The Blue Devils and Cardinals are set to face off at 6:00 ET on ACCN. The Cardinals will host the game at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY. In this Atlantic Coast matchup, Duke is favored bt -9.5 vs. Louisville. The over/under for the game is 144.5 points.<h3>DUKE BLUE DEVILS VS LOUISVILLE CARDINALS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Louisville Cardinals +9.5This game will be played at KFC Yum! Center at 6:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.<h3>WHY BET THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Cardinals.</li><li>Not only will Louisville pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +9.5.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 144.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 145 points.</li></ul><h3>Will the Duke Defense Show Up on the Road?</h3>Duke improved to 6-2 on the season with an 84-78 win over Auburn on Wednesday. The Blue Devils, playing at home, were -3.5 favorites going into the game and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 162, surpassing the O/U line of 146.5. Duke led 43-36 at halftime and scored 41 points in the 2nd half while allowing 42. Though they didn’t tighten up defensively after the break, their offense was enough to secure the win.Duke's offense put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.6%, and they grabbed 12 offensive rebounds. Isaiah Evans was a standout, hitting 6 of 8 threes for 18 points in just 16 minutes. Cooper Flagg had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, despite missing all 4 of his three-point attempts.Duke's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 78 points on 50% shooting from the field. They allowed 29 field goals, including 20 two-point baskets on 36 attempts, where the opposing team shot 55%. From beyond the arc, Duke's opponents hit 9 of 22 three-point attempts, shooting 40%. Duke also sent them to the free-throw line 27 times, where they made 17, shooting 63%. Duke gave up 12 offensive rebounds.<h3>Will the Cardinals Find a Way to Win at Home?</h3><h3>Louisville Cardinals Recent Game/Games</h3> 

The Cardinals fell to 5-3 on the season after an 86-63 home loss to Ole Miss on Tuesday. Louisville, who entered the game as -3.5 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. 

After trailing 40-31 at halftime, Louisville allowed 46 points in the 2nd half while scoring just 32. The total points for the game reached 149, falling short of the 152.5 O/U line.Louisville struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 33.3% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the arc, hitting only 5 of their 30 three-point attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 38.6%, though they did manage to shoot 51.9% on two-point attempts. At the free-throw line, the Cardinals went 20-for-30, shooting 66.7%. They grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and finished with 8 assists. Dre Davis led the team with 20 points, shooting 9-for-12 overall and 2-for-3 from three-point range.Despite Louisville's defensive efforts, they gave up 86 points, even while holding their opponent to just 33% shooting from the field. The Cardinals allowed 14 two-point baskets on 27 attempts, a 51% success rate. From beyond the arc, Louisville's defense limited their opponent to 5 threes on 30 attempts, just 16% shooting. However, they sent them to the free-throw line 30 times, where they made 20, shooting 66%. Louisville also allowed 17 offensive rebounds.

Duke Blue Devils vs Louisville Cardinals NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24

Betting on today's Flames and Stars game? Catch the action at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX, as the Stars hosts this showdown at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this Western conference contest is set at 6 goals, with the Stars being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Flames.<h3>CALGARY FLAMES VS DALLAS STARS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Dallas Stars -1.5This game will be played at American Airlines Center at 8:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.<h3>WHY BET THE DALLAS STARS:</h3><ul><li>Coming in as 1.5 goal favorites, our projections have the Stars picking up a 4-3 win.</li><li>Take the Stars on the moneyline</li><li>On the spread, we like Flames (+1.5)</li></ul><h3>Can Calgary Secure a Road Victory?</h3>Calgary fell to 13-9-5 after a 4-2 road loss to the Oilers. The Flames trailed early, giving up a goal just 20 seconds into the game. Calgary was the underdog on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score reaching 6. After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Flames tied it up with goals in the second and third periods. However, the Oilers responded with two more goals to secure the win.Calgary's offense was held to two goals in their 4-2 loss to Edmonton. Anthony Mantha netted his fourth goal of the season on a power play, while Yegor Sharangovich added his first goal of the year. The Flames took 31 shots on goal and recorded 22 giveaways. Calgary was scoreless in the first period before Mantha's goal at 15:27 in the second. Sharangovich tied the game 2-2 with a goal at 15:32 in the third period. Tyson Barrie earned his first assist of the season on Mantha's goal, and Mikael Backlund picked up his fourth assist.Calgary's defense gave up the first two goals of the game, but they came at critical times, with the first coming just 20 seconds into the game and the second at 11:48 in the 1st period. After the Flames tied the game 2-2, they gave up two more goals, including the game-winner at 9:50 in the 3rd period and an empty netter with 3 seconds left. Dan Vladar made 27 saves with a 90% save percentage.<h3>Do the Stars Have a Shot at a Home Win?</h3>Dallas fell to 16-10-0 after a 4-2 loss to the Panthers. The Stars were +1.5 goal underdogs, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, with the combined score of 6 falling just short. 

