My 10* CBI TOURNEY GOY is on Cleveland State at 5:00 EST. This is the quarterfinals of the CBI Tournament. The Queens Royals looked decent in advancing by beating Northern Arizona yesterday by a score of 95-78, but I think the Royals will now struggle here in the second game of the back-to-back. Cleveland State has been off since a 56-54 loss to Youngstown State in the Horizon Conference Tournament's second round as a three-point favorite. The Vikings finished 21-12 and second overall in the Horizon, while Queens was 19-14 in the A-Sun, ranked sixth overall. On the season the Royals average 76.6 PPG, while allowing 74.1, while the Vikings average 73.6 PPG, while allowing 66.5. Cleveland State has five players averaging at least eight points, and I believe this depth, as well as the fact that the Vikings are well-rested, will prove to be the difference-makers for them this evening. Lay the points, Cleveland State rolls! 

My 8* SLAM-DUNK NCAA TOURNEY WINNER is on Auburn at 9:00 EST. Auburn closed out the regular season by losing three of its last four games. It was never in any trouble in its 83-63 win over Alabama State in the first round though and I believe it'll pull away for a comfortable win and cover here as well on Saturday night. I really respect Creighton. The Blue Jays had a huge second half by going 15-4 and then they busted half of the nation's brackets by upsetting Louisville 89-75. The Blue Jays have a great offense, but their defense leaves a lot to be desired. They also don't have the big men to make up against  Johni Broome and the Tiger interior. The Tigers are tough defensively on the floor as well, ranked seventh in the country in 3-point defense in conceding just 29% from behind the 3-point line. I say the Blue Jays have a major letdown here finally and Auburn finally plays up to its potential. Lay the points, Auburn rolls!

My 10* 2ND ROUND NIT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Bradley at 2:00 EST. The Braves enter 27-8 after finishing 17-6 in the MVC. The Braves advanced to the second round by beating North Alabama by a score of 71-62 as 4.5-point favorites. George Mason finished 17-4 in the A-10. The Patriots advanced by beating Samford by a score of 86-69 as 6.5-point favorites. Bradley averages 76.7 PPG, while George Mason averages 71.3. The Braves concede 68.6, while the Patriots allow 63.5. Over their last ten games though Bradley is averaging 70.3 PPG, while allowing 66.1, while George Mason has averaged 69 points per game and conceded 66.4 over the same span. I really believe an upset is in the making here, but my official call will be to grab as many points as you can. Bradley rolls!

My 10* 2ND ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on Purdue at 12:40 EST. I had a play on Purdue in its victory over High Point, and now I like the Boilermakers to not only move into the next round but to do so in a convincing fashion once again in this favorable matchup. Here is a small excerpt from that writeup, as a lot of the information contained in that analysis also directly pertains to this pick and why I like the Boilermakers again here in the second round:

... The Boilermakers finished 22-11. They're the No. 4 seed after losing six of their last nine games. I say they come in motivated enough here though to not only win this game but to do so in blowout fashion. Purdue is Top 10 in the country in field-goal shooting at 49% ...

... Purdue is loaded with talent as well, including Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith and I believe they'll be just too much for the Panthers to handle. The Boilermakers have a big talent edge here and I expect them to ride that to a solid victory in the First Round ...

McNeese State is off the 69-67 upset win over Clemson as a seven-point dog, but I believe the Cowboys finally have a letdown here. Clemson played terribly, as McNeese State won despite shooting only 43.5 percent from the floor and 21.1 percent from range. It will be a lot harder now to try and contain Smith and Kaufman-Renn this time though, and I don't believe the Cowboys will. Look for Purdue's size and talent to once again be the deciding factor for the Boilermakers in this matchup and lay the points with confidence.

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on Oregon at 10:10 EST. I really respect the Liberty Flames. They're a great mid-major team, but I think they'll still struggle to keep pace with Oregon down the stretch. Liberty was 28-6 and it won the Conference USA Tournament and regular season title. The Ducks are the No. 5 seed after finishing 12-8 in their first season in the Big Ten. They had won eight straight games before a loss to Michigan State in the Conference Tournament. Oregon center Nate Bittle and point guard Jackson Shelstad will be just too much for the No. 12 Flames in my estimation. All-Conference USA second-team guard Kaden Metheny earned tournament MVP honors, but he faces his most difficult challenge of the year here. I believe Oregon's depth and overall superior talent will in the end prove to be too much for Liberty in this matchup. Lay the point, Ducks roll!

My 10* NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on Missouri. Missouri finished 22-11 this year. The Tigers lost four of their last five, but I expect them to come in rested and ready here. Missouri finished .500 against Top 25 teams this season. Drake finished 30-3 and it has a veteran team led by Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz is great, but the offense is a little thin after that though. In their Conference Tournament win over Bradley back on March 9th, Stirtz led the way with 24 points, but only one other player scored in double figures. Missouri lost to Florida, which went on to win the SEC Tournament, by a score of 95-81. Tamar Bates had 16 points in a losing cause, but I think he and the rest of his team will bounce back big here in the First round. Drakes is a sexy "darkhorse" underdog pick here in Round 1, but I'm not biting. The Bulldogs won't be able to keep pace here offensively, as they've posted below 66 points in four of their last six games. Look for a rested Missouri side to be too much for the Bulldogs on both ends of the floor in this one and lay the points with confidence. Missouri rolls!

My 8* EARLY-RISER play is on Purdue at 12:40 EST. The Boilermakers finished 22-11. They're the No. 4 seed after losing six of their last nine games. I say they come in motivated enough here though to not only win this game, but to do so in blowout fashion. Purdue is Top 10 in the country in field-goal shooting at 49%. The High Point Panthers finished 29-5 and they come in having won 14 straight games, including the Big South Tournament Championship, but they've only played on March Madness team all season. The Panthers enter among the nation's highest-scoring teams in averaging 81.7 PPG, but, clearly, their level of competition has to be questioned. Purdue is loaded with talent as well, including Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith and I believe they'll be just too much for the Panthers to handle. The Boilermakers have a big talent edge here and I expect them to ride that to a solid victory in the First Round. Lay the points, Purdue rolls!

My 10* FIRST FOUR GOY is on Texas at 9:10 EST. The winner of this game will face Illinois on Friday. Xavier finished 21-11 The Musketeers had their seven-game win streak come to an end by Marquette in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. Xavier is led by Zach Freemantel, but the Musketeers finished just 2-5 against teams in the Top 25 this year. Overall Xavier ranks 59th in scoring and 125th in points allowed per contest. The Longhorns come in battle-tested after one of the most difficult schedules in the country. Tre Johnson averages just under 20 PPG this year. In total the Longhorns played against 13 teams ranked in the Top 25 this season. Texas ranks 54th in the country in points per game this year, and 170th in points allowed per contest. The Longhorns also rank 29th in the country in fewest turnovers per game, while the Musketeers rank 130th. Grab the points, the play is on Texas.

My 10* NIT FIRST ROUND GAME OF THE YEAR is on CSU Northridge at 11:00 EST. There's a possible upset in the cards here on Tuesday night, as I feel that CSU Northridge has a legitimate shot at winning this one outright at Stanford vs. the Cardinal. CSU Northridge is 22-10 and 14-7 in Big West action, while Stanford finished 20-13 and 12-10. For me, more than anything, this pick comes down to "recent form." And more specifically, the recent form of each offense. Over their last ten games Maxime Raynaud and the Cardinal are 5-5 and averaging 66.6 PPG, while conceding 70. Conversely, over their last ten games, the Matadors are 7-3 and averaged 80.0 PPG, while conceding 76.1. Marcus Adams Jr. averages 16.1 PPG for Cal State Northridge and I believe their versatile offense will, at the very least, keep them competitive until the final moments. Grab the points, the Matadors roll!

