Sports Betting
Saturday’s ESPN BET Bets: Duquesne-Rhode Island, Notre Dame-Pitt, Duke-North Carolina
It was a down night for the Winning Picks on Groundhog Day, going 0-3. All of our picks in Dayton, the Clippers and Iowa won their respective game but failed to cover. Our picks definitely saw their shadow last night. We moved to 130-98-3 on the year, still over a 56%-win percentage.
Today marks the return of the NHL All Star, which in my opinion has become one of the better All-Star games with their current format of a 4-team tournament. Sidney Crosby will be a part of Team MacKinnon with his Halifax buddy Nate MacKinnon along with several other Colorado Avalanche. This year’s format is a bit different than previous years when teams were based on each version. Now it’s more like how the NBA All Star game was for many years, teams picked by captains.
The other teams include Team McDavid, who will face Crosby and MacKinnon in the opening matchup, along with Team Hughes and Team Matthews, who will face off in the second matchup. Both of these matchups are pretty even on the betting lines. I would take Team Mackinnon in the matchup over Team McDavid, but there is a better line out there if you think the duo of MacKinnon and Crosby can win it all.
Team MacKinnon is currently +285 to win the All-Star tournament. I really think the chemistry between MacKinnon and Crosby can help propel them to victory, even if they have to face the heavy Toronto Maple Leaf squad of Team Matthews led by Auston Matthews.
Now time for the Winning Picks!
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Duquesne Dukes (-5.5) at Rhode Island Rams O/U 144.5 12:30 PM on the USA Network
Things have been looking up for Duquesne over the past several weeks, winning their last 3 games including two in A-10 play. They will put their winning streak on the line Saturday afternoon as they travel to Rhode Island to face the Rams.
The Rams have been up and down over their last several years. They are either one of the top teams in the A-10 or at the bottom, which they find themselves this season. For the amount of close games the Dukes have played against A-10 foes, I don’t really like the spread on Duquesne. What I do like is the under, as the Dukes will continue their run of strong defensive play that started at the beginning of their winning streak.
Under 144.5 Covers, Duquesne Dukes 70 Rhode Island Rams 66
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Pittsburgh Panthers (-9.5) O/U 126.5 on the ACC Network
Pitt has been trending upwards since their victory over Duke after it looked like it was heading for a lost season. Despite losing to Miami last Saturday, the Panthers were able to rebound in a comeback win over Wake Forest this week.
For Notre Dame, there has been growing pains for the Irish after longtime coach Mike Brey left the program for the NBA. Former Penn St coach Micah Shrewsberry has done the best he can with what was left of the Notre Dame roster. As for today’s game against the Panthers, I really like the over in this matchup. I believe you are getting a lot of value on this total, as Pitt’s defense will allow a struggling Fighting Irish offense to make shots. The Panthers still win but it will be a little closer than the spread suggests.
Over 126.5 Covers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 62 Pittsburgh Panthers 69
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Duke Blue Devils at North Carolina Tar Heels (-4.5) O/U 152.5 on ESPN
A Top 10 matchup in the Tobacco Road Rivalry? Yes please. North Carolina will try to shake off their first ACC loss of the season to Georgia Tech. Were they looking ahead to the Blue Devils? Probably, but I don’t expect it to linger into this game.
Both North Carolina and Duke have proven to be heads above the rest of the ACC. The Blue Devils are in need of another signature win to help their tournament seeding, with a win over Baylor in Madison Square Garden being their best win of the season. But I don’t think it will be the Blue Devils night, as the Tar Heels win and cover over Duke.
North Carolina Covers -4.5, Duke Blue Devils 74 North Carolina Tar Heels 80
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