Wake Forest has the height and physicality to give the Commodores a run for their money. Vanderbilt escaped a close call on the road at Memphis and the Demon Deacons offense is much better than theirs. They rely heavily on their guards and Wake Forest has the ability to force turnovers and provide pressure on defense. The Demon Deacons defend the perimeter well and will need to keep the Vanderbilt off the offensive glass.
Xavier is off a 41-point loss to the Bluejays in their opener for conference play. The public is leaning towards them in a bounce back spot as they’ve won eight of the last 10 meetings between these two. Georgetown is also 0-5 ATS at home thus far. However, the Hoyas don't rely on the three, like the Xavier, instead they’re more efficient inside the arc and especially from the stripe. The Musketeers defense has been vulnerable and even though they can be efficient on offense, they've struggled against above average, physical defenses which Georgetown has.
Seattle has failed to cover their last three but the line continues to move in their favor. The Redhawks are also 1-4 ATS at home thus far. Washington has dominated the Redhawks, winners of 16 of the last 17 meetings. But, Seattle is currently 11th in the country from three, 40.1%, while scoring 82.9 points per game and the Huskies struggle defending the perimeter. Washington’s 19-game winning streak over the Redhawks came to an end last season and this inner state rivalry should be competitive as well.
This should be more of a defensive game. Oklahoma gets back Mason Thomas to add to already their above average rushing defense. The Crimson Tide, and Oklahoma’s running game hasn’t been good as each are averaging under 126 yards per game. Ty Simpson has been inconsistent down the stretch and since the Sooners defense is only allowing 2.5 yards per carry, Alabama will continue to lean heavily on their passing attack. However, the Sooners defense is only allowing six yards per pass. Oklahoma has struggled offensively as well and the under is a combined 19-5-1 in each team's last 25 games.
Opening game of OVC conference play for both teams. Neither of these teams play much defense and want an uptempo game. Tennessee Tech is 3-1 SU at home and will dictate the pace, as they’re technically the faster paced team. The Redhawks is 1-4 SU on the road this season where their defense is allowing 82.8 points per game. Tennessee Tech has scored 80 points in four straight games and are the more battle tested team, playing Georgia, Kentucky and pulled two nice upsets over West Georgia and US Upstate, better teams than the Redhawks.
New York is just 4-7 ATS in away from the Garden this season. They’ll also be without Deuce McBride and Landry Shamet tonight but besides those two, they’re fully healthy. The Spurs are a young, fun team and just defeated the reigning champs, but New York is more proven with a veteran lineup and bench. Victor Wembanyama just returned after missing a month and came off the bench Saturday, doubt he comes off the bench tonight, but still could be limited. The Spurs struggle defending the opponents mid-range shots, where Jalen Brunson can carve up any defense.
The Red Raiders have Duke on deck and are off a loss to the Razorbacks. This is a big step up in class for Northern Colorado as they played one of the weaker schedules to begin the season. The Red Raiders are still a top defensive team in the country but they aren’t as strong, overall, as a team like last season. Their bench isn’t deep and still getting fully healthy. Northern Colorado is currently leading the nation in defending the arc but that’s also due to their level of competition. However, there’s familiarly on both sides with coaching and the Bears have nine players averaging 10 minutes, or more. They’re much better free throw shooting team and have size to battle on the boards.
Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo is questionable for tonight. He hasn’t played in 13 days, dealing with an undisclosed injury. The Yellow Jackets are only 2-5 ATS at home this season while Marist is 3-0 ATS on the road. The Red Foxes defense is one of the best in country currently, holding their opponents to less than 44% shooting, and should be able to create turnovers as Georgia Tech has struggled protecting the ball. The Red Foxes two losses on the season came by a combined four points and should’ve beaten Xavier, who’s a better team than the Yellow Jackets. Marist is the much better free throw shooting team too, as the Yellow Jackets are near the bottom of the country.
This is the first true road game of the season for South Carolina but this is also a rivalry game. The Tigers are a deep team but they don’t overwhelm their opponents with athleticism. South Carolina is also a deep team, nine players averaging 12 minutes, or more, per game. Each team wants to play in the half-court, so tempo shouldn’t be an issue. The Gamecocks don’t turn the ball over and were competitive against three of their tougher opponents, losing all three of those games by a combined 12 points. South Carolina has also covered three of the last four games against the Tigers.
Neither of these two teams play much defense as they’re both allowing their opponents to shoot over 51% from the floor. Both teams struggle with turnovers due to their pace of play, especially Portland, and the Golden Flashes are aggressive on defense, creating steals as well. The Golden Flashes are averaging at least 29 threes per game and if they aren’t falling, they’re just outside the top 50 in offensive rebounding. These two are 10-3 to the over in their last 13 games, scoring 182.9 points combined per game this season.
This is only Memphis’ second true road game of the season. The Tigers were competitive against Purdue and just upset Baylor. Despite their SU record, Memphis is 7-1 ATS. The Tigers have an experienced team and while they’ve had their struggles offensively, they’re still a deep team with 12 players averaging 10 minutes, or more. Penny Hardaway is not a coach that you want to be laying points with, but getting them is a different story as Hardaway is 35-19 ATS as an underdog in his time at Memphis. The Tigers should be able to hand around in the first half with Louisville pulling away in the second half, but Tigers can stay within the number.
Iowa State is coming off their big win over the Boilermakers on the road. Their offense has averaged 94.6 points per game and it’s hard to replicate that performance in back‑to‑back games, especially in a rivalry game. Iowa will attempt to slow down the game, defend the perimeter, and have longer possessions. The Cyclones have won and covered three of the last four meetings, but this isn’t a Fran McCaffrey Iowa team, who played very little defense. Ben McCollum’s Hawkeyes have a bigger emphasis on defense and should make the necessary adjustments after their blowout loss to Michigan State in their first true road game.
NC State has failed to cover five of its last six games. This Flames team has more experience than NC State and can go toe-to-toe with them offensively. They’re currently 5th in the nation from beyond the arc, an area the Wolfpack struggle to defend. NC State does have a size and tempo advantage, but their offense can go stagnant at times. This is the Flames first true road game, but they have played two neutral games against two above average mid-major defenses. Liberty has the continuity and shot-making ability take advantage of a vulnerable NC State defense.
Clemson is a deep team, 10 players averaging over 10 minutes per game and eight players averaging over seven points. The Tigers were able to fight their way back and take the lead against Alabama, so they style of play from the Cougars won’t be new. Clemson plays at a slower pace, don’t turn the ball over, and one of the better overall rebounding teams in the country. The Cougars lean heavily on their top three scores, especially from the perimeter, and Clemson has enough bodies to defend the arc as they’re holding opponents to under 28%. The Tigers matchup well with their frisky defense and they have more experience and cohesive team. Since 2020, Brad Brownell is 24-13 ATS as an underdog.
Daniel Jones is still dealing with a fractured fibula and is 4-11–1 ATS against above average defenses playing outdoors. Indianapolis’ offense has been less productive due to Jones’ injury. The Colts are also 2-9 on ATS last 11 in series. They’ve also not won in Jacksonville since 2014. The Jaguars are playing with momentum, winning three straight, and have a defense holding their opponents to less than 15 points per game at home.