NCAA CBB Best Bets: Rock Chalk in The Bahamas
Feast Week has certainly delivered for college basketball fans, with several teams making a statement as the Arizona Wildcats did after winning the 2022 Maui Invitational with three impressive performances.
But all good things must come to an end, and most of these midseason tournaments are starting to wrap up. We will zero in on one of those tourneys for our best bets today, where the Battle 4 Atlantis will come to an end with a much-anticipated championship game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Tennessee Volunteers.
After whiffing on last week’s free picks column, my updated record is 11-7 (+3.74 units) so far this college basketball season. Let’s try to close out Feast Week with a hot streak and add some units while eating leftover turkey.
Today’s CBB Best Bets (November 25)
Tennessee vs. Kansas Moneyline (+105, Caesars)
This game won’t tip off until 7:30 PM EST, but it will be well worth the wait as No. 3 Kansas (6-0) and No. 22 Tennessee (4-1) square off with a title on the line. Both teams won two games to reach the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at Atlantis Paradise Island on Paradise Island in The Bahamas.
Kansas is a slight underdog, which is surprising considering this team’s resume. The Jayhawks, who are the defending national champions, have yet to lose a basketball game since March 1. Counting last year’s 11-game win streak to end the season, Kansas has won 17 consecutive games entering tonight’s matchup.
Of course, this year’s Kansas team is different from last year’s squad. But the Jayhawks have had new players make an immediate impact, namely freshman Gradey Dick, who knocked down six triples against NC State in the opening round of this event.
Kansas needed a crazy putback from Bobby Pettiford to defeat Wisconsin in overtime during yesterday’s semi-finals. But the Jayhawks squandered a late lead in regulation to be in that position in the first place. With Tennessee’s Josiah-Jordan James being sidelined the last two games with a knee injury, and questionable again for the championship game, I’m willing to take the plus-money price on the Jayhawks today.
Risk: 0.5 units at Caesars to win 0.525 units. (Playable at plus-money)
Tennessee-Kansas Game Total Over 131.5 Points (-110, Caesars)
Staying with this game, the over might be the best way to play this game. It might be the third game in as many days for both teams, and this environment has certainly been conducive to unders. But this total is too low given the firepower of these two teams.
Wisconsin gave up nine three-pointers to Kansas in Thursday’s thrilling finish. The Badgers had given up nine three-pointers all year prior to that game, and there is an argument the Jayhawks should have shot better.
Bill Self’s squad also plays a bit smaller, which can open the door for easy buckets on the interior. Tennessee has made 21 two-point baskets in each of its last two games to reach the championship game.
Neither KenPom nor Bart Torvik projects either team to reach 70 points in this game, with the former projecting a 69-66 win for Tennessee and the latter giving the Volunteers a 68-66 victory. Both projections would allow us to squeak over this total. I’d be surprised if it is that close, though.
Risk: 0.55 units at Caesars to win 0.5 units. (Playable to 133.5)
For the most up-to-date picks check out my Twitter and subscribe to our Discord. This sheet from Dan Rivera tracks all my betting picks (and those from the rest of the betting staff) on the year. Just click on the tab with my name on it for the results.
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