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The first of March brings the last full slate
of college basketball betting opportunities. Most of the smaller schools start
preparing for conference tourney action this next week, while the larger
universities still have details to sort out. Georgetown is trying to win the Big
East outright, but first must get past a dastardly Marquette team on a roll.
Duke and Texas are on the road, and should win in places where they have had
success. Expect defense to be present when Washington State visits Stanford, who
is still holding on to Pac-10 title hopes. First place is on the line when St.
Mary’s visits Gonzaga, in a battle of one loss teams. Davidson tries to become
the first club to go unblemished in conference play. Get this basketball pick right here
Saturday 12:00E – Duke at N.C. State CBS
Duke (24-3, 15-10-1 ATS) and North Carolina
seemed predestined to playing for ACC regular season championship next Saturday
night, however before that, each has to dismiss a couple of conference foes. The
Blue Devils will try to gift wrap coach Mike Krzyzewski 800th win as a college
coach against N.C. State (15-13, 6-19 ATS). The Wolfpack would not figure to put
up much resistance, having failed to win or cover six straight times. Duke
understands N.C. State struggles at faster pace, and will seek to up-tempo
contest, since they are 12-4 ATS when they score 81 or more points in a game
this season. The Wolfpack are playing like they can’t wait for the season to
end and are 3-9 ATS at home. Get this
basketball pick right here
Saturday 2:00E – Georgetown at Marquette
CBS
Georgetown (23-4, 10-14 ATS) and Marquette
(21-6, 13-9 ATS) are in the field of 65 for the NCAA Tournament, now it is where
they are positioned that matters. The Hoyas are trying to win the Big East crown
outright and need a win in Milwaukee and to defeat co-leader Louisville at home
next week. The Hoyas are 2-6 ATS in last eight Big East games, thanks to fickle
guard play and outside shooting. They will have to clean that up versus Golden
Eagles, which have run off five consecutive wins and covers. Marquette has been
dominating on the defensive end, causing over 20 turnovers a game and 10 thefts
during this run. Tom Crean’s club will look to extend record to 11-2 ATS
playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 80 percent) over the last two
seasons. Get this basketball pick right here
Saturday 4:00E – Texas at Texas Tech CBS-Regional
Texas finished February perfect 8-0 (8-0 ATS)
for the first time since 1963 and will look to build on momentum and capture Big
12 title. If the Longhorns (24-4, 15-8 ATS) win out, they will take the honors
and could nab a number one seed, by winning the conference tourney also. The
Texas frontline is almost as good as the backcourt the last month, making this
one of the best teams in the country. Rick Barnes squad is 10-2 ATS off three
straight wins against Big 12 rivals over the last two seasons. New coach Pat
Knight found out what it was like to be in the lead seat of being at the wrong
place, at the wrong time, in being swallowed whole at Texas A&M 98-54. For
Texas Tech (15-12, 14-8 ATS), the defeat was so through, it will be easy to
forget. Knight and his club can make national noise if they can rebound, since
they are 12-1 and 8-2 against the spread in Lubbock. Get this basketball pick right here
Saturday 4:00E – Washington State at Stanford FSN
Washington State’s last road game of the
regular season should be a defensive war at Palo Alto. The Cougars (22-6, 15-12
ATS) humbled Cal on Thursday 70-49 and they will look for revenge against
Stanford, from earlier 67-65 defeat exactly four weeks ago. Since that contest,
Washington State is 5-2 SU and ATS in the taxing Pac-10. The Cougs are 10-2 and
9-3 ATS on the road, winning by 7.8 PPG. Stanford (23-4, 13-14 ATS) is playing
final home game of the year, where they are 14-1 (5-10 ATS). The Cardinal while
winning, are 1-4 ATS in last five and have not played with the physical
dominance of earlier. They will need to get back to such efforts or Washington
State will end conference title dreams of Stanford. The Cardinal is 15-6 ATS
versus slow-down teams averaging 53 or less shots a game. Get this basketball pick right here
Saturday 7:30E – Davidson at Georgia Southern
Only three teams in major college basketball
are still undefeated in conference action and Davidson (22-6, 16-10 ATS) could
become the first to lay claim. The Wildcats have yet to lose in 19 tries in the
Southern Conference, winning by bloated 16.7 PPG. While sharpshooter Stephen
Curry conjures most of the attention, Davidson is not a one man team, as Jason
Richards proved in scoring 21 points and dishing five assists in Bracket Buster
road win at Winthrop 60-47. Davidson played ambitious non-conference schedule
and became better because of it. They are 20-6 ATS on the road when playing team
with winning home record. Georgia Southern (20-10, 16-10-1 ATS) is the second
best team in the Southern Conference. After winning six in a row, the Eagles
have lost two straight and could show they deserve to be a bubble team with a
win. Losing has not worked for Georgia Southern who is 8-22-1 ATS off a SU
defeat.
Saturday 8:00E – St. Mary’s at Gonzaga
It has been an unusual year in the West Coast
Conference, as St. Mary’s has been the ranked team, being in first place the
last month, stealing some of the thunder away from perennial power Gonzaga.
Having beaten the Zags already, the St. Mary’s (24-4, 15-10 ATS) can all but
wrap up league title with a sweep. The Gaels are going to have to find the extra
gear they had earlier, as they have lost two in a row against the number and
were beaten by solid Kent State squad at home. St. Mary’s is 5-12 ATS on the
road vs. a team like Gonzaga (22-6, 15-13 ATS), who has winning 12-1 home
record. Since losing in OT to the Gaels, coach Mark Few’s team has punished
foes by average of 24.2 PPG. Coming off of three consecutive road tests, Gonzaga
is 8-1 ATS playing at home. Gonzaga has won the WCC seven straight times and is
50-2 SU at McCarthey Athletic Center. Get this basketball pick right here |
