Big Noise Tipico CBB parlay of the day (Jan. 18)

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: Louisville ML, Baylor -4.5 (Tipico Sportsbook)

Odds: +155

Leg 1: Florida St. at Louisville (ML)

Virginia, after clobbering Clemson last Saturday, may be the team to beat in the ACC, but Louisville, quiet and unheralded, is keeping pace with the Cavs. In a league with six one-loss clubs, it remains anyone’s game. In a trench-digging contest in which the winner will cement itself as the silver medalist, bank on Louisville to earn its place on the stand. Strength versus strength is the theme. Shocking to no one familiar with Florida St. in recent years, it features significant size. Balsa Koprivica, Tanor Ngom, Raiquan Gray and Anthony Politte snatch plentiful rebounds and disrupt shots around the basket. Meanwhile, the Cards’ Jae’Lyn Williams and Samuell Williamson attack the paint unfazed, evidenced by UL’s top-four conference standing in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage. Three-point effectiveness will also prove pivotal. The ‘Noles net an ACC high 44.6% from beyond the arc. Louisville, however, concedes just 28.6% on long-distance shots. If Carlik Jones continues to score at will and David Johnson complements with 3-4 outside daggers, the Cards should beat the drum inside the Yum!.

Leg 2: Kansas at Baylor (-6.5)

Did you know The Weeknd is playing the Super Bowl halftime show? Did you also know Baylor and Gonzaga are widely regarded as the two best teams in college basketball? For those who indulge in sports broadcasts, both are spewed and forced down viewers' throats ad nauseum. Yes, we’re fully aware, TV producers. Baylor is unequivocally one of the game’s elite teams. Untouched on the season, the Bears have dispensed opponents convincingly whether in Waco, away or in true neutral environments. Beautiful in their execution on either end of the floor, they rank top-five nationally in offensive and defensive efficiency. Equipped with length, athleticism and toughness, they contest shots ceaselessly, crash the glass, burn the nets from outside (42.3 3PT%) and clean up on second chances. Kansas is difficult to bounce when its threes splash the cylinder. In Big 12 action, over 40% of their shots launch along the perimeter. However, in league play, the Jayhawks have converted a lousy 31.7%. Bottom line, Mark Vital’s interior brawn combined with the exterior barrage levied by Adam Flagler (44.7 3PT%), Davion Mitchell (42.0%), Jared Butler (41.5%) and MaCio Teague (39.0%) is simply too much for Bill Self and Co. to overcome. Lay the points.

Column record: 8-12

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