Big East Tournament Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (3/14)
Marquette may have snuck into the Big East tournament semifinals as the No. 5 seed, but these semifinals have a very chalky feel. The four best teams in the conference and the only four that were virtual locks to make the NCAA Tournament are left standing, which should provide some great theater over the weekend.
There is also an interesting dynamic in the two semifinal matchups, as each has an “old school” Big East member (St. John’s and UConn) paired with a newer Big East team (Marquette and Creighton).
After going 5-2 with our Big East Tournament picks through the first two rounds, we are back to continue that momentum today.
Keep reading for a detailed breakdown of our Big East Tournament college basketball best bets and top picks for Friday, March 14.
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Friday's Best Big East Tournament College Basketball Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Marquette (+4.5) vs. St. John’s (-4.5) | O/U 141.5 (-105/-115)
In the first meeting between these teams at Madison Square Garden, St. John's earned two massive advantages. It won the shot volume advantage in a big way, securing 21 offensive rebounds to Marquette's five.
In addition, the Red Storm made almost as many free throws (17) as Marquette attempted in the game (18).
Some would wonder then why St. John's only won that first matchup by six points, and the easy thing to pinpoint would be that it shot just 54.8% from the free throw line (17-for-31).
St. John's has the defensive versatility to take Marquette out of what it wants to do offensively, with its ability to switch all of the Golden Eagles' ball screens.
The fact that the Red Storm grabbed 19 more offensive rebounds and shot 21 free throws in the second meeting suggests they play with a level of physicality that Marquette has trouble matching.
With the Madison Square Garden crowd ready to roar at a fever pitch for the best St. John's team it has seen in years, I am comfortable laying the points.
Pick: St. John’s -4.5 (-115)
Creighton (+3.5) vs. UConn (-3.5) | O/U 139.5 (-105/-115)
Creighton became just the third team in Big East tournament history to come back from a 15-point deficit, as it rallied furiously from being down 40-23 to DePaul in the second half. However, the Bluejays should have some tired legs after playing two overtimes yesterday, and UConn’s complex offense that involves non-stop cutting and moving is the last one anyone would want to face on tired legs.
The two teams split their two regular season meetings with each game decided by five or fewer points. UConn won by four at home on Feb. 11, and Madison Square Garden, which Huskies fans have called “Storrs South”, might as well be another home environment.
In that win on Feb. 11, UConn’s Hassan Diarra was visibly hobbled, Solo Ball was dealing with an aching wrist, and Liam McNeeley was still working his way back to full strength from injury. One could argue that the Huskies should’ve won the first meeting if not for shooting 54% at the rim (that’s the Ryan Kalkbrenner effect).
While Greg McDermott’s team would be wise to halt this game to a snail’s pace to save their legs, I expect Danny Hurley will do what he can to speed things up and give the Huskies the edge.
Pick: UConn -3.5 (-115)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.