After trailing 2-0, the Stars tied it up with two second-period goals, but the Panthers responded with two more, including an empty-netter. Evgenii Dadonov and Matt Duchene each scored for Dallas in the loss.Dallas fired 25 shots on goal but managed just two scores in their 4-2 loss to Florida. Evgenii Dadonov netted his second goal of the season on a power play, while Matt Duchene added his seventh. Duchene also picked up his eighth assist on Dadonov's goal. Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley contributed assists, bringing their season totals to four and five, respectively. The Stars were held scoreless in the first and third periods.Defensively, the Stars gave up the first goal just 5:15 into the game and allowed another at 14:45 in the first period. After tying the game at 2-2, they conceded again at 17:28 in the third and an empty-netter at 19:00. Goalie Casey DeSmith made 21 saves with an 87.5% save percentage. The defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 26 hits.

Calgary Flames vs Dallas Stars Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24

Don't miss out on the NBA showdown between the Spurs and Pistons. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on BSDE, and it's hosted by the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Get ready to place your bets! In this non-conference matchup, the Spurs are the betting favorite against the Pistons. The over/under for the game is 239.5 points.<h3>SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS DETROIT PISTONS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Detroit Pistons +3.5This game will be played at Little Caesars Arena at 7:00 ET on Wednesday, January 10th.<h3>WHY BET THE DETROIT PISTONS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 109-107 in favor of the Pistons.</li><li>Our projections have Bojan Bogdanovic finishing with Bojan Bogdanovic points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Pistons finishing with a field goal percentage of 46.7% and knocking down 12 threes.</li></ul><h3>Will San Antonio Come Through as Road Favorites?</h3>Heading into today's game, the Spurs are 3.5-point favorites over the Pistons. San Antonio is 5-30 overall and has lost five straight games. In the Western Conference, the Spurs are 15th and are 5-19 against other teams in the West.

When playing on the road, the Spurs have gone 3-15 and have an average scoring margin of -13.2 points per game. Against the spread, San Antonio is 8-10 on the road and has covered the spread in two straight road games.

As for their overall ATS record, the Spurs are 15-20, and they have been the underdog in 34 of their 35 games. San Antonio has covered the spread in three straight games as the underdog.

So far, the Spurs have played in games with an average of 234.1 points per game. Their over/under record for the season is 21-13-1. In 29 of their games, the over/under line has been lower than today's line of 239.5 points.

In their last game, the Spurs lost to the Cavaliers by a score of 117-115. San Antonio was an 11-point underdog in the game, so they covered the spread by losing by just two points. The over/under line for the game was 232 points, so the result was a push.When it comes to scoring, the Spurs are 26th in the NBA with 111.3 points per game. However, their offense has been better at home, where they are averaging 115.2 points per game compared to 107.7 on the road (29th).

San Antonio is one of the fastest-paced teams in the league, ranking 3rd in pace at 102.3 possessions per game. In terms of field goal percentage, the Spurs are 28th at 45%.

So far this season, the Spurs have made an average of 12.8 three-pointers per game (16th). However, they have struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 34% (29th).Facing Detroit, the Spurs aims for a better defensive performance, given their current average of 122.7 points allowed per game (26th). San Antonio's defense is currently forcing 14.7 turnovers per game, which is 28th in the league. Additionally, they enter the game ranked 8th in blocked shots, with an average of 5.9 rejections per game.<h3>Will the Pistons Win at Home?</h3>Coming into today's game, the Pistons are 3-34 overall, which has them in 15th place in the Eastern Conference. In non-conference games, they are 0-14 compared to 3-20 against other Eastern Conference teams.

When playing at home, the Pistons are 2-15 and have an average scoring margin of -9.6 points per game. Their average scoring margin on the road is -12.9 points per game.

As the underdog, Detroit has gone 3-31 straight up and 14-19 ATS. They have failed to cover the spread in their last two games as the underdog.

So far this season, the Pistons have been the underdog in 34 of their 37 games. Their average scoring margin as the underdog is -11.3 points per game.

