Andrew Ortenberg
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For the first time in more than eight months, we’re about to get some college basketball. On Wednesday we’ll kick off what should be a year truly unlike any other, which will produce even more madness than we usually see. What better way to start things off than with a parlay that has the potential for a huge payout? We’ll be starting with a four-teamer featuring a couple of spreads and a couple of money line picks.
Kentucky -23.5 over Morehead State (-110)
UTSA +15 over Oklahoma (-110)
Clemson over Mississippi State (-205)
Georgia State over Georgia Tech (+320)
Parlay odds: +2177
Kentucky -23.5 over Morehead State (-110)
I don’t think this one is going to be close at all. The Wildcats boast the top recruiting class in the nation, and unlike some of their past teams, it’s not only freshmen that will be doing the heavy lifting. They added 7-foot transfer Olivier Sarr from Wake Forest, a senior who averaged 14 points per game in the ACC last year. I think Kentucky is going to be highly motivated to make a statement here in their opener, so don’t expect them to take their foot off the gas in the second half. Morehead State is just 3-9-1 against the spread in their last 13 as underdogs, so they don’t put up a serious fight too often.
UTSA +15 over Oklahoma (-110)
UTSA on the other hand will put up a fight. They’re one of the best teams in Conference USA, and Oklahoma isn’t going to roll over them. The Roadrunners have arguably the best low-major backcourt out there, as Jhivvan Jackson and Keaton Wallace combined to average over 45 points per game last year and both are returning as seniors. The Sooners on the other hand are replacing lead scorer Kristian Doolittle. These teams played last year and UTSA only lost by 18, and I don’t see how they don’t keep it closer this time around.
Clemson over Mississippi State (-205)
I think Mississippi State is going to really struggle to start the year, and Clemson is a pretty safe bet to win this one. The Bulldogs are replacing each of their four leading scorers from last year, and that lack of continuity is a recipe for disaster in this COVID-19 impacted season. They’re going to be experimenting a lot with lineups, and they haven’t had all that much practice time for things to click. Mississippi State already had very little shooting, and with the loss of Robert Woodard to the NBA draft, they have practically none.
Georgia State over Georgia Tech (+320)
Adding this in gets us the huge odds boost, and the risk is worth the potential big payout. On paper, I think this game is somewhat of a toss-up. Georgia State should once again be one of the best teams in the Sun Belt, and they’re a very experienced squad in a year where experience reigns supreme. They return each of their top three scorers, two of whom are seniors. Georgia Tech shot 31.2 percent from downtown last year, and that lack of shooting leaves them very vulnerable to upsets when they go cold.
Pickswise is the home of free NCAA basketball picks and predictions. We will provide predictions on both the side and totals for all of the power-conference and Top 25 games during the 2020-21 season.
