College Basketball Expert Picks

Tennessee State won both matchups a season ago over Tennessee Martin. …

Can SEMO get their second road victory of the season? ...

Some 2-9 records are better than others--ask the Beach! ...

MVC sources have alerted to keep an eye on action-packed Murray State. Now at 91 ppg after running away from Akron in a 115-100 shootout at Henderson, first-year HC Ryan Miller (via Greg McDermott's Creighton staff) has assembled a new team of Racers via transfers and frosh. Ex-UIC G Javon Jackson (16.5 ppg) now flourishing in a go-go offense, while hybrid 6-9 frosh point-forward Roman Domon has scored double-digits in six straight. Meanwhile, Drake is still looking to gain some traction for new HC Eric Henderson, off of a good run at South Dakota State, but on its third coach in as many years after the portal cleaned out last year's overachievers for Ben McCollum (many now at Iowa). Play Murray State.

A team that has started to show life after early season struggles are the Bradley Braves. They began the season just 1-3 overall, and now have won each of their last four games. The difference tonight is a conference game against Indiana State, as well as just their second true road game of the season. The Braves won both matchups a season ago including a season high 118 points in the second meeting. Lay the number here with Bradley.

Big number, yes, but I think it should be -250 if the right CCSU team shows up -- so I'll go ahead and bet to win on this. The Blue Devils already own wins at power schools Boston College and Rutgers. Not saying those are Final Four teams, but pretty impressive for an NEC school. And CCSU is 3-0 at home, scoring triple digits in each. Granted, against teams like Godolkin U (actually they might be invincible), Charmin College (the Softies) and Beefaroni State (want one of those T-shirts). When scoring 70+ points under coach Patrick Sellers, who has built a nice program, CCSU is 26-1 in its past 27. Fairfield allows 75.5 and has surrendered at least 70 in all but one road game.

Tip at 7:05 and this just became I think a good play as Temple is down three regulars in Gavin Griffiths, Swish Gilyard and AJ Smith. Now I'm hammering this. Short and sweet.

After watching a loaded Bradley team torch his Sycamores for 118 points last January 15, Matthew Graves isn't likely to see that happen again tonight in Terre Haute. First, these aren't the same Braves, as Brian Wardle had to replace most of the key cogs from his 26-win NIT entry. Second, Graves has found a recipe that appears to be working for ISU, as the Sycs have been controlling pace, allowing just 56 ppg in their last six wins. While not explosive, ISU is rather efficient offensively, hitting a respectable 46.1% from the floor, and getting good mileage from some lower-tier transfers, D-II ex-Truman State PG Xavier Hall (5.3 apg), and NAIA ex-Grace College F Ian Scott (68% FGs). Play Bradley-ISU Under.

As the longest-running act to yet make the NCAA Tournament, we don't want to jump the gun and pencil Bill & Mary into the Big Dance next March, especially after some near-misses at the Colonial/Coastal Tourney in recent years. Still, this is looking pretty exciting for Tribe backers. Their team is scoring up a storm (86 pg) and it hits 50% from the floor. They recently ran off six straight wins before hitting a hot GW in D.C. Brian Earl's fast-paced entry has plenty of balance (seven scoring between 9-12 ppg) and will put pressure on the Highlanders, who are leaning awfully hard on NCS transfer wing Dennis Parker, Jr (19 ppg) for first-year HC Zach Chu. Play W&M.

In the Billikens' last game, an 85-75 win over USF last Saturday, we got a good idea what HC Josh Schertz preaches, as SLU racked up an impressive 20 assists compared to just 9 TOs. That's the latest example of how the Bills continue to be a smooth-running offensive machine, scoring at a 91 ppg clip with five DD scorers, all between 10-13 ppg, with BC transfer G Dion Brown leading the way. Meanwhile, Reggie Theus might have a SWAC contender at BCU, but the Wildcats aren't slowing the pace vs. top-shelf opposition, allowing 94 ppg vs. the five best foes (Auburn, Miami, Dayton, Indiana, Mizzou) faced thus far. Play BCU-SLU Over

A team where their overall record is misleading is Louisiana Tech at 6-3. They have won four out of their last five games, and each of their last three victories have been by margins of twenty plus points. Yet, the strength of competition has not been there, and they are 0-3 on the road. Grab the Green Wave here.

Penny Hardaway's untouchable status in Memphis might be due for review if the Tigers can't climb above .500 (they haven't yet). The latest indicator things might be amiss in the Bluff City was a blowout loss to Louisville, while Penny's latest portal forays don't seem to have replaced explosive G PJ Haggerty, now scoring in bunches for Kansas State, as an effective "trade" with the Wildcats for G Dug McDaniel (14.1 ppg) is tilted much in K-State's direction. (McDaniel is also Penny's only DD scorer.) Mark Byington's explosive Vandy looks a bad matchup, with the Dores rocketing at better than 95 ppg, with athleticism thru the roof since the addition of G Duke Miles (recently Oklahoma, but now on fourth school; 16.6 ppg). Play Vandy

Robert Morris had some big home/away splits last season and it looks like it might be the case again this year. The Colonials are 6-0 at home and 2-4 on the road so far. This is also a good matchup for Robert Morris. The Colonials do a good job on the offensive glass, ranking 30th in second-chance conversion percentage at Haslametrics. Meanwhile Youngstown State is a smaller team that ranks 255th in defensive rebounding percentage. The Penguins rely heavily on the three-point shot, getting 40% of their scoring from beyond the arc. This plays into Robert Morris’ hands. The Colonials have defended the three at an above average rate this season. Bet the Colonials on the ML up to -125 or -2 on the spread.

Greg McDermott is frustrated with his team and I bet on that frustration to continue in Cincinnati. The Bluejays have been blown out in each of their two true road games. Over the past three games, Creighton has allowed opponents to shoot 43.1 percent from beyond the arc. Richard Pitino has a slew of good shooters ready to take advantage of Creighton's lack of connected defenders. I would play this up to -4.

It took a couple of weeks, but Richard Pitino finally has the X on course and on the ascent into Big East play. Five straight wins look a buy signal on the Musketeers, who among other things have been shooting their 3-balls a lot better than the first two weeks, hitting another 12 last Friday vs. Mizzou State and now better than 37% for the season, while ex-FAU PF Tre Carroll looks a potential "Beast of the Big East" after a recent 30-point show vs. crosstown Cincy. Meanwhile this looks a very downgraded Creighton side as Greg McDermott hasn't effectively replaced four DD scorers from last year's latest Big Dance qualifier, and missing the defensive presence 7-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner (now NBA Hornets) provided. Play Xavier