Once again, the Big Sky came through for me. Not only did Portland State make it eight straight games in which Weber State has failed to cover, but the Vikings won the game outright, taking all the drama out of cashing my Big Sky Parlay. I believe that’s the fifth one of these I’ve hit this season, which proves again what I’ve been saying: this is my league.
Unfortunately, we’re quickly running out of time to bet it. That’s both the positive and negative of this time of year: it’s the best time on the sports calendar, but it’s also your last chance to put all the knowledge we’ve gained over the course of the season into practice. We’re down to 16 days until Selection Sunday, and there’s still plenty of bets to make before then. Here are my best plays for February 25.
NORTHWESTERN-PENN STATE U128.5, -110
I’m so going to miss being able to make this bet. I love my Penn State rock fights in University Park, and it looks like we’ve got another one coming our way here. For whatever reason, bettors still haven’t figured out that the Nittany Lions do this to everyone who comes to the Bryce Jordan Center and keep setting the total too high for games here. This looks like another one where the first one to 60 will win.
NEBRASKA TTO 75, -110
Iowa might very well bludgeon Nebraska again. But if they do, the Huskers are still likely to score plenty in the process. Nebraska has beaten Iowa four straight in Lincoln, and the Huskers’ score has reached 90 points on three of those four occasions. Iowa doesn’t tend to hold people under 75 very often. I’m expecting the Huskers to do their share of the scoring here.
MONMOUTH -2.5, -130
Saint Peter’s has been great for me for most of the year, but sometimes, you just have to know when it’s not working anymore. That’s the case here, because the Peacocks have now lost three of four and just aren’t playing quality basketball at the moment. Monmouth has covered in three of its past four, and the Hawks are a better team than they were in the first meeting. They should even the score here.
RIDER ML, -120
The Broncs have played pretty well as of late, and if they could handle overtime, they’d be coming off four wins in their past five contests. As it is, they’ve lost three straight, but two were in overtime and one was a two-pointer to Monmouth. Niagara doesn’t have quite as high a ceiling as the teams Rider has faced, and the Purple Eagles got blasted in two of their past three road tests. A fourth straight one will likely be a bridge too far for Niagara.
SOUTHAMPTON-NORWICH CITY O2.5, -135
The past three meetings between these teams have all seen three markers, and the way these teams have played recently suggests goals are coming. Southampton has seen both teams score in 12 of its past 14 matches, and Norwich has found a goal in five of its past six contests. There’s a lot of reason to expect three or more goals to happen here.
