Virginia guard Armaan Franklin dribbles up court in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.) – Media by Associated Press
The early part of the conference schedule has provided plenty of exciting moments for college basketball fans. When teams have to actually leave their home arenas and not pay at neutral venues, it is easy to see what teams are truly made of. Here’s a look at some of the best games worth betting for Tuesday night.
Marquette Golden Eagles (-2.5) at St. John’s Red Storm
The Golden Eagles have been playing good basketball all season. Nothing much has changed since Big East pay started. Marquette is off to a 3-1 start in the conference, including a 68-66 road win over Villanova. The Golden Eagles are able to push the pace on their opponents, putting up 81.5 points per game and shooting 48.6 percent from the field.
Marquette is 9-5-1 against the spread. The Golden Eagles have seen the total go over in eight of their 15 games. St. John’s has hit a rough patch since Big East play started. The Red Storm has dropped three straight in Big East play since opening conference play with a win. St. John’s is also capable of scoring effectively.
The Red Storm score 78.6 points per game. St. John’s is 6-9 against the spread this season. The over has gone 7-7-1 in St. John’s games this season.
Virginia Cavaliers at Pitt Panthers (+5)
Pitt finally seems to have figured things out under Jeff Capel. The Panthers upset UNC on New Year’s Eve and are now 10-4 on the season and 3-0 in the ACC. Pitt has won four straight games and is showing it could be capable of contending for the postseason.
The Panthers are 10-3-1 against the spread this season. Despite playing without star forward John Hughley IV, the Panthers have rallied behind Blake Hinson, who is scoring 17.1 points and averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. Virginia plays at its typical deliberate pace and relies on excellent defense.
The Cavaliers are 4-8 against the spread and often find themselves in close games. Pitt will cover the spread at home.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Boston College Eagles (+2.5)
The Fighting Irish will head to Chestnut Hill, seeking to avoid the ACC’s basement. Notre Dame has yet to grab a conference win and will play a Boston College team that scored a home upset of No. 21 Virginia Tech. The Irish are a team that needs to make 3-pointers to win.
Notre Dame knocks down 38 percent of its 3-point attempts, which ranks 37th nationally. The Fighting Irish, however, have struggled defensively. Opponents are shooting 45.8 percent defensively, which ranks 316th nationally. Boston College, which is 4-10 against the spread, doesn’t make anything look pretty on offense, either.
The Eagles score 64.4 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting. Boston College is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the country, only making 27 percent of its attempts. While this game will not be pleasant to watch, Boston College will grab a win on Chestnut Hill.
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