(photo: CofC Athletics)

I will do my best to provide college basketball winners for you on a nightly basis. The majority of the nights we will try to keep it to three plays, but some days may ask for more. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay!

Season Record: 0-0-0

Best Bet Record: 0-0

11/7 Card:

CofC -3

Missouri -19

Oral Roberts +9

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CofC -3 : I expect big things from this Cougars team in year two under Pat Kelsey. He returns the majority of his major contributors, and also has Dalton Bolon coming back into the fold. They were without this high-intensity guard for the majority of 21/22, and he should make a big difference on both sides of the floor. I am also intrigued by newcomer, Ante Brzovic. He is coming from the D2 ranks, but averaged 17.8ppg and 11rpg as a freshman. The Croatian could have been in a diamond in the rough in international scouting, and I am excited to see how he translates to D1. Chattanooga is coming off of a fantastic 21/22 season. However, Lamont Paris left for the South Carolina job, and many of their impact players left the program. They will be solid again this season, but I think the Cougs catch them on opening night in Charleston.

Score Prediction: CofC 82 – Chattanooga 75

Missouri -19 : Dennis Gates was one of the best coaching hires in the country. I really loved what he did at Cleveland State, and you know this from the amount of times that we rode with the Vikings during his tenure. Gates has instantly made an impact in Columbia with what I think is the best transfer portal haul in the country. MAJOR impact players in abundance: Noah Carter, Sean East, DeAndre Gholston, Nick Honor, Isiaih Mosley .. and he also brought his two best players from Cleveland State – Tre Gomillion and D’Moi Hodge. The team looked gelled and fired on all cylinders in their most recent scrimmage, and I think Mizzou is poised for an NCAA tournament birth. Southern Indiana is making the jump from D2 this season. While I think they can shoot the ball well and may surprise some people in their debutant year, tonight is not going to be pretty for them. They lack the athleticism to compete with this high flying Tigers team. Mizzou in a route.

Score Prediction: Missouri 84 – Southern Indiana 60

Oral Roberts +9 : The absolute disrespect for our Golden Eagles. I fully project this team to make it out of the Summit and into the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd time in 3 years. Getting 9 points in an opener with Saint Mary’s is an absolute gift. Not only do the Golden Eagles return one of the best players in the country, Max Abmas ..but they also return almost every single key contributor from last season. Paul Mills also strengthened the team and solidified the interior with Arkansas transfer, Connor Vanover. Vanover is a 7’5 center that has a sweet jump shot. He lost his way in Fayetteville due to the crazy up-tempo offense that the Muss Bus has firing at Arkansas, but he can find a nice role with Oral Roberts. I especially like him in a matchup against Saint Mary’s. The slower tempo will suit his game. Saint Mary’s will have trouble replacing the contributions of Taas, Kuhse, and Fotu. Randy Bennett did not hit the transfer portal hard, so he will be relying on his role players from last season + Ducas and Johnson. The Gaels will always be well coached with Bennett at the helm, and they will probably win tonight… but 9 points is far too much for this opening season matchup. I will be sprinkling ML as well. This is my Best Bet.

Score Prediction: Saint Mary’s 71 – Oral Roberts 68

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: Burnt Orange Nation)

Welcome back snipers! It is the best time of the year, and I have you covered with your prep for the 22/23 Season. I will be providing you with a “Play”, “Fade” and “Buy Now” team for the major seven conferences. You know we can’t stop there. I also will be lumping in some mid-major loves.

No, I do not care about your team’s preseason scrimmage. Let’s get cooking..

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AAC

Play: Houston -330

The Cougars will be back in the mix for a Final Four birth in 2023. Marcus Sasser is baaaaaack. I think Timme will run away with the Naismith race this season, but take a look at Sasser on a flier. This guy can get a bucket from anywhere on the court. He showed just that by shooting 44% from three before his injury last season. This backcourt has a chance to be one of the best in the country with the emerging, Jamal Shead. He burst onto the scene in the tournament last season, and I am expecting big things from this combo guard this season. The defensive intensity and rebounding will continue to be elite with the majority of their key contributors in those areas back. This team is downright scary to play. Your money is safe with -330.

Fade: Memphis

But, they added conference player of the year, Kendric Davis?!! No. Just no. This will not elevate this team anywhere above where they were last season. Which was a massive disappointment. Memphis averaged 16.4 turnovers a game last season, and Kendric Davis is not the type of guard to fix that issue. There are also major questions in the post. Deandre Williams sure, but.. who else? Lastly, I just simply do not trust Penny Hardaway. This team always has the hype, but I fear we will never see the success. I will be looking to fade the Tigers early and often this season.

Buy Now: Cincinnati +1000

Maybe not the conference price, as I am confident in a Houston AAC title.. but make sure to bet this team early and often before Vegas catches on. I am super excited for Wes Miller’s 2nd season at Cincinnati. He is one of my favorite coaches in the country, and this team is ripe for a major breakout. The Bearcats were Top 50 in assist/turnover ratio last season. One of my favorite stats for the quality of offense being ran. I think they have a chance to move into the Top 25 in that stat this season with David DeJulius having a year as a starting PG under his belt. I am also very impressed with the level of transfers that Miller was able to bring in. Landers Nolley is an elite scorer. I am expecting that we will see VT level Nolley again (Memphis is such a disaster lol). Rob Phinisee comes in from Indiana and will be a fantastic glue guy. Lastly, Kalu Ezikpe was a difference maker at ODU on the glass. That paired with his 74% free throw shooting will translate to the AAC.

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ACC

Play: UNC +140

It is what it is. The Tar Heels are the class of the ACC, and have the best starting five in the country. Losing Brady Manek was a huge loss, but Hubert Davis fired back with the transfer get of Pete Nance. He may not shoot it as well from distance (the threat from 3 is there though!), but his athleticism adds a new dynamic to this team. It will be the last ride with the core four of Bacot, Love, Davis and Black. Can they comeback from heart break like the 2017 Tar Heels and win the title in their last hurray? I tend to think so. Their title odds are not worth the risk to start the season, but we will gladly take this +140 price to win the conference.