On the season, the Pistons have an over/under record of 23-13-1. Their games have averaged 234.2 points per game.

In their last game, the Pistons lost to the Kings by a score of 131-110. They were 10.5-point underdogs and failed to cover the spread by 21 points. The over/under line for the game was 241 points, which resulted in a push.At home this season, the Pistons have averaged 110.4 points per game, which is 27th in the NBA. Overall, they are 25th in scoring at 111.4 points per game. In terms of pace, Detroit is 6th in the league at 100.6 possessions per game.

When it comes to three-point shooting, the Pistons are 28th in three-point percentage at 34%. They are also last in the NBA in made three-pointers per game at 10.5. In terms of overall field goal percentage, Detroit is 20th in the league at 46%.

One area where the Pistons have excelled is on the offensive glass, as they are 8th in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game. In terms of assists, Detroit is 19th in the league at 25.9 per game.At present, the Pistons' defense is ranked 27th, allowing 122.8 points per game. On two point field goal attempts, the Pistons' defensive unit is allowing a field goal percentage of 55.6% and allowing 38.6% from beyond the arc.

San Antonio Spurs vs Detroit Pistons Betting Pick & Prediction 1/10/24

At 9:00 ET, the Kings (-692) will host the Jazz (+499) in a Western Conference matchup. The Kings are favored by 12 points, and the over/under line is set at 231. The game will be played at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Utah is currently 14th in the Western Conference with a record of 5-17, while the Kings are 12th in the West at 11-13. NBCS will have the TV coverage for this game.<h3>UTAH JAZZ VS SACRAMENTO KINGS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Utah Jazz +12This game will be played at Golden 1 Center at 9:00 ET on Sunday, December 8th.<h3>WHY BET THE UTAH JAZZ:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 132-123 in favor of the Kings.</li><li>Our projections have De'Aaron Fox finishing with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.</li><li>From the field, we have the Kings finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.6% and knocking down 13 threes.</li></ul><h3>Does Utah Have A Chance at Golden 1 Center?</h3>The Jazz improved to 5-17 this season after a dominant 141-99 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday. Utah, who entered the game as +4 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread with a +42 point margin. The total score of 240 points went over the pre-game line of 224.5 by 15.5 points. Utah took control early with an 11-0 run, turning a 5-3 deficit into a 14-5 lead. They led 33-17 after the 1st quarter and continued to build on that, outscoring Portland 34-27 in the 2nd, 35-26 in the 3rd, and 39-29 in the 4th. Heading into the final quarter, the Jazz were already up 102-70.The Jazz put up 141 points in their win over the Trail Blazers, shooting 55.2% from the field and hitting 14 threes at a 43.8% clip. Johnny Juzang led the way with 22 points, knocking down 6 threes, while John Collins added 20 points, shooting 70% from the floor. Juzang scored 10 points in the 4th quarter, while Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh each added 9 points in the final frame. Drew Eubanks also contributed 8 of his 12 points in the 4th quarter.The Jazz put on a defensive clinic on Friday, holding the Trail Blazers to just 99 points. Utah set the tone early, allowing only 17 points in the 1st quarter. They gave up 27 points in the 2nd and 26 in the 3rd before a 29-point 4th quarter. Utah's defense was strong, limiting Portland to 38% shooting, including 29% from three-point range, where the Blazers made 14 threes. The Jazz also sent Portland to the line 17 times, where they made 11 free throws. Utah controlled the boards with 50 defensive rebounds, allowing just 6 offensive boards.<h3>Do the Kings Stand a Chance at Home?</h3>The Kings moved to 11-13 on the season after a dominant 140-113 win over the Spurs on Friday. Sacramento, favored by 6.5 points, covered the spread with a +27 point margin. The game’s total of 253 points exceeded the 228-point O/U line. After the Spurs went on a 10-0 run early, the Kings responded by outscoring them 36-26 in the 2nd quarter. Sacramento then extended their lead by winning the 3rd quarter 31-27 and closed out the game strong with a 40-27 advantage in the 4th.The Kings put up 140 points in their win over the Spurs, shooting 56.7% from the field and hitting 16 threes at a 47.1% clip. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 23 points, while De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis each added 22. Fox and Monk both scored 7 points in the 3rd quarter, while Kevin Huerter added 8 of his 16 points in the 4th. DeRozan scored 10 points in the 2nd quarter, and Sabonis added 8 in the 3rd.Despite a shaky start, the Kings tightened up their defense after the 1st quarter, allowing just 27 points in each of the final three quarters to secure a 140-113 win over the Spurs. Sacramento held San Antonio to 42% shooting from the field. The Kings gave up 14 threes on 34% shooting from beyond the arc and sent the Spurs to the line 30 times, where they hit 21 free throws. Sacramento finished with 37 defensive rebounds, allowing 12 offensive boards, while also recording 7 steals and 6 blocks.

