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GL!

Four NCAAB bubble teams that need to impress Saturday
By CHASE RUTTIG

March is almost here, which means more games that will have huge impact on the NCAA tournament field as bubble schools continue to look for signature wins to get to March Madness.

Today we look at schools that need to impress and have a quality chance to do so this weekend.

Connecticut Huskies (22-6, 10-5 American, 14-12 ATS)

Opponent: Cincinnati

Looking simply at their total record on the season, you would think the Huskies are a lock for the NCAA tournament. But a lack of elite wins and a fifth-place spot in the American Athletic Conference, after being swept on the season by SMU, has them in need of a big win. Hosting Cincinnati Saturday is perhaps the best chance for UConn to cement its spot in the tournament with a win over a ranked team.

Missouri State Bears (19-10, 9-8 Missouri Valley, 13-10 ATS)

Opponent: Wichita State

Missouri State can make national headlines in a rematch with the undefeated Wichita State Shockers. The 19-10 Bears took the Shockers to overtime in their home meeting, nearly ending WSU’s undefeated run in mid January. Now, on the first day of March, the Bears could end the Shockers streak while earning their 20th win in the process. Would it be enough to qualify for the tournament? You never know.

Xavier Musketeers (19-9, 9-6 Big East, 16-10 ATS)

Opponent: Creighton

The Musketeers have stepped up their play and just scored a big win over St. John's at MSG, where they came in as 6-point underdogs. Xavier already has a quality win over its rivals Cincinnati at home from earlier in the season and if they could beat Creighton at home, they would be able to count on a spot in the tournament regardless of how the rest of their Big East calendar pans out. Stopping Wooden Award favorite Doug McDermott is easier said than done, however.

Utah Utes (18-9, 7-8 Pac 12, 15-6-1 ATS)

Opponent: Colorado

Utah is in a weird place, sitting at 7-8 in the Pac-12. It’s just two games behind a logjam of four schools tied for third in the conference at 9-6. One of those schools is the Utes’ Saturday guests. Colorado makes the trip to Utah, where the Utes are a solid 17-2 on the season. Playing 9-6 teams California and Stanford on the road to close out the Pac-12 season, Utah could start a real climb and land a much more favorable seed in the conference tournament. Beating Colorado is the first step and it would be a serious resume builder. The Buffaloes, at 20-8, have a great chance of making the field.

GOLD SHEET

★★★★★ NBA KEY RELEASES ★★★★★
WASHINGTON by 16 over Philadelphia (Saturday, March 1)
OVER in the Detroit-Houston game (Saturday, March 1)

GOLD SHEET

★★★★★ COLLEGE KEY RELEASES ★★★★★
DREXEL by 10 over Northeastern (Saturday, March 1 Day)
DELAWARE by 9 over Charleston (Saturday, March 1 Day)
SAN DIEGO by 7 over Brigham Young (Sat. March 1 Day)
LONG BEACH ST. by 14 over CS Fullerton (Saturday, March 1)

POINTWISE

NBA BASKETBALL

(7:35) Washington Wizards 101 - PHILADELPHIA 91 _____ _____

(7:35) MIAMI HEAT 113 - Orlando Magic 94 _____ _____

(8:05) HOUSTON ROCKETS 104 - Detroit Pistons 102 _____ _____

(8:05) Indiana Pacers 99 - BOSTON CELTICS 94 _____ _____

(8:35) Brooklyn Nets 104 - MILWAUKEE BUCKS 90 _____ _____

(9:05) Cleveland Cavaliers 98 - MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 97 _____ _____

(10:05) Minnesota Timberwolves 107 - SACRAMENTO 96 _____ _____

(10:05) PORTLAND 122 - Denver Nuggets 111 (NBA) _____ _____

(10;35) LA CLIPPERS 108 - New Orleans 103 _____ _____

BEST BETS
WASHINGTON
BROOKLYN
MINNESOTA (2)

POINTWISE

COLLEGE KEY RELEASES
SN FRANCISCO over Marymount (Sat) RATING: 1
MID TENNESSEE ST over Rice (Sat) RATING: 4
LOUISVILLE over Memphis (Sat) RATING: 5

(11:00) DAYTON 76 - Massachusetts 74 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(12:00) RUTGERS 73 - South Florida 62 (ESPNN) _____ _____

(12:00) CONNECTICUT 79 - Cincinnati 70 (ESPN2) _____ _____

(12:00) NORTH CAROLINA STATE 61- Miami-Florida 54 _____ _____

(12:00) BUFFALO 78 - Miami-Ohio 59 _____ _____

(12:00) TENNESSEE 77 - Vanderbilt 66 (ESPN) _____ _____

(1:00) Drexel 74 - NORTHEASTERN 68 _____ _____

(1:30) WEST VIRGINIA 91 - Tcu 71 _____ _____

(1:45) BAYLOR 83 - Texas Tech 75 _____ _____

(1:45) MISSOURI 70 - Mississippi State 56 _____ _____

(2:00) Louisville 87 - MEMPHIS 74 _____ _____

(2:00) OHIO U 64 - Kent State 63 _____ _____

(2:00) EASTERN MICHIGAN 58 - Northern Illinois 45 _____ _____

(2:00) BALL STATE 86 - Central Michigan 82 _____ _____

(2:00) UTAH 79 - Colorado 64 _____ _____

(2:00) RHODE ISLAND 67 - Richmond 66 _____ _____

(2:00) Wright State 62 - ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 52 _____ _____

(2:00) Delaware 70 - CHARLESTON 69 _____ _____

(2:00) Pittsburgh 78 - NOTRE DAME 65 (ESPN2) _____ _____

(2:00) MICHIGAN STATE 73 - Illinois 66 (ESPN) _____ _____

(2:30) Cleveland State 71 - VALPARAISO 64 _____ _____

(2:30) North Carolina 88 - VIRGINIA TECH 67 _____ _____

(3:00) ST BONAVENTURE 76 - St Josephs 72 (NBCS) _____ _____

(3:00) ALABAMA 72 - Auburn 60 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(4:00) FLORIDA 79 - Lsu 63 (CBS) _____ _____

(4:00) ARKANSAS 74 - Georgia 59 _____ _____

(4:00) Oregon 76 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 63 _____ _____

