their last 28 games on the road when playing their second game in seven days. The Hawkeyes have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: Iowa’s best player, Jordan Bohanan, had a nasty fall on his elbow in the waning moments in the game on Friday — he may not be at 100%. The Hawkeyes have only one senior on their roster which further places them at a disadvantage against this veteran Volunteers’ squad with six upperclassmen looking to advance to the Sweet 16 after losing in the Round of 32 last season. 10* CBB Iowa-Tennessee CBS-TV Special with the Tennessee Volunteers (860) minus the points versus the Iowa Hawkeyes (859). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:55 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Michigan State Spartans (846) minus the points versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers (845). THE SITUATION: Michigan State (29-6) has won six straight games with their 76-65 win over Bradley on Thursday as an 18-point favorite in their opening game in the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota (22-13) has won three of their last four games after they pulled the upset over Louisville on Thursday by an 86-76 score as a 5-point underdog.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SPARTANS MINUS THE POINTS: The Golden Gophers were able to win for their head coach Rick Pitino’s father after Louisville fired him for running a brothel for high school basketball recruits on campus. Minnesota is likely to experience a letdown now as they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after suffering an upset loss. The Golden Gophers have also failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 24 games after a point spread win. This is a terrible matchup for Minnesota to have to face a familiar Big Ten opponent in the second round of the tournament (one of many fundamental mistakes the committee made). The Golden Gophers made 50% of their shots against the Cardinals which was tied for the best shooting effort in their last fifteen games. They also made eleven 3-pointers in a rare outbreak of effective 3-point shooting despite their 31.5% shooting mark from behind the arc when playing away from home — that road mark ranks just 274th in the nation. Minnesota wants to get to the free throw line — they led the Big Ten with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 39.9%. But Michigan State was second in the Big Ten with an opponent’s FTA: FGA rate of 26.4%. The Golden Gophers have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s — and they have failed to covert the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State has covered the point spread in 4 straight games after a point spread loss. The Spartans have also covered the point spread in 20 of their last 27 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 16 of their last 21 games after a win by at least 10 points. Tom Izzo’s team is one of the most balanced in the country as they rank 4th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 9th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Furthermore, Sparty is 19-6-2 ATS in their last 27 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. A big weakness for this team now is their thin bench after the season-ending ankle injury to Kyle Ahrens — but the Golden Gophers are in little position to take advantage of this vulnerability as they are basically a five-player unit that only goes seven deep when necessary.

FINAL TAKE: Michigan State buried Minnesota by a 79-55 score in the lone meeting between these two teams back on February 9th. While the Gophers have revenge on their minds, they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 meetings with the Spartans. 10* CBB Minnesota-Michigan State CBS-TV Special with the Michigan State Spartans (846) minus the points versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers (845). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:55 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (845) and the Michigan State Spartans (846). THE SITUATION: Michigan State (29-6) has won six straight games with their 76-65 win over Bradley on Thursday as an 18-point favorite in their opening game in the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota (22-13) has won three of their last four games after they pulled the upset over Louisville on Thursday by an 86-76 score as a 5-point underdog. This East regional game is being played in Des Moines.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Golden Gophers made 50% of their shots against the Cardinals which was tied for the best shooting effort in their last fifteen games. They also made eleven 3-pointers in a rare outbreak of effective 3-point shooting despite their 31.5% shooting mark from behind the arc when playing away from home — that road mark ranks just 274th in the nation. Minnesota wants to get to the free throw line — they led the Big Ten with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 39.9%. But Michigan State was second in the Big Ten with an opponent’s FTA: FGA rate of 26.4%. The Gophers have seen the Under go 17-8-1 in their last 26 games after a straight-up win. Minnesota has also played 21 of their last 28 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record. Furthermore, the Gophers have played 11 of their last 18 games Under the Total played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. And in their last 13 games against fellow Big Ten opponents, Minnesota has played 9 of these games Under the Total. Michigan State has played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total against fellow Big Ten rivals. The Under is also 25-10-1 in their last 36 games after a straight-up win. Additionally, the Spartans have seen the Under go 15-5-1 in their last 21 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Furthermore, Michigan State has played 11 of their last 15 games played on a neutral court Under the Total with the number set in the 140 to 144.5 point range. And in their last 7 games played on a neutral court as a favorite laying 6.5 to 12 points.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams have played 20 of their last 27 games Under the Total. Michigan State looked tired on Thursday in their win over Bradley — and both teams have thin benches at this point of the season. The pace will likely be slow between these two familiar foes. 10* CBB Minnesota-Michigan State O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (845) and the Michigan State Spartans (846). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:10 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Gonzaga Bulldogs (852) minus the points versus the Baylor Bears (851). THE SITUATION: Gonzaga (31-3) bounced-back from their upset loss to Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference championship game with a resounding 87-49 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday to cover the whopping 28.5-point spread. Baylor (20-13) snapped a four-game losing streak on Thursday by pulling a 78-69 upset over Syracuse as a 2-point underdog. This West region showdown takes place in Salt Lake City.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLDOGS MINUS THE POINTS: Baylor was on-fire against the Orange 2-3 zone defense as they made 53.8% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last 12 games. Drawing Syracuse was fortuitous for head coach Scott Drew’s team since they often practice against the junk zone defenses he has his frequently deploy. The Orange are usually most vulnerable with that 2-3 zone against good offensive rebounding teams since that scheme leads the area around the rim open. Baylor is 2nd in the nation by pulling down 38.1% of their missed shots. But Gonzaga does a good job of protecting their defensive glass as they held their conference opponents to pull down only 25.4% of their missed shots. Expect a letdown from the Bears tonight as they are just 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after a straight-up win. This Baylor team overachieved relative to expectations — but their slump down the stretch of the season was, in large part, due not being able to keep compensating for the season-ending injury to their best player, Tristan Clark. Once their offensive rebounding is accounted for, the Bears are an average basketball team. They rank just 78th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. On offense, Baylor ranks 137th in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 51.4% — and they rank only 167th in the nation by making just 34.5% of their 3-pointers. The Bears are just 2-6-2 ATS in their last 10 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. Baylor has also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games in the NCAA Tournament under Drew. Gonzaga should dominate this game — they are one of eight teams in the nation ranked in the Top-20 in both Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency. The Bulldogs should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after a win by at least 20 points — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after a victory by at least 30 points. Additionally, the Zags have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after allowing no more than 50 points in their last contest. Gonzaga has also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games against teams with a winning record — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 straight games against non-conference opponents.

FINAL TAKE: Baylor had scored more than 1.0 Points-Per-Possession just once in their previous four games before exploding on offense against Syracuse. The Bears made 16 of 34 (47.1%) of their 3-pointers in that game while pulling down 34.6% of their missed shots. They will be hard-pressed to replicate that performance tonight. While I am not in love with laying this many points, the Zags are definitely worth an investment even laying the 14 or so points. 10* CBB Baylor-Gonzaga TBS-TV Special with the Gonzaga Bulldogs (852) minus the points versus the Baylor Bears (851). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:10 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Florida State Seminoles (840) minus the points versus the Murray State Racers (839). THE SITUATION: Murray State (28-4) pulled the upset in the Round of 64 with their 83-64 win over Marquette as a 3-point underdog on Thursday. Florida State (28-7) has won seven of their last eight games with their 76-69 victory over Vermont as an 8.5-point favorite on Thursday. This West regional game takes place in Hartford.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEMINOLES MINUS THE POINTS: Florida State got to the free throw line 37 times against the Catamounts on Thursday where they made 31 of these charity stripe shots — and Vermont was just 7 of 13 from the line themselves. That is a fantastic formula for head coach Leonard Hamilton’s team — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games after attempting at least 20 more free throws than their opponent in their last game. This Seminoles team that returned almost every important piece from last year’s group that reached the Elite Eight goes ten deep with long and athletic players. Hamilton pushes the pace on offense while pressing on defense to keep the pace high to wear out opponents. Injuries slowed this team down early in the year — but they have lost to just North Carolina and Duke since January 20th. Florida State is 8-3-2 ATS in their last 14 games played on a neutral court — and they are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the NCAA Tournament. The Seminoles will enjoy a significant advantage on the offensive glass as they pull down 33.0% of their missed shots which is 40th best in the nation. This is an area of vulnerability for the Racers — while they do a good job of moving their opponents off the 3-point line, their lack of size makes them vulnerable at the rim. Murray State allows their opponents to rebound 30.3% of their missed shots which is 265th in the nation. The Racers are a popular pick with bettors today in part because they have rewarded their backers in eight of their last ten games. But that may be Fool’s Gold now as they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after covering the point spread in eight of their last ten contests. Murray State does not rely on the 3 — they are making just 34.8% of their 3-pointers which is 149th in the nation. Led by Morant’s ability to create his own shot or dish to an open teammate, the Racers rank 5th in the nation by making 57.2% of their shots inside the arc. But Morant and this team may face their most difficult test of the season against the deep Seminoles team loaded with long and athletic defenders. Florida State is 10th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Seminoles’ defense is outstanding inside the arc as they hold their opponents to just a 46.0% field goal percentage with their 2-pointers which is 27th best in the country — and that mark lowered to a measly 41.9% clip in ACC play. Murray State makes 49.7% of their shots for the year — but Florida State has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after 15 games into the season against opponents who make at least 48% of their baskets. The Racers gave also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s.

FINAL TAKE: Morant is a superstar — but the fast pace and waves of athletic defenders that Hamilton will throw at him will likely tire him out before this game is over. 10* CBB Murray State-Florida State TNT Special with the Florida State Seminoles (840) minus the points versus the Murray State Racers (839). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:10 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Murray State Racers (839) and the Florida State Seminoles (840). THE SITUATION: Murray State (28-4) pulled the upset in the Round of 64 with their 83-64 win over Marquette as a 3-point underdog on Thursday. Florida State (28-7) has won seven of their last eight games with their 76-69 victory over Vermont as an 8.5-point favorite on Thursday. This West regional game takes place in Hartford.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Racers shocked a strong scoring team in the Golden Eagles by holding them to just 32.4% shooting from the field. While Ja Morant gets all the headlines for this team as he pushes up his NBA draft stock, what is underappreciated about this upstart mid-major is their strong half-court defense. Head coach Matt McMahon’s team ranks 18th in the nation with an opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 46.1% — and they are also 3rd in the nation with their opponents making just 28.4% of their 3-pointers. When playing away on the road or neutral courts, the Racers’ opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 45% is 6th best in the country. The Seminoles can struggle with their shooting as their effective field goal percentage of 50.5% ranks 180th in the nation — and they make only 33.4% of their 3-pointers which is 223rd in the nation. Murray State has played 17 of their last 22 games on the road Under the Total after an upset victory. The Racers have also played 5 straight games Under the Total on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or underdog of no more than 6 points. Additionally, Murray State has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after 15 games into the season against teams with a winning percentage of 80% or higher. And while the Racers made 9 of their 18 shots from behind the arc against Marquette, they have then played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after making at least 50% of their 3-pointers. Murray State does not rely on the 3 — they are making just 34.8% of their 3-pointers which is 149th in the nation. Led by Morant’s ability to create his own shot or dish to an open teammate, the Racers rank 5th in the nation by making 57.2% of their shots inside the arc. But Morant and this team may face their most difficult test of the season against the deep Seminoles team loaded with long and athletic defenders. Florida State is 10th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Seminoles’ defense is outstanding inside the arc as they hold their opponents to just a 46.0% field goal percentage with their 2-pointers which is 27th best in the country — and that mark lowered to a measly 41.9% clip in ACC play. Florida State has played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up win. And while their game with Vermont finished Over the 133 point total, they have then played 7 straight games Under the Total on the road after a game that finished Over the Total. Furthermore, the Seminoles have played 4 of their last 5 games in the NCAA Tournament Under the Total — and they have played 17 of their last 26 games Under the Total played on a neutral court with the number set in the 140s. And while Murray State outscores their opponents by +15.6 PPG, they have then played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total against teams that outscore their opponents by at least +12.0 PPG.

FINAL TAKE: Morant is a star in the making — but he will be harassed by a horde of tough defenders from Florida State who will try to coax him to rely on his teammates. The Seminoles will also struggle to score in their half court offense. 25* CBB TNT Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Murray State Racers (839) and the Florida State Seminoles (840). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:15 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Michigan Wolverines (848) minus the points versus the Florida Gators (847). THE SITUATION: Michigan (29-6) advanced to the Round of 32 on Thursday with their 74-55 win over Montana as a 15-point favorite. Florida (20-15) pulled off a 70-61 upset over Nevada on Thursday as a 3-point favorite. This West regional matchup takes place in Des Moines.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WOLVERINES MINUS THE POINTS: The Gators have been good to bettors as of late as they are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games. But Florida has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after covering the point spread in at least three of their last four games. The Gators are a Slow Giant Killer with their slow tempo combining with a great defense with crashing the offensive boards — but that profile tends to not be effective against elite defensive favorites like Michigan who control their defensive glass. Florida is 15th in the nation by forcing turnovers in 22.6% of their opponent’s possessions — but the Wolverines are 3rd in the nation by turning the ball over in just 13.3% of their possessions. And while the Gators pull down 31.2% of their missed shots (83rd in the nation), Michigan limits their opponents to rebounding only 25.3% of their missed shots (49th in the nation). That will likely leave Florida relying on taking advantage of their limited scoring opportunities since turnovers or second-chances after offensive rebounds will be limited. But this is the weakest part of the Gators’ game as they make only 49.9% of their shots inside the arc (194th in the nation) while hitting just 33.3% of their 3-pointers which is 225th in the country. Only Noah Locke out their regular rotation makes at least 36% of their shots from behind the arc — so keying on him will be a priority for the Wolverines. Michigan has the second best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation — their opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 40.7% is seventh best in the nation and they rank 5th in the nation with their opponents making only 28.7% of their 3-pointers. About 1/4 of the Gators’ possessions conclude with a spot-up jumper — so long scoring spells are highly likely this afternoon. Florida is 3-11 straight-up in the fourteen games this season where they did not score at least at a 1.00 Point-Per-Possession rate — and that spells trouble facing this Wolverines’ team that limited Big Ten opponents to just 0.94 PPP. The Gators have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games played on a neutral court as an underdog getting 3.5 to 6 points. Michigan has covered the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games after a double-digit victory. The team got 22 points from Charles Matthews who had been injured for the last few games in the regular season — so seeing him find his game again is a big boost for them on the offensive end of the court. The Wolverines have not allowed more than 65 points in four straight games — and they have then covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after not allowing more than 65 points for at least three straight games. This is a veteran group that is battle-tested in NCAA Tournament games after their run to the championship game last season. What this group has improved since last year is their free throw shooting. Michigan made 19 of 24 (79%) free throws against Montana after making 10 of 12 (83%) free throws in their loss to Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game — and they have then covered the point spread in 12 of their last 14 games after making at least 78% of their free throws in two straight games. The Wolverines are 35-15-2 ATS in their last 52 games against teams with a winning record under John Beilein. Michigan is also a decisive 41-19-4 ATS in their last 64 games when playing on a neutral court — and they are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL TAKE: Michigan lacks a definitive go-to scorer — but they have three future NBA players who can create their own shot. Too much scoring for this Gators team that will be hard-pressed to score buckets all game. 10* CBB Florida-Michigan CBS-TV Special with the Michigan Wolverines (848) minus the points versus the Florida Gators (847). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 12:10 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Maryland Terrapins (841) plus the points versus the LSU Tigers (842). THE SITUATION: Maryland (23-10) advanced to the Round of 32 on Thursday with their 79-77 victory over Belmont as a 3-point underdog. LSU (27-6) has won six of their last seven games on Thursday as they outlasted Yale by a 79-74 score as a 7-point favorite. This East regional game is being played in Jacksonville, Florida.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TERRAPINS PLUS THE POINTS: LSU held the Bulldogs to just 37.5% shooting which was tied for the best defensive effort in their last five games. Defense is not a strength for this Tigers team as they rank just 59th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. And while LSU has allowed only 29 and 25 points in the first half in their last two games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not allowing more than 30 points in the first half in their last two games. The Tigers enjoyed a 45-29 point lead at the half against Yale before letting them back into the game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after scoring at least 45 points in the first half of their last game. I was not surprised that this LSU team responded on Thursday with a victory despite the controversy regarding the suspension of their head coach, Will Wade, for apparent illegal paying of players. But the Tigers are a better team with Wade leading the way as he is an excellent court tactician in addition to being a cheater. Wade’s late-game moves have helped LSU go 5-2 in games that needed overtime to decide — and the Tigers have now won six games decided in regulation by 5 points or less. A few bad breaks going the other way and this team has another four to six losses on the record. Now LSU faces this young Maryland team that matches up very well against them. The Tigers thrive inside the paint in both scoring and offensive rebounding. LSU averages 38.6 points per game inside the paint — and they generated 1090 shots inside the restricted area entering the tournament. But the Terrapins have two intimidating rim protectors in Bruno Fernando and Jalen Smith who help the Terrapins limit their opponents to just a 44.8% shooting percentage inside the arc. The Tigers rank 5th in the nation by pulling down 37.2% of their missed shots — but Maryland limits their opponents to rebounding only 24.8% of their missed shots which ranks 35th in the nation. LSU also generated 22% of their points by getting to the free throw line: they ranked 48th in the nation with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 37.9%. But the Terrapins do not put their opponents on the line — they rank 24th in the nation with an opponent’s FTA: FGA ratio of 26.7%. But the Tigers struggle to generate points from the outside as they make only 32.1% of their 3-pointers (286th in the nation) which results in only 25.2% of their overall points coming from behind the arc. LSU is just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on a neutral court — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 18 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. Maryland has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after a point spread loss — and they have also covered the point scored in 4 straight games when playing their second game in three days on the road. And while the Terrapins have failed to cover the point spread in their last two games, they have then covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after not covering the point spread in two straight contests. Maryland’s head coach, Mark Turgeon, is one of the best in the business — he gives the Terps a significant sideline edge in this game versus LSU’s interim head coach Tony Benford. Don’t be surprised if Turgeon has his team play zone defenses to dare the Tigers to shoot from the outside. While the Terrapins are the fourth youngest team in the nation, they are one of the most balanced teams in the country as they rank 26th in the nation in both Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency. With Fernando and Smith crashing the glass, Maryland ranks 25th in the nation by pulling down 34.0% of their missed shots — and they should have a field day against this Tigers team that allows their opponents to rebound 30.2% of their missed shots (263rd in the nation). The Terrapins are also a dangerous underdog because they nailed 36.2% of their 3-pointers which was second best in the Big Ten. The Terrapins are led by a dynamic scoring point guard in Anthony Cowan. They have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or underdog of no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: I was worried about Maryland getting by Belmont in their opening game given their inexperience — but they become dangerous now that they have a tournament win under the belt of the six freshman in their rotation. The Terrapins match up very well against this LSU team. Don’t be surprised if they pull the upset — but take the points for some insurance. 10* CBB Maryland-LSU CBS-TV Special with the Maryland Terrapins (841) plus the points versus the LSU Tigers (842). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:57 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Virginia Tech Hokies (824) minus the points versus the Saint Louis Billikens (823). THE SITUATION: Virginia Tech (24-8) enters the NCAA Tournament looking to bounce-back from their 65-63 upset loss in overtime to Florida State last Thursday in the ACC Tournament. Saint Louis (23-12) has won four straight games to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament after their 55-53 upset win over St. Bonaventure as a 2-point underdog last Sunday. This East regional matchup takes place in San Jose, California.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HOKIES MINUS THE POINTS: Virginia Tech should bounce-back tonight as they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after an upset loss. The Hokies will see their starting lineup jumpstarted with the likely return of their point guard Justin Robinson who has been out with an injury since January 31st. Virginia Tech was just 7-5 without Robinson while going 17-3 to start the season with him running the offense. The four-year starter averaged 13.7 PPG while making 41.1% of his 3-point shots. He may be a bit rusty for this game — but this team did develop an effective identity without him with big man Kerry Blackshear developing into a go-to scorer down-low while averaging 14.7 PPG. Over the last month, the Hokies have only lost to Florida State with both setbacks needing overtime. Virginia Tech has the nation’s 11th best offense in terms of Adjusted Offensive Efficiency along with the 24th best defense in Adjusted Efficiency even without Robinson for twelve games. They have held their last two opponents to no more than 65 points — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after not allowing more than 65 points in two straight games. The Hokies have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games against non-conference opponents — and they have also covered the point spread in 10 of their last 11 games played on a neutral court as a favorite in the 6.5 to 12 point range. Saint Louis won Arch Madness by winning four games in four days while pulling three straight upsets against Dayton, Davidson, and then the Bonnies in the championship game. This team has limited depth with just a seven-man rotation used by head coach Travis Ford — and four players average more than 30 minutes per game. This team may simply be gassed traveling to San Jose to play their fifth game in nine days. The Billikens have covered the point spread in three straight games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after covering at least three of their last four contests. They have held their last two opponents to only a 33.9% and a 25.9% shooting percentage — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after not allowing their last two opponents make at least 37% of their shots. While this Saint Louis team crashes the offensive glass, they may not have enough offense to offer a serious threat to pull this upset. They average only 65.4 PPG while ranking 205th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They make only 30.8% of their 3-pointers which is 327th in the nation — and they convert just 59.8% of their free throws which is 352nd in the country. Their only win against an NCAA Tournament team was against Seton Hall (who has already been eliminated). Saint Louis has also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games played on a neutral court as an underdog getting 6.5 to 12 points.

