*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks have always liked to play at a quick tempo under coach John Cooper. Most of the teams inside the Mid American Conference slow the game down. Miami will get their chance to play a quick paced game when they take on Lipscomb on Friday night. Lipscomb has been a team that looks to play fast for several years in a row now.

With the new tighter rules we are seeing about four fouls more per game than we have seen in the past. Both of these teams have been teams that do a good job getting to the line in the past two years. They have also both been teams that commit a bunch of fouls. Look for a lot of trips to the charity stripe throughout this game.

My numbers made this game 154 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* The SMU Mustangs play at a methodical pace under Coach Larry Brown. He's suspended now, but SMU isn't going to change the way they play. Stanford lost their two best players from last year, and this Stanford team needed overtime to beat Wisconsin Green Bay at home earlier this year. I don't think Stanford can control the pace of this game, and I think they'll struggle to score against an SMU squad that makes you would hard for every bucket. Look for SMU to grab a lead in this game and work the clock in the second half. I had this number at 141. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Rice Owls lost their best long range shooter from last year, and that's about all Rice could do well last season. The Oregon State Beavers have a very good coach in Wayne Tinkle and he is all about slowing the game down and winning with defense. Oregon State doesn't have many good scoring options, but everyone on this team can play defense. Rice likes to slow the game down as well. This is one of those lines that has gotten out of hand because of the success of early season overs. As the line has been bet up, there's just too much value here to pass up. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* Wisconsin Green Bay has a new coach who has totally changed the look of the team. Their goal is to be one of the fastest paced teams in the country this year. Georgia Tech has worked all offseason on trying to be a faster paced team. Brian Gregory's team put up 116 points in their season opener. Wisconsin Green Bay just gave up 103 points last game to East Tennessee State. I think the Yellow Jackets put up a really big number here and the pace of the game means Green Bay should score plenty as well. I made this line 164. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Creighton Blue Jays have a lot of offensive weapons, and they've made it known in the offseason that they want to get out and run. Here's their chance! Indiana loves to run, and the Hoosiers could put up a really big number here. Indiana ranks as the number one team in the nation in offensive efficiency so far this year. Creighton doesn't have many defensive stoppers on their roster. The Blue Jays will get open looks here, because Indiana's defense has been a problem for the past three years. Look for both teams to knock down a lot of threes and this game to go over the posted total. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are going to be running a lot more this year. Dave Rice said in the preseason that his team has extensively practiced during the offseason to be much faster paced than a year ago. They have the athleticism to beat most teams down the floor. Southern Utah is always glad to play a fast paced game under Coach Nick Robinson. Southern Utah's defense has been among the worst in the nation in each of the last three years. They foul a bunch as well, which will be helpful to the over in this game. A quick tempo with a lot of trips to the charity stripe. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Best Bet Total* The Northwestern Wildcats and Fairfield Stags play a similar style of basketball. Both look to slow down the game and work down the shot clock. Northwestern is without Jershon Cobb this year and he was their best playmaker a year ago. They are also without Vic Law who was slated to be their best player this season. Law was injured before the season. Fairfield played a 70-57 game against Yale earlier this year. Northwestern played a 79-57 game against UMass Lowell.

Because overs have done so well so far this year, I think we'll be able to catch games with inflated lines like this one in some spots. All totals are being bet up several points. While the new rules do make higher scoring games more frequent, teams like Fairfield and Northwestern are unlikely to fundamentally change the way they play the game. This total has gone up 9 points since the opener. That's way too much in my opinion. Take the under big! 

*4 Star College Hoops TV Total* The Providence Friars are led by one of the best players in the country in Kris Dunn. Dunn is going to have a spectacular season this year. Coach Cooley has said he's looking for Dunn and the rest of his team to push the tempo more often this year because of their skillset. Illinois is glad to run. The Fighting Illini have had 93-81 and 80-74 finals in their first two games this year. Malcolm Hill is a very good scorer for Illinois, and the Fighting Illini should attack the rim a lot in this one. I see a close game between two teams who want to run. Take the over. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have a new coach, but they are expected to play the same uptempo style they have in the past. Louisiana Tech uses a full court diamond press to get a lot of turnovers and easy buckets in transition. UT Arlington ranked 8th out of 351 teams in terms of pace last year, and I think this game turns into a real track meet. The sharp money is already on the over, and I made this game 158 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Missouri Tigers know they can't turn this into a fast paced game. Missouri doesn't have the offensive firepower that Xavier has. Missouri is likely to be ranked near the bottom this year in terms of pace. The Tigers had a lot of very low scoring games last year. Xavier is likely to get a big lead and coast in this one. The Musketeers defense should be improved this year vs. last season. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Eastern Kentucky Colonels are playing a totally different style of basketball this year. They have been a slow tempo team for a long time, but now they have a coach who has said his goal is to have this team near the top of the country in terms of pace. They showed that in their season opener. UNC Wilmington pushes the tempo under a coach who learned under Rick Pitino. There will be a lot of pressing and a lot of fouls in this one. The tempo along with the new shorter shot clock and rules to help higher scoring make this a strong play for me. My number here was 157. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Ohio Bobcats are pushing the tempo and they have a lot of offensive weapons. Tennessee State surprised a lot of people by running and scoring like crazy in their season opener. The Tigers put up 86 points on the road. They'll likely lose this game by a good margin, but Ohio should have little to no trouble scoring against this Tennessee State defense that has been really bad the last few seasons. With the shorter shot clock and more blocking fouls being called, I'm taking the over in this game. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Nevada Wolf Pack are playing a much faster paced game under new coach Eric Musselman this year. Nevada has been known for their halfcourt sets that waste a lot of time in the past few years under David Carter, but this is a big change. In practices, Nevada has been playing as fast as possible. Montana State's Brian Fish prefers to play fast too, so I don't see anything slowing this one down. All of the new rule changes are leading to higher scoring games early on, and this total of 147.5 isn't a very high number with the shorter shot clock. Look for a lot of transition baskets here. Take the over. 

