College Basketball Parlay Picks Saturday February 26th
Well, we made it. This is the last full college hoops slate of the season. It is a bittersweet day as we will no longer get the 140 plus games, but once conference tournaments start next week, the games just get better from here on out. So, let’s dive into three of the slate’s best plays to help pad our pockets.
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VCU vs. Massachusetts (Tip 4:30 ET)
This is a rare matchup for the simple fact that these two programs have not met since 2020. UMass pulled off the upset as five-point underdogs. Here we are two years later in a similar handicapping spot. VCU is a 5.5 point favorite on the road. However, much has changed since the last meeting. The Rams have put together a solid campaign built off their elite defense. VCU is number five in adjusted defensive efficiency and also does one thing well that can shut down their opposition in this matchup. Don’t let the 12-14 record fool you; this UMass team can shoot it with the best of them. They are 48th in adjusted defensive efficiency and eighth in the country in three-point percentage. They also get the 12th highest share of their points from threes. Though the Rams may be their kryptonite as the one thing that they excel at is defending perimeter shots. VCU is second amongst all Divison 1 teams in three-point percentage allowed. With the Minutemen’s offense neutralized, we look to the other end of the court, where VCU will not face much resistance as UMass is 340 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Rams could run away with this one.
Clemson vs. Boston College (Tip 3:30 ET)
The wrong team is favored here. While the margin is slim, the Eagles are favorites because they are at home, but that factor won’t save them against Clemson. The Tigers are coming into this game off of a massive upset win over Wake Forest that came without their star forward PJ Hall. Hall is a true game-time decision for this matchup, but the Tigers can earn another win here if he is once again unable to go. Boston College Achilles heel this season has been their inconsistent shooting. They are 306th in effective field goal percentage. That is important to consider as they are coming off two solid offensive efforts, so they’re due for some regression here. On the other end of the court, Clemson has plenty of weapons to spare. Chase Hunter and Al-Amir Dawes stepped up in a big way to help take down the Demon Deacons, and now they can do so again against a much easier matchup. Boston College is 215th in effective field goal percentage and 317th in defending the three, an area where Dawes is lights out from. Take the Tigers to get the job done on the road.
No. 3 Auburn vs. No. 17 Tennessee (Tip 4 ET)
In what will for sure be one of the marquee matchups of the day, the Tigers and projected lottery pick Jabari Smith head to Knoxville, where they’ll meet the Volunteers who will be looking to stifle them. Tennesee’s chances of that are higher than most considering they are fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency. However, on the other end of the court, Auburn is not all that bad as well. The Tigers are eighth in adjusted defensive efficiency and will get a Volunteers team that tends to disappear offensively against solid defensive teams. Lastly, Tennessee being at home will also help control the energy and tempo of this game. If you have seen Auburn this year, you’ll notice that they turn it up a notch at home and go on wild runs as they feed off the home crowd. That won’t be happening here.
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Douglas Ziefel is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Douglas, check out his archive.