This is a 10* play on SJST.

I don't think the markets have caught up to this San Jose State team. The Spartans are perennial bottom feeders in the Mountain West, but this year they finished top five in the conference this year, two games ahead of New Mexico and just two games back of Nevada. Both these teams are coming off a loss, but the Spartans are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games following a straight up loss. The Screaming Eagles are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss. I have to think this is a mismatch.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Duke.

By now, everyone knows that #5 seeds are vulnerable to upsets in the first round versus #12 seeds. Maybe that's how ACC Tournament champions Duke open as a single digit favorite and get bet down to -6.5 or -6. I believe the perception doesn't line up with the reality here at the NCAA Tournament. When a double digit seed wins outright it makes headlines, but the other 90 percent of the time it doesn't get talked about. Duke comes in on a nine game winning streak, and the average margin of victory in those games is well over 10 points per game. Oral Roberts has failed to cover in 12 of their last 15 versus teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. The Golden Eagles covered just twice in their last nine games overall.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Memphis.

The Cougars have won seven of the last 10 meetings straight up, but they have failed to cover in all but one of those games. These teams played just a week ago, and Memphis lost by two with Houston hitting the winner at the buzzer. Leading scorer Marcus played 37 minutes in that game, but he missed yesterday's game against Cincinnati. He will either miss this game, or he will be limited by a groin injury. With Houston's spot in the tournament secure, I see no reason for them to rush him back. The Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall, and they have failed to cover in five of their last six coming off a win. I'll take the points, and sprinkle a little on the moneyline.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on GONZ.

The Bulldogs might not be as good as they have been in previous seasons, but I believe they are still top dog in the WCC. I spoke on TV in a live interview with Dan Alexander a few weeks ago, saying that Gonzaga at 4-1 to win the conference was a good bet. They need to win tonight, and move ahead of SMC in NET rating (there was some confusion between NET and RPI). So SMC won at home in OT in the previous meeting a few weeks back, but that was just their second win in the last 10 head to head meetings. Both of those wins have come at home, and their losses at Gonzaga have come by an average margin of 17 points, and all six of those games were decided by double digits. Even in the OT win at home, SMC scored the first bucket, but Gonzaga too over shortly after and never trailed again in regulation. The visitor has failed to cover in each of the last eight meetings in this series.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Drexel.

The Dragons host Northeastern in their final home game of the season, and they have owned this team in recent years. Drexel defeated the Huskies by 21 points on the road earlier this season. They won at home versus Northeastern by 16 points last February. They are 4-0 SU and 4-0 ATS in this series over the last three seasons. The Huskies are coming off a home win over Conference bottom feeder CWM, and they are 3-12 ATS in their last 15 games following an ATS win. Drexel lost it's last game at Hampton, and they are 22-7 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up loss.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Texas A&M.

The Aggies are undefeated in the SEC, and they are 8-1 at home. They have already beat the Gators in Florida this season, and they won both meetings versus Florida last season. The Gators are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Aggies are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games overall, and they are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 versus Florida. The Aggies have outscored opponents by an average margin of 19 points at home.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TEXAS TECH.

The Red Raiders will be shorthanded here at Iowa State, and they are already 0-3 in conference play. History suggests that this game will be close, and I think the bookmakers are overreacting to a few injuries here. Daniel Batcho and Pop Isaacs didn't play in an overtime loss to Oklahoma, but the Cyclones leading rebounder Aljaz Kunc has also missed the last three weeks. Texas Tech has won eight of the last 10 in this series, and both losses came in games decided by four points. The Cyclones are 3-0 in the BIG12, but two of those wins came in games decided by three points or less. I'll take the points!

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Iowa.

The Hawkeyes are reeling after losing three straight, but a home game against BIG10 rivals Indiana looks like a good spot to get back on track. The home team is 5-1 straight up in the last six meetings between these teams. The Hoosiers have failed to cover in four straight overall, and four of five on the road. They have been playing without two starters, leading scorer Trayce-Jackson-Davis and PG Xavier Johnson. The Hawkeyes are 6-2 ATS in their last eight home games, and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 off a loss.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Arizona.

The Wildcats are 7-1, with a pair of wins over ranked teams. They beat San Diego State and Creighton before losing their first true road game at Utah. They host the #14 ranked Indiana Hoosiers in a neutral site game tonight, but Las Vegas might feel like a second home to the Wildcats. This Arizona team was 11-1 in non-conference games last year, beating #4 Michigan right here in Las Vegas. Indiana might struggle to match the scoring prowess of a Wildcats team that is averaging 91.5 points per game.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on K-State.

The Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the season, on the road at Butler. A home game against Wichita State looks like a good spot to get back on track. Wichita State had three players score in double digits last season, and all three are gone. One went to the NBA (Tyson Ettienne) and two transfered. The Wildcats have three senior starters averaging in double digits, and this gives them a huge edge in experience. Kansas State has won both their home games by double digits, and the Shockers are likely to be overmatched here in Manhattan.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UCONN.

The #20 Huskies are 7-0, and they beat #18 Alabama by 15 points on Friday at the Phil Knight Invitational. They face an unranked Iowa State team that just upset #1 North Carolina, and this could be a let down spot for the Cyclones. Iowa State made 9-of-20 three-point attempts in the upset win over the Tar Heels. I don't like their chances of hitting 45 percent from beyond the arc here in this game. The Huskies have the experience, the shooters, and the coaching to take down this scrappy Cyclones team.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on NCSTATE.

The Butler Bulldogs didn't get a lot of returning talent from last year, and they did not look good in their first game against a ranked team. They scored 45 points on 32 percent shooting in a loss to Tennessee a few days ago. The Wolfpack have more experience, and that may be what allowed them to hang with #3 ranked Kansas. NC State comes in averaging over 80 points per game, while the Bulldogs average just slightly above the national average (71.5). The Wolfpack currently rank 1st in the ACC in scoring, and near the top in FG percentage, FT percentage and three-point shooting.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Baylor.

