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<p>Thursday's Rockies vs. Nationals game has a first pitch set for 1:05 PM ET from Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The Rockies are 5th in the NL West with an overall record of 47-80, while the Nationals are 4th in the NL East at 57-70.</p>

<p>Washington is favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -126 compared to the Rockies at +107. The over/under line is at 9 runs, and MASN will be televising this NL matchup. Patrick Corbin is starting for the Nationals, and the Rockies are sending Cal Quantrill to the mound.</p><h3>WASHINGTON NATIONALS VS COLORADO ROCKIES BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Washington Nationals Moneyline -126</p><p>This game will be played at Nationals Park at 1:05 ET on Thursday, August 22nd.</p><h3>HOW TO BET THE ROCKIES VS NATIONALS:</h3><ul><li>We have the Nationals winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Rockies to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul><p>Washington cruised to an easy 6-1 win over the Rockies in the most recent game of this series. The Nationals had a huge 3rd inning, scoring four of their six runs. As for the Rockies, they scored their only run in the 7th. Heading into the game, the Nationals were favored at -163 on the money line.</p>

<p>Mitchell Parker pitched well for the Nationals in this one, going seven innings and giving up just one run. He finished the game with six strikeouts but issued one walk. On the other side, Tanner Gordon only went four innings for the Rockies, giving up five earned runs on eight hits.</p>

<p>At the plate, Luis Garcia Jr. and James Wood each had three RBIs for the Nationals. Garcia Jr. and Keibert Ruiz each had two hits and scored a run for Washington's offense.</p><h3>Rockies Records & Stats</h3><p>With an overall record of 47-80, the Rockies are 5th in the NL West and trail the Dodgers by 28.5 games. So far, they have gone just 15-28 in divisional matchups. Colorado is on the road today, where they are 18-47 this season. They have been a bit better at home, going 29-33.</p>

<p>Colorado is just 10-27-3 in series this year, and they are 4-6 across their last 10 games. As the underdog, the Rockies are 47-80 this season, and they have yet to be the favorite in a game.</p><p>When it comes to the run line, the Rockies have been a solid bet this season, going 65-62. They have been slightly better on the road, going 31-34, compared to 34-28 at home. Their average run margin for the season is -1.6, with a scoring margin of -2.3 on the road and -0.8 at home. They have been profitable on the run line as an underdog, going 65-62.</p><p>Colorado's over/under record is 63-61, and the average combined run total in their games is 10.0. The over/under line for today's game is 9 runs, and when the line has been set at 9 runs this season, their over/under record is 5-5-1. So far this season, 49.6% of their games have had over/under lines set at 9 runs, and they have gone under in their last three games.</p><p>Cal Quantrill is looking to build off his last outing, where he faced off against the Padres and picked up the win. In that August 16th start, he went 5 innings and gave up 3 earned runs on 6 hits. Looking back further, Quantrill has given up at least 3 earned runs in three straight outings. His ERA for the season is 4.59, along with a record of 8-8. Quantrill's WHIP for the season is 1.41. Out of his 24 starts, he has 12 quality starts and is averaging 6.86 strikeouts per nine innings.</p><p>Colorado's offense has been pretty average this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. They have been a much better team at home, averaging 4.9 runs per game. The Rockies have been one of the league's worst teams in terms of striking out, and they are also near the bottom of the league in terms of drawing walks.</p>

<p>Michael Toglia and Brenton Doyle are tied for the team lead in home runs, with 20 apiece. However, Toglia is batting just .217 for the season, while Doyle is batting .271. Doyle is also on an eight-game hitting streak and has gone 10/27 in his last seven games. Ezequiel Tovar is batting .272 for the season and has 19 homers, which is 2nd on the team.</p><h3>Nationals Records & Stats</h3><p>With a record of 57-70, the Nationals are 4th in the NL East, 17.5 games behind the Phillies for the division lead. So far, they have gone 17-18 in divisional matchups. The Nationals will host the Rockies today with an overall record of 29-33 at home.</p>