My 8* NIT TOURNEY SLAM-DUNK is on Oklahoma State at 9:00 EST. I think the Cowboys will not only win this first-round matchup on Tuesday night at home, but will do so in blowout fashion. Because of that, I'm laying the points with confidence in this one. Wichita State finished 19-14 overall and 9-11 in the AAC, while Oklahoma State was 15-17 and 7-14 in the Big 12. The Cowboys though finished 8-3 in non-conference action. They each average almost the same, with the Shockers putting up 73.8 PPG on average, and the Cowboys averaging 72.6. The Big 12 was a much more difficult conference this year though in my opinion. The Cowboys beat Cincinnati 78-67 as 3.5-point dogs in their final regular season outing, but then lost to the Beacrats 87-68 in the Conference tournament. The Shockers advanced to the second round and fell 83-80 to Memphis, but in their final regular-season outing, they fell 73-63 at home to Tulsa as 12-point favorites. Look for the Cowboys depth to prove to be the difference here and lay the points.

My 10* SWAC TOURNEY GAME OF THE YEAR is on Alcorn State at 8:30 EST. Alcorn State enters the Tournament as the No. 6 seed after finishing 11-20 overall, including 11-7 in the SWAC. Bethune-Cookman closed 16-15 and 13-5 and as the No. 3 seed overall. When you look more closely at their scoring, they're very evenly matched, with Bethune-Cookman averaging 88.7 points per 100 possessions and Alcorn State averaging 86.2 points per 100 possessions. The Braves won both regular season games vs. the Wildcats, and both times, they were dogs. Bethune-Cookman enjoyed a significant home-floor advantage this year, but this game is being played at the Gateway Center Arena. I do think an outright victory is once again possible for Alcorn State, but my official call is to grab as many points as you can. Alcorn State rolls!

My 10* BIG WEST TOURNAMENT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Cal State Bakersfield at 9:00 EST. Cal State Bakersfield finished 14-18 and No. 8 in the Big West, while UC Santa Barbara was 19-12 and No. 5. The bottom line here is that the recent form of the Roadrunners has me convinced that they not only are going to cover with the spread here, but also could potentially steal this game outright. Cal State Bakersfield closed the season with a 76-64 win over Hawaii as a 2.5-point favorite. The Roadrunners rank second in the conference in three-point percentage, and that's going to come into play and be a key deciding factor in this Conference Tournament game in my opinion. The Gauchos backed their way into the tournament by losing their last two games. These teams played twice this year and UC Santa Barbara won and covered and each, but now here in the Conference Tournament, the value has finally swung the other way in my opinion. It appears to me that this game will be decided by whichever team has its hands on the ball last. So because of that, I'm grabbing the points. Cal State Bakersfield rolls!

My 10* A-10 TOURNEY GAME OF THE YEAR is on Davidson at 11:30 AM EASTERN. I'm going with Davidson to win and cover here on Wednesday morning. The Wildcats backed their way into the Conference Tournament with four straight losses and finished 16-15 overall. But, they did beat Richmond 71-60 on February 8th, and 72-66 on January 25th to sweep the season series. While the old saying goes that it's difficult to beat a team three times in one year, I really like Davidson to bounce back in this opening matchup and post a third straight victory in this series. The Spiders are terrible. They finished 10-21 and they also enter the Conference Tournament having lost four in a row. The "better" team is more prepared to bounce back in this spot, and that's exactly what I'm expecting. This has been a difficult matchup all year for Richmond and nothing will change here in the Conference Tournament. Lay the points, Davidson rolls!

My 8* BIG 12 TOURNEY ROUT is on Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished 17-14 after three straight losses to close out the regular season. That includes a 78-67 setback at Oklahoma State as a 3.5-point favorite in the finale. The Cowboys finished 15-16. Cincinnati stumbled down the stretch of the regular season, but now the Bearcats have a prime opportunity to get back on track in a favorable spot. Cincinnati averages 70.5 PPG, while conceding 63.5. The Cowboys somehow managed the upset win on Senior's Night, but a return to mediocrity would appear imminent now that the Conference Tournament is here. Overall Oklahoma State averaged 72.7 PPG this season, while allowing 76.2. I believe the Bearcats use the final regular season loss as motivation here and keep the foot on the gas until the final horn. Lay the points. 

My 10* SUN BELT Conference Tournament Game of the Year is on Arkansas State at 7:00 EST. This is the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game being played in Pensacola, Florida. Arkansas State got by South Alabama 74-71 to advance, while Troy beat James Madison 79-60 in its semifinal matchup. Arkansas State has so far averaged 75.2 PPG in this tournament, while allowing 72.5. Keep your eyes on Joseph Pinion, who had 23 points last time out (three others scored in double figures.) Troy has averaged 77 PPG in the Conference tournament, while allowing 59.5. Tayton Conerway had 22 points in the victory, but I believe this matchup still favors Arkansas State. These teams went 1-1 SU/ATS vs. each other in the regular season, but the Red Wovles' recent offensive play will turn out to be the difference-maker for them in my opinion tonight. Lay the small amount of points with confidence here, the play is on Arkansas State!

My 10* NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT GAME OF THE YEAR is on Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights were 13-19 in the regular season. They opened the Conference Tournament with a 71-56 victory over Stonehill. They play with revenge following an 87-66 loss here back in early February (lost both conference games to the Blue Devils, both SU and ATS this season). Central Connecticut finished 24-6. The Blue Devils opened the tournament with an 86-67 win over Le Moyne. Terrence Brown is a player to keep your eyes on for the Knights today. He's really developed into a major threat, most recently posting 23 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 36 minutes. I say that the Knights keep their recent momentum rolling here and, at the very least, keep this one competitive enough to earn the comfortable cover. Grab the points, Fairleigh Dickinson rolls!

My 10* CAA Conference Tournament GAME OF THE YEAR is on Stony Brook at 2:00 EST. Stony Brook finished 8-23, but the silver lining saw the Seawolves win their final two games of the year as an underdog. Stony Brook was a ten-point underdog in an 84-74 loss at Delaware in mid-January, so it plays with the added incentive of revenge in this one. The Blue Hens finished with the better 12-19 record, but Delaware backed its way into the Conference Tournament by losing six straight, both SU and ATS. For me, "recent form" is a crtical factor when starting the "playoffs" (in the NBA/NHL/NFL etc), or the Conference Tournaments. I'm not going to call for an outright upset, but that is a very real possibility in this one as well in my opinion. A great situational play in the first round of the CAA Tournament, grab the points as Stony Brook rolls to at least the comfortable cover!

My 10* Missouri Valley Conference Tournament GAME OF THE YEAR is on Murray State at 7:00 EST. Murray State endured mixed results over the regular season and finished 15-16 overall, falling 70-60 in its regular-season finale at Belmont. The Racers will look to move past the Opening round of the Conference Tournament, though in a favorable matchup. Murray State plays with the added incentive of revenge afer losing 78-74 at Evansville in late January as a 5.5-point favorite. The Purple Aces were just 11-20. They lost their final three games of the regular season, including a 62-53 loss at Illinois State in its finale. Nick Ellington did not play for Murray State in the loss to Evansville, and he just finished with 19 points and four rebounds in the most recent loss to the Bears. Look for Murray State to exact a little revenge in the opener of the Conference Tournament and lay the points, as everything points to the Racers rolling!

My 8* SLAM-DUNK is on Washington at 10:30 EST. To say this is a revenge game would be an understatement, as the Trojans have won ten straight in the series, going 7-3 ATS in that span. They won the first meeting of the year by a score of 85-61 back on December 7th in Washington. Washington is 13-16 this year after a 78-62 loss to Indiana last time out. Washington enters having lost four straight, but USC is just 14-15, and it comes in having lost five in a row. The Trojans finish their regular season with a trip to 21-9 UCLA after this, while Washington returns home to face Oregon. Washington's fan base will be all over it here to snap the ten-game losing streak, and I feel that this factor is more than enough to tip the scales in favor of the Huskies tonight. Most likely there will be no outright win, but I see this one being decided in the final moments. Grab the points.

My Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament game of the year is on Central Arkansas at 7:00 EST. Both teams were pretty poor this season, but the Bears play with revenge and I believe that motivational factor will tip the scales in their favor in the opener of the A-Sun Conference tournament. Both teams finished 8-23 and backed their way into the tournament. But I think the Hatters will have a difficult time slowing down Central Arkansas' star player Elias Cato, who averages 14.8 PPG. The Bears play with revenge as I mentioned following a 75-65 road loss back in January. But now the Hatters don't have the "home floor" advantage here in the Conference Tournament. These teams are evenly matched, but I think the Bears will avenge the earlier loss. That said, grab as many points as you can.

