Below are our experts’ top bets for tonight’s college basketball action.
Clemson Tigers (+4.5, 146) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Clemson has been the surprise in the conference, however they were luck to pull out some of those games. Recently, Wake Forest has increased their offensive efficiency and enters this one as winners of three in a row. Tyree Appleby should be able to score it and also create for others against a mediocre Clemson defense.
The Demon Deacons are one of the best offensive teams in the conference, with shooters on the perimeter and Andrew Carr starting to carve out a big role on the inside. There has been some sharp money coming in on Wake Forest which has puch the lie almost a full two points, but we show there is still value with the current spread.
We like Wake Forest -4.5.
Kansas Jayhawks (-1.5, 147) at Kansas State Wildcats
It is not often to find value in primetime games between big programs, but that may be the case tonight. In seven games against Top 50 teams, Kansas has allowed .998 or fewer points per possession in six of them. The only big outlier was against Texas Tech with 1.07 PPP, but the Jayhawks won 75-72.
The Jayhawks have also had at least 1.079 PPP in four of those seven games, with the lone poor offensive performance in a neutral setting against Tennessee in a 64-50 loss that remains Kansas’s only defeat of the season.
Kansas State is 3-1 in its Top 50 games, all against Big 12 foes, but two of the wins came in overtime. The Wildcats also allowed at least 1.084 PPP in three of those four games and have had two major outlier offensive performances with 1.414 PPP against Texas and 1.235 PPP against Baylor, going 13 of 24 from 3 against Texas and 11 of 25 from 3 against Baylor.
Kansas is in the top 15 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency per Ken Pomeroy and Kansas State ranks 36th in offensive efficiency and 40th in defensive efficiency. I think the Wildcats are good, but they’re not quite on Kansas’ level and I think that shows here.
We like Kansas -1.5.
