MLB Best Bets – Free (Wednesday 7/24)
Josh Gross
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: St. Bonaventure (ML), Illinois (ML) (Tipico Sportsbook)
Odds: +137
Leg 1: VCU vs. St. Bonaventure (ML)
In rural western New York resides St. Bonaventure, a small Franciscan school with big postseason ambitions. Locked into a NCAA Tournament bid regardless of outcome, the Bonnies are aiming to earn the A-10 automatic ticket for only the second time since it joined the conference in 1998. Bonaventure is an exceptional rebounding and defensive team. Over its past six contests it’s surrendered a minute 0.847 points per possession while snaring a second chance on 33.3% of its possessions. The energy of Osun Osunniyi and Jalen Adaway around the tin is boundless. VCU, No. 264 in the nation in defensive rebounding over the last month, will have its hands full. Additionally, the Bonnies rarely commit turnovers, mistakes the Rams need to compete, and bomb 37.5% outside the arc against conference opponents. The pair split in the regular season, but in the rubber match expect Mark Schmidt’s bangers to push his club over the top.
Leg 2: Ohio St. vs. Illinois (ML)
Similar to its “Masked Mamba,” Illinois, as a whole, has superhero characteristics. The Illini, due in large part to their remarkable across-the-board production ranking top-10 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, have covered in 10 of their last 13 games. The combination of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn, both top-10 in KenPom’s Player of the Year analytics, is nearly impossible to contain. Toss in Trent Frazier’s three-point sharpshooting and defense peskiness along with freshman sensation Andre Curbelo’s wizardry and it’s easy to see why the Orange and Blue bandwagon is swelling. The Buckeyes and Illini split in the regular season with each school winning at the other’s house, but for the No. 2 seed to take cut down the nets, it must bracket E.J. Liddell and stretch to the perimeter defensively. Check those boxes and Brad Underwood’s bunch will enter the NCAA Tournament as a widely perceived favorite. Bank on it.
Season record: 32-37
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