Florida vs Houston 8:50 ET

Cougars (+) over Gators - These two No. 1 seeds and the No. 3 and 4 final seeds here with Florida getting the NCAA’s edge. Each of these clubs has won 35 of 39 games with the Gators going an amazing 28-11 ATS while playing through the tough SEC. Houston has dominated opponents by enacting their pressure defense that led the nation in allowing only  58.1 points per game. Florida has won 11 in-a-row while the Cougars have won 18 straight games and 31 of their last 32 games overall. Kelvin Sampson is going out a winner after 31 years. Take HOUSTON!

Central Florida vs Nebraska 5:30 ET

Cornhuskers (+) over Knights - Unlike the big boys and big girls tournament where only number 1 seeds are permitted to advance the College Basketball Crown has a three seed and a twelve seed (which we hear so much about in the 5-12 match up). Nebraska enters T-Mobile in Las Vegas favored about the same price over the Panthers as was Villanova Saturday who the Knights disposed of in OT 104-98. In Nebraska’s early win Saturday over Boise State they had a fantastic shooting afternoon hitting 63% of three-pointers (12-19) and making 83% from the free throw line. The Knights are led by guard Darius Johnson who put up 42 points making 17 Free Throws and he has eight 3-pointers the last two contests at T-Mobile. The Cornhuskers will regress as their shooting percentage wanes here and the Knights win the challenge.Take CENTRAL FLORIDA!

Houston vs Duke 8:45 ET

Cougars (+) over Blue Devils - Duke may not be the No. 1 seed but they are the odds makers and people’s choice as the -120 favorite to take it all. Houston who brings the No. 1 defense in the nation to San Antonio allowing just 58.3 PPG and they are ranked No. 2 in 3-point FG percentage at 39.7. The Cougars under coach Kelvin Sampson (who announced his retirement when the season ends) have won 17 games in-a-row while Duke has won 15 straight games and 31 of heir last 32 with only a loss at Clemson on February 8th, they have one loss since November 26, 2024. Wow! Some choice…Number are great but this will come down to a mano-a-mano battle on defense and they both play it well and while the Blue Devils are deep the Cougars have heart and incentive looking to send their coach out with his first NCAA championship. Hey if it’s a ‘show’ like they often say then that’s the upset of the tournament and a great story line. Take HOUSTON!

Central Florida and Cincinnati 7:00 ET

Knights (+) over Bearcats - These two unlikely conference foes (somehow they are both in the Big-12) meet in Las Vegas and I am looking forward going down to the MGM Grand and watch the Bearcats do their think. Cincinnati you see for ages has let their backers down when in big game situations. The Bearcats already own a victory over the Knights going into Orlando on Feb. 5 and coming away on the right side 93-83 as an underdog of 3.5-points. This sets up perfect as the Queen City boys have won and covered the last five meetings and are in a perfect spot to let everybody down…everybody but ‘us’. (I hope) Take a CENTRAL FLORIDA!

Tennessee vs Houston 2:29 ET

Volunteers (+) over Cougars - Usually when I see a price this small my first thoughts are ‘isn’t an inviting line laying 3 or less looks like a steal’ and I would then think that it is too easy. Now, that is the first impression I had when I saw this price at -2.5. So my idea is to fade Houston…not so fast my friend (he still cracks me up Lee Corso). Tennessee is just a hair behind the Cougars keeping opponents shooting at a 38.5% and Houston the nation’s best at preventing shots and is just I/10th of a point better at 38.4%. The Cougars are No. 1 in fewest points allowed per game with 58.5 while the Volunteers are ranked 6th allowing 62.9.PPG. Cats too much for Vols…take HOUSTON!

Texas Tech vs Florida 6:05 ET

Red Raiders (+) over Gators - Florida the No. 1 seed has won nine straight and are the ATS leader in the tourney with a 27-10 ATS record on the season. This shows not only were they great this year but the Gators have been under-rated by the book makers as well. Texas Tech received plenty of accolades during the season and have risen to this opportunity to get to the Final Four. The Red Raiders were 18-18 ATS and have covered only once in their last four outings. Tech feels that they are on borrowed time and have nothing to lose after trailing by 16 to Arkansas with 10 minutes remaining before winning in overtime. Raiders believe they have been blessed and believe it is their time. Take TEXAS TECH!

Mississippi vs Michigan State 9:30 ET

Rebels (+) over Spartans - This match up pits two great college coaches that have been in the limelight before. Of course, Michigan State has Tom Izzo who has been so good that he may be put into the Hall of Fame before he’s even finished coaching. Mississippi’s Chris Beard you may remember had success on the court at Texas but charges of strangling of his fiancee (who hasn’t wanted to do that!) and meth on Dec. 12th and fired January 5th having the felony strangulation charges which were dropped. The stealing meth was dismissed February 15th. The Rebels shooting 49% from long range in tourney so far and the Spartans pride themselves on their defense allow just 31% from beyond the arc. But when you are hot and you are hot. Take MISSISSIPPI!

North Texas State at Oklahoma State 9:00 ET

Mean Green (+) over Cowboys - Before I start I want to say that as far as I am concerned about this game even with the understanding that it all come down to gambling. Maybe not quite like a roll of the dice but I absolutely love North Texas State. To start with the Cowboys really are not that good and had to win a pair of games here to be at .500. But, if you have not seen the Mean Green don’t bother watching because they will drive you nuts and their opposition crazy. NTS was here two years ago on their way to the NIT championship played in Las Vegas. Take NORTH TEXAS STATE!

St. Mary’s vs Alabama 6:10 ET

Gaels (+) over Crimson Tide - St. Mary’s has won their last seven and have only lost twice in their last 21 games since December 22 and of course that was a loss to conference champion Gonzaga who they had defeated twice during the regular season. But, the Gaels have failed to cover in any of their last five games. Despite have eight losses Alabama is a No. 2 seed because of their SEC schedule and some impressive wins. St. Mary’s plays the type of game that could cause the Crimson to get impatient and out of their game. Take ST. MARY’S!   

UCLA vs Tennessee 9:40 ET

Bruins (+) over Volunteers - The style of these clubs is so similar they both might think that they are playing against a mirror. Tennessee the No. 2 seed allows just 63.0 points per game while UCLA surrenders 65.2 a 2-point difference but the Bruins have the slight offensive advantage of two spots in the rankings 147 to 149. Rick Barnes Volunteers coach has been here before and always seems to fall short and this team has shortcomings that will sooner or later spell their Waterloo. The points are a bargain here. Take UCLA!  

Bulldogs (+) over Cougars - This is a tough one for me to side with as I have said time and again that I thought Houston would make it to the Final Four. To further play on my mind is that I played against Gonzaga in their opening win over Georgia and now I am changing gears for this match-up with the Cougars. Houston is on a 14-game win streak and have won 27 of 28. The Bulldogs have NCAA experience having made it to the Elite Eight 10 times in their 26 consecutive NCAA appearances. Houston has been knocking on the door at the Elite Eight and final four two of the past four seasons. But, only by mess then margin…take GONZAGA!  

North Carolina vs Mississippi 4:05 ET

Rebels (+) over Tar Heels - What happened to North Carolina (being maligned for making the tournament) happened twice before and both of those clubs advanced winning at least one game proving the selection group was right. Mississippi has been a model of inconsistency beating No. 2 ranked teams Alabama and Tennessee while getting blown out four times by 30, 25, 20 and 19. Rebels coach Chris Beard has taken four teams to the NCAA Tournament something Hubert Davis can not say. Take MISSISSIPPI!  

