Top TBT Betting Odds & Picks for Friday (7/29)
The Basketball Tournament continues to bring joy to those who only breathe basketball. It’s been fun watching the tournament and seeing so many familiar faces still playing basketball for the love of the game.
Yes, the team that wins the tournament ultimately earns $1 million. Still, the reality is that the athletes who are in the tournament just want to play competitive basketball again. It’s been extremely fun.
There’s a two-game slate today, and I’ve got the best bets for them below.
(Odds courtesy DraftKings)
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Blue Collar U vs. Heartfire
Blue Collar U has averaged 84 points per game through three games this season. Their opponents have only scored 67 points, and that’s how dominant Blue Collar U has been in the tournament. They’ve added 35.7 rebounds per game and continue to succeed inside the paint, scoring 32 points per game.
Blue Collar U is coming off an 83-62 win over The Nerd Team as C.J. Massinburg has led the way with 15.7 points per game. They now have four players in double figures through three games.
Meanwhile, Heartfire has scored 83 points per game while allowing 73.7 points per game through three games in the tournament. Heartfire has the deepest team in the tournament as they’ve scored 41.3 points per game off the bench through three games.
They knocked off the LA Cheaters most recently, 86-72, and have done it behind Eric Washington, who leads the team in points per game with 16 for Heartfire.
Both of these teams match up pretty evenly at this point. Both teams rebound at a high rate and score inside the paint at a high rate. We’ll see more bench production out of Heartfire, and that could be crucial in moments where Blue Collar U needs to sit their starters. I’m going with Heartfire at +2.
Bet: Heartfire +2 (-115 at DraftKings)
Red Scare vs. Best Virginia
The Red Scare has just been hanging around in the tournament. They don’t do anything exceptionally well and are quite average as a team. They’re coming off a big win over The Money Team but snuck by with an 83-81 victory. With that win, they’ve now averaged 73.3 points per game while holding opponents to 69 points per game. The Red Scare has been great defensively but weren’t nearly as good in their last game.
Jordan Sibert has led the team in scoring 13.7 points per game, but only two other players average more than eight points.
The Gutter Cat Gang has scored 74 points per game after winning three straight games in the tournament. Opponents have added just 64 points per game against them.
Meanwhile, Best Virginia has been even better defensively, holding teams to 62 points per game this season. Best Virginia just defeated the Bucketneers, 63-62, in a low-scoring affair. Kevin Jones has led the team in scoring with 15 points per game, and three other players have averaged double-figures along with him.
Currently, Best Virginia has done better on the glass while also getting more bench points. Red Scare will want to get going on the fast break against Best Virginia because it will be hard to score in the halfcourt against them, and I’m not so sure they’ll be able to dominate in the fastbreak in this one.
Therefore, I’m riding Best Virginia to take care of business in this game.
Bet: Best Virginia (-125 at DraftKings)
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