Matthew Lowrimore
Show Bio
The Second Round of the NCAA tournament is set to get underway, but there are plenty of other sports to find value on. This means it is time to have some fun and look for some of the best bets across all the different sports and pile them into one parlay. We’ve put together a four-pick cross-sport parlay which will take you right through the day, including action from the NHL, NBA, and college basketball.
Each pick is taken from a different sport with a second pick from the NCAA Tournament. A winning ticket gives us a nice payout with odds at +1291 with BetMGM — more than 12/1! Let’s break down each of these four plays. Remember to gamble responsibly.
Best NHL Pick: Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Over 6.5 Goals (+100), 4:08 p.m ET
In all three matchups this year the game has also gone over the total. This should come as no surprise given the Lightning lead the league in goals scored while the Panthers trail just behind them in third place. Looking at a larger sample size we see that the over has cashed 20 out of the last 26 times these teams have met in Tampa Bay. The Lightning rely on a more balanced attack and have four players with more than 27 points on the season. Either way these teams do it they will certainly find a way to get the puck in the net. Take the over!
Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our NHL picks and predictions, as well as our prop bets, parlays, and NHL Best Bets.
Best College Basketball Pick: Syracuse Orange vs. West Virginia Mountaineers -4.5 (-110), 5:15 p.m ET
These programs have not met since 2012 but coaches Bob Huggins and Jim Boeheim are more than familiar with each other. I like the Mountaineers to have enough patience and defensive intensity to get the win as a small favorite in this spot. Look for both teams to play well with WVU’s ceiling higher than that of the Orange. They only have to make a couple more shots and make an extra defensive stand.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our college basketball picks and predictions, as well as our parlays and best bets.
Best NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Over 217.5 Points (-110), 7 p.m ET
The Raptors games have gone over 217 points in 10 of their last 11 games as this team likes to get up and down the court. Over the last five games the Raptors have played at the fourth fastest pace in the league.
The Cavaliers on the other hand have several games recently of scoring under 100 points but all those cases have been on the road. At home, they have managed to score 110 or more in their last five, with nine out of their last 10 games surpassing the 217-point mark. The young Cavaliers are 29th in the league in turnovers, and with the Raptors ranking third in the league in points off turnover, they should get plenty of easy scores tonight that way. Over the last 10 games the Raptors still have the worst defensive rating in the league so Cleveland’s scoring run should continue at home.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our NBA picks and predictions, as well as our prop bets, parlays, and NBA Best Bets.
Best College Basketball Pick: Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Houston Cougars Under 131.5 Points (-110), 7:10 p.m ET
The Cougars rank 13th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, and are very strong on the interior. Houston ranks 30th in field goal percentage defense at the rim, which is where Rutgers takes nearly 40 percent of their shots. With Houston’s ability to defend near the rim, Rutgers will be forced to shoot jump shots, much as they did against Clemson. That didn’t work out so well for Rutgers, as they scored 60 total points.
The Scarlet Knights rank 14th in adjusted defensive efficiency, just one spot behind Houston’s. Houston’s question mark surrounding their offense in this game is the status of Jarreau. He left very early in their opening game and never returned. Without him on the floor, Houston’s offense could struggle more than usual, leading to an under.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for this matchup. You can also read the rest of our college basketball picks and predictions, as well as our parlays and best bets.