UC San Diego vs Michigan 10:00 ET

Tritons (+) over Wolverines - San Diego enters this fray seeking their 16th straight win against Big Ten Champion Michigan who recovered and saved their season by seeping the conference tournament winning three straight games as underdogs. The book-makers believe that the Wolves are taking the Tritons lightly and who can blame them this is UCSD’s if appearance in the first year of eligibility for the tournament. Take SAN DIEGO!  

Arkansas vs Kansas 7:10 ET

Jayhawks (-) over Razorbacks - This match up is so ugly that I am absolutely sure that I won’t watch a single dribble, but that does mean that we won’t have the winner. Kansas like North Carolina has had ‘big school’ expectations and both have had alumni disappointments. Arkansas has been okay but were just 14-18 ATS and won some big games and lost others that the were expected to win, but the Jayhawks did nothing more than disappointing more than not when it countered most. So with this price where it is way is way too easy to take Arkansas. Two Hall of Fame coaches John Capilari and Bill Self ’match up. Give it to Self…Take KANSAS

Wisconsin vs Michigan 3:30 ET

Wolverines (+) over Badgers - Although Wisconsin won more and lost less overall this season Michigan was seeded third in the Big Ten playoffs and the Badgers were seeded fifth. But, on the national scale Wisconsin was No. 18 and Michigan was ranked 22nd. The Wolves have won the past three meetings including an early December 67-64 win as a 3-point underdog. Whisky enter with three straight wins while the Blue & Maze enter with three straight losses but have defeated Purdue and Maryland and today Wisconsin. Take MICHIGAN!

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Wisconsin vs Michigan State 1:00 ET

Badgers (+) over Spartans - No. 5 seed Wisconsin (13-7)  easily disposed of No. 4 seed UCLA and now face the Big Ten (16 teams) regular season champion Michigan State (17-3) who won the title by 3-games over second seed Maryland (14-6). Both of these clubs were big point-spread winners this season with the Badgers going 20-12-1 ATS and the Spartans were 22-9-1. In their one meeting in Lansing, State(-4.5) won and covered 71-62 as the held Whisky to 34% shooting from the floor. But the Badgers have won five of the last nine meetings and 16% from 3-point land. The Spartans play great defense but those number will not repeat. Take WISCONSIN!

Wisconsin vs UCLA 2:30 ET

Bruins (+) over Badgers - It is said that defense wins championships and for years Wisconsin has been a defensive team first but under their new coaching regime they have a different mind set. The Badgers have upped their offense geared up and score 80.8 PPG while allowing 70.9. UCLA under coach Mick Cronin has also been a defense first club and have remained that way allowing just 65.1 PPG. The Badgers have the big men to out rebound you and average four more per game then do the Bruins. But, the Bruins have two more assists, one more block and a whopping three more steals per game and they are just better. Take UCLA!

Kansas vs Arizona 9:00 ET

Jayhawks (+) over Wildcats - Both of these clubs have been disappointing this season and will try and regain their former high stature. Kansas is 3-1 against the Wildcats including an 83-76 victory as a 4-point home favorite five days ago. At one point this season Arizona won 13 of 14 but have dropped five of their past eight. Take KANSAS!

Texas vs. Vanderbilt 3:30 ET

Longhorns (+) over Commodores - Texas does more than just ‘owe’ me because of the way they have performed most of the season although they covered 14 of 31 games. So, I guess you can just pick your spots. Vanderbilt has had a stellar season with 20 wins and 18 ‘covers’ including a 86-78 home victory over the Longhorns as 3-point favorites five weeks ago. This game is in Nashville which should give the ‘Dores a preconceive advantaged but, it won’t help, as the Horn’s will hook ‘em! Take TEXAS!

Houston at Baylor 10:00 ET

Bears (+) over Cougars - Houston has won nine straight and has been walking on the edge of cliffs but always seem to manage to pull out a victory. The Cougars have won nine in-a-row and have clinch the Big-12 regular season title and will be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Ranked No. 3 at 26-4 the Cougars are 9-0 on the road but will have little incentive here. Baylor is 13-2 at home but have nine conference losses one of which they will avenge this Saturday night. Take BAYLOR!    

Michigan State at Iowa 8:00 ET

Hawkeyes (+) over Spartans  - Michigan State once again is in the Big Ten mix for the title which the guaranteed a share of the conference title. Tom Izzo’s club still plays defense first and allows just 66.6 points per game. Iowa hasn’t measured up to season’s passed as their major flaw is the lack of rebounding where they are No. 303 ranking near the bottom but on offense they average 82.2 points per game ranking No. 21. The Hawkeyes have won the last two meetings and five of the past six and are 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings as well. It is senior night in Iowa City and the points are a bonus. Take IOWA!

Marquette at Connecticut 8:30 ET

Golden Eagles (+) over Huskies - Connecticut is 20-9 on the season and must would be pleased with 20 wins in the season but coach Ban Hurley has been out of his mind for most of the season as major injuries have slowed the Huskies down a bit especially on defense where they have dropped over 50 spots since last year. In the first meeting at Marquette the Huskies got off to a huge early lead and cruised to a 77-69 victory. Revenge is sweet for the Golden Eagles. Take MARQUETTE!

Auburn at Texas A&M 9:00 ET

Aggies (+) over Tigers - Auburn at 15-1 in SEC play has clinched the regular season title last Saturday and most likely a No. 1 seed for the Big Dance. Texas A&M has dropped four straight games following a 5-game win streak and fell to Auburn 66-55 at their place in early January. The Aggies had won the three previous meetings and five of six meetings prior to this season and with the Tigers having nothing to play for have an edge here as they are in need. A&M is looking to rebound from a beating by Florida 89-70 last time out and look to regroup against the No.1 team in the nation. Take TEXAS A&M!

Illinois at Michigan 3:30 ET

Illini (+) over Spartans - Illinois has had more ups and downs then the Cyclone at Coney Island being ranked in the Top-5 early in the season and were bounced out of the Top-25 after a series of losses. Poor play hasn’t been all about poor play but injuries had a part of their woes. Michigan has also had turns during the season once looking like a Sweet-16 shoe-in but with weaknesses exposed their power rating dropped them hard and they have been trying to climbing their way back up the latter since. Not, today Take ILLINOIS

Georgia at Texas 8:00 ET

Longhorns (-) over Bulldogs- Georgia lost seven of Nine before they posted a huge upset Money Game win over Florida 88-83 on Tuesday. Texas meanwhile has dropped five up the past six including their last two games at Arkansas and South Carolina. Both of these clubs are on the bubble with the Bulldogs have 17 wins and 16 wins for the Longhorns. These two have last played in Austin back in 1998, 27 years ago. Take TEXAS!

Texas at Arkansas 9:00 ET

Longhorns (+) over Razorbacks - Both clubs enter this battle with identical 16-11 records for the season and are 5-9 in SEC play. They met three weeks ago in Texas and the Razorbacks prevailed winning 92-85 as a 7-point underdog and are now 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings with the Longhorns while going 3-4 SU. Texas has lost four of five which started with the loss to Arkansas and they get it back here. Take TEXAS!  