The Cavs had four games against Top 25 teams last year, and they lost three of those four games by double digits. They do not match up well with a #5 ranked Baylor team that has the edge in experience, returning production and overall talent. The Bears are 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 neutral site games. The Cavaliers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight neutral site games, and they are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UNC.

Here is what I said prior to the Tar Heels Final Four win: "Duke will be the favorite in their Final Four matchup versus North Carolina, and the question is how much better than the Tar Heels is this team. They finished with one more win in the ACC, and they both got eliminated by Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament. The Tar Heels upset Duke in Coach K's final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and they have been lighting it up in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina ranked second in the ACC with a three-point percentage of .385, and the Tar Heels ranked first in the conference in free throw shooting hitting over 77%." As good as Kansas is, they aren't unbeatable. They had their hands full with Creighton and Providence in the tournament, and it seems like a big ask to cover and handful of points here in the Final. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Wyoming.

The Cowboys were in first place in the Mountain West a couple weeks ago, but after losing four of their last six overall they sit in fourth. So what happened? Well they had a tough schedule, facing Colorado State and UNLV on the road, and losing a close home game against long time Mountain West powerhouse San Diego State. They are still 15-1 at home, with the only loss coming to the Aztecs. They beat Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State at home, and tonight's game against Fresno State will be their final home game. The Bulldogs have lost five of their last seven, and they have failed to cover in six of their last seven versus teams with a winning record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Boise State.

Boise State sits at the top of the Mountain West, with just a half game lead over Wyoming. They have a home game against Utah State Saturday, and I like the Broncos to win big. The Broncos have won four of the last five meetings versus the Aggies, and Utah State has struggled on the road this season. The Aggies are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight road games, and they are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following a straight up loss. Utah State has covered in just one of their last five games overall.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CWM.

It's been a tough year for The College of William and Mary, but this team has been historically tough at home. The Charleston Cougars know that well, as the home team has won 10 straight in the last 10 head to head meetings. These teams played at Charleston at the end of January and the Cougars won by a score of 74-73. The Tribe have covered in five straight overall, and they are 5-0 ATS in their last five games as an underdog. The Cougars are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite. I don't just think the Tribe cover the spread, I fully expect them to win this game outright.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Texas Tech.

The Cyclones won 51-47 at home versus Texas Tech just before Christmas, and I was fortunate that I got a good line. Many people would have pushed or lost depending on when they played that game. One of the reasons I decided to bet against Texas Tech in that spot, was that they were missing leading scorer Terrance Shannon. He played 18 minutes in a loss to Kansas State over the weekend, and he should be ready to take on more minutes here in a revenge game against the Cyclones. Texas Tech is 10-0 at home, and the Cyclones have lost two of three on the road. The Red Raiders are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 home games, and they won their last home game against Iowa State by 27 points. This smells like a double digit win for the Red Raiders.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Alabama.

The Crimson Tide are undefeated in the SEC, and they spanked LSU by a score of 105-75 in Baton Rouge a few weeks ago. After losing by 30 points at home, you might figure this would be a revenge spot for the Tigers. They might not have a lot of fight in them though, losing their leading rebounder Darius Days to a knee injury in a loss to Texas Tech. Day played 21 minutes in Sunday's game, scoring 11 points and pulling in nine rebounds before suffering a knee injury that will keep him out for at least a month. LSU has lost three of their last four overall, and they are 2-5 ATS in their last seven on the road. The Crimson Tide are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall, and they have covered in five of their last six at home. This should be a double digit win for the Tide.

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Clemson.

The Tigers have lost four of their last five, but three of those losses came on the road. The other was a home loss to first place Virginia, the defending national champions. The Tar Heels on the other hand have won six of seven, but four of those wins came at home. None of those six wins came against teams with a winning record in the ACC. Historically these teams have played close games in recent seasons, and last year Clemson won 79-76 in overtime at Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels last win at Clemson came by just two points, and their previous win at Clemson (2015) came in overtime by three points. The Tigers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine home games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oklahoma Sooners.

The #1 ranked Baylor Bears come into Oklahoma as winners of 22 straight. They are 12-0 in the BIG12, and they are 11-0 on the road. You've got to have BIG BRASS TACKS to bet against a team that hasn't lost since November ... but sign me up! The Bears keep winning, but rarely are they blowing teams out. Four of their last five road games were single digit wins, and all five of those games came against teams that trail Oklahoma in the standings. They won by a score of 61-57 at home versus Oklahoma just a few weeks ago. The Sooners are 11-1 at home, and they won their last two home games by a combined 39 points against #13 ranked West Viriginia and Iowa State. The underdog has covered in five of the last six meetings between these two teams.

Take OKLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on William and Mary.

The Tribe have been the class of the CAA so far, winning six of seven games in conference play. They are an absolute juggernaut at home, and their last three home games were double digit wins over UNC Wilmington, Charleston and James Madison. They have now covered the spread in six straight home games. The Tribe won a close game at Towson last year, and in 2018 they won both meetings by double digits. The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, and I think the Tribe deserve to be closer to a double digit favorite here.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Saint Louis Bilikens.

The Davidson Wildcats are still one of the more recognizable brands in the Atlantic-10 Conference. They have been far more successful than Saint Louis over the last decade, but so far this season there is no doubt that the Bilikens have been the better team. Saint Louis is 14-4 overall, and three of their four losses came against ranked teams. The one loss against an unranked opponent came against a Duquesne team that is on the cusp of being ranked. They are 3-2 in conference play, and both losses came against the top two teams in the conference. Most recently they lost in overtime on a buzzer beater by a score of 78-76 at home versus Dayton. These two teams split the season series in 2019, and Saint Louis won by 20+ points at Davidson. They had previous lost to the Wildcats by a single point at home earlier in 2019. I think the Bilikens should be the favorite here.

