Free NCAA Basketball picks for a few of Thursday's biggest games. Find out where our handicappers believe that the best value lies for college basketball bettors tonight.
There are just two Top 25 games on tap for Thursday, but there are still plenty of opportunity for our NCAA Basketball picks, as teams are positioning
themselves for their respective conference tournaments.
Gear up for the NCAA Tournament wit one of our many NCAA Tournament Betting Guides.
#22 Wisconsin (20-9,
11-5) at #10 Michigan State (22-7, 11-5)
Tonight Purdue faces a tough Michigan State team on the road,
and they could be looking at a second consecutive loss.
The Spartans are also coming off of a loss to a tough
Michigan in a very competitive game. They came back from a 10 point deficit to
tie the game, and had it not been for a Trey Burke steal and bucket with about
20 seconds on the clock, this game would’ve gone into overtime.
The NCAA Basketball odds boards list Michigan State as the 4
point favorite tonight, and while both teams have locked themselves in for the
NCAA Tournament, conference standings are on the line, and the Spartans will be
gunning for a win.
Boards and Buckets
Junior Adrian Payne has picked the right time to get hot, as
he had a 17 point, 12 rebound performance against Michigan and he is averaging
15.2 points and 12 rebounds in his last 4 games. Although Wisconsin has a solid
defense and can slow down the pace of the game, look for another productive
double-double out of Payne.
The Spartans also need Keith Appling to find his game, as
he’s been a liability on the court lately. Aside from giving up the steal to
Trey Burke, Appling is averaging just 6 points on 5 of 23 shooting in his last
3 games.
Wisconsin won’t wow us on the offensive side of the ball,
but when they need a bucket, they usually call upon senior, Jared Berggren.
Berggren is a defensive force; he can score, rebound, and is a great defensive
player. Berggren has had back to back 4 block performances.
If the game is close down the stretch, the Badgers will also
look for Ben Brust, as he has the ability to make the big shot in clutch
situations.
NCAA Basketball Pick – Michigan State
-4 at 5 Dimes
Virginia (20-9, 10-6)
at Florida State (15-14, 7-9)
With a win here, Virginia can tie N.C. State for the number
4 spot in the conference in the ACC. They come into this game as a 3.5 point
betting favorite, and after an uninspiring 53-52 loss to a lousy Boston College
team while the Seminoles come into this game after getting beat around by the
North Carolina Tarheels by 21 points.
Trends Come First?
I usually like to give a little synopsis of the game first,
but some of the College Basketball betting trends are quite alarming if you’re
a Florida State backer.
The Seminoles are 2-11-1 ATS in their last 14 games in the
ACC, and they are 2-11-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall, Seminoles are
1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games at home, and they’re 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8
games against teams with a winning % above .600.
Virginia is 6-2 ATS in their last games overall, and while I
liked Virginia coming into this game, the trends only make me feel more certain
of where I should place my sports picks in this matchup.
A Bounce Back
Performance?
I don’t know how you go from beating Duke to losing to
Boston College, but the Virginia Cavaliers basically gave a game away. Now
isn’t the time to throw away games, as Virginia faces a tough Maryland team
after tonight’s contest. This is a game that they should be able to win.
Joe Harris
Not many players can say that they lit Duke up for 36
points, but Joe Harris falls into that category. Harris is a guard with great
size, and he gives a team that only averages 64.9 points per game consistent
production. Joe Harris gets up for big games and although Florida State is no
Duke, the situation is set up for him to play a leading role in a “must win”situation. I expect Harris to play well, as the Cavaliers cover the
spread in a bounce back game.
NCAA Basketball Pick – Virginia -3.5
at 5 Dimes