Mississippi State at Alabama 9:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Crimson Tide - I am having a great run with Alabama games winning with Megabucks against them with Auburn and Missouri and winning with them again as a Megabucks over Kentucky using them in the last three outings. The Tide are a high scoring bunch while Mississippi State is off of a loss at Oklahoma and have dropped seven of their last 12 games. The Bulldogs have lost the last seven meetings with coach Chris Jans going 0-6 since taking over. This time they break through…take MISSISSIPPI STATE!

Purdue at Indiana 1:30 ET

Hoosiers (+) over Boilermakers - It hasn’t been the best of season’s for Indiana who enter this battle off of a home loss to UCLA and have dropped six of seven and eight of 10 going 2-8 ATS. Purdue enter this fray on a 3-game bummer after a 4-game win streak but have won the past three meetings including an 81-76 win four weeks ago at Purdue. Hoosiers have had nine days rest to regroup and the will. Take INDIANA!

Missouri at Arkansas 8:00 ET

Razorbacks (+) over Tigers - Missouri was one of our current string of Megabucks winner as the ran Alabama out of the arena 110-98 on Wednesday. That win has made No. 15 Missouri the talk of the town and I am hearing now that they are on their way to the Final-4. Knee jerk reactions are not the way to go and the book-maker always has made the adjustment before you have even seen the line. The Tigers were 0-18 in SEC play last season. Arkansas is on the bubble so to speak and have dropped two in-a-row but do have wins over Texas, Kentucky but dropped their meeting at Mizzou 83-65. Not, this time…take ARKANSAS!  

Kentucky at Alabama 6:00 ET

Crimson Tide (-) over Wildcats - After having posted consecutive Megabucks winners in back-to-back games against Alabama using Auburn and then Missouri I am excited to now take the Tide against the Wildcats. Although Kentucky has revenge on their minds after losing to the Crimson 102-97 as a 2.5-point favorite. Now, the number is out of hand but I will lay it and pray that ‘we’ don’t give up a lead late. Cats just 2-5 SU on the road while Auburn handed ‘Bama just their 2nd home defeat in 112 games. Take ALABAMA!

Marquette at Villanova 7:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Golden Eagles - Marquette had dropped three straight against UConn, St. John’s and Creighton a trio of the Big East top clubs and now has won their last two games against the Conference bottom feeders Seton Hall and DePaul. Coming off a pair of wins against weak teams does not put the Golden Eagles in a good spot. The Wildcats have lost eight straight to Marquette but have shown that they are capable with a win over St. John’s who lost t the Eagles. Take VILLANOVA

Alabama at Missouri 9:00 ET

Tigers (+) over Crimson Tide - Alabama had rolled off eight straight wins before losing to Auburn on Saturday who went into Tuscaloosa and handed the No. 2 team in the country their second home loss in ten games. The Crimson Tide has won the past four meetings over the Tigers, three of which were at home. Missouri is 16-1 at home with their lone loss coming to Texas A&M 67-64. Here it comes again…the bang-bang losses for Alabama who were thrown under the bus by coach Oats after the loss to Auburn. Take MISSOURI!

Kansas State at Utah 9:00 ET

Utes over Wildcats - I am calling this a bang-bang defeat for the Wildcats. Kansas State had their six game winning streak end at Brigham Young on Saturday and should be slightly disheartened a bit while remaining on the road. Utah is off of an upset over Kansas adding confidence to a club that has underachieved this season. But the emergence of Gabe Madsen has been a key. Look for another great home effort where the are 13-3 SU. Take UTAH!

Rutgers at Oregon 7:00 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Ducks - I still find it difficult to accept that a team from New Jersey is playing a ‘conference’ game in Oregon. The Big Ten has gone bi-coastal as Rutgers makes the trip to the west coast and they have been struggling of late losing their last two and 3-of-4. Oregon has also had a struggle this season losing six of seven and have lost four conference games at home. The Scarlet Knights have a pair of pro already in their starting five with Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper who are looking to follow in their fathers footsteps. Take RUTGERS!

Auburn at Alabama  4:00 ET

Tigers (+) over Crimson Tide - Big games between these two schools is nothing new to them as they battle it out every fall in the Iron Bowl and now their basketball teams take center stage in the shootout between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama. This will be the first No. 1 against No. 2 matchup in three years as both squads at 10-1 in SEC play while Alabama leads the nation in scoring putting up 90.5 points per game. The Tigers aren’t far behind ranking No. 8 averaging 84.8 and the actually advantage may come down to coaching and there is a Pearl out there and he gets the nod. Take AUBURN!   

Ucla at Indiana 8:00 ET

Hoosiers (+) over Bruins - These two former basketball powers have played each other 12 times splitting 6-6 and have 16 national titles between them. UCLA just had their seven game win streak end at Illinois on the heels of a six game losing streak. Indiana just broke their own losing streak of five games with a win over Michigan State. The Bruins are 3-4 in true road games while the Hoosiers are 11-3 at home. Defense has been the Bruins strongest point holding opponents under 71 points going 15-1 in those contests. But, at home it is…INDIANA!

Florida at Mississippi State 7:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Gators - Florida has had some very impressive wins and one of them happened Saturday when they defeated No. 1 Auburn and the other was beating Tennessee by 30 points the first week of January. MSU rebounded with a win over Georgia after tough losses to Missouri and Alabama and have won four of the last seven meetings. Bulldogs will have a tough task on defense but they are up to it. Take MISSISSIPPI STATE!

Texas A&M at Missouri 3:30 ET

Aggies (+) over Tigers - While Texas A&M has owned this series winning the last four meetings and eight of the past 10 this will be the first meeting since last February. Missouri is off of a heartbreaking loss at Tennessee where they blew a double-digit lead but did manage to get the cover. the Tigers are 15-0 at home while Texas A&M is 3-3 with the losses at Oklahoma and Texas and a win at Mississippi. take TEXAS A&M!  

Nebraska at Washington 10:30 ET

Huskies (+) over Cornhuskers - This would make a great match-up on the gridiron and even now on the hardwood it brings a more competitive squad then previous versions. Nebraska had lost six straight and five of those defeats were against ranked teams before their most current two game streak. Coming off of a win at Oregon the Huskies ended a six game losing streak of their own defeating Minnesota and will surprise the Cornhuskers. Take WASHINGTON!

USC at Northwestern 9:00 ET

Wildcats over Trojans - having used USC as our Money game winner an losing with Northwestern as our Megabucks play of Saturday I believe this match-up sets up perfect for a Wildcat’s victory. The Trojans are gleeful over beating the No. 7 team in the nation while The Purple cats have lost three straight two of which were ranked clubs. Cats will rebound here for the win. Take NORTHWESTERN!

Wisconsin at Northwestern 2:30 ET

Wildcats (+) over  Badgers - No. 17 Wisconsin has changed  it’s style for one of the toughest defensive squads that would control the ball and the tempo. But, this version has them among  the leading scoring teams in the nation averaging 82 points per game which is 14 points better than their previous average.  Northwestern is 10-2 SU at home and with this line that the bookies have posted gives them a fair chance to improve that record. The Badgers swept the two game series last season as the Wildcats had done the season before. Take NORTHWESTERN!

