Tag: College Basketball betting

Georgia at Florida odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Georgia Bulldogs at Florida Gators betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Georgia Bulldogs (12-9, 2-6 SEC) and Florida Gators (13-8, 5-3) tangle at Exactech Arena at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. We analyze the Georgia-Florida odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Georgia at Florida: Three things you need to know

1. The Bulldogs slapped the brakes on a four-game skip with a 15-point win over Texas A&M last time out. While they have been losing fairly regularly lately, they are 3-1 ATS across the past four outings.

2. The Gators kept Vanderbilt’s conference losing skid intact with a 61-55 win in Nashville Saturday, but the Gators failed to cover for the third consecutive outing.

3. Florida F Kerry Blackshear Jr. leads the team with 14.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, and he is hitting his 3-pointers at a 31.7-percent clip across 21 outings. He is one of four players on the Gators roster averaging double-digit points.

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Georgia at Florida: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Florida 76, Georgia 70

Moneyline (ML)

The Gators (-500) should win this one rather handily, but it’s not wise to risk five times the return on investment. The Bulldogs are +375.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Gators (-9.5, -110) have been having some trouble against the spread lately, although they are getting it done in the win-loss column. As such, roll with GEORGIA (+9.5, -110) catching the points. Plus, the road team is 6-1 ATS in the previous seven meetings, which also is a trend that points to UGA.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 142 (-110) is worth a light, light play, as it might be a sweat shop all evening long. If this game goes Over, it likely won’t be until the final minute. The Over is 4-1 in UGA’s past five against teams with a winning percentage over .600, 12-4 in Florida’s past 16 overall, and 8-2 in Florida’s past 10 after a straight-up win.

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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Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Michigan State Spartans (16-6) host the Penn State Nittany Lions (16-5) for a Big Ten conference game in the Breslin Center Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Penn State-Michigan State odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

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

  1. The recruited talent discrepancy is eye-popping:  Michigan State has nine RSCI Top-100 recruits on their roster, while Penn State has none.
  2. Penn State has won four straight games, including three by double-digits, and their current No. 22 AP ranking is Penn State’s highest since 1995-96.
  3. Michigan State has been inconsistent recently—going 3-3 over its past six games with a 64-63 loss to Wisconsin on February 1. However, Michigan State is still tied will Illinois atop the Big Ten with an 8-3 conference record.

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.

Penn 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 at 1:15 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Michigan State 74, Penn State 63

Moneyline (ML)

Michigan State has played much better than Penn State against conference foes. The Spartans have a 8.8 margin of victory compared to the Nittany Lions’ .2 margin of victory against Big Ten teams. Plus the Nittany Lions are 0-6 at Michigan State with five double-digit losses since 2011.

But, the money line is both too chalky to warrant a wager on Michigan State’s (-400) side and too much of a gamble for Penn State (+310) given their slim chances of pulling off an upset at the Spartans’ home.

PASS on the moneyline in Penn State-Michigan State.

Against the Spread (ATS)

There are plenty of trendy reasons to BET MICHIGAN STATE -8.5 (-110) in this spot. The Spartans have exceeded bookmakers’ expectations at home so far this year:  Michigan State is 9-2 ATS at home and 6-2 ATS against teams above .500. Also, Michigan State is 2-0 ATS when laying 7-9.5 points and Penn State is 0-1 ATS when getting 7-9.5 points. 

Additionally, the matchup edge heavily favors the Spartans. Michigan State is third in the country in opponent’s 3-point percentage and ninth in rebounds per game. Conversely, Penn State is ranked 250th in 3-point percentage and 275th in opponent’s rebounds per game. The Spartans will force the Nittany Lions into tough shots and clean the glass once they miss those shots.

Over/Under (O/U)

TAKE UNDER 143.5 (-104) in Penn State-Michigan State. Both teams have played in games recently that’s went under bookmakers’ projections. The Spartans’ Over/Under record is 0-6-1 in their last seven games overall and the last three Nittany Lions games have went under as well. Also, the under has cashed in three of the last four Penn State-Michigan State 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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Oklahoma at Texas Tech college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Tech Red Raiders sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Oklahoma Sooners (14-7, 4-4 Big 12) and Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-8, 4-4 Big 12) do battle at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Oklahoma-Texas Tech odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Oklahoma at Texas Tech: Three things you need to know

1. The Sooners are coming off an 82-69 win over rival Oklahoma State Saturday, although they’re still just 3-4 straight up and against the spread across their past seven outings.