Fade: Miami

The Cinderella tournament run of 2022 was just that. Miami does not belong with the elites of the country as we move into the 22/23 season. This Hurricanes were 273rd in the country in opponent offensive rebounding percentage last season. Their opponents were getting an offensive rebound on 28.7% of their possessions. They did nothing to address this in freshman recruiting or the transfer portal. With the loss of Kameron McGusty, I do not see this team sniffing an NCAA tournament birth. I will be fading them where it makes sense to start this season.

Buy Now: FSU +1600

Injuries ruined the 21/22 season for the Seminoles. Now that they are healthy, I am expecting a major bounce back for FSU. Former five star recruit, Matthew Cleveland, was finally coming into his own at the end of last season, and I am expecting big things from him. Caleb Mills is a fantastic guard and will be leading the offense. Mills staying healthy is the huge key. Leonard Hamilton’s team will be in passing lanes and on the glass per usual, and the addition of UCF transfer, Darin Green Jr., will be a nice boost to the offense. The Seminoles will be back in the big dance in 2023. As I said for the AAC, I would not take FSU’s conference price.. but look to play them early and often.

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Big East

Play: Creighton +200

The year of the Jays. This is currently the only team that I have an NCAA title future on. I am holding a 28/1 ticket. Creighton has an elite starting five that is paired with a deeeeep bench. Baylor Scheierman is the best player in the country that you have never heard of. The South Dakota State transfer will take this team to new heights, and cement his NBA future. Ryan Nembhard is one of the best facilitators in the game and will be able to take this offense to an elite level in his sophomore season. The starting five also includes an elite big in 7’1 Ryan Kalkbrenner. Expect a big big year from this little ole team from Omaha.

Fade: St. John’s

This team is receiving a ton of hype due to the addition of Illinois transfer, Andre Curbelo. Curbelo is no doubt extremely talented, but are we really supposed to believe he has magically discovered how to take care of the basketball? Curbelo averaged 2.8 turnovers in 19 minutes per game last season. Expect these turnovers to elevate even more in the up-tempo offense of Mike Anderson. There could also be a power struggle of ball control between Curbelo and Posh Alexander. I just am not loving the mixture of this team as we head into the 22/23 season. Will they be fun to watch? Absolutely. Will they put money in your pocket vs quality opposition? Probably not.

Buy Now: Seton Hall +1000

The Shaheen Holloway show is back in action. This time in the Big East. Bringing KC Ndefo with him from Saint Peter’s was a great start to his coaching tenure at a Pirate. However, my love for this team resides in their backcourt. Seton Hall is returning their “do-it-all” guard Kadary Richmond. I am expecting another big step forward for him this season. In addition to Richmond, the Pirates are returning Jamir Harris. Holloway has also added two ACC guards from the transfer portal that I think could really benefit from a change of scenery. Dre Davis from Louisville, and Al-Amir Dawes from Clemson. An energized fan base that is excited about their former Pirate coming home to coach could lead to some great ATS value at the Prudential Center to start the season.

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Big Ten

Play: Michigan +500

This conference is truly a toss up, but the Wolverines are my best guess as to who brings home the regular season title. The buzz is being centered around Bloomington, but I believe in the core fundamentals of Howard’s Wolverines. Hunter Dickinson is primed for another All-Big Ten season. Reports are that his jumper is even better than last season’s improvement. I am a huge fan of Princeton transfer, Jaelin Llewellyn. He can score at this major conference level, and will lead this offensive effectively. I am sure of it. Also, coach’s son, Jett Howard, will win Freshman of the Year in the conference. Book it.

Fade: Purdue

Listen, I love Matt Painter. I know he is always there when March rolls around, but I am just unsure of how this team scores points against major competition this season. Who is the go-to scorer at the guard position? I cannot identify who that will come to be this season. I will be looking to fade them in those spots.

Buy Now: Iowa +550

This team almost finished ahead of Michigan in my preseason rankings. It will be another great season for Hawkeye fans. It is never easy replacing a lottery pick, but the rest of this team is poised to breakout. Including Keegan’s brother Kris. I can see him north of 15ppg this season. I really love the intensity of Perkins and Uhlis in the backcourt. This high flying team should earn you some coin this season.

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Big 12

Play: Texas +350

Chris Beard will have the Longhorns in the Elite 8 + this season. But, first.. they will win the Big 12. Tyrese Hunter is an absolute game changer. Beard knew he needed to pull out all of the stops to land him. One of the best point guards in the country is poised to fix an offense that just simply lacked play/shot creation in Beard’s first season in Austin. Assuming the offense gets going, that paired with an elite defense will be a great recipe for success. Also, don’t sleep on the addition of Sir’Jabari Rice from NMSU. He is used to a tough nosed defensive system, and can also get a bucket. You know what, fuck it. We are adding the Longhorns 30/1 to win the title.

Fade: It is all love for the upper class of the Big 12 this year. I even love the bottom of it comparative to other conferences. No hate to provide in the preseason.

Buy Now: TCU +650

The tournament showing last season by the Horn Frogs was not a fluke. They are the real deal. Mike Miles Jr. is as good as it gets at the guard position, and TCU defends so well as a team. I would like to see them improve on their turnovers, but that is really my only gripe with this team. Look for them to remain in the Top 15-20 for the entire length of this 22/23 season.

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PAC 12

Play: Arizona +205

The Wildcats are poised to have another big year under Tommy Lloyd. Tubelis should be in the mix for Pac-12 Player of the Year. The 6’11 forward averaged 14 amd 6 last season, and I would imagine those numbers balloon closer to 19 and 8. The addition of Courtney Ramey from Texas will give Arizona a dynamic backcourt with Kerr Kriisa. Also, I really expect Pelle Larsson and Oumar Ballo to grow into bigger roles this season. The consensus pick is UCLA, but I will rock with the Wildcats

Fade: USC

The Trojans are the most overrated team from last season. I did not believe they deserved to be in the NCAA Tournament. I am here to tell you for a fact, that they will not be this season. They lose three out of their top five scorers from a year before, and a major chunk of their rebounds. I do not see Vince Iwuchukwu being a solution to these problems by himself. Fade the Trojans early and often.

