Tag: College Basketball betting

2020 Horizon League College Basketball Tournament odds and betting futures

Analyzing the 2020 Horizon League Tournament odds and futures, with sports betting picks, tips and best bets.

Then there were four remaining in the Horizon League race for a dance ticket to the 2020 NCAA Tournament.

The Wright State Raiders, Northern Kentucky Norse, Green Bay Phoenix and Illinois-Chicago Flames are the last four standing, but the oddsmakers are really considering it a two-horse race. Stranger things have happened, however, and that’s what makes the craziness of March college hoops so exciting.

Below, we look at the futures odds to win the Horizon League, which is down to Monday’s semifinals after featuring first-round games March 3 and the quarterfinals Thursday.

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday, March 9 at 3:10 p.m. ET.

2020 Horizon League odds: Wright State Raiders (-179)

Wright State rolled to a 15-3 regular-season conference record, winning the league by two full games over second-place Northern Kentucky. As such, the Raiders earned a bye into the semifinals, avoiding the possibility of an early-round upset. It could have happened, too. They were shocked in an 88-70 loss at Youngstown State, the No. 5 seed, three games ago. But YSU was knocked out by Illinois-Chicago in the quarters.

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The Raiders rank fifth in the country in offense, posting 81.4 points per game (PPG), and are 37th with a 36.6 percentage from 3-point land. The one thing that could potentially hold the Raiders back in a close game, either in the semifinals, conference final or in the NCAA Tournament, is their struggles at the free-throw line. They’re terrible, ranking 270th at just 68.0 percent. The player to watch is C Loudon Love, the 6-foot-11 big from Illinois who averages 16.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

The FAVORITE IS WORTH A BET AT -179, and just hope the Raiders can avoid the upset bug and a disappointing trip to the NIT.

The Raiders (-6, -110) are favored vs. the Flames in Monday’s first semifinal at Indianapolis (7 p.m. ET). WSU is -250 on the moneyline, while UIC is +200. The O/U is 150.5.

2020 Horizon League odds: Northern Kentucky Norse (+130)

The Norse fell to Wright State at home on Feb. 28 in the regular-season finale, but they were still able to snag the No. 2 seed. They didn’t fare terribly well down the stretch, however, going 2-2 straight up (SU) and 1-4 against the spread (ATS) in the final four. If a 3-pointer is needed, the Norse rank a lowly 306th at 30.7 percent from behind the arc, and they are a middling 137th in points scored (72.2 PPG).

NKU went 0-2 SU/ATS against Wright State. The Norse split with each Green Bay and UIC, going 1-1 SU/ATS. They have some short odds, but it might be best to look elsewhere.

NKU (-5, -115) play Green Bay in Monday’s second semifinal. The Norse are -228 on the moneyline, while the Phoenix are +185. The O/U is 151.

2020 Horizon League odds: Green Bay Phoenix (+1500)

The Phoenix ended up just one game over .500 at 16-15 in the regular season, but finished up strong. Green Bay won four of the final five in the regular season, only falling at Oakland 92-88 in overtime on Feb. 23. The Phoenix exacted revenge in the Horizon quarters with a 78-63 beating of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, easily covering a 4-point number. For the Phoenix, it’s all offense and very little mind to defense. They rank third in the country at 82.0 PPG, and they’re 22nd in 3-pointer percentage (37.3%). However, they are 338th in scoring defense, yielding 80.1 PPG. Still, they’re a pretty solid long-shot pick worthy of a SMALL-UNIT BET AT +1500.

2020 Horizon League odds: Illinois-Chicago Flames (+2000)

The Flames were 15-16 during the regular season, but they have racked up wins over IUPUI and Youngstown State to play their way into the Horizon semifinals. UIC struggles to post points, averaging just 69.0 PPG to rank 237th. Despite the Flames’ scoring woes, they still managed to split with each of the top three seeds, Wright State, NKU and Green Bay. Still, UIC is likely to flame out, pun totally intended. AVOID.