(6:00) Evansville 60 - LOYOLA-CHICAGO 57 _____ _____

(4:00) Byu 73 - SAN DIEGO 70 _____ _____

(4:00) Unlv 78 - AIR FORCE 77 _____ _____

(4:00) SMU 75 - Central Florida 54 (ESPNN) _____ _____

(4:00) OKLAHOMA 82 - Texas 79 _____ _____

(4:00) TOWSON 76 - William & Mary 71 _____ _____

(4:00) Syracuse 74 - VIRGINIA 68 (ESPN) _____ _____

(4:00) WAKE FOREST 63 - Boston College 62 _____ _____

(5:00) NEBRASKA 68 - Northwestern 50 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(5:00) LA-MONROE 72 - Troy 71 _____ _____

(5:00) FORDHAM 77 - LaSalle 74 (NBCS) _____ _____

(5:00) XAVIER 89 - Creighton 85 (FOX 1) _____ _____

(5:30) Georgia State 63 - TEXAS STATE 58 _____ _____

(6:00) MICHIGAN 72 - Minnesota 55 (BIG10) _____ _____

(6:00) VA COMMONWEALTH 70 - Saint Louis 62 (ESPN2) _____ _____

(6:00) PRINCETON 65 - Brown 63 _____ _____

(6:00) TOLEDO 74 - Western Michigan 69 _____ _____

(6:00) ARIZONA STATE 76 - California 75 _____ _____

(6:00) Kentucky 77 - SOUTH CAROLINA 64 (ESPN) _____ _____

(6:00) PACIFIC 68 - Portland 67 _____ _____

(6:00) WYOMING 60 - Boise State 51 (CBSC) _____ _____

(6:30) MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 82 - Rice 52 _____ _____

(7:00) TEXAS A&M 69 - Mississippi 59 (FSN) _____ _____

(7:00) AKRON 64 - Bowling Green 63 _____ _____

(7:00) YOUNGSTOWN STATE 86 - Oakland 77 _____ _____

(7:00) HARVARD 81 - Columbia 65 _____ _____

(7:00) DARTMOUTH 72 - Cornell 66 _____ _____

(7:00) HOFSTRA 67 - James Madison 60 _____ _____

(7:00) Yale 69 - PENNSYLVANIA 63 _____ _____

(7:00) KANSAS STATE 83 - Iowa State 74 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(7:00) INDIANA STATE 81 - Northern Iowa 71 _____ _____

(8:00) PEPPERDINE 76 - Santa Clara 67 _____ _____

(8:00) Wisconsin-Green Bay 65 - DETROIT 64 _____ _____

(8:00) WICHITA STATE 80 - Missouri State 62 _____ _____

(8:00) SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 69 - Illinois State 53 _____ _____

(8:00) Arkansas State 72 - ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 70 _____ _____

(8:00) Utah State 81 - SAN JOSE STATE 67 _____ _____

(8:00) IOWA 66 - Purdue 51 _____ _____

(8:00) DRAKE 73 - Bradley 64 _____ _____

(8:30) TEXAS-ARLINGTON 71 - Western Kentucky 69 _____ _____

(9:00) OKLAHOMA STATE 76 - Kansas 75 (ESPN) _____ _____

(9:00) TEMPLE 77 - Houston 74 (ESPNU) _____ _____

(10:00) Cal-Santa Barbara 80 - CAL-DAVIS 73 _____ _____

(10:00) Long Beach State 69 - CAL-FULLERTON 60 _____ _____

(10:00) CAL-IRVINE 67 - Cal-Poly Slo 55 _____ _____

(10:00) CAL-RIVERSIDE 84 - Cal-Northridge 76 _____ _____

(10:00) FRESNO STATE 68 - San Diego State 64 (CBSC) _____ _____

(10:00) Gonzaga 75 - SAINT MARYS 70 _____ _____

(10:00) San Francisco 69 - LOYOLA-MARYMOUNT 61 _____ _____

ADDED GAMES

(3:00) NORTH DAKOTA 73 - Eastern Washington 70 _____ _____

(5:00) SOUTH DAKOTA ST 69 - South Dakota 59 (FCS) _____ _____

(7:00) CHATTANOOGA 76 - Appalachian State 68 _____ _____

(7:00) WOFFORD 71 - UNC-Greensboro 61 _____ _____

(7:00) Georgia Southern 64 - THE CITADEL 62 _____ _____

(7:00) EASTERN KENTUCKY 70 - Tennessee State 57 _____ _____

(8:00) NORTH DAKOTA STATE 78 - Denver 71 _____ _____

(9:00) MONTANA 83 - Southern Utah 63 _____ _____

(9:00) NORTHERN COLORADO 71 - Portland State 60 _____ _____

(9:00) WEBER STATE 72 - Northern Arizona 63 _____ _____

BEST BETS
LOUISVILLE (5)
UTAH
WRIGHT STATE
NORTH CAROLINA
ALABAMA
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (4)
TEXAS A&M
BOWLING GREEN
HOFSTRA
KANSAS STATE
LONG BEACH STATE
SAN FRANCISCO (1)

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Saturday's Top 25 NCAAB Cheat Sheet: Early Games

Here's a quick look at the marquee early games on Saturday's NCAA basketball schedule:

**Cincinnati Bearcats at Connecticut Huskies (-5)

Bearcats No. 2 scorer Justin Jackson played only 22 minutes against Louisville after picking up two early fouls. It marked the fourth straight game in which the league’s leading shot blocker was forced to the bench after getting tagged with two first-half fouls. The defeat at Louisville marked the first time in 17 games the Bearcats lost a game in which they yielded fewer than 60 points.

The Huskies have won five of six since losing 63-58 to Cincinnati on Feb. 8. With seven assists in Wednesday’s 61-56 win over South Florida, Shabazz Napier became the fourth player in school history to record at least 600 for his career. Napier leads Connecticut in points (17.8), rebounds (5.9) and assists (5.5) and remains on pace to become the only Husky to ever lead the team in all three categories.

TRENDS
* Bearcats are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a loss.
* Huskies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games.
* Under is 42-11 in Cincinnati's last 53 games.
* Over is 5-0 in Connecticut's last five Saturday's games.

**Missouri State Bears at Wichita State Shockers (-16.5)

The Bears are hoping to be the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, but they'll likely need to beat the Shockers to do so. Missouri State seeks its third straight win - a streak that it hasn't reached since Dec. 21 to Jan. 2 - and hopes to close better than it did in the first meeting between the teams. The Bears led that one by 18 points at halftime but came up short despite Austin Ruder's 17 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting.

