Football 
Tennis 
Horse Racing NCAA Basketball Saturday Best Bets: 2 Value Picks for Saturday Night
NCAA BASKETBALL NOVEMBER MADNESS BEST BETS: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12th
It’s Madness in November, and we’re kicked into gear as we work our way to the second weekend of the NCAA Basketball campaign. Our resident college hoops expert Ej Garr is here to bring us a pair of gems from the hardwood on Saturday, so we hope you’re ready for another good read with some great tips as usual.
In this article:
- Buffalo Bulls vs James Madison Dukes Preview
- Buffalo Bulls vs James Madison Dukes Best Bet
- Loyola-Marymount Lions vs UC Davis Aggies Preview
- Loyola-Marymount Lions vs UC Davis Aggies Best Bet
Buffalo Bulls vs James Madison Dukes Preview
November 12, 18:00 (UK time)
Hi, my name is Ej, and I have a fondness for totals when it comes to college hoops and any other sport I cover for that matter. I don’t know who out there is focusing on the early games of the new campaign, because I know a lot of folks that like to wait until Conference play tips off before they really start paying attention to NCAA hoops.
Luckily, I am of the faith that these early non-conference games bring more money than we can whack at out of a piñata! So, do you want to even guess what pointed me to this total in particular, or do you already get the gist?
The line setters seem to think that we’re going to be intimidated by the 159 they are putting on the board for this contest, and I almost couldn’t type fast enough when I started this article because of it. I mean what? I asked you if you were into the early games, but apparently, the oddsmakers have been getting drunk in the booth again setting totals.
That’s where I come in to bust them in the chops, and did you see the first half total at 75.5? Hold on, I will have to excuse myself, I’ll be right back…
Phew, okay, I’m all right, I just fell over in my chair and lost track of where I was for a second! What the hell is 159? Listen, no team can keep up a certain pace all season long, but we don’t need these two to do anything past today for all I care right now.
James Madison just joined the Sun Belt Conference this year, and they’ve gotten off to a 2 – 0 start thus far playing two non-conference tilts against Valley Forge and Hampton. Damnit, excuse me again as I need to wipe my shirt now from the points this team has poured into the bucket to start the campaign. All they did was put up 123 points against the Forge, and 106 against Hampton, pfft!
Here is the ridiculous factor that I just can’t even grasp, and I have to go all caps for a second. ALL 13 PLAYERS ARE CONTRIBUTING! I know, I just said that a coach is actually putting his entire damn roster on the court for every game, and they all don’t just stand around happy about it.
Everyone wants the ball, everyone wants to be a team guy and pass the rock, and your guess is as good as anyone who will lead this team in time on the court. Look at that balance, is that impressive or what?
So, the Bulls jumped out of the gate with a 1-point win against Colgate, and hey, pay attention now. Colgate might score 85+ points all damn year! You’re welcome!
An 88 – 87 victory also has that Bulls defence full of questions, and you don’t even want to look at the rankings. If you did, you know there are about 350 Division 1 NCAA programs, so when you rank 340th or worse in the big categories, well? You know how that spells trouble I’ll assume!
Yazid Powell landed 24 points in the season-opening win over Colgate, and Buffalo is favoured at home by a bucket in this game. Free throw shooting can win and lose games, however, and you know how much more it will matter in a close game. The Bulls were 12 for 22 from the line againsT Colgate, and that is something that needs to be addressed sooner than later.
Buffalo Bulls vs James Madison Dukes Best Bet
First, you laugh at the 75.5 1st-Half line total, and then you slap some more cash on the game total to go over the 159 because twice the money is there to be had.
- Selection: Over 159
- Best odds: 1.91 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes 5/10
Odds as of 8:00 am November 12, 2022. Odds may now differ.
More Buffalo Bulls vs James Madison Dukes Tips
Loyola-Marymount Lions vs UC Davis Aggies Preview
November 13, 03:00 (UK time)
If you follow my Twitter feed, you’ll see my post about the write-up I made for the Loyola / Riverside game the other night. Loyola was favoured by 6 points over Riverside, and they sure looked like they were going to cover that as the first half played out. Even late in the game, Loyola was constantly carrying a double-digit lead and then it happened.
Right up until the 13:40 mark remaining in the game, Riverside was still down by double-digits and then a loose-ball rebound changed the rest of the night. Riverside’s Zyon Pullin and Loyola’s Alex Merkviladze were trading late possessions scoring big baskets as regulation time was counting down.
Pullin landed 23 points and converted the final shot of the game to lift Riverside to the 81 – 79 comeback win, and Riverside had 4 players put up double-digit efforts.
Loyola is favoured by 6 points again after that disappointing loss in this spot. And UC-Davis has already bagged a win over Cal and Loyola-Illinois transfer Ty Johnson is enjoying his new #2 uniform. Johnson is surrounded by 3 returning starters for UC-Davis, and the trio is right in line on the scoring depth chart behind Johnson.
Christian Anigwe, Elijah Pepper, and Kane Milling all came back as honour candidates, so this team is ready to play anyone in front of them. The 3-balls will be flying, and it will just be a matter of getting them to fall for us tonight.
I am all over these +6 points again, because the line setters are over-respecting Loyola and not even noticing that UC Davis is pretty damn good this year.
Loyola-Marymount Lions vs UC Davis Aggies Best Bets
After watching Loyola fall apart with my own eyes on Thursday night, I have so much more faith in UC Davis to not just cover, but likely just take the win outright. I called for Riverside to win the game outright and they did. Take 2!! Action!
- Selection: UC Davis +6
- Best odds: 1.91 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes 5/10
Odds as of 8:00 am November 12, 2022. Odds may now differ.
More Loyola-Marymount Lions vs UC Davis Aggies Tips