FINAL TAKE: It was a great run for the Billikens to pull off three upset wins to win the Missouri Valley — but that effort will probably take its toll now on a balanced and quality Hokies’ opponent. 10* CBB Friday Late Show Bailout with the Virginia Tech Hokies (824) minus the points versus the Saint Louis Billikens (823). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Wisconsin Badgers (826) minus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (825). Wisconsin (23-10) saw their four-game winning streak snapped last Saturday in a 67-55 loss in the Semifinals of the Big Ten tournament to Michigan State as a 5.5-point underdog. Oregon (23-12) has won eight straight games after their 68-48 victory over Washington last Saturday as a 2-point favorite to win the Pac-12 tournament. This South regional game is being played in San Jose.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BADGERS MINUS THE POINTS: The Ducks are a very trendy pick in this game with many bettors discovering the continued improvement of Dana Altman’s team this season. Careful observers should have realized that this Oregon team changed their identity entering the Pac-12 season (after enduring some tough injuries especially to Bol Bol who suffered a season-ending foot injury) as Altman had his team deploy more full-court presses to create more offensive opportunities. The Ducks forced turnovers in 20.9% of their opponent’s possessions (50th in the nation) — and that number rose to a 21.9% mark in Pac-12 play. But this is a terrible draw for this strategy this afternoon as this Badgers’ team is very stingy with the basketball as they turn the ball over unjust 14.4% of their possessions which is 8th best in the country. Oregon enters this tournament as one of the hottest teams in college basketball — but let's remember that their wins were against suspect Pac-12 competition. I expect a big emotional letdown for this team now. They made 52.5% of their shots in their victory over Washington which was the best shooting mark in their last 12 games. The six-day break will likely cool off this team as they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when playing with a five or six-day break between games. And while the Ducks made 20 of their 22 free throws (91%) against the Huskies, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after making at least 88% of their free throws in their last game. This team will not get to the line 22 times today as the Badgers do not foul — they rank 20th in the nation with an opponent’s Free Throw Attempt to Field Goal Attempt ratio of 25.9%. This is a subpar scoring group that Altman has this season as they rank 108th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and just 8th in the Pac-12 in Adjusted Efficiency despite it being a down year for the conference. The Ducks usually do not get to the free throw line either as they ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in FTA: FGA ratio. Their 51.7% effective field goal percentage ranked 126th in the nation — and their offensive rebounding was just 7th in the Pac-12. Most of the Pac-12 teams are playing some version of a zone defense — so the tight man-to-man defense that the Badgers deploy will be a challenging look for them. Wisconsin plays outstanding defense — they rank 3rd in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency while also ranking 9th in the nation with an opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 44%. The Badgers hold their opponents to only 61.4 PPG along with a 39.3% field goal percentage. Altman’s teams tend to struggle against elite defensive opponents. Oregon has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG. The Ducks have held their last five opponents to no better than a 40% field goal percentage — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after not allowing at least their last four opponents to a 40% or less field goal percentage. Wisconsin makes 45.8% of their shots on offense — and Oregon has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after 15 games into the season against balanced teams who make at least 45% of their shots while holding their opponents to no better than 42% shooting from the field. The Badgers played one of their worst games of the season against the Spartans last Saturday (our Big Ten Tourney Game of the Year on Michigan State) as they shot just 35.3% while allowing Sparty to make 43.4% of their shots. That was Wisconsin’s worst shooting effort in ten games — and while that was not a bad defensive effort, per se, it was the highest field goal percentage they had allowed an opponent to make in their last eight contests. The Badgers made only 2 of their 19 (11%) of their shots from behind the arc in that game — and they have then covered the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games after not making more than 20% of their 3-pointers. Wisconsin has not covered the point spread in four of their last six games — but they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after failing to cover the point spread in four or five of their last six contests. And in their last 8 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite of no more than 6 points, the Badgers have covered the point spread 5 times.

FINAL TAKE: Wisconsin usually imposes their slow grinding pace on to their opponents. They are the more battle-tested team having played Virginia and Oklahoma in their non-conference schedule before battling Big Ten opponents in a 20-game schedule. The Badgers have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after 15 games into the season against teams with a winning percentage in the 60-80% range. And this Wisconsin team’s style frustrated the Ducks in the Round of 32 in both the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Tournaments. 25* CBB NCAA Tourney Round of 64 Game of the Year with the Wisconsin Badgers (826) minus the points versus the Oregon Ducks (825). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:00 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Arizona State Sun Devils (817) plus the points versus the Buffalo Bulls (818). THE SITUATION: Arizona State (23-10) has won four of their last five games with their 74-65 win over St. John’s on Wednesday as a 1.5-point favorite in the last First Four opening round game in the NCAA Tournament. Buffalo (31-3) has won twelve straight games after winning the Mid-American Conference championship game with their 87-73 blowout win over Bowling Green last Saturday as an 11-point favorite. This West regional game takes place on a neutral court in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SUN DEVILS: These 11 seeds that earn their way into the Round of 64 after winning a First Four game in Dayton can often be dangerous underdogs. Arizona State held the Red Storm to just a 31.9% field goal percentage — and they have covered the point spread in 5 straight games after a game where they did not allow their opponent to make more than 33% of their shots. Head coach Bobbie Hurley’s team is playing its best basketball right now. They are shooting 46.1% from the field over their last five games while holding their opponents to just a 39.5% shooting mark — and both those numbers are better than their 44.7% and 40.9% offensive and defensive marks for the season. The Sun Devils’ ability to get to the free throw line should keep them competitive in this game. Arizona State ranks 3rd in the nation with a Free Throw Attempt-to-Field Goal Attempt ratio of 44.2% — and they do not experience much of a drop off when playing away from as that number remains at a 42.1% FTA: FGA ratio when playing on the road or on a neutral court which is the 4th highest rate in the nation. Buffalo plays at a fast pace — but this aggressiveness does lead to them fouling more. They ranked 9th in the Pac-12 with an opponent’s FTA: FGA ratio of 33.5%. The Sun Devils are 17-7-1 ATS in their last 25 games against teams outside the Pac-12 — and they are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games played on a neutral court. Additionally, Arizona State has covered the point spread in 6 straight games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 150s. The Bulls make 46.3% of their shots from the field — but the Sun Devils have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games against teams who make at least 45% of their shots. This team is inconsistent as they tend to play up or down to their competition. But Hurley has seen his team cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have covered the point spread in 4 straight games against teams with a winning percentage over 80%. Buffalo is a very intriguing mid-major — but I worry about these teams when they have the weight of higher expectations while laying the points (see Nevada from last night). The Bulls have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games after a double-digit win over a conference rival. And while Buffalo has scored at least 82 points in five straight games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after scoring at least 80 points in three straight games. The Bulls have also failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games after winning at least eight straight contests. Buffalo tended too thrive at home where they put up monster numbers that prop up the metrics that helped create the line where they are laying 4 to 5 points. But they experience the 294th biggest dropoff in overall efficiency when playing on the road versus their numbers when playing at home. The Bulls’ defense has been vulnerable against effective Pick-n-Roll offensive schemes — and they ranked just 129th in the nation in Points-Per-Possession when executing their half-court offense. Furthermore, Buffalo has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after 15 games into the season against teams with a winning percentage over 60%.

FINAL TAKE: The Bulls faced the 121st most difficult schedule this season and the last time they faced a power conference opponent was three months ago when Marquette buried them by a 103-85 score. Buffalo’s only victory against an NCAA Tournament team was a win at Syracuse. The Sun Devils, on the other hand, have defeated Kansas, Washington, Mississippi State, and Utah State this season. Expect a close game where grabbing the points will be valuable. 10* CBB Arizona State-Buffalo TNT Special with the Arizona State Sun Devils (817) plus the points versus the Buffalo Bulls (818). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:20 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the Villanova Wildcats (758) minus the points versus the Saint Mary’s Gaels (757). THE SITUATION: Villanova (25-9) followed up their Big East regular season championship by winning the Big East tournament with their 74-72 win over Seton Hall last Saturday as a 4-point favorite. Saint Mary’s (22-11) won the West Coast Conference tournament back on March 12th with their 60-47 upset win over Gonzaga as a 14.5-point underdog. The Wildcats enjoy a geographical edge with this game being played on a neutral court in Hartford.

REASONS TO TAKE VILLANOVA MINUS THE POINTS: This play is primarily a bet against the Gaels who are only 2-6 straight-up against NCAA Tournament teams. After getting blown out by Gonzaga by a combined 62 points in their first two meetings with that team, they slayed their dragon by playing their best game of the season. But I expect a big emotional letdown for this team who would have likely not made the NCAA Tournament without that upset victory. As it is, the Gaels have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after an upset victory by double-digits. Saint Mary’s is also just 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games after not allowing more than 50 points in their last contest. And while the Gaels have covered the point spread in four of their last five games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games on the road after covering the point spread in four or five of their last six games. This team is really well-coached by Randy Bennett — but this is rebuilding year after losing five of their top seven players from last year’s team. And this group has one glaring characteristic that is different than past Bennett teams at Saint Mary’s: they do not share the basketball. After finishing 8th in the nation two seasons ago in assist rate, this group averages under 11 Assists-Per-Game while ranking 271st in the nation by assisting on only 37.9% of their opponent’s possessions. Villanova lost four starters from last year’s National Championship team — but after hitting rock bottom with a 27-point rematch against Michigan and then a shocking upset loss to (a good) Furman team, head coach Jay Wright rallied his team to win the Big East. The Wildcats are playing their best basketball right now as they have won three straight games as well as five of their last six contests. That bodes well for them now as they have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 14 games after a win where they failed to cover the point spread — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after winning three straight games against conference opponents. Villanova launches tons of 3s — they rank 4th in then nation with 53.5% of their shots coming from downtown. The Gaels’ defend the 3-ball well — but what is under appreciated about the Wildcats’ approach is that all these 3-point attempts are enhanced by their high shot volume rate. Villanova ranks 12th in the nation in Shot Volume because they only turn the ball over in 15.1% of their possessions while pulling down 29.1% of the missed shots. I also expect the Wildcats’ 2-3 zone and 1-2-2 press defensive looks to wreak havoc with this Saint Mary’s team that faces a zone defense in only 78 possessions all season! Wright’s embrace of position-less basketball also allows his team to easily switch on defense. There is a reason his teams have covered the point spread in 13 of their last 16 games in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova has also covered the point spread in 17 of their last 21 games played on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in a decisive 35 of their last 51 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%.