Cleanthony Early (15.7 points) is just 4-of-14 over the last two games and has not reached 20 points in any of his last eight contests. On the other hand, Fred VanVleet's last three games have featured an average of 16 points and 5.3 rebounds with 16 assists against only two turnovers. The Shockers have also received a recent lift from reserve forward Darius Carter (37 points on 14-of-19 shooting over his last three games).

TRENDS
* Bears are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
* Shockers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. MVC foes.
* Under is 6-1 in Missouri State's last seven games.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

**Louisville Cardinals at Memphis Tigers (+4.5)

The Cardinals are not only aiming for the top spot in the AAC but a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The defending champs have come on strong over the last month and have won their last seven games by an average of 21.9 points. Things were not quite as smooth in the first meeting with the Tigers, when Louisville squandered a six-point lead late in the second half and shot 39.1 percent in the 73-67 setback.

All five starters reached double figures in the Cardinals' win over Louisville, with Joe Jackson and Shaq Goodwin leading the way at 15 point apiece. Offense is still coming easily to the Tigers but they are struggling to put teams away because of lapses on the defensive end. Memphis’ five previous games had been decided by six points or fewer before Houston hit eight 3-pointers and built up a 29-10 advantage in free-throw attempts in the loss.

TRENDS
* Cardinals are 1-4 ATS in their last five Saturday games.
* Tigers are 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games vs. teams with winning road records.
* Under is 4-0 in Louisville's last four road games.
* Road team is 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.

**North Carolina Tar Heels at Virginia Tech Hokies (+10)

The Tar Heels might do some damage in the postseason if they can start hitting on all cylinders. Guard Leslie McDonald has been a prime example, as he scored a season-high 21 points last week against Duke, followed up with 19 points against Wake Forest but then disappeared in a two-point performance against North Carolina State, less than a month after he scored 20 against the Wolfpack.

Adam Smith, the second-leading scorer for the Hokies, has missed the last 10 games with a left calf injury, third-leading scorer Ben Emelogu has missed the last two with a left ankle injury and key reserve Cadarian Raines sat out Tuesday’s 18-point loss to Duke with an ankle injury. Trevor Thompson, a 6-11 freshman forward, will try to build off his last game, when he matched his season high of 15 points against Duke.

TRENDS
* Tar Heels are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
* Hokies are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a loss.
* Over is 4-1 in North Carolina's last five games.
* Under is 14-2 in Virginia Tech's last 16 games vs. the ACC.

**Texas Longhorns at Oklahoma Sooners (-5)

Longhorn bigs Jonathan Holmes (13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds) and Cameron Ridley (11.2 points, 7.9 rebounds) are both shooting at least 52 percent from the floor. Javan Felix is averaging 17.6 points over his last five games and is shooting 35.4 percent from the 3-point line after hitting 7-of-9 against Baylor. Freshman guard Isaiah Taylor is averaging 17 points, 5.1 assists and four rebounds during his last seven for Texas.

Buddy Hield leads five Sooner starters in double figures with 16.7 points. Cameron Clark, who has scored in double digits in four of the past five games, adds 15.3 points. Jordan Woodard (10.9), Isaiah Cousins (10.4) and Spangler (10.3 points on 59.9 percent shooting and a team-high 9.6 rebounds) round out the balanced scoring. Oklahoma is averaging 82.8 points per game on the season.

TRENDS
* Longhorns are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.
* Sooners are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games following a loss.
* Over is 21-7 in Oklahoma's last 28 home games.
* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

**Louisiana State Tigers at Florida Gators (-13)

The Tigers enter the weekend tied with multiple teams for fourth in the conference, which is the last spot afforded the coveted double-bye in the upcoming SEC tournament. LSU leads the SEC with 76.8 points per game in league play, while Florida is first in scoring defense (58.4). The Tigers enter the weekend tied with multiple teams for fourth in the conference, which is the last spot afforded the coveted double-bye in the upcoming SEC tournament.

The Gators have been consistently challenged of late, as their last three wins have come by an average of four points and they haven't won by more than 10 points in their last seven affairs. Their second-half efforts have saved them from any upset, as Florida has been tied or behind at the half in six straight games, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.3 points beyond the break.

TRENDS
* Tigers are 1-5-2 ATS in their last eight road games.
* Gators are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games following a win.
* Over is 11-2 in LSU's last 13 games.
* Under is 18-7-1 in Florida's last 26 games vs. the SEC.

**Syracuse Orange at Virginia Cavaliers (-4)

Syracuse edged Maryland by two points on Monday as the team's offensive struggles continued. The Orange entered Thursday's action ranked 243rd in the nation in scoring (68.8) and have not surpassed 61 points in any of their last seven games. Tyler Ennis broke out a shooting slump with 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting against Maryland, but backcourt mate Trevor Cooney is shooting just 25 percent from the field over his last four games.

Virginia also is not a dynamic offensive team, averaging 65.9 points to place 294th nationally, but Bennett's team has won its last two games by a combined 46 points. The Cavs have allowed increasingly fewer points in each of their last four games, yielding 58, 53, 49 and then 40 in a 25-point win over Miami (Fla.) on Wednesday. London Perrantes was 5-of-5 from the field against the Hurricanes and has not missed a shot over the last two games.

TRENDS
* Orange are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven road games.
* Cavaliers are 11-1-1 ATS in their last 13 games vs. teams with winning records.
* Under is 13-3-1 in Syracuse's last 17 games following a win.
* Under is 6-2 in Virginia's last eight Saturday games.

**Central Florida Knights at Southern Methodist Mustangs (-15)

The Knights are 2-2 over the last four contests after a nine-game skid and coach Donnie Jones was highly pleased that his squad was able to overcome a 15-point second-half deficit to knock off Rutgers. G Isaiah Sykes averages a team-best 16 points but it was F Tristan Spurlock (11.7) who carried the Knights and tied his career best of 23 points in the win over Rutgers. Central Florida holds a 6-4 series lead.

The Mustangs have won six of their last seven games and have been off since Sunday, when they beat Connecticut for the second time this season. Forward Markus Kennedy had 15 points and eight rebounds when the Mustangs posted a 58-46 road win over Central Florida on Jan. 18 but had failed to score in double digits in three of four games before tallying 13 against Connecticut.

