NCAAB Best Bets for Tuesday, January 25, 2022
We have yet another #1 ranked seed in college basketball this season in Auburn. They do take the floor tonight, but we won’t have a play on that game. I’m just thinking ahead to about two months from now when it will be mighty difficult to pick those March Madness brackets. That’s a problem for another day, though.
Michigan State at Illinois
We have the Spartans coming to their fellow Big 10 conference foes' house and taking on the Illini. One of the big keys to this one is that star center for Illinois, Kofi Cockburn, is potentially sitting out tonight with a concussion. If that’s the case, Michigan State is a very appealing option. Both of these teams have talented players but when your best player is out, it starts as an uphill battle. Illinois is also not in great form right now having lost their last two games. Cockburn was out of the last game against Maryland, so perhaps that is indicative of how tonight may go. I can only look to take Michigan State tonight. I’m going to play them on the money line at +172 and +4.5 points, just in case the home-court advantage gives Michigan State some trouble.
Mississippi State at Kentucky
This line feels a bit short to me. Kentucky has played good basketball of late, and that does include the loss to Auburn in their last game. They now return home where they have not lost a game all season. At home, they are also not even playing in close games. They haven’t won a game at home by less than 10 points all season. Mississippi State is a solid team and program, I like their defensive prowess. I think they can keep this a game for the first half, but after that I think this one goes to Kentucky and they pull away and not look back. I’m going to play Kentucky -9 at -106.
Texas at TCU
Our final play of the day comes in a Texas sized matchup. Everything is bigger in Texas, right? Well, the score in this one I think will be. Both of these teams average about 70 points scored, and they both allow about 60 points to the opposition. Neither plays super-fast paced, and most TCU games are lower scoring. Texas also just came off a game where they scored 107 points total. Frankly I don’t see this one being some sort of track meet, but I also think the total is too low. If it is a close game, we have the potential for over time. I think TCU should get to 60 points, and I think Texas wins this one, so they clearly need to score more than 60. I’m playing the over in this game at 122.5 at -114, just is a bit too low for me, I think this is closer to a 130 game.