Buy: Stanford +1900

Do not play the conference price, but look to back this team in the early stages of the season. I really like the roster that Jerrod Haase pieced together for this season. Harrison Ingram is poised to be an NBA draft pick this season, and the Cardinal return their leading scorer in Spencer Jones. Haase also added Michael Jones from Davidson. He is an elite fundamental basketball player, and will be stability to the offense. Excited to see what this team can do. Potential tourney birth?!

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SEC

Play: Tennessee +350

It is semi-disrespectful to have the reigning SEC tournament champs priced as the 3rd best team in the SEC. Tyreke Key was the perfect addition to this team to fill the void of Kennedy Chandler, and EVERY other major contributor is back. Rick Barnes is an exceptional coach and commands consistency from his teams. I trust this team to take the SEC regular season crown this season. There are too many question marks for UK (injuries) and Arkansas (newcomers).

Fade: Alabama

The shine of the high flying Oats teams in Tuscaloosa is slowing fading. I hate that it has gotten to this point, but I will be fading Bama to start the 22/23 season. Mark Sears gelling quickly could potentially change my take, but the Tide should struggle out of the gate. Especially, with Quinnerly recovering from injury still.

Buy: Auburn +1000

The Tigers will still have a fast paced exceptional backcourt, and I am excited at what Johnni Broome can bring to the SEC. It will not be easy to replace the impact that Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith had for Auburn last season, but the Morehead State transfer has long been one of my favorite mid-major players. There will certainly be a dip for the Tigers, but I am not buying that it will be as drastic as the consensus says. Wouldn’t play these longshot title odds, but I am very eager to see if backing the Tigers in the early part of the season will prove to be profitable.

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Mid-Major Loves

San Diego State:

A Matt Bradley led Aztecs team has no ceiling this year. This ball dominant guard is one of the best in the country, and it showed by their run in March last season. The defensive talent was ELITE on this team last year. They just had short comings if Matt Bradley had an off scoring night. Brian Dutcher has solved this issue with the addition of Darrion Trammell and Micah Parrish through the transfer portal. This team is constructed for a deep tournament run.

Wyoming:

When/If Graham Ike returns from injury.

UAB:

The Jelly Walker show.

Drake:

I really love the makeup of this team. Roman Penn is back to run the show, and I expect Tucker DeVries to win the MVC Player of the Year honors. Loyola is no longer in The Valley, so I expect the Bulldogs to have a clear path to the big dance.

That is all I have for this preseason preview. There are countless other teams that we can get into, but we will leave it here. Please shoot me a DM with any questions or thoughts. I look forward to sharing my plays with you for another season. See you soon!

(photo: WynnBet)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 325-290-20

Best Bet Record: 34-23

Let’s Dance!

Arkansas +9.5 : Gonzaga has failed to cover in the first two games of this tournament. That trend will continue tonight. Gonzaga has struggled to defend the guard positions in their three losses this season. The Zags allowed 65 combined points to Shackelford, Quinerly and Davison when they fell to the Tide this season. Arkansas plays a similar style of basketball (very guard centric), and I think there is an opportunity for them to keep this one close. The key will be keeping Notae out of foul trouble. He picked up 4 against Vermont, and fouled out of the New Mexico State game.

Score Prediction: Gonzaga 80 – Arkansas 73

Michigan +5: Hunter Dickinson is on a war path this tournament. Shooting 16/23 from the field and averaging 24ppg. Villanova has struggled to cover the paint against similar sized teams to the Wolverines this season. UCLA, Purdue, Baylor and UConn are the losses that come to mind. Eric Dixon will not be able to stop Dickinson from his over the shoulder left, and he definitely will struggle on the glass. Diabate is an X-Factor tonight. I believe he has a great chance to impact this game on the defensive end. It is always scary to go against Nova in March, but I am going with the fortified interior of the Wolverines to cover the points here. Worth a ML sprinkle.

Score Prediction: Villanova 69 – Michigan 67

Texas Tech PK : Defense, defense, defense. Duke is a team that likes to play finesse basketball, and they will not be afforded that opportunity tonight. Here is a great stat courtesy of Jim Root from the Three Man Weave: Texas Tech has played 24 unique opponents this season, and 17 of them have had their lowest 2pt performance of the season against the Red Raiders. That is mind blowing. Speaking of defense, Duke is 193rd in the country in defense since March 1st. Sparty got whatever they wanted against them in Greenville. This will be Coach K’s final game.

Score Prediction: Texas Tech 74 – Duke 68

Arizona ML : Arizona has the bodies to thwart’s Houston offensive glass threat. I think Tommy Lloyd will have 2/3 of Koloko, Tubelis and Ballo on the court at all times. Also, this is simply a Bennedict Mathurin play. He has the makings of a Final Four MVP. His 30/8/4 stat line against a great TCU defense was super impressive. I am not sure Houston has a guy to go shot for shot with him down the stretch.

Score Prediction: Arizona 74 – Houston 70

Purdue -12.5 : The Cinderella run stops here. Edey and Williams were able to take down a formidable Texas defense. The Peacocks’ undersized frontcourt will have a lot of problems with fouls and rebounding. When they are both working, this team can win it all. Also, Jaden Ivey was slinging dagger triples against Texas. It will be key for Purdue for him to continue to hit outside shots. He can already drive to the rim like Ja Morant, so that makes him one of the most lethal players in the tournament.

Score Prediction: Purdue 76 – Saint Peters 59

Providence +7.5 : This team just covers. Simple as that. They key to this game will be how Ed Cooley chooses to deploy Justin Minaya in this game. He is a versatile defender that could spend time on Braun, Agbaji and Wilson. Kansas struggled at times in the Big 12 season with teams that liked to get physical with them. Look for Providence to slow this one down and deploy a few fouls along the way. Al Durham is one of the best closers in the country. We will need him driving to the bucket and getting to the line at the end.