FINAL TAKE: This is a strange situation because many of the analytics projections predict Villanova winning by as low as one point which is wildly disparate from oddsmakers that have this line as high as 6 points for the Wildcats. I do not think this is because the defending champions are a public team. The Gaels play at a slow pace but so too does Villanova so they will be comfortable. I think the oddsmakers have identified a fundamental mismatch that I happen to agree with. 20* CBB Saint Mary’s-Villanova TBS-TV Special with the Villanova Wildcats (758) minus the points versus the Saint Mary’s Gaels (757). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 2:45 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Bradley Braves (775) and the Michigan State Spartans (776). THE SITUATION: Bradley (20-14) won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with their 57-54 win over Northern Iowa as a 2-point favorite back on March 10th. Michigan State (28-6) has won five straight games after they won the Big Ten tournament last Sunday with their 65-60 upset win over Michigan as a 1-point underdog. This Eastern regional game is being played on a neutral court in Des Moines.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Braves eked out this game despite scoring a mere 4 points in the last ten minutes of the first half against the Panthers. Bradley has scored only 15 and 25 points in the first half of their last two games — and they have then played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after not scoring more than 30 points in the first half in two straight games. The Braves are in the bottom third in the nation in Offensive Efficiency as their Adjusted Offensive Efficiency ranks 244th in the nation. While they did finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference in offensive rebounding, they only pulled down 26.3% of their missed shots. They also rank 300th in the nation by making only 46.7% of their shots inside the arc. This spells huge trouble against a Spartans team that is third in the nation by limiting their opponents to just a 41.3% shooting percentage inside the arc. Bradley is not likely to have much success shooting from outside either as Sparty limited their Big Ten opponents to just a 30.5% mark from behind the arc. Over their last five games, the Braves scored only 61.2 PPG. But this Bradley team plays solid defense as they ranked fourth in the MVC in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they led the conference with an opponent’s effective field goal percentage of 47.7%. The Braves held their last five opponents to just a 38.7% shooting clip with their last three opponents scoring no more than 58 points. Bradley has played 6 straight games Under the Total after not allowing more than 60 points in at least two straight games. Overall, the Braves have an opponent’s field goal percentage of 41.1% — and Michigan State has played 15 of their last 18 games Under the Total on the road against teams that do not allow their opponents to make more than 42% of their shots. Bradley has played 14 of their last 18 games Under the Total after 15 games into the season against teams with a winning percentage over 80%. The Braves have also played 24 of their last 32 games Under the Total — and this includes the playing nine of their last ten games Under the Total on a neutral court. Michigan State has seen the Under go 25-9-1 in their last 35 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is also 18-7-1 in their last 26 games after a point spread victory. Furthermore, the Spartans have played 10 of their last 13 games Under the Total after not allowing more than 60 points in their last game. This Michigan State team ranks 8th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. And while the Spartans also score 78.8 PPG, Bradley has played 11 of their last 12 games Under the Total against teams who score at least 77 PPG. The Spartans have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: I lean to Michigan State to win in this game but I consider it Fool’s Gold to lay close to 20 points — especially in the NCAA Tournament. The Under is the far better play in this situation. A big challenge Tom Izzo now has is managing his thin bench after the season-ending injury to Kyle Ahrens in the Big Ten championship game leaving the team with only two reliable bench players. Don’t be surprised when Izzo has his team take their foot off the gas pedal to conserve energy for their next game on Saturday. 20* CBB Bradley-Michigan State CBS-TV O/U Special with Under the Total in the game between the Bradley Braves (775) and the Michigan State Spartans (776). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 12:15 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (773) and the Louisville Cardinals (774). THE SITUATION: Minnesota (21-13) enters the NCAA Tournament looking to bounce-back from a 76-49 loss to Michigan in the Semifinals of the Big Ten tournament last Saturday as a 9-point underdog. Louisville (20-13) has lost two of their last three games with their 83-70 loss to North Carolina last Thursday as a 7-point underdog. This East regional game is being played in Des Moines, Iowa.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Head coach Rick Pitino should have his team play tough defense after they allowed the Wolverines to make 51.6% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last ten games. The Golden Gophers have played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Additionally, Minnesota has played 5 straight games Under the Total after a loss by at least 20 points. And while that game with Michigan finished below the 131 point total, the Golden Gophers have played 15 of their last 21 games Under the Total on the road after a game that finished Under the Total. Pitino has this team playing better defense to close out the regular season (despite getting stung by Michigan). They have held their last five opponents to just a 42.9% field goal percentage — and those last five opponents made just 32.8% of their shots from behind the arc. Overall, Minnesota has the 40th best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the nation. But this team can struggle to score points especially on the road where they make only 40.7% of their shots which translates into just 63.6 PPG which is over 7 PPG below their season average. The Golden Gophers have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage below 60% — and they have played 13 of their last 19 games Under the Total as an underdog. Louisville has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a loss to a conference rival — and they have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a point spread loss. First-year head coach Chris Miller has this team playing a tough pack-line defense that has the Cardinals ranked 16th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Louisville will be protecting the rim in this game and daring this Gophers team that makes just 32.1% of their 3-pointers (285th in the nation) to shooting from the outside. The Cardinals have held their last five opponents to just a 37.5% shooting percentage. But Louisville is only making 40.3% of their shots over that span. This team can struggle versus zone defenses that Pitino may have his team deploy at times. The Cardinals rely heavily on 3-point shooting as 43.7% of their shots from the field come from downtown (55th in the nation). But Minnesota defense the perimeter well as they ranked 27th in the nation by limiting their opponents to taking just 33.7% of their shots from behind the arc (27th in the nation) — and only 29.1% of their opponent's points come from 3s. Furthermore, Louisville has played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total against teams outside the ACC.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams play a little slower than the national average of 17.5 seconds per possession. Look for Minnesota to play very physical against this Louisville team that is small and can be a bit soft. This should be a grinding low-scoring game to open the Round of 64. 25* CBB NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers (773) and the Louisville Cardinals (774). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils (713) and the St. John’s Red Storm (714). THE SITUATION: St. John’s (21-12) limps into the NCAA Tournament having lost four of their last five games after their 86-54 loss to Marquette in the Big East tournament last Thursday as a 4-point underdog. Arizona State (22-10) saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 79-75 loss in overtime to Oregon as a 3-point favorite in the Pac-12 tournament. This First Four game is being played on a neutral court in Dayton, Ohio. 

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: Arizona State has played 9 of their last 13 games Over the Total after a loss by 6 points or less. The Sun Devils are playing their third game since last Thursday which could lead to tired legs on defense — and they have played 10 of their last 11 games Over the Total when playing their third game in seven days. Arizona State plays at a quick pace — they averaged 16.3 seconds per possession which was the second fastest in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils average 77.8 PPG on offense. They also draw plenty of fouls which tends to help the Over since it allows for points to be scored when the clock is stopped. Arizona State’s opponents have committed at least 23 personal fouls in three straight games — and they have then played 9 of their last 14 games Over the Total after seeing their opponent commit at least 22 personal fouls in two straight contests. The Sun Devils also foul their opponent in bunches — they ranked 301st in the nation with an opponent’s Free Throw Attempt to Field Goal Attempt ratio of 38.6% with that mark rising to a 39.6% clip in Pac-12 play. When playing away from home, this Arizona State foul rate rises even more to a 41.2% mark. St. John’s made 74.0% of their free throws in Big East play so they have a great potential to generate plenty of points from the line. Additionally, the Sun Devils have played 7 of their last 10 games Over the Total when playing on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or a favorite of no more than 3 points. St. John’s has played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Over the Total after a point spread victory. And while the Red Storm has failed to cover the point spread in four of their last five games, they have then played 6 of their last 9 games Over the Total after failing to cover the point spread in four of their last five games. Chris Mullin’s team will be happy to engage in Arizona State’s pace as they played at the twelfth fastest tempo in the nation by averaging just 15.4 seconds per possession. St. John’s average 77.5 PPG. The Red Storm have played 10 of their last 14 games Over the Total against non-conference opponents. They also have played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total on a neutral court — and they have played 8 of their last 10 games Over the Total as a pick ‘em or an underdog of no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: Both these teams score over 77 PPG despite having effective field goal percentages outside the Top-100 in the nation. With both teams playing fast with likely plenty of free throw attempts for both sides and with small-ball lineups likely to be deployed (St. John’s plays four guards in their starting lineup), expect a higher scoring game. 10* CBB Arizona State-St.John’s tru-TV Special with Over the Total in the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils (713) and the St. John’s Red Storm (714). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the St. John’s Red Storm (714) plus the points versus the Arizona State Sun Devils (713). THE SITUATION: St. John’s (21-12) limps into the NCAA Tournament having lost four of their last five games after their 86-54 loss to Marquette in the Big East tournament last Thursday as a 4-point underdog. Arizona State (22-10) saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 79-75 loss in overtime to Oregon as a 3-point favorite in the Pac-12 tournament. This First Four game is being played on a neutral court in Dayton, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE THE RED STORM PLUS THE POINTS: St. John’s was the last team to make the NCAA Tournament — and considering that they have lost twelve of their last twenty-one games, it is easy to understand why bettors are scared-off this team. But the blank slate of the NCAA Tournament can often serve as a great elixir to break out of a losing streak — and rid the stench from a bad loss. The Red Storm has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a point spread setback. Additionally, St. John’s has covered the point spread in 33 of their last 45 games when playing on the road after a loss by at least 25 points — and they have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after a loss by at least 30 points. Furthermore, head coach Chris Mullin’s team has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 13 games after losing five or six of their last seven contests. They shot just 32.8% from the field against the Golden Eagles which was the worst shooting effort for them all season. The Red Storm made the Big Dance because they have accrued impressive wins against other NCAA Tournament teams in Villanova, Seton Hall, VCU, and Marquette twice. This team will have the best player on the court in Shamorie Ponds who is averaging 19.5 PPG along with 5.2 Assists-Per-Game — and he makes 81% of his free throws. Ponds has a very favorable defensive matchup tonight as he will likely be guarded by sophomore Remy Martin. I think the charity stripe plays a big role in tonight’s contest. The Sun Devils foul in bunches — they ranked 301st in the nation with an opponent’s Free Throw Attempt to Field Goal Attempt ratio of 38.6% with that mark rising to a 39.6% clip in Pac-12 play. When playing away from home, this Arizona State foul rate rises even more to a 41.2% mark. St. John’s made 74.0% of their free throws in Big East play so they have a great potential to generate plenty of points from the line. The Red Storm should also create additional scoring opportunities by forcing turnovers as they were second in the conference by forcing turnovers in 19.2% of their opponent’s possessions — and the Sun Devils turn the ball over in 19.1% of their conference possessions which ranked 8th. Additionally, St. John’s has struggled against bigger teams this season which makes sense since the tallest player in their rotation is 6’7. But while head coach Bobby Hurley like to play two bigs in his lineup, Arizona State does not have a player taller than 6’8 in their regular rotation. Mullin usually has his team roll out four guards to spread the court to give space for Ponds to create his own shot — and I suspect this scheme will dictate how the Sun Devils then play. Arizona State has won six of their last eight games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after winning six or seven of their last eight contests. This is the second year in a row that this team is playing in Dayton in the First Four but this group for Hurley has four new starters from last year’s group. Yet the Sun Devils have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games in first round of a tournament. This Arizona State team has been wildly inconsistent with bad losses to Vanderbilt, Princeton, and Washington State. They tend to struggle when forced into their half-court offense as their top two scorers, Martin and freshman Luguentz Dort, both shot under 41% from the field and just 33% from behind the arc. Much of the team’s offense comes in transition as they forced turnovers in 19.3% of their Pac-12 opponent’s possessions. But with their four guards, this Red Storm is very protective of the basketball as they are 6th in the nation by turning the ball over in just 14.1% of their possessions. The Sun Devils’ effective field goal rate of 50.8% ranks just 168th in the nation. Arizona State is going to get to the free throw line tonight — but they only make 67.1% of their shots from the charity stripe which ranks 310th in the nation. This team also allowed their Pac-12 opponents to make 48% of their shots from the field.

FINAL TAKE: Arizona State comes out of a weak Pac-12 this season — and they are just 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games against teams outside the Pac-12. St. John’s opportunity to redeem themselves from a disappointing beginning to March while also having the best player on the court in Ponds should make the difference. 25* CBB NCAA Tourney First Four Game of the Year with the St. John’s Red Storm (714) plus the points versus the Arizona State Sun Devils (713). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:40 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the North Carolina Central (715) plus the points versus the North Dakota State Bison (716). NC-Central (18-15) has won six of their last seven games after their 50-47 upset win over Norfolk State last Saturday as a 4.5-point underdog to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. North Dakota State (18-15) has won four straight games with their 73-63 upset win over Nebraska-Omaha as a 3.5-point underdog last Tuesday to win the Summit League tournament. The First Four games are played on a neutral court at the University of Dayton.

REASONS TO TAKE NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL PLUS THE POINTS: This Eagles team will not be intimated by the big stage in Dayton with this being their third straight appearance in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. NC Central is led by one of the most underrated head coaches in the nation in LeVelle Moton. They have a balanced attack with five players scoring at least 8.5 PPG. Led by the 6’9 Raasean Davis, this team pounds the offensive glass as they rank 21st in the nation by pulling down 34.6% of their missed shots. Strong rebounding teams have tended to fare well against the Bison. The Eagles average +5.5 Rebounds-Per-Game versus their opponents — and North Dakota State has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games against teams that average at least +4.0 RPG. NC Central struggles when they start turning the ball over — they rank 343rd in the nation by turning the ball over in 22.9% of their possessions. But the Bison do not go for steals as they place a higher priority on defending the 3-point line and playing fundamental man-to-man defense. North Dakota State forces turnovers in just 14.6% of their opponent’s possessions which is 7th lowest in the nation. The Bison thrive by launching 3s as they execute a slower-paced version of the Golden State Warriors attack. North Dakota State ranks 10th in the nation with 48.2% of their shot attempts are from behind the arc. Moton’s team does a great job of defending the perimeter. Their opponents make just 31.5% of their shots from behind the arc which is 36th best in the nation — and that mark improved to just 30.4% mark in conference play. The Eagles also do a good job of limiting 3-point attempts: their opponents only take 34.0% of their shots from downtown which is the 35th lowest mark in the nation — and only 26.7% of their opponent’s points come from 3-pointers which is the 25th stingiest amount in the country. North Dakota State has failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 16 games on the road after winning at least two straight games. This is a team that has also failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 23 games with the Total set in the 130s. Additionally, this Bison program is just 10-26-1 ATS in their last 37 games against non-conference opponents. Davis could have a big night down low as North Dakota State allows their opponents to 1.11 Points-Per-Possession via Post-Ups which is in the top percentile for highest PPP allowed. And while NC Central outscores their opponents by +5.1 PPG, the Bison have failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 21 games against teams that are outscoring their opponents by at least +4.0 PPG.