Illinois at Nebraska 8:30 ET

Cornhuskers (+) over Fighting Illini - I have to go back to my basics when dealing with the ‘school’ boys (yeah, like they attend classes) there fore I am going solely with the A-Play the single strongest play on the board. But, I have down-graded it because of a recent downturn in College hoops. Illinois may be one of the most over-rated teams in the Big Ten but don’t tell that to the Cornhuskers who have dropped nine straight to the Fighting Illini. Nebraska was 12-2 at one point but have now lost their past six games with their last win coming against UCLA on January 4. It is time…take NEBRASKA!

Alabama at Mississippi State 9:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Crimson Tide - My goodness, the way Alabama and Auburn are going at it on the hardwood you would think that you are in the middle of SEC football. But, it is basketball that Alabama is looking to rule as the No. 4 team in the nation has won 10 0f 11 and now must travel to play No. 14 Mississippi State in Starkville. The Crimson Tide have won six straight meetings and 9-of-10 against the Bulldogs  who have lost three of the last five games. All three losses have come against a No. 6 Kentucky, a No. 4 Tennessee and a No. 1 Auburn. The Bulldogs failed to cover in all five games and now come up favored over the No. 4 ranked team that is on a winning streak…don’t make sense, unless…take MISSISSIPPI STATE!

Kentucky at Tennessee 7:00 ET

Volunteers (+) over Wildcats - Tennessee started the season 14-0 and was the last undefeated team in D-1 to be beaten but have gone just 3-3 since and are off of a 53-51 loss at No. 1 Auburn Saturday. Kentucky started 12-2 but have now lost back to back games against Alabama and Vanderbilt. The price is high on the Volunteers and I expected there to be plenty of Wildcat action. There is something ‘rotten in Denmark’ and the hills smell here too.  This ‘price’ is getting silly…lay it!  But, the will leave Knoxville a tamed cat. Take TENNESSEE!

St, Johns at Georgetown 6:30 ET

Hoyas (+) over Redmen - During the fall it was Arizona State that had the biggest turn around year in football and this winter it is Georgetown doing it in basketball. The Hoyas are 13-7 and to many that gives them an outside change at the Big Dance but here is a program that  hasn’t had a winning record in the Big East since 2014-15. Last season they were 2-18, in conference play and 2-18 the year before that and the were 0-19 in season before that.they are currently 4-5 this season and have done it with defense going 14-6 to the UNDER. But, trouble can be ahead as St. John’s under Rick Pitino has their best record at 17-3 in 40 years. The former Redmen storm in having won their past six while the Hoyas have dropped five of six in Big East action. Today they bring this one down to the final minutes with a chance to weather the storm. Take GEORGETOWN!

Baylor at Utah 4:30 ET

Utes (+) over Bears - Utah had won three in-a-row before meeting power house Houston and were overwhelmed by the Cougars 70-36 in one of the worst beating in Utah’s basketball history. On the other side of the coin, Baylor ended a three-game slide with a win over Kansas State, but they are still 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall. The Bears are just 1-4 in true road games, and the Utes are 10-2 SY at home. Take UTAH!  

Penn State at Iowa 9:00 ET

Nittany Lions (+) over Hawkeyes- Both of these clubs are currently in a bit of a slide as Iowa has lost its last three games, and Penn State just ended a four-game losing streak with a win at home over Rutgers on Monday. The Nittany Lions ranked No. 17 in offense, scoring 84.2 points per game. Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery believes his squad needs to be more conservative on offense and protect the ball better. Take PENN STATE!

Indiana at Northwestern 7:00 ET

Wildcats (-) over Hoosiers - What is going on with the Indiana Hoosiers? After postinging five straight wins, they have lost back-to-back games by 25 points to Illinois and Ohio State and the same time, Northwestern has dropped four of five. The Wildcats are actually 8-2 ATS in their last 10 and have won the past four meetings against the Hoosiers, sweeping the two-game set the last two seasons. NW has yet to win on the road (0-5) but is 9-1 at home. Indiana just upset Ohio State in overtime, while each of the Wildcats' last two games also went into OT. Take NORTHWESTERN!

Texas Tech at Cincinnati 7:00 ET

Bearcats (+) over Red Raiders- Cincinnati opened the season with six straight wins and fell at Villanova and then won their next four games before Big-12 conference action started. When Big-12 started conference play the Bearcats lost their first four games three of which were losses to ranked teams Arizona, Kansas and Baylor before they rebounded with wins their last two times out defeating Colorado and Arizona State. Texas Tech known for their stellar defense have won four of five with the loss coming at the hands of Iowa State 85-84.  But, it is the Bearcats that are playing better defense as they are ranked No. 7 with fewest points allowed at 60.6 PPG. This is the Red Raiders first ever trip to Cincinnati and they will find the crowd up close and in their face. Take CINCINNATI!

Wisconsin at USC 3:00 ET

Trojans (+) over Badgers- Wisconsin enters this Big Ten affair on a six game winning streak after having lost their previous three games. The Badgers have gone from a defense first squad to a team that will out shoot and out gun you with a pair of 7-footers grabbing the ball off the boards. USC has posted a pair of wins and six of their last eight including a win at Illinois. Trojans playing with confidence at home get it done. Take USC!

Clemson at Georgia Tech 8:00 ET

Yellow Jackets (+) over Tigers- These two have split their last 10 meetings but Clemson has won four of the past five including their last meeting at Georgia Tech 81-57. The Tigers have also won four of five and are 5-1 in ACC play. The Yellow Jackets have dropped their last two games and are just a 500 most likely on the season and not make it to the Big Dance in March because they have had a pair of terrible performances. Still, they rise against an old conference rival. Take GEORGIA TECH!

Purdue at Rutgers 6:00 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Boilermakers- Leave it to educators (I used to be one) to once again have their number bass-ackwards. Rutgers has played 15 games and has seven losses and yet they are ranked on the Top-25. Like in Football when the Big Ten has 18 teams and the Big -12 has 16 teams and the Pac-12 has two teams, so I guess a team with seven losses isn’t a stretch to be ranked. Purdue (11-4) who is ranked No. 20 have posted three straight conference wins after losing their opener at Penn State. The Scarlet Knights have dropped their last two games and 3 of 4 but have one Big Ten win and it is over Penn State. Take RUTGERS!

Connecticut at Villanova  6:30 ET

Wildcats (+) over Huskies- Two time defending National Champion Connecticut is on an eight-game winning streak and seems to have recovered from a three game losing streak that happened when top scorer Alex Karaban was injured in November. Villanova after a shaky start has won seven of eight and are off of a destruction of DePaul 100-56. he Wildcats are second in D-1 3-point shooting averaging 41.5% and are led by Eric Dixon is hitting 49% of his three point attempts and UConn just lost another key performer last time out against Providence. Take VILLANOVA!

Kentucky at Georgia 7:00 ET

Bulldogs (+) over Wildcats- These two SEC clubs are both 12-2 on the season with Kentucky having beaten three teams ranked in the Top-1p defeating Florida, Duke and Gonzaga. Georgia just lost their SEC opener to Mississippi Saturday ending a seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs shot just 2-for-18 from the three point stripe and they’ll do better than that tonight. Take GEORGIA!

Wisconsin at Rutgers 7:00 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Badgers-  Rutgers has been able to hang with the Badgers winning three of the past five meetings including the last time they played in New Jersey as a 3-point underdog winning 57-56 outright. The Scarlet Knights had a rough spell without Dylan Harper but he returns and teams up with Ace Bailey who already holds the freshman single game scoring record. Take RUTGERS!

