3/4 Love, Like, Lean

Last time out we went 1-2, bringing our overall record to 15-11 in this column. After a few days off, we will look to get back to our winning ways.

Love/Like:

Virginia vs. Syracuse 6 p.m. CT ESPN

Both my love and my like are coming from this game. This UVA team is just on a roll since losing to Duke, currently riding a six game winning streak. There is a lot to like about UVA in this one. First of all, the analytics love them. Currently ranked KenPom's #1 overall team. Second of all, they are a great road favorite team, currently 7-1 against the number on the season as a road favorite. And truthfully, they are just the best version of what Syracuse wants to be. Both teams have the same identity, they want to play lock down defense, with efficient offense, and a slow pace. The only issue for Syracuse is that UVA is just a drastically better version of the two teams identity.

Therefore we are going to trust the road resume that UVA has built and look for them to get it done for us tonight.

As for the total. This is a must under. Neither of these teams have an issue with walking the ball up the court and using every single second of the shot clock that they can. Syracuse is 13-5 on the under at home this year and I see no reason for that trend to stop with the best defense and slowest team in the nation coming into town. UNDER CITY.

Love Pick: UVA -6

Like Pick: Under 123.5

Lean:

Kansas State vs. TCU 8 p.m. CT ESPN2

The last time these two teams met they had a total of 120 points between the two. This is a TCU team that is struggling down the stretch, losers of five of the last six. Two of those losses being to bad Oklahoma State and West Virginia teams, yikes.

TCU actually has some ok offensive numbers, nothing great but nothing to be ashamed of. Where the big discrepancy lies tonight is turnovers. TCU ranks 209th in the nation in % of possessions ending in turnovers at 18.9%, meanwhile Kansas State defense is one of the best in the nation at forcing the opposition into turnovers at 22.7% of possessions. I think Kansas State and their 5th ranked defense make things uncomfortable tonight for TCU forcing turnovers and on the offensive end look for Kansas State to slow things up and work for theirs. We'll take the under in this one.

Pick: Under 132.5