NCAAB Top Pick: UAB -2 (-110) at BetRivers
The last college basketball action on a Tuesday for this season features the NIT semifinals not from New York City as in previous years but from Las Vegas.
Here are our best bets for Tuesday’s matchups between North Texas and Wisconsin, as well as Utah Valley and UAB. Let’s break down the current NCAAB odds for these games.
Picks Summary
- North Texas Mean Green vs. Wisconsin Badgers: North Texas -1.5 (-110)
- Utah Valley Wolverines vs. UAB Blazers: UAB -2 (-110)
North Texas Mean Green vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 – 07:00 PM EDT at Orleans Arena
It’s a matchup of Conference USA in North Texas and the Big Ten in Wisconsin with ESPN having the first NIT semifinal telecast. These schools haven’t played this season.
It could be the last game as a C-USA member for North Texas and most likely for coach Grant McCasland there. He’s reportedly the top target to replace the fired Mark Adams at Texas Tech. North Texas, meanwhile, is headed to the American Athletic Conference next season.
The Mean Green were second in the C-USA regular-season standings behind Florida Atlantic, which is now in the NCAA Tournament Final Four and barely beat North Texas in their two meetings. Tylor Perry leads UNT in scoring at 17.3 ppg, but this team wins on defense as it ranks No. 1 nationally in surrendering 55.7 ppg. It plays SLOW!!!
Perry scored five of his 23 points in OT of the Mean Green’s 65-59 win at Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals. Moulaye Sissoko had 12 points and 15 rebounds. UNT really needs him to keep playing well and heavy minutes as forward Abou Ousmane ( 11.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg) is away from the team for personal reasons and hasn’t played in the NIT. He won’t play Tuesday.
How About ‘Em Badgers?
Wisconsin has won three straight NIT games after not winning two consecutive games since the calendar turned to 2023. UW caught a break last Tuesday at Oregon in a 61-58 win as the Ducks were missing three of their best players.
UW is shooting 69.4% from the free throw line this season but over the last 10 games that number jumps up to 78.4% and in three NIT games it’s 84.6%. Wisconsin is allowing 63.8 ppg overall and is 12-2 when holding foes to 60 or fewer points. Junior Steven Crowl paces the team averaging 19.7 ppg and 7.0 rpg during the NIT.
KenPom ranks North Texas No. 33 nationally and Wisconsin No. 63. At OddsTrader, just 8% of the ATS action is on North Texas, but we disagree.
- Mean Green are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Mean Green are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a win.
- Badgers are 1-9-2 ATS in their last 12 games following a win.
NCAAB Pick: North Texas -1.5 (-110) at FanDuel
Utah Valley Wolverines vs. UAB Blazers
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 – 09:30 PM EDT at Orleans Arena
The second NIT semifinal on Tuesday from Las Vegas features Utah Valley of the WAC and UAB of Conference USA – so there could be an All-C-USA title game. Both UAB and North Texas are bound for the AAC starting next season, however.
Few coaches did a better job this season and Mark Madsen at Utah Valley – if/when the Stanford job opens, Madsen will be a leading candidate at his alma mater. The Wolverines were WAC regular-season champions but lost in the conference tournament on a crazy four-point play in the final seconds against Southern Utah.
That’s the only loss in the past eight for UVU, which beat AAC school Cincinnati 74-68 in the quarterfinals in Orem, Utah. In his three NIT games, Trey Woodbury is averaging 17.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, while Justin Harmon is averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
Led by Aziz Bandaogo, Utah Valley is the top shot-blocking team in the nation with 237 blocks and 6.6 blocks per game average. Bandaogo ranks third nationally in blocks (105). Utah Valley’s 28 wins are the most in program history, breaking the previous record of 25, set during the 2018-19 season.
Blazers on Fire
The only loss for UAB in its last 13 games was in the C-USA title game against Florida Atlantic. The Blazers were a brutal 8-for-31 in the first half last time out at Vanderbilt but woke up in the second half for a 67-59 win. Star Jordan “Jelly” Walker was 1-for-10 in the first half but finished 7-for-22 for 21 points with seven rebounds and seven assists.
UAB’s 28 wins also are a school record as are the 698 points this season by Walker. The Blazers rank No. 10 nationally in scoring at 81.8 ppg and are No. 30 in adjusted efficiency. Utah Valley won’t be able to keep up. At OddsTrader, 51% of the ATS action is on UAB.
- Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- Blazers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight-up record.
- Blazers are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 neutral site games.
NCAAB Pick: UAB -2 (-110) at BetRivers
