1. #1
    Hman
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    Saturday's College Basketball Best Bets 🏀

    Saturday's college basketball best bets: Will North Carolina hang with Duke?

    ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)


    The college basketball season is in full swing, and there are plenty of betting opportunities. Our experts -- ESPN's Jordan Schultz and Vegas Stats & Information's Matt Youmans -- are here to give their best bets for Saturday's lineup of games.
    ATS records

    Doug Kezirian 9-5
    Schultz 11-5
    Youmans 12-16


    Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook as of Friday night, unless noted otherwise.




    Saturday's games




    North Carolina Tar Heels at Duke Blue Devils (-11.5, 152.5)

    Schultz: Since losing at home to Louisville in mid-January, Duke has been dominant at Cameron Indoor, compiling a 6-0 record -- including quality wins over Florida State, Notre Dame and NC State -- with a 22-point average margin of victory. The Devils, who have covered three straight home games, rank 10th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (114.9) and eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2), per KenPom. While the Heels have been better during their three-game winning streak, offense has been a bugaboo all season, hence the 76th-ranked clip at a measly 107.5.



    This rendition of college basketbqll's greatest rivalry should be another stellar point guard duel between Tre Jones and Cole Anthony, both of whom enjoyed monster games in their first meeting. The difference? Duke has Vernon Carey Jr. and UNC does not. The 6-foot-10, 270-pound freshman center has been on a tear all season and is a bona fide Wooden Award finalist. A 25-10 effort from Carey feels appropriate this go-around, as does an easy Duke cover. Not only has Carolina struggled against size all season, but the Tar Heels are just 3-8 SU on the road and have struggled to cover in road games throughout.


    Pick: Duke -11.5





    Kentucky Wildcats at Florida Gators (-3, 136.5)

    Schultz: Save for its errant performance at Rupp on Tuesday night versus Tennessee, Kentucky has been a different team over the past six weeks, winning eight straight behind the stellar play of sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley (16.2 PPG on 42.2% 3-pointers). Additionally, the young Cats have covered seven of their past nine, as well as seven of their nine road games.


    Florida has been a tough team to figure all season, but one thing we do know is the Gators have defensive issues, which include guarding the long ball. With Quickley making his case for SEC Player of the Year while being flanked in the backcourt by Ashton Hagans -- as well as Tyrese Maxey pushing tempo and getting in the lane -- expect to see a barrage of triples from Kentucky, not to mention a key road win/cover, sure to help its tournament seeding.


    Pick: Kentucky






    Kansas Jayhawks (-3.5) at Texas Tech Red Raiders

    Youmans: Three days after clinching at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title, the Jayhawks need to stop celebrating and prepare for a street fight in Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders have lost three in a row, including a 71-68 overtime decision Monday at Baylor. I like great coaches in the home underdog role, and Chris Beard's team will be highly motivated.


    Kansas still can win the conference outright if second-place Baylor loses at West Virginia. This play is no knock against the Jayhawks, who have been my No. 1 power-rated team since late November. With sophomore point guard Devon Dotson and 7-footer Udoka Azubuike, Kansas has the personnel to dominate, but this matchup will be a grinder with both teams ranking in the top 10 in defensive efficiency. The Red Raiders were 8.5-point underdogs in a 78-75 loss at Kansas on Feb. 1. Last year in Lubbock, Tech crushed the Jayhawks 91-62. This is a bet on Beard in what should be a tight game in the final minutes.


    Pick: Texas Tech +3.5



    Louisville Cardinals at Virginia Cavaliers (-1, 114.5)

    Youmans: Tony Bennett's coaching style is often ugly, but it's almost always effective. Virginia ranks No. 1 in defensive efficiency and No. 235 in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.com. The Cavaliers are 10-1 in their past 11 games, and the loss came at Louisville on Feb. 8, when the Cardinals pulled away late to win 80-73. This game has ACC title implications with Louisville and Florida State (each 15-4) leading Virginia and Duke by one game. The Cardinals have dropped three in a row on the conference road, including two double-digit blowouts. I hoped to get at least one point with the Cavaliers, and that's not the case, but I'll stick with Bennett at home while he's riding a seven-game winning streak.


    Pick: Virginia -1



    California Golden Bears at Oregon State Beavers (-9, 131.5)

    Youmans: The Beavers stopped a four-game losing streak Thursday with a 68-65 victory over Stanford. On the same night, Cal was crushed 90-56 at Oregon. The Ducks brought their A-game and shot 12-of-17 from 3-point range. Those disparate results create some point-spread value in this spot on the Golden Bears, who beat Oregon State 69-67 on Feb. 1.


    Mark Fox has coached up this Cal team in the second half of the season, with the Bears posting an 8-4 ATS record in their past 12 games. Senior forward Tres Tinkle, who poured in 23 points Thursday to pass Gary Payton and become Oregon State's career scoring leader, will be playing his final regular-season home game. Senior Night is sometimes a disadvantage and a distraction. The Beavers, who need to win the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas next week to reach the NCAA tournament, could come out flat after the Stanford win.


    Pick: California +9

    Sunday's game


    Michigan Wolverines at Maryland Terrapins

    Schultz: This is a fantastic point guard matchup, featuring Zavier Simpson (his 7.9 APG leads the country) of Michigan and Anthony Cowan Jr. of Maryland, a Big Ten POY candidate. One of the premier late-clock operators in the land, Cowan (16.2 PPG, 4.6 APG and 3.6 RPG) has guided the Terps alongside talented sophomore forward Jalen Smith. "Stix" is a legitimate pro, averaging the rare double-double (15.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG) for Mark Turgeon.


    Prior to last weekend's loss to Sparty -- which I picked in our roundtable -- Maryland was 15-0 at home. That's a big problem for the Wolverines, whose road woes have been well documented. Juwan Howard's team is just 4-6 SU/ATS away from the Crisler Center. Expect a renewed focus and level of execution from Maryland as it hopes to avoid a three-game losing streak on Senior Day -- as well as capture its first Big Ten title since joining the league in 2014.


    Pick: Maryland

  2. #2
    Hman
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    Posting this material per request for those who don't have access.

    For informational purposes only, no opinion

  3. #3
    pologq
    When you are SBR you are SBR 4 Life
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    thank you for sharing

  4. #4
    jjgold
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    Big day

    ACTION ALL DAY

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