Take SLU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Oregon State.

The Beavers are getting a bunch of points on the road at Washington, and history tells us that the underdog has been the play in recent meetings. These teams have gone to overtime three times in the last five head to head meetings. The underdog has covered the spread in four of those games. The Huskies are shorthanded, with their starting PG missing the last two games since being ruled academically inelligeble. Quade Green leads the team in assists, and he's the Huskies best free throw shooter and he's also their biggest threat from beyond the arc. Green isn't available until late March. The Huskies are 0-2 without him, failing to score 60 points in each of those losses. The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five head to head meetings. I'll take the points.

Take ORST.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Auburn.

In recent memory, this Virginia team has been a juggernaut in the regular season, but they always disappoint in the NCAA Tournament. Things got really bad when they were bounced in the first round last year losing to UMBC. Then in their first game of this Tournament, they got blown out in the first half by Gardner Webb. They have avoided disaster with wins by the closest of margins against Oregon and Purdue, and really needed a miracle to get past the Boilermakers. Auburn's journey to the Final Four has been far more impressive, beating Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina in their last three games. I'll take the Tigers plus the points against a fragile looking favorite.

Take AUB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UNC.

It was just a few weeks ago that North Carolina went into Cameron Indoor Stadium and laid a whupping on Duke. Now the Blue Devils look to return the favor, and some might think this looks like a natural revenge spot. I might like Duke's chances of an upset here, if they had Zion Williamson back, or if Trey Jones wasn't hurt, or if they didn't just come oh so close to losing to one of the worst teams in the conference a few days ago. Duke is a mess, and expecting them to pull it all together to beat the Tar Heels at Chapel Hill just doesn't seem at all realistic. North Carolina lead by double digits at the half in the last meeting.

Take UNC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on UNLV.

The Boise State Broncos have been a powerhouse in the Mountain West for years, but they have really fallen off this year. They come into UNLV with a losing record in the conference, and a road record of 3-8. They already lost by a score of 83-72 at home versus the Rebels earlier this year, and I don't like their chances of avenging that loss here in Las Vegas. The Broncos have lost six of their last seven games, and the lone win during that span came against the bottom feeders San Jose State. The Rebels lost their last home game by a single point against one of the top teams in the conference (San Diego State), and prior to that they beat Air Force by a score of 77-72.

Take UNLV.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on UCLA.

The Ducks are coming off another double digit loss at USC, and I bet against them in that game. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "It's been a lost season for the Ducks, who were expecting to challenge for another PAC12 Title. They lost their leading scorer Bol Bol after just nine games, and Louis King and Kenny Wooten have been banged up. The Ducks lost 72-57 at Oregon State in their last game, and they shot just 53.3 percent from the free throw line in that game. They have averaged just 59.9 points per game on the road, losing five of eight games. The Ducks are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 road games." The Bruins have won three of the last four head to head meetings, including an overtime win at Oregon earlier this season. UCLA averages a staggering 81.6 points on 48.1 percent shooting at home. I can't see Oregon finding enough offense to hang with the Bruins.

Take UCLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Duke Blue Devils.

A lot of people will be backing Virginia here at home, especially given that they lost by just two points at Duke a few weeks ago. The thing is, you have to remember that the Cavs were catching Duke in a particularly vulnerable spot, without their starting PG. Tre Jones is back playing at full strength, and Duke is coming off four straight double digit wins. The last meeting between these two teams wasn't as close as the final score would indicate, as the Cavs made it close with a few late buckets. Duke has won four of the last five head to head meetings, two of those wins coming at Virginia. The road team is 20-5-1 ATS in the last 26 meetings, and the underdog is 20-8-1 ATS in the last 29 meetings. I'll take the points.

Take DUKE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Duquesne Dukes.

The VCU Rams have won six straight meetings versus the Dukes dating back to 2013, but they come into today's game trailing Duquesne in the A-10 standings. The Dukes are 5-1 on conference play, and their last win came at home against first place Saint Louis. The home team has covered in four straight meetings between these teams, and I like Duquesne to get off to a good start as a home dog here today. The Dukes have averaged 78.6 points on 45.5 percent shooting in their last five games, more than 11 points more than the Rams have averaged during that span. Of course the Rams are better defensively, but they were able to overcome stifling defense in their last game against the Bilikens. I'll take the points here.

Take DUQ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Ohio Bobcats.

Ohio is 7-0 at home so far, and the Bobcats have won four straight head to head meetings versus Northern Illinois. They have won all three home games during that span by a double-digit margin. The Huskies have lost four of their five road games so far, and they have allowed opponents to average over 81 points in those games. The Bobcats are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games, and 5-2 ATS in their last seven versus MAC teams. This Northern Illinois team finished dead last in the MAC last year, and they were 1-13 on the road. They should be a far bigger underdog here in Ohio.

Take OHIO.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Texas Tech.

The #2 ranked Blue Devils have only lost once this season (89-87 vs Gonzaga), and they played a close game in a 78-72 win over Auburn. They opened as a 7.5 point favorite for tonight's neutral site game versus Texas Tech and MSG, but they have since been bet up to a double digit favorite. The Red Raiders come undefeated at 10-0, and while they haven't played any ranked teams, they do have an experienced squad with two seniors in the starting five. Texas Tech made it to the Elite Eight in last year's NCAA Tournament, beating the likes of Purdue and Florida before losing to Villanova. The Red Raiders rank 1st nationally in opponent's scoring average as well as opponent's field goal percentage. They could make life tough for Duke's talented freshman. I'll take the points.

Take TTU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nevada Wolfpack.

