Big Noise Tipico CBB parlay of the day (Jan. 16)

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: Auburn ML, UCLA -11.5 (Tipico Sportsbook)

Odds: +186

Leg 1: Kentucky at Auburn (ML)

If there is a current college basketball team that encapsulated my inconsistent golf game, it would undoubtedly be Kentucky. More divots than birdie putts, the Wildcats are the most maddening team in the sport’s entirety. If the NCAA Tournament started today, they would unquestionably be on the outside looking in for only the second time this century. Despite its bevy of four- and five-star talent, UK is dreadfully unreliable offensively. Plagued by turnovers and generally injudicious shot selection, it ranks 250-plus in effective field-goal percentage (46.3%), two-point percentage (46.7%) and three-point percentage offense (30.3%). The length of Isaiah Jackson, Olivier Sarr and Brandon Boston makes it difficult for opponents to attack the tin. However, Auburn penetrates the lane undeterred, converting at a 57.4% clip inside the arc. Adding balance, Justin Powell (44.2% 3PT%), Allen Flanigan (39.1%) and Jamal Johnson (36.1%) routinely tickle the twine from the perimeter. Recently instating hyped freshman Sharife Cooper, who scored 28 in back-to-back contests against Alabama and Georgia, the Tigers are dangerous. Their defense is underwhelming (1.055 pts/poss allowed in SEC), but given UK’s frightful shooting, it may not matter.

Leg 2: Washington at UCLA (-11.5)

The Huskies fade is in full effect. Whether analyzing the NET, KenPom or the million other advanced metrics available in college basketball, they’re the unrivaled worst Power Five team in the nation. It’s possible they would be a middling squad in the SWAC. Yes, that’s how horrendous Mike Hopkins’ bunch is. There’s mountainous statistical evidence to back up the claim. They rank outside the top-200 nationally in six different offensive and five different defensive categories. Funny bad from three (29.8% in P12 play) and ghostlike on the glass, Washington is weak almost everywhere. Most importantly, against upper-echelon Pac-12 teams, the Huskies have lost by 23 (Colorado), 27 (Arizona), 16 (Stanford) and 27 (USC). UCLA, unblemished in league action, is rolling thanks to consistent hot shooting. The Bruins lead the conference in points per possession offense (1.165), effective field-goal percentage (56.9%) and three-point percentage (44.6%). Jaime Jaquez (45.2% 3PT%), David Singleton (48.6%) and Jules Bernard (34.5%) should bury UW’s loose zone from start to finish. Mix in Mick Cronin’s defense which has surrendered just 0.960 points per possession on the season and another Washington thumping becomes predictable.

Season record: 7-11

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