Ncaa Basketball Picks - January 13, 2009

We nailed our lone pick yesterday to pick up +1.1 units. We are now hitting 68% (13-6) for +22.2 units over the last week. Four picks today including two 4-unit plays.

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: Northern Illinois at Ball State (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Northern Illinois +174 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 5.2)

The Ball State Cardinals, once NCAAB Cinderellas, are having a difficult time getting the program back to that level. They have only managed home wins over Presbyterian, Eastern Illinois, and a Div-2 team. The offense is a train wreck as the Cards start four players shooting 40% or less, and the top scorer off the bench is connecting at just 27%. They have been equally inept from both three-point range and the charity stripe, and are certainly suspect as a favorite here. The Huskies managed just six wins a year ago, but are approaching that mark already this season with five. They won impressively at Toledo by over 20 points last time out. Ball St. is just 18-41-1 ATS in their last 60 at home - showing no home-court advantage. I'll go with Northern Illinois to get the outright win and play them on the moneyline.

Kansas is not anywhere near the same team they have been the past couple years, and a devastating home loss to lowly UMass points that out rather clearly. For the most part they have lost their games against top teams and have had trouble putting away good teams. Kansas State went on the road and held their own against Oklahoma and Kentucky, and stayed within two points against Iowa. They certainly have the capacity to be right there at the end of this one - with an upset not out of the question. I'll back the Wildcats here to at least keep this one close.

The Volunteers got a spike by beating Georgetown early on but have dropped games to Gonzaga, Kansas, and Temple. Kentucky has certainly elevated its game recently and can hang in this one, or even win it. The Wildcats were in complete disarray in their first two games by getting beaten soundly by VMI and run off the court against North Carolina. They have since taken down West Virginia, Miami, Fla., and Kansas St., while playing Louisville to a one possession game on the road. This team is making quick strides and will be in this game down the stretch. I'll take Kentucky and the points here.

The Cougars have one of the top home-court advantages in the country, and TCU certainly isn't going to come in here and try to run with them. That may show clear in their games this season against top conference teams in Nebraska, Clemson, Colorado, and Indiana - all of which went UNDER. The Cougars have followed blowout wins of 20+ points with UNDER games in eight of their last 10, while TCU has shown patience as an underdog going 10-4-1 to the UNDER in their last 15 in that role. I like this one to stay UNDER the total.

Results: 2-2

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Take a look at our 2008 season college basketball gambling preivew here.
• Hop over to our college basketball sports book reviews here.
• Hop over to our 2008 NCAA basketball prior picks here.
• Here we show our how to bet NCAA basketball.
• Check out our updated NCAA basketball Game Preview.
• Here we show our blog college basketball.
• View our NCAA basketball pick here.
• View our college basketball spreads here.
• Updated today: march madness brackets.
• View our NCAA basketball ATS records here.
• View our march madness pick here.
• Here we show our college basketball prior predictions.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-12-2009
The Louisville Cardinals struggled a bit in a couple of early games, but once the Big East season has gotten rolling, so have they. The Cards are always a tough team to beat at home where they are now...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-11-2009
Two excellent defenses clash in this one and as a result, we see a low total. But the Wolverines can score and they will in this one. Michigan averages 76.2 points per game at home. They give up nearl...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-10-2009
UMass has been an offensive team in recent years, and the fact they don't have the same firepower this year, is exposing them defensively. The top 5 teams on their schedule have seen the opponent ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-09-2009
The Saints have everyone back from a year ago, but unlike last year, they aren't sneaking up on anyone. Last season they stunned Stanford and beat a good Villanova team in the NCAA Tournament. The...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-08-2009
The Samford Bulldogs got over their humiliation when they scored just 22 points on the road against Ohio State. They return home where they have yet to taste defeat. The Paladins are not only winless ...