Utah Jazz vs Sacramento Kings Betting Pick & Prediction 12/8/24

Week 8 of the 2021 college football season features some very interesting matchups, including Saturday’s Big 12 Conference showdown at Jones AT&amp;T Stadium in Lubbock, so here’s the best Kansas State vs. Texas Tech betting pick.



The bookies expect to see a thrilling clash, and according to <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/mybookie/">MyBookie Sportsbook</a>, the Red Raiders are small 1-point home favorites with a total of 60.5 points. Texas Tech is winless in five straight meetings with Kansas State, covering just once in that span.



<h2>The Wildcats hope to snap their three-game skid    </h2>



The Kansas State Wildcats (3-3; 3-3 ATS) are on a three-game losing streak following a 33-20 home defeat to Iowa State this past Saturday. It was another bad day in the office for Chris Klieman boys, who allowed a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the game.



The Wildcats failed to cope with the Cyclones’ ground game, surrendering 6.0 yards per carry. On the other side of the ball, Kansas State racked up 136 rushing yards (4.1 per carry), while senior QB Skylar Thompson tossed for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.&nbsp;



Sophomore RB Deuce Vaughn leads the way for the Wildcats with 131 touches for 765 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Kansas State scores 27.3 points per game (77th in the nation) while averaging 162.5 rushing yards (69th) and just 194.8 passing yards (101st).



<h2>The Red Raiders aim for their second straight win</h2>



The Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2; 4-3 ATS) had no problems beating the Kansas Jayhawks last Saturday, 41-14. They covered as 18-point road favorites to bounce back from a heavy 52-31 home loss to the TCU Horned Frogs in Week 6.



The Red Raiders dominated the Jayhawks from the kick-off to finish, racking up 438 total yards and surrendering only 273 in a return. Four different players accounted for a rushing TD, while senior signal-caller Henry Colombi went 14-of-20 for 124 yards, a TD, and an interception. The Red Raiders missed their starting QB Tyler Shough, who’ll remain sidelined for at least a month due to a broken collarbone.



Texas Tech tallies 35.7 points per game (25th in the country) on 168.6 rushing yards (63rd) and 286.9 passing yards (21st). The Red Raiders yield 31.4 points in a return (tied-101st) on 161.7 rushing yards (85th) and 224.7 passing yards per contest (66th).



Trends:



Kansas State:



<ul><li>8-2 ATS in the last ten games against Texas Tech</li><li>6-2 ATS in the last eight games played in October&nbsp;</li></ul>



Texas Tech:



<ul><li>3-6 ATS in the last nine games played in October&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>1-3-1 ATS in the last five home games as favorites</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-kansas-state-vs-texas-tech-pick">Kansas State vs. Texas Tech Pick</h2>



I’m looking for the Wildcats’ defense to make the difference. Kansas State allows 24.7 points on 355.2 total yards per game. The Wildcats have met some tough teams during their losing streak, including the No. 6 Oklahoma, so they’ll be fired up to break out of their funk and extend their dominance over the Red Raiders.



On the other side, Texas Tech has been unpredictable so far, outlasting West Virginia 23-20 on the road while losing by 21 to TCU at home. The Red Raiders could easily struggle to move the ball against this Kansas State defensive unit, while their defense has been an issue all season, besides that clash against the hapless Jayhawks.



Pick: Take Kansas State +1.0 at -110&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



The Total:



The Wildcats will try to run the ball and feed Deuce Vaughn as much as they can. Vaughn looks like an NFL-ready RB, while the Wildcats’ defense should be able to slow down Texas Tech’s passing offense.



The under is 5-1 in Texas Tech’s last six outings at home as a favorite. Also, two of the previous three meetings between the Red Raiders and Wildcats went in the under along with a push, and all these three tilts produced fewer than 60 points in total.