Want some action on this tournament? Place a bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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SoCon Final: East Tennessee State vs. Wofford odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Southern Conference final between East Tennessee State and Wofford, with college basketball betting odds, picks and bets

The Wofford Terriers (19-15) battle the East Tennessee State Buccaneers (29-4) in the Southern Conference title game Monday at 7 p.m. ET at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, NC. We analyze the Wofford-East Tennessee State odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

East Tennessee State vs. Wofford: Three things you need to know

  1. The 7-seeded Terriers of Wofford have been here before, but they’re heavy underdogs this time around against the top-seeded Buccaneers of ETSU. The Bucs were 16-2 in conference play during the regular season, while the Terriers went 8-10.
  2. ETSU swept the two regular-season meetings, but both games were close. On New Year’s Day, the Bucs topped the Terriers 49-48 in Johnson City, and 60-54 in Spartanburg Feb. 26 in the most recent battle.
  3. The Buccaneers ranked 27th in the country with 63.1 points per game allowed, while the Terriers ranked just 158th in scoring offense at 71.7 PPG.

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East Tennessee State vs. Wofford: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

East Tennessee State 62, Wofford 59

Moneyline (ML)

East Tennessee State (-278) is our pick to win this Southern Conference final, but there’s no value in the chalky odds. PASS and look to the spread for better value.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WOFFORD +6.5 (-115) has been here before, and won’t be intimidated. The Terriers have posted a 3-0 straight up/2-0-1 ATS mark in the SoCon tourney so far, and have one more game to finish off another improbable run to the Big Dance. They finished the regular season losing their final seven games, and they ended 2-6 ATS in the final eight. Yet, here they are.

East Tennessee -6.5 (-106) has been a tremendous team for many years. You might remember Keith ‘Mister’ Jennings from 1987-91. The Buccaneers have been a thorn in plenty of teams’ sides in the past, and one made it to the Elite Eight (1968). This is a proud team who will go dancing, but Wofford won’t go without a fight.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 133.5 (-110) cashed in each of the two regular-season battles, and another defensive game should be on tap here. While Wofford hit the Over in the first three SoCon tournament games, this one will go well Under.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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MWC Final: Valparaiso vs. Bradley odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Valparaiso vs. Bradley college basketball matchup, with college basketball betting odds, picks and best bets.

The Valparaiso Crusaders (19-15) meet the Bradley Braves (22-11) in the Missouri Valley Conference title game Sunday at 2:05 p.m. ET at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. We analyze the Valparaiso-Bradley odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Valparaiso vs. Bradley: Three things you need to know

1. The 7-seed Crusaders of Valpo have been Cinderella in the conference tourney colloquially referred to as ‘Arch Madness’. Valpo topped Evansville 58-55 on Thursday, stunned Loyola-Chicago 74-73 in OT Friday, then dumped Missouri State 89-82 Saturday in a 6-7 game to punch their ticket to the final.

2. The 4-seed Braves of Bradley are less of a surprise to be in the title game. They snuck by Southern Illinois 64-59 in the quarters Friday before racking up a 10-point win over another upstart, Drake, by a 76-66 score.

3. Bradley and Valpo split their regular-season series, with the Braves winning 80-69 Jan. 29 and the Crusaders winning 90-78 Feb. 22. Both games saw the home team win and the Over hit.

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Valparaiso vs. Bradley: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Bradley 79, Valparaiso 76

Moneyline (ML)

Valparaiso is the underdog in this one at +135. While I expect a tight game, I like BRADLEY -162 to hold the Crusaders off in this one.

New to sports betting? A $10 successful bet on Bradley to win outright returns a profit of $6.17.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Valparaiso (+2.5, +100) hasn’t been terribly steady all season, but the Crusaders are playing their best basketball of the season and have been cover kings lately. The Crusaders finished the regular season 6-1 ATS in their final seven games — including that straight-up win over Bradley (-2.5, -121 for Sunday’s game) Feb. 22 — and they’re 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS in the MVC tourney so far.

The Braves might sneak away with a ticket to the dance, but the Crusaders will make them work for it. A slight lean here for BRADLEY -2.5 (-121).

