*CBB(1.5u): Rutgers/Notre Dame 1H UNDER 63(-110)–8:10 PM CT
1H Under’s are always going to be a good way to look early in the NCAA Tournament as teams adjust to the unfamiliar environment, but it sets up especially well in this matchup. Notre Dame holds pretty good offensive metrics this season, but they didn’t face very many defenses as physical as Rutgers’ playing in the ACC this season. Think about all the explosive offenses that Rutgers faced playing in the Big Ten; they’re not going to bat an eye facing an Irish attack that only relies on good shooting for points. With that said, Rutgers’ offense can best be described as ugly; there isn’t much to suggest that they’ll come out hot either. Each of these teams runs at a very slow pace(ND: 250th, Rutgers: 289th) and likes to play in the half-court, which should set up for a very low-scoring first half. This is tonight’s best bet, which is saying something given how much I like this card.
*NBA(1u): Cavaliers +4(-110) vs 76ers–6 PM CT
This is a prime spot for Cleveland to make a statement against a team that has beaten them twice over the last month. Both of those games took place in Philly, and while the Cavs were competitive in each, Philly ultimately pulled away. However, the 76ers simply aren’t playing good basketball at the moment. They’ve dropped back-to-back home games against the Nets and Nuggets and needed Overtime to pick up a road win against the lowly Magic. Jarrett Allen being out is a big loss for Cleveland, but they’ve had enough time without him to adjust their rotation. This is a great spot for Caris LaVert to have his first big game as a Cavalier. I like these revenge angles a lot, especially involving a team that has been feisty at home all year. I’ll take the points.
*NBA(1u): Hawks/Hornets OVER 241(-110)–6 PM CT
This is about as clear-cut of an Over spot as we’re going to find. These are two of the best offenses in the league, but each are allergic to playing defense. The home team(Charlotte) is much more likely to dictate the pace, which is ideal since Charlotte ranks 2nd in tempo this season. The Hornets are also in great current form offensively, averaging 138 points over their last 2 games. Don’t let this high total scare you; this eerily similar to the Timberwolves/Spurs matchup we saw a few nights ago, a game that featured a combined 288 points. I like this up to 243.