Pick: Go under 60.5 points at -110

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech Odds, Pick, Prediction 10/23/21

The Peacocks and Scarlet Knights are set to face off at 7:00 ET on B1G+. The Scarlet Knights will host the game at Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway, NJ. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 130.5 points, with Rutgers being favored by -16 over Saint Peter's.<h3>SAINT PETER'S PEACOCKS VS RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Saint Peter's Peacocks +16This game will be played at Jersey Mike's Arena at 7:00 ET on Monday, November 11th.<h3>WHY BET THE SAINT PETER'S PEACOCKS:</h3><ul><li>We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Scarlet Knights.</li><li>Even though we have Rutgers winning straight-up, we like Saint Peter's at +16.</li><li>The over/under is currently sitting at 130.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.</li></ul><h3>Can Saint Peter's Secure a Road Victory?</h3><h3>Saint Peter's Peacocks Recent Game/Games</h3> Saint Peter's fell 81-74 to UMass-Lowell on Friday, November 8th, in an away game. Despite being +10.5 point underdogs, the Peacocks kept it closer than expected. The game’s total points reached 155, surpassing the over/under line of 135.5. After trailing 37-28 at halftime, Saint Peter's made a push in the 2nd half, scoring 46 points while allowing 44. Though they didn’t get the win, they covered the spread, showing some fight in the 2nd half.Saint Peter's put up 74 points in their latest game, shooting 43.1% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 51.7%. They hit 50% of their two-point attempts and 34.6% from beyond the arc, connecting on 9 of 26 three-point tries. At the free-throw line, the Peacocks made 75%, going 15 for 20. Quinton Mincey led the way with 27 points, shooting 46.2% overall. Marcus Randolph added 16 points, hitting 3 of 9 from three-point range. Mouhamed Sow was efficient, making 5 of 6 shots and grabbing 8 rebounds. Quincy Clark contributed 7 assists to go along with 11 points.Saint Peter's struggled defensively, giving up 81 points on 44% shooting from the field. They allowed 47% shooting on two-point attempts, with their opponents hitting 18 of 38 shots. From beyond the arc, Saint Peter's allowed 6 threes on 16 attempts, a 37% success rate. They also sent their opponents to the line 32 times, where they converted 27 free throws (84%). Saint Peter's gave up 8 offensive rebounds.<h3>Does Rutgers Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?</h3><h3>Rutgers Scarlet Knights Recent Game/Games</h3> 

Rutgers opened their season with a 75-52 win over Wagner on Wednesday. Playing at home, the Scarlet Knights were -17 favorites and covered the spread. The game’s total points of 127 fell short of the 133-point over/under line. 

Rutgers took control early, leading 36-19 at halftime. They scored 39 points in the 2nd half while allowing 33, showing some defensive lapses but still securing the win.In their latest game, Rutgers put up 75 points, shooting 50.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 58.2%. They were particularly strong inside, hitting 65.6% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from deep, connecting on just 30.4% of their three-pointers. Dylan Harper led the way with 20 points, shooting 64.3% overall, though he was just 1/4 from three. He also added 4 assists. Rutgers had 17 assists as a team, but managed only 4 offensive rebounds and shot 57.1% from the free-throw line.Even with Rutgers allowing 52 points, their defense struggled, giving up 50% shooting from the field. The Scarlet Knights allowed 28 made field goals on 55 attempts. Inside the arc, Rutgers gave up 21/32 shooting (65%). From three-point range, they held their opponent to 7/23 shooting (30%).

Saint Peter's Peacocks vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/11/24

The Final Four is set. We’ll have the Battle of the Lone Star State between Houston and Baylor and then the Battle of the West Coast between UCLA and Gonzaga. Despite everything crazy that has happened this March Madness, we still get two #1 seeds, a #2 seed, and then an out-of-nowhere #11 seed in the Final Four. Some semblance of normalcy.

We’ll look at both games, obviously, but here is the preview for Houston vs. Baylor. Baylor is -5 per our good friends at <a href="http://bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bookmaker">Bookmaker Sportsbook</a> with a total of 135 in the matchup that features the champion of the South Region vs. the champion of the East Region.
<h3>Houston Cougars</h3>
The Cougars have not had the toughest of paths to the Final Four. An opening-round win over Cleveland State was like a controlled scrimmage before a game that was way too close for comfort against Rutgers. Syracuse and Oregon State advanced to the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight, respectively, so the #2 seed Houston played four double-digit seeds to get to this point.

Sure, slowing down an Oregon State team on a heater is impressive to a degree, but Houston has not performed well offensively since that Cleveland State win and has won on the back of its defense. The Cougars have posted eFG% marks of 44.1%, 44.2%, and 41.1% in the last three games. Going 11-of-32 from three against Oregon State was the deciding factor, as the Cougars only made 9-of-30 two-point shots.

