2024 FTN NFL Power Rankings Through Week 15: Who Takes Over the Top Spot?
Daniel Kelley
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: Wisconsin +7.5, Virginia Tech +5.5 (Tipico Sportsbook)
Odds: +125
Leg 1: Wisconsin (+7.5) at Michigan
As observed on the highly recommended Netflix series The History of Swear Words, four-letter epithets are primal in nature. They’re scientifically proven to be cathartic, a psychological stress reducer and pain reliever. For coaches who faced Juwan Howard’s team, a barrage of obscenities likely ensued. The Wolverines are damn good, an unblemished group that ranks top-20 in offensive and defensive efficiency and is currently atop the Big Ten standings in effective field-goal percentage offense and defense. Crushing the conference competition at home by a 16.0-point average spread, they’ve covered with regularity. However, the visiting Badgers present a unique challenge. D’Mitrik Trice, Micah Potter, Brad Davison and Nate Reuvers are sensational from three, an area Michigan has allowed 36.4% in league play. That combined with Wisconsin’s ability to win glass battles and contest shots around the tin matches up well with UM’s interior prodigiousness. Greg Gard must slow the pace and push his defense to the perimeter. If that occurs and Reuvers emerges victorious in his head-to-head matchup with Hunter Dickinson and Wisky is sure to pack ample betting buzz.
Leg 2: Duke at Virginia Tech (+5.5)
Has Duke, undefeated at 3-0 in ACC action, turned a corner? With wins against bottom-half league opponents Notre Dame, Boston College and Wake Forest, the jury is very much still out. Virginia Tech is the Devils’ stiffest competition since Illinois dismantled them 83-68 inside Cameron Indoor Dec. 8. Duke, at or near the bottom in multiple defensive categories including three-point percentage, two-point percentage and free throws allowed, owns visible warts. Virginia Tech is sure to exploit them. VT thrives off dribble penetration, drawing contact and finishing at the rim. In league play, over 22% of the Hokies’ points come at the charity stripe. Coach K’s club certainly has an arc advantage. Drilling 35.2% as a collective on the year, they will have their chances against a Tech defense No. 192 nationally in three-point percentage D. However, if Nahiem Alleyne (37.5 EPT%) and Hunter Cattoor (47.1%) deliver answers from the perimeter, the Hokies should hold homecourt.
Season record: 5-9
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