Duke's once and future kings – Jon Scheyer and Coach K – prepare the Blue Devils for Michigan State.
@DukeMBB on Twitter
8 Sunday NCAA Game Picks in the Bettors Insider O'Sullivan, Baller Challenge, including Duke vs MSU
O'Sullivan NCAA Tournament: 22-24, -$85.75
Baller NCAA Tournament: 19-25, -$103.90
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(Standing Caveat: The universe is chaotic. Life is unpredictable. Things happen. Like injuries. And COVID protocols. In following Seattle O’Sullivan’s betting advice, be advised that you should always monitor your bets during the day to make certain unforeseen things have not occurred which might change your wagering opinion. Thank you.)
Saturday Results
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. 1 Baylor Bears, 12:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: North Carolina +5.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10; North Carolina +205, bet $5 to win $10.25
WIN: UNC covers, wins 93-86 in OT, +$10
WIN: UNC wins 93-86 on OT, +$10.25
Baller's Pick: Game Over 148.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
WIN: 93-86 =189 +$10
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9 Creighton Bluejays vs. 1 Kansas Jayhawks, 2:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Kansas -9.5 (-110), bet $22 to win $20
LOSS: Kansas doesn't cover, wins 79-72, -$22
Baller's Pick: Kansas -11.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Kansas doesn't cover, wins 79-72, -$11
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11 Michigan Wolverines vs. 3 Tennessee Volunteers, 5:15 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Tennessee -5.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Tennessee loses 76-68, -$11
Baller's Pick: Tennessee -6 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Tennessee loses 76-68, -$11
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12 Richmond Spiders vs. 4 Providence Friars, 6:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Providence -2.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
WIN: Providence covers, winning 79-51, +$10
Baller's Pick: Game Under 134.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
WIN: Game under, 79-51 = 130, +$10
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5 Saint Mary’s Gaels vs. 4 UCLA Bruins, 7:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: UCLA -143, bet $14.30 to win $10
WIN: UCLA wins 72-56, +$10
Baller's Pick: Saint Mary's +2.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Saint Mary's doesn't cover, UCLA wins 72-56, -$11
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15 Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. 7 Murray State Racers, 7:45 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Saint Peter’s +8.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
WIN: Saint Peter's wins 70-60, +$10
Baller's Pick: Saint Peter’s +8.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
WIN: Saint Peter's wins 70-60, +$10
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12 New Mexico State Aggies vs. 4 Arkansas Razorbacks, 8:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Arkansas -6 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Arkansas doesn't cover, wins 53-48, -$11
Baller's Pick: Arkansas -6.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Arkansas doesn't cover, wins 53-48, -$11
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9 Memphis Tigers vs. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs, 9:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Memphis +10.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Gonzaga didn't cover, wins 82-78, -$11
Baller's Pick: Gonzaga -10 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
LOSS: Gonzaga didn't cover, wins 82-78, -$11
Sunday Picks
5 Houston Cougars vs. 4 Illinois Fighting Illini, 12:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Houston -184, bet $18.40 to win $10
Baller's Pick: Houston -4.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: Illinois should not be here. They had to make a wild comeback on Friday against Tennessee-Chattanooga, and spent too much time not getting touches for big man Kofi Cockburn. Cockburn ended up with 17 points but there were stretches when the Illinois backcourt was trying to do too much. I’ve been lukewarm on Houston but with Baylor knocked out, the Cougars are 2nd in the KenPom rankings, so respect must be paid. They took care of UAB on Friday, and their adjusted-defense is 10th in the nation. With the Illini’s offense so uneven right now, I trust the Cougars more. I’ll pay a steep price for a straight win.
Baller: Houston is on a roll, winning four straight by double-digits. Illinois will need to play much better than they did Friday night. They may, but their last performance after a loss to Indiana in the Beg Ten tourney, does not inspire confience.
7 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. 2 Villanova Wildcats, 2:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Villanova -210, bet $20 to win $9.52
Baller's Pick: Villanova -5.5, bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: Again, I’m paying a steep price for a simple straight win, and I’m banking on Villanova’s defense causing Ohio State a lot of problems. On Friday, the Buckeyes demonstrated no real ability to take care of the basketball. Their game against Loyola was a sloppy, ragged affair with Ohio State continually being harassed and disrupted by tough defense and traps. Loyola’s defense is rated a little better than Villanova’s but not by that much, and the Wildcats’ offense is Top 10, while Ohio State’s defense doesn’t crack the Top 100. I’m going with the moneyline because another chaotic game will make laying five points stressful.