Nevada is off to a hot start, coming into Friday's game versus Arizona State ranked sixth in the AP Poll. It's not just that the Wolfpack are 8-0, it's that all eight wins came by double-digits. Their closest game so far was a 96-86 win over Tulsa, in a game that they led by 11 at the half. The Sun Devils are also undefeated, and ranked in the Top 25. Their 7-0 start hasn't been quite as impressive, winning close games over teams like Utah State and Cal State Fullerton. They have only faced one ranked team, beating Mississippi State by a score of 72-67 in Las Vegas. Their last game was far from impressive, turning the ball over 19 times and shooting just 13-of-25 (52%) from the free throw line in a home win over Texas Southern. If they play like that here at the Staples Center, another double-digit win for Nevada will likely be the result.

Take NEV.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers.

The Ramblers will face the Nevada Wolfpack in the Sweet 16, and Nevada is listed as the favorite. I find it hard to be too impressed by Nevada's first two games of the tournament. They were down by double digits in the second half against Texas, and they trailed Cincinnati by 20 halfway through the second half in their last game. The Ramblers could have suffered a let down after upsetting Miami in the first round, but instead they knocked off #3 seed Tennessee. Nevada came limping into the tournament, losing twice to San Diego State in less than a week. They have been able to come from behind in each of their last two games, but if they fall behind here I don't think they'll be able to do it a third consecutive time. The Ramblers are 4-1 ATS in their last five non conference games, and they have covered the spread in four straight neutral site games.

Take L-LIL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Louisville Cardinals.

Only eight teams remain in the NIT Tournament, and one of the Quarter Final matchups will see Louisville hosting Mississippi State. Home teams are 17-3 straight up in the tournament so far, and 10 of those 17 wins for the home team came by a double digit margin. Louisville crushed a very good Middle Tennessee team by a score of 84-68 at home in it's second round match. I bet on the under in last night's game between Oklahoma State and Stanford, and in the analysis I referenced some data published by SB Nation regarding the NIT rule changes. Here is what I said: "According to SB Nation, in the first nine games of the tournament, eight of nine road teams shot below their season average from three-point range. One of those games was Oklahoma State hosting Florida Gulf Coast, and the Cowboys held the Eagles to just 68 points." That trend certainly didn't hold true for the Bulldogs in their second round matchup versus Baylor, as they hit 13-of-22 three-point attempts, including the winner at the buzzer. I seriously doubt Mississippi State can continue to hit 60 percent of their three-point shots, especially against a tough Louisville defense. The Bulldogs lost eight of 11 road games this season, and they scored an average of just 69.4 points in those games.

Take LOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Florida State Seminoles.

Both these teams won 20 games this season, but the Seminoles played in the ACC, facing the likes of Virginia, Duke and North Carolina. They also faced Miami twice, Clemson Twice, and Louisville three times. Missouri comes into the tournament as losers of four of their last six, and they will really miss their second leading scorer Jordan Barnett. The Senior Forward will be serving a suspension after he was arrested for a DWI last weekend. Michael Porter Jr. will play for just the third time this season, but he looked a little out of sorts in his first game back. He scored 12 points of 5-of-17 shooting in 23 minutes in a 62-60 loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are going to need a huge game from the freshman in the absence of Barnett, and I think that's simply too much to ask of a kid that missed the entire season with a back injury. The Tigers have failed to cover in four straight NCAA Tournament games, and they are just 1-5 ATS in their last six non conference games.

Take FSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the College of Charleston.

Auburn was eliminated from the SEC Tournament when they lost by a whopping 18 points to Alabama. They have really struggled since losing senior forward Anfernee McLemore, who went down in an 84-75 loss to South Carolina. Including that game, they've lost four of their last six. Charleston comes in as winner of nine of their last 10 overall, with the only loss during that span coming in overtime. Auburn has failed to cover in four straight, and I don't think they should be asked to cover double digits here against a Charleston team that won 26 games this season. The Cougars are the CAA champs, and you might remember that last year's CAA champs UNC Wilmington lost by just four points in their first round NCAA Tournament game against Virginia. I think the Tigers will have a fight on their hands.

Take COFC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Bearcats rank 2nd nationally in opponents scoring average just behind Virginia. They have allowed just 57.2 points per game this season, but in two games against Houston they gave up 70 in a home win, and 67 in a road loss. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games, failing to reach the total in seven of the last eight meetings. Tonight's total has been bet down to 127.5, far lower than it was in the previous six head to head meetings. The Bearcats also have a history of owning the Cougars, winning eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. Houston has emerged as a sexy dark horse, and many people are picking them as their "Cinderella" for the dance. As impressive as their run has been, they trailed for the majority of the final five minutes in last night's game against Wichita State. They managed to pull out the victory over the Shockers, but it remains to be seen if they can do the same against an even better Cincinnati team. The Cougars opened as a four point underdog versus the Shockers, and now they are getting just a half point more against the conference champs. I'll take the favorite with the short line.

Take CINCI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Richmond Spiders.

I bet on Richmond last night, and they won by double digits in their first round matchup versus Duquesne. Here is what I said prior to the game: "Richmond had a brutal season in the A-10, but I believe this is a team that is far better than the numbers show. The Spiders showed some promise at the end of the season, winning back to back games in blowout fashion. They beat UMASS by a score of 90-65, shooting over 57 percent from the field and going 8-of-18 from beyond the arc. Three days later they went on the road and beat George Mason by a score of 93-79, shooting over 62 percent from the field and going 10-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Dukes have struggled, and they come into the tournament as loser of seven of their last eight overall. They don't score a lot of points, averaging just over 70 points per game in their last five. Richmond has won nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams, and I'll ride them while their hot." They have a tough matchup against a St. Bonaventure team that finished 14-4 in the A-10. They lost the last meeting at St. Bonnie's by nine points, but they won outright in four of the previous five head to head meetings. They have covered the spread in five of the last six meetings. The Spiders were just 9-9 in the A-10, but lost only twice by double digits in those 18 games. I'll take the points here in a neutral site game that should be close.

Take RICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Richmond Spiders.