FINAL TAKE: North Dakota is probably not in the Big Dance if South Dakota State was not upset in the first round of the Summit League. I expect this to be a close game with the experience of this Eagles team in this game along with their good coaching playing big roles. 10* CBB NC Central-North Dakota State tru-TV Special with the North Carolina Central (715) plus the points versus the North Dakota State Bison (716). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 11:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Colorado Buffaloes (692) minus the points versus the Dayton Flyers (691). THE SITUATION: Colorado (21-12) saw their five-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 66-61 loss to Washington as a 2.5-point underdog in the Pac-12 tournament. Dayton (21-11) lost last Friday in the Atlantic 10 tournament to St. Louis by a 64-55 score despite being a 4-point favorite. Colorado hosts this first round game as the higher four seed.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BUFFALOES MINUS THE POINTS: This Colorado was a young team this season with a core of sophomores who were starters last year in McKinley Wright IV, Tyler Bey, and Dallas Walton. This team played its basketball in the last month of the season for head coach Tad Boyle as they have won ten of their last thirteen contests. They return home to host this game where they are 13-3 with an average winning margin of +12.2 PPG. The Buffaloes score 80.4 PPG on their home court while making 49.1% of their shots from the field. They also hold their visitors to just 42.9% shooting from the field. Colorado usually retains a significant home-court edge against teams from the midwest and east since they are not familiar with playing in the higher altitude. The Buffaloes have covered the point spread in 21 of their last 31 games on the road home court — and this includes them covering the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games at home. They have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 home games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on the road. This team continues to improve on the defensive end of the court as they have held their last five opponents to just a 37.0% shooting percentage. Colorado has held their last three opponents to a 39.6%., 34.0%, and 34.0% shooting percentages — and they have then covered the point spread in 7 straight home games after not allowing their last three opponents to make more than 40% of their shots from the field. The Buffaloes should thrive on the boards in this game against this Flyers dream that ranked 12th in the Atlantic 10 conference by allowing their opponents to pull down 29.1% of their missed shots. Colorado was 4th in the Pac-12 by rebounding 30.2% of their missed shots. The Buffaloes have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Dayton has overachieved late in the season by covering the point spread in five of their last seven games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 28 of their last 41 games after covering the point spread in five or six of their last seven games. Furthermore, the Flyers have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games against non-conference opponents. Dayton thrives by making shots inside the arc where they rank 6th in the nation with 57.6% of their points coming from 2-pointers. But the Flyers struggle against good shooting opponents. The Buffaloes make 45.6% of their shots overall — and Dayton has failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after 15 games into the season against teams who make at least 45% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: The Flyers are a physical team — but I don’t like how that will translate in the thin air against this Buffaloes team that steadily improved this season. Look for Colorado to pull away in this game. 25* CBB NIT First Round Game of the Year with the Colorado Buffaloes (692) minus the points versus the Dayton Flyers (691). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Temple Owls (672) plus the points versus the Belmont Bruins (671). THE SITUATION: Belmont (26-5) was upset in the Finals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament back on March 9th by a 77-65 score as a 2-point favorite. Temple (23-9) saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 80-74 upset loss to Wichita State as a 1.5-point favorite. The First Four games take place on a neutral court in Dayton, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE THE OWLS PLUS THE POINTS: It is an uncommon occurrence for two teams to be meeting in their opening game in the NCAA Tournament coming off an upset loss. This Temple team under the veteran head coach Fran Dunphy typically responds better to adversity. The Owls have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after an upset loss — and they have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after allowing at least 80 points in their last game. Temple made only 39.1% of their shots in their loss to the Shockers on Friday which was the worst shooting effort in their last four games. The Owls has the third best Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in the AAC while averaging 74.8 PPG for the year. Their trio of starting guards, Shizz Alston, Jr., Quinton Rose, and Nate Pierre-Louis combined to average 49.5 PPG together. Temple is a team that struggles against teams that attack the rim to draw fouls: in four of their last five losses, they allowed their opponent to attempt at least 30 free throws. But that is not a characteristic of this Bruins team that shoots the ball quite well but who do not draw fouls. Belmont ranks 300th in the nation with a Free Throw Attempt to Field Goal Attempt ratio of just 28.1% — and they have not attempted more than 28 free throws in eleven straight contests. The Owls should find success with their trio of guards pressuring the basketball to force turnovers — they ranked 55th in the nation by forcing turnovers in 20.8% of their opponent’s possessions. And Temple does a great job in defending the perimeter as they led the American Athletic Conference with their opponents making just 29.6% of their 3-point shots. The Owls finished 3rd themselves in their conference by making 35.3% of their 3-point shots — and this Bruins team allowed their OVC opponents to make 36.4% of their shots from behind the arc which was 9th in the conference. Furthermore, Temple has covered the point spread in higher-scoring games with the Total set in the 150s when playing on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games in tournament action. Belmont has failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 25 games when attempting to bounce-back from an upset loss — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after an upset loss by at least 10 points. This Bruins team sacrifices crashing the offensive glass for getting back on defense — they rank second-to-last in the Ohio Valley Conference by pulling down only 25.2% of their missed shots. But they were out-rebounded by a 46 to 31 margin — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after being out-rebounded by at least 15 boards. Head coach Rick Byrd’s team thrives when playing up-tempo and sharing the basketball. They average 64 shot attempts per game while assisting on 20 baskets per game and enjoying a team field goal percentage of 49.9%. But these are the kind of teams that Dunphy’s teams typically perform better against since his trio of athletic guards get more opportunities to shine. Temple has covered the point spread in 10 of their last 12 games against teams that average at least 16 Assists-Per-Game — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams that launch at least 62 shots per game. The Owls have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams who make at least 48% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: This Belmont team fits the profile of Byrd’s past teams that have made the big dance — yet they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 NCAA Tournament games. This is Dunphy’s final season coaching college basketball — and I expect an inspired effort from his team. This is a nice underdog play with a Temple team that defeated Houston and Central Florida this year. 10* CBB Belmont-Temple Tru-TV Special with the Temple Owls (672) plus the points versus the Belmont Bruins (671). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Belmont Bruins (671) and the Temple Owls (672). THE SITUATION: Belmont (26-5) was upset in the Finals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament back on March 9th by a 77-65 score as a 2-point favorite. Temple (23-9) saw their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday with their 80-74 upset loss to Wichita State as a 1.5-point favorite. The First Four games take place on a neutral court in Dayton, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Bruins shot only 39.1% from the field which was the worst field goal percentage for them in their last 15 games — their second-lowest shooting mark over that span was much higher at 47.3%). This uber-efficient Belmont team is 3rd in the nation with an effective field goal percentage of 57.8%. They execute Houston Rockets offensive basketball by shunning midrange jump shots for 3-pointers or shots at the rim: they are 2nd in the nation with a 59.5% shooting percentage inside the arc while also averaging 10.5 made 3-pointers per game. They also play at a fast pace as their 15.9 seconds per possession average is the 29th fastest in the nation — and that tempo increased in conference play where they averaged 15.2 seconds per possession. This up-tempo attack generated 64 shot attempts per game — and the Owls have played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total against teams that average at least 62 shots per game. The Bruins have played 9 of their last 12 games Over the Total after a double-digit loss — and they have played 6 of their last 9 games Over the Total after an upset loss by at least 10 points. And while Belmont has still covered the point spread in five of their last seven games, they have then played 19 of their last 27 games Over the Total after covering five or six of their last seven games. The Bruins should find plenty of success attacking the thin Temple frontline that is allowing their opponents to make 52.2% of their shots inside the arc which was second-to-last in the American Athletic Conference. Belmont averages a robust 87.4 PPG this season — and they have played 33 of their last 52 games Over the Total when favored. And while they have played three straight Unders, the Bruins have then played 12 of their last 18 games Over the Total after playing at least two straight Unders. Belmont has also played 5 of their last 8 games Over the Total when playing on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite laying no more than 6 points — and they have played their last three games Over the Total when favored by 3.5 to 6 points on a neutral court. Temple made only 39.1% of their shots in their loss to the Shockers on Friday which was the worst shooting effort in their last four games. The Owls has the third best Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in the AAC while averaging 74.8 PPG for the year. Their trio of starting guards, Shizz Alston, Jr., Quinton Rose, and Nate Pierre-Louis combined to average 49.5 PPG together. Temple has played 5 of their last 7 games Over the Total after a point spread loss. And while this is just their second game since March 9th, the Owls have played 13 of their last 18 games Over the Total when playing no more than their second game in seven days. Furthermore, while Temple has won six of their last eight games, they have then played 11 of their last 15 games Over the Total after winning six or seven of their last eight games. The Owls finished 3rd in the conference by making 35.3% of their 3-point shots — and this Bruins team allowed their OVC opponents to make 36.4% of their shots from behind the arc which was 9th in the conference. Belmont is an elite passing team that is 7th in the nation by assisting on 61.9% of their made field goals — and they average a 20 Assists-Per-Game. Temple has played 31 of their last 47 games Over the Total after 15 games into the season against teams that average at least 16 Assists-Per-Game. The Owls have also played 8 of their last 11 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Additionally, the Over is 16-4-1 in their last 21 games played on a neutral court — and they have played four of their last five games Over the Total when playing as an underdog or pick ‘em on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: These are two mediocre defensive teams. While Belmont had the 3rd best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the Ohio Valley Conference, they were just 127th in that metric for the entire season. Temple ranked 7th in the American Athletic Conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency while ranking 90th overall for the entire season. The Owls also played at the third fastest pace in a conference that has many teams play at a crawl. Expect a higher-scoring game. 25* CBB NCAA Tournament First Four Total of the Year with Over the Total in the game between the Belmont Bruins (671) and the Temple Owls (672). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:40 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Prairie View A&M Panthers (670) plus the points versus the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (669). THE SITUATION: Prairie View A&M (22-12) won the Southwest Athletic Conference tournament on Saturday with their 92-86 win over Texas Southern. Fairleigh Dickinson (20-13) won the Northeast Conference tournament last Tuesday with their 85-76 win over St. Francis (PA). The First Four in the NCAA Tournament takes place on a neutral court in Dayton, Ohio.

REASONS TO TAKE PRAIRIE VIEW A&M PLUS THE POINTS: The Panthers opened as a small 1.5-point favorite before Knights money made them a small underdog. I think the oddsmakers’ initial take was more insightful for this Panthers’ team that started the season by playing twelve straight games on the road. They only won one of those games — and they played just one home game against a team outside the SWAC all season. This non-conference schedule ranked 26th most challenging in the nation according to metrics guru Ken Pomeroy which included challenging trips to NCAA Tournament teams in Baylor and Murray State. This difficult schedule prepared Bryon Smith’s team for conference play as they absolutely dominated SWAC competition by rattling off twenty-one wins over their last twenty-two games including eleven straight victories. The Panthers’ thrive in forcing turnovers via their man-to-man defense. They rank 2nd in the nation in forcing turnovers in 24.7% of their opponent’s possessions (26.2% of their opponent’s possessions in conference play) despite rarely deploying a full-court press. Defensive pressure travels — and I expect this style of play to be highly effective against this Fairleigh Dickinson team that turns the ball over in 19.4% of their opponent’s possessions (237th in the nation). The Knights’ have five players in their eight-man rotation that turns the ball over in at least 19.6% of their individual possessions with the biggest red flag being their backup point guard in sophomore Tyler Jones who coughs it up in a whopping 42.2% of his possessions. Prairie View A&M was 8-1 straight-up this season in games where they forced at least 20 turnovers since those extra possessions in transition made up for their mediocre shooting from the field. Coach Smith has enough depth to have his team play aggressively on defense and in attacking the basket — and this also results in plenty of trips to the charity stripe. The Panthers are 3rd in the nation with a Free Throw Attempt to Field Goal Attempt ratio of 44.3%. Fairleigh Dickinson rattled off eight games in a row along with winning fourteen of their last seventeen games. But the Knights faced a non-conference schedule that Pomeroy ranks as just the 211th most difficult in the nation with trips to Rutgers and Providence being their highest-profile encounters. Their victory over Princeton who Pomeroy ranks as the 175th best team in the nation represents their only victory over an opponent in the top 235 in terms of the NET ranking system. Fairleigh Dickinson loves to shoot 3s as they were 5th in the nation by making 40.3% of these shots. But while the Panthers are not a great defensive team, they do defend the perimeter well as they led the SWAC by holding their conference opponents to just a 27.5% shooting mark from downtown. The Knights do not play particularly strong defense themselves as they rank 294th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency after finishing a mediocre 6th in their conference in that metric. This team may also be without their second or third best player in Xzavier Malone-Key who has not played since March 2nd with an injury. Not only is Malone-Key perhaps the team’s best athlete but his absence may require head coach Greg Herenda to use his backup point guard in Smith who played very limited minutes in the conference tournament. Fairleigh Dickinson also wants to force turnovers — they were 3rd in the Northeast Conference by forcing turnovers in 19.3% of their opponent’s possessions. But Prairie View A&M does a great job of protecting the basketball as they led the SWAC by turning it over in just 16.6% of their possessions.

FINAL TAKE: In terms of conference strength, these two programs are representing conferences that are close to the same. Pomeroy ranks the Northeast as the better conference overall — but they still reside as his third-worst conference in the nation and just one slot ahead of the SWAC. Prairie View’s decidedly more difficult schedule mitigates that small consideration. Lastly, the Knights have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 8 boarded games played on a neutral court while the Panthers have covered the point spread in 12 of their last 16 boarded games played on a neutral court. 10* CBB Fairleigh Dickinson-Prairie View A&M Tru-TV Special with the Prairie View A&M Panthers (670) plus the points versus the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (669). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Florida State Seminoles (633) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (634). THE SITUATION: Florida State (27-6) has won six straight games after their 69-59 upset victory over Virginia yesterday as an 8.5-point underdog. Duke (28-5) joined them in the ACC tournament championship game with their 74-73 victory over North Carolina as a 4-point favorite yesterday. The ACC tournament is played on Charlotte so it is a neutral court for both teams (with the Blue Devils enjoying a geographical advantage).

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEMINOLES PLUS THE POINTS: Don’t be surprised if Duke experiences a bit of an emotional letdown after they finally defeated their arch-rivals yesterday. With Virginia not the opponent in this championship game, it may be hard for this young Blue Devils team to look past this Florida State team that they defeated earlier in the season on their home court by an 80-78 score back on January 12th. But Duke has failed to cover the point spread in 7 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a win by 6 points or less. The Blue Devils have also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing at least their third game in seven days. And while Duke has only covered the point spread twice in their last ten games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games after failing to cover the point spread in five or six of their seven games. This Blue Devils team has been hyped like no team in recent college basketball history — but there are flaws. Not being able to make 3s is a serious issue given the current landscape of basketball at the college and professional level. They rank 334th in the nation by hitting just 30.5% of their 3-pointers — and that number drops to a 29.6% mark in ACC play. They lack a go-to scorer when they need a basket in crunch time with the team too often setting for R.J. Barrett taking a low-percentage shot. We experienced that once again yesterday as it played a role in Duke failing to cover the point spread — and so too did their mediocre free throw shooting as they rank 252nd in the nation with a 68.6% percentage from the charity stripe. These characteristics make the Blue Devils unreliable favorites. Duke is just 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on a neutral court. This team will also be without the tallest player in their regular rotation in 6’11 junior Marques Bolden who is out with a knee injury. His absence leaves the Blue Devils pretty small up front — and the Seminoles’ best offensive player is the 6’10 Mfiondu Kabengele. Florida State should build off the momentum of their big win over the Cavaliers with this opportunity to then knock off the Dukies. They have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread victory. Furthermore, the Blue Devils have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after an upset victory — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after winning at least three straight games. After dealing with injuries in the first few months of the season, this team has now rattled off fourteen victories in their last fifteen games — and remember that this group is essentially the same roster as the team that reached the Elite Eight last year. This is an athletic team with length that is disruptive on the defensive end of the court. They rank 9th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and have held their last five opponents to just a 38.6% shooting percentage. They also pull down 33.2% of their missed shots which is good for 39th best in the nation — and Duke ranks 242nd in the nation by allowing their opponents to rebound 29.7% of their missed shots. Florida State has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. They also are 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 games played on a neutral court — and this includes them covering the point spread in four straight games played on a neutral court as an underdog or pick ‘em.

FINAL TAKE: The first meeting between these two teams took place before the Seminoles embarked on their big run. Florida State has covered the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games when playing with same-season revenge on their mind — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games when avenging a loss where they allowed at least 75 points. Lastly, the Seminoles have covered the point spread in the last 4 meetings between these two teams. 10* CBB Saturday Night Discounted Deal with the Florida State Seminoles (633) plus the points versus the Duke Blue Devils (634). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the San Diego State Aztecs (627) and the Utah State Aggies (628). THE SITUATION: San Diego State (21-12) reached the Finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament with their 65-56 upset win over Nevada yesterday as a 9-point underdog yesterday. Utah State (27-6) joined them with their 85-60 blowout win over Fresno State as a 4-point favorite yesterday. The MWC tournament takes place in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas so this is a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Aztecs have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total after a win over a conference rival. San Diego State has also played a decisive 15 of their last 17 games Under the Total after a point spread win. The Aztecs made only 42.6% of their shots last night in their victory — yet that was the best shooting effort for them in their last four contests. San Diego State had made only 34.6% and 29.8% of their shots in their previous two contests — and they are shooting just 39.6% from the field over their last five games. This team is very susceptible to experience long scoring droughts. They rank 8th in the MWC in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency as they struggle to shoot the basketball: they also rank 8th in the conference with an effective field goal percentage of 49.9%. Much of the Aztecs’ offense comes from second-chance opportunities as they rank 4th in the conference by pulling down 28.4% of their missed shots. But good luck with that against this Aggies team that leads the MWC by limiting their opponents to rebounding just 22.8% of their missed shots. San Diego State does play strong defense as they rank 2nd in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have limited their last five opponents to just a 39.2% field goal percentage. Furthermore, the Aztecs have played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total as an underdog. Utah State has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a win by at least 20 points. The Aggies have the best Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in the MWC. They have made at least 48.5% of their shots in three straight games while scoring at least 81 points in four straight games. But Utah State has then played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after making at least 47% of their shots in three straight games — and they have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after scoring at least 80 points in three straight games. And while the Aggies have played four straight Overs, they have then played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after playing at least two straight Unders. Furthermore, Utah State has played 5 straight games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 10 of their last 15 games Under the Total with the number set in the 130s.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams split their two regular season games this season with the Aggies winning the last meeting by a 70-54 score on their home court back on February 26th. San Diego State has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total when avenging a double-digit loss on the road. 25* CBB Mountain West Conference Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the San Diego State Aztecs (627) and the Utah State Aggies (628). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Wichita State Shockers (619) plus the points versus the Cincinnati Bearcats (620). Wichita State (19-13) has won six straight games after their 80-74 upset win over Temple yesterday as a 1.5-point underdog. Cincinnati (26-6) snapped a two-game losing streak yesterday to reach the Semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament with their 82-74 win over SMU as a 6.5-point favorite. The AAC tournament is taking place on Memphis’ home court which makes this a neutral court for these two teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SHOCKERS PLUS THE POINTS: Wichita State has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a point spread victory. This was supposed to be a down year for the Shockers with all five starters departed from last year’s team and just one contributor back from that group. But don’t underestimate the coaching acumen of Gregg Marshall who has continued to coach-up the newcomers on his roster. His team has now won eleven of their last thirteen games. They have held their last five opponents to just 40% shooting from the field. Furthermore, Wichita State is 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. And in their last 7 games played on a neutral court, the Shocker have covered the point spread in 5 of these contests. Cincinnati made 50.8% of their shots yesterday which was the best shooting effort in their last 20 games. But the Bearcats are still only making 38.1% of their shots over their last five games — and they make just 40.9% of their shots when playing away from home. This team’s proclivity to experience scoring droughts make them unreliable point spread favorites. They have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Bearcats have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games against teams with a winning record. And in their last 8 games in contests with the Total set in the 120s, Cincy failed to cover the point spread in 7 of these games.