*5 Star NCAA BB TOP Play Total* From everything I've read about the Utah Utes in the offseason, this team is changing the way they play this year. Utah is going to push the tempo. Utah was one of the slowest paced teams in the nation last year. It usually takes the oddsmakers a little bit to adjust to something like this. Utah has the perfect opponent to try out their new tempo on tonight in Southern Utah. Southern Utah has been an extremely fast paced team the last few years. Additionally, Southern Utah is awful on defense and fouls a bunch. The Utes should get a lot of easy buckets at the basket, and they should be on the free throw line a lot as well. 

Utah beat down Cal State Monterey Bay 124-70 in exhibition play last week. I'm not saying they'll pour in the points at that pace tonight, but that shows a totally different type of play. This line is far too low. I think this one gets into the 150's. Take the over big! 

*2 Star NCAA BB Championship CASH* The Wisconsin Badgers and Duke Blue Devils meet in the NCAA Championship Game on Monday night. I expect this to be a tremendous game, and with an opening line of pick'em, so do the oddsmakers. I don't want any part of taking a side in this one, but I see a small amount of value in the under. Wisconsin shoots the ball extremely well, but they do still slow the game down. Duke hasn't been pushing the tempo nearly as much in recent games as they did early in the season. In title games, we often see the tempo slow down as both teams know that every possession matters. Note that this is a smaller play than normal for me because both offenses are very good, but with a total this high and an expected slow tempo, I'm siding with the under. Take the under here. 

*4 Star NIT Semifinals Total Domination* The Temple Owls have struggled on the offensive end all year. Temple is a team that struggles to knock down jump shots, and that's dangerous as they go to play the NIT Semifinals here at Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden is arguably the toughest shooting backdrop in the United States. College players very frequently struggle to get a rhythm here. Miami is a team that slows the game down and I expect them to slow the tempo here. The total is inflated due to so many totals going over in the NIT thus far. This one shows plenty of value for me for a couple reasons: the Madison Square Garden factor, and this game means more now because both teams will want to push harder to reach the NIT finals. Take the under. 

*4 Star Elite 8 Total DOMINATION* The Arizona Wildcats lost by a point in this same situation last year against Wisconsin. Arizona gets a huge advantage by playing in front of a ton of their faithful in Los Angeles here. Wisconsin is ranked number one in offensive efficiency, but Arizona is the best defensive team they have played this year. The Badgers still love to run the shot clock down and win with ball control. Arizona is unlikely to turn this game into a track meet. With two teams that play so hard on the defensive end as well as a game that means so much to both teams, I think this total is a few points too high. It's important to note that Wisconsin fouls less than any other team in the country, and that could be a big key for the under here.

The under is 6-1 in Arizona's last 7 neutral site games. The under is 5-1 in Arizona's last 6 games. The under is 37-14-1 in Arizona's last 52 Saturday games. Take the under. 

*3 Star Duke/Utah Totals CASH* The Duke Blue Devils and Utah Utes square off in what should be a pretty competitive game. I thought it was interesting to see the oddsmakers set the opening line at Duke -4.5. That tells me the oddsmakers are very high on Utah in this one. The Utes didn't finish playing their best at the end of the regular season, but they have bounced back and are playing very well in the tournament thus far. If Utah is going to be successful, they must slow the game down and win with ball control and defense. Utah knows not to get into a track meet with a Duke team that has athleticism all over the place. Several teams have been able to slow down the Blue Devils in recent games. 

The difference between this Duke team and last year's team is the fact that this team plays very hard on the defensive end. The Blue Devils aren't going to make things easy on Delon Wright and the Utes offense. Duke does a nice job defending beyond the arc, and that's an area where Utah has done most of their damage this year. 

The under is 4-0 in Duke's last 4 games. The under is 16-5 in their last 21 neutral site games. The under is 7-3 in Utah's last 10. The under is 18-6 in Utah's last 24 neutral site games. Take the under. 

