johnson-thursday-indiana-getty.jpg

Good afternoon gambling aficionados, it's Chris Bengel back with you on this Tuesday afternoon. The most glorious time of the year is upon us. Fill out your brackets, place your long shot national title winners and strap in for a chaotic three weeks of college basketball.

Speaking of filling out your bracket, I've found that this is one of the more difficult years to forecast in quite some time. That's simply because there's been so much parity throughout the regular season. We've seen the likes of Gonzaga, Baylor, Auburn and Duke at the top of the 25 poll at various points this season. This may be the year that we see a three or four seed win it all and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

With the First Four games beginning on Tuesday, we've got you covered with an official pick, along with some more action on the hardwood in the NBA. Let's get to the picks!

All times Eastern, and all odds via Caesars Sportsbook


🔥 The Hot Ticket

huntermwyo.jpg
Getty Images

🏀 Indiana vs. Wyoming, 9:10 p.m. | TV: TruTV

  • Key Trend: The over is 7-2 in Hoosiers last 9 games as a favorite
  • The Pick: Over 133 points (-110)

In one of Tuesday's First Four matchups, we've got a battle between Indiana and Wyoming. This is one that's too close to call for me and I wouldn't be surprised to see it come down to the last few possessions of the game. With that in mind, I am comfortable taking the over.

Both teams enter Tuesday's contest having made some noise in their respective conference tournaments, which is why they're in this position. They also both possess a frontcourt presence that paces their roster. Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis and Wyoming's Graham Ike both nearly average double-doubles and should wreak havoc in a matchup between two teams that aren't elite defensively on the interior. 

In addition, both teams average at least 71.5 points-per-game and should have no problem filling up the stat sheet in this one. It doesn't hurt that the over is 22-10-1 in the Cowboys' last 33 games following a loss. As long as these teams are their usual offensive selves, the over should have no problem cashing.


💰 The Picks

booker-suns.jpg
USATSI

🏀 NBA

Suns vs. Pelicans, 8 p.m. | TV: NBATV

The Pick: Suns -4.5 (-110)-- The Suns have dealt with the injury bug quite a bit as of late, but the team recently received a boost when star guard Devin Booker returned to the lineup. In his three games back, Booker has averaged 25 points and 8.7 assists while shooting a mind-boggling 45.8 percent from three. 

The Suns are probably still going to be without All-Star point guard Chris Paul for the remainder of the regular season and also won't have wing Cameron Johnson against the Pelicans. However, there's still plenty of reasons to like the Suns in this matchup. The Suns are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after scoring 125 points or more in their previous game. Phoenix is fresh off of hanging 140 points on the lowly Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in a game in which Booker scored 30 points and only had to play 32 minutes. In addition, the Suns are 4-1 ATS over their last five road games against a team with a losing home record, which the Pelicans have.

The Pelicans will have C.J. McCollum back in the lineup after he was placed in the league's health and safety protocols last week. However, New Orleans will be without star wing Brandon Ingram and I just don't see the Pelicans being able to keep up with the best team in the West.

Key Trend: The Suns are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games

Nets at Magic, 7 p.m. | TV: NBA.TV
The Pick: Cole Anthony Over 16.5 points (-110) --
Cole Anthony has really established himself as one of the top scoring options that the Magic have. Anthony is currently averaging 17.3 points and has continued to be able to hit a few threes per contest.

For those reasons, I really like Anthony to eclipse 16.5 points in this matchup against the Nets. Sure, this is a game that could get out of hand. However, the Magic took the 76ers to overtime on Sunday, so anything is possible. If the Magic want to stay with the Nets, they're going to need Anthony to excel on the offensive end.

Anthony has scored at least 17 points in three of his last five games, including two of the last three. During that time, the Magic guard knocked down at least three shots from long-range in those two games in which he scored at least 17 points. In seven games this month, Anthony is shooting 35.6 percent from three, which is a slight uptick from his 33.7 percent clip that he's averaged this season. If Anthony can drill at least two threes, this number should be a pretty easy one to hit. 

Key Trend: Anthony has scored at least 17 points in three of his last five games