As always, the Vegas lines are not out for the weekend games, so we will be breaking them down using KenPom, Torvik and Haslametric projections.
FRIDAY
MARQUETTE at No. 13 BUTLER, 9:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Butler 72, Marquette 66
- TORVIK: Butler 72, Marquette 66
- HASLAM: Butler 71, Marquette 64
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: Butler 70, Marquette 64
In theory, this is an ideal buy-low spot for Butler. They are coming off of three straight losses, the last two of which came on the road. The loss at DePaul was a bad matchup, and the loss at Villanova was a result of Sean McDermott and Jordan Tucker shooting a combined 1-for-12 from three until the final minute of a 15-point loss.
Marquette, on the other hand, is in a prime sell-high spot. The Golden Eagles have won three in a row. Two of them came at home and the third was at Georgetown, a team that is down to just seven scholarship players. Trying to predict the nights that Markus Howard doesn’t score 30-plus is more or less impossible, but I do think that it is worth noting Butler is 12th nationally in defensive three-point field goal percentage and has a couple of quality perimeter defenders they can throw at him.
BEST BET: The logic says to bet Butler here. The problem is that, at Butler (-6) or (-6.5), I don’t think we’re buying Butler low or selling Marquette high. KenPom and Torvik both have the line at (-6) while Haslam has it at (-7). I was hoping to get it at (-5) or lower, which is unfortunate. Either way, if I’m going to be betting this game — which, let’s be honest, is probably going to happen — it will be with Butler.
Oh, and Butler is unveiling Butler IV, their new puppy, tonight. Never fade the puppy play.
SATURDAY
No. 15 KENTUCKY at No. 18 TEXAS TECH, 6:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Texas Tech 67, Kentucky 64
- TORVIK: Texas Tech 67, Kentucky 64
- HASLAM: Texas Tech 69, Kentucky 63
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
The more I think about this, the more I like the Texas Tech side here. I do think that the Red Raiders have one of the best coaching staffs when it comes to developing and instituting a game-plan. That’s a problem for a Kentucky team that tends to be fairly limited in what they run offensively. Put another way, Kentucky tends to figure out what works for them and run it over and over and over again. Their playbook shrinks as the season progresses, and that’s the kind of thing that Chris Beard and Mark Adams can take advantage of.
This is also a good buy-low spot for Texas Tech, considering that they are coming home off of a loss at TCU.
On the other side of the ball, I do worry about Texas Tech’s ability to create offense. They have struggled on that end, and I don’t think they actually have the front court pieces to be able to pull Nick Richards out of the paint.
BEST BETS: I’ll be curious to see where the line opens up here. I lean Texas Tech at anything (-4) and below, and I hope that the Kentucky effect can push that line much lower. I also will be on the under. If I think Texas Tech will have trouble to score, and Kentucky will have trouble to score, it only makes sense.
No. 1 BAYLOR at FLORIDA, 6:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Baylor 65, Florida 64
- TORVIK: Baylor 65, Florida 63
- HASLAM: Baylor 65, Florida 64
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
Baylor feels like they’re due for a loss, right?
They needed to erase a 12-point second half deficit at Oklahoma State last weekend. On Monday night, they nearly had Austin Reaves hitting a three in the final seconds to give Oklahoma a win in Waco. And now they are heading back out on the road to take on a Florida team that has been better of late?
Here’s to hoping that this line gets inflated because of the number next to Baylor’s name.
I also believe that the under is in play here. Baylor is one of the nation’s best defensive teams. Florida has not been as good on that end of the floor of late, but they, too, have shown flashes of being able to guard. They also matchup well with the Bears. But more importantly, I don’t believe that either of these teams are going to try and push the tempo. Florida has shown a frustrating determination to play possession by possession this season, while the Bears rank 269th in average offensive possession length.
BEST BET: I’ll be targeting the Florida ML here, particularly if the Gators end up getting points, but taking the under seems like the best play in this game.
No. 8 VILLANOVA at PROVIDENCE, 12:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Villanova 70, Providence 68
- TORVIK: Providence 70, Villanova 69
- HASLAM: Villanova 68, Providence 66
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
It’s not going to feel comfortable, but this feels like a good spot to take Providence. Villanova has won five in a row and 11 of their last 12, but their last four games have been played at home. They’ve failed to cover in two of their last three games and are just 1-3 against the spread on the road this season.
Providence has lost back-to-back games on the road, covering the spread in both games, and have covered in six of their last eight games.
BEST BET: I’ll be on the Providence side, but whether I take the Providence ML or take the points will depend on what the line opens up at.
No. 21 ILLINOIS at MICHIGAN, 12:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Michigan 71, Illinois 68
- TORVIK: Michigan 71, Illinois 68
- HASLAM: Michigan 71, Illinois 69
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
The logic here is going to be exceedingly simple: Illinois is as hot as any team in the country right now. They’ve won five straight games, including wins at Wisconsin and at Purdue, the latter of which was by 17 points. Michigan, on the other hand, has not been the same team since they lost Isaiah Livers to a groin injury and, since January 1st, they’ve ranked 127th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to Torvik.
BEST BET: I’ll be all over the Illinois ML, especially if this line opens up at Illinois (+3).
TENNESSEE at No. 3 KANSAS, 4:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Kansas 68, Tennessee 54
- TORVIK: Kansas 68, Tennessee 54
- HASLAM: Kansas 70, Tennessee 50
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
Kansas ranks No. 1 nationally in adusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. They’re third in Torvik’s rating system. Since Lamonte Turner saw his season come to an end, Tennessee has ranked 251st nationally if adjusted offensive efficiency. The one point guard on their roster, freshman Santiago Vescovi, is averaging 5.0 turnovers per game despite playing just 24.5 minutes — to be fair, he had 21 turnovers in his first three games and has had just nine in the last three.
BEST BETS: I think Kansas rolls here after a week of hearing how bad they are because of Tuesday night’s fight.
SUNDAY
No. 17 MARYLAND at INDIANA, 1:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Maryland 67, Indiana 66
- TORVIK: Indiana 67, Maryland 65
- HASLAM: Maryland 66, Indiana 64
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
Maryland is 1-4 on the road this season. Their one win came at Northwestern in a game where they trailed by 14 points in the first half. The Terps might be the worst road team in the Big Ten, a league where road teams have been terrible this season.
BEST BET: If Indiana is getting points, take the ML. I also will be interested in betting the Indiana first half line. Fade Turgeon is in full effect this weekend.
No. 11 MICHIGAN STATE at MINNESOTA, 3:00 p.m.
- KENPOM: Michigan State 72, Minnesota 71
- TORVIK: Michigan State 72, Minnesota 71
- HASLAM: Michigan State 72, Minnesota 70
- VEGAS IMPLIED SCORE: N/A
This is a tough spot for me. Michigan State has not been great away from East Lansing this season and they are coming off of a road loss at Indiana on Thursday night. That said, their loss came after erasing a 16-point first half deficit in a game where Xavier Tillman missed a wide-open layup that would have forced overtime.
BEST BET: I will be staying away from this game.