My EARLY RISER play is on PSU (12:00 EASTERN). Penn State is going to fight tooth and nail at home and, at the very least, keep this one plenty close enough to comfortably cover with the points in my opinion. This is the first meeting of the year between the Schools. Last year the Nittany Lions won 85-69. Maryland though is 21-6 this season, while PSU is 15-14. Maryland is off a heart-breaking 58-55 home loss to No. 8 Michigan State, and I believe the visitors will still be mentally "hung over" from that setback. The Terps average 82.6 PPG, while conceding 67, while PSU averages 79.4 PPG, while conceding 73.4. With a tough upcoming game at Michigan after this, the visitors could potentially be caught "looking past" their lowly opponent this afternoon. Either way, the EARLY RISER play is on the home side PSU and the points.

At 8:30pm ET, my Sun Belt Game Of The Month is on Southern Miss. The value lies with the home underdog in this Sun Belt showdown. The Golden Eagles are dreadful on the road but their home record is better than Troy's road record. The Trojans won by only 9 when they hosted the Golden Eagles. Again, SMU is terrible on the road and decent at home. SMU's last three losses all came by single digits. Five of Troy's last 6 road games were decided by 7 points or less. Last season's game here was decided by a single point. This will be another nail-biter. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Horizon League Game Of the Month is on Wright State. The Vikings are having a great season but this is a difficult situation. Not only are they off a tough OT loss but they are also playing their 3rd straight road game. This is the first time all season that they will play 3 straight on the road. The Raiders are 3-10 on the road and they lost at Cleveland State back in December. They are a far better 9-3 at the Nutter Center. They defeated the Vikings 82-70 here last season. No big spread to worry about either. Three straight road games will catch up to Cleveland State. Play on Wright State.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of the Week is on Creighton. This game is going to be one sided from the get-go. This season's earlier meeting was played at Depaul and the Bluejays won by 24. Playing at CHI Health Center in Omaha, the Bluejays are poised to deliver an even bigger beating. The Blue Demons are off 5 straight double-digit losses and they're 1-9 on the road. Off a double-digit win over Georgetown, Creighton is 13-2 at home. The Bluejays crush the Blue Demons here annually and they beat them by 23 here last year. I've got them winning by at least that many again tonight. Lay the points.

At 1:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Northern Kentucky. A big talent gap exists between these teams and that will be evident at Truist Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Norse just won 2 of 3 road games on a 3-game trip. Now they come home where they have a 9-6 record. The Jaguars are off a win at Detroit but are still 4-9 on the road. These teams played here last February and the Norse won by 16. The previous February, they beat the Jaguars 86-47 in the game at Northern Kentucky. The Jaguars haven't won 2 games in a row in months. Every 2025 win has been followed by a loss. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my SEC Game Of the Year is on Alabama. By this time of the year, nearly team is dealing with some injuries or missing players. In Kentucky's case, it's missing one its very important players. Point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder) has missed two straight games and five of the last seven. Also, off-guard Jaxson Robinson (wrist) has sat out the last three games. Coach Pope acknowledged how important Butler is to the Wildcats: "Lamont is a really special point of attack defender. So, we can't replace that. That's just a massive challenge for us to try to figure out." Pope also knows he's walking into a hornet's nest: "Now we've got the epic challenge of all challenges going to Alabama and seeing if we can deal with that insanity down there. The Wildcats are 2-5 on the road. The Tide are 10-2 at home. The last meeting here was a 78-52 win for the Tide. Off consecutive defeats, Alabama will show no mercy today. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm Et, my Early Riser is on Oregon. The Badgers have been scoring a lot of points and playing well but they are still going to have their hands full at Kohl Center this afternoon. After the Badgers' win over Illinois, Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said: "I hope we're not peaking ... I don't want to hit the peak yet." Gard needs to be careful what he wishes for. The Ducks have found their way and are off 3 straight wins. Two of their previous 3 losses had been by 6 or less. Coach Dana Altman commented: "Sometimes you just got to find a way." They've got their momentum back and are coming in thinking upset. The last meeting (NIT 2023) was a 3-point game and this one is shaping up to be another nail biter. Grab the points.

At 7:00 pm ET, my MAAC Conference Game Of the Month is on Fairfield. You guys know how I like getting points with the better team. That's how I see this one. The Stags already defeated the Broncs this season. They've won 6 of the past 9 meetings, each of the past 3. Off a 1-point loss, Rider is 3-5 its past 8 games. All 3 victories were by 3 points or less. The Broncs aren't a good team and they have very little home court advantage. As a matter of fact, the Broncs have 7 road wins but they are only 3-6 in their home games. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm Et, my Wednesday Wipeout is on Gonzaga. The Cougars were competitive much of the way in the first meeting. Eventually, the Bulldogs pulled away for a 13-point win. At the time, the Bulldogs were still finding their way. They lost their next 2 games. They've found their footing now though as they are 6-1 their last 7 games and 4-0 their last 4. Those 4 wins came by 20, 17, 11 and 52 points, an average of 25 per game. The Cougars were riding high when they first faced Gonzaga but have since fallen on hard times. They are off a 21-point loss last game and are now 1-6 their last 7. The Cougars won't be as competitive this time as Gonzaga will make sure that this one gets out of hand early. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm Et, my Big 12 Game Of the Month is on Kansas. Off Saturday''s loss at Utah, Bill Self will demand his team responds with a much better effort at Provo tonight. He's great at getting his team to bounce back from defeat, the Jayhawks are 6-0 straight up off their last 6 losses. Self said the following: "I've obviously done a (expletive) job getting these guys to understand the way we have to play in order to give us a chance to win. I'm tired of regrouping. We don't need to regroup. What we need to do is basically be men as an entire organization. Go out and do what our job is to do and accept responsibility for everybody -- players, coaches, everybody -- when we don't do it well." Self will make sure his team hasn't forgotten that BYU beat them at Lawrence last year. Winning on the road in the Big 12 isn't easy but it can be done. We saw Arizona win at Baylor last night and tonight the Jayhawks will walk away with the road win.

At 12 ET, my Early Riser is on Wichita State. The Tigers are playing very well but they will be tested this afternoon. The Shockers went through a tough patch but have come out of it stronger. They are playing their best basketball and are off 3 straight wins. The last 3 games between these teams were decided by an average of only 5.33 points, each by 8 or less. Even when Wichita State loses, the games are usually close. The Shockers' last 4 losses all came by 8 or less. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my WAC Game Of the Month is on California Baptist. The Lancers are off an OT loss on the road last game. That was on the heels of a home win against Grand Canyon, the top team in the conference. A let-down wasn't shocking. It won't happen twice in a row though as the Lancers are ready to roll against an inferior opponent. The Trailblazers are likely the least talented team in the entire WAC. The Lancers have big edges both inside and out. Utah Tech is 0-13 on the road and the Trailblazers have lost their last 7 straight overall. Lay the points.

At 10:00pm ET, my V-Day Super Smash is on Nevada. If it seems surprising to see that San Jose State catching this many points at home, it's because the gap between these teams is real. Nevada is one of the best teams in the Mountain West and San Jose State is not. The Spartans are off consecutive losses and the Wolf Pack are off 3 straight victories. They just won by 25 at home last game and their previous win came by 14, on the road. The Spartans are only 6-6 at home this season. Nevada won by 21 here last season. The Wolf Pack are 8-1 the last 9 meetings and all 8 wins came by 9 or more. Lay the points.