*3 Star Notre Dame/Wichita St Total DOMINATION* The Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense has been tremendous all year. My problem with a team like Notre Dame this time of the year is that they are too reliant on jump shots. Notre Dame is now playing on neutral floors with shooting backdrops that they haven't seen before. That can be tough to handle for teams that rely so much on long range jumpers. Speaking to the value from this angle is the fact that the under is 13-2-1 in Notre Dame's last 16 NCAA Tournament games. Wichita State's defense is a strength too, and Gregg Marshall's team is going to contest most of those jumpers. 

Wichita State has played against two teams who love to run so far in this year's NCAA Tournament, and that has led to two high scoring games. The Shockers typically prefer to slow the game down when they can, and Notre Dame's tempo is actually slower than the average pace in the nation. With a spot in the Elite Eight on the line, it's obvious that this game means a ton to both teams. The more important the game, the slower the tempo tends to be on average. Take the under in this one. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Vermont Catamounts meet in CBI Postseason Tournament game on Wednesday night. The shorter shot clock has brought a bunch of overs so far this postseason. The NIT, CBI, and CIT Tournaments are all using 30 second shot clocks and a bigger restricted circle (more blocking fouls instead of charges). At first, the shorter shot clock might have hurt offenses a bit as they rushed things, but efficiencies are improving across the board now.

This is also a time of the year where teams have typically not cared as much on the defensive end in these smaller postseason tournaments. Louisiana Monroe was a great under team throughout the season, but they have been playing fast and scoring far more efficiently in this tournament. Vermont has scored 85 and 78 points in their two CBI games. With a shorter shot clock, a number this low isn't something I can pass up. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Mercer Bears and the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks have been two great under teams the last couple years. Mercer is a team that slows the game down and tries to get to the line for points. Louisiana Monroe doesn't foul much at all, so Mercer should get less free throws than in a normal game. Monroe ranked dead last, 351st, in the nation in getting to the line this year. Mercer doesn't foul much either. While the shot clock here will be 30 seconds, I still expect both of these teams to use most of that time. This total has been adjusted a little bit too high based on that shorter clock. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Maryland Terrapins play in the Big Ten where most teams like to slow the game down. They have shown the ability to get up and down when they are given the chance. West Virginia is going to do everything they can to force the tempo of this game. The Mountaineers press more than anyone else in the country, and Maryland has been a bit turnover prone late in the year. Importantly, West Virginia commits more fouls than any other team in the nation. Maryland is great at drawing fouls, and the Terrapins are also terrific at the line. As a team, Maryland shoots 76% from the line. They should rack up the points at the charity stripe on Sunday.

It should also be noted that the rims were very loose in Columbus on Friday for the Round of 64, and that helped several shots into the hoop. It should do the same on Sunday. One other key for me here-the public has been taking the under in this game, but the line continues to move up anyways. That's a nice signal. Take the over.

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Arkansas Razorbacks and North Carolina Tar Heels play the same style of basketball. They both get out in transition and try to score before the opposing defense is set. I don't see anyone wanting to slow the game down here. North Carolina is tremendous in transition, and Marcus Paige should have a big game here. Arkansas has more inside strength than they have had in the past, but North Carolina should still get a lot of offensive rebounds and second chance points here. With a very quick pace and a game that should be close throughout, this total is more than attainable. I had this one at 161. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Angle CRUSHER* The Georgia State Panthers have been the darlings of the NCAA Tournament thus far. R.J. Hunter's very long three finished off an amazing comeback by the Panthers. One thing to note from Georgia State's recent games is that star point guard Ryan Harrow is injured. Harrow used to play for Kentucky, and he is a key player for this Panthers team. Without him, Georgia State has decided to slow the tempo down of late. They won the Sun Belt final by a ridiculous score of 38-36 in a game that had just 47 possessions by both teams (65 is average). The Baylor game had only 58 possessions. I think Georgia State slows this game down as well, and that gives us value on the under. Xavier has been a good under team for me this year, and the Musketeers have absolutely shown that they like to slow the game down in important games. This game is the most important one of the season thus far for both teams. 

The under is 4-0 in Xavier's last 4 games. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a win percentage of 60% or higher. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 on a neutral floor. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 following an ATS win. The under is 2-0 in Georgia State's last 2 games. A 21-0 angle. Take the under big! 