Duke at SMU 2:30 ET

Mustangs (+) over Blue Devils- New to the ACC SMU made a splash in football and look to impress in basketball but the difference in ACC action between football and basketball is dramatic. Staying on the hardwood it is the Mustangs that lead the conference in scoring averaging 87.2 points per game while Duke is the ACC’s top defensive team allowing only 59 points per game. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 4 in the nation and the bookies have a time  making them favorites. That to me is a no confidence! Take SMU!

Rutgers at Indiana 8:30 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Hoosiers- Sometimes in this crazy world we call sports betting we see trends and factors that for some reason have no explanation. Take the fact that a relative new comer to the Big Ten, Rutgers has dominated Indiana in head-to-head meetings winning eight of the past 10 also going 8-2 ATS. The Hoosiers does not had the national attention it once demanded and will get ambushed by this under-rated squad from New Jersey. Take RUTGERS!

St. John’s at Creighton 4:00 ET

Red Storm (-) over Bluejays- I think that this Creighton team may not be what we have come to expect from the Bluejays. But, St. John’s is on a mission after being left out of the NCAA tournament last season. It was a matter of numbers as the former Redmen were rated 26th in the nation but got squeezed out by automatic bids. Coach rick Pitino was so incensed he refused the NIT bid as the number one seed. This Red Storm club is the best Pitino has had there and the best in Queens in over two decades. A win here will go a lone way. Take ST. JOHN’S!

Utah State at San Diego State 6:00 ET

Aggies (+) over Aztecs- No. 20 San Diego State has made their mark on the college basketball scene making it to the Final game before being put in their place by Connecticut. The Aztecs have just a pair of losses to NCAA powerhouses, losing to Oregon and Gonzaga but have wins over Creighton and No. 4 Houston. But, this time out they are they target as Utah State has the goods to pull off the outright upset. These two split a pair of games played at Utah State last season and the Aztecs had won five straight prior to last season’s split. Utah State is 11-1 and averaging 85.3 PPG while SDS ranks No. 195 averaging just 75.2 PPG. Take UTAH STATE!

Gonzaga at UCLA 4:00 ET

Bruins (+) over Bulldogs- I love this Bruins team even after their 76-74 loss to North Carolina which ended their nine game win streak. With back-to-back wins over Oregon and Arizona UCLA broke into the Top-25 and are currently No. 22. Gonzaga now like Boise State in football is not going to surprise anyone and are actually a bit over-rated right now. The Bulldogs have won four straight meetings and are 6-1 SU against the Bruins. This encounter pits one teams strength against the other’s strongest suit. Gonzaga is No. 2 in the nation in points scored per game averaging 89.2 while UCLA is No. 8 in defensive scoring allowing just 58.4 points per game. It is easier for a defensive team to force a good offensive team to be a little off their game. Take UCLA!

Purdue at Auburn 4:30 ET

Boilermakers (+) over Tigers- Purdue has dropped 2-of-3 and are off of a loss to Texas A&M and faces No. 2 Auburn (10-1) in Birmingham and are off a 100-59 romp over Georgia State. I always like to fade good teams after they have played and crushed a nobody before they meet some real competition. The Boilermakers are 2-2 against ranked teams this season and already have a win over a No. 2 as they defeated Alabama. Take PURDUE!

Dayton vs Cincinnati 8:30 ET

Bearcats ( -) over Flyers- This is one of those games at is not listed as a home game but give one side a distinct advantage. These two schools have a rich basketball history that including NCAA and NIT championships. Dayton (10-2) the invader is ranked No. 22 and defeated No. 6 Marquette last Saturday while No. 19 Cincinnati (8-1) won but didn’t cover against cross town rival Xavier. Last season the Flyers won 82-68 after 13 year break in the series a lull sees the Bearcats winning 60 of the previous 91 meetings.Take CINCINNATI!

Creighton at Georgetown 6:30 ET

Hoyas (+) over Blue Jays- From what I have seen so far this season in college basketball is that Georgetown (8-2) is clawing it’s way back to respectability. Their Power Play win at Syracuse on Saturday was a huge step moving forward. Although Creighton has won six straight meetings was ranked as high as No. 14 before they dropped three straight to Texas A&M, Nebraska and San Diego State but rebounded with wins over Notre Dame and No. 1 Kansas. Coach Greg McDermott claims that the Blue Jays are playing short-handed and I see the Hoyas taking advantage. Take GEORGETOWN!

Tennessee at Illinois 5:30 ET

Illini (+) over Volunteers- No. 1 Tennessee (9-0) has won every game by at least 13 points leading the nation in field goad percentage at 52.1. Meanwhile, the twice beaten Illini who fell at Northwestern and Alabama on the road and are undefeated (6-0) at home. Illinois has won three of four times when hosting the No. 1 team and they are one of the best defensive teams allowing opponents to shoot just 37% from the field. Take ILLINOIS!  

Iowa State at Iowa 7:30 ET

Hawkeyes (+) over Cyclones- Iowa State has been good to us ever since T.J. Otzelberger left UNLV and took over in Ames as the Cyclones has ascended to No. 3 in the polls. State is looking for their fifth win in-a-row but the Hawkeyes have been waiting since their 85-83 loss to Michigan (Power Play) on Saturday. Iowa hold a huge series advantage 48-29 and have gone 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine meetings. Foul shooting a concern for the home squad as it cost them against the Wolverines. Take IOWA!

Arkansas vs. Michigan 9:00 ET

Razorbacks (+) over Wolverines- Michigan who is rebounding from one of the school’s worst season’s in five decades has won eight straight games after opening the year with a loss to Wake Forest. Arkansas under their ‘new’ coach John Calipari have been defeated twice losing to Illinois and Baylor who were both ranked at the time. This is a homecoming of sorts for Calipari with this match up at Madison Square Garden. Take ARKANSAS!

Purdue at Penn State 6:30 ET

Nittany Lions over Boilermakers- No. 8 Purdue open their Big Ten 2-year title defense at Penn State after winning a 4-team tournament in San Diego defeating NC State and No. 23 Mississippi. The Boilermakers own an 8-game winning streak in this series but Penn State has covered the past two meetings and this is just their second true road game after falling at Marquette badly 76-58. The Nittany Lions lone loss cane against Clemson and they are 5-0 SU at home. The last time they met Purdue was ranked No. 1 and now not so much...after three straight meetings in Mackey Areana the Lions are ready to roar at home. Take PENN STATE!

Kentucky at Clemson (9:30 ET

Tigers (+) over Wildcats- No. 4 Kentucky (7-0) leads the nation in scoring putting up 96.7 PPG and are No. 2 with 21.1 assists  while grabbing 45 rebounds per game. The Wildcats have a huge win over Duke but enter Littlejohn Coliseum for their first true road game. Let me remind you that Clemson reached the Elite-Eight last season and this year are shooting nearly 40% from long range. Tigers have enough to upset Wildcats at home. Take CLEMSON!

Texas A&M vs Rutgers 3:30 ET

Scarlet Knights (+) over Aggies- A pair of 5-2 clubs meet for the first time, not only for the first time this season but first the first time in the two schools’ history. Texas A&M has one of the nation’s worst shooting teams in America ranking No. 289 hitting just 41.9 % of their shots taken. The Aggies just upset Creighton 77-73 and now face Rutgers who just dropped a 95-90 decision against Alabama. Look for both clubs to return to center and for the Scarlet Knights to get the cash. Take RUTGERS!

