2/9/23 Daily Picks (CBB, NHL)

After not having enough time to write a full post with our picks from last night, we're back. Despite a 4-3 CBB performance by yours truly, tonight we aim to improve upon that with a full slate of decent mid-major games. Will you have heard of half of the teams that I'm riding with tonight? Probably not. But that's ok because luckily you don't have to know a team's mascot, location, or colors to bet on them!

CBB Plays:

Radford ML (-170)

Gardner-Webb (13-11) @ Radford (16-9), 6pm CT on ESPNU

This game features two of the top four teams this season in the Big South, with Radford currently sitting in 2nd at 10-2 in conference. Radford is 9-1at home compared to Gardner-Webb being just 5-8 on the road. Radford already won this matchup earlier in the year so trust the Highlanders at home.

KenPom: Radford 65-61

Torvik: Radford 64-60

Western Illinois -1.5 (-115)

UMKC (10-15) @ Western Illinois (15-9), 6pm CT on ESPN+

Already the winner of these team's first matchup on January 14th, Western Illinois is the better team overall. The Leathernecks are ranked 8th nationally in steals per game and should wreak havoc for UMKC on the defensive end.

KenPom: WIU 68-65

Torvik: WIU 66-64

Morehead State ML (-142)

Morehead St (16-9) @ Little Rock (7-18), 6:30pm CT on ESPN+

Morehead State currently stands at the top of the OVC at 9-3. Little Rock however is at the bottom of the conference at 3-9. MSU is riding a 6 game win streak into this game tonight and Little Rock's 356th ranked defense shouldn't change that.

KenPom: Morehead State 74-73

Torvik: Morehead State 72-72

UTRGV ML (-155)

UT Arlington (8-16) @ UTRGV (12-12), 6:30pm CT on ESPN+

With both of these teams at 3-8 in conference, this isn't exactly a battle of NCAA tournament caliber teams. Rio Grande Valley boasts a 10-3 home record while UT Arlington comes into this game at just 2-6 on the road. Even though Arlington won the first matchup this year, the analytic sites love the home team in this spot. UTRGV is wearing their throwback uniforms to honor their former name (Texas Pan American), so back the Vaqueros.

KenPom: UTRGV 76-72

Torvik: UTRGV 76-72

Milwaukee ML (-130)

Detroit Mercy (10-15) @ Milwaukee (16-8), 7pm CT on ESPN+

UDM's Antoine Davis continues his scoring quest tonight, as he just trails just Pete Maravich on the NCAA's all-time scoring list. Despite a horrific loss earlier this week to Green Bay, Milwaukee is undoubtably the better team in this game. They rank 10-4 in the Horizon this year, while Detroit Mercy has little to show for itself outside of Davis' scoring totals. The Titans are just 3-11 on the road this year and rank just 332nd in adjusted defensive efficiency this year.

KenPom: Milwaukee 80-78

Torvik: Milwaukee 81-77

Southern Miss ML (-140)

Louisiana (20-4) @ Southern Miss (21-4), 7:30pm CT on ESPN+

As the 2 best teams in a relatively strong Sun Belt this year, I feel bad forever whatever 4 or 5 seed gets paired up with either of these teams in the first round of the NCAA tournament next month. Louisiana won the first matchup between these teams earlier this year without any real challenge, 75-62. However, Brett Favre's alma mater hasn't lost a game in almost a month and is 12-0 at home this year.

KenPom: Southern Miss 77-74

Torvik: Southern 78-74

SE Louisiana ML (-135)

SELA (14-10) @ McNeese (5-19), 7:30pm CT on ESPN+

Just look at the records.

KenPom: SELA 76-74

Torvik: McNeese 76-74

Kennesaw State (-172)

Kennesaw State (18-7) @ Jacksonville State (10-15), 7:30pm CT on ESPN+

Both future members of the Conference USA, this is a battle of nearly the worst and first place teams in the A-Sun this year. Jacksonville State will return the favor and play at Kennesaw State on Saturday, but with the 5th worst 3 point defense in the country, expect Kennesaw State to be able to able to get some quality looks from behind the arc tonight. Just pray they can hit a couple of them.

KenPom: KSU 72-69

Torvik: KSU 72-67

Other CBB Plays:

Old Dominion ML (-110)

ODU (14-10) @ Georgia State (10-14)

Northwestern State ML (-165)

NW State (16-8) @ Texas A&M Commerce (11-13)

Arizona State +3.5 (-110)

Arizona State (16-8) @ Stanford (10-13)

UCSB ML (-120)

UCSB (18-4) @ LBSU (14-10)

UC Riverside ML (-130)

UC Davis (14-9) @ UC Riverside (15-9)

USC +4 (-110)

USC (17-6) @ Oregon (14-10)

NHL Picks:

Devils ML (-145)

Seattle (29-16-5) @ New Jersey (33-13-4)