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The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Odds and Picks: July 8th

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in News

Updated Mar 9, 2021 · 3:20 PM PST

Basketball hoop closeup
Closeup of a basketball hoop. (Photo by J.smith, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
  • Top-seeded Carmen’s Crew makes 2020 TBT debut in Super 16 round against House of ‘Paign 
  • Big X avoided disaster in Round 1, looking now to get past Red Scare
  • Read below for our best TBT betting picks for July 8

After a weekend of hoops to get everyone’s interest piqued, The Basketball Tournament is into the Super 16 round, and after watching all the first round activity, all the heavies are into the action, looking for a berth into the quarterfinals.

Two games on tap today, including the top seed in all of TBT stepping onto the court in Columbus. If you had Carmen’s Crew as a pre-tourney favorite to take the chip, you should be able to rest easy, for at least one round, right?

(16) House of ‘Paign vs (1) Carmen’s Crew

Team Spread Moneyline Total
House of ‘Paign +6.5 (-112) +240 O 158.5 (-116)
Carmen’s Crew -6.5 (-112) -340 U 158.5 (-112)

*Odds from July 7. Tip-off is 4pm ET

Analysis: The mostly Ohio State alumni that call themselves Carmen’s Crew enter 2020 rolling deep, a roster from top-to-bottom that is built to compete for the winner-take-all $1 million purse. They’ll be looking for their second-straight ‘chip, and kick off against a mostly Illinois alum team. Nothing like a little Big 10 rivalry game to spice things up.

 

Carmen’s Crew brings continuity and depth.  William Buford, last year’s TBT MVP, led the Crew in scoring at 17.8 points per game. They needed all of his buckets, as the team finished outside the Top 11 in points scored per game in 2019. Other prominent players returning from last year’s title run include backcourt running mates Aaron Craft, David Lighty and Jon Diebler, while Evan Ravenel, Jeff Gibbs and Dallas Lauderdale add beef up front.

‘Paign are coming off a dominating 76-53 First Round win over War Tampa. South Dakota State alum Mike Daum poured in a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. Illini grads Andres Feliz had 20 points to go with seven boards and Malcolm Hill chipped in with 15 points and four boards.

As good as they looked against War Tampa, House of ‘Paign is running into a monster. Carmen’s Crew should overpower the underdogs and win going away. But the Crew aren’t known for their scoring, so there’s another bit of side action you should look at.

The pick: Under 158.5 (-112), Carmen’s Crew ML (-340)

(9) Big X vs (8) Red Scare Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Big X -1.5 (-116) -132 O 156.5 (-116)
Red Scare +1.5 (-100) +104 U 156.5 (-112)

*Tip-off at 2pm ET

Analysis: The early game offers a little bit more intrigue, as Big X takes on the Red Scare, who will see their first TBT action in 2020 as the eighth seed.

It wasn’t exactly the performance Big X was hoping for on July 4. Taking on 24-seed D2, who only earned their tournament berth days before tip-off as another team pulled out, they were pushed to the brink by the unheralded underdogs, escaping with a 79-74 win.

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However, getting their feet wet and simultaneously roasting them over a hot fire for 36 minutes could do a squad good. They do have the inside-outside combination of dudes that can get buckets and they shined in the win. Nick Ward had 18 points and five boards, while Javon Bess had 11 points, six assists and three boards. Throw in a bench that poured in 41, and they are a tough out.

The mostly Dayton-filled roster boasts both program studs and some fresh legs. For Ryan Mikesell and Trey Landers, this is their March Madness. Two cogs of a Flyers team that made history by winning 29 games, including its final 20, had their hoop dreams snatched prematurely by COVID-19 this year. They’re just four months removed from their final regular season game on March 7.

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They’ll pair with another two Dayton players that were in the pipeline during the same period in Kyle Davis and Darrell Davis. Hulking big man Trevor Thompson secures the paint, while Dyshawn Pierre is a school legend for leading his team to the Elite 8 in 2014, and the main man for the Red Scare.

This has the makings of one of the more evenly matched happenings in the Super 16. I like the makeup of the Red Scare.

The pick: Red Scare ML (+104)

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