College Basketball Gambling Primer Presented By PointsBet: January 18, Let's Get Rich Out West

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YTD: 75-76-5 (I'm so sick of being .500. We need, nay, we deserve a winning streak)

Picks

Virginia Tech -4

Maryland -5

Missouri +6

Over 137.5 Kentucky/Arkansas 

Stanford +1.5

Louisville +7

Wichita State -3

Arizona -6

I don't care. I'm saying it now. Virginia Tech is the 4th best team in the ACC. That's not saying much, but I'm saying it now. They won by 4 at Syracuse already this year and now they get them back in Blacksburg and you're giving me the same spread? I trust Virginia Tech and Mike Young figuring out an offense against the zone. We'll take the Hokies. 

Pick: Virginia Tech -4

Hear me out here. I have zero faith in Mark Tugeron. I mean absolutely zero faith. I LOVE Maryland here. Two losses in a row? Purdue coming off the ass kicking of Michigan State? This is a perfect spot for Maryland. I actually think they have the bodies to toss on Purdue's bigs. It's purely a spot play here. 

Pick: Maryland -5

Spot play. Spot play. Spot play. Alabama is coming off of the upset at home over rival Auburn. Missouri looks like a real average team. That's all I have to say about this. 

Pick: Missouri +6

Both teams are actually solid defensively. I know Kentucky gave up 50+ in the 2nd half to South Carolina and will have defense drilled in by Calipari, but there's a mismatch at the 4 spot. Sestina/Montgomery can't guard anyone. Arkansas doesn't have a great matchup for Richards. The more I look at this, the more I think 140 is realistic. 

Play: Over 137.5

Fuck it, we're riding the Cardinal in LA as a dog. We took them +1 at UCLA in a line that made no sense and this one is just as confusing. There's a real chance Stanford wins the Pac-12. there's a real chance they are the 2nd best team behind Oregon. I'll take the points. 

Pick: Stanford +1.5

I'm actually intrigued by this matchup because each team has a glaring one. Louisville's PG struggles are well documented and Tre Jones is one of the best on ball defenders in the country. Duke struggles with ball screen defense and Jordan Nwora can get a look of looks against Duke 4's. I'll take the 7 here since this feel a lot more like a 3/4 point game. 

Pick: Louisville +7

We're all about spot plays here. Wichita is coming off the loss at Temple and get to come home. Houston has been hot as of late and this is a big time game in the race for the AAC title game. Again, spot play. Spot play. Spot play. 

Pick: Wichita State -3 

Both teams are on a 36-hour turnaround. The difference is Arizona has been home for all of that and it's really goddamn hard to win on the road. Colorado has to turn around and face a McKale Center crowd that knows this game matters in the Pac-12 title race? Yeah, give me the home team. 

Pick: Arizona -6