Richmond will play a home game tonight against an undermanned St. Joe's squad, and this looks like a helluva bet as a pickem. Both these teams are 7-8 in the A-10, but Richmond has had the better of recent meetings. The Spiders are 4-2 in the last six head to head meetings, and they have won three of the last four in this series. St. Joe's is just 2-9 on the road, and the Hawks are coming off a home loss to George Mason. They trailed by 11 points at halftime in that game, and a second half rally came up short. They really missed James Demery, who is second on the team in scoring averaging over 17 points per game. He's listed as questionable with an ankle injury for tonight's game. Richmond has lost four straight, but three of those were road games, and two of those losses came against the top 2 teams in the conference. I like the Spiders to get back on track here against this banged up Hawks team.

Take RICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Earlier this season I bet on the Yellow Jackets in a home win over Northwestern. Here is what I had to say before that game: "How good is Georgia Tech at home? Well they've won 18 of their last 22 home games. That's even more impressive than it sounds, when you consider their tough conference schedule. Last year they had home wins over champions North Carolina (ranked #9), Florida State (ranked #6) and Notre Dame (ranked #14). They host Northwestern tonight, and the Wildcats have already lost twice, dropping out of the Top 25.  Senior center Ben Lammers leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring averaging 17 points per game, and freshman guard Jose Alvarado is second on the team averaging 14.3 PPG on 58.8 shooting. The Yellow Jackets have covered the spread in 10 of their last 12 home games, and they are 5-2 ATS in their last seven non-conference games." They host the Syracuse Orange tonight, and once again they are underdog. The unranked Orange have lost three of four road games in conference play. They are 2-3 overall on the road, with both wins coming against bottom feeders. They won 60-55 at Pittsburgh, and they rallied late to force overtime at Georgetown, winning by a score of 86-79. The Orange lost by a score of 71-65 at Georgia Tech last year, and they are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games.

Take GT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Duquesne Dukes.  Needless to say, I was a little surprised that the Dukes didn't play better on the road at Saint Louis in their last game. Here is what I said prior to tip off: "The Dukes are 4-1 in the Atlantic 10 so far. The Dukes rank 25th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 64.2 points per game. The Dukes have won five of the last seven meetings between the two schools, and the most recent meeting was a 72-71 win for the Bilikens in last year's conference tournament. Reggie Agbeko, Mike Crawford and Elliot Welmer combined to score 48 of the Bilikens 72 points in that game. Agbeko and Crawford have played out their eligibility, while Welmer is sidelined with a foot injury. Mike Lewis led the Dukes with 22 points, and he comes into tonight's game off back to back 20+ point performances. The Dukes are 4-1 ATS in their last five games versus the Atlantic 10, and I think the bookmakers have the wrong team favored here as they are getting points against the cellar dwellers of the conference." They are back at home tonight, hosting George Mason. The Patriots are coming off a double digit loss to George Washington, and they are 2-4 on the road. They have scored just 68.7 points per game on the road, and they may struggle to hit that number tonight against a Dukes team that allows opponents to average just 63.2 points per game at home. The Dukes won their last home game against George Mason by a score of 62-53, and a similar result is expected here tonight. The Patriots are 0-4 ATS in their last four versus Duquesne.  Take DUQ.  GL,  

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Wisconsin Badgers.

Last year the Badgers finished second in the BIG10 with a record of 27-10. They had another strong run in the NCAA Tournament, losing in the Sweet 16 to Florida (by one point in overtime). They will have to replace four of five starters from last year's team, but only one of those players was really a star. Leading rebounder Ethan Happ is back for his junior year, and he scored 20 points and pulled in 11 rebounds in the Badgers season opener (85-50 win over SCST). Happ averaged 14 points per game last year, while Bronson Koenig led the team with 14.5 points per game. Koenig was a decent role player, but he was a terrible shooter at times. His replacement D'Mitrik Trice may well prove to be a better player. He shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and scored 13 points in the first game of the season. Khalil Iverson, Andy Van Vliet and Brevin Pritzl will all move into the starting lineup, but all of them have experience playing a significant role last season. We can expect Wisconsin to be just as dominant on defense, and on the boards as they have been in recent seasons. The seven footer Van Vliet scored 18 points and pulled in eight rebounds in 22 minutes on Friday. The Badgers host the Yale Bulldogs, who are coming off a blowout loss at Creighton. The Badgers won their first six home games last season by an average margin of well over 20 points per game. That includes wins over Syracuse and Oklahoma. Three of their first four home games in conference play were 20+ point wins against Rutgers, Penn State and Ohio State. I think it's asking way too much from the Bulldogs to keep this game close.

Take WIS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oregon Ducks.

The Michigan Wolverines are a team that has gotten hot at the right time. After winning six of their final eight regular season games, they won four games in four days, clinching the BIG10 Tournament Final with a 71-56 win over Wisconsin. They shot 56.3 percent from the field in that game, and hit 10-of-23 three-point attempts. They shot the ball just as well in their first round win over Oklahoma State, but won that game by just a single point. The Wolverines hot shooting has masked some of their glaring weaknesses. They were out-rebounded 40-21 versus Oklahoma State, and 37-30 versus Louisville. The Ducks come in averaging 34.8 rebounds per game in their last five. That's more than 10 rebounds more than the Wolverines have averaged during the same span. Oregon has scored over 80 points per game over their last five, and the Ducks have the firepower to match Michigan shot for shot. Oregon didn't have a great game against Rhode Island, but still managed to do enough to win. Michigan has failed to cover in four of it's last five versus teams from the PAC12, and I think the Cinderella run could end here in the Sweet 16.

Take ORE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Iowa State Cyclones.