*3 Star CIT Totals TKO* This one is a play on a CIT under the radar game. Sam Houston State hosts Louisiana Lafayette in this second round game on Saturday afternoon. Sam Houston State has decided to pick up the pace quite a bit down the stretch. Louisiana Lafayette ranks in the top 12 in the nation in terms of pace. The 30 second shot clock experiment and the larger arc in the paint (more blocking fouls) will be important in this game. This game should stay close throughout, and that means fouling at the end of the game is a very real possibility. I think this game tops 150 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The Oklahoma Sooners still push the tempo a bit, but they don't play nearly as fast as they did last year. Oklahoma is now focusing a lot of their energy on the defensive end of the floor, and I think they are a better team because of that. Albany knows they can't run and keep up with Oklahoma. The Great Danes have done a tremendous job slowing the tempo down against Duke and Florida in their first games in the NCAA Tournament the last two years. They should slow this one down as well. The under is 6-0 in Oklahoma's last 6 games played at a neutral site. The under is 4-0 in Albany's last 4 following an ATS loss. The under is 2-0 in Oklahoma's last 2 games. A 12-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Northern Iowa Panthers and Wyoming Cowboys both rank in the bottom ten teams in the nation (351 teams) in terms of tempo. If you don't like to watch teams stall and use the entire shot clock up on nearly every possession, this isn't going to be the game for you. Northern Iowa normally shoots it well, but this is a neutral floor where the players haven't been before and that typically brings down shooting percentages a bit. Wyoming is very reliant on Larry Nance Jr. in the post, and Northern Iowa has a good frontcourt capable of slowing him down here. While I don't like taking unders that are this low normally, this one is low for a reason. Very low scoring game here. Take the under. 

*4 Star Ohio State/VCU Total DOMINATION* The VCU Rams always want to play fast. VCU isn't very good in the halfcourt sets on offense, but they are tremendous at creating transition scoring opportunities. Ohio State played very fast in their non-conference games this year. The Buckeyes were often slowed down by teams in the Big Ten, but they'll get their wish to play a faster paced game here. VCU's full court defense is great, but the Rams definitely give up some easy baskets in the halfcourt because they aren't nearly as good defensively without Briante Weber. Ohio State isn't nearly the defensive team they used to be when Aaron Craft was here. This one looks like a close game all the way and one that should be relatively high scoring. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Butler Bulldogs have gradually slowed the tempo down over the course of the season. Butler isn't an extremely talented team, but they play some fundamentally sound basketball. The Bulldogs aren't a particularly tall team, and that is going to hurt against Texas' length on defense. Texas is a team that plays slowly as well, and Texas' offense has been a disappointment all year. The Longhorns are number one in the nation in two point field goal defense though. Texas isn't going to give up easy looks around the hoop. This should be a competitive game between two teams that work hard on the defensive end. I had this number at 120 points. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Portland Pilots and Sacramento State Hornets met once already this year and the final was 80-75. They finished at 155 even with a 35 second shot clock. The shot clock will be set at 30 each time today, so I expect several more possessions. Portland and Sacramento State are similar in that they are both way better on the offensive end than they are on the defensive end. The Big Sky Conference (Sacramento State's league) is notorious for bad defenses, and in non-conference games I like to play overs with teams in that game. This should reach the mid 150's. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The shorter shot clock in the NIT has made this total higher than it would have been, but I think this is an overreaction by the oddsmakers. Both of these teams like to play slow, and I don't see them turning this game into an uptempo affair. St. Mary's is great at controlling the tempo, and this game is played on their home floor. I think this one stays in the upper 130's. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* It's an in-state battle here in the state of Arizona. Northern Arizona plays in a much bigger and better league, but Grand Canyon will be hungry to try knock off their bigger foe. In a game like this, I think we see a little more defense than we do in the average postseason game. This game means something to both teams, and that should keep the tempo down a bit and keep the defenses interested. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB First 4 Total DOMINATION* The BYU Cougars push the tempo as well as anyone in the country. While most of the nation knows only Tyler Haws from BYU, it is Kyle Collinsworth who is the key to this BYU offense. Collinsworth is a tremendous point guard with the ability to pass, score, and rebound. Collinsworth set the NCAA record mark with six triple doubles this year. He'll be a big key in this game because I don't think there is a guy on the Ole Miss roster who can slow Collinsworth down. The Rebels like to play quickly as well, and Ole Miss and BYU both can really get hot from long range. Also important in this game is that both team get to the line a lot and shoot free throws very well. BYU shoots 77% at the line and Ole Miss 78% at the line. Both of these defenses put opponents on the line a lot, and that should mean a lot of points on the charity stripe here. 

The over is 5-0 in the Rebels last 5 non-conference games. The over is 5-0 in BYU's last 5 neutral site games. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* These two teams both love to push the tempo and play as fast as possible. Throughout the season both of these teams have had to play against a lot of teams that play stall ball against them, but when these two meet I expect a very high scoring game. Both teams are better on the offensive end than the defensive end. They both shoot free throws extremely well too. Louisiana Lafayette will have a big advantage on the inside and that should lead to a lot of points from their frontcourt. I had this game lined at 165 points. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Central Michigan Chippewas meet tonight. Louisiana Tech is a tricky team because they push the tempo and press, but they are also good on defense in the halfcourt. The Bulldogs aren't good offensively unless they are getting easy buckets off the press. Central Michigan has been one of the best in the nation this year at taking care of the basketball. The Chippewas will look to slow the game down here, and because they take care of the basketball, I think it will be a little more difficult for the Bulldogs to score. This total is inflated by a few points. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Stephen F Austin has changed their style of play in a big way from last year to this year. The Lumberjacks now push the tempo and run at every opportunity. Last year, they were a team that liked to walk it up the court and play slowly. Sam Houston State typically plays to the pace of their opponent. The most important part of this game is both teams ability to get to the charity stripe. Both of these teams rank in the top five in the nation in trips to the charity stripe, and both teams foul a lot on defense. Because of that reason I think this one gets over the total. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Montana Grizzlies are the only team in the Big Sky that really focuses on defense. Montana will slow the tempo down in this game, because that is their best chance of winning. In addition, a game of this magnitude typically sees a slower tempo because both teams have no chance to get into the NCAA Tournament without a win. Both of these teams are capable of hitting a lot of long range jumpers, but the value here is enough to warrant a play. Take the under. 