FINAL TAKE: Cincinnati swept both regular season games between these two teams — but those experiences provided Marshall with 80 minutes of teaching opportunities for his young team for this third encounter. The Shockers have become very dangerous — and the Bearcats rarely pull away from teams even when pulling out victories. 10* CBB Saturday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the Wichita State Shockers (619) plus the points versus the Cincinnati Bearcats (620). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Kentucky Wildcats (612) minus the points versus the Tennessee Volunteers (611). THE SITUATION: Kentucky (27-5) advanced to the Semifinals of the SEC tournament yesterday with their 73-55 win over Alabama as a 12.5-point favorite yesterday. Tennessee (28-4) joined them in the Semifinals with their 83-76 victory over Mississippi State as a 5-point favorite yesterday. The SEC tournament is being played in Nashville so this is a true neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WILDCATS MINUS THE POINTS: Kentucky should build off their momentum as they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a point spread victory. The Wildcats have also covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after not allowing more than 60 points in their last game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games after not allowing more than 55 points in their last contest. Kentucky also held the Crimson Tide to just a 30.4% field goal percentage — and they have then covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after not allowing their last opponent to make more than 33% of their shots. Head coach John Calipari has his young team once again playing elite level defense — this group ranks 8th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They also got a boost yesterday with the return of their senior guard Reid Travis who played 23 minutes and scored 8 points in the blowout win. Kentucky matches up well against this Volunteers’ team because they are prepared to exploit a few of the weaknesses of head coach Rick Barnes’ team. The Wildcats pull down 36.6% of their missed shots which is 10th best in the nation — and Tennessee allows their opponents to rebound 30.1% of their missed shots which is 259th in the country. Kentucky also gets to the free throw line as they rank 8th in the nation with a free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio of 42.8% — and the Vols rank 233rd in the nation with an opponent’s FTA: FGA ratio of 34.5%. These characteristics have helped Calipari’s teams at Kentucky to go 32-15-4 ATS in their last 51 games played on a neutral court — and they have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite of no more than 6 points. The Wildcats have also covered the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games when playing their second game in three days. Tennessee has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games when playing their second game in three days. The Volunteers have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games after a game where at least 155 combined points were scored. And in their last 7 games after winning at least four of their last five contests, Tennessee has failed to cover the point spread 5 times. The Vols made 51.5% of their shots against the Bulldogs yesterday which was the best shooting effort in their last four games. And while Tennessee has played two straight games Over the Total, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after playing at least two straight Overs. This Volunteers team is very tough to defeat at home in Knoxville where they are undefeated. But while their efficiency offensive performances remain consistent when playing on the road, their defensive efforts decline significantly. Tennessee ranks just 107th in defense when playing away from home — and since February 1st, while they rank 3rd in the nation in defense when playing at home, that number drops to 139th in defense when playing on the road. The Vols allow 77.9 PPG on the road with their opponents making 43.9% of their shots which are both well above the 67.9 PPG and 39.5% opponents field goal percent overall this season. And while Tennessee is uber-efficient on offense, their lack of a scorer who can create his own shot nor a pure outside shooter likely spells trouble against elite opponents. Only 31.7% of their points come from 3-pointers which is the 329th in the nation. Not surprisingly then, the Volunteers have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after 15 games into the season against teams with a winning percentage of 80% or higher. Kentucky has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games against teams with a winning percentage over 80%.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams split their two regular season games with Tennessee winning the most recent showdown by a 71-52 score in Knoxville as a 3-point favorite on March 2nd. The Wildcats were without an injured Travis in that game — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing with revenge. 25* CBB SEC Tournament Game of the Year with the Kentucky Wildcats (612) minus the points versus the Tennessee Volunteers (611). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Michigan State Wolverines (606) minus the points versus the Wisconsin Badgers (605).  THE SITUATION: Michigan State (25-6) has won three straight games after they defeated Ohio State on Friday by a 77-70 score as a 10.5-point favorite. Wisconsin (22-9) joins them in the Semifinals of the Big Ten tournament with their 66-62 win over Nebraska on Friday as an 8-point favorite. The Big Ten tournament is taking place in the United Center in Chicago — so this is a neutral site for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SPARTANS MINUS THE POINTS: The Badgers are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games. While defeating the upstart Cornhuskers was a positive result, there are storm clouds surrounding the victory. Supposed Player of the Year candidate Ethan Happ only scored 4 points in this game while committing a whopping 7 turnovers in just 20 minutes of work. Happ has been the team’s leading scorer this season with his leadership for the team garnering national Player of the Year attention, his inability to shoot away from the rim has become a significant liability. Happ has only attempted five shots from behind the arc this year (missing all five). Even worse, Happ is making a woeful 46.8% of his free throws this season which has often compelled head coach Greg Gard to take him off the court in crucial situations. Wisconsin ranks only 9th in the Big Ten in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency with this team often finding it difficult to score. Most of their offense comes from shooting 3s — they make 37.4% of their 3-pointers although that mark dropped to a 35.9% mark in Big Ten play. The Spartans defend the perimeter quite well — they ranked 3rd in the Big Ten by holding their opponents to just a 30.5% field goal percentage behind the arc. Michigan State has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games against teams who make at least 37% of their 3-point shots. The problems get even worse for the Badgers when getting closer to the basket. They rank 7th in the Big Ten by making 478% of their 2-point shots — and the Spartans interior defense is the second-best in the nation as they limit their opponents to just a 41.0% shooting percentage inside the arc. Overall, Michigan State has an opponent’s field goal percentage of 37.6% — and the Badgers have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams who do not allow their opponents to make more than 39% of their shots. Wisconsin does not do other things to generate scoring opportunities if their shots are not falling. They only pull down 22.4% of their missed shots which is second-to-last in the Big Ten. They also do not get to the free throw line as their free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio of 27.4% is 12th in the conference. The matchup concerns for this team extend to other areas. This is one of head coach Tom Izzo’s best 3-point shooting teams in his tenure in East Lansing. Michigan State makes 38.2% of their shots from behind the arc while averaging 8-made 3-pointers per game — and the Badgers have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 11 games against teams who average at least 8-made 3-pointers per contest. This Spartans team is also a typical Izzo team that hits the glass hard — they out-rebound their opponents by +9.1 Rebounds-Per-Game. Yet Wisconsin has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams who out-rebound their opponents by at least +7.0 RPG. Michigan State got a boost on Friday with the return of forward Nick Ward into their rotation after he missed a handful of games with an injury. Ward played well as he scored 8 points in 14 minutes of action. The Spartans have covered the point spread in 18 of their last 24 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a point spread victory. And while Michigan State has covered the point spread in six of their last eight games, they have then covered the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after covering the point spread in five or six of their last seven contests. This is a very balanced team that ranks 4th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 11th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They have a superstar leader at point guard in Cassius Winston. They also rank 22nd in the nation by pulling down 34.5% of their missed shots — and that number rose to a 35.1% mark in Big Ten play. A vulnerability this team has is that they turned the ball over in 18.8% of their possessions in the conference which was the eighth highest mark — but the Badgers are unlikely to exploit this weakness as they rank just 8th in the conference by forcing turnovers in just 16.8% of their opponent's possessions. Michigan State is 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have covered the point spread in 21 of their last 28 games as the favorite.

FINAL TAKE: Michigan State won the first meeting between these two teams in Madison by a 67-59 score. Wisconsin has failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 16 encounters with the Spartans. With the Badgers’ best player in Happ now in a funk as they face a team that does not match up well with, expect Michigan State to be too much for this Wisconsin team. 25* CBB Big Ten Tournament Game of the Year with the Michigan State Wolverines (606) minus the points versus the Wisconsin Badgers (605). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 12:00 AM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the CS-Fullerton Mustangs (857) and the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos (858). THE SITUATION: CS-Fullerton (15-16) snapped their two-game losing streak yesterday with their 75-71 win in overtime over Cal-Davis as a 1.5-point favorite. UC-Santa Barbara (22-9) has won five of their last six games with their 71-68 win over CS-Northridge as a 5-point favorite yesterday. The Big West tournament is being played at the Honda Center in Anaheim so it is a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: CS-Fullerton has played 13 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 22 of their last 33 games Under the Total after a win over a conference rival. This is the Mustangs third game since last Saturday — and they have played 12 of their last 14 games Under the Total when playing their third game in a week. Additionally, this team has played 17 of their last 24 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. They also have played 16 of their last 21 games Under the Total on a neutral court — and they have played 6 straight games on a neutral court Under the Total as an underdog or a pick ‘em. UC-Santa Barbara has played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 16 of their last 24 games Under the Total after a win over a Big West rival. And while the Gauchos made 7 of their 14 shots from behind the arc, they have then played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after making at least 50% of their 3-pointers in their last game. Moving forward, UC-Santa Barbara has played 19 of their last 28 games Under the Total after 15 games into the season against teams with a losing record. Additionally, the Gauchos have played 23 of their last 32 games Under the Total on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite. Furthermore, UC-Santa Barbara makes only 43.5% of their shots when playing on the road.

FINAL TAKE: The Mustangs will be looking to avenge an 82-67 loss at UC-Santa Barbara back on February 23rd. CS-Fullerton has played 15 of their last 19 road games Under the Total when looking to avenge a double-digit loss on the road. These two teams have played 5 of their last 6 meetings Under the Total. 20* CBB Friday Late Show O/U Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the CS-Fullerton Mustangs (857) and the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos (858). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 11:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Fresno State Bulldogs (853) plus the points versus Utah State Aggies (854). THE SITUATION: Fresno State (23-8) has won four straight games with their 74-50 win over Air Force yesterday as a 10-point favorite yesterday. Utah State (26-6) has won eight straight games after their 91-83 win over New Mexico yesterday as a 13-point favorite yesterday. The Mountain West Conference tournament takes place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas so this is a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLDOGS PLUS THE POINTS: Fresno State has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a win by at least 20 points. Furthermore, the Bulldogs have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 11 road games after a win on the road by at least 10 points — and they have covered the point spread in 7 straight road games after a win on the road by at least 15 points. This is a dangerous team led by two productive scoring guards in Braxton Huggins and Deshon Taylor who score 19.3 PPG and 18.4 PPG respectively. Fresno State leads the Mountain West Conference by making 39.1% of their shots from bind the arc. They nailed 16 of their 38 (41.2%) shots from 3-point land against the Falcons yesterday — and they have covered the point spread in 6 straight games after making at least 10 shots from downtown in their last game. The Bulldogs also led the MWC by holding their opponents to just a 30.8% shooting mark from behind the arc. Fresno State has covered the point spread in three straight games — and they have covered the point spread in 22 of their last 31 games after covering the point spread in two straight games. The Bulldogs have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Additionally, Fresno State has covered the point spread in 4 straight games played on a neutral court — and they have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 games on the road against a conference opponent. And the Bulldogs have covered the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games as an underdog. Utah State has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after a point spread win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when playing with no more than one day of rest between games. The Aggies have also failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after winning at least three straight games. And this team has failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight games after a victory against a Mountain West Conference opponent where they scored at least 80 points. Utah State has made at least 47.1% of their shots in three straight games — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight road games after making at least 47% of their shots in three games in a row. The Aggies have the top offense in the Mountain West Conference — but they are second-to-last in the conference by allowing their opponents to make 38.8% of their 3-point shots. And while Utah State is second in the MWC by pulling down 30.8% of their missed shots — but the Bulldogs do a pretty good job of protecting their defensive glass by rebounding 72.6% of their opponent’s missed shots. Furthermore, the Aggies have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: Fresno State will be motivated to avenge a narrow 82-81 loss at home to Utah State back on February 5th — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when playing with revenge from a loss by 3 points or less. These two teams split their two games in the regular season — but the Aggies may be feeling the pressure as a loss in this semifinals contest may push them off the NCAA Tournament bubble. 25* CBB Mountain West Conference Game of the Year with the Fresno State Bulldogs (853) plus the points versus Utah State Aggies (854). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Duke Blue Devils (841) minus the points versus the North Carolina Tar Heels (842). THE SITUATION: Duke (27-5) has won three of their last four games with their 84-72 win over Syracuse as a 13.5-point favorite yesterday. North Carolina (27-5) has won eight straight games after their 83-70 win over Louisville yesterday as a 7-point favorite. While both these teams have a geographical advantage in the ACC tournament with the games being played in Charlotte, it is a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BLUE DEVILS MINUS THE POINTS: Duke has lost both meetings with the Tar Heels this season — but Zion Williamson has played less than 90 seconds in both those contests. Williamson injured his ankle with over 18 minutes to go in the first-half back on February 20th — and his teammates were clearly shellshocked from that turn of events as they were blown out by a 79-70 score. The Blue Devils played much better in the rematch in Chapel Hill on March 9th — but North Carolina pulled away in a 79-70 victory. Duke is clearly a better team with Williamson on the court. He was spectacular in his return to the court last night as he scored 29 points against a good Orange defense while making all 13 of his field goal attempts. But Williamson’s interior defense is also crucial for the Blue Devils — and it may be on the defensive end of the court where he will most help his team against the up-tempo Tar Heels who thrive in generating a ton of shots at the basket. Duke has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 17 games after winning four or five of their last six contests. And while the Blue Devils have not covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 contests after failing to cover point spread expectations in three straight games. North Carolina made 46.2% of their shots against the Cardinals yesterday which was the best shooting effort in their last six games. But the Tar Heels tend to underachieve when playing on a neutral court. North Carolina has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games played on a neutral court — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 160s. The Tar Heels have also failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games as an underdog — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 15 of their last 24 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or an underdog of no more than 6 points.

FINAL TAKE: Duke has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 17 games when looking to avenge a loss where they allowed at least 75 points. This Blue Devils team will be very fired up to earn revenge from two regular-season losses to a Tar Heels team who may not be able to help themselves from having just a bit less of intensity for this third encounter between these two teams. 10* CBB Duke-North Carolina ESPN Special with the Duke Blue Devils (841) minus the points versus the North Carolina Tar Heels (842). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:30 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Georgia Southern Eagles (830) minus the points versus the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (829). Georgia Southern (20-11) enters the Sun Belt Conference tournament looking to bounce-back from a 90-85 upset loss at home to Georgia State as a 5.5-point favorite. UL-Monroe (18-14) has won three straight games after their 80-50 thrashing of Coastal Carolina yesterday as a 2.5-point favorite. The Sun Belt conference tournament takes place in New Orleans so this is a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE EAGLES MINUS THE POINTS: Georgia Southern should respond to their loss last Saturday with a strong effort. They have covered the point spread in 5 straight games after a straight-up loss — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a loss at home to a conference rival. Furthermore, the Eagles have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 18 games on the road after a game where at least 175 combined points were scored. And while Georgia Southern has not covered the point spread in their last two games, they have then covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games after failing to cover the point spread in their last two games. This team has a nice balance — they rank 2nd in the Sun Belt in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while also ranking 3rd in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They have made 52% of their shots over their last five games while also holding their last five opponents to just 43.6% shooting. The Eagles should be able to generate offense tonight as they rank 2nd in the Sun Belt by making 56.1% of their shots inside the arc — and this Warhawks team ranks last in the conference by allowing their opponents to make 54.9% of their 2-point shots. Georgia Southern has covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court. UL-Monroe is likely due for a letdown after their big win yesterday — they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a win by at least 20 points. The Warhawks held Coastal Carolina to just a 29.5% field goal percentage in what was their best defensive effort of the season. But UL-Monroe has failed to cover the point spread in 17 of their last 22 games after not allowing their last opponent to make more than 33% of their shots — and they have also failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after not allowing more than 50 points in their last contest. This defensive effort may have said more about the Coastal Carolina offense as the Warhawks rank last in the Sun Belt in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and their conference opponents shot 47.6% from the field against them. UL-Monroe thrives by making 3-pointers — they rank 2nd in the Sun Belt by making 38.1% of their shots from behind the arc. But Georgia Southern defends the perimeter well as they rank 2nd in the conference by holding their opponents to just 31.5% shooting from the 3-point land. The Warhawks have the top Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in the Sun Belt — and they make 45.4% of their shots from the field. But the Eagles have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after 15 games into the season against teams that make at least 45% of their shots.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams split their two regular season games but Georgia Southern will have revenge on their minds after an 88-79 loss to UL-Monroe back on February 8th. The Eagles have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games when avenging a loss where they allowed at least 75 points. 25* CBB Sun Belt Conference Tournament Game of the Year with the Georgia Southern Eagles (830) minus the points versus the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (829). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing the Florida State Seminoles (839) plus the points versus the Virginia Cavaliers (840). THE SITUATION: Florida State (26-6) has won five straight games with their 65-63 upset win in overtime versus Virginia Tech yesterday as a 1-point underdog. Virginia (29-2) has won nine straight games after their 76-56 win over North Carolina State yesterday as an 11.5-point favorite. With the ACC tournament being played in Charlotte, this is a true neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE SEMINOLES PLUS THE POINTS: Florida State is one of the most underrated teams in the nation. Head coach Leonard Hamilton returned basically the same team that made a run to the Elite Eight last season. The team struggled early while dealing with some injuries — but they have rattled off thirteen wins in their last fourteen contests as they have only lost once since January 20th. This team is very athletic with tons of length which wreaks havoc with opposing shooters. The Seminoles rank 10th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 38.2% shooting percentage. Florida State proved their mental resolve in making two big shots at the end of regulation and in overtime to survive a very good Virginia Tech team. They should build off that momentum as they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after an upset victory. They have held their last three opponents to no more than 64 points (despite two of those games needing overtime to resolve) — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after not allowing more than 65 points in at least two straight games. Furthermore, the Seminoles have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Florida State has also covered the point spread in 13 of their last 21 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 26 of their last 42 games played on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or an underdog. This team can do things to create more scoring opportunities if their shots are not falling. The Seminoles rank 42nd in the nation by pulling down 33.1% of their missed shots. They also rank 61st in the nation by forcing turnovers in 20.5% of their opponent’s possessions. They present a very challenging matchup for the composition of this Virginia team. The Cavaliers’ pack-line defense suffocates opposing shooters — they lead the nation by holding their opponents to just a 26.5% shooting mark from behind the arc. But Florida State gets only 29.9% of their points from 3-point shooting. Instead, Hamilton loves getting his team racing up-and-down the court in transition — and Virginia ranks 335th in the nation in Points-Per-Possession allowed in transition. In the Cavaliers’ two losses to Duke, they surrendered 32 points generated from fast breaks. The slow pace the Cavaliers’ deploy will make it more difficult for them to cover this point spread in the 8 to 9 point range. Additionally, Virginia has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing their second game in three days. They also have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games in a tournament semifinal. And while the Cavs have played three straight Overs, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games after playing at least three straight Overs. Florida State’s athleticism typically fares well against teams like Virginia. The Cavaliers hold their opponents to just 54.6 PPG — but the Seminoles have covered the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games after 15 games into the season against teams who do not allow more than 64 PPG. And while Virginia shoots 48% from the field, Florida State has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after 15 games into the season against teams with a field goal percentage of at least 48%.

