Today we focus on two NCAA Basketball matchups as we aim to walk away with a profit once all is said and done. Which two games have we selected to play on, and how have we decided to place our NCAA Basketball picks in each?
For today’s NCAAB basketball picks we will examine the matchups
between the Marquette and Butler, as well as Texas A&M and St Louis. See
where we lean in each of these matchups and if the books have left us a good
opening to cash these tickets.
Butler Marquette line
The NCAA Basketball odds makers have opened Marquette (2-0) as
a 3.5 point favorite over Butler (1-1). This game is scheduled for a 3pm EST
tip off and will be played on a neutral court.
What’s in a name?
This Butler team is mediocre at best, but the name stamped
on the front of their jersey is earning them a bit of unnecessary credit. In
their last time out, they got their doors blown off 62-47 by an Xavier team that
was picked to finish the in the middle of the pack of the A10. Since Brad
Stevens has been at Butler, he has focused on defense. Well so far this year
the Bulldogs aren't playing any defense at all. They are allowing teams to
shoot a very high 44% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc.
To complicate things even more, their offense is a disaster.
They just don't have any players that live up to the Butler reputation; a
standard set by players such as Gordon Hayward, Matt Howard or Shelvin Mack.
The Bulldogs are yet to fill the shoes of a single one of these players, and it
doesn’t look like they will be doing so anytime soon. Xavier isn't exactly a
great defensive team, but even they were able to shut down the Bulldogs.
In that game Butler managed just 47 points, shooting a
horrific 19-52 from the floor and 4-18 from three. When this team is stacked up
against athletic teams, they struggle to find points, and that is what we are
expecting to happen tonight against Marquette.
Marquette picking up where they left off
With a fresh roster to work with, head coach Buzz Williams
has this Marquette team playing great basketball once again. They are 2-0 on
the season so far, blowing away the competition in both games. The Golden
Eagles are off to a blistering start on the offensive end, putting up 75 points
per game while shooting 45% and 35% from three point range.
6 foot 11 Chris Otule is a beast in the middle, averaging 10
points per game and he is a defensive force, blocking any shot that comes his
way. 6 foot 7 forward Jamil Wilson is also putting up 10 points a game, and we
expect Marquettes size inside to present a major problem for Butler.
Not only can they fill up the hoop, but this team is playing
classic Buzz Williams lockdown defense, holding teams to just 58 points per
game and 37% shooting.
Take Marquette
Until the NCAA Basketball betting lines start to reflect
Butler’s true colors, we will continue to fade them. This team is receiving too
much credit at this point, and while their season is not lost, I am not
expecting them to find their feet anytime soon. They are going to have to work
incredibly hard tonight to get looks on the offensive end, and this will take
its toll on their already struggling defense. Look for Marquette to take
control of this game and pull away in the 2nd half.
NCAA Basketball
Picks: Marquette -3.5 at BetOnline.
Texas A&M vs Saint Louis
The 1-1 St Louis Billikens have opened a 2 point favorite over the 3-0 Texas A&M
Aggies. Now most people will see this line and think “A 3-0 team getting points
from a 1-1 team, all over this!”. Let's not make that mistake.
Texas A&M are frauds
Sure, this team has a nice 3-0 record, but the Aggies are
yet to face a true opponent. They have played LA Tech, Troy and Praire View
A&M, and after this opening schedule, it would be odd to expect anything
less than a perfect slate.
The Aggies have filled up the basket so far this year,
dropping nearly 80 points per game, while shooting a blistering 50% from the
floor. These numbers are a skewed due to the level of opposition they have
faced, but that can all change tonight when they meet one of the best defenses
in the nation tonight, and we expect them to have some offensive struggles for
the first time this season.
About the St Louis Billikens
This team was projected to finish 1st in the
loaded Atlantic10 conference, but after getting off to a slow start at 1-1 some
people are jumping off the bandwagon but not us. The problem for St Louis this
year hasn't been scoring, as they are averaging close to 70 points a game, but
their defense. The Billikens are giving up 66 points per game and letting teams
shoot 50% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. This hig percentage of
three pointers could have something to do with luck, but regardless, these
numbers have to come down.
This team held opponents to just 57 points per game last
year, which was good enough for 8th in the Nation. They have
returned all of their starters, so it is easy to think that this team is just
in an early season funk. One thing about basketball is that while your offense
may struggle, your defense is one thing that is always there for you if you are
committed to it. St Louis needs to get recommitted on the defensive end and
they will be just fine.
NCAA Basketball
Picks: Saint Louis -2 at 5dimes