Today bettors have a loaded Wednesday slate to choose from including 13 NBA games, 3 NHL games and a full College Basketball card. For an updated breakdown of Wednesday's betting action, be sure to tune in to the VSiN Market Insights Podcast with Josh Appelbaum. It will be posted by 2:30 p.m. ET. I'll be co-hosting Betting Across America with Mike Pritchard from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.
In the meantime, let's discuss a handful of College Basketball games receiving sharp action today...
6:30 p.m. ET: Mississippi State at Florida
These SEC rivals are trending in opposite directions. Mississippi State (12-4 SU, 9-7 ATS) is 6-1 over their last seven games and is coming off a big 87-86 win over Alabama, although the Bulldogs failed to cover as 1.5-point home favorites. Meanwhile, Florida (10-6 SU, 8-8 ATS) just snapped a three-game losing skid with a 71-63 win over South Carolina, covering as 4.5-point road favorites. This line opened with Florida listed as a 4-point home favorite. The public can't believe they can get Mississippi State, the better team who is playing better as of late, as a dog. However, pros seem to be fading the low hanging fruit and have steamed Florida up from -4 to -6. Ken Pom has the Gators winning 72-68. Florida is 6-3 at home this season. Mississippi State is 0-1 on the road.
7 p.m. ET: LSU at Alabama
LSU (15-2 SU, 13-4 ATS) is ranked 13th in the country and looking to bounce back from a 65-58 loss to Arkansas, in which the Tigers lost outright as 6.5-point home favorites. On the flip side, Alabama (11-6 SU, 7-10 ATS) is unranked and has lost three straight, most recently falling to Mississippi State 78-76, failing to cover as 1.5-point road dogs. This line opened with Alabama listed as a 2.5-point home favorite. The public is rushing to window to grab the points with trendy dog LSU. However, this line has risen further toward Alabama (-2.5 to -3.5). This signals sharp contrarian reverse line movement on the Crimson Tide. Alabama has value as a "fishy" unranked home favorite against a ranked opponent. Ken Pom has Alabama winning 72-71. Alabama is -160 on the moneyline. Alabama is 7-1 at home this season.
7 p.m. ET: Virginia Tech at NC State
Virginia Tech (9-7 SU, 8-8 ATS) just snapped a three-game losing skid with a 79-73 win over Notre Dame, although the Hokies failed to cover as 7-point home favorites. Meanwhile, NC State (9-9 SU, 5-13 ATS) just fell to Duke 88-73, failing to cover as 13.5-point road dogs. This line opened with Virginia Tech listed as a 3-point road favorite. Respected money has grabbed the home dog plus the points, dropping NC State from 3 to 1. The Wolfpack will look to hold an edge on the boards. NC State is averaging 37 rebounds per game compared to Virginia Tech's 33. NC State also has the better offense, averaging 76 PPG compared to 70 for Virginia Tech. NC State is 6-4 at home this season. Virginia Tech is 2-3 on the road. Ken Pom has Virginia Tech winning 71-68.
9 p.m. ET: Xavier at DePaul
Xavier (13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS) enters this game ranked 20th in the country, having just beat Creighton 80-73 but failing to cover as 9-point home favorites. On the other hand, DePaul (10-6 SU, 10-6 ATS) is unranked. After starting the season 9-1, DePaul is just 1-5 over their last six games, although they did just upset Seton Hall 96-92, winning outright as 6.5-point home dogs. This line opened with Xavier listed as a 7-point road favorite. The public is happy to lay the points with the ranked team over the unranked team. However, we've seen this line fall from 7 to 6.5, signaling respected money taking the points with DePaul. Ken Pom has DePaul losing by six points (80-74), which means the hook on the 6.5 still provides some value. DePaul is 8-3 at home this season. Xavier is 2-1 on the road.