The Cyclones are peaking at the right time, and they come into this second round matchup versus Purdue as winners of 10 of their last 11. They defeated West Virginia in the BIG12 Tournament Final, scoring 80 points on 51.8 percent shooting. Purdue stumbled at the end of the year, losing twice to Michigan. The Wolverines were a hot team hitting their shots, and right now that's exactly how you would have to describe the Cyclones. Iowa State has averaged 83.2 points on 5.14 percent shooting over their last five. They won 15 games in the BIG12, while Purdue won 14 games in a much weaker BIG10. The Cyclones have won seven of eight games at neutral sites this season, and they even pulled off an upset road win at Kansas. I think they'll prove to be too much for a Purdue team that doesn't have enough fire power to keep up.

Take ISU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Miami Hurricanes.

Miami comes into the tournament as losers of three of it's last four games. During that span the Hurricanes have scored an average of just 58 points, and two of the three losses came against ranked teams. While those numbers are far from impressive, it's important to remember that Miami plays in the toughest conference in the country, and still managed to win 21 games. They beat the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Virginia. Michigan State has also lost three of it's last four, despite all those games coming against unranked teams (Illinois, Maryland and Minnesota). The Spartans have failed to cover in eight of their last 11 non conference games, and seven of their last nine as an underdog. They shot just 38.2 percent from the field and 6-of-30 from beyond the arc in a loss to Minnesota in their last game, and they are likely to struggle against one of the top defensive teams in the ACC.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Providence Friars.

The USC Trojans lost four of their final six games of the regular season. They just barely beat Washington in the first round of the PAC12 Tournament before losing to UCLA. Providence played it's best basketball down the stretch, closing the season with six straight wins. During that span they beat Butler, Xavier, Creighton and Marquette. These teams last faced each other last March, and Providence won that game 70-69. The Friars are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games as an underdog, and the Trojans are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. USC may have won 24 games this year, but many of those wins came in a top heavy PAC12 Conference. Their last five wins have come against the bottom three teams in the conference (they beat WASH and WSU twice). They have failed to cover in four straight non conference games.

Take PROV.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on GT.

The Yellow Jackets won 15 of 19 home games during the regular season, but they still don't get any respect from the bookmakers. They will be an underdog at home in the first round of the NIT Tournament versus Indiana. The Hoosiers are the sexy pick, despite losing seven of their last 10 overall. Indiana lost eight of 10 road games during the regular season, and the Hoosiers are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven versus ACC teams. The Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog, and they have allowed just 61 points on 38.9 percent shooting at neutral sites this season. I'll take the home team plus the points here.

Take GT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Badgers went through a rough patch at the end of the regular season, losing five of six games before they beat Minnesota 66-49 in their final home game. They've since turned things around, coming off back to back wins by a combined 38 points over Indiana and Northwestern. Both these teams will be feeling the effects of fatigue, but while Wisconsin is playing it's third game in three days, it will be four straight days for the Wolverines. Michigan also survived a plane crash, which delayed their arrive in the Nation's Capital. The lack of rest is likely to hurt the Wolverines more than the Badgers, who are stronger fundamentally. They average 34.5 rebounds per game, 5.3 more than Michigan. Wisconsin has allowed opponents to average just 58.7 points on 39.9 percent shooting while winning five of six neutral site games this season. Michigan will probably need to shoot for a high percentage to win this game, which is going to be difficult in these conditions. Since 2012, the Badgers have won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

Take WISC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is 10* play on Duke.

The Blue Devils faced more than their share of adversity this season, but they are starting to look like a real threat to win it all. They come into the ACC Final off back to back impressive wins against Louisville and North Carolina. The Irish have also been hot, winning eight of their last 10 overall. Their two losses came against Louisville and North Carolina, and seven of their eight wins came against teams that trail them in the standings. They lost at home to Duke by a score of 84-74 in January. Duke shot 50 percent from the field and went 10-of-17 from beyond the arc in yesterday's win over the Tar Heels. Duke has been hitting just shy of 80 percent from the charity stripe over it's last five games, almost 10 percent more than the Irish during the same span. This Blue Devils team appears to have hit it's stride, and that's a scary thought for the Irish.

Take DUKE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Iowa is coming off a huge upset win at Wisconsin, and some might say that sets them up for a let down here at home versus Penn State. I expect the Hawkeyes to bring it here in their final home game though, sending off their seniors with a blowout win. The Nittany Lions have lost four straight, and their last two road games were both double digit losses. They've lost three of their last four games at Iowa, and the average margin of victory in those games was far greater than 10 points. The Hawkeyes beat PSU at home last year by a score of 73-49. Iowa averages 85.9 points per game on 47 percent shooting at home, and the Hawkeyes are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 home games. The Nittany Lions are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Iowa.

Take IOWA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Colorado State.

"Colorado State comes in tied for first place in the conference (with Nevada and BSU), and the Rams are one of the hottest teams in the country right now. They've won seven of their last eight, with four of those wins coming on the road (at SDSU, at USU, at UNLV and at WYO). Senior forward Emmanuel Omogbo has really elevated his game, averaging 16.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in his last five. He scored 19 points and pulled in 16 rebounds in a win at Wyoming last Tuesday."

That's what I said about the Rams before they beat the Lobos by double digits at New Mexico Tuesday. They return home tonight to host San Diego State, a team that has struggled on the road. The Aztecs have lost seven of 10 road games, scoring an average of just 64.2 points on 38.8 percent shooting in those games. San Diego State is 2-7-1 ATS in it's last 10 road games.

Take CSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the William and Mary Tribe.

The Tribe are coming off a rare road win at Deleware, and they return home to face Hofstra. William and Mary might be the nation's best bet at home, with a perfect 12-0 record this season. They don't just win their home games, for the most part, they blow out their opponents. Their last five home wins have all come by a double digit margin, even against some of the top teams in the CAA. They beat the first place Seahawks by a whopping 18 points at home last month. William and Mary are averaging 91 points on an unbelievable 55.1 percent shooting at home. Hofstra comes in struggling, failing to cover in eight of their last 10 overall, and they are 2-6-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings at William & Mary.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose State Spartans.