TRENDS
* Knights are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games following an ATS loss.
* Mustangs are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games.
* Over is 7-2 in SMU's last nine Saturday games.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

**Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan State Spartans (-11)

After winning their first two conference games, the Illini lost 10 of their next 11 before the recent hot streak which also includes a 62-49 victory at Minnesota on Feb. 19. Freshman guard Kendrick Nunn (5.7 points per game) has averaged 16 over the last two games and 13 in his last five contests. Junior guard Rayvonte Rice averages a team-best 16 points, but combined to score 16 in the last two games.

The Spartans have played only two of their last 20 games with the best possible starting lineup of senior guard Keith Appling, sophomore guard Gary Harris, senior forward Adreian Payne, sophomore guard Denzel Valentine and Dawson. Appling (13.6 points per game) continues to be bothered by a wrist injury which forced him to miss three games and he scored just nine total points in three contests since his return.

TRENDS
* Fighting Illini are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games.
* Spartans are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games vs. Big Ten teams.
* Under is 5-0 in Illinois' last five games.
* Under is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings.

Saturday's Top 25 NCAAB Cheat Sheet: Late Games

Here's a quick look at the marquee late games on Saturday's NCAA basketball schedule:

**Creighton Bluejays at Xavier Musketeers (+2.5)

Doug McDermott has scored 25 or more points in seven consecutive games and has failed to reach 20 points just once in the last 12 contests. Three-point bomber Ethan Wragge averages 11.3 points per game and has just a pair of two-point baskets all season while knocking down 91 from behind the arc. Guard Jahenns Manigat has made 49 3-pointers this season and is five away from 200 for his career.

Freshman post player Jalen Reynolds showed off his potential with 17 points and 16 rebounds in Tuesday’s 65-53 victory over St. John’s. Reynolds hadn't scored in double digits since late November before the breakout game and his effort was timely as starting center Matt Stainbrook (11.1 points, 8.1) played just 16 minutes before fouling out. Guard Semaj Christon averages a team-best 16.5 points.

TRENDS
* Bluejays are 5-2 ATS in their last seven Saturday games.
* Musketeers are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 home games.
* Over is 7-1 in Xavier's last eight games following an ATS win.
* Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

**Saint Louis Billikens at Virginia Commonwealth Rams (-4.5)

The Billikens saw their 19-game winning streak come to an abrupt end last time out, dropping a 71-64 decision to Duquesne. Dwayne Evans leads the team at 14.2 points per game, while Jordair Jett (13.8) and Rob Loe (10.3) offer solid secondary contributions. Loe also contributes 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals and a team-best 1.3 blocks, but went 0-for-5 from 3-point range in the loss to Duquesne.

The Rams played one of their best games of the season last time out, using a 19-3 run early in the second half en route to an 85-66 triumph over Fordham. Juvonte Reddic paced Virginia Commonwealth with 22 points and 12 rebounds and sits second on the team in scoring (12.8) to Treveon Graham (15.8). Melvin Johnson has been the team's most reliable option from 3-point range (40.4 percent) while contributing 10.6 points.

TRENDS
* Billikens are 0-5 ATS in their last five games.
* Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games.
* Under is 9-1-1 in Saint Louis' last 11 road games vs. teams with winning home records.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.

**Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks (+9)

Backup center Willie Cauley-Stein was the only player to shoot well in the loss to Arkansas, going 8-of-12 from the field while scoring 16 points and matching his career high of 13 rebounds. Forward Julius Randle posted his 15th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 boards but the freshman was just 6-of-15 from the field and missed three of his five free throws.

Guard Brenton Williams has been a bright spot in the dismal season as he scored 26 points in the loss to Auburn to raise his team-best scoring average to 14.7. Williams has missed just four free throws all season and has made 77 3-point baskets while scoring 20 or more points on six occasions. Sindarius Thornwell averages 13.5 points and will be striving to bounce back from scoring just four points on 2-of-13 against Auburn.

TRENDS
* Wildcats are 3-11-2 ATS in their last 16 road games.
* Gamecocks are 6-2-2 ATS in their last 10 home games.
* Under is 5-2 in Kentucky's last seven games.
* Over is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings.

**Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Wolverines (-9)

The Gophers have posted quality home wins over the likes of Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin but could very much use a road win over a ranked opponent to impress the selection committee. Austin Hollins put up a career-high 27 points in the win on Tuesday as Minnesota shot 61.2 percent from the field to post its highest non-overtime point total in a conference game since 1995.

The Wolverines are a game ahead of Michigan State with three left to play and own the head-to-head tiebreaker between the schools. Michigan will play two of its remaining three at home and could use more performances like Wednesday from Robinson, who scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half and overtime and is developing some consistency with three straight games in double figures.

TRENDS
* Golden Gophers are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games.
* Wolverines are 0-5 ATS in their last five games following a win.
* Over is 4-1 in Minnesota's last five games following a victory.
* Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.

**Iowa State Cyclones at Kansas State Wildcats (-1)

The Cyclones average 83.6 points per game and are the only team in the nation to score 70 or more in each game. Forward Melvin Ejim averages 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds while forward Georges Niang (16.8) has scored in double digits in 13 straight games, including a 24-point effort against Texas Tech. DeAndre Kane (16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists) is one of the nation’s best all-around point guards.

The Wildcats have relied on defense all season – they allow 63.8 points per game – and have limited 14 opponents to 60 or fewer points. Freshman guard Marcus Foster (team-best 15.3 average, 42 percent shooting) has overcome early-season shooting struggles to average 20.9 points and shoot 50 percent from the field over his last seven games. Big man Thomas Gipson adds 11.7 points and 6.2 rebounds.

TRENDS
* Cyclones are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games vs. Big 12 foes.
* Wildcats are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
* Over is 14-6 in Iowa State's last 20 Saturday games.
* Over is 16-5 in Kansas State's last 21 home games.

**Kansas Jayhawks at Oklahoma State Cowboys (pick'em)

With a share of its tenth straight Big 12 championship locked up, No. 6 Kansas can focus on finishing the regular season in strong fashion beginning Saturday at Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks have won six of nine Big 12 tournament titles during the streak. Freshmen Andrew Wiggins (16.3), Joel Embiid (11.1 and 7.9 rebounds) and Wayne Selden, Jr. (10.3) lead this year's edition.

