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The NCAA Tournament may be winding down, but additional basketball opportunities are available. What random bet has attention of The Gaming Juice’s Brad Evans? He discusses one favorite in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
North Texas (27-8) vs. UC Irvine (31-6)
Date: Tuesday, April 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
The pick — North Texas ML, Game UNDER 138.5 (+106, Caesars)
The legalized sports betting world always finds “exciting” new ways to screw over gamblers.
A player winning too much is the most popular reason for curtailment, but the controversy surrounding the College Basketball Crown reached previously unfounded territory.
The made-for-TV tournament created by FOX featuring teams from the Big 12, Big East and Big Ten began Monday in Las Vegas. With $500,000 in NIL winnings at stake, the players — and the viewers willing to roll the dice with bets on portal-impacted rosters — were money-motivated.
That is, for those holding tickets in certain states.
Because the event wasn’t officially sanctioned by the NCAA, bettors who had action tied to the CBC in Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania were denied. Lines, despite being live days in advance, were pulled. Though some wagers were honored, many previously made were cancelled.
What a mess.
For those that can still bet on this.
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) April 1, 2025
As a side note, with lines no longer allowed in various states tied to the CBC, I will not be writing additional content around it this week. https://t.co/IHxUgvbZI9
Thankfully for those living in certain jurisdictions, the NIT provides an appropriate palate cleanser.
For North Texas’ Ross Hodge, this is his last rodeo with the Mean Green. Last week, he accepted the open gig at West Virginia.
At historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, look for his current club to take him out on a high note.
UNT is a very poor man’s version of Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars. The Deniers from Denton lean on defense. Over their last eight games, they’re No. 85 in effective field goal percentage D, surrendering only 47.2% shooting on 2-pointers and 32.2% on 3s.
The Mean Green’s staunch willingness to guard and wax the glass is only amplified by a systematic pace. Slow and methodical, they’re No. 361 in adjusted tempo on the season.
UC Irvine won’t go quietly. Its sizable frontcourt featuring 7-foot-1 center Bent Leuchten and 6-10 forward Kyle Evans explains why it ranks top-12 nationally in 2-point percentage defense and block rate. Suffice it to say, scoring inside against the Anteaters is no picnic.
The action in Circle City will likely come down to how well North Texas’ Atin Wright, Latrell Jossell and Jasper Floyd shoot from outside. With UCI ranking No. 296 in 3-point percentage D (39.4%) since late February, bombarding the Anteaters from the perimeter is recommended.
Russell Turner’s bigs are intimidating for a smallish Mean Green frontline topping out at 6-9. However, if North Texas has its equalizers fall and entices a friendly whistle — both teams inflict serious damage at the free-throw line — victory will be achieved.
In what will surely be a hotly contested affair, it’s only appropriate this dollar chaser invests in some Mean Green.
Season record: 33-33, -1.58 units