Over/Under (O/U)

The Over in the two regular-season meetings between Valpo and Bradley, and taking OVER 132.5 (-110) is a good play Sunday. The Over has hit in the past two for the Crusaders, including an 89-point performance by their offense against Missouri State in Saturday’s semis. Bradley hit the over in their final five of the regular season, while going 1-1 with the total in the tourney so far.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Iowa at Illinois college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Sunday’s Iowa at Illinois sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (20-10, 11-8 Big Ten) visit the Illinois Fighting Illini (20-10, 12-7) in a Sunday night (7 p.m. ET) game at the State Farm Center. We analyze the Iowa-Illinois odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Iowa at Illinois: Three things you need to know

1. The 18th-ranked (USA Today Sports Coaches Poll) Hawkeyes and 22nd-ranked Fighting Illini are both first-division squads in the 2019-20 Big Ten standings. The game in Champaign is a key one in how conference tournament seeds will be assigned. Iowa — the circuit’s top-scoring team at 77.8 points per game — defeated Illinois, 72-65, on Feb. 2. in Iowa City. That loss was part of a string that saw the Illini drop four in a row.

2. Iowa comes out on top in a strengths-and-weaknesses comparison. A couple key Illinois trouble spots (opponent free throws and breakaways) are areas where Iowa excels. Iowa’s potential trouble spots don’t match up well with the Illini’s skill set.

3. Where Illinois comes out on top is in the consistency department. The Illini tend to hoist more level field goal accuracy numbers on offense and defense. They have averaged 72 PPG while allowing 64.9 ppg, marks that rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in a deep and talented Big Ten. For the Hawkeyes, recent road efforts tell the story, with solid games against Michigan State (a well-played loss against a top-10 foe) and Minnesota (impressive win) and missteps against Purdue and Indiana (boat races with Iowa down 10-plus throughout).

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Iowa at Illinois: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:35 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Illinois 73, Iowa 71

Moneyline (ML)

Iowa has shown a tremendous ability to bounce back from shaky performances and be sharp the next time out.

The lean is a slight one toward the home five, but the current price on Iowa is too attractive to bypass. WILL BACK IOWA +140.

New to sports betting and confused about moneyline odds? In this case a $10 winning bet on Iowa would return a profit of $14 if they win outright.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Hawkeyes are 2-5 straight up and 3-4 ATS over their last seven road tilts. But they’re 10-1 in following a SU loss.

The lean here isn’t definable either way. WILL PASS ON ILLINOIS -3.5 (-110).

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is: 17-13 in all Iowa games … 18-11 in all Illinois games … 6-1 after an Iowa loss to a Big Ten foe … 11-5 in Illinois home games … 13-6 in Illinois conference games.

This is one to grab before the line moves against you. TAKE THE UNDER 149.5 (-121).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Ohio State at Michigan State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Ohio State at Michigan State betting odds and lines, with NCAA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (21-9, 11-8 Big Ten) travel north to meet the Michigan State Spartans (21-9, 13-6 Big Ten) at Breslin Center Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET in a Big Ten Conference showdown. We analyze the Ohio State-Michigan State odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Ohio State at Michigan State: Three things you need to know

1. It’s been a tale of several seasons for Ohio State. At one point they were nearly the No. 1 team in the land before a loss to Minnesota in mid-December derailed those chances. They had a four-game losing skid, and dropped six of seven, but have since recovered. They enter this game 4-0 straight up and ATS, and they are 6-1 SU/ATS across the past seven.

2. Ohio State’s resume for the NCAA Tournament is bolstered by wins over Maryland, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan (twice), North Carolina, Penn State and Villanova.

3. Michigan State also enters on a four-game winning streak after a slump of their own, which saw Sparty drop four of five from Feb. 1-15, going 0-5 ATS during the skid.

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Ohio State at Michigan State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 11:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Michigan State 74, Ohio State 72

Moneyline (ML)

Michigan State (-295) is just too expensive, as laying nearly three times your potential return makes absolutely no sense. If anything, Ohio State (+230) is worth a roll of the dice, as this could be a very close game. It’s worth a small-unit bet for a nice potential nice return, although I think Sparty comes away with the win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

OHIO STATE (+7, -121) catching seven points in this game is quite a bit, as they enter this game on a roll. Michigan State (-7, even) has also failed to cover each of the past three at home, and they’re 1-3 ATS in the past four when favored by seven or more points. They’re also 3-6 ATS in the past nine contests overall.

