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<p>Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Tigers versus the Wildcats? Tip off is at at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on SEC. The game will be played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 159.5 points, and Kentucky is favored by -33.5 vs. Jackson State.</p><h3>JACKSON STATE TIGERS VS KENTUCKY WILDCATS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Jackson State Tigers +33.5</p><p>This game will be played at Rupp Arena at 7:00 ET on Friday, November 22nd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE JACKSON STATE TIGERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Wildcats.</li><li>Even though we have Kentucky winning straight-up, we like Jackson State at +33.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 159.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Tigers Offense Score Enough in Lexington?</h3><h3>Jackson State Tigers Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Jackson State fell 79-62 to Western Kentucky on Wednesday, November 20th. The Tigers were +15.5 point underdogs going into the game and did not cover the spread.</p> 

<p>Jackson State trailed 40-28 at halftime and were outscored 39-34 in the second half. The game’s total points of 141 fell short of the O/U line of 152.5.</p><p>Jackson State put up 62 points in their last game, shooting 39.7% from the field. They hit 32% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 25 attempts, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 46.6%.</p> <p>Tamarion Hoover led the way with 18 points, hitting 4 of 7 from three and shooting 70% overall. Khristian Lander also impressed, knocking down 4 of 5 threes and finishing with 15 points on 71.4% shooting.</p><p>Jackson State's defense struggled from beyond the arc, allowing the opponent to hit 14 threes on 45% shooting. Overall, they gave up 79 points, with the other team shooting 43% from the field.</p> <p>Inside the arc, Jackson State held their opponent to 42% shooting, with the other team making 16 of 38 two-point attempts. They also sent the opponent to the line 8 times, where they hit 5 free throws.</p><h3>Can the Wildcats Pull Off a Home Win?</h3><p>Kentucky improved to 3-0 with a 97-68 win over Lipscomb on Tuesday. The Wildcats, who were -21.5 point favorites, covered the spread with the victory.</p> <p>Kentucky led 43-26 at halftime and scored 54 points in the 2nd half while allowing 42. The game’s total points of 165 went over the O/U line of 158.5.</p><p>Kentucky's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 97 points while shooting 54.8% from the field. They were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 25 threes for a 48% success rate, contributing to an effective field goal percentage of 64.5%.</p> <p>Jaxson Robinson led the way with 20 points, while Lamont Butler and Otega Oweh were perfect from three, each hitting all their attempts. Butler finished 3/3 from deep, and Oweh went 1/1, with both players shooting over 75% overall.</p><p>Kentucky's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 68 points on 54% shooting from the field. The Wildcats allowed 34 made field goals on 62 attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Kentucky's opponents shot 48%, hitting 12 threes on 25 attempts. They also shot 81% from the free-throw line, making 17 of 21.</p>

Jackson State Tigers vs Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

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College Football

UTEP Miners vs Tennessee Volunteers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

USC Trojans vs UCLA Bruins Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Kentucky Wildcats vs Texas Longhorns Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Washington State Cougars vs Oregon State Beavers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Texas A&M Aggies vs Auburn Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Indiana Hoosiers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Illinois Fighting Illini vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Wisconsin Badgers vs Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Betting on today's Wildcats and Crusaders game? Catch the action at Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence, RI, as the Crusaders hosts this showdown at 3:30 ET on ESPN+. The odds for this non-conference game currently have Holy Cross as the -3.5 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 144.5 points.</p><h3>NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS VS HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: New Hampshire Wildcats +3.5</p><p>This game will be played at Pizzitola Sports Center at 3:30 ET on Sunday, November 17th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Wildcats.</li><li>Not only will New Hampshire pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will New Hampshire Be The Talk of Pizzitola Sports Center?</h3><h3>New Hampshire Wildcats Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>New Hampshire dropped to 0-1 on the season with an 80-63 loss to Sacred Heart on Saturday, November 16th. The Wildcats entered the game as +1 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game finished just under the O/U line of 145.5, with a combined 143 points.</p> 