At 11:00pm ET, my WCC Conference Game Of the Month is on Gonzaga. The Bulldogs will comfortably cover the "two touchdown" spread tonight, winning by more than 20. The Dons are an unbeatable 15-0 at home but they're below .500 on the road. They haven't beaten Gonzaga in years and they're playing their 2nd straight on the road. Gonzaga is off a 17-point road win and a 20-point home win before that. St. Mary's and San Francisco are ahead in the conference standings but the Bulldogs will remind everyone why they remain the class of the conference. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of The Week is on Villanova. The Red Storm are really strong this season but this is going to be a difficult environment for them. They are off a huge statement road win at UConn (and Marquette before that) and that may have them ripe for an emotional letdown. The Wildcats just beat Xavier by a dozen, their second straight win of 10 points or more. They play with revenge from a January loss at St. Johns. The Wildcats are 2-1 versus ranked teams this season and they have a strong chance at pulling off the upset in front of the home fans. Grab the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my SWAC Game Of The Month is on Texas Southern. The Tigers have been one of the best teams in the SWAC for years. They've got some good big men which will provide them an edge down low. Bethune-Cookman is a perfect 5-0 on its home floor. On the road, the Wildcats are just 4-12. The Tigers also struggle away from home. They are 3-10 on the road. They are a much better 7-3 at home though. The Tigers won 69-62 their last game here against the Wildcats. Playing at H&PE Arena is going to provide them with the advantage that they need. Lay the points.

At 10:30pm ET, my CBB Game Of The Week is on Arizona. Both teams are red hot but in my opinion, the Wildcats have the stronger squad. They lost at Lubbock earlier but are now playing at home. Arizona is 10-1 on its home floor. Texas Tech star JT Toppin went down with a twisted ankle last game. If he plays tonight, he's likely to be at less than 100%. That will impact the Red Raiders at this difficult venue. Since the loss at Texas Tech, the Wildcats have been on a mission. They've won 5 straight and none of the games were close. They've been waiting for this game and will take care of business on their home floor. Lay the small number.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Richmond. This is too many points to be giving the Spiders. Nine of the past 10 meetings, including each of the past 6, have been decided by 6 points or less. The only one that wasn't that close was a 17-point win by Richmond back in 2020. Every other game has been super close. The Spiders just snapped a 7-game skid by defeating Duquesne in their last game. Understand that 4 of the 7 losses during the losing streak were by 6 or less and 5 of those 7 losses were by 9 or less. Davidson has lost consecutive games, both losses by 6 or less. As a matter of fact, the Wildcats have lost 5 of their last 6 and the only win was by 6. Five of those 6 games were decided by 6 or less. Close games have been the order of the day and this will be another one. Grab the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of The Year is on Connecticut. When was the last time that you could get the Huskies at this low a line for a home game against St. John's? No time in my memory! That shows just how strong this year's St. John's team is. The Red Storm are on a 9-game winning streak and they have to lose in 2025. Impressive stuff but they aren't yet ready to beat the Huskies at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. With the return of star player McNeely and the fact that it's "$2 beer night" in Storrs, the stadium is going to be rocking. McNeely has been out for nearly a month. Even if he doesn't immediately dominate, his return will inspire the rest of the team. The fired up UConn fans will also help provide the Huskies with an extra boost of energy that will put them over the top. The Huskies are off one of their best games, as they beat Marquette on the road. They are 10-1 at home this season. The Red Storm will put up a good fight but it won't be enough. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm Et, my Underdog Game Of The Month is on Montana. These are 2 of the best teams in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado is 9-1 in Big Sky action and Montana is 8-2, good for 1st and 2nd in the conference. This is very important for both teams and we should expect a game which comes down to the wire. As a matter of fact, I believe the visitors will score the upset. The Bears embarrassed them at Montana last month and the Grizzlies have been waiting to settle the score! Prior to last month, 3 of the previous 4 meetings were decided by 6 points or less. The Grizzlies were struggling when they hosted Northern Colorado last month but they have since hit their stride. They have won 4 straight games, going 3-0-1 versus the spread. The Grizzlies are 5-3 ATS the past 8 times that they were underdogs and they're 6-3 ATS the past 9 times that they were underdogs of 6 points or greater. Grab the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my Super Slam Dunk selection is on Ohio. The Bobcats are missing Hadaway but they are still loaded and still have more than enough to beat up the Broncos. Ohio, 7-1 at home, throttled Western Michigan 82-55 in the MAC Tournament last year. The Bobcats have won 6 of the past 7 meetings. Off consecutive losses, they will want to "win big." The Broncos are no strangers to getting blown out. Western Michigan, 3-8 on the road, has seen its last 3 losses come by 21, 9 and 20 points. The class difference will be clear as Ohio is a far stronger squad. Lay the points.

At 2:00pm Et, my Big 12 Game Of The Year is on Cincinnati. I used the Bearcats as my biggest play from the Big 12 last season. They were +9 point underdogs against BYU and won outright by 11. They're not underdogs today but will deliver us another 10+ point victory. Playing at home is important to each of these teams. The Mountaineers won 69-65 when they hosted the Bearcats at Morgantown last year. But when they played at Cincinnati, the Bearcats smashed them by 36 points. Cincy would go on to win the important tie-breaker, a 90-85 victory in the Big 12 Tournament. WVU lost all 5 starters from last year's team and its starting to show. The Mountaineers are off 3 straight defeats. The Bearcats can relate as they have also dropped 3 in a row. Two of those were on the road though and they are still 8-3 at home. Seven of their 8 home wins came by at least 7. WVU might win when these teams meet again on Feb. 19th but this afternoon's game will be all Cincinnati. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my Southland Game Of The Year is on Incarnate Word. These teams squared off against each other 3 weeks ago, at Houston Christian. The Huskies won by 5 points. The Huskies also won a close game, at Houston Christian, against the Cardinals, last season. The Cards won the game on their home floor last season though and they will win again at home today. Incarnate Word is 2-7 on the road but 7-4 at home. The Cards just snapped a 6-game slide by blowing out New Orleans last game. That was just the spark that they needed and they will ride an emotional high into today's game. This is the 3rd straight road game for the Huskies and they've got another one on Monday. That will catch up to them against the hungry Cardinals today. The Cardinals are stronger than they were last year and they have one of the better backcourts in the Southland Conference. Guards Bailey, Anderson and company will lead their team to a 2nd straight win. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my ESPN Early Riser is on Tennessee. The Volunteers have only lost 4 games this season. One of those came at the hands of the Gators, at Florida. That wasn't just any loss. It was a 30-point demolition. Made worse was the fact that Tennessee was undefeated and the top ranked team in the country, at the time. The Vols other 3 losses this season came by just 8 combined points. Today, they will have their revenge from that January 7th debacle. The Vols also also lost big at Florida last year but responded with a 19 point victory in the game at Knoxville. Tennessee coach Barnes said this: "I know our guys are disappointed -- which, I know how much they care, I know how hard they work. ... So we can get better and we've got to get better. And, knowing what I know about these guys, I think we will get better." Barnes team "gets better" and bounces back to blow out the Gators. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big Sky Game Of The Month is on Weber State. The Wildcats played without leading scorer Blaise Threatt for several games and that had a negative effect. Threatt has now returned and the Wildcats are much better because of it. In their last game, Threatt had 26 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. Weber State won 87-81 at Sacramento State. The Wildcats used a different starting lineup and the move paid off. Viljami Vartiainen scored a career-high 22 points. The Wildcats will use that same starting lineup against Idaho and are going to win their 2nd straight. Threatt had 24 points when Weber State hosted Idaho last season, a one-sided 88-65 victory for the Wildcats. The Vandals are off a home loss versus Northern Arizona and their last 2 road games were losses of at least 10 points. This is a team that the Wildcats match up well against. This is the start of 4 straight home games and Weber State needs to tip it off with a victory. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Wednesday Wipeout is on Connecticut. Outmatched at every position, the Blue Demons know what's in store for them at the XL Center on Wednesday. They lost 85-56 here last January and they're absolutely going to get blown out once again tonight. With 3 losses in 5 games, the Huskies are going to be hostile. No strangers to getting crushed, the Blue Demons just lost by 17 against Butler and by 24 against Creighton. UConn won by 13 when these teams met at Chicago on New Year's Day. That result could have been an even more lopsided if the Huskies had been motivated to run up the score as they were up by 21 at half-time, before taking their foot off the gas a little in the 2nd half. With the Huskies off a loss to Xavier, there will be no such mercy tonight. This one will get ugly. Lay the points.

