Big Noise Tipico CBB parlay of the day (March 6)

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: Illinois (+5.5), Louisville (+5.5) (Tipico Sportsbook)

Odds: +137

Leg 1: Illinois (+5.5) at Ohio St.

Are the Illini better off without All-American candidate Ayo Dosunmu on the floor? Is the Milwaukee Bucks’ sanitizer cam the most salacious in-game promotion ever devised? You know the obvious answers to both questions. Let’s not get cute. It’s entirely plausible the Illini’s decorated guard returns to action in yet another colossal matchup with NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed implications. The greatest news for the Orange and Blue, the rapid ascension of Andre Curbelo, Adam Miller and steady contributions from Trent Frazier, displayed in road triumphs against Wisconsin and, in historic fashion, Michigan, proved Illinois has the roster depth and balance to overcome considerable odds. Over their past seven contests, Brad Underwood’s bunch have rapidly matured, ranking inside the nation’s top-21 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Active and effective around the basket thanks to Kofi Cockburn’s monstrous jams, they should plant firm roots in the post against a sliding Buckeyes team that slots at No. 9 in two-point percentage defense within Big Ten play. Ohio St. is an exceptional scoring squad, evidenced by 1.121 points per possession scored, but losers in three straight, they are trending in the wrong direction.

Leg 2: Virginia at Louisville (+5.5)

For the reigning National Champs — Yes, the last NCAA Tournament still completed two years ago — the course to defend their title has been filled with many uncircumventable obstructions. Virginia may be a brand name in college basketball, but it’s a likely first weekend victim. Tony Bennett’s once vaunted pack-line defense has become punchless. No longer an ironclad ship, it’s sprung multiple leaks, in an average ACC no less. Since February 1, UVA has surrendered a respectable 0.924 points per possession, but its suboptimal execution on the glass has lead to easy opponent buckets. Over that span, they’ve allowed close to 48% shooting inside the arc. If the Cavs’ offense, typically one-and-done on the opposite end, isn’t filling buckets from outside, they tend to engage in nip-and-tuck games. Don’t expect the script to change at Louisville. The Cardinals are a phenomenal second-chance team (37.9 OR% last four) who can take away UVA’s greatest strength, the three ball. Constantly challenging perimeter shots, they’ve allowed an ACC-low 28.9% along the arc. In a critical game to Louisville’s NCAA Tournament at-large hopes, it valiantly defends the home court.

Season record: 28-34

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