<p>Washington has gone 28-37 on the road this season. As the underdog, the Nationals are 46-59 this season and 11-11 when favored. The Nationals' series record is 16-21-3 this year, and they are currently 1-1 in their series vs. the Rockies. Heading into today's game, the Nationals are 4-6 over their last 10.</p><p>Washington has been a solid bet on the run line this season, going 71-56 overall. They have been a bit better on the road, going 38-27 compared to 33-29 at home. As the favorite, they are just 10-12 on the run line, but as the underdog, they are 61-44. Their average run margin in winning games is +3.4, while it's -3.7 in losing games.</p><p>The Nationals have played to an over/under record of 63-59 this season, and the average over/under line in their games has been set at 9 runs. When the line has been set at 9 runs, their over/under record is 13-14-3. Overall, 22 of their games have had over/under lines set higher than 9 runs, accounting for 17.3% of their games. Their current under streak is at 2 games.</p><p>Left-hander Patrick Corbin gets the start for the Nationals today as he faces the Rockies at home. Corbin has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 2-12 with a 5.92 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Corbin has a WHIP of 1.57 and opponents are batting .300 off him this season. One positive for Corbin is that he has turned in six quality starts this year. In his most recent outing, Corbin finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He has not won a game since May 12th.</p><p>Washington's offense has been one of the worst home run-hitting teams in the league this season, and they are also just 18th in the league in runs scored. As a team, they are batting .244, which is 10th in the league, but their on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS are all below the league average. For the season, they are averaging 4.2 runs per game.</p>

<p>Luis Garcia Jr. is batting .294 for the season and has gone 9/27 in his last seven games. He also has 15 homers, which is the 2nd best mark on the team. CJ Abrams has gone deep 18 times this season, but he is batting just .246. Abrams is also 2nd on the team with 60 RBIs.</p>

Colorado Rockies vs Washington Nationals Betting Pick & Prediction 8/22/24

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<p>At 2:00 ET, the Hokies and Green Wave clash at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a week 1 NCAAF matchup. Catch the action on ESPN, with the game set for Wednesday, December 27th. Virginia Tech arrives for this non-conference game against the Green Wave as the 7.5 point road favorite. Keep reading to find out my insights and suggestions for your bets.</p><h3>VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES VS TULANE GREEN WAVE BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Tulane Green Wave +7.5</p><p>This game will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 2:00 ET on Wednesday, December 27th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE TULANE GREEN WAVE:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 27-20 in favor of Virginia Tech.</li><li>Even though we have Virginia Tech winning straight-up, we like Tulane at +7.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 46 points, and we like the over with a projected 47 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Virginia Tech Defense Show Up on the Road?</h3><p>So far, the Virginia Tech Hokies are 6-6, including going 2-4 on the road and 4-2 at home.</p><p>Heading into this week's matchup with Tulane, the Hokies have been favored in six games and the underdog in five. Their ATS mark coming into the game is 7-5.</p><p>So far this season, Virginia Tech boasts an over/under record of 8-4. On average, their matchups have resulted in a combined score of 52.8 points, while the average over/under line has been 46.3 points.</p><p>On offense, the Hokies come in with the 74th ranked offense in terms of passing attempts and are averaging 210.7 passing yards per game. In the running game, they are 41st in terms of attempts.</p><p>Coming into this week's game, the Virginia Tech defense is 89th in points allowed at 24.2 points per game. So far, team's have averaged 172.9 passing yards per game vs. the unit (26th). On the ground, they are giving up 150 rushing yards, putting them 85th in college football.</p><h3>Are the Green Wave Ready for a Home Win?</h3><p>So far, the Tulane Green Wave are 11-2, including going 5-0 on the road and 5-2 at home.</p><p>Heading into this week's matchup with Virginia Tech, the Green Wave have been favored in 11 games and the underdog in one. Their ATS mark coming into the game is 5-7.</p><p>The average point total in Tulane's 13 games is currently 45.8 points per game. This has led to an over/under record of 2-10 for the Green Wave.</p><p>The Green Wave are currently ranked 26th in college football with 476 rushing attempts per game. In terms of rush yards, they are at 159.2 rushing yards per game, which is 53rd in the nation. Looking at their production in the passing game, they are averaging 26.7 attempts per game and gain an average of 222.4 passing yards. Overall, they hold the 50th spot with 26.8 points per game.</p><p>Tulane's defense ranks 70th in points allowed, with 18.9 points given up per game. Teams have been averaging 239.2 passing yards against them (119th nationally). On the ground, they've conceded 95 rushing yards, putting them 13th in college football.</p>

Virginia Tech Hokies vs Tulane Green Wave Betting Pick & Prediction Military Bowl