At 11:00pm ET, my MWC Game Of the Week is on San Diego State. I'm confident that the Aztecs are going to smash the Spartans tonight. San Diego State just beat a much better team (Nevada) on the road, by 19 points. That same Nevada team beat SJ State by 9 the previous week. The Spartans are only 1-5 on the road. The Aztecs lost their last home game so they are going to be chomping at the bit to get back in the win column here with a decisive victory. Their last 2 home wins came by 15 over Colorado State and by 29 over Air Force. Still capable of dominating defensively, the Aztecs will not be easy to score against tonight. They have owned the Spartans for years and I expect them to deliver us a 20+ point victory. Lay the points.

At 3:30pm Et, my CUSA Conference Game Of The Year is on Sam Houston. The Bearkats are better than many people realize. Even though their record may not be that impressive, they arguably have the best backcourt in their conference. They are 5-2 on their home floor. The Hilltoppers are also perhaps better than their record and are a solid team. They are just 2-6 on the road though. The Bearkats won both games against WKU last season en route to winning the conference regular season, in their first year as a member of CUSA. They brought back a handful of players from that team including Lamar Wilkerson, one of the best players in the conference. Wilkerson is averaging 19.6 ppg this season and has scored at least 20 in four of his past 5. Look for him to lead his team to victory. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on NC State. Home court will make the difference in this game. The Wolfpack are 0-4 on the road but they are a solid 9-3 at home. With a road game at Duke on deck and off 3 straight losses, the Wolfpack know how important this game is for them. The Mustangs are tough, like most teams in the ACC, but not unbeatable. SMU is 3-2 on the road. The Mustangs just lost by 25 points to Louisville. NC State should win this game outright but getting points in what should be a close game will make things far more comfortable. Keep in mind that the Wolfpack have played 4 straight games which were decided by 3 or less. NC State coach Kevin Keatts will have his team more than ready to snap their skid. Grab the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big 10 Game Of The Week is on Iowa. Last season's games were both won by the home team. The Nittany Lions won by 10 at Penn State and the Hawkeyes won by 9, at Iowa. This season, both teams have been much better on their home floor. The Nittany Lions are 10-2 at home, 1-3 on the road. Also 10-2 at home, the Hawkeyes are winless (0-4) on the road. This is the only meeting of the season. Off 3 straight losses, the Hawkeyes badly need to bounce back with a win. They got off to a slow start last game but Iowa coach Fran McCaffery will have the Hawkeyes ready to go from the opening tip tonight. Averaging 91 points per game at home, the Hawkeyes are going to be tough to keep up against. Lay the points and look for them to deliver us a win and cover.

At 7:00pm ET, my America East Game OF the Year is on Vermont. In terms of talent, these are two teams at the opposite end of the America East Conference. The Catamounts are stacked and the the Highlanders are not. Vermont plays great defense and the Highlanders can't stop anyone. NJIT is coming off a win but each of its wins this season has been followed by a double-digit loss. The Highlanders are 0-10 on the road. Vermont is 6-1 at home. After a slow start, the Catamounts have started to roll. They've won 4 of their last 5. They've defeated the Highlanders by 21, 27, 16, 39 and 21 the past 5 meetings here. They will keep their foot on the foot on the gas and remind the Highlanders who the top team in the conference still is. Vermont by 20+. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my A-10 GOW is on St. Louis. There is a clear class difference between the Billikens and the Explorers. St Louis has beaten La Salle 6 straight times. Every one of those victories came by more than 10 points. Last year, they won by 18. The Billikens have won 5 o their last 6 games and the Explorers are off an 18-point loss at UMass. The Explorers have dropped 3 of their last 5 and their last 7 losses have all been by more than 10 points. With the Billikens 9-1 at home, this will be another blowout. Lay the points.

At 11:00pm ET, my MWC Game Of the Week is on UNLV. These are two teams going in opposite directions. The Cowboys are 0-3 their last 3 games. The losses came by 65 combined points! Their last road game was a 44 point loss. The Rebels just defeated Utah State (now 16-2) and then they won at San Diego State, which is never easy. They will appreciate facing a much weaker Wyoming team. The Rebels have won 4 straight in the series and the wins came by an average of 11 points. Catching the Cowboys at right time, I've got the Rebels winning by even more than that tonight. Lay the points.

At 2:00pm Et, my Under The Radar Rout is on Long Island. The Sharks are playing terrific basketball and that will continue in this afternoon's game versus Mercyhurst. Off 6 straight point spread victories, the Sharks are 8-1 against the spread their last 9 games. Their last 3 home games were all wins by at least 13 points. The Lakers are 3-10 on the road and this will be their 4th consecutive road game. They will get a run of home games after this but for now all the road games will catch up to them. The Sharks will smell the blood in the water and run the road-weary visitors right out of town. Lay the points.

At 3:00pm Et, my Horizon League Game Of the Year is on Wisconsin Milwaukee. The Panthers looked great again in their last game. They beat Youngstown State by 15 points. That's back to back double-digit wins and brings them to 8-2 their last 10 overall. They're a perfect 9-0 at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena! The Panthers average 84.7 points per game here and they only allow 67. The Colonials have also been strong at home but they are below .500 on the road. In 7 meetings between these teams since 2021, the home team has won every time. From a matchup perspective, it is my feeling that the Panthers are better inside and outside. The Panthers impressive play at home continues. Lay the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my Big South Game Of the Year is on High Point. The Panthers were 27-9 last season and they're already 15-5 this season. They're not used to losing but when they do, they immediately bounce back. They lost for the 5th time last game. After their previous 4 losses this season, they went 4-0 the next game. Last time that the Panthers were off a loss, they went on the road and defeated Charleston Southern by 14 in their next game. The time before that they were off a loss, their next game resulted in a 18-point win over Radford. Presbyterian is a team like Radford which the Panthers can handle with ease. The Blue Hose are 1-9 on the road. They are 0-3 their last 3 games and 1-5 their last 6. High Point has won the past 5 meetings. The Panthers' 6th straight win in the series will be a destruction. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Virginia. If Bennett was still the coach of the Cavaliers, this line would be nowhere near what it is. Without him, nobody thinks too much of Virginia, at the moment. The Cavaliers are still a dangerous squad though and they've always had Louisville's number. The Cavaliers have won 9 of the past 10 meetings and they won by 17 at Louisville last January. They nearly beat SMU last game, losing by 2. They're coming around and will be a far tougher challenge than Cardinal fans are hoping for. Grab the points.

At 7:00pm Et, my A-10 Game Of the Month is on St. Josephs. The value of homecourt advantage will be on full display at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena on Friday. VCU is a perfect 9-0 on its home floor. St. Josephs is a solid 7-3 on its home floor. Both teams are only 1-2 on the road. The Rams have been rolling but the Hawks are off the type of game that will have them oozing with confidence. The Hawks will be ready to take down a team which has been a pesky thorn in their side for years. The Hawks beat Loyola-Chicago 93-57 last game. That was a team which swept them last season. They will carry the momentum into Friday and upset the Rams. Play on St. Josephs.

At 11:00pm ET, my road warrior selection is on Gonzaga. The Beavers will finally get a taste of what the top team in the WCC brings to the table. Consistently one of the better teams in the country, year in and year out, Gonzaga rules the roost in the WCC. The Bulldogs are going to want to show the (temporary) league newcomers how things are. Winning on the road isn't an issue for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs have won 11 consecutive true road games, dating to last season. With six players scoring in double digits, the Bulldogs have won five in a row since the start of WCC play. They will flex their muscles and deliver a double-digit victory. Lay the points.

At 6:00pm ET, my Patriot League Game Of The Year is on Army. In a battle of 2 evenly matched teams, homecourt is going to make a big difference. The Leopards won both games last year but each was very close. The game at Lafayette was a 5-point game and the game at West Point went to Overtime. The Black Knights are improved this season and turning those close games into a victory will be a good measuring stick. Both teams are 6-2 at home but each has struggled on the road. The Leopards are only 1-8 in away games. Their only road victory was a 4-point win at Mercyhurst, a team which has lost 10 of its last 13. The Black Knights are off consecutive victories and this make 3 straight. Play on Army.