<p>After trailing 37-33 at halftime, New Hampshire struggled in the 2nd half, scoring only 30 points while allowing 43. They'll need to tighten up defensively and find more offensive consistency moving forward.</p><p>In their last game, New Hampshire put up 63 points, shooting 45.8% from the field and hitting 40.7% from beyond the arc, connecting on 11 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.3%, but they struggled at the free-throw line, making just 57.1% of their attempts.</p> <p>Anthony McComb III led the way with 22 points, shooting 66.7% overall and from three-point range. Raymond Espinal-Guzman added 16 points and 11 rebounds, hitting 70% of his shots.</p><p>New Hampshire struggled defensively, giving up 80 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 46% from the field. The Wildcats had trouble containing shots inside the arc, where they allowed 19/34 shooting for 55%.</p> <p>From three-point range, New Hampshire's defense conceded 9 threes on 26 attempts, a 34% rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 15 free throws for 62%. Additionally, the Wildcats gave up 17 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Pressure Builds for Holy Cross as Home Favorites</h3><h3>Holy Cross Crusaders Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Holy Cross picked up a 73-65 road win over Brown on Saturday, November 16th. The Crusaders entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs and not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.</p> 

<p>Holy Cross led 33-30 at halftime and outscored Brown 40-35 in the 2nd half. The total points for the game were 138, falling short of the O/U line of 146.5.</p><p>Holy Cross put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 44.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 53.6%, thanks in part to hitting 47.6% from three-point range, connecting on 10 of 21 attempts.</p> <p>At the free-throw line, the Crusaders were nearly perfect, making 13 of 14 shots for a 92.9% success rate. Kino Lilly Jr. led the way with 24 points, while Tyler Boston added 18, shooting 62.5% from the field.</p><p>Holy Cross held their opponent to 65 points, with a field goal percentage of 40% (26/64). They allowed 20 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 57% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Holy Cross gave up 6 threes on 29 attempts, a 20% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the line 10 times, where they hit 7 free throws (70%).</p>

New Hampshire Wildcats vs Holy Cross Crusaders NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/17/24

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Liberty Flames Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

BYU Cougars vs Arizona State Sun Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

UCF Knights vs West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Arizona Wildcats vs TCU Horned Frogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Iowa State Cyclones vs Utah Utes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Baylor Bears vs Houston Cougars Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Kansas State Wildcats Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Colorado Buffaloes vs Kansas Jayhawks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oklahoma State Cowboys Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Pittsburgh Panthers vs Louisville Cardinals Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

<p>Heading into game two of this National League matchup, it will be Jameson Taillon on the mound for the Cubs (43-50, 22-25 home), facing off against the Nationals (38-56, 23-24 away) and Patrick Corbin. Find out my prediction for today's Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs game in Chicago.</p><h3>WASHINGTON NATIONALS VS CHICAGO CUBS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Washington Nationals +1.5 Runs</p><p>This game will be played at Wrigley Field at 8:05 ET on Tuesday, July 18th</p><h3>WHY BET THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS:</h3><ul><li>The Nationals will be taking on a Cubs club that is just 3-7 vs. the runline in their past ten games.</li><li>Over their last ten games on the road, Washington is 6-4 against the runline.</li><li>Jameson Taillon has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 5.74 over his last four starts.</li></ul><h3>WASHINGTON NATIONALS SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR ROAD RECORD</h3><p>On a record of 38-56, the Nationals come into today's game 5th in the NL East. When playing at home, they are 15-32 and 23-24 on the road. Washington has played in 31 series thus far, and have gone 10-19-2. </p><p><p>Patrick Corbin takes the mound for Washington with a 6-10 record. He's made 19 appearances this season, posting an ERA of 4.89 and a K/9 of 6.13. His FIP stands at 4.92, while his OBP is .332.</p></p><p>Washington is looking to Patrick Corbin to lead them to another victory, following his impressive performance against the Rangers (7-2) in his last start. Corbin gave up only one earned run on five hits in seven innings of work.</p><p>Having gone deep 14 times in their last ten games, the Nationals are 6th in that span. At 4.2 runs per game, Washington is 23rd in the league. This figure has come on a team batting average of .260 while hitting a total of 83 home runs (23rd).</p><p>Jeimer Candelario has been a major contributor to the Nationals' offensive success this season, leading the team with 14 home runs and 45 RBIs. His slugging percentage of .486 is indicative of his power at the plate.</p><h3>WILL THE CHICAGO CUBS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?</h3><p>Entering game 94 of their season, the Cubs are 8.5 games out in the NL Central and are in 3rd place. So far, their overall series record stands at 13-13-4. Chicago's road winning percent is currently 45.7% (21-25) compared to 46.8% at home (22-25).</p><p><p>The Cubs will turn to starter Jameson Taillon, who has an overall record of 3-6. In 15 appearances, his ERA is 6.15 and his K/9 is 7.91. Taillon has also put together a FIP of 4.93 and an OBP of .323 this season.</p></p><p>The Cubs emerged victorious in Jameson Taillon's last start, defeating the Yankees 3-0. The right-hander pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, allowing no earned runs and earning his fourth win of the season.</p><p>For the season, the Cubs' offense is averaging 4.7 runs per game. Over their last ten games they have swung the bats well, sitting 8th in the league in scoring, with a total of 53 runs. Overall, Chicago's team batting average is .247, putting them 12th in the MLB.</p><p>Nico Hoerner has been a key contributor to the Cubs' offense in 2023, boasting a .267 average and driving in 48 runs. He has also hit five homers so far this season.</p>