This is not a great offensive team. The Cougars are terrific on the offensive glass and have taken great care of the basketball. Other than that, this is a team that ranks 137th in eFG% offense, 111th in 3P%, and 191st in 2P% per Bart Torvik. They’ve struggled to make a lot of shots and played in a pretty weak AAC. Houston’s strength of schedule ranks 95th overall per Torvik and 96th per Ken Pomeroy.

Defensively, though, this is a world-class squad. The Cougars are eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency per both Torvik and KenPom. They lead the nation in eFG% defense at 43.3%. They’re fifth in 2P% defense, 12th in 3P% defense, and 10th in Block%. They protect the rim extremely well and have also done a good job forcing turnovers.

In the tournament so far, opponents are 51-of-121 on twos for a success rate of 42.1%, which is slightly better than their season average of 42.9%. Opponents are 24-of-70 from three, which is 34.3%, clearly better than the 29.2% they’ve allowed overall.

That is a concerning stat to me. Houston has been as good or slightly worse defensively in this tournament as their full body of work while playing four double-digit seeds. Now Baylor awaits, as far and away the best team Houston has played this season.
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<h3>Baylor Bears</h3>
The Baylor Bears have had a much tougher road. They downed Hartford in the first round, but then played Wisconsin, Villanova, and Arkansas. Those are all top-20 caliber teams and actually rank 13th, 12th, and 19th for Ken Pomeroy. Houston’s last three opponents rank 38th, 41st, and 43rd.

Baylor has won those games by 13, 11, and nine points, though the Arkansas game could have been finished by an even higher margin. Baylor was in control of that game for the most part throughout. The Bears never trailed in the game.

Baylor’s defense was the big question coming into this tournament. Arkansas did score 1.051 points per possession in the game, but was limited to just 3-of-11 on threes. Hartford had .715 PPP in the opener. Wisconsin followed with .982 thanks to a 50% day from two and an 8-of-21 performance from three, but that game was never close. Villanova had just .887 PPP. Baylor has defended the three-point line pretty well overall and has continued to win the turnover battle in lopsided fashion.

That will be the key for Baylor in terms of running away with this game. In the four NCAA Tournament games so far, Baylor has 29 turnovers. Opponents have 69. Nice. To be fair, 24 of those belong to Hartford, but Villanova was one of the best teams in the country at taking care of the basketball and Baylor forced 16 turnovers in a game played to just 57 possessions.

If Baylor doesn’t win the turnover battle, we’ll have to look to the glass. Both teams are extremely adept at pulling down offensive rebounds, but Baylor struggles a bit on the defensive end in that department. Houston is pretty pedestrian as well. This should be a tough, rugged, physical game on the glass. These teams are second and seventh in ORB%, with Baylor trailing slightly.

That being said, Baylor projects to make more shots as the vastly superior offense. Baylor leads the nation in 3P% and is in the top 50 in 2P%. Houston can only dream of making that many shots on offense.
<h3>Pick &amp; Analysis</h3>
There are a lot of similarities between these two teams, but also a lot of differences. Baylor has the far better offense, but Houston has the better defense, at least in terms of keeping shots from going in the basket. However, Baylor has faced the 80th-ranked schedule by opposing offenses and Houston the 118th. That gap is even wider here as far as NCAA Tournament teams go.

Both teams are good on the offensive glass and suspect on the defensive glass. Houston is a much slower team from a tempo standpoint, but Baylor has played two slow-paced games in this tourney and held Arkansas to a slower pace last game.

All in all, I have to look at Baylor -5. I know the metrics sites are much closer to a pick ‘em here, but I feel like we know a lot more about Baylor against top competition. The Bears have played 10 Quadrant 1 games to just three for Houston and those games were Syracuse, SMU in January, and Texas Tech around Thanksgiving. Baylor seems to have fixed any of the issues from the COVID pause. I’m on Daaaaaa Bears.
<h4>Pick: Baylor -5</h4>
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Houston vs. Baylor Final Four College Basketball Pick and Preview 4/3/21

Although unusual to have two games on the MNF schedule, the NFL fans will have nothing against this Monday, September 19, and here you can check out the best Vikings vs. Eagles betting pick and odds.



Both teams are hoping to start the new NFL season with a 2-0 record when Philadelphia hosts Minnesota at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 2. The Eagles are 2-point favorites on <a href="https://www.bangthebook.com/sportsbooks/bookmaker/">BookMaker Sportsbook</a>, while the total is set at 50.5 points. These NFC rivals will meet for the first time since 2019.



