Contest tips off tonight
We do have a three-peat this week, after all.
The Circa College Hoops Challenge is back for a third season, starting tonight.
If you are new to VSiN, this is an abbreviated basketball version of the Circa Friday Football Invitational.
Contest proprietor Matt Youmans has selected 15 handicappers – all of them with varying degrees of familiarity to VSiN fans – to make a total of 50 picks from now until the NCAA title game on April 7.
The contestants will use Circa lines and have a deadline of 10 p.m. PT Friday to enter their five selections (sides or totals) for Saturday’s games.
What this means to you: If you are a VSiN Pro subscriber, you will get 75 picks from top handicappers to start your Saturday. I will send the overnight picks email with the plays, which also will be posted on VSiN.com. On Saturday’s VSiN Weekend Morning Line (10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET), host Tim Murray will announce the picks.
As for the contestants, they will be playing for bragging rights, plus Circa owner Derek Stevens is awarding a Stadium Swim cabana with a $1,000 credit or a Barry’s dinner comp worth $1,000 to the contest winner, who also receives a trophy. The runner-up contestant receives a $200 gift card to Dom Demarco’s Pizzeria in Las Vegas.
>>Meet the contestants and learn more about the format from Matt.
Matt and Tim Murray handicapped the handicappers on Thursday’s VSiN PrimeTime. Matt and Tim are among the 15, too.
More college hoops resources
Greg Peterson, who will be competing in the Challenge, has posted his Best Bets for today’s menu.
Listen now: Greg’s daily podcast handicapping every game on the menu every day.
Adam Burke will post his top plays later this morning.
>Makinen’s power ratings with estimated scores
>DraftKIngs/Circa Betting Splits.
College baseball opens
We love our college baseball betting here at VSiN. There are even whispers of a Team VSiN road trip to Omaha for the College World Series.
So when frequent VSiN guest Matt Grissom of College Baseball Insiders said he would send me a pick every Friday, I said please and thank you.
Clemson ML (-132) vs. Oklahoma State
In the season opener at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Clemson takes on Oklahoma State in the opening game of the Shriners Classic. Clemson will start sophomore Aidan Knaak, who is coming off a 3.35 ERA and a 2.59 SIERA in 2024. He is a true ace with a mix of pitches in his repertoire while the Oklahoma State pitching staff isn’t returning any of its starting rotation from last season. I believe coach Eric Bakich and the Tigers are going to have a great weekend and it begins by getting a Game 1 win vs the Cowboys.
More from Matt throughout the season.
VSiN contributor Aaron Moore (also competing in the Challenge) extolls the virtues of betting college baseball and offers some futures bets.
Quick Hits
NBA: We’ve reached the All-Star break, but Zach Cohen will post his advice on betting Saturday’s dunk and 3-point contests later today.
As a responsible person, Zach will not be posting anything on the actual All-Star Game.
UFC: Lou Finocchiaro offers his Best Bets on Saturday’s card in Las Vegas. News you can use from Lou:
Last year, I moaned incessantly about the 70.5% rate of favorites winning in the UFC. That number has regressed quite aggressively so far in 2025 as favorites stand 27-19-1 or 57.4%.
Soccer: Nigel Seeley (definitely not in the Challenge) has three plays for Saturday’s EPL action.
Horse Racing: 1/ST BET handicapper Jeff Siegel weighs in with his picks for today’s Santa Anita card. 1/ST Bet offers wagering on hundreds of races every day from across the country and around the world. Sign up at 1STBET.COM with promo code VSIN200 to claim a 20% rebate for your first 60 days, up to $200.
This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Friday, February 14. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
