Locks
NCAA Basketball – Texas Tech @ Baylor -8 (-110): 3:00 PM CT on ESPN
I’m amazed to see this number at the exact same final margin of the first matchup between these teams.
Baylor took down Tech 68-60 in that one, and I expect a big win for the Bears here. It hasn’t been easy for Baylor after three weeks off, but their 11-point win over a really tough Oklahoma State team on Thursday tells me they’re back to the team we’re used to.
Texas Tech’s three straight home wins are inflating their value in this spot. This has not been a good team on the road, 0-4 ATS in their last four conference road games. With Jamarius Burton nursing a toe injury, Mac McClung will get all the attention from this elite and reinvigorated Baylor backcourt as the Bears cruise to a double-digit win.
NCAA Basketball – Memphis @ Houston -9.5 (-110): 11:00 AM CT on CBS
Without looking it up, who’s the regular season AAC champion?
If you said Houston, you’re probably as surprised as the Cougars are to learn that Wichita State clinched the title on Saturday. That can’t possibly be sitting well with this Houston team, and I expect them to remind the league which team is really in charge. When Houston wants to put it on a team they do. They have won by 38, 24, and 46 points since the loss to Wichita that ended up deciding the regular-season champion.
Memphis has a quality team, and their strong ATS record is a big factor in holding this spread down. But I have to think Houston comes into this regular-season finale – on senior day – with something to prove, and this is too few points for a team who can run out anyone in the AAC when they want to.
Degenerates
No degenerates today.
Tiny Nick is 188-114 ATS (+67.2 Units) on his Locks since joining Zone Coverage.
Every day he will offer his Locks and Degenerate picks. Locks are the games he’s confident in. Degenerates are entertaining but riskier picks.
