Sadly, the NFL season is over and while we’re still waiting for baseball season to come around there’s a vacuum of sports to bet on. FEAR NOT, because the wild wild world of college basketball and the NBA is here to scratch your itch. I will be your guide to picking basketball and winning some money off it. With that hearty introduction, let’s get underway and highlight some picks and a nice parlay to play today.
- BYU (-11.5) @ Loyola Marymount
One of the beautiful things about sports betting is that you get sucked into random games between two random division one teams, and then all of a sudden you know everything there is to know about some random college basketball team from the west coast. This isn’t one of those times, I love BYU basketball.
Before even the times of Jimmer launching from half court (I have his jersey lying around somewhere), I’ve been a die hard BYU fan. That being said, in recent years they’ve been disappointing me. They haven’t made the NCAA tournament since 2015, when before that they had rattled off 8 appearances in 9 seasons and 27 cumulative. This season is different. On the backs of TJ Haws (brother of former standout Tyler) and Yoeli Childs, BYU has put together an impressive resume. They have wins over Houston, Virginia Tech (sighs), Utah State, and Saint Mary’s (You may remember a former Gael in Matthew Dellavedova). Not to mention their close road loss to the #4 team in the country, 25-0 San Diego State.
BYU is getting hot at the right time. They’ve won their last 4 games by an average of 18.5 points, including an 85-54 smashing at Portland (the Trailblazers?). On the other end of the court, Loyola Marymount (LMU) is having a horrific season. At 8-16 (2-8), and losing 8 of their last 9, LMU can’t do anything right. The defense is actually alright, but their offense just can’t score to save their life. LMU has only broken 70 points twice since unwrapping gifts on Christmas. Apparently a good jumper wasn’t one of the presents. The last thing I’ll contribute about this matchup is this from their last meeting.
2. Memphis (+6.5) at Cincinnati
This one is confusing to me. I have no clue why Cincinnati is favored by 6.5 points against a good Memphis team. Now don’t get me wrong, Memphis has disappointed a little bit this season. Sitting at 17-6 (6-4), Memphis is currently on the wrong side of the bracket bubble. They need this game bad. Then again, Cincinnati is also squarely on the bubble.
So what does that mean for our money? Probably nothing, but it means that it’s an important game! Betting on important games always makes me feel cool. Anyways, Memphis plays some stifling defense. The last time these two played, Memphis won 60-49. Holding your opponent to 49 points is something that only UVA and teams that play UVA can do. Memphis has been struggling a little bit lately, but over the entire season they’ve only lost 3 games by more than 6.5 points. 2 of those were road/neutral site games against ranked opponents (1 was a horrific 80-40 loss at Tulsa a couple weeks ago). Meanwhile, Cincinnati is coming off a tough OT loss against UConn. Before that, Cincinnati reeled off an impressive 7 out 8 wins.
You might be saying “I don’t know Spencer, this really feels like a toss-up to me. I could see this game going either way.” You would be right! This is a close one. But that’s the point. This is a close close game. This isn’t a “Cincinnati wins easily” kind of game like the 6.5 point spread would seem to indicate. So, in those games, you take the points. You trust a Memphis team that has personally won me a lot of Taco Bell. As a great man once said, “Geaux Tigahs”
3. Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans (-2.5)
Now for some NBA action. As you may know, Zion is the truth. Stugotz even said on the Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz that Zion could end up being better than Jordan. Yeah, that Jordan.
I don’t know anyone else that is willing to attach themselves to that take quite yet, but Zion is playing like a man on a mission this season. And that mission is to dunk and pretty much only dunk.
Pair that with the fact that the Thunder cannot defend big men and you have perfection *chefs kiss*. Steven Adams (Thunder starting Center) is a revolving door on defense. The Thunder have the 10th worst defense in the NBA by Defensive Rating, and it’s not going to get better playing Zion. ESPN coverage has cooled off the Zion express train, but I would throw money on him until the bet loses. Jump on the hype train, and I’ll see you in Moneyland.
It’s Parlay Time!
This is going to be fun. No writeup here, but I’ll give you a bunch of picks rapid fire and throw it into a nice parlay. If you’re not familiar with the concept, a parlay is one bet where every single part of it has to happen to win money. They typically don’t win a lot, but mine will: here we go!
Iowa (+2) at Indiana
Wichita State (-3.5) @ UCF
UMKC @ Grand Canyon (-5.5)
Arizona Coyotes ML (-135) @ Ottawa Senators (hockey???)
$10 bet wins you $135.98
– Spencer Jolley
Spencer's Sports 