2. The Under has cashed in seven of the past nine games for Oklahoma. The Sooners rank 43rd in the nation in defensive field-goal percentage at just 39.8%.

3. The Red Raiders are skidding, and come into Tuesday as losers of three of their past four. They’re also just 3-5 SU/4-4 ATS across the previous eight contests.

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Oklahoma at Texas Tech: Odds, betting lines and picks

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

Prediction

Texas Tech 68, Oklahoma 63

Moneyline (ML)

PASS on the Texas Tech moneyline (-400) as there is just too much chalk involved. Play the spread in search of a greater profit margin.

Against the Spread (ATS)

OKLAHOMA (+9.5, -121) is a sharp play on the road against a Texas Tech (-9.5, +100) side which has been rather shaky lately and has both Gs Chris Clarke (undisclosed) and Kevin McCullar (concussion) listed as questionable. Both players give the Red Raiders nice depth, and if they’re unavailable then the Sooners are a slam-dunk play to stay within 9 points in a loss or win outright.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 137.5 (-106) is the way to go in this conference battle. The Under has dominated for Oklahoma lately, going 4-0 in its past four games on the road, and 7-2 in the previous nine. The Under is also 19-8 in the past 27 for the Sooners against winning teams. The Under is 4-1 in Texas Tech’s past five against winning teams, 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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Ohio State at Michigan college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Tuesday’s Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Ohio State Buckeyes (14-7) visit the Michigan Wolverines (13-8) at Crisler Center in a Big Ten rivalry game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Ohio State-Michigan odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Ohio State at Michigan: Three things you need to know

  1. Despite their early struggles in Big Ten play—both are 4-6 and tied in 11th place—Ohio State and Michigan have won back-to-back games against conference opponents.
  2. Ohio State has more highly touted recruits on the roster with five RSCI top-100 players compared to Michigan’s four RSCI recruits.  
  3. Michigan senior guard, Zavier Simpson, is second in the nation in assists per game (8.4) and is one of seven current Wolverines who also played on Michigan’s National Championship runner-up team in 2017-18.

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.

Ohio State at Michigan: Odds, betting lines and picks

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

Prediction

Ohio State 66, Michigan 63

Moneyline (ML)

Michigan has won the previous two meetings between these teams but this year’s Ohio State team has major advantages in outside shooting and in rebounding. The Buckeyes are ranked 18th in the country in 3-point percentage and the Wolverines are 109th in opponent 3-point percentage. In the rebounding department, Ohio State keeps opponents off of the glass—ranked 27th in opponent rebounds per game—and Michigan is 170th in the nation in rebounds per game. Also, Michigan is beatable in Ann Arbor, with an 8-3 home record, but Ohio State is just 2-4 in away games and has only beaten Michigan twice on its home floor since 2011. 

But, let’s BET OHIO STATE (+125) on the moneyline since the Buckeyes have proven to be up to the challenge in big games and have beaten three top-10 teams by double digits.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Michigan doesn’t play as well against good teams as Ohio State. The Wolverines are 2-9-1 against the spread against teams above .500, while the Buckeyes are 5-5 ATS against those teams. Plus, Michigan is 1-7-1 ATS in their last nine games vs. a team with a winning record. Since we’re on the Buckeyes to win outright, TAKE OHIO STATE (+2.5, +100) as insurance for our moneyline bet. 

Over/Under (O/U)

TAKE UNDER 132.5 (+100) in Ohio State-Michigan for a few reasons. First, we are on the Buckeyes to win so let’s correlate our total bet with Ohio State’s Over/Under record which is 7-14. Second, the Under has cashed in three of the last four Ohio State-Michigan games. Third, the Under is 5-1 in the Wolverines’ last six games as a home favorite. 

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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Texas at Kansas college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Texas Longhorns at Kansas Jayhawks sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Texas Longhorns (14-7) pay a visit to Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan., to tangle with the Kansas Jayhawks (18-3) in Monday night (9 p.m. ET) Big 12 action.