Michigan vs Xavier 8:30 ET

Wolverines over Musketeers - Both schools off to good starts as the competition starts to heat up. Michigan (5-1) had a horrible season in 2023 and have made huge changes starting with their coach as Howard is gone. The only blemish between this two clubs was when the Wolverines fell to Wake Forest 72-70 as Xavier (6-0) has been perfect up until now. Both play excellent defense but the Wolves have  slight edge. Take MICHIGAN!

Grand Canyon vs Stanford 7:00 ET

Antelopes (+) over Cardinal- Now, let me understand this, Stanford is 6-0 and 5-1 ATS and are playing mighty Grand Canyon who is 3-1 SU and 0-4 ATS and the Antelopes are favored. This makes even less sense when comparing team stats as the Cardinal have a better offense and play better defense as well. So, this makes me wonder what the book maker is saying...it’s GRAND CANYON!

Auburn vs Iowa State 9:00 ET

Cyclones (+) over Tigers- A pair of top-5 ranked cagers hook up in a burned out Lahaina as No. 4 Auburn opens the favorite against No. 5 Iowa State. The Tigers hace a huge quality win over then ranked No. 4 Houston while the Cyclone defeated weak mid-majors at home. Great coaching match up between Bruce Pearl and T.J. Otzelberger with the later making strikes to the Sweet-16 last season. Take IOWA STATE!

Arizona at Wisconsin 9:00 ET

Badgers (+) over Wildcats- This is the second meeting of a home and home series that started last season in Arizona where the Wildcats destroyed the Badgers 98-73 last December. These two clubs are polar opposites as the Wildcats are one of the nation’s highest scoring teams averaging 97.5 points per game. Wisconsin might not score 97 PPG but  they will prevent you form scoring as they allow only 61 PPG. Take WISCONSIN!

Fresno State at Cal-Santa Barbara 10 ET

Gauchos (-) over Bulldogs- I have witnessed the Mountain West Conference change a number of times since moving to Las Vegas adding teams and having teams defect to more profitable venues. But, one thing that I have not seen in 30 plus years following the MWC I have never seen Santa Barbara a double-digit favorite over anyone much less Fresno State who has been one of the conferences better programs. Line tells me the Gauchos can play of the Bulldogs can’t. Take SANTA BARBARA!

Villanova at St. Joseph’s 5:00 ET

Hawks (+) over Wildcats- This rivalry game of the Big-5 from Philadelphia has lost some of it’s luster of late with Villanova’s dominance winning 11 straight before St. Joe’s 78-65 upset win as a 12-point underdog last November. Jay Wright is gone and the Wildcats have failed to make the NCAA Tournament in both season’s since he left the program. Known as the ‘Holy War’ this rivalry goes back 103 years. Take ST. JOSEPH’S!

Auburn at Houston 7:00 ET

Tigers (+) over Cougars- These two met in the NCAA tournament’s second round last March with Houston (-5.5) routing the Tigers 81-64 in the second half outscoring them 50-23 after trail 41-31 at the half. Both teams will have most of their players from that encounter returning. Both clubs are off opening blowout wins over weak sisters but the Tigers have more incentive and points. Take AUBURN!

Purdue vs Connecticut 9:30 ET

Huskies (-) over Boilermakers- Like I said last time out, ‘until someone beats this team there is no reason to play against the Huskies.’ Yes, of course, unless you are up against Zack Edey the Two-time NCAA Payer of the Year! Both of these clubs are championship worthy and I was surprised the opening number was as high as it was at -6.5. Most of my west coast Vegas friends like I believe the price would be Connecticut around -3...but of course my east coast people showed their bias and said it could have been higher. Now, my thoughts are who’s instincts are better. Las Vegas is very sharp and I respect their opinion as I do New York but in actuality as to who would have more influence over the outcome?...Straight-up, if this game was played without referees (I was one of them) I see Connecticut getting the best of a very good team The key of course is Zack Edey and I wonder after what I saw if he has been up against a player with the size and the talent of  UConn’s  7’2’ 285 Lbs center Donovan Clingan who had four blocks against Alabama and controlled the boards. Take CONNECTICUT!

NC State vs Purdue 6:05 ET

Boilermakers (-) over Wolfpack- Purdue has won 21 consecutive non-conference, regular season or postseason games against power conference or nationally ranked teams. That equals the second longest such streak in NCAA history. Purdue is looking for its first national championship. The Boilermakers have played for the title just once, losing to John Wooden's UCLA team 92-72 in 1969. Their last trip to the Final Four came in 1980, when they lost again to UCLA. On the line for Zack Edey and Purdue (33-4) and DJ Burns Jr. and the Wolfpack (26-14) is a trip to Monday's championship game against the winner of the semifinal between UConn and Alabama. Edey will take center stage Saturday in the first national semifinal when the Boilermakers, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, meet tournament Cinderella North Carolina State, who advanced despite being the No. 11 seed in the South Region. The Wolfpack were never ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 all season. The big man too tough for State...take PURDUE!

Indiana State vs Seton Hall 9:00 ET

Pirates (+) over Sycamores- Indiana State (32-6) and Seton Hall (24-12) are both No. 1 seeds and certainly have looked the part over the last four games. The Sycamores have been impressive offensively, averaging 90.5 points in wins over SMU, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Utah. The Sycamores took advantage of a partisan crowd in the win over Utah, as the Final Four is being played fewer than 100 miles from the Indiana State campus in Terre Haute. Hinkle Fieldhouse will likely be loaded with Indiana State fans again on Thursday, but not much has rattled Seton Hall in this tournament. The Pirates slipped past Saint Joseph's in overtime in their NIT opener before posting double-digit wins over North Texas, UNLV and Georgia. Take SETON HALL!

Utah vs Indiana State 7:00 ET

Utes (+) over Sycamores- Utah (22-14) closed its regular season with eight losses in its final 12 games, followed by a defeat to Colorado in the Pac-12 tournament quarterfinals. Still, the Utes earned an NIT bid as a No. 2 seed and they've certainly made the most of their opportunity. Utah's bumpy finish to the postseason feels like a distant memory at this point. The resurgent Utes find themselves in the NIT Final Four in Indianapolis, where they will battle Indiana State (and likely a large contingent of Sycamore fans) in Tuesday's first semifinal. The top-seeded Sycamores (31-6), who gave up 92 points to SMU in their NIT opener and Indiana State yielded 81 points in a four-point win over Cincinnati in the quarterfinals. Great season for State but the difference in the level of competition played with be on display tonight. Take UTAH!

Tennessee vs Purdue 2:20 ET

Volunteers (+) over Boilermakers- Top-seeded Purdue faces No. 2 seed Tennessee in an Elite Eight, Midwest Region matchup attempting to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980. The Boilermakers (32-4) have won their first three tournament games by double digits, including an 80-68 win Friday over No. 5 Gonzaga. Purdue’s Zach Edey, the potential National Player of the Year for the second straight season has 27 points and 14 rebounds in Purdue’s win over the Bulldogs. Purdue faces the Volunteers (27-8) for the second time this season, having defeated Tennessee 71-67 in the Maui Invitational in November. But unlike the rematch against the Zags the Boilermakers may have a bit more struggles against the Volunteers defense. Take TENNESSEE!

