Another jam-packed Saturday of action from noon to midnight. Once again I couldn’t include all the games featuring ranked teams though it was hard to take a pass on Houston vs. a school called Our Lady of the Lake.
The games come fast and furious today with the 12:00 PM ET window as packed as it has been all season.
Let’s get started.
All odds in this article are via FanDuel Sportsbook. Saturday, February 06 (9:45 am ET)
Iowa State vs Oklahoma
- TV: ESPN 2, 12:00 ET
- Spread: Iowa State +14.5 (-110), Oklahoma -14.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 141.5 (-106), Under 141.5 (-114)
- Money Line: Iowa State +1040, Oklahoma -2000
Iowa State is the worst team in the Big 12 this season, they have no league wins, and other than playing West Virginia really close they have not shown all that well. Still, this line feels a little too generous to the home side. Yes, Oklahoma has been great but they have been missing leading scorer Austin Reaves the last two games. Without him, their scoring has been way down and you have to score a fair number to beat a team by this margin. The Cyclones can keep it close.
Betting Advice: Take Iowa State
Alabama vs. Missouri
- TV: ESPN, 12:00 PM ET
- Spread: Alabama -2.5 (-110), Missouri +2.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 151.5 (-110), Under 151.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Alabama -146, Missouri +124
Mizzou looks like the only team with a chance to catch Alabama in the SEC this season…if they can win here. The Tigers have been shooting the ball better of late, making more than 40% from deep in three of their last four games. I am not sure that is enough if the Crimson Tide are on their game though. Alabama might have been overvalued last week at Oklahoma but they showed in an easy rebound win over LSU midweek that there is still a serious gap between them and the rest of the SEC.
Betting Advice: Take Alabama.
Kansas vs West Virginia
- TV: CBS, 2:00 PM ET
- Spread: Kansas +2.5 (-112), West Virginia -2.5 (-108)
- Total: Over 141.5 (-110), Under 141.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Kansas +120, West Virginia -142
These teams have met once already with Kansas winning at home in a game that was not that close. Now they are off to Morgantown looking to show that they still deserve to be among the Top 25. West Virginia is not the team you expect this season. The defense is mediocre while the offense has ramped up. This is not going to be a grinder and the Mountaineers are quite well equipped to fend off Kansas on their homecourt.
Betting Advice: Take West Virginia.
Drake vs. Valparaiso
- TV: ESPN3, 2:00 PM ET
- Spread: Drake -13.5 (-104), Valparaiso +13.5 (-118)
- Total: Over 136.5 (-105), Under 136.5 (-114)
- Money Line: Drake -1350, Valparaiso +810
The Bulldogs are still undefeated. They did get a scare last weekend, needing overtime to beat Illinois State, but the next day they beat the Redbirds by 35 points so I don’t see much need for concern. Even better than being 17-0 SU is the that they are 13-1 ATS. That is a lot of profit they have made for backers this season. A Valpo team that is just 5-10 ATS hardly profiles as one that is going to steal one in this spot. You might not know Drake as well as Duke but they have been super reliable this season.
Betting Advice: Take Drake.
Wisconsin vs. Illinois
- TV:(NA), 2:30 PM ET
- Spread: Wisconsin +3.5 (-104), Illinois -3.5 (-118)
- Total: Over 136.5 (-110), Under 136.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Wisconsin +150, Illinois -178
I love this Illinois team and after some false starts, it looks like they are finally ready to take off. They have won and covered in three straight and even though this is a good Wisconsin team they are going to have trouble with the size of Kofi Cockburn and the talent of Ayo Dosunmu. The total says that The Badgers will be able to slow things down some but I am not sure that is the way you want to attack Illinois. Those two give them such good options at the end of the clock. The Illini continue their hot streak.
Betting Advice: Take Illinois
Pittsburgh vs. Virginia
- TV: ESPN, 4:00 PM ET
- Spread: Pittsburgh +10.5 (-110), Virginia -10.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 127.5 (-106), Under 127.5 (-114)
- Money Line: Pittsburgh +530, Virginia -770
I was all over Pitt to get that home win against Virginia Tech midweek. The Hokies were inflated and the Panthers were desperate for a win. Now they are into the lion’s den against the Cavaliers. Yes, the Cavs lost to VT just a couple of games ago but there is no transitive angle here. UVA is going to show Panthers leading scorer Justin Champagnie what hard work is all about as a defense giving up less than 60ppg clamps down on Pitt. The spread is bigger than I would like to make this a great value but UVA is the play.
Betting Advice: Take Virginia
Tennessee vs. Kentucky
- TV: ESPN, 8:00 PM ET
- Spread: Tennessee -3.5 (-115), Kentucky +3.5 (-105)
- Total: Over 125.5 (-112), Under 125.5 (-108)
- Money Line: Tennessee -180, Kentucky +152
Fading Kentucky has been profitable this season but Tennessee keeps leaving me scratching my head. Can I go back to the assessment that Tennessee was the better team heading into the season and just ignore what we have seen from both teams so far this season? The real question is which team is going to score enough points to be respectable and get a win in the process. I just can’t get away from the Vols just yet. One more trip to the well.
Betting Advice: Take Tennessee
UCLA vs. USC
- TV: ESPN, 10:00 PM ET
- Spread: UCLA +3.5 (-115), USC -3.5 (-105)
- Total: Over 134.5 (-110), Under 134.5 (-110)
- Money Line: UCLA +138, USC -164
I know UCLA is one of the “blue blood” programs but I feel like SoCal is not getting enough pub this season. These teams are both at the top of the PAC 12 standings this season. UCLA is on top but the Trojans are just one game behind. Big man Evan Mobley is a lottery pick and the Trojans have lots of sizes even beyond him. That makes them tough on the glass and they have only lost once at home this season. They are just 5-5 ATS at the Galen Center but they only need to win by a couple of possessions here.
Betting Advice: Take USC.
