Do you have an ongoing gambling addiction? Do you break things after a backdoor cover goes against you? Do you become slightly aroused when it does go your way? Of course you do, and we already have so much in common. Crash the Board is a daily preview of the college basketball betting slate with a payday bet in each article.
Welcome back to Crash the Board, our daily look at the day’s biggest games from a college basketball betting perspective.
Illinois @ #9 Penn State
Spread: Penn State -6.5
Over/Under: 140.5
Time: 5:30 CST
TV: FS1
The absolute disrespect of Penn State basketball knows no bounds. The Nittany Lions proved doubters wrong all season long, standing with a 15-8-2 record against the spread. You wanna know the last time Penn State lost against the spread? January 15. That’s more than a month ago as the Nittany Lions are 7-0-1 against the spread since then.
You think an Ayo Dosunmu-less Illinois team walks into the Bryce Jordan Center expecting to leave with a cover? He’s actually a game-time decision, but I’m guessing he sits out. Illinois lost four in a row, and Penn State is on an eight-game winning streak. Penn State covered the last seven times these two teams played each other. All signs point to the Nittany Lions, and that’s where my money is headed.
Northwestern @ #7 Maryland
Spread: Maryland -13.5
Over/Under: 129.5
Time: 7:00 CST
TV: BTN
The 20-game Big Ten season is an absolute grind unless of course you’re playing Nebraska or Northwestern. Maryland just keeps chuggin’ along winning games with an impressive late-game comeback over Michigan State on Saturday night. With a home matchup with the Wildcats sandwiched between road games against Michigan State and Ohio State, sure lines up for a letdown spot, doesn’t it?
Absolutely not because Northwestern just is that bad with their lone conference win coming at home against Nebraska. The Wildcats are 1-8 straight up on the road this season, and the Terps won’t be taking them lightly as Northwestern had a 15-point lead over Maryland earlier this season before coming back for a double-digit win.
#15 Creighton @ #19 Marquette
Spread: Marquette -3
Over/Under: 156
Time: 7:30 CST
TV: FS1
Two ranked teams battlin’ it out in conference in February? Sure, I’ll make that a part of my Tuesday night plans. Both are doin’ one hell of a job covering spreads. Marquette covered in 7 of its last 8, and Creighton covered in 6 of 7. Say it with me, folks. SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
Both teams are fairly consistently hitting the over the past month or two. Seems like two evenly-matched teams, but if you’re handing me 3 points, I might have to invest in Creighton, which is 6-5 straight up this season as underdogs.
#1 Baylor @ Oklahoma
Spread: Baylor -3.5
Over/Under: 133.5
Time: 8:00 CST
TV: ESPN2
You’ll hear it on every single sports talk show that gives 5 minutes of a 3-hour show to college basketball. “There is no great team in college basketball this season.” What they mean by that is Baylor is at the top and they’re not comfortable without a big name leading the pack. If Duke is #1 right now with the same resume, we’d be calling them a great team.
Baylor beats good teams, they beat bad teams, they win on the road, they win at home. That’s how you get to 23-1. What else can they do to be labeled a great team? A Baylor victory over Oklahoma would give the Bears a 23-game winning streak, which sets a Big 12 record. This is a great team, and they’re beating Oklahoma, which is 3-8 straight up as underdogs.
#10 Kentucky @ LSU
Spread: LSU -2.5
Over/Under: 151
Time: 8:00 CST
TV: ESPN
What happened to LSU? With a road loss to Alabama, the Tigers are losers of 3 of their last 4 games, knocking them out of the rankings. LSU even lost to Vanderbilt, which still has just 1 conference win this season. The Tigers have been awful, while Kentucky finds itself alone in first place in the SEC riding a four-game winning streak. Given all that, Kentucky is an underdog?
You’re damn right because LSU is winning this one and covering that spread. Stats are for losers (unless they’re going in favor of my picks), and LSU will get up for this game. Who’s getting excited to play Vanderbilt? Missouri? Alabama? Maybe in football, but the Pete Maravich Assembly Center will be rockin’ Tuesday night as Kentucky comes to town. With a win, LSU will move right back into a tie for first place in the SEC.
Tuesday Payday
The above picks were all fine and dandy, but here’s where the real money comes in. Our #1 play comes in the Tuesday Payday with Wisconsin-Purdue OVER 122. Yes I know Wisconsin and Purdue screams 56-54, but the over is hitting at 9-3 at the Kohl Center this season
The Badgers played their worst game of the season offensively the last time these two teams matched up, and the total still reached 121. That’s the only time a Wisconsin game went under 122 in its last eight matchups. Plus, rooting for points is more fun than not rooting for points.
Keep the conversation going by reaching out to Erik Buchinger on Twitter or email erik@deceptivespeed.com.