Score Prediction: Kansas 72 – Providence 67

UNC +3 (-120) : This team is scorching hot. They likely win the Baylor game running away if Manek isn’t tossed. While it was a complete disaster getting to the finish line, the Heels got valuable experience for Dontrez Styles in the process. He was a big time recruit that could prove to provide valuable minutes as the tournament goes on. UCLA’s bigs are too slow for Armando Bacot, and I like the speed of Carolina’s guards as well. With Leaky Black hugging Juzang throughout the majority of this game, I like Carolina to squeak this one out.

Score Prediction: UNC 72 – UCLA 70

Miami -2 : Best Bet. One of my favorites of this season. The Hurricanes are rolling in hot into this matchup against the Cyclones. Iowa State benefited from playing a banged up Wisconsin backcourt. It led to turnovers and bad possessions. Miami has the backcourt to force the issue against Iowa State. They only turn the ball over 9.3 times per game. That is ranked 6th nationally. Both teams can defend, but Miami is a vastly better offensive team.. If Miami reaches 60 points, they win this game.

Score Prediction: Miami 65 – Iowa State 58

(photo: SB Nation)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 308-271-20

Best Bet Record: 34-21

Let’s Dance!

West Region:

Boise State +3 : This is not the team Memphis wanted to see in a first round matchup. The Broncos have the size and athleticism to match with the Tigers. Not many teams in the country can say that. Also, they love to slow the pace of the game. That is trouble for Memphis due to their struggles with half-court offense. This is due to their inability to handle pressure defense. They turn the ball over 16.2 times per game, and Boise State forces an opponent turnover on 19.8% of possessions. Boise does have an Achilles heel of free throw shooting. They are 346th in the country. However, Memphis checks in at 269th. We should see close to a wash there. The wrong team is favored. Give me the points.

Score Prediction: Boise State 68 – Memphis 66

New Mexico State +7 : While I like UConn to advance to the Sweet 16, this is a tricky first round matchup for the Huskies. Seven points is too many in this one. The Aggies are a veteran team led by one of the best coaches in this tournament. Chris Jans has developed a powerhouse mid-major program that you do not want to see in the NCAA Tournament. The last time he was a 12 seed, the Aggies lost by 1 to an Auburn team that marched on to the Final Four in 2019. Their leading scorer in that game, Johnny McCants, is still on the roster. I like the Aggies to keep it close.

Score Prediction: UConn 69 – New Mexico State 65

Davidson +1 : Foster Loyer revenge game! The Michigan State transfer has really enjoyed this season at Davidson. He has career highs across the board, and will be eager to get after the Spartans in this one. The advantage Davidson has on the offensive end will be to great for Michigan State to overcome. Davidson enters this game ranked as the 12th best offense in the country per efficiency ratings. They have made 291 threes as a team on 38.9% shooting, and have four starters averaging double figure points. There is just simply not enough shot makers on Michigan State to compete in this one.

Score Prediction: Davidson 74 – Michigan State 68

Duke -18 : This is going to be one of the bigger blowouts of the weekend. It is my Best Bet for Friday. There will be an assault on the offensive glass and the three point line. Cal State Fullerton is the 28th worst 3pt % defense in the country. They allow opponents to shoot 37.1% from distance. That is bad news when facing a Duke team that has really excelled from behind the three point line this season. 278 makes on 36.8% shooting. I would not be surprised to see Duke with 12-14 triples in the final box score. Fullerton is 326th in the country in made threes per game at 5.5. This disparity will open up the game quickly. Also, the size and rebounding advantage is too vast in this game. The Titans only have one player with over 4 rebounds per game. Second chance points galore for Williams, Banchero, John, Moore etc. This has 30 point victory written all over it.

Score Prediction: Duke 88 – Cal State Fullerton 58

East Region:

Texas PK : What are we doing with this line? I know Texas has underachieved all season, but this should not be a Pick’Em spread. The Longhorns have a talent advantage across the board in this one. VT will not be able to get any look they wanted like they did in Brooklyn. I am not sure what Duke and Carolina were doing, but it was not playing defense. Chris Beard knows how to tighten the defensive gears on his teams come tournament time. Virginia Tech does not have a lot of players that can create their own shot when things are locked up and the shot clock is running out. For that reason, I am siding with the Longhorns. Also, shouldn’t we be betting the Big 12 over the ACC in this scenario anyways?

Score Prediction: Texas 65 – VT 60

Purdue -16 : This was not a fair draw for Yale. This poor team does not have anyone over 6’8 on their roster that sees action. 7’4 Zach Edey is going to absolutely eat in this matchup.. and, when he’s not .. Trevion Williams will be cleaning up the leftovers. That size disadvantage is also bad news when guarding Jaden Ivey. He is going to get to the rim at will in this one. I don’t see a path to Yale playing any time of competent defense in this one. Seton Hall & Auburn reached the 80 point plateau in the non-con against the Bulldogs, and Purdue will do the same. The Boilermakers roll easily.

Score Prediction: Purdue 82 – Yale 60

Murray State / San Fran o136 : I cannot wait to watch this game. It should be fireworks from the opening tip. I do not recommend taking a particular side. However, there are areas for both teams to excel on the offensive end. KJ Williams should not have much resistance with what is left of the Dons interior defense. On the other end, Bouyea and Shabazz should be able to take advantage of turnovers and transition opportunities. I think both teams should be able to shoot the three well in this one also. I projected a 72-71 Murray State win, so the over has value in my opinion.

Score Prediction: Murray State 72 – San Francisco 71

South Region:

TCU PK : The Hall has struggled immensely after the loss of Bryce Aiken. The offensive identity is completely lost. There is a lot of iso and 1-on-1 going on in this lineup, and I don’t like that going against the potent Horn Frogs defense. TCU is Big 12 battle tested. Their offense has significantly improved against some of the best defenses in the country. Mike Miles has taken over as a go-to guy that is critical for tournament time. I also love the way Emmanuel Miller is playing on both ends of the court. TCU squeaks out a close one.