<p>Looking to win big? The Bears and Jackrabbits face off at 9:00 ET on Summ. The Jackrabbits are hosting the game at Summit Arena in Hot Springs, AR. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 154.5 points, and South Dakota State is favored by -3 vs. Northern Colorado.</p><h3>NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS VS SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Northern Colorado Bears +3</p><p>This game will be played at Summit Arena at 9:00 ET on Thursday, November 14th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-73 in favor of the Bears.</li><li>Not only will Northern Colorado pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Does Northern Colorado Have a Shot at a Road Win?</h3><p>In their last game, the Bears fell 90-88 to the Buffaloes on Friday, November 8th. Despite being +13 point underdogs on the road, Northern Colorado kept it close, covering the spread.</p> <p>After trailing 32-30 at halftime, the Bears outscored Colorado 37-35 in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 178 went over the pre-game line of 151.5.</p><p>Northern Colorado put up 88 points in their latest game, shooting 43.2% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 51.4%, and they hit 50% of their two-point attempts. From the free-throw line, they shot 64.7%, making 11 of 17 attempts.</p> <p>Elijah Malone led the Bears with 27 points, shooting 66.7% from the field. Jaron Rillie added 16 points, hitting 5 threes at a 55.6% clip, and dished out 7 assists. Northern Colorado finished with 18 assists and 12 offensive rebounds as a team.</p><p>Despite shooting just 27% from beyond the arc, Northern Colorado still managed to put up 90 points, thanks in part to their ability to get to the free-throw line. They shot 41 free throws, making 31 of them for a 75% success rate.</p> <p>Inside the arc, the Bears were efficient, hitting 55% of their two-point attempts (22/40). They also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, giving them extra scoring opportunities.</p><h3>Will the Jackrabbits Make it Happen at Home?</h3><h3>South Dakota State Jackrabbits Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>South Dakota State edged out Long Beach State 80-79 on Friday, November 8th, in a home game. Despite being -9.5 favorites, the Jackrabbits didn’t cover the spread.</p> 

<p>After leading 37-30 at halftime, SDSU allowed 49 points in the 2nd half while scoring 43. The game’s total points of 159 exceeded the O/U line of 145.</p><p>South Dakota State put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 51.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 57.1%. They connected on 38.5% of their threes, hitting 5 of 13 attempts, and shot 55.8% on two-pointers, going 24 for 43.</p> <p>Devin Askew led the way with 27 points, despite shooting just 5 for 20 overall and 2 for 8 from three. He also dished out 8 assists. Oscar Cluff and TJ Wainwright each added 23 points, with Cluff grabbing 14 rebounds and shooting 58.3% from the field.</p><p>South Dakota State struggled defensively, giving up 79 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 51% from the field. The Jackrabbits gave up 24 two-point baskets on 43 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, South Dakota State allowed 5 threes on 13 attempts, with their opponent shooting 38%. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 24 times, where they hit 17 free throws, a 70% rate. The Jackrabbits gave up 9 offensive rebounds.</p>

Northern Colorado Bears vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/14/24

<p>Betting on today's Bulldogs and Dolphins game? Catch the action at Swisher Gymnasium in Jacksonville, FL, as the Dolphins hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 143 points, and Jacksonville is favored by -7 at home against South Carolina State.</p><h3>SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BULLDOGS VS JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Jacksonville Dolphins -7</p><p>This game will be played at Swisher Gymnasium at 7:00 ET on Thursday, November 14th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE JACKSONVILLE DOLPHINS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 in favor of the Dolphins.</li><li>Not only will Jacksonville pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 143 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.</li></ul><h3>Does South Carolina State Have a Shot at a Road Win?</h3><h3>South Carolina State Bulldogs Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>South Carolina State's season opener against the Gamecocks ended in an 86-64 loss. The Bulldogs, who were +18.5 point underdogs, didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 150, just over the 148.5 O/U line.</p> 