Clemson vs Alabama 8:50 ET

Tigers (+) over Crimson Tide- Saturday's NCAA Tournament West Regional final matchup pitting No. 4 seed Alabama against No. 6 seed Clemson comes with a guarantee to be a landmark moment for either program, as each is vying for its first Final Four spot in school history. The two have faced off in the national title game three times since the inauguration of the College Football Playoff in 2014 which is one time more than either basketball program has appeared in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, including Saturday's contest. Alabama (24-11) beat top-seeded North Carolina 89-87 on Thursday to reach its first Elite Eight since 2004 and it will be difficult for them to maintain that level of play. Defeating Carolina was a huge accomplishment and they are riding high right now. Clemson (24-11) is playing its first Elite Eight game since 1980 after beating No. 2 seed Arizona 77-72 on Thursday. The regional-final round might be unfamiliar territory for the Crimson Tide and Tigers, but the teams know each other. Clemson knocked off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 85-77 on Nov. 28 and they are ready to do it again. Take CLEMSON!

Alabama vs North Carolina 9:40 ET

Crimson Tide (+) over Tar Heels- North Carolina (29-7) has won 10 of its last 11 games after its 85-69 defeat of Michigan State on Sunday in the second round. the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's West Region finds itself two wins shy of the Final Four when it faces No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16 on Thursday. The Tar Heels come to Los Angeles aiming for their second Final Four under Hubert Davis and fourth since 2016. The Tar Heels will try to keep the high going against an Alabama team that reached the Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons but is looking to secure its first Elite Eight appearance since 2004. The Crimson Tide (23-11) limped into the NCAA Tournament having gone 2-4 over their last six games before facing No. 13 seed Charleston last Friday. While Alabama's offense features four scorers averaging at least 11 points per game. Take ALABAMA!

UNLV at Seton Hall 7:30 ET

Runnin’ Rebels (+) over Pirates- Seton Hall, an NCAA snub and a No. 1 seed in the NIT, will host UNLV in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J. The winner heads to Indianapolis next week for the tournament's semifinals and championship game. The Big East Conference got a mere three teams into the NCAA Tournament (and all three advanced to the Sweet 16), the conference's fourth-best squad has started 2-0 in the NIT. While the MWC who was 3-32 in NCAA Tournament games had six teams selected and UNLV was not one of them. UNLV (21-12) knocked off No. 2 seed Princeton and Boston College in its first two rounds. The Rebels are much better than they they are rated. Take UNLV!

James Madison vs Duke 5:15 ET

Blue Devils (-) over Dukes- James Madison (32-3), which extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 14 games, will play Duke in a second-round game Sunday. The fourth-seeded Blue Devils beat No. 13 Vermont 64-47 earlier Friday. The Dukes were a Megabucks winner over Wisconsin and this time it will be the ‘Dukies’ who with eight losses is not considered one of the Blue Devils. With James Madison's victory, a 12 seed has won at least one game against a five seed in 33 of the 39 NCAA Tournaments since it expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Take DUKE!

Texas vs Tennessee 8:00 ET

Longhorns (+) over Volunteers- Second-seeded Tennessee (25-8) will meet seventh-seeded Texas (21-12) with the right to advance to the Sweet 16. For Tennessee coach Rick Barnes this is a homecoming of sorts. Texas coach Rodney Terry was an assistant coach under Barnes from 2002-11 at Texas, so he should be familiar with Barnes’ tactics. And there is more as Texas assistant coach Frank Haith was on Barnes' staff before becoming a head coach at Miami, Missouri and Tulsa and then rejoining the Longhorns. The Volunteers had some late-season slippage that probably cost them a No. 1 regional seed. Tennessee depends on toughness, and getting after it defensively is a big part of Barnes' formula for success. Texas scored a season-low point total in Thursday night's 56-44 dismissal of 10th-seeded Colorado State. The Longhorns know they probably need to ramp up production. Texas will join the SEC next season and gets a jump of the conference here. Take TEXAS!  

Michigan State vs North Carolina 5:30 ET

Spartans (+) over Tar Heels- Top-seeded North Carolina (28-7) will play about a 2 1/2-hour drive away from its campus in Chapel Hill. Ninth-seeded Michigan State (20-14) has taken a winding road this season. North Carolina recorded a 90-62 win over No. 16 seed Wagner on Thursday while Michigan State turned out in nice numbers for the first-round game against No. 8 seed Mississippi State. The Tar Heels are 35-2 in NCAA Tournament games in the state of North Carolina. That mark is 13-1 in Charlotte but MSU coach Tom Izzo holds an NCAA Tournament-record 17 victories in games as a lower seed, including in Thursday's victory. North Carolina began the 2022-23 season with the No. 1 national ranking was were improperly seeded No. 1 and will fall to a club with big game experience. Take MICHIGAN STATE!     

James Madison vs Wisconsin 9:40 ET

Dukes (+) over Badgers- Fifth-seeded Wisconsin and 12th-seeded James Madison will begin NCAA Tournament play when they close out a quadruple-header at Barclays Center in a South Region first-round game. Wisconsin (22-13) received an at-large bid after losing to Illinois, 93-87, in the Big Ten championship game Sunday afternoon. James Madison (31-3) earned the Sun Belt Conference's automatic bid by cruising past Arkansas State, 91-71, in the conference championship game on March 11. Wisconsin, which missed the NCAA Tournament last season for just the second time since 1998, allowed fewer than 70 points in regulation in each of its first three Big Ten tourney games after allowing at least 70 points in nine of the last 11 regular season games. Few teams in the field enter the tournament playing better than James Madison, whose 31 wins are matched only by No. 1 UConn and whose 13-game winning streak is the longest in the nation. The trip to the NCAA Tournament is the sixth for James Madison and its first since 2013, when the Dukes were a 16th seed after earning the then-Colonial Athletic Association's automatic bid.

Take JAMES MADISON!  

Colorado State vs Texas 6:50 ET

Rams (+) over Longhorns- Seventh-seeded Texas (20-12) is in the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in the last 25 editions of the event. No. 10 seed Colorado State (25-10) is in the field for the second time in three years and has already padded its March credentials. The Rams throttled Virginia 67-42 in Tuesday night's First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. But that was just the fifth all-time NCAA Tournament victory for Colorado State and its first in 11 years.Texas, which is aiming for a first-round victory for the third season in a row after reaching the Elite Eight last season, lost two of its last three games coming in. The Longhorns haven't played since a March 13 setback to Kansas State in the Big 12 tournament's second round.The Rams want to build on the momentum from Tuesday night when they overwhelmed their opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now, they face a team in its final year in the Big 12. Since losing their last three games in February, the Rams have gone 5-1. Take COLORADO STATE!

Colorado vs Boise State 9:10 ET

Broncos (+) over Buffaloes- Boise State is making a third consecutive appearance in the field and were shaken when their stock dropped and shock set-in that they were being sent to the play-in portion of the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos (22-10) meet Colorado (24-10) in the final game of the eight-team, pre-tournament on Wednesday night. Boise State had seven wins against NCAA Tournament teams and expected to be a part of the core group. The Broncos finished No. 26 in the NET rankings, which projected as the equivalent of a No. 7 seed. They were second in the Mountain West standings with a 13-5 record and the conference has six teams in the Field of 68. Boise State has four players averaging double-figures in scoring but still they are 0-9 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. That streak ends here. Take BOISE STATE!

