History, if not NCAA Tournament, awaits
We have college basketball conference tournament action today from noon ET until well past midnight, but one regular-season game has my attention.
Miami of Ohio will try to complete an undefeated regular season tonight against Ohio in Athens (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
Miami enters 30–0 (19–8 ATS) and is a 5.5-point favorite. A win would make the RedHawks just the eighth team since 1976 to finish the regular season unbeaten.
Greg Peterson has this game among his Best Bets:
Miami’s offense has traveled well all season, ranking 14th in points per possession in road and neutral court games with a three-point shooting percentage of 37.7% away from home (27th). Ohio ranks 346th in three-point shooting percentage at 29.8%. Defensively, Ohio ranks 325th in opponent three-point shooting percentage at 36.6% and 264th in points per possession allowed, while Miami (OH) ranks 43rd in points per possession allowed away from home.
👉 Greg picks: Miami -5.5 and Over 158.5. (Greg’s handicap: Miami -8, Total 162)
The aforementioned seven undefeated teams (scroll down for list) all made the NCAA Tournament. But the current thinking is that Miami needs to win next week’s MAC Tournament to make the Big Dance.
In other words, 31–0 might not be enough.
👉 Check the Conference Tournament Hub for everything we publish during Champ Week.
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Zach Cohen’s NBA Report
Biggest Story
After tearing his right Achilles tendon in last year’s playoffs, Jayson Tatum is set to return vs. Dallas (+14.5). Nobody knows exactly what to expect, but the Celtics are 41-21 and have the league’s third-best adjusted net rating (+6.6). Sidebar: Will Dallas allow Cooper Flagg to play the second leg of a back-to-back after a few weeks on the shelf?
Game of the Night
Knicks at Nuggets – 9:00 pm ET: This is an East vs. West heavyweight showdown in Denver. New York is really coming around on both ends of the floor, meaning the ‘dog could be live in the Mile High City — especially with a slight rest advantage.
“Braindead Parlay” Options
If you’re looking to fade the tankers with a moneyline parlay, you won’t have as many options as usual. Boston is hosting Dallas, so the Celtics should be your first leg. The Lakers are also hosting the Pacers, so I’d definitely throw Los Angeles in there. However, you’re going to need to get creative to get that price down. You could play Phoenix to beat New Orleans. The Suns will be on the second leg of a back-to-back, but they’re playing at home. The Pelicans aren’t tanking, they’re absolutely horrendous.
👉 Zach’s Best Bets and Steve Makinen‘s Analytics Report will hit around mid-morning on our NBA page.
Kentucky Derby winner revealed?
If you plan to bet on the Kentucky Derby, you definitely should give this week’s VSiN At The Track episode a try.
Based on what Mike Somich and Aaron Halterman had to say, they have their Derby winner.
And the surprising part is that the horse didn’t even win last Saturday.
Seven undefeated men’s college basketball teams since 1976
| Year | Team | Record entering NCAA Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball | 26-0 |
| 2015 | Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball | 31-0 |
| 2014 | Wichita State Shockers men’s basketball | 34-0 |
| 1991 | UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball | 27-0 |
| 1979 | Indiana State Sycamores men’s basketball | 29-0 |
| 1976 | Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball | 27-0 |
| 1976 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights men’s basketball | 28-0 |