Cowboys guard Marcus Smart had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in his second game since returning from a three-game suspension for shoving a fan. Smart missed his first five shots and was 1-of-12 at one point before finishing 6-of-17 in a 76-54 victory over Texas Christian. Oklahoma State trails the series 107-54, including losses in the last two games in Stillwater.

TRENDS
* Jayhawks are 19-6-1 ATS in their last 26 games vs. Big 12 opponents.
* Cowboys are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
* Over is 8-2 in Kansas' last 10 games following a victory.
* Road team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.

**San Diego State Aztecs at Fresno State Bulldogs (+5.5)

Xavier Thames scored 28 points in a 68-60 win over Fresno State on Jan. 15 after the Aztecs trailed by as many as eight in the first half. The Aztecs’ dynamic front line is led by forwards Winston Shepard (averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds) and Josh Davis (team-high 10.2 rebounds), who has at least 10 boards in 14 of his last 20 games. Forward Dwayne Polee II is averaging 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over his last five games.

The Bulldogs suffer from a lack of true post players, but their backcourt of Cezar Guerrero, Marvelle Harris and Tyler Johnson has led the team’s resurgence following a 1-7 start in league play. Harris was 9-of-11 shooting for 26 points against Boise State, and Johnson is averaging a team-high 16.5 points along with 7.5 rebounds. Johnson had 24 points and 11 boards last month against San Diego State.

TRENDS
* Bulldogs are 9-0 ATS in their last nine games.
* Under is 8-2 in Aztecs' last 10 games following an ATS win.
* Over is 5-1 in Fresno State's last six games.
* San Diego State is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings.

No. 7 Louisville visits No. 21 Memphis on Saturday
by Brian Graham

FedEx Forum - Memphis, TN
Tip-off: Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET
Line: Louisville -4½

No. 7 Louisville looks for its eighth straight win on Saturday as it looks to avoid being swept by a hungry No. 21 Memphis squad.

While the Cardinals are riding high after finishing February with a perfect 7-0 SU record (3-3-1 ATS), the Tigers are still licking their wounds after a 77-68 defeat at 7-point underdog Houston on Thursday night, marking their third straight ATS defeat and third SU loss this month. Louisville is 13-12-1 ATS overall this season, including 7-7-1 ATS in conference play and 5-3-1 ATS on the road, while Memphis is slightly better at 14-11 ATS overall, 8-7 ATS versus American Athletic Conference teams, and 5-7 ATS at home. The Cardinals have had the upper hand in this series since 1999, going 9-5 SU, but the Tigers are 8-2-1 ATS in the past 11 meetings, including a 73-67 upset in Louisville as double-digit underdogs on Jan. 9. All five Memphis starters scored in double-figures in that win, as the club outshot the Cardinals 51% FG to 39% FG.

Louisville doesn't have a glaring weakness, as the team ranks 12th in the nation in scoring (82.3 PPG) on an impressive 48.0% FG (24th in Div. I). The Cardinals also dish out 15.5 APG (28th in nation) while grabbing 37.8 RPG (48th in Div. I). And they also know how to defend, allowing a mere 61.6 PPG (20th in nation) thanks to a whopping 9.7 SPG (2nd in Div. I) and strong 4.9 BPG (45th in nation). Senior SG Russ Smith (17.7 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.9 SPG) continues to do everything for this team, and makes 46% of his shots, including 38% from three-point range. Smith also stuffed the stat sheet in the Jan. 9 loss to Memphis with 19 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, but he also had a five costly turnovers in that defeat. PF Montrezl Harrell (13.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG) also played well in that loss with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and has scored 21 points in back-to-back games. But the leading scorer for Louisville in the first meeting with Memphis was SF Luke Hancock (11.7 PPG) who came off the bench to score a game-high 20 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Hancock needs to get his stroke back though, as he has averaged only 5.5 PPG on 3-of-12 FG in the past two games. The Cardinals would also like to see more out of talented PG Chris Jones (10.1 PPG, 3.2 APG), who has just 5.7 PPG on 5-of-18 FG in the past three games, and was 1-for-9 from the floor in the Jan. 9 loss to the Tigers.

Memphis also has a potent offense, as it scores 78.8 PPG (30th in nation) on 48.6% FG (18th in Div. I) with a whopping 17.8 APG (3rd in nation). The Tigers also rebound well (38.1 RPG, 40th in Div. I), and are very active on defense, as evidenced by 8.8 SPG (8th in nation) and 4.9 BPG (51st in Div. I). However, they still allow 70.0 PPG (176th in nation) with three of their past four opponents topping 75 points. PG Joe Jackson (14.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, 3.6 RPG) is the leader of this team, but shoots a woeful 27% from three-point range. He played very well at Louisville on Jan. 9, netting 15 points (7-of-16 FG) with six assists and two steals. PF Shaq Goodwin (12.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG) also made his presence felt in that win with 15 points (6-of-10 FG), eight boards and two steals. Goodwin has also played very well recently with 18.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 2.0 BPG in his past two games. SG Michael Dixon Jr. (11.8 PPG, 2.5 APG) is the only other double-digit scorer on the Memphis roster. He has scored in double-figures in nine straight games, including 19 points and four assists in Thursday's loss at Houston.

Oklahoma St. hosts surging No. 5 Kansas Saturday
by Mark Kern

Gallagher-Iba Arena - Stillwater, OK
Tip-off: Saturday, 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Kansas pk

No. 5 Kansas has a chance to clinch the Big 12 outright on Saturday night if it is able to complete the season sweep against an Oklahoma State team that is getting things to back to normal with Marcus Smart back on the team.