Washington Nationals vs Chicago Cubs Betting Pick & Prediction 7/18/23

<p>The Rockets (-819) are favored by 12.5 points over the Trail Blazers (+565) in this Western Conference matchup. The over/under line is set at 224.5 points.</p>

<p>Portland (6-10) has lost two straight games and is 13th in the Western Conference. Houston (12-5) has won two straight and is third in the West.</p><h3>PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS HOUSTON ROCKETS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Portland Trail Blazers +12.5</p><p>This game will be played at Toyota Center at 8:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 178-143 in favor of the Trail Blazers.</li><li>Our projections have Anfernee Simons finishing with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Trail Blazers finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.5% and knocking down 17 threes.</li></ul><h3>Will the Trail Blazers Defense Show Up in Houston?</h3><p>Portland’s season record dropped to 6-10 following a 116-88 road loss to the Rockets on Friday. The Trail Blazers entered the game as +11.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The combined score of 204 points fell short of the O/U line of 226.</p> <p>Portland struggled throughout the game, falling behind 31-20 after the 1st quarter and 65-45 by halftime. The Rockets went on an 11-0 run, extending their lead from 79-53 to 90-53, and the Blazers managed just 15 points in the 4th quarter.</p><p>The Trail Blazers struggled offensively in their 116-88 loss to the Rockets, shooting just 33% from the field and 25.6% from three-point range. They made 11 threes, which was an average output for them.</p> <p>Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija led Portland with 13 points each, with Avdija adding 6 rebounds. Toumani Camara contributed 11 points, hitting 3 threes at a 33.3% clip, and added 6 of his points in the 3rd quarter.</p><p>Portland's defense struggled on Friday, giving up 116 points to the Rockets. The Trail Blazers allowed 31 points in both the 1st and 3rd quarters and 34 in the 2nd. They tightened up in the 4th, holding Houston to 20 points.</p> <p>Houston shot 45% from the field and hit 15 threes at a 38% clip. The Rockets also went 17/25 from the free-throw line. Portland gave up 13 offensive rebounds but recorded 9 steals and 8 blocks.</p><h3>Will Houston Win at Home?</h3><p>The Rockets improved to 12-5 on the season with a dominant 116-88 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday. Houston, favored by -11.5 points, covered the spread with ease. The game’s total points fell short of the 226 O/U line, with the teams combining for just 204 points.</p> <p>Houston took control early, leading 31-20 after the 1st quarter and 65-45 at halftime. A key moment came when the Rockets went on an 11-0 run, stretching the score from 79-53 to 90-53. They held Portland to just 15 points in the 4th quarter to close out the game.</p><p>Dillon Brooks knocked down 6 threes at a 75% clip, finishing with 28 points and 6 rebounds in the Rockets' 116-88 win over the Trail Blazers. Brooks was especially effective in the 3rd quarter, scoring 16 points. Tari Eason added 22 points and 8 rebounds, while Jalen Green contributed 17 points, with 9 coming in the opening period.</p> <p>Houston connected on 15 threes, shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc and 45.2% overall. Green hit 3 threes, though he shot just 35.3% from the field. Alperen Şengün chipped in 14 points, scoring 6 in the 3rd quarter.</p><p>The Rockets put on a defensive clinic against the Trail Blazers, holding them to just 88 points on Friday. Houston's defense was especially strong in the 4th quarter, where they allowed only 15 points. Overall, the Rockets limited Portland to 33% shooting from the field.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Rockets were just as effective, as the Trail Blazers made only 11 threes on 25% shooting. Houston also racked up 14 steals and 5 blocks in the game.</p>

Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Northwestern Wildcats vs Michigan Wolverines Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Maryland Terrapins Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Temple Owls vs UTSA Roadrunners Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

UNLV Rebels vs San Jose State Spartans Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

Purdue Boilermakers vs Michigan State Spartans Betting Pick & Prediction 11/22/24

NC State Wolfpack vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Betting Pick & Prediction 11/21/24

Ohio Bobcats vs Toledo Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction 11/20/24

Buffalo Bulls vs Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 11/20/24

Akron Zips vs Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/19/24

Western Michigan Broncos vs Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Pick & Prediction 11/19/24

