Editor’s Note: Now, all our premium tools for Fantasy, DFS and Betting are included in one subscription at one low price. Customers can subscribe to NBC Sports EDGE+ monthly ($9.99) or save 20% on an annual subscription ($95.88). And don’t forget to use promo code SAVE10 to get 10% off.Click here to learn more!
Vermont (-13.5) at Binghamton: O/U 138.5
In the previous meeting between these two schools, Vermont won by 31 points, 82-51. Binghamton led 3-2 out the gate than Vermont never looked back.
Binghamton’s John McGriff was out for that meeting and that was critical as he is the second-leading scorer for the Bears (10.3 PPG). McGriff is back and scored a season-high 21 points in a win over UMass Lowell.
Binghamton is on a three-game ATS losing streak following a win. The Bears are 4-6 ATS and on the ML in the past 10 games following a ML win, so fading Binghamton off a win is normally a profitable trend to follow.
In this series, Binghamton is 1-4 ATS in its five home games versus Vermont, per NBC’s Edge Finder. The Catamounts have scored 72, 76 and 84 points in three straight meetings with Binghamton.
We can expect plenty of points as Vermont’s game Overs have cashed in 15 of the last 17 games overall this season.
With McGriff back on Binghamton, this could be a trap spot in betting Vermont’s spread. However, if not, Vermont will likely finish in the neighborhood of its 75-80 point mark (Team Total is 77.5).
Binghamton has scored 60, 67 and 78 points in McGriff’s three games back and both teams feature small ball lineups. The Bears also shoot the trey-ball at 36.9% in conference play (4th), while Vermont ranks second-worst in American East play for three-point defense (39.5%) and 276th nationally (35.6%), per Kenpom.
Both squads have top-five quickest average possession lengths on defense in conference play, so back the Over 138.5 up to 139.5.
Pick: Over 138.5 (1u)
Boston College at NC State (-6): 138.0
Anytime Boston College is on my card, you should assume they are the road team and the underdog.
Boston College has lost 19 of the past 20 true road games dating back to the 2019-20 season, including six straight, per NBC’s Edge Finder. The Eagles have been one of the best teams in the country to fade when on the road and there is no end in sight for this horrendous losing streak.
NC State is a weird team. At home as the favorite, the Wolfpack are 7-4 on the ML (63.4%) but a miserable 2-9 ATS (18.1%). The only teams they have covered versus as the home favorite is Louisiana Tech and Virginia.
Looking over the spreads for NC State’s previous home games, I am kind of confused on how the book makers came up with these spreads. They were -1 and -1.5 point favorites for four straight home games against Virginia, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Clemson -- that makes no sense. NC State beat Virginia but lost to the other three teams outright.
NC State has a home game versus North Carolina to end its home schedule, so this is the best and probably last chance for the Wolfpack to get a home win over a Boston College Eagles team who cannot win on the road.
You cannot trust either team on the spread in this game and Boston College will be without T.J. Bickerstaff again, meaning the pace should be uptempo. In the last three games without Bickerstaff, Boston College allowed 99 and 76 points before 55 to Florida State.
Throw NC State in your ML parlays and back them on the Team Total Over 72 (-115) up to 73.5.
Pick: NC State Team Total Over 72 (1u)
Editor’s Note: Don’t just bet your favorite sports. LIVE YOUR BET LIFE! Get started today at PointsBet with two risk-free bets up to $2,000. Bet now!
Davidson at Duquesne (-8.5): O/U 136.5
Taking a look at Duquesne in conference play this season, you would be amazed.
Looking at Duquesne’s Kenpom schedule, the Dukes have lost 11 straight. It gets worse, Duquesne is 1-11 ATS at home on the entire season, losing 11 straight ATS.
In the last five home games, Duquesne lost to George Washington by 21 points, Fordham by 11, Richmond by 17, Saint Louis by 24 and St. Bonaventure by eight. It’s been a rough season for the Dukes.
Davidson, on the other hand, has won 20 of its last 22 games and beat Duquesne by 11 a week ago. The Dukes never led in the game, while the Wildcats held a double-digit advantage for a majority of that contest.
Flipping location will not help Duquesne, like I said, they are 1-11 ATS at home this season (8.3%). Davidson beat Duquesne by 13 in Moon Township (Pittsburgh) last year and the Wildcats have improved in a number of areas, while the Dukes have not.
Play Davidson -8.5 out to -10 as they should handle Duquesne once again.
Pick: Davidson -8.5 (1u)
Xavier at Providence (-1): O/U 136.5
Xavier has lost three of the last four games on the road and four of the past five overall. In the past 12 games, Xavier is 3-9 ATS (25%).
Providence is on a five-game ATS losing streak and struggles to cover at home compared to winning outright.
The Friars are 14-1 on the ML at home this season (93.3%), dropping its last outing at home to Villanova. This is a bounce-back spot for Providence, especially after the near loss on the road to Butler in OT following the Villanova loss.
Xavier is 4-4 ATS and on the ML away from home this season (50%), so not very profitable to back on the road, especially recently. Xavier’s three road wins in conference play this season have come against Butler, Creighton and DePaul -- less than impressive company.
After Villanova lost to UConn last night, Providence also controls its own destiny for Big East regular-season champion. The motivation is there for the Friars, who have won nine of the last 10 games overall (90%).
Xavier’s defensive efficiency ranks eighth in Big East (103.7) and they rank 11th in three-point offense (30.2%), per Kenpom. If the Musketeers are not forcing turnovers, they won’t have many positives going for them against a Providence team that limits its opponents triples .
Back Providence on the ML (-115) at home against Xavier out to -130 odds.
Pick: Providence ML (1u)
Rutgers at Michigan (-5.5): O/U 134.5
The Giant Killers are back and they get a Juwan Howard-less Michigan Wolverines team. If you haven’t heard or watched what happened with Howard, then enjoy this video from Stadium’s Jeff Goodman.
Juwan Howard throws a punch. pic.twitter.com/HiC3y7yKvG
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 20, 2022
Rutgers is 5-2 SU (71.4%) and 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven games and beat Michigan, 75-67 earlier in the season at home. While the Scarlett Knights are known for struggling on the road, they covered against Purdue and upset Wisconsin in the past two road games.
Rutgers allows most of the damage down on them to come from the three-point line, however, Michigan is a poor shooting team from deep. The Wolverines are hitting 32.5% from three in Big Ten play (11th) and scoring 25% of the points from beyond the arc (14th, last), per Kenpom.
Rutgers can live or die by defending and shooting the three at times. The Scarlett Knights are hitting 37.9% from three in conference play (2nd), plus defending at 34.2% (7th).
With all of the drama surrounding the Wolverines, expect Rutgers to try and take advantage of a discombobulated Michigan team. Grab Rutgers at +5.5 and expect this line to close around +3.5.
Pick: Rutgers +5.5 (1u)
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. NJ, IA, IN, IL, CO, MI, VA, WV only. 21+. T&C apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