The Cowboys were thought to be the top team that could end the Jayhawks nine-year run at the top of the Big 12, but have had a lot of distractions off the court. From Michael Cobbins getting injured to Stevie Clark getting kicked off the team and the recent Marcus Smart suspension, it has been a tough season for Oklahoma State, which is 10-14 ATS overall, including 5-10 ATS in conference play. However the Cowboys are 11-3 SU at home where they carry a profitable 6-4 ATS mark thanks to a lopsided +22.2 PPG margin over visiting schools. Kansas (14-13-1 ATS overall) has won four in a row (2-2 ATS) to clinch at least a share of its 10th straight conference title. The club is 13-2 SU (9-5-1 ATS) in Big 12 play, but is just 4-5 ATS in true road games. These two teams played in Lawrence on Jan. 18, with the 5-point favorite Jayhawks hanging on for the 80-78 victory. In that game, KU built a 17-point lead at the half, only to see OSU cut it to one-point with 7.4 seconds left. The Jayhawks shot 56% from the field, while holding the Cowboys to just 39% FG. However, Oklahoma State was able to stay close by hitting 12-of-28 threes. PG Naadir Tharpe had a big game for the Jayhawks, finishing with 21 points and six assists. Kansas is a dominant 10-3 SU (but only 6-7 ATS) in this series since 2006, including a thrilling 68-67 win in Stillwater last season thanks to Tharpe's game-winning jumper with 16.5 seconds left in the second overtime.

Kansas is one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking 4th in shooting (50.1% FG), while also scoring 79.8 PPG (23rd in the nation). A large reason of the efficient offense is the Jayhawks' ability to share the ball and get the easiest shot, ranking 22nd in the country with 15.8 APG. In the win against the Cowboys, C Joel Embiid (11.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG) was absolutely dominant. The freshman center had nearly had a triple-double in that game, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. He did a terrific job of affecting the Cowboys' ability to attack the rim, making things very difficult for the athletic Oklahoma State guards to score in the paint. Coming into the season, freshman SG Andrew Wiggins (16.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG) was getting all the talk as the next star in basketball, and rightfully so. Wiggins has been on a tear as of late, averaging 18.0 PPG in the past four games. While he is a very talented offensive player, it is on the defensive end that makes Wiggins truly special. He has the ability to guard the 1-4 positions, and will be a big part of the Jayhawks defensive game plan against Marcus Smart. Another freshman, SG Wayne Selden Jr. (10.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.7 APG) has continued to emerge as a talented offensive player, with the ability to score both off the bounce and the spot up three-point shot. The Jayhawks have already clinched a share of the Big 12, so it will be interesting how focused this team is against an Oklahoma State team that appears to be getting back on the right track.

The OSU offense has been consistent for most of the season, averaging 81.1 PPG (16th in Div. I) and shooting 47.0% from the field (52nd in nation). Kansas will have a big advantage in size, and will make it difficult for the Cowboys (36.3 RPG, 99th in Div. I) to battle on the boards. PG Marcus Smart (17.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.6 APG) has been back for two games for Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys have won both of those games by 22 points. He has come back as a player that is focused on taking his team deep into the tournament, and has dominated all over the court. Besides the scoring (16.5 PPG), he has averaged 8.5 APG and 5.5 SPG in those two games. Not only is Smart playing well, but his return has inspired his teammates to start playing better. SG Markel Brown (16.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG), SF LeBryan Nash (14.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG) and SG Phil Forte (13.3 PPG, 46% threes) all are guys that are capable of having big games, and thrive with the talents of Smart. Forte, a former high school teammate of Smart, is a lethal when he spots up for the three-pointer; and the continuity these two have developed through the years makes them difficult to stop. Nash is the guy that can take this team to the next level. He is such a talented athlete that can be a nightmare for opposing forwards to guard, but he is too inconsistent. In the game in Lawrence, he scored the first four points for the Cowboys, but then picked up two fouls and could never get things back on track. This was recognized as one of the biggest games in the season, and while it has lost some of its luster, an Oklahoma State win would have the Cowboys rolling as the tournament rolls around.

NCAA Basketball Betting: Handicapping Saturday’s College Schedule
by Robert Ferringo

Conference championships, undefeated seasons, and critical league and NCAA Tournament positioning is on the line this weekend as we head for the biggest day on the weekly college basketball docket.

There is a host of big games on the schedule for Saturday. Wichita State’s is attempting a perfect regular season. Louisville heads to Memphis and Texas travels to Oklahoma in two games featuring Top 25 opponents and regional rivals. And perhaps the biggest game on Saturday’s card is the de facto ACC title game between Syracuse and Virginia.

But I’m digging a little deeper here. Below is a look at five games that aren’t going to be on the radars of casual fans. But each of these contests will play an important role in sorting out conference tournament seeding as well as the NCAA Tournament field.

(The spreads are my own projections)

Massachusetts (+2.5) at Dayton (11 a.m.)
This is a big game for both teams. Neither is a lock for the NCAA Tournament, and both are scrapping for favorable position in the Atlantic 10 tourney. The top four seeds in the conference get a critical bye, and right now there are seven teams battling for those four slots.

The Minutemen have been one of the streakiest teams in college basketball this year. And right now they are hot, winning three straight and five of six. They won at George Washington on Feb. 15, and senior Chaz Williams and Co. want to keep their momentum going.

The Flyers are coming off a blowout loss at St. Joseph’s, but prior to that they had been riding a six-game winning streak of their own. Dayton is one of the toughest venues in the league to get a win. And the home team has won five of six in this series. The favorite is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings, but Massachusetts is 7-3 ATS when these two play.

Colorado (+6) at Utah (2 p.m.)
This is another game featuring two teams battling for some of the last at-large berths available for the NCAA Tournament. Colorado was a lock to go dancing two months ago. But a late slide, corresponding with the injury to leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie, has them feeling a bit nervous.

Utah is nothing but confident. They are an amazing 17-2 straight up at home this year, including wins over Arizona State and UCLA in league play. Utah has been explosive offensively, and forward Jordan Loveridge is one of the most unheralded players in the country.

Colorado has been efficient. They win at home, and they have beaten the teams they are supposed to beat. But they were blown out by 27 points by Arizona last Sunday, and that loss could linger. Utah has revenge in this game for an overtime loss at Boulder back on Feb. 1, but the Buffs have won seven of the last eight meetings, and the underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last seven.

California (+5.5) at Arizona State (6 p.m.)
It seems like everyone is on the bubble in the Pac-12! And these two are no exception. But they come into this game on opposite ends of a momentum spectrum. Arizona State just earned one of its most important wins of the season, downing Stanford 76-64. Cal was torched by Arizona, 87-59, and that is now two of three blowout losses for the Bears.

This is another rematch of an overtime game from the first meeting. Arizona State outscored Cal 17-6 in overtime back on Jan. 29 for an 89-78 win in a game where the Golden Bears blew a six-point lead with just 26 seconds left. This one will also feature a matchup of two of the best point guards in the country, with Cal’s Justin Cobbs facing Arizona State’s Jahii Carson.