The Spartans have had a stranglehold on last place in the Mountain West for most of the last decade. That is not the case this seasons. San Jose State comes into tonight's home game as winners of five of their last six overall. They are a solid 9-5 overall at home, and they host a struggling Utah State Aggies team. The Aggies are just 2-7 on the road, and they come in as losers of five straight road games. The Spartans have been rather efficient offensively, scoring 74.4 points on 48.7 percent shooting over their last five games. Utah State has scored just 66.2 points on 35.6 percent shooting during that same span. The Spartans have covered in five of their last six, while Utah State is just 1-7 ATS in it's last eight road games.

Take SJSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Georgia Tech.

The Wolfpack have lost seven of eight on the road, and their last two road games were losses by 20+ points. With nothing left to play for, they aren't likely to pose a threat to a Georgia Tech team that is very strong at home. The Yellow Jackets play a strong defense on their home floor, allowing opponents to average just 61.3 points per game on 36 percent shooting. That's even more impressive when you consider that they've played teams like Louisville and North Carolina. Georgia Tech beat Syracuse on Sunday, and I like them here on Tuesday night against a much weaker opponent.

Take GT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Syracuse is coming off back to back losses, but the Orange will come into Georgia Tech as the favorite. It seems strange that the bookmakers are asking bettors to lay points with a Syracuse team that has only won two road games all year. They beat Clemson by just one point, and needed overtime in their win at N.C. State. The Yellow Jackets are a stronger home team than the Tigers or the Wolfpack. They are 13-3 at home this year, with wins over North Carolina, Florida State and Notre Dame. The Orange have failed to cover the spread in each of the last four meetings in this series, and their last win at Georgia Tech came by a score of 46-45. The Yellow Jackets play a strong defense on their home floor, allowing opponents to average just 61.3 points per game on 36 percent shooting. That's even more impressive when you consider that they've played teams like Louisville and North Carolina. The Orange are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games, while the Yellow Jackets are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 overall.

Take GT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma finally snapped it's seven game losing streak with a win over Texas at home on Tuesday. It was the Sooners first game since they announced that leading scorer Jordan Woodard would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Woodard wasn't playing well, failing to score in double figures in three of his last four games. One of those games was a 68-66 home loss to the Cowboys, and Woodard scored just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. Oklahoma State won that game with a buzzer beater, and here we are just over two weeks later and they are asked to cover a double digit spread in the rematch. While the Sooners will miss Woodard, I believe they will be better off giving his minutes to a healthy role player, rather than a struggling star who's unable to contribute due to injury. That was certainly the case against Texas, as backup center Jamuni McNease scored 14 points and pulled in 14 rebounds in 26 minutes. The Sooners have played close games in each of their last four visits to Stillwater, with only one loss, which came in overtime. The average margin of victory in those four games was just four points. This line appears to be a little inflated.

Take OKLA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on Iowa (1st Half)

Illinois has been brutal on the road, losing five of six games, and scoring an average of just 66.5 points on 41.9 percent shooting. They did beat Iowa at home earlier this year, but I expect the Hawkeyes to execute revenge for that loss here on Saturday. Iowa is a much stronger team at home, where they average 80.8 points per game, and shoot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. I don't think Illinois can score enough points to keep those one close. The Illini have averaged just 61.4 points, shooting just 39.8 percent from the field in their last five games overall. Iowa's last two home games were double digit wins over Ohio State and Nebraska, and I think they can handle bottom feeders Illinois with relative ease.

Take Iowa.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose State Spartans.

San Jose State has been the worst team in the Mountain West for a long time, but apparently not this season. The Spartans have won four straight, including an upset win over the Lobos in New Mexico. They were an underdog in their last three games, and they are getting a bunch of points on the road at Fresno State tonight. They already beat the Bulldogs at home in January, and they have covered the spread in each of the last three meetings over the last three seasons. The Bulldogs are struggling, they've lost three straight, and they have a few key players sidelined with injuries. The Bulldogs last home game was a 67-70 loss to San Diego State, the same Aztecs team that the Spartans beat in San Jose just over a week ago. Fresno State is 5-11 ATS in it's last 16 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5, and the Bulldogs have failed to cover in five straight overall.

Take SJSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies.

The La Salle Explorers had been enjoying their best season in the A-10 Conference in years, but have started to struggle in recent weeks. La Salle has lost five of it's last seven, with wins against bottom feeders Fordam and Massachusetts. The Bonnies have long been one of the toughest teams in his conference on their home court, and they've won four of their last five home games. The one loss came in overtime to powerhouse VCU. St. Bonaventure has averaged over 81 points per game at home, shooting 47 percent from the field. The Explorers are 4-5 on the road, and they've lost three of their last four road games by 10 or more points. It's no coincidence that La Salle has struggled over it's last seven games, as they have been without starting guard Pookie Powell for six of those seven contests. Powell averaged 13.4 points per game, logging an average of 31 minutes prior to suffering a knee injury in a loss to VCU in January. The Explorers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight road games, and they've failed to cover in four of their last five as an underdog.

Take SBON.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Nevada Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack sit a half a game back of Boise State in the Mountain West, and they will play on the road at San Diego State Sunday. The Aztecs have dominated this conference for more than a decade, but they currently sit in the bottom half of the standings with a losing record in conference play. Nevada beat the Aztecs at home by a score of 72-69 earlier this year, ending a seven game losing streak in the series. The Wolfpack haven't had any trouble winning on the road this season, winning five of eight games and averaging a whopping 80.5 points. San Diego State has been beaten at home by Colorado State and New Mexico, two teams that trail Nevada in the standings. Scoring has been an issue for the Aztecs, averaging just 70.4 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting in their last five games. The Wolfpack are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 road games, while the Aztecs have failed to cover in four straight games as a favorite.

Take NEVADA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colorado State Rams.