We analyze the Texas-Kansas odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Texas at Kansas: Three things you need to know

  • Both teams are coming off close-margin victories Saturday. Texas defeated Iowa State, 72-68, while third-ranked (USA Today Sports Coaches Poll) Kansas edged Texas Tech, 78-75. Both teams were at home.
  • Kansas defeated Texas, 66-57, in Austin Jan. 18. In that contest, the Jayhawks covered a 7.5-point spread despite going just 2-for-10 (20 percent) from three-point range and 14-for-21 (67 percent) from the free-throw line. Kansas out-rebounded the Longhorns, 40-28.
  • The Jayhawks have done well to bounce back after single-score games to win the next time out by double digits. The last 10 times Kansas has either lost or won a game by two scores or less, they have won the following game by 10 or more eight times. The average margin of victory in those games has been 15.7 points.

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Texas at Kansas: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Kansas 72, Texas 56

Moneyline (ML)

Kansas (-1429) is a resounding favorite to beat Texas (+800), and with KU’s odds, stay far away from that moneyline. If Texas were able to pull off the upset, a $100 bet would net you $800. However, there isn’t a lot of weight pulling in that direction.

Against the Spread (ATS)

In its last game Texas trailed Iowa State for 26 minutes but still managed a final winning margin of four (an ATS cover by one point). The game flow in the Jayhawks’ last game swings the other way: Kansas led that contest against Texas Tech by eight points or more for huge swaths of game action only to post a final margin of three.

KANSAS -15 (100) is a lean. If you choose to make a play on the Jayhawks, this line may be headed downward, so exercise patience.

Over/Under (O/U)

The under is 6-0 in Kansas’ last six games following an ATS loss, and Texas has scored 65 points or less in six of its last nine games.

Both sides play at a relatively slow pace, hence the low total here. But the UNDER 130.5 is still a lean.

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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Illinois at Iowa college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Illinois Fighting Illini at Iowa Hawkeyes sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Illinois Fighting Illini (16-5) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (15-6) Sunday afternoon for a 1 p.m. ET tip-off in a Big Ten tussle at Carver–Hawkeye Arena. We analyze the Illinois-Iowa odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Illinois at Iowa: Three things you need to know

1. Illinois heads into Sunday’s road affair having won seven straight games. That run includes road victories at Wisconsin (Jan. 8), Purdue (Jan. 21), and Michigan (Jan. 25). Overall analytics, however, like Iowa at home more than they like Illinois on the road.

2. The Hawkeyes are returning home off a loss at Maryland. That has spelled a pair of 20-point victories on two other such occasions this season. It’s Iowa’s field-goal defense that gets the biggest boost in the environs of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes have held foes under 40% in six of their last eight home games.

3. Iowa C Luka Garza scored 21 points despite being limited to 24 minutes of action due to foul trouble in the first half of the Hawkeyes’ loss to Maryland. But Garza was missed, and his foul status throughout the game against Illinois will be key. The Illini are a middle-of-the-road team when it comes to drawing fouls.

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Illinois at Iowa: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Iowa 73, Illinois 68

Moneyline (ML)

Its been a wild Big Ten this winter, but this line (Illinois +170/Iowa -209) doesn’t vary enough from expected outcomes. AVOID.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Illinois is 5-2 against the spread on the road. Iowa is 7-2-2 ATS at home.

This game figures as a 3-6-point game in a number of ways you slice it. That spells a PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is a combined 25-16 in games these teams have appeared in this season, 6-1 when Illinois is facing a .600 team and 4-0 in Iowa’s last four games following an ATS loss.

Both teams have been a little off in shooting the basketball over their last couple games, and we wouldn’t expect the Illini to impact the score too much in three-by-three fashion (Illinois ranks 323rd in the nation in 3-point rate and 317th in 3-point accuracy). Play the UNDER 146.5 (-110) here, with a sleepy early Sunday game coming in at around 141 for a total.

