2/3/23 Daily Picks (CBB & NBA)

By Garrett Hart:

After a night that featured more than 50 games on the college basketball slate, Friday night's schedule is nothing short of terrible. Of the 15 games listed tonight, only 5 register a "Thrill Score" over 40, a metric used by KenPom to measure how relatively exciting a game should be based on its opponents.

Best CBB games tonight:

VCU (17-6) @ SLU (15-7), 6pm CT

Cornell (15-5) @ Princeton (14-6), 6pm CT

Boise State (18-5) @ #22 San Diego State (17-5), 8pm CT

Kent State (18-4) @ Akron (16-6), 8pm CT

CBB Plays:

Princeton ML (-152)

Have I watched a single Princeton game this year? No. However, the Tigers playing at home tonight in what will likely be a packed crowd is the right move. Both Cornell and Princeton currently sit atop the Ivy League standings at 5-2, with Princeton having won the first matchup earlier this month in Ithaca. Both KenPom and Torvik list the home team in this game as a 3-4 point favorite, so might as well ride with Princeton.

KenPom: Princeton 82-79

Torvik: Princeton 83-80

Niagara ML (-178)

I have no clue why the spread in this game is only 3.5, so I figure someone for Niagara must be hurt but screw it. In this case, I'll roll with the Purple Eagles straight up strictly based on the records. Niagara is not a great basketball team by any means, with an 11-9 record overall and 6-5 in a relatively bad MAAC this year. Their opponent, Canisius, on the other hand is absolutely terrible, at 5-15 overall and 3-8 in conference. With this game being played at Niagara, just close your eyes and take Niagara.

KenPom: Niagara 68-63

Torvik: Niagara 67-62

Akron +1.5

Both of these teams are worthy of a 12-13 seed in this year's NCAA tournament, which is a sincere compliment. Kent State comes into the game at 18-4, compared to Akron at 16-6. Both teams also boast a 8-1 conference record in the MAC. The analytics site are split on this game, but they seem to have forgotten one major factor in this game tonight. LeBron. With only 63 more points needed to pass Kareem on the all-time scoring list, I have no choice but to take his hometown team. If you need a more sensible approach to this play, Akron is 11-0 this year at home so the fact that they're catching points tonight is a sign to take them.

KenPom: Kent State 67-66

Torvik: Akron 66-65

The NBA has a solid slate tonight overall, but frankly I'm not going to watch any of the games tonight and none of the players are going all out with the All-Star break looming over the weekend. However, I do have one solid play that will likely come back to bite me in the ass but oh well.

NBA Plays

Kings ML (-162)

I don't have a real reason for this pick other than the fact that the Pacers are coming off of a tough loss to the Lakers last night. Playing on a back-to-back likely won't be ideal for them and Tyrese Haliburton will be a game-time decision tonight, as he could potentially sit after being selected to the All-Star game this Sunday. De'Aaron Fox is out but I have enough faith in Sabonis and Co. tonight to get a win on the road.

Light the beam.