The Rams have really played well in recent weeks, winning five of their last six games. The only loss during that span came in a close game versus Mountain West powerhouse Boise State. They sit just a half a game out of first place in the conference, and they host a struggling Fresno State team this afternoon. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four, and they are just 4-8 on the road. They have missed a couple of key players, leaving them shorthanded and undersized. Karachi Edo leads the Bulldogs in rebounds averaging 6.8 per game, and Cullen Russo is second on the team averaging 5.9 RPG. Edo is questionable with an ankle injury, and Russo is suspended indefinitely. The Rams are 8-1 ATS in their last nine home games versus a team with a losing road record, and the Bulldogs have failed to cover in four of their last five road games.

Take CSU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the William and Mary Tribe.

The Charleston Cougars are one of the top dogs in the CAA, sitting just one game back of UNC Wilmington with a 10-3 record. They are coming off a brutal loss at home to Northeastern, and now they head out on the road to face a William and Mary team that is 11-0 at home this season. The Tribe don't just win at home, they dominate the opposition. Their last home game was a 94-69 win over Northeastern, the same team that upset the Cougars. William and Mary averages a staggering 92.1 points on 55.4 percent shooting at home this season. The Cougars average just 66.5 points per game on the road. The home team has won seven of the last eight in this series, and the one exception was a 63-61 win for William and Mary at Charleston.

Take CWM.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Northwestern Wildcats.

Northwestern had won six straight before losing at Purdue last week. The Wildcats have had a week to recover from that game, while they host an Illinois team that has lost six of it's last seven. Illinois is 0-5 on the road this season, failing to cover in all five of those losses. They've also failed to cover in each of their last six losses overall. Scoring has been a huge issue for Illinois, averaging just 60.4 points on 39.4 percent shooting over their five games. The Wildcats are 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, and have covered the spread in four straight home games versus teams with a losing record. While these teams have a history of playing close games in the past, this looks like a much tougher game for Illinois than previous trips to Evanston.

Take NW.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Wisconsin Badgers

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Fresno State Bulldogs.

San Diego State has long been the top team in the Mountain West, but they've taken a back seat this year to the likes of Nevada, Boise State and Fresno State. The Bulldogs are one of five teams that are ahead of the Aztecs in the conference standings, and their 10-1 home record is one of the reasons why. Fresno State swept the season series last year, winning 68-63 at San Diego in the most recent meeting. They haven't lost a home game in conference play, and they have already beaten the best teams in the Mountain West at home. The Aztecs have lost three of their last four road games, and they have only scored 62.1 points per game on 38 percent shooting on the road this season. The Bulldogs have covered the spread in five of their last six home games, while the Aztecs have failed to cover in six of their last seven road games.

Take FRES.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Jose State Spartans.

New Mexico is coming off a road win at UNLV, in a game that they trailed until the dying minutes. They won by a score of 80-77, avenging their home loss to the Rebels earlier this season. Here is what I said prior to that game: "This is a revenge spot for New Mexico after losing at home to the Rebels by a score of 71-66 earlier this year. The Lobos might be hard pressed to earn a better result here tonight though, coming off a blowout loss to Nevada. Not only did they lose that game by 17 points, they also lost a pair of starters to injury. Most notable is leading scorer Tim Williams, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Sophomore guard Dane Kuiper suffered a concussion in the loss to Nevada, and he's expected to be out at least a couple weeks. Kuiper had a team high 17 points in the loss to the Rebels earlier this year." The Lobos are asked to cover a big number here in Saturday's game against San Jose State, who have lost five of their last eight. Not one of those losses came by more than 10 points though, and I don't think a shorthanded New Mexico team should be such a huge favorite.

Take SJSU

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Illinois.

I bet on Illinois as a home dog in their last game versus Wisconsin. They came out a little flat, and Wisconsin jumped out to an early 12-2 lead. They would play the Badgers even he rest of the way, and held them to just 55 points. Here is what I had to say before that game: "The Fighting Illini are just 3-6 in conference play, but five of those six losses have come on the road. Their only home loss during conference play, came by just six points against BIG10 leaders Maryland. They are 10-2 overall at home, and they've averaged 80.5 points on 49.2 percent shooting in those games." The Illini have won six of the last seven in this series, and Minnesota is just 2-4 on the road. The Gophers have score just 66 points on 39 percent shooting on the road, and they should struggle against an Illinois team that has held opponents to just 68.8 points per game at home. The Gophers have failed to cover in 20 of their last 27 versus Illinois.

Take ILL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Creighton Blue Jays.

After losing starting guard Maurice Watson, Creighton struggled, losing back to back games to Georgetown and Marquette. They bounced back big time with a 76-67 win at Butler on Tuesday. They have made the necessary adjustments, and in the absence of Watson Jr, guards Khyri Thomas and Marcus Foster combined to score 30 points on 11-of-22 shooting. Creighton is a monster at home, boasting an 11-2 record with wins over a pair of ranked teams (Butler and Wisconsin). They have scored an average of 84.6 points on 52.8 percent shooting at home, and this Xavier team shows no signs of being able to match that kind of offensive production. The Musketeers are coming off a rather uninspiring win over Seton Hall by just two points, and they have failed to cover in six of their last seven overall. They couldn't handle Creighton at home, and I don't think they'll be able to hang with them here in Nebraska.

Take CRE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Richmond Spiders.

The Richmond Spiders are just a half a game out of first place in the A-10 Conference, and they have a home game against bottom feeders George Washington Saturday. The Spiders won at George Washington by a score of 77-70 earlier this season, and they've four of five home games in conference play. That includes wins over powerhouse teams like Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure. The Colonials have lost three of their last four road games, with all three of those losses coming by a double digit margin. George Washington has failed to cover in six of it's last seven, and is just 1-4 ATS in it's last five road games. Richmond has covered the spread in eight of it's last 10 conference games, and is 4-1 ATS in it's last five versus George Washington.

Take RICH.

GL,

Jesse Schule