Score Prediction: TCU 66 – Seton Hall 63

UAB/Houston u136 : Under, Under, Under. Houston is the 3rd rated team in the nation in defensive efficiency, and the Blazers are 34th. The clamps will be on. UAB is going to find offensive life very difficult when Kelvin Sampson takes Jelly Walker out of this game. He has the tools to do so, and that will be a priority for him. I also like the way that Quan Jackson can make things difficult for the Houston guards. He is Top 10 in the nation in steals. That defensive weapon will help UAB keep things respectful in this one.

Score Prediction: Houston 68 – UAB 60

Chattanooga +8 : My Mocs! Had to roll with them in this one. I actually find a couple of their matchups appealing. I really believe that Silvio De Sousa can get Kofi into foul trouble quickly. As we have seen time and time again this year, Illinois is very beatable without him on the court. Malachi Smith has the feel of a big time player that can carry a mid-major to a tournament upset. Plummer and Frazier gamble often, and this could lead to a big night for the SoCon Player of the Year. I wish they had a better draw. I don’t believe they will have enough interior scoring to pull out a win in this one, but they will definitely get within this number in my opinion. I also believe that Lamont Paris will slow this game down. Fewer possessions will keep this one from getting away.

Score Prediction: Illinois 70 – Chattanooga 64

Colorado State +2 : This was close to a stay away from me before learning of the Devante Jones injury. He is likely out for this entire weekend with a concussion. That shifted this into a comfortable Rams play for me. Jones has been exceptional on this run to earn Michigan an at-large bid. Frankie Collins is not ready for the minutes he is going to be forced to play in this one. Huge advantage to Isaiah Stevens and Kendle Moore. It is also David Roddy time. He is going to make himself a household name by carrying the Rams to the Sweet 16.

Score Prediction: Colorado State 70 – Michigan 66

Longwood +18 : Too many points. The Lancers will surprise some people here! This team is deep and full of shooters. They are shooting 38% as a team from three on 262 makes in 32 games. You need that if your are going to stand a chance for an upset as a high seed in March. Tennessee has a tendency to get lazy at times. If they aren’t careful, they could get a 40 minute fight in this one…

Score Prediction: Tennessee 72 – Longwood 60

Loyola PK : I love the Ramblers in this matchup. The Buckeyes are injured and playing poorly coming into this matchup. It will not help matters when one of the best defenders in the country is thrown at EJ Liddell. I fully expect Lucas Williamson to be tight on Liddell for the entirety of this game. Williamson’s defensive prowess is giving him NBA looks, and this will be a great chance to showcase his skills once again. Also, Loyola can get spicy hot from distance. I think this was a really bad draw for Ohio State. The tough end of the season gets worse here. 1st round exit.

Score Prediction: Loyola 68 – Ohio State 63

Midwest Region:

San Diego State -2 : Creighton has been a thorn in my side lately, but I truly believe this is the “final beast” of surviving life without Ryan Nembhard. San Diego State is the best defense in the country. I am struggling to believe that the young Creighton team, without their point guard, can withstand the Aztecs for 40 minutes. SDSU’s length & athleticism paired with the way they can pressure in the half-court has been baffling for offenses to maneuver around this season. Coach McBuckets has done one hell of a job this season & Creighton has heart, but this will be the end of the road for the 2021-2022 season.

Score Prediction: San Diego State 62 – Creighton 57

Iowa/Richmond o150 : Iowa is the hottest team in the country. Their offense has been running on rocket fuel recently. I like this to continue against a Richmond team that struggles often on the defensive end of the court. They rank 164th in defensive efficiency. I think the Spiders also have weapons to get after the Hawkeye defense. The Spiders have made 284 threes on the year. This could be one of those games where Bohannon and Gilyard are just taking turns drilling 25 footers for several possessions in a row. Give me the over.

Score Prediction: Iowa 84 – Richmond 72

South Dakota State +2 : The Jackrabbits are the better team. Hence the +2 spread in a 4/13 seed matchup. South Dakota State is one of the best three point shooting teams that we have seen in the college game. Ever. They are shooting 44.9% from distance on 319 makes in 34 games. Their shooting paired with the inside presence of Douglas Wilson makes this team a very dangerous opponent in a “win or go home” game. I like the offensive efficiency to carry the Jackrabbits to a win here. Thursday’s Best Bet.

Score Prediction: South Dakota State 76 – Providence 70

Iowa State +4 : The absence of Will Wade will prove to be to great for the Tigers to overcome in this one. Iowa State plays lights out defense, and you need to have a proven coach drawing up your X’s and O’s in timeouts against a team like that in a tournament setting. Brockington has a star factor that will carry Iowa State to a win in this game.

Score Prediction: Iowa State 65 – LSU 64

Wisconsin -7 : This is not your typical Colgate. While they were good enough to win the Patriot again, this is their worst team in three years. There will be no answer for Johnny Davis defensively. He will be eager to make a big statement after his struggles against Sparty in the Big 10 Tournament. Colgate really struggled outside of the Patriot in non-con this season. I think that matters. Wisconsin wins comfortably.

Score Prediction: Wisconsin 75 – Colgate 64

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(photo: Times Republican)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 273-246-16

Best Bet Record: 29-14

3/2 Card:

Iowa State -3

UConn -4

Auburn -3

Arkansas -5

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Iowa State -3 : Hilton Magic. Best Bet of the night. The Cyclones play as if they are one of the best teams in the country every time the ball is tipped at Hilton Coliseum. That is bad news for a Cowboys team with nothing to play for tonight. As you may know, they are ineligible for any postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. The Cowboys are also on a 6 game road losing streak. There is a key edge that I am looking at for Iowa State to increase that streak to 7 for the Cowboys. Iowa State is great at forcing turnovers on the season. They average 8.5 steals per game. That is bad news for a Cowboys team who while quite often gives the ball away on their own. They average an abysmal 14.9 turnovers per game on the year. The transition points for the Cyclones will matter a lot in a slower paced game. Also, Izaiah Brockington has turned into an absolute star in the half-court. In the team’s 4 game winning streak he is averaging 23.5 ppg. He will make big shots/free throws all night in this one. Give me the Cyclones on their trek to climb seed lines!