FINAL TAKE: The Seminoles will be looking to avenge a 65-52 loss at Virginia back on January 5th. That game took place before this Florida State team started playing their best basketball back at full strength. The Seminoles have also covered the point spread in 9 of their last 14 opportunities to avenge a loss. 25* CBB ACC Game of the Year with the Florida State Seminoles (839) plus the points versus the Virginia Cavaliers (840). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:30 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Cal-Davis Aggies (763) and the Cal-State Fullerton Titans (764). THE SITUATION: Cal-Davis (11-19) has lost two straight games as well as five of their last six contests with their 71-70 upset loss at home to UC-Riverside last Saturday as a 9-point favorite. CS-Fullerton (14-16) has lost three of their last four games with their 71-59 upset loss at home to Hawai’i as a 3.5-point favorite last Saturday. The Big West tournament is played on a neutral court at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Aggies have played 8 of their last 12 games Under the Total after an upset loss — and they have played 33 of their last 50 games Under the Total after a loss on their home court. Furthermore, the Under is a decisive 38-16-1 in Cal-Davis’ last 55 games after a straight-up loss — and the Under is 42-15-1 in their last 58 games after a point spread loss. The Aggies got upset in that game despite them making 52.7% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last ten games. Cal-Davis ranks only 8th in the Big West in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They also score only 63.7 PPG when playing away from home while making just 41.9% of their shots. But the Aggies should play better on the defensive end of the court after allowing UC-Riverside to nail 52.9% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort for them in their last six games. Cal-Davis ranks 3rd in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They have played 11 of their last 15 games Under the Total on a neutral court — and they have also played 6 of their last 8 games played on a neutral court with the Total set in the 130s. Additionally, the Aggies have played 4 straight games Under the Total against teams with a losing record. CS-Fullerton has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss. The Titans have also played 14 of their last 18 games Under the Total after a loss to a conference rival — and this includes them playing five of their last six games Under the Total when that loss to a conference rival took place on their home court. Furthermore, Fullerton has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total on the road after losing three of their last four games. The Titans play very good defense as they rank 2nd in the Big West in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their opponents to just a 42.6% field goal percentage when playing on the road. But Fullerton only ranks 7th in the conference in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they are making just 42.8% of their shots over their last five games. The Titans have played 7 straight games Under the Total against teams with a losing record — and they have also played 17 of their last 22 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: CS-Fullerton will be looking to avenge a 66-59 loss to Cal-Davis back on March 2nd. The Titans have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total when playing with same-season revenge — and they have also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when avenging a loss where they failed to score at least 60 points. 25* CBB Big West Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Cal-Davis Aggies (763) and the Cal-State Fullerton Titans (764).  Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 2:30 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Creighton Bluejays (683) and the Xavier Musketeers (684). THE SITUATION: Creighton (18-13) has won five straight games after their 91-78 win over DePaul as a 7.5-point favorite last Saturday. Xavier (17-14) has won six of their last seven games with their 81-68 victory over St. John’s as a 2-point favorite. These two teams meet in the Quarterfinals of the Big East taking place at Madison Square Garden which makes this a neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Musketeers winning streak over the last month or so has been due to significantly improved play on the defensive end of the court. Xavier has held their last five opponents to just a 42% field goal percentage. The Musketeers have played 7 of the last 9 games Under the Total after a double-digit victory. Xavier has also played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after scoring at least 80 points in their last game. The Musketeers made 51.9% of their shots against the Red Storm which was the best shooting mark in their last five games. But Xavier makes only 44.9% of their shots away from home. The Bluejays allow their opponents to make 45.8% of their shots — but the Musketeers have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total against teams with an opponent’s field goal percentage of 45% or higher. Xavier has also played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after fifteen games into the season against teams with a winning percentage in the 51-60% range. Additionally, the Musketeers have played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. Creighton has played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after a win at home — and they have played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a double-digit victory on their home court. And while the Bluejays have covered the point spread in five straight games with the last two contests being in games where they were favored, Creighton has played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after covering their last two games as a favorite. Furthermore, the Bluejays have played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after covering the point spread in five or six of their last seven games. Creighton is very dependent on making 3-point shots — they are 2nd in the Big East with 48.7% of their field goal attempts being from behind the arc. But while the Bluejays are making 39.6% of their 3-point shots, that clip drops to a 35.8% mark when playing away from home. Creighton has played 21 of their last 31 games on the road Under the Total against conference opponents. The Bluejays have also played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total on a neutral court as a pick ‘em or favorite of no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: Creighton will also have revenge on their minds after seeing Xavier split their two regular-season games with a 64-61 upset win as a 1-point underdog back on February 13th. The Bluejays have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from a same-season loss — and they have played 5 of their last 6 games when avenging a loss by no more than 3 points. 25* CBB Big East Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Creighton Bluejays (683) and the Xavier Musketeers (684). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 1:00 PM ET on Thursday, we will be playing the South Florida Bulls (730) plus the points versus the Connecticut Huskies (729). THE SITUATION: South Florida (18-12) limps into the American Athletic Conference tournament having lost six of their last seven games with their 77-71 upset loss at home to SMU as a 2-point favorite last Sunday. UConn (15-16) has won two of their last three games with their 82-73 loss at East Carolina as a 6.5-point favorite last Sunday. The American Athletic Conference tournament takes place in Memphis so this is a true neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BULLS PLUS THE POINTS: South Florida was picked to be near the bottom of the AAC this season but head coach Brian Gregory has done a great job with this team. Because he has his team embrace in strategies that create additional scoring opportunities, the Bulls tend to not see a drop off in play when playing away from home — and these are the type of teams we want to look for in tournament action. South Florida led the AAC by pulling down 36.3% of their missed shots — and this is an area of vulnerability for the Huskies as they allow their opponents to rebound 29.7% of their misses which is 6th in the conference. The Bulls are also 20th in the nation by forcing turnovers in 22.3% of their opponent’s possessions — and UConn turned the ball over in 18.1% of their possessions which was 7th in the conference. South Florida was 5-7 on the road this season but they outscored these opponents by +1.6 PPG. The Bulls have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games away from home when playing just their second game in seven days. South Florida also holds their opponents to just a 42.9% shooting percentage when playing on the road. The Bulls finished 4th in the AAC in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. These characteristics make them reliable in situations like this. South Florida has covered the point spread in 11 of their last 17 games with the Total set in the 130s. The Bulls have also covered the point spread in 8 of their last 11 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. UConn has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a victory on the road. And while the Huskies have won two of their last three games, they have also lost seven of their last nine contests — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 19 road games after losing five or six of their last seven games. This Huskies team under head coach Dan Hurley enjoyed a high profile win over Syracuse early in the season but they stumbled to just a 6-12 record in the AAC. This is a team that does few things particularly well — they ranked 7th in the conference in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while ranking 9th in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. UConn was just 2-11 on the road this season while being outscored by -7.7 PPG. They only make 41.8% of their shots away from home while allowing their opponents to make 47.5% of their shots. The Huskies have played their last two games Over the Total — and not only have they then failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 11 games on the road after playing a game that finished Over the Total but they have also failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 9 games on the road after playing two straight Overs. Furthermore, UConn has failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games played on a neutral court. And in their last 6 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range, the Huskies have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of these contests.

FINAL TAKE: South Florida is looking to avenge a 60-58 loss to UConn back on March 3rd. The Bulls have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games when playing with revenge. South Florida has also covered the point spread in 14 of the last 21 opportunities to avenge a loss where they failed to score at least 60 points — and they have also covered the point spread in five of these last seven situations. 10* CBB Thursday Afternoon Tip-Off with the South Florida Bulls (730) plus the points versus the Connecticut Huskies (729). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores (657) and the Texas A&M Aggies (658). THE SITUATION: Vanderbilt (9-22) enters the SEC tournament coming off an 80-59 loss an LSU on Saturday as a 13-point underdog. Texas A&M (13-17) has lost three of their last four games after their 92-81 loss at Mississippi State last Saturday as an 11-point underdog. The SEC tournament takes place in Bridgestone Arena — home of the Nashville Predators — so this is a neutral court game for both teams with Vandy enjoying a geographical advantage.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Commodores have played 10 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have also played 6 straight games Under the Total after a point spread setback. Additionally, Vanderbilt has played 7 straight games Under the Total after a loss where they failed to score at least 70 points. The Commodores made only 41.2% of their shots against the Tigers which was still tied for the best shooting effort in their last four games. Vanderbilt has the SEC’s worst scoring offense in terms of Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they are making only 38.5% of their shots in their last five games. The Commodores make only 37.8% of their shots on the road which is translating into just 60.2 PPG. The Under is also 25-10-2 in Vandy’s last 37 games played on a neutral court. The Commodores have also played 16 of their last 20 games Under the Total as an underdog. Texas A&M has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total after a loss to a conference rival. The Aggies have also played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Texas A&M made 46.7% of their shots in their win against the Bulldogs which was the best shooting effort in their last four contests. This team ranks 11th in the SEC in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they are making only 41.7% of their shots over their last five games. The Aggies also allowed Mississippi State to make 52.4% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort for them in their last ten contests. That game finished Over the 139.5 point total — yet Texas A&M has played 7 of their last 10 games Under the Total after playing a game that finished Over the Total. Additionally, the Aggies have played 9 of their last 11 games Under the Total as the favorite — and they have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: Vanderbilt will be looking to avenge a 64-57 loss to the Aggies in College Station in the only meeting between these two teams back on March 2nd. The Commodores have played 15 of their last 18 games Under the Total when playing with revenge on their minds — and they have played 10 of their last 11 games Under the Total when playing with revenge from a loss on the road. 20* CBB Wednesday Late Show O/U Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores (657) and the Texas A&M Aggies (658). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Florida Atlantic Owls (659) and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (660). THE SITUATION: FAU (17-14) has lost their last two games with their 76-61 loss at Marshall as a 6.5-point underdog last Saturday. Louisiana Tech (19-12) snapped their two-game losing streak last Wednesday with their 72-69 upset win at Florida Atlantic as a 2-point favorite. The Conference USA tournament takes place in Frisco, Texas which makes this a true neutral home court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Owls have played 6 straight games Under the Total after a loss on the road — and they have also played 4 straight games Under the Total after a point spread loss. Furthermore, FAU experienced a massive scoring drought in the final ten minutes in the first half of their game with the Thunder Herd as they managed only 4 points — and they went into halftime with just 28 points scored overall to neutralize their fast start. The Owls have then played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total on the road after failing to score more than 30 points in the first half of their last game. Scoring is a problem for this team as they rank 11th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in Conference USA — and they are making only 40.4% of their shots over their last five games. This team only makes 40.5% of their shots when playing away from home. FAU is playing very good defense as of late as they have held their last five opponents to just a 37.6% shooting. The Owls rank 2nd in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. FAU has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and the Under is 11-3-1 in their last 15 games when playing on a neutral court. Louisiana Tech has played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 12 of their last 15 games Under the Total after a win on the road. Furthermore, the Bulldogs have played 10 of their last 11 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Louisiana Tech made 47.9% of their shots against the stout Owls’ defense which was the best shooting effort in their last five games. But this Bulldogs team is just 9th in Conference USA in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they are making only 41.9% of their shots on the road. But this Louisiana Tech team also plays strong defense as they rank 3rd in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they are holding their conference foes to a 41.7% field goal percentage. Moving forward, the Bulldogs have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when favored by 3.5 to 6 points.

FINAL TAKE: FAU won the first meeting between these two teams by a 69-61 score back on January 31st — and the Owls have played 10 of the last 16 games Under the Total when avenging a close by 3 points or less. 25* CBB Conference USA Tournament Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Florida Atlantic Owls (659) and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (660). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 5:30 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the California Golden Bears (641) and the Colorado Buffaloes (642). THE SITUATION: California (8-22) has won their last three games with their 64-59 win at Stanford last Thursday as an 11-point underdog. Colorado (19-11) has won three straight games as well as eight of their last ten contests with their 78-67 win over USC last Saturday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: California has played 6 of the last 8 games Under the Total after an upset victory — and they have played 11 of their last 16 games Under the Total after a win over a Pac-12 rival. The Golden Bears are playing better basketball because of their improved play on the defensive end of the court. They held the Cardinal to just a 35.9% shooting mark — and they have limited three of their last four opponents to no better than a 41.8% shooting percentage. Cal’s last five opponents are making just 43.3% of their shots. But the Bears struggle to score baskets. They are 12th in the Pac-12 in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they have made just 40.6% of their shots against conference opponents. Furthermore, Cal makes only 41.8% of their shots away from home — and they are making just 41.8% of their shots over their last five games. The Golden Bears have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court. Additionally, Cal has played 15 of their last 22 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have played 15 of their last 23 games Under the Total as a double-digit underdog. Colorado has played 25 of their last 37 games Under the Total after a win on the road. Their three-game winning streak coincided with all three games being played on their home court. The Buffaloes have played 9 of their last 10 games Under the Total after winning their last two games at home. And while they have scored 78 and 93 points in their last two games, they have then played 13 of their last 16 games Under the Total after scoring at least 75 points in two straight games. But now this team goes back on the road for the first time since February 23rd where they are making just 42.9% of their shots. While the Buffaloes’ offense may not travel outside Boulder, their defense should as they rank 4th in the Pac-12 in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency — and they have held their last five opponents to just a 40.5% field goal percentage. Colorado has played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total on a neutral court as a favorite or pick ‘em. The Buffaloes have also played 20 of their last 27 games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage below 40%.

FINAL TAKE: Colorado won the lone meeting between these two teams back on January 24th by a 68-59 score in Berkeley. Cal has played 12 of their last 13 games Under the Total when attempting to avenge a loss at home to their opponent. These two teams have played 8 of their last 10 meetings Under the Total. 20* CBB Over/Under Situational Special with Under the Total in the game between the California Golden Bears (641) and the Colorado Buffaloes (642). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 4:30 PM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing the New Mexico Lobos (636) minus the points versus the Wyoming Cowboys (635). THE SITUATION: New Mexico (13-17) has the opportunity to avenge an embarrassing 88-81 loss on the road at Wyoming (8-23) last Saturday as a 4.5-point favorite. These two teams take the court for the first time again in the opening round of the Mountain West conference tournament hosted by UNLV in their Thomas & Mack Center.

