Editor’s Note: Since November 2018, Joe has been publishing picks here and back at All Things NIT, our former site. Overall, the results have been mixed, with an average return on investment, per pick, of -1% when weighting by confidence (1 for low, 2 for medium, 3 for high) across 4,661 published picks, not including pending futures, and an average return on investment, per pick, of +3% across 1,607 completed high and medium-confidence picks (low confidence picks, these days, are in experimental markets for us).
Use these picks at your own risk. Only you are responsible for any money you lose, and you should not bet more than you can afford to lose. If you’re afraid you might have a gambling problem, seek help.
Odds for these come the better option between Bovada and BetOnline. We used to use the Vegas Consensus, but it’s no longer consistently available in an accurate form online. KenPom is used in making college basketball picks. FiveThirtyEight’s SPI is heavily used in making soccer futures picks. ESPN’s FPI is heavily used in making NFL futures picks.
Iona @ Niagara
Each of Niagara’s last eleven games has been decided by single digits, as were four of the five before that. The first time these two met was the last blowout loss for the Purple Eagles, but that was over at Iona. This is in Niagara, and it’s been two months.
Iona gets a lot of love from the market and deservedly so. Rick Pitino is probably the single best in-game coach in college basketball. Still, Iona has unleashed some stinkers this year in MAAC play, particularly on the road. They’ve had a good last two weeks, and they should be fine today, but we expect it to get dicey.
Pick: Niagara +8 (-110). Low confidence.
Purdue @ Northwestern
Can Northwestern scrap and scratch and surprise? Yes. Can Northwestern slow down Zach Edey? I don’t think so. Especially now that they aren’t sneaking up on anybody.
Pick: Purdue -5 (-110). Low confidence.