*4 Star Big East Title Total Takedown* The Villanova Wildcats defense is far better than it was last year. Villanova has been superb all season long, and in my mind they have been one of the biggest surprises in the nation. I knew they would be solid, but they have been way better than I expected. Villanova slows the tempo down more than they have in the past, and they take great care of the basketball. Xavier has been a team I've had success playing the under with. The Musketeers aren't playing nearly as fast recently as they did during the early part of the season. This game is played at Madison Square Garden, where the shooting backdrops are terrible. 

The under is 5-0 in Xavier's last 5 following an ATS win. The under is 6-0 in Xavier's last 6 following a straight up win. The under is 6-1 in Xavier's last 7 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* This is a really interesting spot for these teams. Southern is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, so regardless of who wins this game, it will be Texas Southern representing the SWAC in the NCAA Tournament. That makes for an interesting dynamic here, and I think it means that both teams will play faster than they normally do. Texas Southern has the best offense in the SWAC by a wide margin. Texas Southern should be able to put up a big number here, and Southern typically prefers to play fast as well. Take the over. 

*4 Star Play Over* 

*3 Star Play Under* The under is 24-6 in UCSB's last 30 games at a neutral venue. The under is 42-13 in UC Irvine's last 55 games. When these two teams meet tonight, there's a lot on the line. UC Irvine is the best defensive team in the Big West thanks to a tremendous 7'6 shot blocker in Mamdou N'Diaye. With him in the game, Irvine also slows the tempo down. UCSB prefers a slow tempo as well. The last time these two met (just a couple weeks ago) the game stayed way under this posted total. With so much on the line, I expect the defenses to hold the edge here. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Georgetown Hoyas and Xavier Musketeers have played twice this year and both games stayed way under the posted total. These two teams know each other well, and the defenses make it hard for the opposing offense to get open looks. This game is also played at Madison Square Garden, which probably has the worst shooting backdrop in the country. There are often some very low shooting percentages here when college teams that aren't used to the gym show up. I had this number at 131. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Sacramento State Hornets like to slow the game down. I don't think they are going to let Eastern Washington run and gun like they want to here. Sacramento State has played 13 straight games that have finished under this posted total. In a game of this magnitude, the tempo generally slows down because both teams know how much is at stake. Look for the game to slow down a bit like their last meeting did. I had 147.5 on this one. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and UAB Blazers both like to play fast. Both of their regular season meetings went over this posted total. Both teams have certain areas in this matchup where they should be able to take advantage of the opposing teams weakness. Louisiana Tech should get some easy buckets off their full court press because of UAB's weakness in the backcourt. UAB should get a lot of second chance opportunities thanks to LA Tech's inability to get defensive boards. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Over* 

*4 Star Play Under* The Ohio State Buckeyes haven't played as fast lately. Ohio State has improved defensively over the course of the season. The Minnesota Golden Gophers aren't nearly as fast temp wise as they were earlier this year either. These teams met early this year and the Buckeyes won in overtime 74-72. Even with overtime, the tempo was only 69 possessions. This game will be played at a neutral site that both teams are unfamiliar with. That often leads to lower scoring games. I had this one at 138 points. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The George Washington Colonials are good at getting the tempo they want, and in both games with Duquesne this year they have been able to slow the game down. The two regular season meetings finished at 133 and 140 points respectively. The shooting numbers in both games were astronomically high. It's highly unlikely that these two teams can shoot that well again. The venue should help too. This one is played at Barclay's Center in Brooklyn which is a much bigger arena than either team is used to. That kind of thing generally helps the under. Take the under here. 

*5 Star TOP Play Over* My number here was 139. Hawaii pushes the tempo better than anyone else in the Big West Conference. I don't see Hawaii changing the way they play just because it is conference tournament time. The tempo has been really quick in both meetings this year. Take the over big! 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total PERFECTION* The DePaul Blue Demons and Creighton Blue Jays meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight. Madison Square Garden might have the worst shooting backdrop of any gym in the country. College players have a particularly tough time here since they aren't used to shooting in this large of a gym. The first two meetings between these teams were both played at a slow tempo, and if we see a similar tempo here I like our chances with the under. 

