I love college basketball, it's my favorite sport to watch and it's the sport I make the most bank on. I can't wait for the season to start, and can't believe it's finally here tonight. I look forward to posting picks all season, and can't wait to see how this season pans out.
With that, I'm excited to look into the games today in anticipation for the upcoming season. I think there are some really good plays, and some trick plays for today that should be fun to watch.
Rhode Island Vs. Pitt
Pick: Pitt to Cover -11.5
Bet: Large
I'm really not sure when Rhode Island became the sexy pick. Read any forum thread and you'll find more than enough people picking Rhode Island to cover the points. But in my mind, this is the surest bet of the night. Rhode Island had a great season last year, and I'm sure their NIT roll is sticking in the minds of many. But looking at their season this year, they have already had five players walk out during the summer and are missing others on injuries. While Pitt may have injuries of their own, they're bringing back 7 of their 8 top scorers from last year, and probably have just as many scholarship players on their bench as Rhode Island does on their entire roster (8). I look at Pitt's bench to factor greatly into this game, I'm pretty sure once they've built up a good-sized lead, we'll see them come into the game. And for that reason, many would have Rhode Island covering the points. But to me this is a common sense pick at great value, and I only see the lines moving up from here (some have it at 12.5 already). Picking Pitt to cover the points against a Rhode Island team that is a shadow of their NIT team last year, is the play that makes the most sense to me tonight.
Navy Vs. Texas[/COLOR]
Pick: Navy +15 1st Half
Bet: Small
The numbers are all going in Texas' way for this game. Watching the spread start at -26 and move up to -29 shows me that there's some serious money going Texas' way. A near 30 point spread is scary to take though, especially when a team is first starting out a season. Texas has lost some serious weapons in the off season and while they are definitely the stronger team, I'm not sure that covering near 30 points is an easy thing. What scares me the most about the pick is not knowing what to expect from the Navy team. They will be fielding six freshmen that will all be expected to play some serious time. Any time I can get in on a halftime line of 15 or more I'll seriously look at taking it. I think with the emotions high, 15 by half won't be attainable. I really like this pick.
Seattle Vs. Maryland
Pick: Seattle 1H +12
Bet: Small
Seattle looked good at the end of their season last year and I think will give Maryland more trouble than they're expecting tonight. They're an exciting high-tempo team that will be playing against a bigger, more talented team tonight. I think Maryland will stick to defensive, methodical basketball to try and shut these guys down, but with that I like both the under and the cover at the half. A 12 point half time cover seems like a gift. Reading any Terrapins coverage, they are expecting them to really struggle at the start of the season. This might be a really good game to look at. Seattle covers at half.
UC Irvine Vs. Illinois
Pick: Illinois -21
Bet: I'm not betting on this game
UC Irvine lost to Concordia University in the Preseason. They're playing a team that is potentially a dark horse pick to make some waves this season. Illinois looks really strong. The line is only at -21. Take Illinois.
With that, I'm excited to look into the games today in anticipation for the upcoming season. I think there are some really good plays, and some trick plays for today that should be fun to watch.
Rhode Island Vs. Pitt
Pick: Pitt to Cover -11.5
Bet: Large
I'm really not sure when Rhode Island became the sexy pick. Read any forum thread and you'll find more than enough people picking Rhode Island to cover the points. But in my mind, this is the surest bet of the night. Rhode Island had a great season last year, and I'm sure their NIT roll is sticking in the minds of many. But looking at their season this year, they have already had five players walk out during the summer and are missing others on injuries. While Pitt may have injuries of their own, they're bringing back 7 of their 8 top scorers from last year, and probably have just as many scholarship players on their bench as Rhode Island does on their entire roster (8). I look at Pitt's bench to factor greatly into this game, I'm pretty sure once they've built up a good-sized lead, we'll see them come into the game. And for that reason, many would have Rhode Island covering the points. But to me this is a common sense pick at great value, and I only see the lines moving up from here (some have it at 12.5 already). Picking Pitt to cover the points against a Rhode Island team that is a shadow of their NIT team last year, is the play that makes the most sense to me tonight.
Navy Vs. Texas[/COLOR]
Pick: Navy +15 1st Half
Bet: Small
The numbers are all going in Texas' way for this game. Watching the spread start at -26 and move up to -29 shows me that there's some serious money going Texas' way. A near 30 point spread is scary to take though, especially when a team is first starting out a season. Texas has lost some serious weapons in the off season and while they are definitely the stronger team, I'm not sure that covering near 30 points is an easy thing. What scares me the most about the pick is not knowing what to expect from the Navy team. They will be fielding six freshmen that will all be expected to play some serious time. Any time I can get in on a halftime line of 15 or more I'll seriously look at taking it. I think with the emotions high, 15 by half won't be attainable. I really like this pick.
Seattle Vs. Maryland
Pick: Seattle 1H +12
Bet: Small
Seattle looked good at the end of their season last year and I think will give Maryland more trouble than they're expecting tonight. They're an exciting high-tempo team that will be playing against a bigger, more talented team tonight. I think Maryland will stick to defensive, methodical basketball to try and shut these guys down, but with that I like both the under and the cover at the half. A 12 point half time cover seems like a gift. Reading any Terrapins coverage, they are expecting them to really struggle at the start of the season. This might be a really good game to look at. Seattle covers at half.
UC Irvine Vs. Illinois
Pick: Illinois -21
Bet: I'm not betting on this game
UC Irvine lost to Concordia University in the Preseason. They're playing a team that is potentially a dark horse pick to make some waves this season. Illinois looks really strong. The line is only at -21. Take Illinois.