REASONS TO TAKE THE LOBOS MINUS THE POINTS: That bad loss to the Cowboys should be exactly what head coach Paul Weir needed to get the full attention of his team. Weir is a very good head coach who took a couple of New Mexico State teams to the Big Dance before taking over in Albuquerque where he took over a New Mexico team with low expectations to a 12-6 record in the Mountain West Conference before reaching the finals of the conference tournament. This team has talent — especially with a former Kansas and Arizona State player in Carlton Bragg now in the mix after being ineligible for the first month of the season. This Lobos’ team did rip a very good Nevada team by an 85-58 score. New Mexico has rebounded to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 16 games after a loss on the road to a conference rival. And while the Lobos have failed to cover the point spread in five of their last six games, they have then covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after failing to cover the point spread in four of their last five games. New Mexico generates much of their offense by getting to the free throw line: they rank second in the MWC with a 36.3% free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio. This is an area where Weir should be able to get his team to manipulate as the Cowboys are ninth in the conference with an opponent’s FTA: FGA ratio of 34.2%. Furthermore, the Lobos do a good job of getting second-chance scoring opportunities as they are third in the conference by pulling down 29.7% of their missed shots. Wyoming is one of the worst rebounding teams in the nation: on defense, they allow their opponents to rebound 30.4% of their misses which is last in the Mountain West. New Mexico has not allowed their last three opponents to pull down more than 30 boards — and they have covered the point spread in 34 of their last 50 games after their last three opponents failed to rebound more than 31 boards. The Cowboys stepped up for Senior Day in their last home game of the season — but they are likely to experience a huge letdown now. Wyoming has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after a straight-up win — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after a point spread victory. The Cowboys made 51.9% of their shots against the Lobos which was the best shooting mark in their last 12 games. Wyoming only makes 40.2% of their shots away from home which makes playing on this neutral court a scary proposition. This team can experience huge scoring droughts if their shots are not falling as their head coach Allen Edwards has them sacrifice offensive rebounding for getting back on defense. The Cowboys only rebound 16.1% of their missed shots which is the lowest mark in College Basketball — and that number somehow drops to just a 14.2% mark against Mountain West foes. Wyoming is second-to-last in the conference in both Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency. They have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when playing on a neutral court. They also are just 12-37-3 ATS in their last 52 games against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: New Mexico has been reliable when playing with revenge as they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games when avenging a loss on the road — and this includes them covering the point spread in five of these last seven situations. The Cowboys have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 meetings with the Lobos. Look for an inspired effort from New Mexico. 10* CBB Wednesday Afternoon Discounted Deal with the New Mexico Lobos (636) minus the points versus the Wyoming Cowboys (635). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 11:30 AM ET on Wednesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Sacramento State Hornets (671) and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (672). Sacramento State (14-15) enters the Big Sky Tournament coming off an 86-68 loss at home to Montana last Saturday as a 4.5-point underdog. Northern Arizona (10-20) snapped their three-game losing streak on Saturday with their 89-78 upset win at Northern Colorado as a 13-point underdog. The Big Sky tournament is played in Century Link Arena in Boise, Idaho which makes it a true neutral court for both these teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Head coach Brian Katz will want his team to improve their efforts on defense after allowing the Grizzlies to make 59.6% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort of the season. The Hornets play pretty good defense away from home as they hold those opponents to just a 44.9% field goal percentage. Sacramento State has played 7 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 8 of their last 9 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. And while that game with Montana finished above the 137 point Total, they have then played 8 of their last 10 games Under the Total after playing a game that finished Over the Total. The bigger challenge for this team will be scoring baskets as they rank ninth in the Big Sky in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They are making only 41.3% of their shots over their last five games — and they average just 65.3 PPG along with a 41.4% field goal percentage when playing away from home. Furthermore, the Hornets have played 6 straight games Under the Total against teams with a losing record. Northern Arizona made only 43.7% of their shots on Saturday and still pulled off the upset victory as a double-digit underdog — and yet that was still the best shooting effort for this team in their last three games. The Lumberjacks are making only 41.8% of their shots from the field in their last five games. But this team is playing solid on the defensive end of the court as they have held their last five opponents to only a 43.5% field goal percentage. Northern Arizona has played 17 of their last 23 games on the road Under the Total after a game where at least 165 combined points were scored. Now this team stays away from home for the fourth straight game where they are making just 43.7% of their shots. The Lumberjacks are just seventh in the Big Sky conference in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. Furthermore, Northern Arizona has played 23 of their last 30 games Under the Total when playing on a neutral court — and they have also played 12 of their last 14 games Under the Total when playing a neutral court with the Total set in the 140s. The Lumberjacks have also played 5 straight games Under the Total against teams with a losing record.

FINAL TAKE: Sacramento State will be motivated by revenge from a 78-66 upset loss to Northern Arizona as a 7-point home favorite back on February 16th — and they have played 6 straight games Under the Total when looking to avenge an upset loss to their opponent as a home favorite in their last encounter. These two teams have played their 6 straight meetings Under the Total. Lastly, the cherry on top for this situation is that it will be played at 9:30 AM local time. While these early tip-off situations should never be automatic plays since the tendency for teams to be a bit groggy at the unconventional early hour, this still represents only another piece of evidence. In these circumstances, it certainly helps in making a strong Under play even better. 25* CBB Big Sky Conference Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Sacramento State Hornets (671) and the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (672). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Saint Mary’s Gaels (615) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (616). THE SITUATION: Saint Mary’s (21-11) has won six of their last seven games to reach the West Coast Conference tournament championship game with their 69-62 loss to San Diego last night as a 4.5-point favorite. Gonzaga (30-2) comes off a 100-74 win win over Pepperdine last night as a 24-point favorite. This tournament is being played at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas which makes it a true neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Bulldogs made 59.7% of their shots last night which was the sixth straight games where they made at least 52.8% of their shots. Gonzaga had 26 team assists against the Wave last night as they assisted on a whopping 70.3% of their made field goals — but they have then played 13 of their last 17 games Under the Total after a game where they had at least 24 team assists. The Bulldogs have also played 27 of their last 40 games Under the Total after playing at least four straight games where they made at least 50% of their shots. Gonzaga enjoyed a 47-26 halftime lead last night — and they have played 24 of their last 34 games Under the Total after leading by at least 15 points at halftime of their last game. The Bulldogs have also played 9 of their last 13 games Under the Total after a straight-up win by at least 20 points — and they have also played 10 of their last 14 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, Gonzaga has played 8 of their last 11 games Under the Total after scoring at least 90 points in their last game. This Bulldogs team has the top Adjusted Offensive Efficiency in the nation — but they are also an underrated defensive team. They were lax at times in the first two months of the season in their effort — and they were exposed in back-to-back losses to Tennessee and North Carolina. In West Coast Conference play, the Zags limited their opponents to score at just a 0.863 Points-Per-Possession clip. Gonzaga also ranks 7th run the nation with an opponent’s effective field goal percentage of just of 44.1% — and that is particularly important when facing this Gaels’ team that relies on their shooting. The Bulldogs have played 20 of their last 26 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and this includes them played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total again teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Head coach Mark Few should have his team focused on playing better on the defensive end of the court after they allowed Pepperdine to make 44.6% of their shots which was the highest opponent’s field goal percentage they have allowed in their last nine games. Saint Mary’s made 53.1% of their shots last night in their victory over the Toreros which was the highest shooting mark they have enjoyed in their last nine contests. The Under is then 35-14-2 in the Gaels’ last 51 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is also 54-24-1 in their last 79 games after a point spread victory. Additionally, Saint Mary’s has played 7 of their last 8 games Under the Total when playing with one day or less of rest. This Gaels’ team has the second best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the West Coast Conference. Moving forward, Saint Mary’s has played 20 of their last 26 games Under the Total against teams with a winning record — and they have played 10 of their last 12 games Under the Total as a double-digit underdog.

FINAL TAKE: Gonzaga swept the first two meetings between these two teams in the regular season with Saint Mary’s scoring at just a 0.67 PPP and 0.87 PPP rate. The Gaels’ defense improved in the second game after allowing the Zags to torch them for a 1.45 PPP scoring rate. Saint Mary’s improved to see the Bulldogs score at a 1.10 PPP mark which, while still efficient, was below their season average. The Gaels have played 7 straight games Under the Total when playing with at least double revenge. Lastly, these two teams have played 20 of their last 26 meetings Under the Total. 25* CBB West Coast Conference Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Saint Mary’s Gaels (615) and the Gonzaga Bulldogs (616). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Hofstra Pride (612) plus the points versus the Northeastern Huskies (611). Hofstra (27-6) has won their last four games after reaching the Finals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament with their 78-74 win over Delaware as an 11-point favorite. Northeastern (22-10) has won six straight games as well as eleven of their last twelve with their 70-67 win over the College of Charleston yesterday as a 3-point favorite. With this event taking place in Charleston, this is a true neutral court for both teams.

REASONS TO TAKE THE PRIDE MINUS THE POINTS: Hofstra survived the upstart Blue Hens yesterday despite shooting just 44.6% from the field which was the worst shooting effort for them in their last five games. Led by their superstar guard, Justin Wright-Foreman, the Pride are one of the best offensive teams in the nation. They rank 17th in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. They also are the second-best free throw shooting team in the country as they make 80.1% of their free throw attempts. Wright-Foreman will be the best player on the court tonight — he is averaging 27.0 PPG this season while making 43.7% of his 3-point shots. Despite their disappointing shooting effort yesterday, Hofstra is still shooting 51.4% over their last five games. The Pride also allowed Delaware to make 49.1% of their shots which was the worst defensive in their last four contests. Hofstra should respond with a strong effort tonight as they have covered the point spread in 24 of their last 34 road games after failing to cover the point spread in their last game. Additionally, while the Pride have not covered the point spread in six of their last seven games including their last two contests, they have then covered the point spread in 43 of their last 61 games on the road after failing to cover the point spread in two straight games. Furthermore, Hofstra has covered the point spread in 13 of their last 17 games after failing to cover the point spread in six or seven of their last eight contests. The Pride are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when listed in the +/- 3-point range. Northeastern may be due for a letdown playing their third game in three days as they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 straight road games when playing at least their third straight game in a seven-day period. And while this team has won fifteen of their last seventeen games, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 14 of their last 21 games after winning at least fifteen of their last twenty games. The Huskies have also played their last two games Under the Total — but they have then failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games after playing their last two games Under the Total. Additionally, while Northeastern has not allowed their last six opponents to pull down more than 31 rebounds overall, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after not allowing more than 31 rebounds by their opponents in at least four straight games — and they have failed to cover the point spread in these last four situations where their last five opponents have not rebounded more than 31 boards.

FINAL TAKE: Northeastern won the last meeting between these two teams to split the regular season record them back on February 2nd by a 75-61 score. I don’t like this situation for the Huskies after finally catching their proverbial white whale in the College of Charleston who defeated them three times last year including in the Finals of this tournament after a 14-4 record during the regular season. This team will feel tons of pressure to not blow this opportunity while also being susceptible to a letdown after defeating the Cougars. And it will be the Pride who will have the best player on the court — with a good mix of complementary players. 25* CBB Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Game of the Year with the Hofstra Pride (612) plus the points versus the Northeastern Huskies (611). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 11:30 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the San Diego Toreros (887) plus the points versus the Saint Mary’s Gaels (888). San Diego (21-13) reached the Semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament on Saturday with their 80-57 drubbing of BYU as a 3.5-point underdog. Saint Mary’s (20-11) takes the court again after their 69-55 loss at home to Gonzaga as a 9.5-point underdog back on March 2nd. This tournament is taking place down the street at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

REASONS TO TAKE THE TOREROS PLUS THE POINTS: Frankly, San Diego’s victory over the Cougars was even more dominant than the 23-point margin suggests. BYU went on a 21-5 run over the last 6:42 of that game with their backups taking out a significant chunk of what was a 38-point lead. This Toreros team is much better than their record suggests. San Diego returned four starters from last year’s team that won 20 games. With high ambitions entering the season, the Toreros embraced a challenging non-conference schedule that included competitive losses at Washington and OIe Miss along with a win over Colorado. But this team was then hit by the injury bug with starting center Yauhen Massalski missing three games in December before starting point guard Isaiah Wright missed four games in January and then starting shooting guard Olin Carter III missed five straight games spanning into February. It was until February 7th that this team was completely healthy again for the first time since November. Yet it took some time for this group to rekindle their chemistry and gel. They closed out the regular season with a bad 87-73 loss at BYU. Head coach Sam Scholl used that loss to re-focus his team by establishing their identity on the defensive end of the court. In their three games in the WCC tournament, San Diego has allowed 47, 45, and 57 points for a stingy 49.7 PPG average. BYU entered that rematch on Saturday as the second-highest scoring team in the conference by averaging 79.7 PPG. They have held each of their three tournament opponents to no better than 33.3% shooting. The Toreros should build off their momentum tonight as they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a victory by at least 20 points. And while San Diego has played three straight Unders, they have then covered the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after playing at least three straight Unders. Furthermore, the Toreros have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when playing on a neutral court. Saint Mary’s (20-11) had failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games after a point spread loss — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after a game where no more than 125 combined points were scored. This is a very well-coached team by Randy Bennett — but talent is an issue for this year’s team after losing three starters and five of their last top seven scorers from last season. Much of the Gaels success has been on their home court where they continue to shoot lights out in those familiar surroundings. But Saint Mary’s makes only 32.7% of their 3-pointers when playing away from home which is a far cry from their 37.9% shooting mark behind the arc overall. This team has also gotten away from sharing the basketball to find better shots. Just two years ago, the Gaels’ ranked 8th in the nation by assisting on 63.1% of their made field goals. However, this year Saint Mary’s are assisting on just 39.2 % of their field goals which is the second-lowest number in the nation. The Gaels have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games against teams with a winning record. They also have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games played on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: San Diego has lost eleven straight meetings with Saint Mary’s after losing at home to them on February 23rd by a 66-46 score. The Toreros have covered the point spread in 31 of their last 41 games when avenging a double-digit loss at home — and they have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games when avenging a loss by at least 20 points on their home court. Lastly, San Diego has also covered the point spread in 17 of their last 26 games when playing with double-revenge. 25* CBB West Coast Conference Game of the Year with the San Diego Toreros (887) plus the points versus the Saint Mary’s Gaels (888). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:00 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Monmouth Hawks (895) plus the points versus the Iona Gaels (896). Monmouth (14-20) has won four straight games to reach the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship game after their 73-59 win over Canisius as a 1-point favorite yesterday. Iona (16-15) joined them in the finals of this event with their 73-57 win against Siena as a 2-point favorite. This is a true neutral court for both teams with this tournament hosted by Siena in Albany.

REASONS TO TAKE THE HAWKS PLUS THE POINTS: Head coach King Rice has had some good teams during his tenure with Monmouth but he has yet to lead his team to the NCAA Tournament. It would be a great accomplishment for this team predicted to finish in the middle of the pack to achieve what those more heralded teams in the past could not accomplish. This team succeeds because they play very good defense — they rank second in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They also lead the MAAC by limiting their opponents to just a 45.8% shooting percentage inside the arc. The Hawks have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a point spread win. Monmouth has also covered the point spread in 9 of their last 12 games after a win over a conference rival — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games after winning at least two straight games against MAAC rivals. Additionally, the Hawks have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after a point spread victory. Rice’s team also does things to create extra possessions in case their shots are not falling. Monmouth forces turnovers in 21.3% of their opponent’s possessions which is 39th best in the country — and that number rose to 22.2% in conference play. The Hawks also crash the offensive glass as they pull down 29.6% of their missed shots which is third best in the conference. Monmouth has covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games against teams with a winning record. The Hawks have also covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games played on a neutral court with the total set in the 135 to 139.5 point range. Iona shot 49.1% from the field yesterday against the Saints which was the best shooting mark in their last three games — and they also held Siena to just 37.3% shooting from the field which was the best defensive effort in their last four games. The Saints may be due for a letdown after covering the point spread in two of their last three games — they have then failed to cover the point spread in 18 of their last 27 games after covering the point spread in two of their last three contests. Siena has also failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 6 games after winning at least eight of their last ten games. Iona will be looking to win their fourth straight MAAC tournament championship. However, as usual for head coach Tim Cluess’ teams at Iona, this team is vulnerable on the defensive end of the court where they ranked 7th in the conference in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency this season. The Gaels have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 10 road games against teams with a losing record. Iona has also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games when playing on a neutral court.

FINAL TAKE: Iona will be looking to avenge an 83-81 upset loss at Monmouth back on January 20th — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 21 of their last 30 games when avenging an upset loss as a road favorite with this including them failing to cover the point spread in five of these last seven situations. Monmouth has little pressure on them in this championship game as they get to revel in the role as the spoiler. Their strong defensive play should keep this game close. 25* CBB Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game of the Year with the Monmouth Hawks (895) plus the points versus the Iona Gaels (896). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 9:30 PM ET on Sunday, we will be playing the Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons (868) plus the point(s) versus the South Dakota Coyotes (867). Purdue-Fort Wayne (17-14) limps into the Summit League tournament having lost four in a row after their 69-66 upset loss to North Dakota State last Saturday as a 4-point favorite. South Dakota (13-16) has won four of their last five games after their 78-63 win over North Dakota last Saturday as a 6-point favorite. These two teams meeting in the final Quarterfinals contest in the Summit League tournament.