The under is 4-0 in Creighton's last 4 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 5-0 in DePaul's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following a straight up loss. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams. A 29-0 angle. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The South Carolina Gamecocks have a terrible offense and a solid defensive team. Missouri is just awful on both ends of the floor. Both of these teams have slowed down their tempo late in the year. Bridgestone Arena will host this game, and it is notorious for its terrible shooting backdrop. These two teams should struggle from the floor in this game. Look for a very sloppy low scoring contest here.

The under is 5-0 in Missouri's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 league games. The under is 7-1 in South Carolina's last 8 neutral site games. A 17-1 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* The Minnesota Golden Gophers beat Rutgers 89-80 in the first meeting between these two teams. While I certainly don't expect a game that is that high scoring, I do think this total is set too low. Rutgers has totally quit on the defensive end at the end of the year. Opposing teams have been lighting them up on a consistent basis. Minnesota likes to push the tempo more than any other team in the league. I had this one at 140.5. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* North Carolina Central is the much better team here, and they should control the tempo of the game. Coppin State loves to run, but they aren't a good team. NC Central grabs an early lead and slows this game down. Also, this game is played at a neutral site that is well known for being a tough site for shooters. This one is a few points too high. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have a really efficient offense with George Marshall leading the way. Marshall transferred to South Dakota State from Wisconsin and he's been a guy that really kickstarts this offense. His athleticism and ability to get his own shot has been key. The Jackrabbits should look to push the tempo against North Dakota State here. North Dakota State likes to slow the game down, but their defense isn't good. They give up a lot of three-pointers, and they are great at shooting threes themselves. This total is posted a few points too low. 

The over is 4-0 in North Dakota State's last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 5-0 in SD State's last 5 following an ATS win. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a 60% or higher win percentage. The over is 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. A 21-0 angle. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play Total* Big play here for me. The Eastern Michigan Eagles have bumped up the tempo in a big way late in the season. Recency means a lot to me when it comes to totals. Miami (Ohio) has been a team that has played to the tempo of their opponent all year long. When they have played against Eastern Michigan this year, both games have gone way over this posted total. In fact, the last game was played at a ridiculously fast 84 possessions pace. Despite some bad shooting numbers, that game finished at 152 points. My numbers made this game 140 points. The over is 9-2 in E. Mich's last 11 games. Take the over big! 

*3 Star NCAA BB Total DOMINATION* The Iona Gaels are tremendous at forcing the tempo of the game. Iona isn't going to slow down for anyone, because that simply isn't Tim Cluess' style. Monmouth initially slowed their tempo down earlier this year, but they have started playing faster late in the season. Monmouth over the years has been a team that plays fast, and I believe they are going back to that style. Both teams shoot it well from the line, and that's a big bonus here. Take the over. 

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* These two teams might twice during the regular season and both times the game went well over this posted total. Hofstra should be able to dictate the pace here, and they were the fastest paced team in the league. Hofstra is a slight favorite here, but this should be a close game. William & Mary have been the most efficient offense in the CAA all year. With a close game likely, fouling late as neither team wants to see their season end is a very real possibility. I had 156 here. Take the over. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Total* The BYU Cougars love to push the tempo and run, but Santa Clara is a very slow paced team. The first two games between these two stayed well under this posted total, and this game means a lot more so I think the tempo slows down a bit more. Santa Clara's only chance here is to stall, and I think they'll do that. BYU is likely to get a large lead in the second half and then coast to conserve energy for the rest of the tournament. I had this number at 140.5. I see a lot of value on the under.

In Santa Clara's 19 games vs. a WCC opponent this year, zero of those games reached this posted total. The under is 5-0 in BYU's last 5. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 following an ATS cover. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a conference foe. A 34-0 angle. Take the under big!

*5 Star TOP Play of the Week* This is a strong play for me. UC Davis has been shooting the ball extremely well, but they run into the best defense in the Big West here. UC Irvine can really defend, especially now that they have a great shot blocker inside in 7'6 Mamdou N'Diaye. The Anteaters slow the game down much more when he's in the lineup, and since he has missed most of the season, I believe the oddsmakers aren't lowering Irvine's totals enough yet now that he is back. Davis prefers to slow the game down as well, and their defense is much improved this year. Earlier this year the final total was 131 when these two played, and I expect lower than that in this one. I had this one at 128 points. The under is 41-12 in Irvine's last 53 games. Take the under big! 

*3 Star Play Under* The Valparaiso Crusaders and Cleveland State Vikings met twice this year in the regular season. The final totals were 114 points and 109 points. This game means even more because the losing team will be done. That usually means a slower tempo and better defense. Cleveland State and Valpo both like to slow the game down. My numbers had this game at 116.5. Take the under here. 

*3 Star Play Under* The Virginia Cavaliers shut down Louisville earlier this year in a 52-47 win. I think they can do it again here on the road. Virginia's defense is just tremendous and Louisville's offense is even worse now without Jones in the backcourt. Justin Anderson is still out for Virginia and that hurts them a lot on offense. Look for a very low scoring close game. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* Cal Poly has been a great under team for me in the past few years. UCSB is another team that likes to slow the game down. When these two get together, it's typically a very low scoring game. The first game finished 50-45. This one will likely be higher than that, but I like the under. I had this one at 116.5. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Over* The first time these two got together the game coasted over this total. Princeton is great at getting to the line, and Columbia has been fouling a lot lately. The Lions can shoot it really well from long range, and despite their slow tempo they have had some very high scoring games. This one is a few points too low. Take the over. 