At 9:00pm ET, my MWC Game Of The Week is on Boise State. Wyoming has been ok but the wheels are about to come off as the Cowboys are walking into the wrong building. With 2 losses in 3 games, the Broncos are angry and they're going to be hostile. The Broncos are 5-0 straight up and 4-1 versus the spread their last 5 games versus the Cowboys. This year, the Cowboys returned 0 starters from last season and are projected to finish near the bottom of the MWC. Projected to finish near the top of the conference and with a massive edge in the frontcourt, the Broncos will have their way with Wyoming tonight. Lay the points.

At 6:30pm ET, my Slam Dunk selection is on Rutgers. Many bettors are going to see the big bad Bruins laying a short number and they'll jump all over them. Fine by me! I've got the Scarlet Knights winning this game outright. UCLA is 1-2 on the road. Rutgers has had issues on the road, too. The Scarlet Knights are 0-3 in their road games. Even off a couple loss, they're still 7-2 at Jersey Mike's Arena though. They badly need to salvage something from their 3-game homestand and will be giving everything they've got to get this victory. The Bruins understandably have more important things on their mind. They've lost 3 straight and 4 of 5. I'll take the points.

At 12pm ET, my Early Riser is on Chattanooga. The Mocs have defeated the Keydets 5 straight times. The last time the Mocs hosted the Keydets, they won 109-61, a 48-point obliteration. This season, the Keydets are 1-7 on the road. This is their 4th road game in their last 5 games. They just lost by 13 at Samford. This will be an even tougher place to play for the Keydets. Off an upset loss in its last game, Chattanooga will show the Keydets no mercy. Three of the Mocs' past 4 wins in the series have been by 20 or more points. This will be another wipeout. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my WCC Game Of the Month is on Gonzaga. If you're looking for a blowout on Saturday night, this should fit the bill. The Bulldogs have won 4 straight overall and they're 8-0 at home. The Cougars are off a gut-wrenching 1-point OT loss to Pacific. They were favored by 15.5 points! If they can't beat the Tigers at home, they surely can't beat the Bulldogs on the road. Each of the Cougars' 3 previous losses was by double-digits and they haven't played a team this good. The Bulldogs are going to run them out of the building. Lay the points.

At 4:00pm ET, my MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Game Of The Year is on Howard. The Bison are one of the best teams in the MEAC. The Bears are projected to finish near the bottom of the conference. The most recent meeting came in last season's MEAC Tournament and Howard won by 13. Both teams have been having trouble away from home. The Bison are 1-6 on the road and the Bears are 0-8! Morgan State is very familiar and comfortable with getting blown out. The Bears' last 5 losses came by 14, 22, 27, 61 and 21 points. The Bison have the best backcourt in the conference and they also have the edge in the frontcourt. They will win this by 10+. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my WAC Game Of the Year is on Grand Canyon. These teams are currently tied atop the WAC standings. The Wolverines are playing at home where they are 5-0. The Antelopes lost their only road game but they're still favored here. What gives? The reason is that Grand Canyon is a much better team than Utah Valley. The low spread is providing outstanding line value. The Antelopes have the best backcourt in the WAC and they have the best front court. They were 17-3 in conference play last season and that including 2 double-digit wins against the Wolverines. The Antelopes won the game at Utah Valley by 19 points, an 86-67 thrashing. They are 5-1 the past 6 meetings (2-0 at Utah Valley) and all 5 wins came by 10 or more. They will remind the Wolverines about how things are in the WAC tonight. Lay the points.

At 5:00pm ET, my selection is on Chattanooga. Playing this afternoon's game at McKenzie Arena will favor the Mocs. This is the Mocs' first home game of 2025 and they will be ready to resume their strong play here. Chattanooga is 6-1 at home but 3-5 on the road. The Spartans are 6-0 at home but 2-4 on the road. These teams had equal 12-6 records in the Southern Conference last season but Chattanooga should finish ahead of UNC Greensboro this season. The Spartans are expected to take a step back. The Mocs are off a 13 point win at The Citadel and they will ride the momentum into today's game. Lay the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my SEC Game Of The Month is on Arkansas. This game will be played at Bud Walton Arena. Advantage Razorbacks. Both these teams are a perfect 8-0 on their home floor. Each has tasted defeat on the road. Ole Miss won at home last January but Arkansas had won the previous 5 meetings. Last game here at Bud Walton Arena was a 69-57 win for the Hogs. Ole Miss had the better record last season but Arkansas, a preseason top 25 team, is the more takented team this year. You'll see that on display tonight. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my MWC Game Of the Month is on Colorado State. We won with the Rams when they went on the road and took down Nevada. Now they're at home against an inferior Fresno State squad. All signs point to a lopsided contest. The Bulldogs have lost 4 straight and 9 of 10. The Bulldogs returned 0 starters from last year and it's showing. They are 1-6 on the road, a narrow 3-point win at Long Beach State. They've lost at places like UC Santa Barbara, California Baptist and Cal State Bakersfield. Eight of Fresno's 11 losses were by double-digits. The Rams are 10-0 the last 10 meetings. Last season's only game was at Fresno and CSU won by 12. Playing at home, this will be an even bigger blowout. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big Ten Game Of The Week is on Minnesota. Things didn't go very well for the Golden Gophers against Purdue. A game against the Ohio State Buckeyes will work out better for them. The Buckeyes have some talented players but they're still all learning to play together and have yet to win a true road game. The Buckeyes lost at home to Michigan State in their last game. The Buckeyes are also 0-2 on the road. The Golden Gophers are now 8-3 at home. Last season's games were both won by the home team. The Golden Gophers defeated the Buckeyes by 9 at Williams Arena. This is likely going to be a very close game and I'm grabbing the points. Play on Minnesota.

At 5:30pm ET, my SWAC Game Of The Year is on Grambling State. With a low line, I will step in and support the better team in Saturday's game at the William J. Nicks Building. Forget the Tigers winless road record and poor overall record from this season. They've been playing road games at places like Cincinnati, Florida, Ole Miss, New Mexico and USC. Instead, remember that the Tigers won a First Four game last season after advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Everything starts today for the Tigers and they are ready to remind everyone that they are still the best in the SWAC. The Panthers gave up 90 points to "College of Biblical Studies" in winning their first game. Since then, they've lost 12 in a row. The Tigers won both meetings last season. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm Et, my CBB Early Riser is on Wake Forest. Homecourt has meant everything to these teams. The Wolfpack are 8-1 at home but 0-2 on the road, 0-4 if counting neutral site games. The Demon Deacons are 1-3 on the road and 7-1 at home. After a poor start at the betting window, they've covered the spread in 2 of their last 3. The home team won both games last season. The line is low. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of The Week is on Creighton. The Golden Eagles sure looked impressive in their big win at Providence. The Bluejays didn't look as good in their win versus St. John's. Those results will stick in everyone's memories. But if we only got back one game further, the Bluejays beat Villanova more convincingly than the Golden Eagles beat Xavier. They're both really good teams! The Bluejays won big last March but the previous 2 games were both very close. The Golden Eagles won by 5 when they last played here. This is going to be another close one and I will gladly grab all the points being offered!

At 8:00pm ET, my Big 10 Game Of The Month is on Minnesota. The Golden Gophers visited Purdue last year as 16.5 point underdogs. Even on the road and with Zach Edey delivering 24 points and 15 rebounds, Minnesota lost by only 8 points. Tonight the Golden Gophers face the Boilermakers at Williams Arena and with Edey no longer part of the picture. They are 8-2 at home. The Boilermakers are 0-2 on the road and they are 2-4 in road/neutral site games with one of those victories coming by only 2 points. Off consecutive victories and knowing they gave Purdue all it could handle last season, the Gophers and coming in confident and thinking upset. Grab the points.