Vikings gave a pleasant surprise to their fans with a win over the Packers



The Minnesota Vikings were slight 2-point favorites against the divisional foes Green Bay Packers in Week 1 at home, but they recorded a win far easier than expected. The defense played very well and forced two turnovers and kept Aaron Rodgers without a passing touchdown in a 23-7 victory. We didn’t see A-Rod as inefficient for a long time.



Justin Jefferson had the best games of his career as he torched Green Bay’s secondary for 184 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 32 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to JJ. Dalvin Cook rushed for 90 yards on 20 carries. Jordan Hicks dominated on defense with 14 total tackles. The Packers weren’t prepared for this, while the Vikings exploited the fact that Rodgers doesn’t have a top receiver to connect with anymore.



Eagles beat the Lions on the road



The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have trouble beating the Detroit Lions on the road, even though the result doesn’t suggest so. It was 38-35 for Philly, but the Eagles entered the final 14 minutes with a 17-point lead, so they could afford to relax a bit. Philadelphia totaled more yards than Detroit (455-386) and didn’t commit a single turnover.



Jalen Hurts failed to throw a touchdown pass but he did register a rushing TD. Hurts completed 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards and added 90 yards on the ground on 17 carries. A.J. Brown, who came from the Tennessee Titans this offseason, led all the receivers with 155 yards on ten receptions. Miles Sanders needed only four yards to record 100 rushing yards, and the Eagles scored four rushing touchdowns, including Sanders’ one. James Bradberry had a pick six, while Marcus Epps totaled ten tackles.



Trends:



Minnesota:



<ul><li>4-1 ATS in the last five games in September</li><li>5-2 SU in the last seven games vs. NFC East opponents</li></ul>



Philadelphia:



<ul><li>0-4 ATS in the last four games overall</li><li>0-4 ATS in the last four vs. NFC rivals</li><li>3-14 ATS in the last 17 games in September</li></ul>



Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles Pick&nbsp;&nbsp;



Although the Eagles dominated on the ground against Detroit, it won’t be that easy against Minnesota on Monday. Also, I am not sure how the Eagles are planning to stop Justin Jefferson, who is, on his day, surely among the top 5 wideouts in the entire NFL. The Vikings have Adam Thielen, don’t forget about it, and in case Philly opts to double team JJ, Thielen will shine. A.J. Brown is a great addition for the Eagles, and Jalen Hurts is a two-way QB with a lots of potential, but Minnesota has more weapons on offense and a stronger D, so I am backing them to cover.



Pick: Take the Vikings at +2 (-110)



The Total



Philadelphia proved that it cannot be trusted defensively – the Eagles allowed 35 points to the Detroit Tigers! I can only imagine what the Vikings can do to their defense, especially through the air, so I expect to see a high-scoring affair. The Eagles are also more than capable of scoring multiple touchdowns, especially on the ground. Over is 7-2 in the Vikings’ last nine games overall; Over is 9-2 in Minnesota’s previous 11 road games, while Over is 5-0 in the Eagles’ last five home games.



Pick: Go Over 50.5 points (-110)

Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles Odds, Pick, Prediction 9/19/22

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From Truist Park in Atlanta, we have the Rays and Braves facing off in an interleague matchup. First pitch for Sunday's matchup is set for 1:35 PM ET. BSSUN is carrying the game on TV, and the money line odds have the Braves favored at -118 compared to the Rays at -101. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

Braves are on a three-game winning streak and are 38-30 overall, while the Rays have lost two straight and are 33-38. Today's starting pitching matchup has Zach Eflin for the Rays and Hurston Waldrep for the Braves.<h3>ATLANTA BRAVES VS TAMPA BAY RAYS BETTING PICK</h3>The Pick: Atlanta Braves Moneyline -118This game will be played at Truist Park at 1:35 ET on Sunday, June 16th.<h3>HOW TO BET THE RAYS VS BRAVES:</h3><ul><li>We have the Braves winning by a score of 6 to 5</li><li>However, if you're looking for a run line pick, we like the Rays to cover</li><li>As for an over/under pick, we have this game finishing with 11 runs and like the over</li></ul>The most recent game o of this Braves vs. Rays series took place on the road for the Rays. Tampa Bay had a late rally, scoring three runs in the 7th and another run in the 9th, but still fell short with the Braves winning 9-2. Heading into the game, the Braves were favored at -132 on the money line.