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*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Eastern Michigan Eagles have really been pushing the tempo late in the year. Eastern Michigan is looking to get out and run and get to the basket. Toledo is the best offense in the Mid American Conference, and the Rockets should make a living at the line against an Eastern Michigan team that fouls a bunch. The first meeting finished at 144 points, and both teams have been playing at a faster tempo recently. I had this one at 145.5. Take the over. 

*3 Star Ivy League Total* The Penn Quakers and Columbia Lions both play terrible defense. On a lot of my totals plays, I'm looking at tempo. This isn't one of those plays. The tempo here should be slow, but both teams have been burying a ton of threes, and they shouldn't get much resistance from the defense here. Efficiency on offense is the key. The first meeting between these two went to 139 points. I think this one gets into the upper 120's. Take the over. 

*4 Star Play Over* This is the third time these two teams have met this year. I have played the over and cashed in twice, and I'm going to play the over a third time. Both of these teams play terrible defense, and they both prefer to run. Additionally, both of these teams do a bunch of fouling. That is key because this should be a close game, and a foul fest late in the game would not surprise me one bit. The pace of the game is the primary factor, and the poor defense and fouls are a nice boost as well. Take the over. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The UC Irvine Anteaters have been great to under bettors the last couple years. Mamadou N'Diaye is a 7'6 defensive force in the paint for UC Irvine. He missed a lot of time this year due to an injury, but he has come back recently. That slows the game down for them and helps their defense in a huge way. The first meeting between these two stayed well under the total despite him not playing. Fullerton's offense is terrible, and I expect a big Irvine win here. Look for Irvine to grab a big lead and then slow the game down. The under is 40-12-1 in Irvine's last 53 overall. Take the under. 

*5 Star TOP Play Total* The Drake Bulldogs and the Bradley Braves both love to slow the game down. There's little doubt that this game will be played at an extremely slow tempo. The only question is what will the shooting numbers look like? If they don't shoot it well, this one will almost certainly stay under. I'm thinking there's a good chance they won't shoot it well. Arch Madness is played in St. Louis at the Scottrade Center. This is a place that is notorious for its bad shooting backdrops. With two teams who rely on long shots, I think the under is a strong play here. I had 115 for this one. Take the under big!

*3 Star Play Under* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks are a really good under team. They play very slowly. They play tremendous defense. They are bad on the offensive end. Georgia State has improved a lot defensively this year, and Monroe only put up 45 points in the first meeting between these two. Monroe will likely struggle to score again here, but I think their defense will do well too. I had this one at 121.5. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* This game will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. This is a really bad venue for shooters. The backdrop often leads to poor shooting percentages. The first game between these two teams was below this posted total until they went into overtime. The shooting percentages were very good in that game as well. I see a slower tempo and lower shooting numbers. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB National TV Total* The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers matchup tonight in what could be a pretty good game. Minnesota plays top teams well at The Barn, and Wisconsin has been slightly vulnerable on the road. The tempo here should be slow. Wisconsin is playing far slower this year than they did last season, and Minnesota isn't playing fast like they did earlier this year. I had this one at 127.5. Take the under here. 

*4 Star Play Under* The East Carolina Pirates know how they like to play, and they do a good job controlling the style of the game. East Carolina wants to slow the game down, and they should be able to do it here. Temple's offensive efficiency has been really bad inside the conference. The Owls play tremendous defense though, and it's hard to imagine either team finding open shots often today. I had 117 here. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB 100% Angle Total* The Missouri State Bears and Southern Illinois Salukis have a long history of playing low scoring sloppy games against each other. This game is played at the Scottrade Center, which is a terrible venue for shooters. The backdrop often leads to some ugly shooting percentages. These two teams aren't good at shooting it even before that is factored into the equation. The under is 6-0 in Missouri State's last 6 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these two. A 12-0 angle. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* These two teams played twice this year and both games went over this posted total comfortably. These are two really bad defenses and both teams send the opponent to the line a bunch. Even though this is a neutral site where shooting percentages can be lower, I expect the tempo and the number of trips to the line to make this one go over the posted total. I had 142 points. Take the over. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* The Eastern Illinois Panthers have one of the best defenses in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIU Edwardsville is far better on defense than they were a year ago. The real key here though is where this game is being played. It will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. The shooting backdrop here is very bad, and that has led to some ugly shooting numbers and low scoring games in the last few years in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. This should be one of those low scoring contests. I had 124 points here. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB National TV Total* The USC Trojans are without a play maker in McLaughlin. USC didn't have very many play makers to start with, so losing one of them hurt them badly. The Trojans are a team that plays fast, but their inefficiency means that the final scores aren't typically very high in their games. UCLA has surprised a lot of people by slowing the game down significantly in conference play. The Bruins slower pace and better defense has led to a lot of unders. The under is 10-2 in their last 12 games. The under is 7-0 in their last 7 following a win. Take the under here. 

