The college basketball season is HERE! After an absolutely wild March Madness tournament, capped off by a blue-blood final four and another Kansas championship over North Carolina, we are here to expect yet another classic CBB season. Lines have finally come out for the season, and bettors everywhere are going to notice incredibly large spreads and peculiar lines throughout the CBB slate. Although some of the lines may seem to be too much or too high, opening week of CBB we always see teams come out firing in opening weeks. There are three plays I really like for opening day, so let’s get right to it!
Baylor -40.0 vs. Mississippi Valley State
I know what you’re thinking: You are really about to lay 40 points? Yes, for this game I am. Baylor is back and is looking to be just as solid, as ever. Scott Drew’s squad is going to have some talent returning, some talent from the transfer portal, and a talented recruiting class to shape a salty team. First, they are returning their leading scorer from last year in guard Adam Flagler (13.8 ppg, 39% 3pt) and starting center Flo Thamba (6.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg). They also utilized transfers and got West Virginia stretch Forward Jalen Bridges (8.4 ppg). Bridges and Thamba are two big bodies that will make an impact on both sides of the floor. Finally, Drew was able to wrangle in five-star recruit Keyonte George (#6 rated recruit for the class of 2022 in ESPN’s top 300), who is expected to start and make an immediate impact. This dude is a superstar and is projected by some scouts to be a lottery pick in the next NBA Draft
On the flip side, to say that Mississippi Valley State struggled last season would be an understatement. The Delta Devils finished with a NCAA worse 2-26 record. To make matters even worse for them, the team fired head coach Lindsay Hunter and on to a new head coach. They also lost their top four leading scorers on their team last season, and they were unable to snag any big recruits or transfers during the offseason. However, the new head coach George Ivory has shown some success coaching, as he was head coach for Arkansas Pine Bluff for 13 seasons.
Nonetheless, I think Baylor is incredibly talented and a team that could surprise some people. This is a squad that could very easily put up 100 points in this game and are going to take advantage of the inexperienced Delta Devils team. Fourty points is a big spread, but there isn’t anyone on Mississippi Valley State that can match up with any of Baylor’s five starters, so I think the Bears will cover this large spread.
Duke TT Over 79.0 vs. Jacksonville
This is more of a “Duke is super talented” play than anything. Following the departure of Coach K, new Blue Devil Head Coach Jon Scheyer has not wasted any time on the recruiting trail. The team is going to look brand new, but they are brining in three top 10 recruits in ESPN’s Top 300. 7’1 Center Derrick Lively (#1 in ESPN’s Top 300), 6’6 Forward Dariq Whitehead (#2 in ESPN’s Top 300), and 6’10 Forward Kyle Filipowski (#7 in ESPN’s Top 300) are expected to make an immediate impact and be instant starters for the Blue Devil’s this season. Yes, you read that right. A 7’1 Center and a 6’10 Forward are expected to start for the Blue Devils!
Many have compared this squad to several other talented teams that Coach K has had, so there is not expected to be any problems for a while for the new head coach. Nonetheless, Duke opens up the season against a very talented Jacksonville squad from the Atlantic Sun that is returning a number of players that helped the Dolphins reach the ASUN Championship game. This is why I do think staying away from the spread (currently sitting at 18.5) is wise. I do think the Blue Devils win this game, but 18.5 is a lot of points.
With that being said, Duke throughout history opens up the season with a fire inside them and scores a TON in their opening games. This team is absolutely talented enough to score at least 80 points in this opening game. On top of all three of the big time recruits that are going to start for the Blue Devils, this also bring back a returning starter in Jeremy Roach who had played a very key part for the team last year. Finally Illinois-transfer Jacob Grandison is expected to crack the starting lineup following a solid season with the Fighting Illini. All five starters and several key bench players can score, so them covering their team total doesn’t seem too out there.
Penn +7.5 vs. Iona
This one is a bit in the weeds for most of you. However, if you listen to the Gambling Feud podcast (and if you don’t give it a listen on Apple Podcast or Spotify), I discuss that the one mid-major conference that I like the most is the Ivy League. I could not tell you why that is, but it is the one conference that I pay attention to a lot. Penn is going to be solid this year. It is either going to be them or Princeton that will win the Ivy League this year. Them as underdogs is a bit surprising.
The Quakers return unanimous All-Ivy League first teamer in guard Jordan Dingle. Dingle returns after a very impressive Sophomore season where he averaged 20.9 ppg (12th in NCAA) and 2.4 apg. He is going to have a major impact for the Quakers this season, but he is not going to do this alone. Including Dingle, the Quakers are returning their top 4 leading scorers from last season in Dingle, guard Clark Slajchert (10.7 ppg, 35.3% 3pt), forward Max Martz (10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), and guard Jonah Charles (6.7 ppg, 39% 3pt). All three are projected to start or at least make a big impact off of the bench this season.
On the flip hand, Rick Pitino’s Iona Gael’s are going to look different this year, losing two of their three leading scorers from last year’s team that led the team to the NIT tournament. They added a few recruits in the transfer portal, but no major standouts. They very well could have some success in the MAAC this season and very well could represent them in the big dance. However, Penn is returning a lot of their team, where Iona is not, so I think experience could surpass the Gaels and Penn could cover this 7.5 clip.
If you are like me, you are so excited that college basketball is back. A lot of us at the network are her to provide you with news, best bets, and reactions to games throughout the college basketball season. Look for blogs like these to come out often! Let’s have a great year of CBB gambling, and no matter what happens, no matter how bad vibes might get or the bets might be, just remember: Ball don’t lie.
