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: Ohio (+8.5), USC (ML) (Tipico Sportsbook)
Odds: +180
Leg 1: Ohio (+8.5) vs. Creighton
The smoke hanging in the air is from excessive brackets set ablaze. The most seeds No. 13 or lower advanced in Round 1 than previously recorded. This upside-down-topsy-turvy-what-the-hell-happened to logic tournament is unmistakably mad. Throw it into a padded room and toss away the key. Ohio is one reason for it. In a game most anticipated, Jason Preston and Co. disposed of UVA, a late-arriving club rattled by COVID issues and end-year defensive flaws. The Bobcats may have visible guarding scabs of their own, but it matches up well against Creighton in a contest sure to be free-flowing and wonderfully paced offensively. Over their last seven contests, Gary Trent U ranks No. 19 in adjusted offensive efficiency (1.198 pts/poss), tallying 54.7% inside the arc and 40.7% outside of it. Impressively, it’s also given up just 25.5% from three over that span. This is Greg McDermott’s stiffest defensive team to date, but for the Jays to win convincingly, it’s imperative they rotate and execute from deep, an area they’ve converted 35.2% from in their last six contests. In the end, if Preston plays aggressively, Ohio should be in the game at the final buzzer.
Leg 2: USC (ML) vs. Kansas
Long, athletic and sporting shorts ultra-conservatives would call overly obscene, the Trojans are fully prepared for battle. Evan Mobley, who is 90% legs, is a soon-to-be multi-millionaire at the next level, a versatile big man who is a supreme rim protector, rebounder and multi-dimensional scorer. SC’s length and defensive commitment is a killer combination, especially for a KU team north of No. 161 in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage in its last five games. Pivot man David McCormack could be in for a rough ride. If the Mobleys and Isaiah White control the paint, KU will need Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji to drain triples to soften SC’s defense whether zone or man. The Jayhawks are a tremendous defensive club that will force opponents to scratch and claw for points, but the Trojans’ size and second-chance abilities should push them over the top. Also, don’t forget Andy Enfield is an impeccable 8-0 ATS in his NCAA Tournament coaching career.
Season record: 36-38
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