Sports Betting
Wednesday’s Best ESPN BET Bets: Grambling-Montana St, VCU-Villanova, Colorado-Boise St
What a rough go for the Winning Picks as of late, finishing another night 1-2. Colorado St blew out Virginia to cover our spread, what a joke it was to let the Cavaliers into the tournament. The committee deserves to give Pitt an apology. Howard could not overcome Wagner as they failed to cover or even win. The Penguins/Devils did not go under as it was another lifeless performance from the Pens. We moved to 207-159-3 on the year.
In the past several years, 15/2 and 16/1 upsets have become more prevalent than 10 years ago. You had FDU upsetting Purdue last year and Kentucky getting cooked by St. Peter’s in the years before that. So, who has a chance to pull the upset this year in the first round?
Though I don’t believe any #1 seeded teams will fall, fingers crossed, I do believe there are some 2 seeds that better come correct, or they will be going home after one day. The first is Long Beach St against Arizona. Long Beach has gone on a run since it was reported their head coach would be done after this year; and they haven’t lost since that announcement. They are also no stranger to beating PAC 12 teams as they upset USC on the road and also beat Michigan in Ann Arbor as well. Though those teams have stunk this year, it shows this squad isn’t afraid to mix it up with the big boys.
The other potential upset is Western Kentucky over Marquette. The Hilltoppers are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 and I believe they are being a little disrespected by this seeding, but that is the way the committee has seeded Conference USA teams in the past. And as we know, that didn’t go well for Michigan St when they lost to Middle Tennessee in a 2/15 matchup. For both of these games, I would bet small on the MoneyLine of the underdog. Even a small bet here can hit big.
Now time for the Winning Picks!
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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Grambling St Tigers vs Montana St Bobcats (-4.5) O/U 133.5 First Four 6:40 PM on truTV
It is always memorable when you have your first time. That will be the case with Grambling tonight as they make their NCAA Tournament debut in Dayton against Montana St. The Tigers were the top team in the SWAC this year and defeated tournament regular Texas Southern in the conference finals. The Bobcats finished 5th in the Big Sky and defeated rival Montana in the finals to make it into the tourney.
Like in the first 16 vs 16 matchup yesterday, I expect a lot of points in this one tonight. Both of these teams have combined to give up 80 or more points over a dozen times. I don’t think either side will get to 80, but they will score enough to cover the over in Dayton.
Over 133.5 Covers, Grambling St Tigers 68 Montana St Bobcats 72
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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VCU Rams at Villanova Wildcats (-8.5) O/U 132.5 NIT First Round 9:00 PM on ESPN 2
This could’ve been Duquesne in this spot if they didn’t beat VCU on Sunday in Brooklyn to win the A-10 Tournament for the first time ever. Instead, the Rams will face the Wildcats of Villanova in the first round of the NIT tonight. Villanova nearly made history as one of the only teams to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with 15 losses. But, and rightfully so, they are in the NIT hosting on-campus.
Though VCU can’t hit anything from the three-point line, I believe this is way too many points for the Wildcats. The Rams play good defense and should be able to frustrate the home team, which would rather be anywhere else than playing in the NIT. VCU won’t win outright, but they cover in Philadelphia.
VCU Covers +8.5, VCU Rams 62 Villanova Wildcats 68
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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Colorado Buffaloes (-3.5) vs Boise St Broncos O/U 142.5 First Four 9:10 PM on truTV
If you follow college basketball like I do, you know how up and down Colorado has been this year. The Buffaloes have gone back and forth from being in and out of the tournament for the past 2 months. But a run to the PAC 12 finals sealed their entry and they will face Boise St in the First Four tonight.
The Broncos are a solid team but there is nothing that truly excites you about this team. They have some bigger wins in the Mountain West, but their only big non-conference win was St. Mary’s on a neutral court in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Remember, before last night’s Colorado St win, the Mountain West excluding San Diego St was 0-11 in the tournament. I like Colorado to win and cover tonight.
Colorado Covers -3.5, Colorado Buffaloes 75 Boise St Broncos 70
LA, TN, CO, AZ, IA, IL, IN, MI, OH
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