Monday College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: (Nov. 21)

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Omaha vs. Iowa​

Monday, Nov. 21
8 p.m. ET
Big Ten Network


By Jim Root

We are heading back to one of my favorite wells: Fran McCaffery as a big home favorite in non-conference play.

The numbers are staggering. For his career, McCaffery is 43-14-2 as a favorite of 10 or more in November and December. That’s more than a trend, that’s a career-long mission.

It makes sense. The best favorites are lethal offensively and capable of huge runs on lesser opponents. They also play fast, amplifying the number of possessions over which the talent gap can bear out.

Iowa fits both descriptions perfectly.

Always an offensive juggernaut, this particular version of the Hawkeyes is as lethal as any McCaffery has had. Kris Murray has fully blossomed without his twin brother. The lefty looks like an All-American and is fresh off of a 29-point, 11-rebound masterpiece against Seton Hall.

He’s not the only weapon, though. Patrick McCaffery has become a multifaceted forward, canning 3s and creating off of the bounce despite standing at 6-foot-9.

Tony Perkins has quickly erased any questions at point guard as he sports an assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.3 to 1.

Payton Sandfort and Filip Rebraca are hyper-efficient complementary threats.

The one risk here is Omaha may try to slow the pace. Under new coach Chris Crutchfield, the Mavericks have gone from 50th in Adjusted Tempo last year to 170th this year (KenPom).

Crutchfield knows his team can’t run with Iowa. Of course, with the way this edition of Iowa attacks on both ends of the floor, that decision may be out of Crutchfield’s control.

Final note: McCaffery is also 31-14 ATS in first halves in this scenario. It’s probably also worth wagering on the first stanza.

Pick: Iowa -31 (Play to -34)

 

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Cal Baptist vs. Minnesota​

Monday, Nov. 21
10:30 p.m. ET
CBS Sports Network


By Jim Root

The Big Ten has been a juggernaut in non-conference play. As of writing, the league is 31-21-2 against the spread. Even better, the conference is 45-7 overall.

Minnesota hasn’t been one of the success stories, though. The Gophers possess one of those seven losses (home to DePaul) and are just 1-3 against the spread. Early returns place them in the league’s bottom tier.

An important note, though: they haven’t been at full strength. Jamison Battle, the team’s leading scorer last year, has yet to take the court due to a foot injury.

Without him, the young roster lacks offensive pop.

Dawson Garcia, formerly of UNC and Marquette, is a versatile scorer, but Battle’s deep range and ability to shoot over defenders is irreplaceable.

Battle is being called a game-time decision for this one. If he plays — even on a minutes limit — this number is a bargain for the Gophers. Even if he doesn’t play, the Gophers are capable of winning this game.

Cal Baptist, meanwhile, has been extremely up and down. A 15-point home loss to Long Beach State on opening day tempered some of the preseason enthusiasm.

Since that game, the Lancers have righted the ship, capped by a road victory at Washington last Thursday.

The Lancers are talented, most notably with pro prospect Taran Armstrong at point guard. They struggle athletically, though, and Battle and Garcia should dominate their individual matchups.

The Gophers aren’t a typical Big Ten squad of elite athletes, but they do outclass Cal Baptist’s group in that regard.

This line may move around as speculation around Battle’s status moves through the airwaves.

I am content getting the Gophers as a slight underdog.

Pick: Minnesota +1.5 (Play to -1)

 

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These guys do NBA and Hockey also of course but l really don’t bet hockey or NBA. To much action as it is maybe if l had Minnys money but give me a holler I’ll post link if asked.

 

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2-0
Iowa scored 100 points.
Gophers just won blowing a lead and winning by one in OT.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning. Life is good!

 

[JDS]

Thanks for posting these articles. I’m definitely intrigued to read them Biggins.