We’re early in the college basketball season, and if we’re being honest, we’re flying blind right now. These first few games are always tough — rosters are full of new recruits and transfers, and last year’s stats don’t tell the whole story anymore. So yeah, opening up slow doesn’t exactly feel great, but I’m not losing sleep over it. This time of year is about recalibrating, reading the early returns, and looking for value in the chaos.
Tonight, I think I’ve found a good spot to do just that — and it comes in Omaha, with the Creighton Bluejays.
Betting the Jays: First-Half Over vs. South Dakota
Creighton opens their home slate in front of what’s sure to be a sellout crowd, and they’ve cracked the Top 25 for a reason. South Dakota’s coming to town, and I expect them to run. They’re not the kind of team that slows it down or turns the ball over much — they want to push pace and score in bunches.
On the flip side, the Jays are built for tempo. They’ve got a massive size and athleticism advantage inside, and when the threes are falling, they can put up points in a hurry. I don’t want to mess with a point spread, laying 16 in the first half or 28.5 for the game — that’s too much variance this early in the season. Instead, I’m keeping it simple with a first half over/under:
- Creighton and South Dakota, First Half Over 79.5 (-120) for 1.2 units.
Let’s get a 50–30 type first half, and I think Creighton’s more than capable of doing their part if they’re shooting well. That’s the Hard Rock Bet of the Day.
Wednesday’s Card: One Future and Three Plays
It’s been a rough week, but I’m looking to turn it around with three plays tonight and a future on the board:
- Seahawks to win the Super Bowl at +1400 (1 unit)
- Lauri Markkanen (Jazz) under 27.5 points + assists (-110)
- Ball State -1.5 vs. Kent State (1.1 units)
- Play of the Day: Creighton/South Dakota First Half Over 79.5 (-120, 1.2 units)
Let’s see if we can break the cold streak and roll into Thursday Night Football with a little momentum — Raiders and Broncos on deck.
You can follow me across all socials @SportsTalkMatt, and of course, catch The Daily Juice Podcast every morning wherever you get your podcasts.
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