<p>Today at 5:00 ET, the 3rd place Knicks (-408) will travel to Salt Lake City to take on the 15th place Jazz (+317). The Knicks are currently favored by 9 points, and the over/under line is sitting at 229.5.</p>

<p>This non-conference matchup will be played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, and can be seen on NBA TV.</p><h3>NEW YORK KNICKS VS UTAH JAZZ BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Utah Jazz +9</p><p>This game will be played at Delta Center at 5:00 ET on Saturday, November 23rd.</p><h3>WHY BET THE UTAH JAZZ:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 131-124 in favor of the Jazz.</li><li>Our projections have Lauri Markkanen finishing with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Jazz finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.0% and knocking down 15 threes.</li></ul><h3>Can New York Pull Off A Win at Delta Center?</h3><p>The Knicks improved to 9-6 on the season with a 138-122 road win over the Suns on Wednesday. New York, favored by 4.5 points, covered the spread, while the game’s total of 260 points easily surpassed the O/U line of 226.5.</p> <p>New York set the tone early with an 11-0 run, taking the lead from 6-3 to 14-6. They dominated the 1st quarter, outscoring Phoenix 44-28. Although the Suns kept things closer in the following quarters, the Knicks’ 110-93 lead heading into the 4th was enough to secure the win.</p><p>The Knicks' offense was firing on all cylinders in their 138-122 win over the Suns, shooting 58.1% from the field and hitting 19 threes at a 48.7% clip. Jalen Brunson led the way with 36 points and 10 assists, connecting on 7 threes at 63.6% efficiency.</p> <p>Karl-Anthony Towns added 34 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Hart contributed 19 points and 11 boards, shooting 72.7% from the field. Brunson scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter, while Towns added 12 in the 3rd and 11 in the 4th.</p><p>The Knicks gave up 122 points to the Suns, who shot 48% from the field. New York allowed 28 points in the 1st quarter, 30 in the 2nd, 35 in the 3rd, and 29 in the 4th.</p> <p>Defensively, the Knicks allowed 19 threes on 38% shooting. They sent the Suns to the line 17 times, where Phoenix hit 13 free throws. New York finished with 10 steals but didn’t record a block.</p><h3>Can Utah Pull Out the Win as Home Underdogs?</h3><p>Utah’s season continued to be a struggle as they fell to 3-12 after a 126-118 loss to the Spurs on Thursday. The Jazz, who were +3 point underdogs, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total score of 244 points exceeded the pre-game O/U line of 224 by 20 points.</p> <p>Utah started strong, going on an 11-0 run and leading 32-17 after the 1st quarter. They edged out the 2nd quarter 35-34, but things fell apart in the 2nd half. The Spurs outscored them 34-22 in the 3rd, and despite trailing just 89-85 heading into the 4th, Utah was outscored 41-29 in the final quarter.</p><p>The Jazz shot just 41.8% from the field and 28.9% from three-point range in their 126-118 loss to the Spurs, connecting on 13 threes overall. Lauri Markkanen led the way with 27 points, hitting 3 threes at a 30% clip.</p> <p>Keyonte George also made 3 threes, finishing with 19 points despite shooting 25% from deep. John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Brice Sensabaugh each added 18 points, with Sensabaugh scoring 13 of his points in the 2nd quarter.</p><p>Despite a strong defensive start, the Jazz struggled in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, giving up 34 points in each, and allowed 41 points in the 4th, leading to a 126-118 loss to the Spurs. Utah did well in limiting San Antonio's three-point shooting, holding them to 9 made threes on 28% shooting.</p> <p>Utah sent the Spurs to the line 46 times, where they made 35 free throws. The Jazz collected 37 defensive rebounds but allowed 11 offensive boards. They also recorded 4 steals and 7 blocks in the game.</p>

New York Knicks vs Utah Jazz Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

SMU Mustangs vs Virginia Cavaliers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Stanford Cardinal vs California Golden Bears Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Miami Hurricanes Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

UConn Huskies vs Syracuse Orange Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Virginia Tech Hokies vs Duke Blue Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

North Carolina Tar Heels vs Boston College Eagles Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Vanderbilt Commodores vs LSU Tigers Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs Arkansas Razorbacks Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Ole Miss Rebels vs Florida Gators Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

Missouri Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Pick & Prediction 11/23/24

The First Four games provided all kinds of intrigue in the NCAA Tournament, but the First Round begins today and many believe this is when the Madness truly starts. There are so many directions that we could go with a spotlight game, but I want to talk about what I believe is the best bet on the board.

