COLLEGE BASKETBALL
APPALACHIAN STATE @ OHIO (OH -5, 143.5)
OHIO TEAM TOTAL UNDER 75.5
It's the Sun Belt-MAC Challenge. This is the type of game that Ohio hates. The Bobcats like to play fast. They average 80.5 ppg, but App State prefers a slow-paced game where its defense sets the tone. App State ranks 349th in possessions per game and 344th in average offensive possession length. The result is a defense that is 14th in the nation in scoring defense (63.3 ppg).
In the MAC, Kent State plays a similar style of basketball. Ohio beat the Golden Flashes 61-59 earlier this season. I see a similar type of game today though maybe not as low scoring. I like Appalachian State's defense to keep Ohio Under 75.5 points.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
PROVIDENCE @ BUTLER (BUT -3.5, 145)
BUTLER ML
These are two Big East teams that are really struggling this season. Butler has just three conference wins and they are all against the two worst teams in the Big East - Seton Hall and DePaul.
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home today, I do like Butler to get some revenge against the Friars. Butler lost at Providence on Jan. 8 by a score of 84-65. In its last five conference road games, the Friars are just 1-4 SU and the win was against Seton Hall.
Butler is coming off a 30-point win though that victory was also against Seton Hall which is just 1-11 in Big East play. However, I think the momentum from that win can help Butler get another at home today.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
ILLINOIS @ MINNESOTA (ILL -6.5 145.5)
DAWSON GARCIA OVER 21.5 POINTS
The best player in the country you haven't heard of is Minnesota's Dawson Garcia. He's the Big Ten's leading scorer and Illinois is going to have a tough time defending him tonight. Garcia is big. He's 6-11, but he can drive to the bucket or step back and shoot threes.
Illinois plays a lot of drop coverage and Garcia has torched that type of defense this season. He had 28 against Washington and 27 against Michigan, two teams that rely a lot on drop coverage. Garcia's points prop is set at 21.5 and he's cleared it in 2 of his last 4 games. I like him to go Over tonight against Illinois' defense.
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