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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Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Tigers college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Kentucky Wildcats at Auburn Tigers sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Kentucky Wildcats (16-4) head to Auburn Arena to play the Auburn Tigers (18-2) at 6:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Kentucky-Auburn odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Wildcats at Tigers: Three things you need to know

  1. Auburn is 3-6 straight up and 4-4-1 against the spread versus the Wildcats since Bruce Pearl’s first season at Auburn (2014-15).
  2. Kentucky has won eight of its previous nine games, including two overtime victories over ranked opponents – the Louisville Cardinals and Texas Tech Red Raiders.
  3. Auburn is winners of three in a row after dropping the previous two to SEC opponents—Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide— by double-digits.

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Wildcats at Tigers: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:15 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Auburn 79, Kentucky 70

Moneyline (ML)

We are backing the senior-laden Auburn -167 team against the trademark diaper dandy stacked Wildcats +135. The four starting seniors for Auburn are going to be jacked up to win in their final home game against SEC-rival Kentucky who’s starting zero seniors.

However, what gives me pause in betting the moneyline is Kentucky is the first ranked opponent for Auburn in 2019-20, while the Wildcats are 3-1 straight up and against the spread against ranked competition. I do like Auburn in this spot but still I’m PASSING ON A MONEY LINE WAGER in Kentucky-Auburn.

Against the Spread (ATS)

I LOVE AUBURN -3.5 (-110) for a couple of trendy reasons:

  • Auburn has the second-best ATS record in the SEC since 2014 at 45-37-1 with a 10.2 margin of victory and Kentucky has the second-worst ATS record as a road team at 24-30-1 ATS.
  • Kentucky doesn’t do well when spotted points on the road:  the Wildcats are 5-8 ATS as a road ‘dog since 2014.  And the Tigers have the best ATS record in the SEC when laying points at home:  they are 37-23-1 ATS and a 15.8 margin of victory with Pearl at the helm.

Over/Under (O/U)

LET’S TAKE the OVER 142.5 (-121) in Kentucky-Auburn. The Tigers have a 6-4-1 over/under record at home and the Wildcats have a 4-0 O/U record on the road. Also, we like Auburn laying points in this spot so it’s good to note that their O/U record as a home favorite is 38-21-2 since 2014, which is an SEC high for overs in that period. Furthermore, Kentucky has a 8-5 O/U record as an away underdog in that time frame.

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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Colorado at USC college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Colorado Buffaloes at USC Trojans sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Colorado Buffaloes (16-5, 6-3 Pac-12) and USC Trojans (17-4, 7-2 Pac-12) square off at Galen Center at 10:30 p.m. ET Saturday. We analyze the Colorado-USC odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Colorado at USC: Three things you need to know

1. USC picked up a win last time out, while Colorado is coming off a Thursday loss, putting the Buffaloes one game back of the Trojans for second place in the Pac-12.

2. Colorado owns a 9-4 straight up record in 13 meetings since moving to the Pac-12 conference before the 2011-12 season. The Buffaloes swept the season series last year, winning by four points in L.A. and by 11 at home.

3. The road team has connected in five of the past seven meetings in this series.

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Colorado at USC: Odds, betting lines and picks

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

Prediction

USC 68, Colorado 63

Moneyline (ML)

USC (-115) is the play at home, but we can get even better value on the spread.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Trojans to win outright returns a profit of $8.70.

Against the Spread (ATS)

USC (-1.5, +100) is playing much better than Colorado (+1.5, -121) at the moment, and the Trojans will be looking to avenge the season sweep from a year ago. The big man for USC, Onyeka Okongwu, is averaging 17.0 points per game, 9.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots per game while leading the team with a 61.5 field-goal percentage, too. He’ll be the difference in this one.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 135.5 (-110) is worth a small-unit play, as that’s been the trend for both sides lately. The Under is 7-3 in USC’s past 10 overall, and 20-7 in its last 27 home games. The Under is also a perfect 6-0 in the Trojans’ past six games against winning teams. For Colorado, the Over is 8-3 in the past 11 games overall, but the Under is 5-0 in their past five games against teams with a winning overall mark. The Under is also a whopping 25-9 in the past 34 on the road for CU.