You’ll be bucking head-to-head trends a bit, as the home team is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings, with the favorite cashing in nine of the past 11 in this series.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 138.5 (+105) is worth a light play on Sunday afternoon. These teams haven’t exactly been offensive juggernauts this season, with MSU posting an ordinary 75.8 PPG and OSU with 72.2 PPG. But lately, these teams have shown a little more offense, and Sparty has hit the Over in four of the past five, and six of the past eight. The Buckeyes are 4-1 on the Over, and 6-2 in their past eight, too.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Memphis at Houston college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Memphis Tigers at Houston Cougars sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Memphis Tigers (21-9, 10-7 AAC) and Houston Cougars (22-8, 12-5 AAC) battle at Fertitta Center in Houston at 12 p.m. ET Sunday. We analyze the Memphis-Houston odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Cougars are ranked 21st in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.

Memphis at Houston: Three things you need to know

  1. Memphis picked up a narrow 60-59 victory Feb. 22 on their home floor against Houston. A win for the Tigers would give them the four-seed in the upcoming AAC Tournament.
  2. The Tigers lead the country with a 36.1 defensive field-goal percentage, and they rank third in the nation in blocked shots with 6.0 per game. Freshman Precious Achiuwa leads the team with 1.9 BPG, and he also leads the nation among freshmen with 10.6 rebounds per contest while posting 15.5 points per game.
  3. The Under has cashed in four straight for Memphis, and the streak was kicked off in their low-scoring win over Houston Feb. 22. The Cougs have hit the Under in three of their past four games, and 12 of their past 15.

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Memphis at Houston: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Houston 65, Memphis 61

Moneyline (ML)

The Houston moneyline (-500) is not a good play. This will be a defensive battle, and laying five times the return is just not good for the long-term health of your bankroll. If anything, Memphis (+360), who won the first meeting, would be a better option. But the best course of action is to AVOID.

Against the Spread (ATS)

MEMPHIS (+9, -110) won the first meeting and should be able to keep it close in what is expected to be a defensive grind like the first head-to-head contest. Houston (-9, -110) enters the game with a 2-4 ATS mark across the past six outings, and while the Cougars are 4-1 ATS in the past five at home, they have managed to cover just twice in the past five when favored by nine or more.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 135 (-110) is the best bet between these two defensive-minded clubs. Houston ranks 16th in the land with 62.3 PPG allowed, while limiting the opposition to a 38.3 field-goal percentage, good for ninth in the country, and a 28.8 3-pointer percentage, 11th in the nation. Memphis allows just 64.9 PPG, and it is fourth against the three while leading the country in defensive FG%.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Louisville at Virginia college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Louisville at Virginia sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Louisville Cardinals (24-6, 15-4 ACC) and Virginia Cavaliers (22-7, 14-5) close out their respective regular-season campaigns with a Saturday-afternoon (4 p.m. ET) ACC contest in Charlottesville, Va. We analyze the Louisville-Virginia odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Louisville at Virginia: Three things you need to know

1. The 10th-ranked (USA Today Sports Coaches Poll) Louisville Cardinals need a win combined with a Florida State loss at Boston College (4:30 p.m. ET tip) to claim the ACC regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The Cardinals lost at FSU two games back and head into their regular-season finale on a three-game road losing streak.

2. The No. 22 Virginia Cavaliers head into Saturday’s game on a roll. The Wahoos have won seven straight dating back to a Feb. 8 loss to Louisville. UL defeated UVA, 80-73, in that one. The Cards controlled the game until the nine-minute mark of the second half when Virginia started to make a move. The Wahoos would eventually worth their way to a two-point lead, but UL would limit the Cavs to one field goal over the last three minutes. Close games are certainly not foreign to UVA. In seven games since, Virginia hasn’t lost. In six of those wins, the Cavaliers won by one score.