Score Prediction: Iowa State 69 – Oklahoma State 61

UConn -4 : As much as I love my Jays, they are in deep deep trouble without Ryan Nembhard. The +/- analytics of Creighton playing with/without him show to be one of the biggest disparities in the country. His injury has effectively ruined their season. We saw that last time out against Providence. The +/- numbers proved to be true in the blowout loss. They have nobody else to facilitate & get others into the flow of an offense. This Jays team is one of the youngest in the country, and these guys simply cannot operate without their point guard. Fading them again tonight.

Score Prediction: UConn 72 – Creighton 64

Auburn -3 : I get it. Auburn stinks on the road. I will not try to dispute anyone on this. However, this is the perfect “Get Off of the Mat” spot for this talented team. I really like the edge for Walker Kessler tonight. He was really bothered by his playing time in Chapel Hill last season. There is a chance that motivates him more than usual when going up against his former teammate, Garrison Brooks. From a defensive perspective, I like that Walker knows his game inside & out. He should continue to add to his impressive block total tonight. Bruce Pearl has made it very clear that winning the regular season SEC crown is a massive goal to this team. Winning tonight would all but sure that up with their finale being at home vs the Gamecocks this weekend. This team is arrogant (for good reason). They don’t like losing. I expect a large amount of fight in them tonight.

Score Prediction: Auburn 75 – Mississippi State 69

Arkansas -5 : Nothing specific from an edge perspective on this one. I am just going to continue to ride the Bud Walton Arena train until it knocks me off. Please do not discuss the TyTy Washington shot. I have erased it from my memory.

Score Prediction: Arkansas 74 – LSU 67

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: 247 Sports)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 271-239-16

Best Bet Record: 29-12

2/28 Card:

Syracuse +8

Northwestern +11

Texas +1

Wyoming +2

New Mexico +11

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Syracuse +8 : I will be one of the few betting on Cuse tonight, but that is typically a good place to be. The Duke effort over the weekend was shockingly bad. However, I think there is a more advantageous scoring edge for the Orange against UNC. I do not think there is a ton of resistance in the Tar Heel defense for Buddy Boeheim. Especially, with Leaky Black trying to play through injury. Buddy scored 26 & 18 points in the two meetings between these teams last season. He will be a catalyst in keeping this game close. Both teams will be able to score at will. The over is worth a look as well.

Score Prediction: UNC 82 – Syracuse 78

Northwestern +11 : I think the Wildcats have a solid edge to stay competitive in this one. Northwestern is 7-2 in covering 11 points on the road in the Big 10 this season. The usually have the heart & desire to keep games respectable. Also, I think they have two personnel advantages that could affect Iowa. Pete Nance is the player most capable to guard Keegan Murray in the Big 10. He is 6’10 with the athleticism to say in front. The hope is that he can limit Keegan Murray’s impact below his exceptional baseline of play. Lastly, Boo Buie is a matchup nightmare for Jordan Bohannon. If Fran chooses to go with Toussaint for an athletic replacement, the Hawkeyes will lose a key three point threat in Bohannon. I like the Cats to bring this one down to the wire. Also, a game where the over could be a good play.

Score Prediction: Iowa 80 – Northwestern 75

Texas +1 : Best Bet of the night. Timmy Allen lives for the big time home spots. Nobody in America feeds off of a home crowd more. He is coming off of a 26 & 10 performance this weekend in Morgantown, and I like for him to continue this superb play tonight. Also, the depth issues of Baylor will be critical tonight. Texas is 18th in the country in drawing fouls on their opponents. They went to the line 23 times in the first meeting with Baylor. Chris Beard will have Allen, Carr and others driving down hill. He is a great coach and knows that is a clear edge for him tonight. Texas gets this done at the foul line. Hook Em

Score Prediction: Texas 70 – Baylor 66

Wyoming +2 : The disrespect continues to amaze me. However, I will continue to cash these Wyoming tickets. SDSU is certainly not a 5-6 point favorite over Wyoming on a neutral court. I wouldn’t even have them as a favorite at all to be honest. Maybe a pick’em. There is too much value on the Cowboys not to keep riding on this money train. SDSU loves to slow the pace and play great defense. Wyoming has better pieces than most to attack that game plan. Maldonado and Ike are matchup nightmares at their positions, and always find a way to get a shot off or get to the line. Two key shot makers for when the shot clock is closing in on zero. Love the Cowboys at home, per usual.

Score Prediction: Wyoming 64 – SDSU 60

New Mexico +11 : Too many points. The Lobos are a little better than their record in my opinion. They have had some very close losses in conference play. I see this matchup going similarly to the first one of the season. Fresno State won by a score of 65-60. It will be low possession again tonight. New Mexico’s stars will keep them in this game long enough to cover the 11. Jamal Mashburn Jr. & Jaelen House have resurrected their careers after becoming Lobos. Mashburn is averaging 17.9 ppg, and House is averaging 16.5. They combined for 33 in that first Fresno matchup. I feel confident in those two doing something similar and squeaking us under the number here.

Score Prediction: Fresno State 69 – New Mexico 61

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: Yahoo! Sports)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 264-230-16

Best Bet Record: 27-11

2/25 Card:

Akron/Ohio o133

Monmouth -4

St Louis/Richmond o142

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Akron/Ohio o133 : The Bobcats have one of the best offenses in the MAC. That is especially true at the Convocation Center. Since the turn of the new year, Ohio is averaging 80 ppg in home games. I expect this offense to continue to roll on Senior Night for Vander Plas and Carter. The first matchup of this season ended on 132, but Akron shot 39.3% from the field and 52.9% from the line. I don’t see how we go under 133 with the way Ohio sees the rims at home, and Akron surely improving on their shooting performance. We will take a stab at this over.