For that, we’ll head to the 7:15 p.m. ET time slot in the Midwest Region where the Cleveland State Vikings take on the Houston Cougars. Houston is a 20-point favorite per <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada"><strong>Bovada Sportsbook</strong></a> with a total of 134.5. This is the #2 vs. #15 matchup and the game will be played at Assembly Hall on the Indiana University campus.
<h3><strong><u>Cleveland</u></strong><strong><u> State</u></strong><strong><u> Vikings</u></strong></h3>
The Vikings are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Norris Cole became a cult hero that got drafted by the Miami Heat. Credit to Dennis Gates, who oversaw a Vikings run that culminated with a Horizon League Championship. The Vikes went 16-4 in the Horizon League regular season and 19-7 overall, with losses to Toledo, Ohio, and Ohio State in the non-conference.

The Vikings beat Fort Wayne in triple overtime to survive their first game in the conference tournament and were fortunate to get six days off before having to play Milwaukee. Wins over the Panthers and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies punched a Golden Ticket to the Big Dance.

Not to take anything away from Cleveland State, but they are #1 in Ken Pomeroy’s Luck Factor and #2 in Bart Torvik’s F.U.N. metric, which stands for Fortune Unexplained by Numbers. Cleveland State was 8-3 in games decided by six or fewer points and 18-3 against Quadrant 4 teams. The Vikings were 1-4 against Quadrant 2 or better teams.

Houston will be the best team that the Vikings have played. This is a Cleveland State team that allowed opponents a 31.8% ORB% and a 50.9% 2P% while facing mostly Horizon League squads. The Vikings did hold the opposition to a 30.8% 3P% in a conference where teams shot 34.3% on three-pointers. The Horizon League was eighth nationally in 3P% on offense, but Cleveland State’s defensive prowess on the perimeter is a big reason why they are in this spot.

Offensively, the Vikings shot 52.1% on two-point shots in a conference that was tied for sixth in 2P% at 50.9%. Cleveland State is a scrappy team and a team with a heightened sense of belief, but this is an altogether different challenge.
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<h3><strong><u>Houston</u></strong><strong><u> Cougars</u></strong></h3>
Dennis Gates told the <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/coachdgates/status/1371579584957837318">story</a></strong> of one of his interactions with Kelvin Sampson on Twitter when it was announced that the Vikings would play Houston. My concern here is that Sampson calls off the dogs, to go ahead and spoil my play. But when you look at Houston compared side-by-side with Cleveland State, this looks every bit of a 20-point mismatch.

The Cougars go into this one ranked first in eFG% defense and 13th in adjusted defensive efficiency. Houston is top 10 in 3P% defense, 2P% defense, and Block%. Houston has allowed opponents to make 28.5% of their three-point attempts and 43% of their two-point shots. Houston does struggle a little bit on the defensive glass, but Cleveland State is unlikely to be able to exploit that weakness like the Vikings did in Horizon League play.

The AAC wasn’t a great conference by any means, but it was certainly stronger than the Horizon. Houston is not the best shooting team in the field by a long shot, but the Cougars take good care of the basketball and rank second in ORB% in the nation. They’re also a good free throw shooting team if it comes down to that, as Cleveland State could have major issues with the size of the heavy favorite in this game.

Houston is a 35.5% team from three and does take a pretty high rate of them at 42.3%. The second-biggest concern beyond Sampson taking it easy on one of his former protégés is that Houston ranks 313th nationally in tempo. They are a slow-paced team. Maybe the excitement of the NCAA Tournament will speed them up a little bit, but it is usually easier to get margin if you play to more possessions.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Nevertheless, I don’t see how Cleveland State scores in this game. This feels like a 75-45 or 75-50 type of game. Houston will get theirs. They are a pretty efficient offense that will get a lot of putback points and should have a pretty big free throw discrepancy.

The Cleveland State offense does not really stand out in any discernible way. They settle for a lot of mid-range jump shots and their highest-usage players are poor three-point shooters. If Houston stays engaged all game long, then the Cougars should cover this number.

If you want, rather than the full-game -20, you could look up the first half at -11.5. Houston should get out early in this game. The end-game situation with the bench emptied could make it tough to cover the full game. Cleveland State team total under isn’t a bad idea here either. With a spread of 20 and a total of 134.5, the expected final score would be around 77-57. I’m not sure Cleveland State gets that many points.
<h4><strong>Pick: Houston -20</strong></h4>
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Cleveland State vs. Houston College Basketball Free Pick and Preview 3/19/21