Sam Panayotovich
FOX Sports Betting Analyst
Who’s ready to bet basketball all day Saturday?
All right, maybe not all day, but conference tournament games start bright and early, we’ll see a champion crowned in the Ohio Valley, and it’s the last full weekend of regular-season play in a handful of leagues.
Sign me up for the Madness.
Here’s the “Saturday Trifecta” for March 8.
’25 CBK Plays (3-6, -3.7 units)
St. John’s @ Marquette (-2, O/U 141.5)
This one should be a doozy on FOX. Johnnies’ stock hasn’t been this high in decades and, naturally, I’m looking to bet against the hype and against Rick Pitino. Full disclosure: I’ll be a nervous wreck if he comes out in the Tony Montana white suit. Marquette is exceptional at protecting the basketball, which is how you beat St. John’s — don’t turn over that precious pumpkin. It also doesn’t hurt that the Golden Eagles are 14-2 at home this season.
PICK: Marquette (-2) to win by more than 2 points
Houston (-4.5, O/U 131.5) @ Baylor
DraftKings opened Houston at -7.5 late Friday afternoon — just an awful opener by the way — and it got decked immediately. The market is currently sitting Cougars -4.5, and I still like the home ‘dog. Baylor needs this game in the worst of ways and an outright victory would solidify a berth in the Big Dance. I’m not going to call my shot, but I do think the Bears fight down to the wire.
PICK: Baylor (+4.5) to lose by fewer than 4.5 points, or win outright
Duke (-11, O/U 158) @ North Carolina
Fading Duke isn’t exactly what people want to do these days and I understand. The Blue Devils are destroying everything in sight, and they’ve won their last seven games by an average of 32 points. That’s not a typo, either. And yet here I am deciding to take another crack at ‘em. North Carolina has quietly rattled off six straight wins and that’s a big number to give the Heels in their home finale. I expect a big game and timely shooting from senior RJ Davis.
PICK: North Carolina (+11) to lose by fewer than 11 points, or win outright
Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot.
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