Matt Fargo’s NBA Handicapping Picks & ATS Predictions

This is a play on the BELMONT BRUINS for our CBB Bounceback Baller. Belmont had a chance to increase its lead to four games in the Missouri Valley Conference but suffered a loss at Bradley on Monday in overtime and the lead is now back down to two games. The Bruins had won nine straight games prior to that defeat and they are back home where they have been dominant at 10-2 with the lone conference home loss coming against Southern Illinois by one point. The third MVC loss came early in the schedule in overtime at Indiana St. by one point so this team is extremely close to being 15-0. Northern Iowa has improved to 8-6 in the conference as it has won three straight games, the most recent one being a surprising 29-point win at Murray St. on Monday. That followed four straight road losses and that most recent win is not sustainable in this spot catching Belmont at the wrong time. 10* (812) Belmont Bruins

This is a play on the SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS for our CBB Ultimate Underdog. Cal Baptist lost its first three games in the WAC and has won eight straight games since then but the Lancers have been fortunate along the way. Three of the first four wins were pretty dominant with the one exception being a two-point home win over Southern Utah and of the recent four wins, two were by a combined three points and the other two coming in overtime, three of which were at home. Additionally, six of the eight wins were at home and now they are back on the road for three straight. The Thunderbirds have lost three of their last four games following a three-game winning streak so they have rebounded well following a 0-4 start. Five of their seven conference losses have been on the road and overall Southern Utah is 6-3 at home with the most recent loss coming by three points. 10* (790) Southern Utah Thunderbirds

This is a play on the NEBRASKA OMAHA MAVERICKS for our CBB Contrarian Crusher. St. Thomas comes in as the public road favorite here as it is 9-2 following its third straight win. The Tommies remain one game behind North Dakota St. in the Summit League and this starts a three-game roadtrip to close out the road portion of their schedule before hosting North Dakota St. Making them more desirable to the public is the fact their two conference losses have been by four points combined while all seven of their road wins have been by double digits. Nebraska Omaha fell to 5-6 in the conference following a 1-2 roadtrip that concluded by getting swept in North Dakota and it is back home for a three-game homestand before closing the season with a pair of road games. The Mavericks have an identical 7-4 record at home and come in 16-6 in their last 22 games after scoring 80 or more points. 10* (784) Nebraska Omaha Mavericks

This is a play on the COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON COUGARS for our CAA Game of the Year. Charleston started 4-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association before suffering a pair of road losses at Towson and Stony Brook before reeling off five straight wins. The Cougars then hosted UNC Wilmington on Monday with first place in the conference on the line and were taken care of by the Seahawks by 12 points to fall to 9-3 in the CAA. They remain home where they are 10-3 and now in a great bounce back situation laying a very short price. It has been a streaky season for Hofstra that opened 4-0 before losing five games in a row before its current three-game winning streak. The Pride won both games at home last week and are back on the road where they are 7-7 and while their last loss was against Charleston at home by a bucket which sets up a revenge game, we are not backing road revenge in this spot. 10* (762) College of Charleston Cougars

This is a play on the MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS for our CBB Signature Enforcer. Middle Tennessee St. opened Conference-USA action, 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 but has since lost five straight games including a pair of overtime defeats last week making it three of its seven losses coming in extra time. The Blue Raiders remain on the road where they are 2-6, two of those losses in overtime and two others against Michigan and Houston and the final two by eight points combined. They are on a current 0-7 ATS run and this is now where the value is as they were favorites in six of those games, being an underdog against 13-0 Liberty. Kennesaw has somewhat weathered the storm as after the gambling probe was announced and leading scorer Simeon Cottle with 20.2 ppg was dismissed from the team, they have gone 3-3. The Owls 10-1 record at home will be a main factor in getting public action. 10* (741) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders