4 greatest bets for Sunday’s slate
The place have you ever gone, Mike Anderson?
St. John’s (-3.5) over Kansas
This line surprises nobody who has watched these two groups over the previous month.
Effort and cohesion have to be favored over unrealized potential.
Whereas the Purple Storm have received 20 of their previous 21 video games — led by Zuby Ejiofor, who averaged 5.2 minutes in his lone season in Lawrence — the Jayhawks misplaced 5 of their previous 10 video games by double digits earlier than their slim escape towards Cal Baptist within the first spherical. Darryn Peterson’s teammates nonetheless look uncertain the way to play alongside the Kansas star.
The group really has a greater report with out him, and the potential No. 1 choose may submarine Kansas’ season if he tries to play hero ball towards Rick Pitino’s smothering protection.
Peterson is taking pictures underneath 38 p.c from the sphere in his previous eight video games. The Johnnies have coated almost 65 p.c of their video games this season as a favourite (18-10-1).
Iowa (+10.5) over Florida
The Hawkeyes have gone 1-7 towards prime 4 seeds on this event, however 5 of these losses got here by single digits, together with a three-point loss to No. 1 Michigan earlier this month.
The Gators have the benefit over virtually any frontline within the nation, however the Hawkeyes have held their very own on the glass in battles with a number of the prime rebounding groups within the nation, and should have the very best participant on the courtroom in soon-to-be-first-round choose Bennett Stirtz, a senior guard whose uncanny decision-making maximizes Iowa’s slow-paced assault.
The Gators will advance, however the Hawkeyes ought to cling round, fortunately buying and selling 3s for 2s.
Arizona (-11.5) over Utah State
The Aggies don’t have the horses, and have such little margin for error, bringing simply two double-digit scorers to face one of many nation’s prime defenses.
Arizona’s (33-2) expertise and depth are unmatched — Massive 12 Participant of the Yr Jaden Bradley scored simply seven factors within the first-round blowout of LIU — ensuing within the third-best scoring margin (17.8) within the nation.
Betting on Faculty Basketball?
Utah State’s season-long wrestle towards up-tempo groups — together with a complete of three double-digit losses towards the likes of South Florida and UNLV — spells bother towards an offense that ranks within the prime 10 in fast-break factors.
Alabama (+1.5) over Texas Tech
The Tide ought to by no means be an underdog in a 3-point contest. Although Alabama — which has reached the second week of the event in 4 of Nate Oats’ first 5 years — remains to be adjusting to the absence of Aden Holloway, Texas Tech’s lack of All-American JT Toppin issues way more, contributing to the group’s 1-3 report in its previous 4 video games.
With out Toppin, the Tide not solely have the very best participant on the ground in Labaron Philon Jr. — who had 29 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists towards Hofstra — but in addition the sting on the inside.
This season: 7-11
2011-25 report: 403-371-12
Why Belief New York Submit Betting
Howie Kussoy has lengthy been the New York Submit’s primary handicapper in faculty basketball (since 2011) and faculty soccer (since 2013).
