Free NCAA Basketball picks for a few of today's biggest matchups. Where do we believe that the best NCAAB betting value lies today?
The college basketball season is in
full swing and the contenders are starting to separate themselves
from the rest. With conference play starting, let's see if we can
take advantage of some weak spots on the NCAA Basketball odds boards.
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes have enjoyed a 11-2 SU
(6-3 ATS) start and are still unbeaten (9-0) at home this season, but
the start of Big Ten play should bring with it some challenges.
Today they're thrown right into the
fire with a matinee home game against Indiana. And, despite Iowa's
strong start, we're adding the Hoosiers to our NCAA Basketball picks, expecting them to win and cover.
Iowa has only lost twice (Virginia Tech
and Wichita State), but their record may be padded by the fact
they've already played nine times at home and have yet to really face
the toughest of competition. As of now their strength of schedule
rank is #62.
The only senior that is getting any
type of legitimate playing time for Iowa is Eric May, and even he
has hardly factored in. These Hawkeyes, while talented, are still
extremely young and may not be ready for the experience and
overwhelming efficiency of the Hoosiers.
Indiana, which has a #18 ranking in
strength of schedule, has been destroying teams left and right since
their first loss of the season, an overtime letdown against crosstown
rival Butler. Since that setback, the Hoosiers have won by an average
margin of 36.3 points.
We talked about Iowa's inexperience,
because that's something Indiana knows nothing of. The Hoosiers have
upperclassmen galore, including seniors Christian Watford and Jordan
Hulls and juniors Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey. Plus, we haven't
even gotten to seven-footer Cody Zeller, who's averaging a team-best
16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds as a sophomore.
With boatloads of experience and five
players who average in double figures, we think Indiana can handle
this tough environment and will therefore be too much for Iowa.
Pick: Indiana Hoosiers -6.5 at Bovada
Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota
Golden Gophers
Though Tom Izzo is one of the best in
the business, we can't help but feel his Spartans are going to fall
short against an extremely steady Minnesota team this afternoon.
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Michigan State's two losses this season
have been away from home, a 66-62 loss to Connecticut in the opener
and a 67-59 defeat against Miami (FL). The only other time the
Spartans were on the road, they had trouble getting past Bowling
Green (5-7 SU).
What we're getting at is they may not
be the best play with your college basketball picks today.
Minnesota's 12-1 SU (7-4 ATS) record
isn't a fluke. This is an experienced and well-coached team that's
already played the likes of Duke, Memphis, Stanford and Florida
State. With a #10 ranking in SOS, the Golden Gophers should be more
than prepared for this visit of Michigan State.
With multiple scoring options,
including Rodney Williams, Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins, Joe
Coleman and Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota has numerous ways they can beat
you.
Williams and Mbakwe give the Golden
Gophers that necessary toughness and experience, while Andre Hollins
is shooting 39.7 percent from three. This team is ranked in the top
25 in both rebounds per game (41.0) and assists per game (16.5), so a
lot of things are going right.
At first peruse, these NCAA basketball betting lines may jump out
at you and make you want to take the Spartans, but give that idea a
second thought. Minnesota is looking like the real deal and we think
they'll finally be able to get past the hump and beat Izzo's squad.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Minnesota Golden Gophers -6 at
Bookmaker