Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
The 2022-23 college basketball season is underway, and we get some exciting matchups in the non-conference schedule. Below are my favorite bets for Saturday’s slate. Let’s have some fun.
Arizona vs. Indiana
(Line: Arizona -1, DraftKings Sportsbook)
It’s a heavyweight bout here with Arizona and Indiana, who both bring in extremely talented frontcourts to MGM Arena in Las Vegas. Indiana is headlined by All-American forward Trayce Jackson-Davis along with defensive specialist big man Race Thompson. Arizona is led by one of the most versatile forwards in the country in Azuolas Tubelis and one of the most improved bigs in the country, monster Oumar Ballo. Indiana matches up pretty well against the Arizona attack, able to match the Wildcats’ physicality in the paint (17th nationally in 2pt% defense) and are one of the better teams in the country in transition defense (top 25 in transition attempts allowed). Yet, to me what this game comes down to will be the battle in the back court and how each coach adjusts throughout the game, which strongly favors Arizona.
With stud freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino looking doubtful with an injury, a lot of the ball handling responsibilities for the Hoosiers will fall on talented, yet extremely inconsistent point guard Xavier Johnson. He will get matched up with energetic Wildcat guard Kerr Kriisa who has been known to be able to easily frustrate his opponent, which could very well impact Johnson’s play. The way Tommy Lloyd uses his bigs both on and of the ball is much more creative than how TJD is deployed by the Hoosiers. With the advantage in the backcourt with the aforementioned Kriisa, veteran Courtney Ramey and swiss-army knife Pelle Larsson and more ways to score in the front court, Arizona should be too much for Indiana to keep up with and I see Tommy Lloyd’s squad pulling away late.
The Pick
Arizona -1