Score Prediction: Ohio 74 – Akron 67

Monmouth -4 : Best Bet of the night. Monmouth might have discovered a secret weapon to propel them through the MAAC tournament coming up. King Rice is starting to play Nikkei Rutty big minutes, and it is making a deference on the boards. Rutty played 36 minutes against Rider and secured 13 rebounds (3 offensive), and then followed that up with 33 minutes and 19 rebounds (5 offensive) against Siena. That is a new wrinkle for teams when game planning for the Hawks. Teams have to send more bodies to the glass instead of trying to leak out in transition. Walker Miller has been a beast in the post all season, but this 1-2 punch is going to be trouble for most MAAC teams to handle. Pair those guys with two of the best guards in the conference, George Papas & Shavar Reynolds, and this team looks poised for a big next few weeks. I like them to get revenge on the Peacocks tonight with this newly found confidence in Rutty. A hype Friday night home spot as well.

Score Prediction: Monmouth 70 – St Peters 61

Saint Louis / Richmond o142 : 145 points in the first matchup. Both teams had below average field goal percentages, but the pace was out of this world. We will see more of the same on the pace tonight. Virtually, every Spider with major playing time will be celebrating their Senior Night tonight. While that may not mean much to most handicappers, I really like that for a scoring/pace edge tonight. The Spiders already play quicker and score more at the Robins Center than on the road. I like the energy & emotion of Senior Night to push the tempo even more than usual. There will be a lot of fast break points, and fouls at the rim tonight. Both teams shot 20 free throws a piece in their first meeting. Two capable offenses, up-tempo pace, fouls .. what is not to love in an over?!

Score Prediction: Richmond 77 – St Louis 74

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: forbes.com)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 257-226-16

Best Bet Record: 26-10

2/23 Card:

South Carolina +2

Duke -4.5

Xavier +2

Michigan -4.5

VMI +2

UT Chat -3

Wyoming +7

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South Carolina +2 : This is the typical South Carolina story under Frank Martin. Virtually play themselves out of the bubble picture, and then get hot at the end of the season to make you wonder “What if?”. The Cocks are coming off of an incredible comeback win over LSU. This momentum will ride into a hype home spot tonight at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks struggles have largely been attributed to the decline in production from Couisnard and Bryant this season. However, Couisnard may have just found his groove. An astounding 33 points in the win over the Bayou Bengals. Gamecocks win outright.

Score Prediction: South Carolina 70 – Mississippi State 67

Duke -4.5 : Best Bet of the night. The Blue Devils will get revenge from the Beekman heart breaking buzzer beater in Durham. The first matchup was a tricky spot for Duke. It was only two nights after their drubbing of the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. The Cavaliers certainly have Duke’s attention now, and the better team will come out on top. There are two key areas that I think improve in Duke’s favor. AJ Griffin will not score two points again. Since the UVA loss, he is 11/23 from distance in four games played. He should be able to take advantage of a pack line defense and nail some important threes tonight. Also, I think Duke will use their length and athleticism to get into more passing lanes tonight. I do not see the Cavs walking out of this one with only 5 turnovers like last time. Duke is a Top 5 team in the country when motivated. We see that tonight in an important revenge spot.

Score Prediction: Duke 72 – UVA 62

Xavier +2 : This is an absolute steal of a spread if Al Durham continues to be out for the Friars. There are conflicting reports of his availability tonight. In the previous matchup this season, Durham scored 22 points and was 10-10 from the FT line. He matters. A lot. Freemantle & Nunge had solid games against the Providence interior defense in that game, and that should be repeatable tonight. I am not in the “Providence is lucky” camp and fading Providence just to fade them tonight. I just truly believe this is a great spot for Xavier.

Score Prediction: Xavier 69 – Providence 66

Michigan -4.5 : How can the Wolverines, and their fans, not be up for this one?! Michigan has been dragged through the media mud since Sunday. Rutgers is the perfect team to take out their revenge on. We all know about “Road Rutgers” by now. The home/road splits are very drastic. I am not concerned with the absence of Juwan Howard. Phil Martelli is an excellent coach, and has been doing this for a long time. This could be the spark they have needed…

Score Prediction: Michigan 72 – Rutgers 65

VMI +2: Trey. Bonham. This dude has taken a serious step in his sophomore season. The sophomore guard has 51 points combined from his last two outings. Adding him as a 1-2 punch with Jake Stephens is going to help the Keydets take a massive step in the SoCon. Also, this team Wofford’s better than Wofford this season. They have made 354!!!! threes in 28 games this season. Wofford has no hope of containing Stephens in the post (27 & 12 in 1st matchup), and the Keydets can outshoot them this season. Wofford does not get their revenge tonight.

Score Prediction: VMI 75 – Wofford 70

UT Chat -3 : Chattanooga is the best team in the SoCon. They also have the best player. Malachi Smith has been ELITE this season. Check out this stat line: 20.8 pts / 6.8 reb / 3.2 ast / 1.8 stl – 50.6 FG % – 40.3 3PT% – 83.8 FT%. He also has a great backcourt running mate in David Jean-Baptiste. They have kept the Mocs in 1st place throughout the last month in Silvio De Sousa’s absence. I trust them to do so again tonight. They have Furman one game back of them in the standings, so there is a lot to play for tonight. ETSU just doesn’t have the same stakes in this one. The better team, with more to play for, wins tonight.

Score Prediction: UT Chat 74 – ETSU 66

Wyoming +7 : Am I missing something here? I know this is going to be a hype revenge spot in the Border War.. but, I have Wyoming as -1 on a neutral. I will not be giving Colorado State 8 points of home court tonight. I do think they get their revenge and win, but this will be another close affair between two great teams.

