March Madness Predictions - January 09, 2008

We hit a big bump last night, winning just two picks. Tonight we look to get back to the winning ways. We stand at 63% (38-22) for +17.4 units over the past two and a half weeks.

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: Iowa at Ohio State (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 117.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)

Iowa is scoring just 58.5 ppg while turning the ball over 16.7 times per game. However, they have picked up their scoring since conference play began (63.5 per game) while falling down on the defensive end (71.5 per game allowed in-conference). The Hawkeyes are 13-4 OVER in their last 17 as a double-digit underdog and 17-7 OVER the past three seasons on the road. They are also 9-1 OVER the past two seasons off a double-digit loss. Ohio State is pouring in 70 points per game (72.7 at home and 74 per game over their last five). They are shooting 47.8% from the floor at home and should find success tonight. We like this one to go OVER the low total.

#16 Mississippi heads to #8 Tennessee for each team's SEC opener. Ole Miss is 13-0 but this team hasn't won in Knoxville since 1991 (eight straight losses). They are also just 26-48 all-time in SEC openers while Tennessee has won seven of their last eight conference openers. The Vols have won seven in a row, losing to only Texas this year. Both teams can light up the scoreboard but consider that Ole Miss is getting 78 points per game on the road while Tennessee is averaging 93.7 at home. Tennessee also has the better defense. The Vols are a perfect 10-0 the past two seasons at home vs. winning teams. This could be a hard-fought close game but we like the Vols to get the win.

Vanderbilt has made it to this point of the season unblemished at 15-0. They can score in big bursts, and most of what they do is on the offensive end of the court and from beyond the arc where they are hitting 45%. They are going to meet a team in South Carolina tonight who can match them outside, as they hit 41% of their 3's, but are also a better defending team on the perimeter. Most will look at the SC loss to unknown NC-Ashville, and jump all over Vandy tonight. NC Ashville has a 7'6" 335 center that is a game changer and Ashville is 11-3 and not a joke. Downey and Fredrick have 127 assists between them, and have committed just 73 turnovers. The Gamecocks are certainly road warriors, as they have gone 22-4 ATS in their last 26 on the road vs teams with a winning prcentage of .600+. Vandy has been good in the win column, but the odds-makers are making them a difficult play on team, as they are severely over-valued. They have not been able to put two ATS wins together since November, and they will be in for a serious battle tonight. S. Carolina is 4-1 UNDER on the road this season where there scoring drops off 14 full points vs. their home games. This total is sky-high and we like the game to go UNDER.

The Blue Jays had a rare "no show" at home vs a tough Illinois State team, but have dominated all others at home. This is a very deep Creighton team that will have its way with the Purple Aces who don't defend well, and lack scoring punch. This is a team that plays from a step behind, as they have commited an average of 18 fouls a game and more against the better teams. The Blue Jays are converting 72% from the line. They have just two scorers and if either gets into foul trouble this one could really get out of hand. The Jays are deeper, and more talented, and dominating at home.

We like this one a lot and will take Drake to win outright as well.

The Sycamores have now won four straight games, mostly a product of the way they play at home, and a road game at 5-8 Evansville. They are just 1-5 on the road with all but one loss by double-digits. They lack a go-to scorer and solid rebounder, as no one on the team pulls down as many as 5 per game. Drake sure doesn't have the marquis name, but they are 12-1, taking all but one visitor out by double-digits. They are flawless against the number on their own court. The Bulldogs are getting 10 steals per game and their ability to go in transition, and defend will cause an Indiana State team without a lot of scoring options to play from behind. That will result in a comfortable double-digit win for the Bulldogs.

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Read our college basketball betting here.
• Read our NCAA basketball handicapping philosophy here.
• Take a look at our ncaa final four here.
• Don't forget to read our 2007 NCAA basketball gambling preview here.
• Take a look at our NCAA basketball Game-of-Day Analysis here.
• View our 2007 college basketball picks season results here.
• Updated today: ncaa tournament picks.
• View our NCAA basketball ATS records here.
• Check out NCAA basketball picks blog here.
• View NCAA basketball pick here.
• Hop over to our NCAA basketball picks here.
• Don't forget to read our NCAA basketball odds here.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-08-2008
The Stags have just not gotten anything going on offense, as they shoot just over 40% on the season. That makes it tough to stay in games, especially when the defense allows 47% shooting and 38% from&...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-07-2008
Tennessee Martin is averaging just 41.8% from the field overall and 37.8% on the road. That kind of shooting can make for an off night and with a total this high, we'll look to the UNDER. The Skyh...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-06-2008
Pittsburgh sustained a pair of severe blows as Lavance Fields and Mike Cook have gone down with injuries. It's tough to go on the road in the Big East missing your playmaker and another ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-05-2008
Syracuse is rolling right now having won five straight by an average score of 92.6 to 68.4. On the season they are 9-2 at home. To beat the Orange, you must keep up with their prolific scoring and S. ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-03-2008
The Irish will open Big East play against West Virginia. Notre Dame has been one of the most difficult teams to play at home as they swept the schedule last year, and stand at 8-0 so far this season. ...