Multiple times each week, The Gaming Juice’s resident action seeker, Brad Evans, will attempt to blast the ‘books with his favorite selections on sides, totals, props, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — but that’s up to you.
Sledgehammer Special — Seton Hall +2.5, Game UNDER 141.5 (+100, MGM)
Villanova.
Seton Hall.
Both teams have postseason ambitions. Both own visible resume flaws. And both are trying not to get sucked out of a plane door in midair en route to a NCAA Tournament berth.
Buckle your safety belts, kids.
The stakes are stratospheric on Wednesday for the pair of bubblicious teams. The loser is seemingly destined for the NIT, provided an automatic berth in the Big East Tournament isn’t earned. The winner adds a key evidential piece for why it deserves to dance come Selection Sunday.
[ Bracket Big Board: Brad Evans’ NCAA Tournament projections ]
Kyle Neptune’s Wildcats, 6-2 over their last eight games, have entered March like a lion. They’re No. 8 overall since Feb. 1, according to BartTorvik’s analytics, joining Big East brethren UConn (No. 1), Marquette (No. 7) and Creighton (No. 9) in the top 10. Over that span, Villanova is a somewhat vanilla No. 80 in eFG offense, but it’s an outstanding No. 12 in eFG defense, surrendering 45.4% from two and 29.1% from three. Talk about clamping down.
The Pirates have rarely scored sought-after booty down the homestretch. In their last seven games, they’re outside No. 240 in eFG offense and eFG defense. Yarr, the bunch of grog blossoms (look it up). More specifically, they’ve shot a miserable 29.8% from three (No. 305) over the past four weeks. Essentially, the unwanted “balance” has them venturing out on a flimsy plank. Another misstep against a team also vying for the Selection Committee’s affections could have them plunging into the ocean deep.
The pressure will be packed inside the Prudential Center. After receiving an 80-54 spanking in Philly, Seton Hall is motivated to exact its revenge. With a supportive home crowd, offensive rebounding prowess (No. 6 OR% at home) and plus perimeter defense (30.9 3PT% allowed at home), it should cool the 3-pointer-happy Wildcats.
Don’t plunder my bankroll, Kadary Richmond, Al-Amir Dawes and Dre Davis. You want to dance? You must win.
Season record: 11-10, +1.68 units
BONUS TIME — Minnesota -5 vs. Indiana (-110, MGM)