<p>After trailing 41-25 at halftime, the Bulldogs put up 39 points in the 2nd half but allowed 45 points, making it difficult to close the gap.</p><p>South Carolina State struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 35.8% from the field and 18.8% from three-point range, hitting only 3 of 16 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.8%, and they connected on just 54.2% of their free throws, making 13 of 24.</p> <p>Jacobi Wright led the Bulldogs with 20 points, shooting 70% overall and 57.1% from deep. Collin Murray-Boyles added 19 points and 16 rebounds, hitting 7 of 8 shots from the field. The Bulldogs grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and recorded 13 assists as a team.</p><p>South Carolina State Bulldogs gave up 86 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 46% from the field. The Bulldogs allowed 22 two-point field goals on 37 attempts, a 59% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the Bulldogs held their opponent to 29% shooting, with 8 made threes on 27 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 25 times, where they converted 18 free throws for a 72% rate.</p><h3>Will the Dolphins Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?</h3><h3>Jacksonville Dolphins Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Jacksonville dropped to 0-2 this season after a 78-69 loss to Furman on Monday. The Dolphins, who were +8 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread in the road matchup.</p> 

<p>Jacksonville led 36-33 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 45 points while scoring just 33. The game’s total points of 147 went over the pre-game line of 141.5.</p><p>Jacksonville's offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 36.9% from the field and 24% from beyond the arc, finishing with 69 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 41.5%, but they managed to grab 15 offensive rebounds and hit 75% of their free throws.</p> <p>Robert McCray V and Charles Johnston led the way, with McCray scoring 26 points and 5 rebounds, while Johnston added 25 points, hitting 4 of 5 threes. Zach Bell had a tough night from deep, making just 1 of 11 attempts.</p><p>Jacksonville's defense gave up 78 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 45% from the field. They allowed 54% shooting on two-point attempts, as the other team went 17/31 from inside the arc.</p> <p>From three-point range, Jacksonville's opponents shot 34%, hitting 9 of 26 attempts. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 24 times, where they made 17 free throws for 70%. Jacksonville gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.</p>

South Carolina State Bulldogs vs Jacksonville Dolphins NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/14/24

<p>Planning on watching today's Fighting Irish and Blue Devils game? Catch the action at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC, as the Blue Devils hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on ACCN. This Atlantic Coast conference matchup has an over/under of 134 points, and Duke is favored to win by -17 at home vs. Notre Dame.</p><h3>NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH VS DUKE BLUE DEVILS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish +17</p><p>This game will be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium at 9:00 ET on Wednesday, February 7th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-69 in favor of the Blue Devils.</li><li>Even though we have Duke winning straight-up, we like Notre Dame at +17.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 134 points, and we like the over with a projected 143 points.</li></ul><h3>Can the Fighting Irish Lock in a Road Win?</h3><p>Notre Dame enters this game with a record of 7-15, including a 1-9 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play. They have lost eight straight games, including their most recent contest against Pittsburgh by a score of 70-60. On the road this season, the Fighting Irish are just 1-6, and they have lost their last six games away from home.</p>

<p>As underdogs, Notre Dame is 2-12 this season and 14-8 overall. They have been underdogs in 14 of their 22 games, and their average scoring margin on the road is -9.7 points per game. So far this season, they have been favored in seven games, going 4-3 in those matchups.</p><p>Notre Dame's ATS record this season is 10-11, and they are 5-2 vs. the spread on the road this year. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Fighting Irish have gone 6-4 vs. the spread.</p><p>So far this season, the over/under record for Notre Dame games is 6-15 and today's line of 134 is higher than the average OU line in their games (132.9). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 122 points and their OU record over their last 10 games is 3-6.</p><p>In their most recent game, the Notre Dame offense put up just 60 points vs. the Pittsburgh Panthers. Overall, they are now averaging 61.9 points per game which is 484th in the country. Currently leading the team in scoring is Markus Burton who comes into today's matchup averaging 16. J.R Konieczny also heads into the game with a PPG average of 9.4.</p><p>So far this season, the Notre Dame defense has been performing well, ranking 39th in the country at 65.5 points allowed per contest. In today's game vs. Duke, the Notre Dame defense will be looking to do a better job avoiding putting opponents on the line. In their last game, Notre Dame made 16 free-throws vs. the Fighting Irish.</p><h3>Are the Blue Devils Ready for a Home Win?</h3><p>After losing their last game to North Carolina, Duke will look to bounce back against Notre Dame as 17-point favorites. On the season, the Blue Devils have gone 11-2 at home, compared to a 4-3 record on the road.</p>

