Wednesday Wagers

Published on Wednesday, 3/2/16, at 11:59 a.m. Eastern.

My Tip Sheet for today over at VegasInsider.com previewing Texas Tech at West Va. and Oregon at UCLA, with a few nuggets as well at the bottom.

My picks for tonight.

–Seton Hall owns a 15-4 spread record in its last 19 games. Kevin Willard’s squad has won outright in eight of its last nine games, with the lone defeat coming by an 81-75 count vs. Butler at home. The Pirates can avenge that loss tonight at Hinkle Fieldhouse as 4.5-point underdogs. They are 9-0 ATS with six outright victories in their last nine games as underdogs.

–The ‘under’ is 7-2 in Seton Hall’s last nine games.

–Butler enters tonight’s Big East showdown on a roll, too. The Bulldogs have won five of their last seven games while going 6-1 versus the number.

–Va. Tech is a 3.5-point home underdog vs. Pitt tonight in Blacksburg. The Hokies are 5-2 SU and 7-0 ATS in ACC home games. They are an incredible 6-0 ATS with four outright victories as home ‘dogs vs. ACC competition.

–St. Bonaventure has won three in a row and eight of its last nine going into tonight’s home game vs. St. Joseph’s. The Bonnies, who won outright at St. Joe’s by a 83-73 count as 5.5-point ‘dogs last month, are 3.5-point puppies tonight. As for the Hawks, they are an incredible 10-1 both SU and ATS in their 11 road assignments this year.

–Kansas St. is mired in a 2-8 ATS slump in its last 10 games. The Wildcats, who are 2-1 ATS in their only three spots as double-digit ‘chalk’ this year, are favored by 10.5 at home vs. TCU tonight. The Horned Frogs are 4-5 ATS in their nine games as double-digit underdogs.

Yogi Ferrell's key 3-pointer put IU up five in the final minute of Tuesday's conference-clinching win in Iowa City.

Yogi Ferrell’s key 3-pointer put IU up five in the final minute of Tuesday’s conference-clinching win in Iowa City.

–How sick was that rhythm step-back 3-pointer from deep by Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell to stick the dagger in Iowa late Tuesday night to clinch the Hoosiers’ outright Big Ten regular-season championship? It was a thing of beauty. Kudos to Tom Crean, who went from the hot seat in December to a leading candidate for National Coach of the Year. Remember, folks, the guy took Marquette to the Final Four more than two decades removed from the school’s national title under the late/great Al McGuire.

–My Gators’ NCAA Tournament hopes are in serious trouble after losing at home last night to Kentucky. Watch out for the ‘Cats, who are as good as anybody when Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray are clicking on all cylinders. That’s the best backcourt in the country and Ulis is the nation’s premier PG.

–UF (17-13 SU) was an atrocious 16-of-37 from the charity stripe last night. The Gators finish the regular season Saturday at Missouri. I would think they have to win that one and at least get to the SEC Tournament semifinals to have a good shot at an at-large berth. Obviously, how other bubble teams fare will be another big factor. And the semifinal route would probably have to result in a loss to Kentucky rather than anyone else.

–I’ve been saying it for two weeks now. Vandy is a good bet to be in an 8/9 game and could undoubtedly send a No. 1 seed packing in the Round of 32.

–Dayton won 85-84 at Richmond last night as a one-point favorite. The Flyers are now mired in a 0-6-1 ATS slide. They have see the ‘over’ cash at a 7-1 clip in their last eight games.

–San Diego St. smashed New Mexico at The Pit last night to bounce back from Saturday’s unfathomable home loss to Boise St. Steve Fisher’s team missed seven straight free throws down the stretch against the Broncos, who got a pair of super-clutch 3-balls from junior Aussie bruiser Nick Duncan. I love the enthusiasm from Duncan, who had words galore for San Diego St.’s student section after hitting the second 3-ball to give BSU the lead in the final seconds. As noted in my VI piece linked at the top, James Webb III is ‘questionable’ tonight vs. Nevada at Taco Bell Arena.

–Since Avery Johnson took over at Alabama thanks to a shrewd and stunning move by AD Bill Battle, there’s nothing but good news coming out of Tuscaloosa for the basketball program. The Crimson Tide are surprisingly contending for an at-large bid in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Recruiting has also gone well, including the verbal commitment of Terrance Ferguson, a five-star recruit out of the Dallas area. However, on Tuesday, Ferguson de-committed to Alabama. He is considered the No. 15 overall player in the 2016 class and the No. 2 shooting guard. NBADraft.net currently has him slotted as the No. 16 pick in the first round of the 2017 Draft.

–How the fuck does Tennessee’s d-bag AD Dave Hart still have a job?!?! The dude hired Steve Robinson to be a head coach in the ACC, and that was before all of his nonsense at UT.

Tonight’s TV games with spreads/totals (Eastern Time Zone):

Mississippi State at Ole Miss -4/148 (SEC Network, 7:00 p.m.)
Texas Tech at West Va. -10/145.5 (ESPNU, 7:00 p.m.)
Tulane at UCF -4/136.5  (ESPNews, 7:00 p.m.)
Miami at Notre Dame -2.5/143.5 (ESPN2, 7:00 p.m.)
Michigan St. -23.5/148 at Rutgers (Big Ten, 7:00 p.m.)
Davidson at Virginia Commonwealth -9/157.5 (CBSSN, 7:00 p.m.)
Seton Hall at Butler -4.5/147 (FS1, 8:30 p.m.)
Arkansas at Alabama -3/140 (SEC Network, 9:00 p.m.)
East Carolina at South Fla. -2.5/136 (ESPNU, 9:00 p.m.)
Wisconsin -9.5/132 at Minnesota (Big Ten, 9:00 p.m.)
Creighton at Providence -3/145.5 (CBSSN, 9:00 p.m.)
Oregon -2.5/154.5 at UCLA (ESPN2, 9:00 p.m.)
Colorado State at Fresno St. -5.5/148  (CBSSN, 11:00 p.m.)
Washington St. at Washington -12/156.5 (ESPNU, 11:00 p.m.)
Oregon St. at Southern Cal -5.5/149 (FS1, 11:00 p.m.)

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