Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
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: Pepperdine (+12.5), Gonzaga (-14.5) (Tipico Sportsbook)
Odds: +142
Leg 1: St. Mary's vs. Gonzaga (-14.5)
It’s been a minute since the consensus No. 1 overall team last logged action. Refueled, rested and more than ready to run roughshod through West Coast opponents in routinely throttled during the regular season, the ‘Zags shouldn’t skip a beat. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time, after all, the month on the calendar for the Bulldogs to lift a leg on their harshest critics. Marvelously efficient since February 1, they registered 1.238 points per possession while surrendering a mere 0.892 points per possession. Deep, explosive and astoundingly balanced, they simply down exude many weaknesses, if any. The Gales, similar to their pair of regular-season encounters, will attempt to apply the brakes and control tempo. The approach was impactful in the first matchup in Mornaga, but Game 2 in Spokane was a 22-point slaughter. St. Mary's, which shot under 28% from three and under 47% from two, doesn’t own the offensive weaponry to remotely hang with Jalen Suggs, Drew Timme and Corey Kispert. In Vegas, expect Gonzaga to come up aces.
Leg 2: Pepperdine (+12.5) vs. BYU
Grab a surfboard, #TeamHuevos, and let’s ride the Waves. During the WCC regular season, Pepperdine and BYU split. The Cougars handled business by 11 in Provo, but the Waves returned the favor 76-73 in Malibu. Unequivocally, Mark Pope’s squad is the more astute defensive team. Over the past month, BYU conceded just 0.936 points per possession. Pepperdine, meanwhile, was overly permeable, giving up 1.047 points per possession. Lorenzo Romar, however, has enough marksmen to avoid a shellacking. In their last eight contests, the Waves splashed 38.3% from beyond the arc. Additionally, Colbey Ross and Kessler Edwards do a phenomenal job of drawing contact and making opponents pay at the free-throw line. As a whole, Pepperdine shoots 77.6% at the charity stripe. The formula isn’t rocket science: 1) Hang on the glass and 2) Entice whistles. If the Waves check both boxes they will keep it under the alt-lined total.
Season record: 29-35
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