REASONS TO TAKE THE MASTODONS PLUS THE POINT(S): Purdue-Fort Wayne made only 40.3% of their shots in their loss to the Fighting Hawks which was the worst shooting effort in their last ten games. Despite the losing streak, the Mastodons remain one of the best teams in the conference — and they were one of just two teams to defeat the regular season champions in South Dakota State (who were upset in the Quarterfinals yesterday). Purdue-Fort Wayne finished third in the regular season in the conference in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency while also finishing fourth in the Summit in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The team is led by jack-of-all-trades 6’5 senior John Konchar who is scoring 19.7 PPG while pulling down 8.5 RPG and dishing out 5.3 Assists-Per-Game. The Mastodons launch tons of 3s — their 305 made 3-pointers is the second most in the nation. After suffering two straight upset losses to end the regular season, this team should play very well with the opportunity to clear the slate in this tournament. Purdue-Fort Wayne has covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after losing three straight games in conference play. The Mastodons have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after a loss by 3 points or less against a conference rival. Furthermore, Purdue-Fort Wayne has allowed 42 and 44 points in the first half of their last two games — but they ave then covered the point spread in 9 of their last 14 games after allowing at least 40 points in the first half in two straight games. South Dakota may have trouble regaining the momentum they enjoyed to close out the regular season. They have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 14 games when playing their first game in over a week. The Coyotes are a good defensive team that ranks third in the Summit League in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. But South Dakota ranks only sixth in the conference in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency as they struggled to replace the productivity of Chris Mooney who was their Mr. Everything for the basketball program for years. The Coyotes have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games against teams with a winning record. And in their last 7 games played on a neutral court as a favorite of no more than 3 points.

FINAL TAKE: South Dakota is the host team for this tournament but this is not a true home game for them. The tournament is being played in the Sanford Premier Center rather than their campus home court at the Coyote Sports Center. The Coyotes do have the geographical advantage — and they have played one game this season already in the Premier Center — but that is not enough for me to assign a significant home advantage for this team. South Dakota will be looking to avenge a 102-71 loss to Purdue-Fort Wayne back on January 30th — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games when playing with revenge from a loss where they allowed at least 75 points. 25* CBB Summit League Game of the Year with the Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons (868) plus the point(s) versus the South Dakota Coyotes (867). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 10:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Oregon Ducks (713) and the Washington Cougars (714). THE SITUATION: Oregon (18-12) has won three straight games with their 72-61 win at Washington State last Wednesday as a 6.5-point favorite. Washington (24-6) has won their last two games after they defeated Oregon State on Wednesday as a 6.5-point favorite.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Ducks have played 5 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, Oregon has played 11 of their last 14 road games Under the Total after winning their last two games. Now this team stays on the road where they are scoring only 64.0 PPG on low 40.9% shooting. But the Ducks hold their home hosts to just a 42.9% shooting mark from the field. Head coach Dana Altman’s team has the second best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the Pac-12 — and they have held their last vet opponents to just 41.6% shooting. They have played 4 of their last 5 games Under the Total on the road — and they have also played 11 of their last 15 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. Furthermore, Oregon has played 6 straight games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60%. Washington has played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 26 of their last 35 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. Additionally, the Huskies have played 11 of their last 14 games Under the Total after scoring at least 80 points in their last game. They shot 54% from the field against the Beavers which was the best shooting margin in their last ten games. Washington is only making 44.9% of their shots over their last five games despite that strong shooting effort on Wednesday. The Huskies stay at home where hold their guests to just 59.7 PPG on low 38.8% shooting from the field. Washington has played 5 of their last 6 home games Under the Total — and they have also played 4 straight home games Under the Total against teams with a losing record on the road. The Huskies have the best Adjusted Defensive Efficiency in the Pac-12.

FINAL TAKE: Washington won the first meeting between these two teams back on January 24th when they pulled off a 61-56 upset win in Eugene as a 2.5-point underdog. That game finished below the 132 point Total which made it 6 straight Unders between these two teams. Expect another low-scoring game between these two teams. 25* CBB Pac-12 Total of the Year with Under the Total in the game between the Oregon Ducks (713) and the Washington Cougars (714). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Michigan Wolverines (649) and the Michigan State Spartans (650). THE SITUATION: Michigan (26-4) has won their last two games after losing at home to the Spartans by a 77-70 score back on February 24th despite being a 4.5-point favorite in that game. The Wolverines come off an impressive 69-62 win at Maryland as a 1-point underdog last Sunday. Michigan State (24-6) has won six of their last seven games after their 91-76 win over Nebraska as a 13.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The winner of this game clinches at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: Michigan State won the first meeting between these two teams by a 77-70 score as a 4.5-point underdog back on February 24th. That game started at a blistering pace by both sides with the Spartans racing out to a 27-20 lead in the first ten minutes of that game. But the shots began to stop falling and the pace of the game slowed down considerably over the final 30 minutes of that contest with both teams scoring just 50 points apiece. The Spartans come off a big win over Nebraska before this rematch — but they have played 5 of their last 6 games Under the Total after scoring at least 90 points in their last game. Additionally, the Under is 23-7-1 in Michigan State’s last 31 games after a straight-up win — and the Under is 19-7-1 in their last 27 games after a point spread victory. Furthermore, the Under is 6-2-1 in the Spartans’ last 9 games at home — and they have played 4 straight games Under the Total at home against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on the road. Michigan will likely be without Charles Matthews again for this game which takes away their third-leading scorer. They have had since Sunday to prepare for this game and to slow down the Spartans offensive attack that made 50% of their shots against them. Only one other team has made at least 50% of their shots against this Wolverines team this season. Michigan has also played 5 straight games Under the Total when playing with five or six days of rest. And in their last 11 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court, the Under is 8-2-1.

FINAL TAKE: Michigan and Michigan State have the second and third best Adjusted Defensive Efficiencies in the nation. Look for this rematch to play out like the final 30 minutes of their first encounter. 10* CBB Saturday Night Discounted Deal with Under the Total in the game between the Michigan Wolverines (649) and the Michigan State Spartans (650). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 8:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Michigan Wolverines (649) plus the points versus the Michigan State Spartans (650). THE SITUATION: Michigan (26-4) has won their last two games after losing at home to the Spartans by a 77-70 score back on February 24th despite being a 4.5-point favorite in that game. The Wolverines come off an impressive 69-62 win at Maryland as a 1-point underdog last Sunday. Michigan State (24-6) has won six of their last seven games after their 91-76 win over Nebraska as a 13.5-point favorite on Tuesday. The winner of this game clinches at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.

REASONS TO TAKE THE WOLVERINES PLUS THE POINTS: The loss at home to the Spartans was a good wake-up call for this Michigan team that has not played as well on the offensive end of the court as they were earlier in the season when they defeated Villanova and North Carolina. Too often, the Wolverines have been comfortable resorting to playing “hero ball on offense” rather than execute head coach John Beilein’s outstanding schemes. In this regard, the injury to Charles Matthews may have been a small blessing in disguise as it helped coax the group that lost in the NCAA Championship Game last season to get back to ball movement to find open shooters. Admittedly, Michigan is much better with a healthy Matthews on the court — but inserting Isaiah Livers into the starting lineup again has helped to stabilize this team because he is a secondary scorer who is content to be doing the little extra things to help the team. Livers was a consistent starter last year. At times this season, the Wolverines have been indecisive regarding who should take the initiative on offense since they have a handful of solid but unspectacular creators. This team is much better when faithfully executing Beilein’s offensive game plan. Additionally, the Spartans changed their ball-screen strategy in the first meeting between these two teams which effectively stymied the Michigan routine — yet Beilein has had almost a full week to practice the adjustments he wants his team to make in this rematch. The other problem the Wolverines had in the first meeting between these two teams was that Michigan State was on-fire with their shooting. They were shooting at a torrid pace for the first ten minutes of this game and the 50% shooting clip that they ended the game with was the second highest shooting percentage a team has enjoyed against the Wolverines all season. Assistant head coach (and “defensive coordinator) Luke Yaklich should have a few important adjustments up his sleeve for this rematch. Michigan has covered the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after a straight-up win — and they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after a win on the road. The Wolverines stay on the road where their defensive play which ranks second best in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency keeps their games close. Michigan has covered the point spread in 19 of their last 26 games on the road — and they have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 road games against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. The Wolverines have also covered the point spread in 5 of their last 6 road games with the Total set in the 130s. Furthermore, Michigan has covered the point spread in 14 of their last 20 games as an underdog — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games after fifteen games into the season against teams with a winning percentage over 80%. Michigan State has been riddled with injuries this season. They are already down to original starters with Nick Ward and Joshua Langford on the shelf. Now their floor general, Cassius Winston, has reports of tendinitis in his knee and current starter Kyle Ahrens is dealing with a back injury. While both players will take the court tonight, they are not at 100%. As it is, Michigan State has failed to cover the point spread in 16 of their last 24 games after winning at least 15 of their last 20 games. Additionally, the Spartans have not met point spread expectations once the month of March hits as they have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games in March. And while Michigan is outscoring their opponents by +12.4 PPG, Michigan State has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after fifteen games into the season against teams that are outscoring their opponents by at least +12.0 PPG. Furthermore, while the Wolverines average only 16 free throw attempts per game, the Spartans have failed to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 13 games after fifteen games into the season against opponents who do not attempt more than 18 free throws per game.

FINAL TAKE: Xavier Simpson owned Winston in the last two meetings between these two teams last season — with their last encounter being in the Big Ten tournament. Winston was particularly motivated to avenge those losses in the first meeting between these two teams. Now it is Simpson who has something to prove — and he leads a Wolverines team that has covered the point spread in 9 straight games when avenging a same-season loss. Lastly, Michigan has covered 4 of their last 5 trips to East Lansing to face the Spartans. 25* CBB Big Ten Game of the Year with the Michigan Wolverines (649) plus the points versus the Michigan State Spartans (650). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 6:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Duke Blue Devils (697) plus the points versus the North Carolina Tar Heels (698). THE SITUATION: Duke (26-4) limps into this rematch coming off a lackluster 71-70 win at home over Wake Forest on Tuesday as a 24-point favorite. North Carolina (25-5) has won six straight games after their 79-66 win at Boston College as an 11.5-point favorite on Tuesday.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BLUE DEVILS PLUS THE POINTS: First off, this play assumes that Zion Williamson will not play in this game as he continues to recover from the knee injury he suffered in the opening moments of the first meeting between these two teams back on February 20th. I suspect that Williamson will return to the court next week sometime in the ACC Tournament. If Williamson does play, all the better. I expect this Duke team to play their best game since Williamson got injured after they were so flat against a weak Demon Deacons team. The Blue Devils have covered the point spread in 15 of their last 20 games after a narrow win at home by 3 points or less — and they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 14 games after a win on their home court. Furthermore, Duke has only been whistled for 14 personal fouls in two straight games — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after not being called for more than 15 personal fouls in two straight contests. The Blue Devils looked awful in their 88-72 loss at home to the Tar Heels — but they were shellshocked after seeing their star player leave injured so early in that contest. Frankly, the energy and effort from this Duke team left much to be desired. Unquestionably, head coach Mike Krzyzewski will demand that is not the case tonight. Admittedly, the Blue Devils have suffered from their interior defense without Williamson — and this looks like a big weakness in this rematch. But Krzyzewski has had over two weeks to scheme and prepare as to how to adjust to this problem for this impending showdown with their arch-rivals. Duke may go back to the 2-3 zone defense that they had success with last season to help clog the middle. It's not often we have the opportunity to take a Blue Devils team as an underdog getting more than a basket. Duke has covered the point spread in 8 of their last 10 road games as an underdog getting 3.5 to 6 points. North Carolina has failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games after winning at least six in a row. And while they out-rebounded the Eagles by a whopping 60 to 35 margin, they have then failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 15 games after out-rebounding their last opponent by at least 20 boards. The Tar Heels have also scored at least 77 points in six straight games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after scoring at least 75 points in four straight contests.

FINAL TAKE: Duke has been very reliable when motivated by revenge. They have covered the point spread in 4 of their last 5 games when looking to avenge a same-season loss — and they have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games when avenging a loss where they allowed at least 75 points. The Blue Devils are also 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games played in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels. 10* CBB Duke-North Carolina ESPN Special with the Duke Blue Devils (697) plus the points versus the North Carolina Tar Heels (698). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 3:35 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing the Bradley Braves (717) plus the points versus the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (718). THE SITUATION: Bradley (18-14) reached the Semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament yesterday with their 61-58 upset win over Missouri State yesterday getting 2.5-points. Loyola-Chicago (20-12) defeated Valparaiso by a 67-54 score yesterday as a 7.5-point favorite. “Arch Madness” takes place on a neutral court in St. Louis.

REASONS TO TAKE THE BRAVES PLUS THE POINTS: Bradley started MVC play losing five straight games before rallying to win 10 of their last thirteen contests. Their victory yesterday was impressive because that Tigers team had swept their two games against Loyola-Chicago in the regular season. The Braves have covered the point spread in 28 of their last 41 games after a win by 3 points or less. Bradley held Missouri State to just 5 offensive rebounds yesterday — and they have also covered the point spread in 12 of their last 17 games after not allowing more than 5 offensive rebounds in their last game. The Braves are the second-best 3-point shooting team in the MVC as they are making 39.1% of their shots from behind the arc. This is a major area of weakness for the Ramblers as they are last in the conference by allowing their opponents to nail 40.3% of their 3-point shots. Their 3-point shooting should keep this upstart Bradley team competitive in this game — and they have covered the point spread in 5 of their last 7 games against teams with a winning record. The Braves have also covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games played on a neutral court. And in their last 25 games with the Total set no higher than 125, Bradley has covered the point spread in 16 of these contests. Loyola-Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after winning at least four of their last five games. The Ramblers returned three starters from last year’s Final Four team. But this group is not nearly as good on the defensive end of the court as they rank a lowly 8th in the MVC in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. This team is very reliant on making 3s as they lead the conference by making 39.6% of their shots from downtown — but this Braves team defends the perimeter quite well as their opponents only make 31.0% of their 3-point shots which is the best mark in the Missouri Valley. Loyola-Chicago is the familiar name to the betting public that has pushed this line up a bit higher than what the computer generations predict the score to be (for what that is worth …). The Ramblers have been favored in each of their last three games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 13 of their last 19 games after being favored in at least their last two games. These last two games have finished Over the Total as well — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 straight games after playing at least two straight Overs. This Total is set in the 119.5 range today — and Loyola-Chicago has failed to cover the point spread in 3 of their last 4 games with the Total set no higher than 119.5. And the Ramblers have failed to cover the point spread in 8 of their last 12 games played on a neutral court when favored in the 3.5 to 6 point range.

FINAL TAKE: These two teams played just last Saturday where Loyola-Chicago won by an 81-68 score on their home court. But Bradley won the first meeting between these two teams so they will be confident they can pull the upset. This is a feisty Braves team that should keep this game very close. 25* CBB Missouri Valley Conference Underdog of the Year with the Bradley Braves (717) plus the points versus the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (718). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 12:00 PM ET on Saturday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (605) and the Pittsburgh Panthers (606). THE SITUATION: Notre Dame (13-17) has lost six straight games with their 64-62 loss at home to Clemson on Wednesday as a 4-point underdog. Pittsburgh (12-18) has lost thirteen straight contests after their 76-63 loss at Miami (FL) as a 6-point underdog on Tuesday.

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Fighting Irish have played 4 straight games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have also played 6 of their last 7 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. That game finished below the 133 point Total for that contest — so Notre Dame has now played 12 of their last 15 games Under the Total in the month of March. Now the Fighting Irish go back on the road where they are just 2-9 this season while making just 39.9% of their shots. Notre Dame has played 4 straight games Under the Total — and they have played 5 of their last 6 road games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage over 60% on their home court. The Fighting Irish have also played 15 of their last 21 road games Under the Total as an underdog. Head coach Mike Brey’s team is uncharacteristically ineffective at shooting the basketball this season. Notre Dame is 12th in the ACC in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they are making just 38.3% of their shots over their last five games. Pittsburgh is hitting only 37.7% of their shots over their last five games — and they rank 13th in the ACC in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. The Panthers made 43.7% of their shots in their loss to the Hurricanes which, unfortunate for them, was the best offensive shooting for them in their last four games. Pitt has played 36 of their last 51 games Under the Total after a straight-up loss — and they have played 19 of their last 27 games Under the Total after a double-digit loss to a conference rival. Now this team returns home where they are 10-7 while playing good defense as they hold their opponents to just a 39.5% shooting percentage. The Panthers have played 27 of their last 37 games Under the Total on their home court — and they have played 5 of their last 7 home games Under the Total against teams with a winning percentage below 40% on the road.

FINAL TAKE: Expect a lower scoring game between these two teams that struggle to score points. 20* CBB Saturday Afternoon O/U Tip-Off with Under the Total in the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (605) and the Pittsburgh Panthers (606). Best of luck for us — Frank.