*4 Star Play Under* The Cincinnati Bearcats have been a tremendous under team for a long time now. The under is 54-21 in their last 75 games overall. Cincinnati has a poor offense and a tremendous defense, and the Bearcats really slow the tempo down. This is an important game for both teams, and that should lead to a spirited effort from both defenses. I had this game lined at 115 points. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Under* St. Joe's and LaSalle are very similar teams. They are both competitive largely because they play some tough defense. These two offenses have been horrendous inside Atlantic 10 play. The first game between these two was an ugly game that finished at 101 points. I see poor shooting numbers in this one again. It should be higher than the first game because there weren't many free throws at all in that one, but still below the total. Take the under. 

*3 Star NCAA BB National TV Total* The Florida Gators offense has been a major disappointment this year. Billy Donovan's team hasn't been able to achieve the success they normally have because they simply can't score. This team is still good defensively, and they still like to slow the game down. Texas A&M has always been a slow it down type of team with Coach Kennedy at the helm. The Aggies and Gators met a couple weeks ago and the final total was 125 points, but both teams shot the ball better than normal in that game. Look for lower shooting numbers here. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* Typically conference tournament games are a little bit lower scoring than regular season matchups because these games are so important. Whoever loses this game will see their season end. Look for improved defense and a slower pace because of that. Both of the regular season meetings between these two stayed under the posted total (133 and 120). I had this one lined at 129.5 points. Take the under here. 

*5 Star TOP Play 100% Total* The Miami Ohio Redhawks typically play to the pace of their opponent. Akron has been slowing the game down late in the year this year. The Zips are without their primary point guard, and that has definitely hurt them in the last couple games. Akron can still play great defense though. Akron is number one in the MAC in two point field goal percentage defense. Miami isn't going to get many looks near the rim here. The first game between these two went into overtime and still didn't get to 110 points. 

The under is 4-0 in Akron's last 4 games. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 Tuesday games. The under is 2-0-2 in Miami's last 4 following an ATS loss. The last seven meetings between these two have finished under this posted total. A 22-0 angle. Take the under big! 

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* The Cal Poly Mustangs have been a tremendous under team the last few seasons. Cal Poly is bad on offense, and they are strong on the defensive end. They also play at an extremely slow pace. UC Davis isn't playing fast like they have in the past. Davis is shooting 48% from three point range in the conference, but numbers like that aren't likely to continue against a good defense on the road. I expect a tight game all the way, and I think this game stays below 120 points. Take the under. 

*3 Star Play Under* The first meeting between these two teams stayed well under the posted total, and I like the under here too. Northern Colorado's tempo has been relatively slow of late, and Northern Arizona's defense has been tremendous in conference play. This total is set as if this would be a game between two fast paced teams, but that isn't the case. I think this game stays in the 130's. Take the under. 

*4 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns have been one of the most consistent fast paced teams in the nation this year. Lafayette has only been able to be slowed down by Louisiana Monroe and Texas State, the two slowest paced teams in the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern ran with Lafayette in the first meeting, and I expect another quick pace here. Georgia Southern's offense is underrated, and both teams are good at the free throw line. I had this number at 145. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Over* The Elon Phoenix and UNC Wilmington Seahawks are the two fastest paced teams in the CAA. The first time these two met the final total was 147 points. I think this one gets to the mid 140's again. Both teams are aggressive on defense to try to get steals, but they also foul a lot. There should be plenty of trips to the charity stripe in this game. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Over* The San Jose State Spartans are an absolutely terrible team. San Jose State has decided to speed up the game a bit down the stretch though, and the Spartans defense is one of the worst in the entire nation. Nevada's defense hasn't been good in the conference either. The first game between these two was played fast, but the shooting numbers were terrible. Look for a higher scoring game this time. Take the over. 

*3 Star Play Under* The first time these two teams met the total finished at 144 points. Both teams shot the ball extremely well in that one though, and I expect lower shooting numbers here. This is a really important game for both teams, and that generally means the pace is slower than normal. Montana has the best defense in the Big Sky Conference, and they should slow down the Eagles enough to keep this one under the total. Take the under. 

*4 Star Play Over* The Eastern Michigan Eagles have picked up their tempo in a big way at the end of the year. Eastern Michigan is running at every opportunity. The first game between these two finished just below this posted total, but I expect a quicker pace in this one. Western Michigan has been good offensively over the last two years, and Eastern Michigan fouls a lot so the Broncos will be on the line a lot as well. I had 138 here. Take the over. 

*4 Star Play Over* Two teams who really like to push the tempo. The first meeting sailed past this posted total, and I don't see any reason why this wouldn't either. Fordham's bad defense should allow UMass' offense to put up a big number in this contest. I had this number at 141 points. Take the over.