3. The Cards have underperformed against teams that are strong on the offensive glass. UVA doesn’t seem to fit that bill: the Cavaliers ranks 210th in the nation in offensive rebounding and 347th in second-chance points after offensive boards. Louisville was a plus-10 in rebounding margin when the teams met in Louisville Feb. 8.

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Louisville at Virginia: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Louisville 60, Virginia 56

Moneyline (ML)

WILL PASS ON LOUISVILLE +110 as a straight-up play.

Against the Spread (ATS)

In their last meeting, the Cardinals and Cavaliers were both lights-out in their shooting accuracy — the Wahoos unsustainably so. UVA shot 53.1 percent (26-for-49) from the floor and 50 percent (11-for-22) from three-point range.

WILL BACK LOUISVILLE +1 (+105).

Over/Under (O/U)

These programs rank 1-2 in ACC defense (UVA No. 1, UL No. 2). Combined, they yield 116.2 points per game. In their Feb. 8 meeting, hot shooting cycled the final total 153 points.

Both sides have trended toward the Over of late, and that’s the moderate-confidence play for Saturday: OVER 113.5 (-121).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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North Carolina at Duke college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing North Carolina at Duke sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The North Carolina Tar Heels (13-17, 6-13 in the ACC) visit their Atlantic Coast Conference rival, the Duke Blue Devils (24-6, 14-5 in the ACC),  Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off at the Cameron Indoor Stadium. We analyze the North Carolina-Duke odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

North Carolina at Duke: Three things you need to know

  1. North Carolina is playing its best basketball of the season. The Tar Heels are on a three-game winning streak (all against ACC competition) following a seven-game losing streak. Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games.
  2. North Carolina lost a heartbreaker, 98-96, in the first game this season against Duke thanks to Wendell Moore Jr.’s buzzer-beating putback in overtime. 
  3. Duke got revenge against North Carolina State in its previous game, 88-69 on March 2, after the Wolfpack upset the Blue Devils on NC State’s home floor. 

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North Carolina at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 78, North Carolina 70

Moneyline (ML)

North Carolina (+475) out-rebounded and shot better from the field than Duke -667 in their first meeting. The Tar Heels’ major flaw in that game was committing 18 turnovers to the Blue Devils’ 11. Both teams are stacked with well-recruited talent. The key matchups of Duke’s PG Tre Jones and C Vernon Carey Jr. versus North Carolina’s PG Cole Anthony and PF Garrison Brooks were essentially draws. It’s hard to fathom the Tar Heels scoring an upset in Duke after blowing a double-digit lead in their own home. We certainly aren’t spending the exorbitant Duke moneyline price. PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.

Against the Spread (ATS)

North Carolina +11.5 (-125) have covered five consecutive games, and six out of seven, against Duke -11.5 (+105). Plus Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games and are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games. The Tar Heels get up for tough teams on the road—they are 6-4 ATS versus winning teams. Also, Duke is 1-3 ATS when laying 10-12 points.

I LIKE NORTH CAROLINA +11.5 (-125).

Over/Under (O/U)

The last North Carolina-Duke game went Over the projected total, snapping a six-game Under streak. I think Saturday’s game will go Under, but it’s only a slight LEAN toward UNDER 152.5 (-110). It’s only a lean though because Duke has a 21-9 Over/Under record on the season, and both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils went Over the projected total in five of their previous six games.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Baylor at West Virginia college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Baylor Bears at West Virginia Mountaineers sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Baylor Bears (26-3, 15-2 Big 12) visit the West Virginia Mountaineers (20-10, 8-9) Saturday at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W.Va., for a 1 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the Baylor-West Virginia odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Baylor at West Virginia: Three things you need to know

  1. After sitting atop the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll for several weeks, Baylor has gone 2-2 and dropped to No. 4. The Bears needed overtime to get past the unranked Texas Tech Red Raiders 71-68 Monday at home in their last game.
  2. The Mountaineers recently snapped a three-game skid with a 77-71 win Tuesday at an under-.500 Iowa State Cyclones squad. West Virginia is 2-6 straight up and against the spread in its last 8 games.
  3. Baylor took the first regular-season matchup 70-59 at home Feb. 15, led by G Jared Butler’s 21 points. The Bears covered as a 5-point favorite, and the game finished Under the projected total of 130. G Taz Sherman scored a season-high 20 points off the bench to lead the Mountaineers.

