NCAAB Best Bets for Tuesday, January 18, 2022
We are back at it on the hardwood with some NCAA Basketball plays today. With a short slate for the NBA there is more time to examine the NCAA games. Let's get after it.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is not really known as a basketball school, but Scotty Pippen Jr. is doing his best to try and change that. He is having a really strong Junior year and now gets an opportunity to face a Tennessee team that has slipped during the year, but is still potent on offense. This is a dangerous spot for Tennessee only because they have struggled on the road this year. Every game they've lost has either been on the road or a neutral site. One big advantage for them in this game is that Vanderbilt hasn't really beaten anyone spectacular this season. Their only game against a ranked opponent was a loss. Against a common opponent, Kentucky, Vanderbilt actually looked better, but that was a home game. I will take Vanderbilt with the points, they play better at home and Tennessee struggles on the road. This could be a trap, but I'll take the 6.5 points and hope.
South Carolina at Arkansas
Looking just at the statistics there isn't really a clear reason why Arkansas is favored by 12 points in this game. Arkansas does score more per game than South Carolina, but defensively they allow about the same points as South Carolina. I've been searching to see if someone key is missing for South Carolina and that's the reason that Arkansas is getting so much love. This game doesn't scream a side to me, but instead, I think we are going to see an under. The total seems a couple of buckets too high. I think the game ends with one team in the 70s and one in the 60s. I'm going to take the under 151.5 at -110. It'll be a bit smaller of a play as the line movement is making me a bit cautious.
Duke at Florida State
On the other side, this game has too low of a total in my opinion. There are some inflated games that boost this number a bit, but Duke averages 83 points and Florida State allows 68 per game. Duke should be getting in the mid-70s tonight, and that would be my low estimate. Defensively, the Blue Devils haven't really scared anyone. Florida State has been strong offensively and has some guys that can get buckets. I like them to get into the 70s as well. With a total of just 145, I like this game to get over comfortably. Obviously, a cold streak or slower pace could hurt this in a hurry, but the only way I'd play it is over and that's the way I'm putting my money.