Charlie Morton started for the Braves and picked up the win, going six innings and giving up just one run. He finished the game with eight strikeouts but issued two walks. On the other side, Ryan Pepiot got the start for the Rays and took the loss, going just 4 2/3 innings and giving up five runs.

Atlanta's offense was led by Marcell Ozuna and Jarred Kelenic, as they were the only two Braves hitters to have more than one hit. Ozuna, Kelenic, and Matt Olson each homered for the Braves' offense.<h3>Rays Records & Stats</h3>The Rays are 33-38 overall and trail the Yankees by 16 games in the AL East. Currently, they are in 5th place in the division and have gone just 10-17 against other AL East teams. Tampa Bay has dropped two straight games, and they are 3-7 across their last 10 contests.

At home, the Rays are 19-23 this year and 14-15 on the road. As the underdog, the Rays are 12-18 this year, and they are 21-20 when favored. Tampa Bay has an overall series record of 10-10-2 this year.When the Rays are on the road, they have been a solid bet against the run line, going 15-14. Their average run margin for the season is -1.0, but they have been able to cover the run line in 15 of their 29 road games. They have been a better bet against the run line as an underdog, going 14-16, compared to just 14-27 when they are favored.The Rays are on the road today against the Braves, and the over/under line is set at 9 runs. Tampa Bay's games have averaged 8.7 runs per game this season, and their over/under record is 36-33. Their games have had an average over/under line of 8 runs, and when the line is set at 9 runs, their record is 0-3-1. Only 4.2% of their games have had lines set at 9 runs or higher, and their games have gone under the line in 90.1% of their contests. The over has hit in their last two games.Tampa Bay is sending right-hander Zach Eflin to the mound today vs. the Braves. He has made 12 starts this season and has a record of 3-4 with an ERA of 4.06. Eflin's WHIP for the season is currently 1.15. Looking at his overall numbers, Eflin has made four quality starts this year and is coming off an outing in which he didn't allow a homer. In that start vs. the Cubs, he went 5 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs. Eflin has not lost a game since May 13th.For the season, the Rays are averaging just 3.8 runs per game, which is 27th in the league. They have been even worse at home, averaging just 3.7 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting just .232 and have the worst home run total in the league.

Yandy Diaz has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 14/39 in his last nine games. For the season, he is batting .259 and is 2nd on the team with 30 RBIs. Isaac Paredes has a team-high 38 RBIs and is also leading the Rays with 10 home runs. However, he is batting just .286 for the season.<h3>Braves Records & Stats</h3>With their three-game winning streak, the Braves are 38-30 overall and trail the Phillies by eight games in the NL East. So far, they are 12-11 in divisional games. Atlanta has taken the first two games of this series vs. the Rays and have an overall series record of 12-8-2. Recently, they are just 4-6 over their last 10 games.

At home, the Braves have gone 21-12 this season compared to an 17-18 mark on the road. As the favorite, the Braves are 36-25 and 2-5 as the underdog. Their overall record as the home favorite is 21-12. So far, they have been good in interleague play, going 7-3.When the Braves are at home, they have a run line record of 16-17, which is just below .500. Their average run margin at home is 0.5, which is slightly lower than their overall average run margin of 0.6. They have won three straight games against the run line at home and are 30-31 against the run line as the favorite this season.When the Braves play at home, the over/under line is set at 9 runs for their matchup with the Rays. The Braves have an over/under record of 25-40 on the season, and their games have averaged 8.3 runs per game. In games with an over/under line of 9 runs, the Braves have a record of 5-8-2. The over has hit in two straight games for the Braves.Hurston Waldrep is getting the start for the Braves at home against the Rays. He is coming off a loss in his first start of the season, where he went 3 2/3 innings and gave up 7 runs on 4 strikeouts. He did give up a home run in that outing.Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson have been two of the Braves' top power threats this season, with Ozuna's 20 homers ranking 3rd in the league, and Olson's 11 homers putting him 2nd on the team. Ozuna is also batting .327 for the season, while Olson comes in at .252. Over his last five games, Ozuna is 10/20 with four runs scored and seven RBIs, while Olson has gone 8/20 with four runs and four RBIs.

As a team, the Braves are 11th in the league in scoring at 4.5 runs per game. They are also among the league leaders in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Atlanta's offense has been playing well of late, as Austin Riley has two homers in his last five games and is batting .263 in that stretch.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Atlanta Braves Betting Pick & Prediction 6/16/24

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