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Baylor at West Virginia: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:25 a.m. ET.

Prediction

West Virginia 64, Baylor 59

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. West Virginia (-110) is 13-2 at home. Baylor (-110) is 8-1 on the road with the one setback occurring to unranked TCU – the Bears were 9.5-point favorites. I’m going to PASS and focus on the spread.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WEST VIRGINIA -1 (-106) is the STRONGEST PLAY. The Mountaineers’ two home losses were to top-ranked Kansas, which was No. 3 at the time, and to unranked Oklahoma as an 8-point favorite last Saturday. Granted, Baylor +1 (-115) has only one loss on the road – to unranked TCU as a 9.5-point favorite Feb. 29 – but I expect West Virginia coach Bob Huggins to have his team ready in front of a raucous home crowd.

New to sports betting? Every $1.06 wagered on the Mountaineers’ spread will profit $1 if they win by 2 or more points. A 1-point WVU win is a push and you get your money back.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 129 (-106) is the way to go. Baylor’s defense ranks sixth in the country, allowing just 59.6 points per game, while West Virginia yields just 62.4 PPG to rank 16th. The Mountaineers are one of the best Under teams in the country, posting an 8-21-1 O/U record this season. They’re also 1-8-1 O/U in their last 10 games.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Johnny’s record since Feb. 1: 16-7. Strongest plays: 9-3.

Johnny’s record since Dec. 1: 53-32-2. Strongest plays: 30-12.

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Washington State at Arizona college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Washington State Cougars at Arizona Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Washington State Cougars (15-14, 6-10 Pac-12) visit the Arizona Wildcats (19-10, 9-7) Thursday in a Pac-12 contest in Tucson’s McKale Memorial Center. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Washington State-Arizona odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Washington State at Arizona: Three things you need to know

  1. This matchup consists of a couple teams who have piled up some losses of late. Arizona has lost three in a row, and the Wildcats offense, which averaged 81.6 points per game through Jan. 18, has averaged 61.3 PPG during the dry spell. Washington State is coming off a 78-74 win over rival Washington, but that victory was preceded by four straight losses.
  2. Arizona has had a couple home-court setbacks of late, with losses to UCLA (Feb. 8) and Oregon (Feb. 22) over the last few weeks. The latter was an overtime game against a quality Ducks team. The former was on an uncharacteristic shooting night for both the Wildcats and Bruins. In 15 home games, Arizona is 12-3 against the spread.
  3. The Wildcats have exhibited some struggles against teams with a solid mid-range game and who perform well on the offensive boards. Wazzou’s makeup doesn’t fit either bill. A weakness on the Cougars’ side, however — running into trouble against proficient outside shooting teams — is a facet of the game in Arizona’s wheelhouse. UA ranks 37th in the nation in home-court 3-point accuracy 38.8%. The Wildcats have shot 45.5% from distance over their last two games at McKale Memorial Center.

Get some action on this college basketball matchup or others by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

Washington State at Arizona: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Arizona 80, Washington State 64

Moneyline (ML)

We expect Arizona to win rather handily, but the -1667 odds aren’t worth an investment no matter your degree of confidence in the Wildcats. PASS.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Arizona to win returns a profit of just $0.60.

Against the Spread (ATS)

WSU is 2-7 ATS on the road and 5-9 ATS after a win. Arizona is 3-1 ATS when returning home after multiple road games.

ARIZONA -14.5 (-110) is a line offering just enough wiggle room to make it worthy of a play.

Over/Under (O/U)

In those same UA “homecoming” games, the Over has gone 4-0.

The total for Thursday is three points lower than it was for this season’s first meeting — in Pullman, Wash., Feb. 1 — between WSU and UA. BACK THE OVER 140.5 (+105).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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