Baller: Just like the TV broadcast was praying for an Izzo-Coach K matchup in the next game, and Ohio State win would make for an Ohio State-Michigan Sweet 16 game. Nova has been ruining my parties for years, here's hoping they ruin another one . . . by at least 6.
7 Michigan State Spartans vs. 2 Duke Blue Devils, 5:15 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Duke -265, bet $20 to win $7.55
Baller's Pick: Michigan State +230, bet $10 to win $23
O'Sullivan: I know, I know, another moneyline. These two teams seem to play in the NCAA Tournament every year, and every time it’s a slog. Michigan State guards hard and is physical and while this year’s Duke team is much more talented, when (not if) the Spartans drag them into the mud, things are going to get messy. If the Blue Devils shoot like they’re capable, and guard like they’re interested, they could win easily. But nothing is easy against Tom Izzo and Michigan State.
Baller: I don't think Coach K is leading his final Duke squad to another final, so he might as well go down to Izzo. We all know Duke is talented. Today we'll see how tough they are. BTW, this is when you pick moneyline.
11 Iowa State Cyclones vs. 3 Wisconsin Badgers, 6:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Iowa State +4.5 (-108), bet $10.80 to win $10
Baller's Pick: Game Under 126 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: Did you watch that Wisconsin/Colgate game? My Lord, how could anyone pick the Badgers after that ugly stain of a performance? Well, I’m not picking them. Iowa State is only four spots lower than Wisconsin in the KenPom, and the Cyclones’ adjusted-defense is 10th in the country. Given that Colgate had the Badgers on the run until the final four minutes or so on Friday, I’m confident Iowa State has, uh, gained confidence that they can do just as well. I have no idea why Wisconsin is favored by 4.5 points here.
Baller: The Big Ten champs should beat the 8th place finisher in the Big 12, but the moneyline is too low-reward and a 5-point give seems like too much the way the Badgers played against Colgate. If the Cyclones can deal with Wisconsin's height, they can win this, but I think it more likely they'll keep the score down and the game close.
11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. 3 Texas Tech Red Raiders, 7:10 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Texas Tech -7.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
Baller's Pick: Game under 132.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: Texas Tech has the best defense in the country, and when I watch Notre Dame I honestly wonder sometimes who taught any of their players how to dribble a basketball. I think the Red Raiders will clamp down on a Fighting Irish team that really, really should’ve lost to Rutgers on Wednesday night. Sometimes Texas Tech has trouble scoring, but their athleticism and quickness should overwhelm the Irish. If they come out as amped as they did against Montana State, Notre Dame is in for a crash.
Baller: In the latest edition of Name That Score, I'm going with Texas Tech 72-58, but it could be 69-63.
10 Miami Hurricanes vs. 2 Auburn Tigers, 7:45 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Miami +7.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
Baller's Pick: Auburn -7.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: What can I say, I like the Hurricanes. They’re 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 games, and they play a lot of close games. Auburn will have the best player on the floor in Jabari Smith Jr., yes. But the Tigers backcourt is matched by Miami’s guards Charlie Moore and Isaiah Wong, who are feisty and do not back down from anyone. And Auburn’s guards often take Smith out of the game themselves. I think Miami keeps it close.
Baller: There was a time this season when Auburn was the No. 1 team in the country. I remember. Today, i think Auburn remembers.
6 Texas Longhorns vs. 3 Purdue Boilermakers, 8:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Purdue -160, bet $20 to win $12.50
Baller's Pick: Purdue -3.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
O'Sullivan: I continue to like Purdue’s outside/inside game, with budding superstar guard Jaden Ivey gaining confidence with each game, and big men Zach Edey and Trevion Williams showing strength and intelligence down low. The Boilermakers are just one spot ahead of Texas in the KenPom, but have the second-best adjusted-offense in the country. Ivey gets pretty much what he wants and can penetrate on anyone, and Edey’s length is too much for opponents to contain completely. I know, I know - another moneyline. What can I say? I think a lot of these games will be close.
Baller: I know Purdue only beat up on Yale, but they beat up on Yale. Edey looked like Yao Ming in high school game. Texas beat a solid Virginia Tech team, but Purdue is BIG and runs an offense.
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Arizona Wildcats, 9:40 pm Eastern
O'Sullivan's Pick: Arizona -9.5 (-110), bet $11 to win $10
Baller's Pick: TCU +10 (-110), bet $11 to win $10, TCU +360, bet $10 to win $36.
O'Sullivan: Well, not this one.
Baller: I think this game will be close. Arizona is terrific, as their 32 wins attests, but since Feb 1, they've played seven games against teams ranked outside the Top 100. TCU has played none. They're battle-tested against a killer conference schedule and they have beaten Texas, Texas Tech and Kansas.
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