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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Texas Tech at Kansas college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Texas Tech Red Raiders at Kansas Jayhawks sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-7) visit the Kansas Jayhawks (17-3) Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. ET tip-off in a Big 12 battle at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence. We analyze the Texas Tech-Kansas odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Texas Tech at Kansas: Three things you need to know

1. The Jayhawks, ranked third in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, have won five straight games and eight of their last nine. A staunch Kansas defense has held opponents to 60 or fewer points in eight of those nine games. Over that stretch, the Jayhawks have held foes to a 37% field-goal percentage while rebounding at an average margin of plus-5.

2. Texas Tech F Kevin McCullar is questionable (concussion) for this one. McCullar is TTU’s third-leading rebounder. Kansas already has a substantial rebounding edge in the game, and the Red Raiders can ill-afford a big-man injury and/or foul trouble.

3. The Red Raiders were at home their last two games. Texas Tech is 0-3 ATS the last three times they have played away from home after multiple games in Lubbock.

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.

Texas Tech at Kansas: Odds, betting lines and picks

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

Prediction

Kansas 70, Texas Tech 61

Moneyline (ML)

Kansas (-455) is a line with some value baked in. Kansas can score in such a variety of ways — from 24 feet and in and including uncontested 15-footers — and some computer ratings give the Jayhawks a 12-to-16-point edge in this late-afternoon tilt at Allen Fieldhouse. An expected slow pace favors the talent on the floor, and in that department, Kansas is loaded.

Take the -455 here with the value being that the Jayhawks have an 82% chance to win outright by any total.

Against the Spread (ATS)

The Red Raiders are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight road games against a team with a winning home record. Texas Tech is 2-6 ATS over their last eight games following a straight-up win.

KANSAS (-8.5, -115) is worth a line watch in conjunction with the above. The ATS number had some fluidity early. If it goes down to 8-or-lower, some half-and-half action is advisable.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is 14-5 when Kansas is favored and 6-4 in TTU games against winning teams. The UNDER 131.5 (-110) is a respectable number, though. There isn’t enough projectable leeway south of that figure to allow for some profit margin.

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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Iowa at Maryland college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Iowa Hawkeyes at Maryland Terrapins sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and best bets

The Iowa Hawkeyes (15-5) visit the Maryland Terrapins (16-4) Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET in a Big Ten battle at Xfinity Center in College Park, MD. We analyze the Iowa-Maryland odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

Iowa at Maryland: Three things you need to know

  1. Iowa beat Maryland by 18 points (67-49) in Iowa City Jan. 10. The 18th-ranked team in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll has bombed its way to four straight victories since. Over the five-game win streak, Iowa has shot 37.7% from beyond the 3-point arc.
  2. No. 15 Maryland allowed an aggregate 52% field-goal accuracy mark (and a 46% mark from 3-point-land) over its last two games, both losses on the road. That’s part of a trend that has seen the Terrapins defense struggle away from home. But recent home games? Maryland has held foes to 36%, 31% and 36%, respectively, over its last three contests in College Park.
  3. Junior C Luka Garza scored 21 points against the Terps when Iowa and Maryland last met. He has scored 20-plus in four straight games since and has averaged 26 points per game over the five-game span. Garza has had some big road games this season and will be a key performer Thursday.

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.

Iowa at Maryland: Odds, betting lines and picks

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

Prediction

Maryland 73, Iowa 67

Moneyline (ML)

PASS. Iowa (+200) is the lean, but its a line bracketed by a juice cushion without much value.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Iowa is 4-0-2 against the spread over its last six games against teams playing .600 basketball. Over the last five meetings between these two programs, the underdog is 4-1.

The Hawkeyes carry in solid momentum, and the IOWA (+5.5, -106) line is a slight lean. But Maryland has a strong home-court advantage. In a game where the Under is advisable (see below), a line-watch for a +6 would be a wise move. If it’s not there, move on.

Over/Under (O/U)

The Under is 4-0 in the Hawkeyes’ last four games as a road favorite, 6-2 in Iowa’s last eight vs. winning teams,  5-1 in the Terrapins’ last six home games and 6-2 in Maryland’s last eight games as an underdog.

This is a fast-paced team (Iowa) against one wanting to slow things down (Maryland). Including their Jan. 10 game against the Terps, the Under has prevailed the last three times Iowa played a slow-down team. The UNDER 145.5 (-110) has value — enough so for a moderate play.

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