The road team is an exceptional 17-6 ATS in the last 23 meetings between these two teams, and Arizona State is 3-1 ATS in the last four. Cal’s Jordan Matthews is questionable with an ankle injury in this one for Cal, which has gone 1-4 ATS in its last five road games.

Columbia (+8.5) at Harvard (6:30 p.m.)
It is Senior Night at Harvard, and this is a big one for the Crimson. They needed overtime to take down Columbia in New York on Feb. 14, and the Lions are very capable of pulling the upset here. Columbia is the third-place team in the Ivy League and very capable of springing the upset. Two of the last four meetings have gone to overtime, and three of the last five have been determined by five points or less.

Harvard has just a one-game lead for the Ivy League title over Yale. Harvard and Yale will square off in what is essentially the Ivy League championship game next Friday in Connecticut. Are the Crimson looking past Columbia to next week’s showdown? We’ll see.

Gonzaga (Pk) at St. Mary’s (10 p.m.)
This is one of the games I focused on when discussing the importance and difficulty of handicapping Senior Night. And this has also been one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball over the past decade.

Gonzaga just wrapped up the outright regular season title in the West Coast Conference with an easy 70-53 win over Pacific on Thursday. It was one of their best performances of the season and came at a time when the Bulldogs had really played their way onto the NCAA Tournament bubble.

This will be a hyper-emotional game for the Gaels. Not only are they at home against their hated rivals, but also this is a revenge game for a 22-point bludgeoning that they took back on Jan. 2. It is also Senior Night for their three senior starters. St. Mary’s is not a team on the bubble, and they need to win the WCC Tournament in order to get a bid to the NCAA Tournament. They have an outside shot at earning the No. 2 seed – and a double-bye into the semifinals – if they can win this game and get a lot of help.

Cappers Access

Dayton -2.5
Syracuse +4
Kentucky -8.5

Gamblers Data

Bonus Plays Saturday

Wizards -11

Heat -14

Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports

Bonus Play 13-5 RUN Sat: Fresno ST + 4

College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic

North Carolina at Virginia Tech

The Heels (21-7, 16-12 ATS) nipping bitter in-state rival N.C. State 85-84 in OT have reeled off ten straight wins with a profitable 9-1 mark at the betting window. Heels take on a pretty awful VTech team (9-18, 10-12 ATS) Saturday. The Hokies are averaging a lowly 65.2 points/contest while surrendering 67.9 PPG and have lost 13-of-15 (6-9 ATS) conference games. Heels netting 77.2 points/game behind four players dropping double digits should overwhelm the host. Consider Heels as they're 6-0 ATS vs offensively challenged teams scoring =<70 points, 18-6 ATS in February games, VTech is 1-6 ATS allowing =>70 points/contest.

Syracuse at Virginia

Orange have had a rough three games losing back-2-backs to Eagles, Blue Devils then barely beating Terps last time out. The 0-2-1 ATS stretch has Orange 2-5-1 ATS last eight vs the conference. Won't get easier Saturday when they take on Cavaliers and it's top-ranked defense (54.7) and money-grabbing 9-2-1 ATS mark within the conference when holding opponents to 60 or less points.

NCAAB

Saturday, March 1

Cincinnati (-5) beat UConn 63-58 at home Feb 6, after trailing by 10 in first half; Bearcats won three of last four series games, losing by 7 in OT in last visit here LY. AAC home favorites of 5 or less points are 8-6 vs spread. Cincy split last four games, is 4-6-1 vs spread in last 11 games, 2-1 as road underdogs. Huskies won five of last six games, are 3-1-1 as a home favorite. Napier was just 2-12 from arc in first meeting.

Memphis shot 54.5% inside arc, upset Louisville 73-67 (+10) at KFC Yum Center Jan 9; snapping a 4-game series skid. Cardinals won by 9-9 points in last two visits here. AAC home underdogs of 7 or less points are 3-7 vs spread. Memphis is just 4-3 in last seven games after getting upset at Houston, but they've won last five at home. Louisville won its last seven games, covering five of their last six.

Colorado outscored Utah 23-10 on foul line, edged Utes 79-75 (-3) at home Feb 1, in game they trailed by 12 early in second half. Buffs won five of six vs Utes in Pac-12 play, losing 58-55 here LY. Pac-12 home favorites of 6+ points are 22-18 vs spread. Colorado lost four of its last five road games, with all four losses by 12+ points- they're 1-2 as road dogs. Utah won six of last seven at home, is 4-1 as a home favorite.

Cleveland State (-5.5) beat Valparaiso 69-50 Jan 25, ending 4-game skid in series; Vikings lost last four visits here, by 7-6-6-24 points. Horizon home favorites of 5 or less points are 4-17 vs spread. Cleveland State is 9-1 in last ten games overall, covering last six road games; they're 3-1 as road underdogs. Valpo won eight of last 11 games, is 2-4 as favorite at home- they covered one of last five, losing last three as a favorite.

Oklahoma (+6.5) won 88-85 at Texas Jan 4, just its second series win in last nine tries; Sooners were 13-28 from arc in game they trailed by 7 in last 7:55. Texas is 4-3 in last seven visits to Norman, losing by 6 here in LY's visit. Big X home favorites of 5 or less points are 11-6 vs spread. Oklahoma is 3-4 in last seven games but won six of last seven at home. Texas lost its last three road games, by 17-9-31 points.

Western Michigan (+3) ran out to 36-14 lead, beat Toledo 87-76 Jan 8 at home, its 5th win in last six series games. Broncos shot 69.7% inside arc; they've won last eight games overall, covering last five, but needed OT to win at lowly Ball State last game. Toledo split its last four games, is 2-9 vs spread in last 11; they're 7-0 at home in MAC, 2-9 vs spread in last 11 games overall. MAC home favorites of 6 or less points are 15-17.

Syracuse lost two of last three games after starting season 25-0; they've scored 61 or less points in last seven games- seven of its last eight games were decided by 6 or less points. Virginia won its last 12 games, is 13-3 vs spread in ACC play, 6-2 as home favorites. Orange are 5-1-1 against spread on road, 1-0-1 as underdogs. ACC home favorites of less than 5 points are 13-11. Virginia held last six opponents to 58 or less points.