North Texas at LSU 7:00 ET

Mean Green (+) over Tigers- LSU is returning to postseason play.

It's not the NCAA Tournament, but the No. 4 seed Tigers' game against unseeded North Texas in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, La., is a notable step in the rebuilding of the program. LSU (17-15) went 9-9 in the Southeastern Conference after winning just two league games in 2022-23 in coach Matt McMahon's first season after he was hired to guide the program in the wake of NCAA sanctions. The Tigers, who defeated the Mean Green 66-62 on Nov. 17 in the Shriners Children's Charleston (S.C.) Classic, won three of their last four regular-season games to earn a first-round bye in the SEC tournament. They lost to Mississippi State 70-60 in their conference tournament opener. North Texas (18-14) is very familiar with the NIT. The Mean Green are in the tournament for the third consecutive season and they won it last season, defeating UAB in the final. North Texas won three of its last four regular-season games, then defeated Tulane 81-71 in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament before losing to Florida Atlantic 77-71. Take NORTH TEXAS!

Florida vs Auburn 1:00 ET

Tigers (-) over Gators- The Gators are 8-2 ATS in the past 10 meetings with Auburn including an 81-65 February win in Gainesville. Florida is off of a huge come-from behind and and ‘cover’ over the nagging Texas A&M Aggies while the Tigers enter with five straight wins and off of a non-cover victory over Mississippi State. Better coaching and better overall talent as cream rises...take AUBURN!

Texas A&M vs Florida 3:30 ET

Aggies (+) over Gators- The Aggies have won five in a row and might be on the right side of the bubble even if they don't beat Florida in the second semifinal of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon in Nashville, Tenn. While Texas A&M could use one more win to bolster its chances of an at-large NCAA bid, the sixth-seeded Gators (23-10) are considered a near lock. Their 102-88 win over No. 19-ranked and third-seeded Alabama late Friday night figures to enhance their seeding. Florida owns a top-10 scoring offense at 85.4 points per game, thanks to Clayton (17.3 ppg), Pullin (15.6 ppg, 5.0 assists) and Samuel (14 ppg). The Gators also lead Division I in rebounding at 43.1 per game. Their ability on the boards will be tested by the Aggies, who rank third in the nation at 42.7 rebounds per game. The Aggies eked out a 67-66 win over Florida on Feb. 3 in College Station, Texas, in the teams' only meeting this season behind a game-high 26 points from Radford. They di it again. Take FLORIDA!

Baylor vs Iowa State 9:30 ET

Bears (+) over Cyclones- The Baylor Bears and Iowa State Cyclones will battle for the second and final spot in the Big 12 Tournament bracket final when they clash Friday night at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.  Ranked sixth nationally, the contender Cyclones are just slight 1.5-point favorites against the Bears in the conference tournament odds. Iowa State’s marquee defense  second only to Houston in defensive efficiency helped force 20 Wildcats turnovers, converting them to 23 points. put away Kansas State, winning 76-57 and advancing to the semis. Baylor is the second highest-scoring team in the Big 12, but after an uneven offensive effort against Cincinnati. Take BAYLOR

Mississippi vs Texas A&M 7:00 ET

Rebels (+) over Aggies- The teams met last Saturday in Oxford, Miss., with the Rebels suffering a stinging 86-60 trouncing by the Aggies on Senior Day. Desperate for a couple of wins, the teams meet and both need a deep run in the Southeastern Conference tournament if they hold any March Madness aspirations. Winners of three straight games, the Aggies have done it before. In the first meeting at College Station, Texas, on Jan. 27, the Rebels won 71-68, a victory that moved them to 17-3 (Started 13-0). They have won just three times since 86-82 at home against rival Mississippi State after beating Texas A&M, then Missouri which went 0-18 in the conference twice by single digits. The teams met last Saturday in Oxford, Miss., with the Rebels suffering a stinging 86-60 trouncing by the Aggies on Senior Day. The Rebels respond. Take MISSISSIPPI!

Kansas State at Texas 7:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Longhorns- Kansas State (18-13) comes into the tournament as the 10th seed, with the memory of a much-needed victory over then-No. 6 Iowa State in its last game. The Wildcats play seventh-seeded Texas (20-11), which is comfortably in the NCAA Tournament after defeating archrival Oklahoma in its last game. The Wildcats may need to win the conference tournament to feel secure on Selection Sunday, but avenging a 62-56 loss to Texas in Austin in February would be a good place to start. While the Longhorns look like a lock to get into the NCAA Tournament either way, they're focused on eliminating all doubt. They've won two of the past three Big 12 tournament titles but that ends here. Take KANSAS STATE!

Gonzaga vs. St. Mary’s 9:00 ET

Gaels (_) over Bulldogs- St. Mary’s entered their regular season final on a 16-game winning streak and had a chance to go undefeated in WCC play. They were 17-0 in conference play but the perennial WCC champion Gonzaga pulled off a 70-57 upset to tarnish the Gaels final regular conference record. These two clubs are the only clubs worthy of an invite to the Big Dance and both will get seeded in the upper half of brackets formed. Take ST. MARY’S!

Illinois at Iowa 7:00 ET

Hawkeyes (+) over Fighting Illini- Iowa has won four of their last five games entering this weekend at No. 48 in the Ken Pom rankings and No. 57 in the NET which are two key metrics monitored by the NCAA Tournament committee. For No. 12 Illinois, there's little at stake in the regular-season finale at Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Big Ten title is out of reach, the No. 2 seed in next week's Big Ten tournament is clinched, and a No. 4 or 5 NCAA Tournament seed seems virtually assured. But for Iowa, there's so much more than Senior Night on the agenda. When the teams met in Champaign two weekends ago, Iowa built a seven-point second-half lead only for its offense to go quiet late in a 95-85 Illinois victory. This time they close the deal. Take IOWA!  

Iowa State at Kansas State 2:00 ET

Wildcats (+) over Cyclones- Iowa State (26-6, 13-4) is locked into the second spot in the Big-12 trailing Houston who took the conference title from Kansas the first time they have displaced in 15 years. After a great start in conference play and defeating Kansas and other ranked teams Kansas State has played themselves onto the NCAA Big Dance bubble. The Wildcats dropped a 78-67 decision after one of their upset wins. This time they are in need and the Cyclones know win or lose remain the same entering the Big-12 Tourney. Take KANSAS STATE!    

Colorado at Oregon 9:00 ET

Buffaloes (+) over Ducks- The Colorado-Oregon men's basketball game on Thursday in Eugene, Ore., has important implications for both teams. The Buffaloes (20-9, 11-7 Pac-12) can clinch third place in the conference regular-season standings and the No. 3 seed in the Pac-12 tournament next week. The Ducks need at least a win Thursday to take the No. 3 seed. Oregon (19-10, 11-7) hosts Utah on Saturday, and it lost to both the Buffaloes and Utes on the road earlier this season. One more win for either team will guarantee a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Colorado comes in hot, having won four straight overall. However, the Buffs are 2-6 on the road in conference play. Oregon has been up and down since a 5-0 start to conference play. Along the way, health problems have contributed to the Ducks' inconsistency, with three players out due to season-ending injuries and another with an undisclosed illness. Take COLORADO!