At 2:00pm ET, my Early Riser selection is on Austin Peay. The Governors could easily win this game outright. At the very least, it's going to be very close. Three of the past 4 meetings went to Overtime and the other was a 2-point game: 101-98 (OT), 95-91 (OT), 73-71 and 90-85 (OT). The Ospreys were last in action on 12/21 and they lost 99-45. The Governors just won 93-46 on 12/29. Grab the points with the team which has played recently and which is coming off a huge win, against a team hasn't played in nearly 2 weeks and which hasn't won in nearly 3. Play on Austin Peay.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on East Tennessee State. ETSU is 1-5 on the road but 6-1 at home. VMI was 1-17 in Southern Conference action last year. They may be moving in the right direction but this is still going to be another difficult season for the Keydets. They're 1-5 on the road so far this season. The Buccaneers have beaten the Keydets five straight times and they’re 9-1 the past 10 meetings. The last time the teams met, East Tennessee State won by 32. This will be another wipeout. Lay the points.

At 10:00pm Et, my final play of 2024 is on Nevada. Utah State is off back-to-back impressive road wins over strong opponents. The Aggies beat both San Diego State and Saint Mary's. Winning a 3rd straight road game against another strong opponent is going to be very difficult. Off 2 straight close losses, Nevada will be bringing maximum energy to the Lawlor Events Center. The WolfPack smashed the Aggies at Utah State last season and they also defeated them the last meeting at Nevada. They won by 14 the last time that that they were off 2 straight losses. Lay the points.

At 4:00pm ET, my AAC Game Of The Year is on UAB. You've heard me say it plenty of times over the years but it bears repeating. I always love getting a handful of points when I expect my team to win outright! The Blazers won here in Overtime last year. They also defeated North Texas, at UAB. That Blazer team went to the NCAA Tournament. With 4 returning starters, this year's team is even stronger. They're ready to make an even deeper run into the NCAA Tournament. For their part, the Mean Green returned only 1 starter from a team which lost in the 2nd round of the NIT last year. The Blazers have scored more than 90 points in each of their past 2 games and they've scored 89 or more in 4 straight and 5 of 6. North Texas hasn't scored more than 83 all season. Grab the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my Big 12 Game Of the Month is on Kansas State. The arrival of Big 12 play comes at the right time for the Wildcats. This Kansas State team has a lot of new faces from last season and used the non-conference schedule to come together and get ready for Big 12 play. The big day is here and they'll be ready to go! My expectation is that Kansas State wins outright. Cincinnati lost by 8 last time it was on the road. Points could come in handy though as this game could easily be decided at the final buzzer. Both teams have had some close ones in recent weeks. The Bearcats beat Xavier by 3 and the Wildcats lost to Drake by 3. Last year's game was played at Cincinnati and it resulted in a 2-point win by the Bearcats. It was close the entire way. K-State wins a close one this time. Grab the points.

At 8:00pm Et, my WCC Game Of The Year is on Saint Mary's. The Gaels have beaten the Tigers 5 straight times and 9 of the past 10. Last season's 2 games were both absolute blowouts, Saint Mary's winning both games by more than 40. The Gaels won 76-28 at home and 84-43 on the road. With the Gaels off a loss to Utah State, Pacific is going to have their full attention. The Tigers have lost 5 straight games and their last loss was by 23 at home, versus Idaho. They were favored for that game and got destroyed. That doesn't bode well for the Tigers for Saturday night. They know they're in line for another beating and will already be looking ahead to Monday's more winnable game at San Diego. Lay the points.

At 5:00 pm ET, my Mountain West Conference Game Of the Month is on Colorado State. The Rams lost quite a lot from last year's team which went to the NCAA Tournament and defeated Virginia in the First Four. The cupboard is far from bare though. Off a 10 point win, they bring some momentum into conference play. They used the non-conference slate to gel with the new lineup. A neutral site win against TCU shows they can win away from home. Nevada is a good team but the Wolfpack were also good last year. The Rams beat them in the MWC Tournament. The previous meeting was a 3-point Nevada win. The Wolfpack's loss to Loyola Marymount shows that they can be beaten. Both teams have played several close games and this likely to be another one. Grab the points.

At 12:00pm Et, my Early Riser is on Vermont. Beating Dartmouth is an annual tradition for Vermont. A look at the past 10 years shows that Vermont is 10-0 against the Big Green. Last year's win was by 11 points. The last 7 Vermont wins over Dartmouth were all by at least 9 points. Off a loss to the "Le Moyne Dolphins," Dartmouth won't be ready for the Catamounts. Vermont snapped a 3-game losing streak last game with an 8-point win. The Catamounts will ride the momentum into the weekend and continue their dominance of Dartmouth. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Big East Game Of the Month is on Providence. The Friars followed up a 7-point win with a 4-point loss. In all likelihood, this is going to be another close game. Talent-wise, these teams are quite evenly matched. Even when they're not, the games between them always seem to come down to the wire. The past 5 meetings had scores of 75-72, 75-73, 73-68, 83-80 and 86-82. This is the first true road game which St. Jonn's has played all season. The Friars are 6-0 at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Grab the points.

At 8:30pm ET, my Ohio Valley Conference Game Of the Year is on Tennessee State. Depending on their specific situation, different coaches handle the non-conference schedule differently. Some teams from bigger conferences go all out to win every game, as those early wins may be the difference between getting a tournament invite or not. Teams from lesser conferences aren't going to get "at large bids" the same way. If getting to the NCAA Tournament is their ultimate goal, they need to win their conference tournament. So, their non-conference games aren't necessarily as important. Where I'm going with this is that I'm not overly concerned with Tennessee State's 3-7 non-conference record. The Tigers have an entirely new starting five and they used the non-conference schedule to come together to get ready for Ohio Valley play. Though its a new roster, its a talented one. They flip the switch and start getting serious now. Southern Indiana was only 8-24 last year, 5-13 in conference play. Still transitioning to the league, the Screaming Eagles aren't yet eligible for the NCAA or NIT Tournaments. In my opinion, they shouldn't be favored by this much against what I believe to be a more talented opponent. I'm jumping in and grabbing the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my Sun Belt Conference Game Of The Year is on Ul Lafayette. The Rajin' Cajuns are arguably the better team in this matchup. They're playing at home (Cajundome) and they're even getting a couple of points. Appalachian State is coming off a fantastic season (a year where they returned all 5 starters) but they lost every starter from that team. As a matter of fact, 7 members of last year's team entered the transfer portal. This year's Mountaineers have yet to show that they can win on the road. A 31-point loss at Wisconsin was excusable but the Mountaineers also lost by 15 at UNC Wilmington. The start of Sun Belt play offers the Cajuns a chance at a fresh start after a tough offseason (lost star center) and start to the season. Beating last year's best (Sun Belt) team is a great place to begin. The Cajuns have taken 7 of the past 10 meetings. Grab the points.

At 11:00am ET, my Early Riser selection is on Albany. These teams faced each other 1 year ago, on December 19th, 2023. That game was at the Broadview Center in Albany while this one is at William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield. Playing at home, the Great Danes won by 14. Though they are now on the road, this is another game which the Great Danes can win. Albany plays at a fast pace which will again give Sacred Heart fits. This year's team has taken a little bit to gel and to adapt to a change in defense. Road games at venues like Syracuse and Georgetown will serve them well. They're improved talent-wise from last season and we will begin to see that now. The Pioneers are off a 10-point loss. Grab the points.

At 8:30 PM ET, my selection is on Ul Monroe. The Sun Belt Conference. is quite a lot stronger than the Southland Conference. Depending on the criteria one uses, the Sun Belt ranks around 17th and the Southland ranks around 27th. The Huskies are one of the weakest teams in the Southland. They returned 0 starters from last season and they have a first year coach. The Warhawks pounded Arkansas Pine Bluff by 16 in their last home game. Houston Christian is 0-3 on the road and 1-5 its past 6 overall. Homecourt and superior overall talent will lead to a big win for the Warhawks. Lay the points.

At 8:00pm ET, my #1 Underdog Game Of The Month is on Montana. The Panthers are off 3 straight impressive victories. Those big wins have helped in giving us a lot of points to work with. The Panthers are going to find things a lot more challenging against this really good Montana team. I've got the Grizzlies as the most talented team in the Big Sky Conference this season. The Grizzlies have 4 losses but they've played away from home against teams like Tennessee, Oregon and Utah State. Those teams are a combined 30-1! A visit to Northern Iowa isn't nearly as daunting. The Panthers also have 4 losses but they haven't faced teams like the 3 that I just mentioned Montana had to contend with. That experience against top level competition will benefit the Grizzlies tonight. Grab the points.