Creighton (-8) beat Xavier 95-89 at home Jan 12, making 14-28 from arc while Musketeers were 12-26 in game they led by 13 early on. Bluejays won last four games, are 2-5 vs spread in last seven; they're 3-3 as road favorites- four of their five road wins are by 13+ points. Big East home teams are 14-12 vs spread in games where spread was 4 or less points. Xavier covered once in its last five games as an underdog.

Michigan (+2) won 63-60 at Minnesota Jan 2; they've won five in row, nine of last ten games with Gophers, winning three of last four at home, with wins by 12-28-5 points. Wolverines won three of last four games, are 5-2 as homwe favorites- all six of their home wins are by 8+ points. Big Dozen home favorites of 8+ points are 8-12 vs spread. Minnesota is 1-4 as road dog, 2-5 in games decided by 6 or less points, or in OT.

Saint Louis (-4) nipped VCU 64-62 at home Jan 15, holding on to win a gane they led by 12 with 9:59 left; Rams were just 2-16 from arc. A-13 home favorites of less than 5 points are 13-10 vs spread. Billikens lost last game as 15-point favorite to Duquesne, ending 19-game win streak; they're 0-5 vs spread last five games. VCU is 2-3 in last five games, 3-3 as home favorite, with last three home wins by 11-16-17 points.

Iowa State (-8) beat Kansas State 81-75 at home Jan 25, making 9-18 on arc; they're 4-1 in last five series games. Cyclones won last four games, are 3-4 on Big X road, 1-1 as road dogs. K-State is 7-0 at home in league, 5-2 vs spread; they've won four of last six games overall. Cyclones split last four visits here, losing by 9 LY. Big X home teams are 4-6 vs spread in games where spread was 3 or less points.

Kansas (-5.5) beat Oklahoma State 80-78 Jan 18, after leading by 19 in first half; Jayhawks won last four games, are 5-2 on Big X road, but 1-3 vs spread in last four games as road favorite. Kansas won last two trips to Stillwater by 1-12 points. Big X home underdogs of 5 or less points are 8-4-1 vs spread. Cowboys are 2-0 since Smart returned, with both wins by 22 points; they've lost three of last four home games.

Fresno State was outscored 26-11 on foul line in 68-60 (+14) loss Jan 15 at San Diego State; they're 0-3 vs Aztecs in Mountain West play, losing by 3-22-8 points, but won seven of last eight games overall, covering all eight- they're 2-2 as home underdogs. MW home underdogs of 6 or less points are 7-10 vs spread. Aztecs lost last two road games; three of their five road wins are by 7 or less points (3-2 as road favorites).

StatFox Super Situations - FoxSheets

CBB MIAMI OHIO at BUFFALO
Play On - Underdogs of 10 or more points (MIAMI OHIO) revenging a same season loss vs opponent against opponent off an upset win as a road underdog
46-18 over the last 5 seasons. ( 71.9% 26.2 units )
5-4 this year. ( 55.6% 0.6 units )

CBB BELMONT at JACKSONVILLE ST
Play On - Road favorites of -165 to -500 vs. the money line (BELMONT) poor defensive team - shooting pct defense of >=45% on the season
158-41 over the last 5 seasons. ( 79.4% 63.9 units )
42-14 this year. ( 75.0% 11.4 units )

CBB TENNESSEE ST at E KENTUCKY
Play Against - Home favorites of 6 to 11 points vs. the first half line (E KENTUCKY) good 3PT shooting team (>=36.5%) against a poor 3PT shooting team (<=32%) after 15+ games, after 2 straight games making 50% of their shots or better
41-15 since 1997. ( 73.2% 24.5 units )
1-0 this year. ( 100.0% 1.0 units )

Handicapping the tightest conferences races
by Chase Ruttig

With the regular season coming to an end in college basketball, several conferences have title races coming down to the wires. From crucial No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchups to spoilers looking to ruin a school's chance at clinching the regular season title, we take a look at the conference title races that over the best value for bettors this weekend.

American Athletic Conference

Cincinnati at UConn (-4.5) (Saturday)
Louisville at Memphis (+4.5) (Saturday)

Both sitting atop the American at 13-2, Cincinnati and Louisville will both have to navigate through tough road matchups on Saturday should they continue to lead the conference. Cincinnati travels to UConn to play the Huskies and star point guard Shabazz Napier while Louisville will have to travel to play No. 22 Memphis in what will be an equally tough road trip for the Cardinals. If one of the two lose it will likely decide the first ever American regular season title.

ACC

Syracuse at Virginia (-3.5) (Saturday)

At 15-1, Virginia sneakily rode the wave to a potential ACC regular season title as the Cavaliers have outlasted favorites Duke and Syracuse so far to hold sole possession of first place. They will need one difficult win over Syracuse at home if they want to ensure that the 13-2 Orangemen don't backdoor their way into a share of the regular season championship in their only meeting of the season.

Big East

Creighton at Xavier (+3) (Saturday)
Marquette at Villanova (Sunday)

The Big East title looks like it could come down to a result of two conference newcomers and a historic Big East rivalry between Marquette and Villanova as Creighton and Villanova are tied at 13-2 heading into the weekend. Both play teams that are tied for third at 9-6 with Creighton heading out onto the road. With three games apiece left before the end of the regular season, Villanova will be trying to defend the tradition of the conference while the Jays look to start a new era in the Big East with a regular season title in their inaugural season.

Big Ten

Minnesota at Michigan (-9) (Saturday)
Illinois at Michigan State (-11) (Saturday)

Michigan's season sweep over their in-state rivals Michigan State gave them outright possession of first place last weekend, but as evidenced by their OT thriller in Purdue where the Wolverines were down by 19 points at one point before a buzzer beater gave them a win, nothing is going to come easy. The Wolverines will need a big win over Minnesota - who just scored a huge upset win over Iowa - to continue their quest for an outright Big Ten title. Meanwhile in East Lansing, the Spartans will need to hold off an Illinois team that has won two straight if they want to keep pace and make the Big Ten title race interesting heading into the final two regular season games.

Road team smart bet ATS between Wizards and 76ers

In the past six meetings between the Washington Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers, the road team has covered the spread every time.

Between the Wizards' stellar road record against the spread - 21-8 - and the 76ers' abysmal home ATS record - 8-22 - that trend looks like it could continue Saturday.

The visiting Wizards open as 10.5 point favorites against the 76ers Saturday.