Score Prediction: Colorado State 74 – Wyoming 70

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 240-212-16

Best Bet Record: 20-9

2/16 Card:

St. John’s +8

Illinois -3

Texas Tech -2

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St. John’s +8 : The Johnnies have been battling tough lately. If they aren’t winning, they are only losing by a possession or two. It is also important to note that St. John’s has been very solid on the road this season. They’ve won 3 out of their last 4 on the road in the Big East. There are some injury concerns in this one for both teams. Posh Alexander is questionable for the Johnnies, but Nate Johnson is also a GTD for Xavier. I think that Nate Johnson is more crucial to the success of his team. Simply because he quite often is the only player stretching the defense or facilitating for his teammates in the Xavier offense. Would not blame you if you wait on the word of these two before taking a play, but I feel like this is the best number you will get the Red Storm at if you are leaning that way.

Score Prediction: Xavier 74 – St. John’s 69

Illinois -3 : This line was screaming Rutgers. However, I had to take the bait on this one. Illinois just simply outclasses Rutgers in every level. This was very evident in the 86-51 beat down in Champaign back in December. The emergence of Geo Baker and Paul Mulcahy is carrying Rutgers towards the bubble, but I do not see this big time run carrying them to another victory against a superior opponent. The Scarlet Knight frontcourt is still extremely thin. Cliff Omoruyi has to play soft defense due to this. If he gets in foul trouble, it is open season through the paint for their opponents. King Kofi will be all over the boards in this one. 20 & 20 watch.

Score Prediction: Illinois 70 – Rutgers 64

Texas Tech -2 : Best Bet of the night. The Red Raider faithful absolutely brings it every time there has been a big time matchup in United Supermarkets Arena over the last few seasons. I love having them on my side in this one. However, the angle I really love here is the lack of depth of Baylor vs the physicality of Texas Tech. As we know, the Bears are only 2-3 ATS without their sharp shooter LJ Cryer. Now, the Bears are going to have to figure out life without their leading rebounder, Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua. He suffered a major knee injury last time out against Texas. Not only does he crash the glass, but he is an athletic defender that Baylor will greatly miss. If the Texas game was a good sample of the rotation we will see moving forward, Baylor will be down to only running 7 deep until Cryer is back. With 6 of those 7 playing MASSIVE minutes assuming they don’t get in foul trouble. However, that is one of the strengths of Texas Tech. They love to get into a physical type of game, and they are elite and forcing defenders to foul. They rank 22nd in the country in “opponent fouls per possession”. This is happening at a 27.4% clip. The Bears simply do not have the bodies to combat this. Lastly, TTU might have just gotten their best player back to full strength. Terrance Shannon Jr. played 28 minutes off of the bench against TCU, and scored 20 points. This team is LETHAL if they have him going at 100%. Guns up!

Score Prediction: Texas Tech 71 – Baylor 65

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!

(photo: sportsnaut.com)

I will do my best to provide *at least* a daily group of 3-5 picks for all of you snipers out there. The goal is a 2-1 (3-2) night. I recommend you play them individually .. however, never be scared of a little sniper parlay! 20/21 Season: 58%

Season Record: 237-210-16

Best Bet Record: 20-8

2/15 Card:

Kent State +9

Sparty/Penn St o129

Villanova -4

Indiana State +12

Indiana -3

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Kent State +9 : Toledo is the class of the MAC this season, but the Golden Flashes are catching too many points here. Kent State is on a 6 game winning streak; and have proven they can hang with the Rockets by notching a 3 point victory over Toledo on New Year’s Day. I probably would not run to sprinkle the ML here, but I think this game will be decided between 5-7 points. A key cog in this winning streak for Kent State has been Giovanni Santiago. Over the last few years, when he plays well .. Kent State plays well. He is averaging 18 ppg over the last three games on 19/28 shooting from the field (12/20 from distance). Only one turnover for Santiago in this three game stretch as well. Kent State has won the last 9 games that he has played. Give me the points.

Score Prediction: Toledo 77 – Kent State 71

Sparty/Penn State o129 : This matchup touched 144 points back in December, and I think we get close to reaching that total again. The pace played with everything you want in an over. Penn State shot 42.9% and still scored 64 points. Sparty assisted on 21 out of 31 baskets, and Penn State assisted on 14 of 27 baskets. I believe that these are repeatable stats in regards to the total. This should be a close game, and I also love having the late foul crutch when betting an over.

Score Prediction: Michigan State 69 – Penn State 68

Villanova -4 : Providence has been playing with fire recently, and I feel that this may be the game where they get burned take step back. Villanova is a prideful bunch, and the Big East is certainly still within reach. I think this veteran group will enter the Dunkin Donuts Center with a business trip type of attitude. A.J. Reeves is still banged up and not playing well, and I think the backcourt duo of Collin Gillespie & Justin Moore will take this game over. Jay Wright’s Fortune 500 program takes an important road W here.

Score Prediction: Villanova 70 – Providence 63

Indiana State +12 : Too many points here. I had this line at +8 for the Sycamores. Especially, with the form that their star player is in. Cooper Neese has scored 35 & 28 points in his last two times out. He never comes out of a game, and knows how to stay out of foul trouble. He is the ultimate run killer for an opponent, which is a key for a spread this large. While I do think that Missouri State wins at home without much of a threat, I just like Neese and the Sycamores to keep this around 8-9 in the end. Micah Thomas is questionable for Indiana State with a non-Covid related illness. I like the play regardless, but keep an eye out on word on his status if you feel inclined.

Score Prediction: Missouri State 73 – Indiana State 65

Indiana -3 : Best Bet. Assembly Hall will be rocking tonight in a game the Hoosiers desperately need on their road to earning an at-large bid. I love the way the Hoosiers matchup against this Badgers side. They had the lead in Madison earlier this season with 1:18 left, but Wisconsin ended up pulling out a 5 point victory after late fouls. This was also in a game where TJD failed to score double figures. Last season he had 23 & 12 against the Badgers frontcourt, and I expect a similar type of performance tonight instead of the one we saw earlier this year. Defensively, TJD and Race Thompson were able to really limit the offensive impact of Wahl and Crowl. I think that is repeatable due the the wide gap of an athletic advantage favoring the Hoosiers. Hype home crowd. Must win revenge spot. Give me the Hoosiers for a Best Bet.

Score Prediction: Indiana 70 – Wisconsin 62

Best of luck! Let’s snipe this one y’all!!