Upcoming Match-ups

The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Odds and Picks: July 9th

Blair Johnson

by Blair Johnson in News

Updated Jul 10, 2020 · 9:28 AM PDT

See odds and game picks for Thursday action at The Basketball Tournament (TBT). Can Herd That or Armored Athlete pull off sizeable upsets?
  • Second Round play of the 2020 edition of The Basketball Tournament resumes Thursday, July 9th at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
  • Tourney favorite Overseas Elite faces Armored Athlete and The Money Team plays Herd That
  • Read below for the game odds and our best TBT betting picks for July 9th

With all but four Super 16 round games left to be played, we are nearly a week into the 2020 edition of The Basketball Tournament.

No. 16 seed House of ‘Paign scored the upset of the tournament so far Wednesday, knocking off hometown favorite and the defending champion No. 1 seed Carmen’s Crew 76-68.  Aaron Craft, who was planning to trade in his sneakers for a stethoscope and enter medical school following this year’s TBT, said after the game that he “definitely can’t say no” about potentially returning for another TBT next year.

While that remains to be seen, attention now turns No. 2 seed (and pre-tourney favorite) Overseas Elite.

(15) Armored Athlete vs. (2) Overseas Elite

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Armored Athlete +6.5 (-112) +225 O 157.5 (-112)
Overseas Elite -6.5 (-112) -310 U 157.5 (-112)

Odds taken July 9th. Tip-off is 4pm ET

Iso Joe Leads Overseas Elite

With Carmen’s Crew already eliminated, Overseas Elite (which entered the tourney as a +150 favorite) hits the court for its first game of The Basketball Tournament as the heavy favorite in Columbus. I outlined many of the reasons why I like the chalk to take home their fifth title in seven years last week in our TBT preview.

Much of that same reasoning still holds true. Three big reasons are Joe Johnson, D.J. Kennedy and Jarrett Jack.

 

This is a focused group which just saw anything can happen in the NCAA Tournament-style play that defines TBT action. House of ‘Paign was a +2200 underdog to win it all when tourney play began. Thanks to Mike Daum, the ‘dogs were roaring in C’bus, as they knocked off a team that was at +200 prior to TBT getting started.

On the other side is No. 15 seed Armored Athlete. AA beat No. 18 seed Power of the Paw – made up of Clemson alumni – 98-91 in a Round of 24 game last Sunday.

John Roberson poured in a game-high 26 points in that one, while Scott Machado had 23 in the highest-scoring TBT thus far in 2020. If Roberson and Machado can have any semblance of that type of performance again, Elite might suffer the same fate as Carmen’s Crew. But I don’t see it.

The Pick: Over 157.5 (-112), Overseas Elite -6.5 (-112)

(23) Herd That vs. (7) The Money Team

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Herd That +7 (-112) +240 O 156.5 (-112)
They Money Team -7 (-112) -340 U 156.5 (-112)

Tip-off at 2pm ET

Thundering Herd in Columbus

The lid-lifter Thursday presents an intriguing matchup between a team featuring one of the more clever names in TBT history and the other that possesses one of the better players to suit up at Nationwide this year.

Herd That, comprised of Marshall alumni, is coming off a fairly comfortable 80-65 victory over the Peoria All-Stars in the Round of 24. The No. 23 seed boasts a pair of sharpshooters which the tourney is comparing to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

We’re pretty sure actual siblings Jon and Ot Elmore won’t be confused with the Golden State Warrior superstars anytime soon. But the elder Elmore is certainly ready to continue the Marshall plan in Ohio.

TMT Has NBA Pedigree

Meanwhile, the No. 7 Money Team touts ex-Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin. The former four-star recruit averaged 14.1 points per game in his sophomore campaign of college in Nashville before being selected in the first round of the 2016 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. At just 24 years old, Baldwin can push for a spot on an NBA roster by carrying Floyd Mayweather’s squad deep into the bracket.

TMT entered TBT play at +1000 and it would be a mild upset if the Elmore Bros. and Herd That pulled off another victory. But this is the exact spot where I love the team with West Virginia roots. TMT hasn’t played yet, while Herd has a little momentum and a nice story .

Ot Elmore is Herd That’s General Manager and looks like a dude who was last seen posting up in intramural games. But he summed up the team’s attitude best before Thursday’s matchup. “We’re just out there having fun,” Elmore said. “It’s a great group of guys and yeah, it’s just a lot of fun. You’re missing out if you can’t hear some of the stuff we’re saying on ESPN.” Plus, when you throw in the $1 million first-place prize money as motivation, these guys are in it to win it. Love the dogs here.

The Pick: Herd That ML (+240)

Author Image