<p>Over their last ten games at home, Duke has gone 9-1, and they have gone 4-1 in their last five. For the season, the Blue Devils have been favored in 19 of their 21 games, going 15-4 in those contests.</p><p>As the favorite, Duke has gone 9-10 vs. the spread this season. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, the Blue Devils are 5-5 vs. the spread.</p><p>This season, the over/under record for Duke is 11-8-1 and today's over/under line of 134 is lower than their average over/under line of 146.8. In their last three games, the over/under record is 1-2 and the average scoring total in those games is 154 points.</p><p>Duke's offense is coming off a strong performance, scoring 84 points against North Carolina. They had an overall field goal percentage of 50.7% and made 9/11 free throws. Leading the team in scoring is Kyle Filipowski, who is averaging 17.7 heading into today's matchup. Additionally, Jeremy Roach also maintains a PPG average of 14.2 heading into game.</p><p>At this time, the Blue Devils' defense is positioned 89th in the country, permitting 68.4 points per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 7.2 threes per game vs. Notre Dame. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 33.9%.</p>

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Duke Blue Devils Betting Pick & Prediction 2/7/24

<p>Betting on today's Tigers and Wildcats game? Catch the action at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, KS, as the Wildcats hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 149.5 points, and Kansas State is favored by -7.5 at home against LSU.</p><h3>LSU TIGERS VS KANSAS STATE WILDCATS BETTING PICK</h3><p>The Pick: Kansas State Wildcats -7.5</p><p>This game will be played at Bramlage Coliseum at 9:00 ET on Thursday, November 14th.</p><h3>WHY BET THE KANSAS STATE WILDCATS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-68 in favor of the Wildcats.</li><li>Not only will Kansas State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -7.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 149.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Tigers Exceed Expectations on the Road?</h3><p>LSU improved to 2-0 this season with a 74-61 win over Alabama State on Sunday. The Tigers were -20 favorites going into the game but didn’t cover the spread. The combined points of 135 fell short of the O/U line of 151.5.</p> <p>LSU found themselves trailing 32-26 at halftime but turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Hornets 48-29 to secure the win.</p><p>LSU's offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 44.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 51.1%. They hit 35% from beyond the arc, going 7-for-20, and connected on 73.5% of their free throws, making 25-of-34 attempts.</p> <p>Cam Carter and TJ Madlock each scored 21 points, with Carter hitting 4-of-5 from three-point range. Amarr Knox added 20 points, though he missed all 5 of his three-point attempts. Jordan Sears contributed 18 points and 5 assists, while Dji Bailey was efficient, shooting 66.7% from the field and adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists.</p><p>Despite giving up 61 points, LSU's defense allowed the opponent to shoot 44% from the field, with 21 made baskets on 47 attempts. The Tigers gave up 14 two-point field goals on 27 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, the opponent shot 35%, hitting 7 of 20 three-point attempts. LSU also sent them to the free-throw line 34 times, where they made 25 free throws, a 73% success rate. The Tigers allowed 6 offensive rebounds.</p><h3>Will the Wildcats Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?</h3><h3>Kansas State Wildcats Recent Game/Games</h3> 

<p>Kansas State opened their season with a 77-64 win over Cleveland State on Saturday. The Wildcats were -23 favorites at home but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 141, falling short of the 148-point O/U line.</p> 

<p>After leading 36-24 at halftime, Kansas State scored 41 points in the 2nd half but allowed 40 points, raising some concerns about their defense as they move forward.</p><p>Kansas State's offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting 58.8% from the field and 52.4% from three-point range in their latest game. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 70.6%, with 11 made threes on 21 attempts.</p> <p>Brendan Hausen led the way with 22 points, hitting 6 of 9 from deep. David N'Guessan was perfect from the field, going 6 for 6, while Coleman Hawkins contributed 5 assists.</p><p>Despite Kansas State's defensive struggles, they held their opponent to 64 points. The Wildcats allowed their opponent to shoot 58% from the field, including 63% on two-point attempts.</p> <p>From beyond the arc, Kansas State's opponent hit 11 of 21 threes, shooting 52%. The Wildcats also sent them to the free-throw line 29 times, where they made 17, shooting 58%. Kansas State gave up 7 offensive rebounds.</p>

LSU Tigers vs Kansas State Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/14/24

All eyes in college basketball are going to be on the FS1 matchup between Purdue and Michigan State. Well, all eyes except for ours. There are a lot of games on Friday night in a variety of different conferences and this is a good night to familiarize yourself with some of the mid-major and low-major conferences. That’s where most of the betting value is anyway.