At 12:00pm Et, my Early Riser is on Virginia Tech. The Hokies hammered North Carolina AT&T last game. They'd been on a losing streak so that 95-67 dismantling was just what the doctor ordered. Navy is on a losing streak of its own. The Midshipmen have dropped 3 straight. Those losses came against teams from the America East and Coastal Athletic Conferences. Now they're up against a team from the ACC. Last meeting was at Navy and VT won by 20. Yesterday was a big win for the Navy football program but today will be a big loss for the basketball team. Lay the points.

At 10:30pm ET, my December Game Of the Month is on UNLV. The Runnin' Rebels have dropped 3 games in a row. Those losses are excusable though. The first game against a tough SEC (Mississippi State) opponent. The Rebels would have preferred a better result but there was no shame in losing that one. The next loss was the very next day agains a Big Ten (Northwestern) team. It was close but playing 2 difficult games in 2 days was too much and the Rebels lost by 5. The last loss was on the road against Creighton, one of the better teams in the entire country. Those 3 teams are 8-1, 7-3 and 7-3. Losing all 3 wasn't the end of the world. It does mean that the Rebels will be feeling some urgency tonight though. Pacific isn't anywhere close to what the Rebels have been dealing with. The Tigers are already 0-5 on the road and those losses came by an average of 16.8 points. This will mark their 3rd straight road game and that is starting to take a toll. The Rebels have another relatively difficult game (road game at Dayton) on deck and will absolutely make sure that they win convincingly tonight. Lay the points.

At 11:00 AM ET my Early Riser is on Memphis. This battle of Tigers is important for both Memphis and Clemson. Each wants that victory on its resume. They faced each other at Memphis one year ago and Memphis won by 2 points. This is going to be another close game and that makes getting all those points a great option. Clemson is a good team and is playing well. But Clemson was also strong last season (went to Elite 8) and Memphis won. This year, Clemson doesn't have PJ Hall. He led Clemson with 21 points (and 3 blocks) in last year's game. Memphis was upset last game but it responded to its only previous loss by bouncing right back. This year's Memphis teams is perhaps stronger than last year's and has NCAA Tournament aspirations. The (Memphis) Tigers already defeated Michigan State and UConn, as well as other solid teams like UNLV, Missouri and SF. Memphis has seen 4 of 6 decided by 10 or less and Clemson has seen 3 of its last 4 decided by 10 or less. Clemson's last game here was decided by only 4. Grab the points.

At 7:00pm ET, my Wednesday Wipeout is on Duquesne. Its been awhile since these teams faced each other. Duquesne won the last meeting 72-46. Different faces for this game but the result will be another wipeout in favor of the Dukes. Duquesne put it all together last game, a blowout of the Delaware Blue Hens. It was a quality team victory which the Dukes will build from. The Black Bears are off a 15-point loss at Fordham and are now 1-5 on the road. Another road game, this time against a solid A-10 team, will be too tall a task. The point spread is reasonable and could be larger. Lay the points.

At 9:00pm ET, my CBB Slam Dunk Club is on Arkansas. Michigan is hot and has cracked the top 25. This is also a really strong Razorbacks squad. Calipari's first Arkansas team has won its past two games and will take down the Wolverines at MSG on Tuesday. The Razorbacks 2 losses came against Illinois and Baylor, both really good teams. They beat Miami 2 games ago and blew out UTSA last game. Playing their best basketball of the young season, they get a chance for that elusive "big win." Michigan's last 2 wins were both decided by 3 or less. They will get all they handle once again. Play on Arkansas.

At 7:00pm ET, my Atlantic-10 Conference Game Of The Year is on St. Josephs. The Hawks are off their 3rd loss of the season. They've responded brilliantly to each of the first 2 losses. They upset Villanova off their first loss and destroyed Coppin State 83-54 off their 2nd loss. The Explorers are well-coached and they typically fight hard. The roster just isn't there to seriously contend in the A-10 though. They were 6-12 in Conference play last season and are very likely going to finish near the bottom of the A-10 again this season. The Hawks bring back 3 starters (including the top returning scorer in the conference and the last year's rookie of the year) from the team which had a strong run through the A-10 Tournament last year; they're confident and expecting a big season. The Hawks were 2-0 straight up and against the spread against La Salle last season. They won the game at Wells Fargo Center by 20. We can expect another big win today. Lay the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are poised to blow out the Eagles at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. They're 0-2 as the road team but 5-0 as the home team. Wake Forest is one of the stronger teams in the ACC this season. Boston College is one of the very weakest teams. Last season's only meeting was at Boston College and the Deacons won by 6. The talent gap is wider this season and now the Deacons play at home. Prior to the Deacons 6-pt win at BC last season, WF's previous 2 wins over the Eagles came by 22 and 30 points. Boston College is off consecutive losses and was routed 73-51 by South Carolina last game. Playing their first road game, this will be another tough afternoon for the Eagles. Lay the points. 

At 8:30pm ET, my Non-Conference Game Of The Week is on Seton Hall. The Highlanders will encounter a hostile band of Pirates at the Prudential Center this evening. Seton Hall is angry after getting upset by Monmouth. That was another NJ-based school which they were supposed to blow out. They will make absolute certain that it doesn't happen again. NJIT is at the end of a lengthy road trip. They (1-8) won 7 games last season and wins are going to be hard to come by for the Highlanders again this year. A perfect 6-0 the past 6 meetings, the Pirates crushed the Highlanders by 29 the last time these teams faced each other. This will be another one-sided blowout. Lay the points.

At 10:30pm ET, my Big Ten Game Of the Month is on UCLA. The Bruins are going to be much better this season as they are now playing in the Big Ten. Thankfully, for UCLA fans, they are. The Bruins returned 4 starters from last year and they landed 6 significant transfers. They've been playing well to start the season and are going to want to make a splash with a big win in their first ever Big Ten game. Playing at home against a lesser opponent, one they are very familiar with, is a bonus. With all the travel that's going to come from the new schedule, it's imperative to make the most of winnable home games. They beat the Huskies by 12 here last season and the gap is much wider this year. With no returning starters, Washington essentially has an entirely new coaching staff and team. They're not yet ready for what's in store for them at Pauley Pavilion tonight. Lay the points.

At 7:30pm ET, my selection is on UL Monroe. Games between the Mavericks and the Warhawks are close. That past 5 meetings, dating back to January 2021, were all decided by 7 or fewer points. The last one was a 3-point game and the one before that went to Overtime. The Mavericks have a solid squad but they're also 0-2 in true road games. Now they are being asked to go on the road and win by quite a few points. They've had a few days off now but the Mavericks are still fresh off 3 games in 3 days. The Warhawks are coming in fresh and thinking upset. Playing at Fant-Ewing Coliseum will provide them with the edge that they need. Grab the points.

At 12:00pm ET, my Early Riser is on Massachusetts. Bigtime gap between these 2 programs. The Minutemen won 20 games last year and this year's team is better. Coach Frank Martin said before the season: "If I was in the Big 12 or the SEC, I'd be happy with the team I put together here." NJIT (1-7) won 7 games last season and wins are going to be hard to come by for the Highlanders again this year. After a tough early season schedule and now facing a much weaker team, the Minutemen will be more than happy to run up the score on Sunday afternoon. Lay the points.

At 2:00pm ET, my CBB Ground and Pound selection is on Ohio. Robert Morris has gotten off to a solid start but the wheels will come off at the Convocation Center this afternoon. The Colonials did manage a win at Cornell but have otherwise played a soft schedule. They're 5-0 at home but 1-2 on the road. They were blown out 87-59 by the only really good team which they encountered. Don't worry too much about the Bobcats record. They have played 7 games and only 1 was at home. They won that one. Now the work they put in on the road will pay off. This is a strong Ohio team, projected by many to win the MAC. They believe they can make the NCAA Tournament. Look for the Bobcats to reward the home faithful with a big win, letting them know that everything's going to be "just fine" this season.