(photo: AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
2/15 Card:
Rutgers -3 (6:30pm ET – BTN)
Tulane +3.5 (7:00pm – ESPN+)
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Rutgers -3 : Woah baby .. this thing is steaming. The line is currently sitting around -4.5 in the market. I even see -5’s at some places. -4.5 is a fair price and I would still lay it there. This is Northwestern’s first road game without Ty Berry. The RAC is not a fun place to figure out a new rotation.
The Scarlet Knights are on a three game winning streak. There are many reasons to point to for this recent heater. The main one in my opinion? Jeremiah Williams. The 23/24 Rutgers team has an elite defense just as we have seen many times before under Pikiell. They are rated 17th in the Shot Quality adjusted defensive rating. The Scarlet Knights got off to a poor start this year because the offense just simply wasn’t at a high enough level to consistently win even with the great defense. That changed three games ago when Jeremiah Williams received his clearance from the NCAA.
Kevin Willard says it all in the presser above. This team is completely different with Williams in the fold. He is just what Rutgers needed. A veteran guard who can score at every level and defend to the level of this teammates. Rutgers is back.
With Williams in the fold for Rutgers and Berry out for NW, this line was just too short. I would lay the -4.5 as well if you are just now getting your action in for the day. The Scarlet Knights roll. This is my Best Bet.
Score Prediction: Rutgers 70 – Northwestern 61
Tulane +3.5 : Tulane should not be an underdog in NOLA tonight. I had this game as Tulane -1. FanDuel was graciously hanging a +3.5 number out there this morning. I was happy to lock that in. I would still endorse the current number as well. Tulane is winning this game.
SMU beat Tulane on February 1st by a score of 80-76. Tulane outshot SMU in both FG% and 3PT%, but lost the game due to an overwhelming amount of offensive rebounds pulled in by the Mustangs. 19 to be exact. This is not something that I am concerned about tonight. It was an aberration for the Green Wave season. Tulane ranks 4th in the country in defensive rebounding percentage per Shot Quality. The rebounds will be much more balanced tonight.
The Green Wave are 2-0 ATS this season as a home underdog. They make that a perfect 3-0 tonight. Roll Wave!
Score Prediction: Tulane 79 – SMU 77
Best of luck! Let’s snipe!!
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