Super Bowl LVIII Running Back Prop Picks
February 7, 2024
Super Bowl LVIII Prop Picks
February 8, 2024
A loaded slate of college hoops betting goodness is on the board Wednesday night with a number of intriguing matchups set to go down in the SEC between No. 16 Alabama and No. 12 Auburn, in the Big East between Villanova and Xavier, and in the Big Ten between No. 11 Wisconsin and Michigan. While those heavyweight matchups get the national spotlight, I’ve honed in on two games worthy of attacking at Caesars Sportsbook with the ultimate goal of cashing in some Hump Day college basketball parlay tickets – SLAM YOUR MAN!!
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Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers
We barely cashed a ticket on the Crimson Tide when they squared off with Auburn at the Coleman Coliseum a few weeks ago. Auburn actually outshot Alabama 42-38 percent with the rebounding battle playing out fairly even with Auburn winning it 43-38. However, the difference came down to three-point and free throw shooting. The Crimson Tide made 11 three-pointers compared to Auburn’s five, and also did more damage at the charity stripe. Those small advantages were enough for Alabama to defend their home court. I’m situating myself in Auburn’s corner for the rematch mostly due to the venue change. Although Alabama sports a winning record away from Tuscaloosa in SEC play, it could just as easily be 0-5 if not for close wins tallied against Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Georgia. On the other hand, Jaylin Williams and Co. has been dominant at home in conference play, winning by an average of 19 points per game.
The first go-round played to a fast pace with 75 possessions tallied. Unfortunately, there were several periods of limited to no scoring, causing the combined score to fall short of the closing 161.5 O/U. Despite this, it wouldn’t surprise me if bookmakers set an even higher total for tonight’s grudge match, regardless of the previous one not meeting expectations. The conditions were favorable, but the desired outcome did not materialize. I don’t think it will happen in this game either. Although Auburn will be eager for revenge, I don’t anticipate them playing to Alabama’s preferred tempo, which is currently ranked 17th overall by KenPom. They already tried and failed at that approach before. Three of Auburn’s four league home games have resulted in low scorers with an average of 142 points scored. Expect the home team to put on a defensive showcase, leading to a victory and cover for the homebased Tigers.
CBB SAME GAME PARLAY: AUBURN | UNDER
Missouri State Bears vs. Northern Iowa Panthers
Despite their recent poor performance, Northern Iowa is expected to be favored at home in Hump Day night’s rematch with Mizzou State. This will be the second time these teams face each other, with the Bowen Born-led Panthers having won the previous game by a narrow 64-62 margin as short road underdogs. The Panthers shot well against the Bears in the first go-round (44%) but struggled from beyond the arc, only making 3 out of 15 attempts. However, they managed to limit turnovers (8) and outrebounded the Bears 33-27. While both teams have similar offensive rankings, it is the Panthers’ strong defense that gives them the edge in the rival’s final throw down of the regular season. I believe their defense will be the key to coming out triumphant and ending their current losing (3) and coverless (5) streaks.
This intense rivalry had seen high-scoring games come to pass in five straight confrontations. However, when they faced off in early January in Springfield, MO, the combined score fell well short of expectations, with a combined score of 128, far from the projected 143-point outcome. The game saw 65 possessions, which aligns with the Panthers’ preferred style of play, ranked 257th in adjusted tempo by KenPom at 66.2 possessions. Nevertheless, I am optimistic about a higher-scoring rematch. The Missouri State offense has hit a new gear in recent weeks, and I expect Northern Iowa’s offense to bounce back against a Bears defense that’s been on the decline during the current win streak. If the over/under is set in the upper 130s, I recommend confidently placing a wager on the over.
CBB SAME GAME PARLAY: NORTHERN IOWA | OVER
Bet CBB Parlays at Caesars Sportsbook