One such game is the matchup between Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky in Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are -6.5 with a total of 143 at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bovada"><strong>Bovada Sportsbook</strong></a> for Friday’s night’s battle in Bowling Green. This is one of the stronger mid-major leagues in college hoops this season and these games are very important in a one-bid league.

We’ll handicap this matchup and find a play for Game 881/882 on January 8.
<h3><strong><u>Louisiana</u></strong><strong><u> Tech Bulldogs</u></strong></h3>
Eric Konkol’s team may have gotten robbed of a chance to go to the NCAA Tournament last season. The Bulldogs were 22-8 and 13-5 in conference play heading into the Conference USA Tournament. Unfortunately, COVID-19 stepped in and got that one canceled.

The Bulldogs had two overtime losses and a one-point loss among their five conference defeats. They were right there and could play with any team in the league. Unfortunately, it was not to be for a team that got a lot of contributions from seniors Mubarak Muhammed, DaQuan Bracey, and Derric Jean. It was Konkol’s best team in Ruston over five seasons and it was a shame to see it end that way.

LA Tech heads into this matchup with an 8-3 record and a 1-1 mark in conference play after splitting last weekend’s games against Marshall. The Bulldogs were 4-of-19 from 3 against Marshall’s 10-of-30 in the second game and those extra 18 points were too much to overcome. We’ll see if this weekend set in Bowling Green plays out the same way.

To this point, LA Tech’s only other losses have been against LSU by 31 and Louisiana by five. Both games were on the road, but this is a team that has played the 241st-ranked schedule per Bart Torvik. The Bulldogs are better defensively than they are offensively. They rank 73rd in eFG% defense, but 172nd in eFG% offense.

LA Tech struggles badly at the free throw line, which has been a multi-year trend, so that may not adjust or improve much. They also rank 314th in Assist Rate. Some of that has to do with making a below average amount of shots, but they just don’t spread the ball around overly well. Outside of the losses to LSU and Louisiana, though, they’ve scored at least .99 points per possession in all but one of their other games.
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bangthebook.com/s/bovada"><span class="td_btn td_btn_lg td_3D_btn" style="background-color: #ff6600;"><span style="color: #ffffff;">CLAIM YOUR WELCOME BONUS AT BOVADA SPORTSBOOK</span></span></a></p>

<h3><strong><u>Western Kentucky</u></strong><strong><u> Hilltoppers</u></strong></h3>
Western Kentucky will be looking to rebound from an overtime last to Charlotte last Saturday. Prior to that defeat, WKU’s only other losses were against West Virginia and Louisville. There is no shame in either one of those losses. They even beat a Northern Iowa team that went 20-of-39 from three-point land in the season opener. Wins over Memphis, Rhode Island, and Alabama certainly stand out as impressive.

Western Kentucky hasn’t generated a lot of margin, though. Any win is a good one, but the only wins of more than six points have come against Mississippi Valley State, one of the 10 worst teams in the country, and Tennessee Tech, a bottom-50 bunch. Even the win over Charlotte in the conference play opener was only by four.

In other words, it is really tough to lay big numbers with the ‘Tops. Opponents are shooting 40.4% from 3 against them and they are only shooting 31.6% from triple land. That has been a bit part of the equation. If teams stop making so many deep shots, Western Kentucky can go on a run. They are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country and have shot 79.3% from the free throw line.

A week off may have helped WKU’s best player, Charles Bassey. The 6-foot-11 junior missed the game against Tennessee Tech and then only had 10 and 11 points, respectively, in the two Charlotte games. He’s a force on the glass and the most important cog in this offense.
<h3><strong><u>Pick &amp; Analysis</u></strong></h3>
Something that really stood out about the Charlotte games for WKU is that the Hilltoppers only had seven combined offensive rebounds. The 49ers were one of the better defensive rebounding teams that they have faced this season. It limited their ability to get second-chance points.

After those games, Charlotte ranks 36th in the nation in ORB% against. LA Tech is a top-70 team in that department. If the Hilltoppers don’t get those easy putbacks or trips to the line, they are not a good jump-shooting team at all.

With that in mind, I’ll take the points with LA Tech. While writing, this line bumped up to 6.5 and even 7 at some places. I’ll look to go against the grain of the move here.
<h4><strong>Pick: Louisiana Tech +6.5</strong></h4>
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Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky College Basketball Free Pick & Prediction 1/8/21

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