We rate each pick 1 to 5 units with 5 being the strongest play (read about units).
Risk 1% of your bankroll per unit (never risk more than 5% of total bankroll on any pick).

Game: Appalachian State at Wichita State (1:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Appalachian State +6

Appalachian State has won 16 of their last 17 games. Wichita State is now in in need of running the table in the MVC tourney to get a bid - not likely at all. They are a 10-loss team without much to play for. The more motivated team will be Appalachian State as they have a realistic shot at an At-Large bid. They have beaten Virginia on a neutral floor, Vanderbilt on the road, VCU on the road, and Central Florida on the road. As you can see, this team can win on the road and may surprise Wichita State if they don't pay attention. Wichita State is just 11-22 ATS the past three seasons at home. Also, over that span they are just 1-8 ATS vs. top level teams (60%+ winning percentage) in late-season play.

Texas A&M is poised to make a big run in the NCAA tournament this season. Oklahoma has had a spotty year but mostly due to their road woes. They have not lost a conference game in their last 12, and have only been an underdog once in several years. That game resulted in an Oklahoma straight up win. This has been a chamber of horrors for A&M. Last year's seven loss regular season team came in here and lost by eight points. That was one of the closer games! They have lost by 16-points per game (PPG) here over the last nine years and not a single win. Have to take the points in this one.

This is another total set too low. Yes, Both tems are very solid defensively. But, S. Illinois is 8-2 OVER this season vs. those types of teams (those allowing 64 ppg or less). Butler is 8-1 OVER vs. those teams! Butler is also 10-3 OVER vs. winning teams this year. They are 14-9 OVER on the season and 3-1 OVER in their last five games. Take the OVER here.

George Mason holds opponents to just 58.9 ppg and 40.6% shooting. But right now Kent is shooting the lights out hitting 46.8% over their last five games. Kent is 6-0 OVER the past two seasons vs. great defensive teams that allow under 42% so they should find a way to break through here. On the road Kent gives up on defense. While averaging UNDER 60 allowed at home, they give up 68.9 on the road. George Mason steps up their offense at home in a similar way. This total is set too low and with these teams seeing each other for the first time, we expect offense to rule the roost.

Austin Peay has now won 15 of 16 games. Akron is poised for an NCAA bid and has not had too many blowout wins at home against quality teams. The names on the front of the jersey will not inspire Akron to be gearing up for a big-time game but the opportunity for Austin Peay will certainly have them bringing their "A" game. Austin Peay is off an 89-44 victory over Tennessee State. They are 7-1 ATS this season following a double-digit win. This is simply too many points to be laying to a quality team and we will grab them here.

Eastern Washington has not had a good year - for them. They have been playing their worst basketball of the season lately, dropping four of their last five games. UCSB stands at 15-8, and in a much stronger conference and is playing at home. E. Washington is not only losing they are not covering too many games either as they are 3-9 ATS over their last 12 games. This one looks like a comfortable double digit home win by UCSB, and we will lay the points in this one.

This is a surprising line to us. Creighton is a very solid team at home but we are not asking Drexel to win this one, although we feel there is a chance they could, so the points look very appealing. Drexel has already posted top notch road wins over Villanova, Syracuse and Temple, as well as Saint Joe's. We expect this game to be much more competitive than a near double digit line. A few breaks and Drexel comes out on top in this one.