Multiple times each week, FTN Bets’ resident college basketball junkie, Brad Evans, will attempt to posterize the ‘books with his favorite selections, whether sides, totals, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — that’s up to you.
2-leg alternative line parlay play: Connecticut -1.5, Boise St. -4.5 (Tipico)
Odds: +129
Leg 1: Connecticut (-1.5) at DePaul
Whether or not their floor general, James Bouknight, returns from a hyperextended elbow, the Huskies should mush. It’s DePaul, after all, unquestionably the worst club in the Big East. Glass commanders Isaiah Whaley and Tyrese Martin have to be salivating. The Blue Demons rank No. 322 in defensive rebounding percentage. Thanks to the exhaustive efforts of the interior duo, UConn snags a second chance on a massive 41.0 percent of its possessions, No. 2 in the country. Adding balance, Dan Hurley’s bunch shoots over 38 percent on treys. They’ve also proven remarkably stout on defense. In league play, they’ve yielded a mere 0.914 points per possession and 27.3 percent on threes. The Blue Demons relish a breakneck pace, but it’s proneness for turnovers (21.1 TO% in Big East) often leads to leak outs and quick buckets. Unless it slips into an in-game coma, Connecticut should coast to a cozy win. If not, unfit commentary similar to what aired on Nickelodeon in Bears/Saints will fly out of this bettor’s mouth.
Leg 2: Boise St. (-4.5) at Wyoming
Hidden in the dense Rocky Mountain woods resides a monster. No, it’s not a vengeful sasquatch with a penchant for a certain brand of dehydrated meats. It’s Boise St. For some, an unforeseen high-ranking team in the NCAA’s cryptic NET pecking order (No. 23), Leon Rice’s crew is appropriately placed. They’re long, athletic, versatile and possess substantial horsepower on offense. Untouched in Mountain West action, they currently set the league pace in points per possession (1.223), effective field-goal percentage (58.3), two-point percentage (57.9) and free-throw percentage (78.9). The Broncos also feature a trio of perimeter marksmen, Derrick Alston, Max Rice and Marcus Shaver, who splash 42-plus percent. Though it sports a 7-2 record, Wyoming has yet to square off against a top-130 KenPom school. More importantly for a likely cover, the Cowboys are No. 285 in adjusted defensive efficiency and No. 211 in three-point percentage defense nationally. Highly reliant on dial ups from distance — 43.8 percent of the ‘Boys’ attempts are from three — they’ll be challenged by a Boise defense allowing just 29.1 percent along the arc.
Season record: 4-9
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