X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Top College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday, March 10, 2021

NCAA college basketball CBB betting picks march madness

Nick Federline's NCAA college basketball betting picks for Wednesday, March 3, 2021. He analyzes CBB Vegas lines and recommends the top expert bets including spreads and over/unders.

Welcome back! In this article every week, we'll be giving you some of the top college basketball games and betting picks for Wednesday,  March 10, 2021. As we enter our final week before the NCAA Tournament field is revealed on Sunday, keep an eye out for our extended coverage of March Madness. Stay tuned here at Rotoballer for our comprehensive March Madness coverage, including a look at this week's Bubble Report.

Last week's 1-2 record was a disappointing fallback. The North Carolina A&T vs. South Carolina State opened our week with yet another cancellation at the hands of COVID-19. UConn easily dispatched of Seton Hall to continue the Huskies' recent strong stretch. Houston Baptist and Incarnate Word were well on pace to crush the total, only to collapse down the final five minutes and fall barely short, and Maryland, unfortunately, lost a "can't lose" game against Big Ten basement dweller Northwestern. The 1-2 week drops the season-long record to 27-20.

Here are some of the top college basketball betting picks. Let me know your thoughts, and follow along with the action on Twitter @fredetterline. All game times below are Eastern Standard Time. Season record to date: 27-20.

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 50% off using code SMASH. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Minnesota vs. Northwestern - 6:30 PM

On February 11, Minnesota sat at 13-7, and likely in the NCAA Tournament field with victories over Ohio State, Michigan, and Purdue. The past month has been abysmal, with seven straight losses and virtually any chance at an at-large bid having been kissed away. Much of the recent run is a direct result of the Golden Gophers missing two starters - 7-footer Liam Robbins, and junior guard Gabe Kalscheur - but Coach Richard Pitino hasn't found enough depth that he trusts on the team to keep his stars' legs fresh. Junior Canadian point guard Marcus Carr, who played his freshman year at Pitt under former coach Kevin Stallings, was honored with a spot on the All-Big Ten third team and will need to put the team on his shoulders if the Gophers stand any chance of running the table in the Big Ten Tournament.

Evanston, Illinois, is a difficult place to win, but Coach Chris Collins has done a fairly good job given the difficult circumstances. Recruiting has improved, with 4-star recruits such as forwards Miller Kopp and Pete Kance (2018), and Robbie Beran (2019) choosing to play for the Wildcats. A December-to-February 13-game losing streak was snapped on February 25th, when Northwestern took down Minnesota in Minneapolis, and they then rattled off two more wins over Maryland and Nebraska. Northwestern enters the Big Ten Tournament with a bit of momentum and hopes to notch a win in the conference tournament to give its young team, which consists of zero scholarship seniors, a headstart on the 2021-2022 season.

Pick: Northwestern -1

 

Butler vs. Xavier - 8:00 PM

The Butler Bulldogs are a prime example of parlaying a strong NCAA Tournament performance into long-term sustained success and an improved trajectory for the program. As recently as 2012, Butler played as a member of the Horizon League, a traditional one-bid "mid-major" league. Thanks to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances (and two consecutive National Title appearances) under current Celtics Coach Brad Stevens, the team joined the Big East conference. The conference improvement has brought about a significant increase in available funding, improved recruiting and an opportunity to actually make the NCAA Tournament without winning the conference tournament. While Coach LaVall Jordan's team is in a rebuilding year, the Bulldogs are always a threat to make a run.

The Xavier Musketeers are as bubbly as it gets this year. A 13-7 record, and a relatively milquetoast nonconference schedule leaves Coach Travis Steele's team with little wiggle room. Sophomore forward Zach Freemantle provides the Musketeers with one of the better interior scorers in the conference, teaming up well with the stars on the perimeter - Paul Scruggs and Nate Johnson. Freemantle paces the way with 16.3 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. Scruggs, a third-year starter, is returning home to Indianapolis for the site of the tournament and he hopes to make it a prolonged stay as the NCAA Tournament will also be held in an Indianapolis "bubble."

Pick: Over 133.5

 

Sacramento State vs. Northern Colorado - 11:00 AM

In the early bird game, the Big Sky Conference pits two conference opponents who have yet to face each other in this odd year, with schedules shaken up due to COVID. Coach Brian Katz's team has been in a rut of late, with a 2-8 record since the end of January. This Hornets squad features a starting lineup full of five seniors, but that experience has not yet played itself into success on the court. Forward Ethan Esposito, a native of Naples, Italy, by way of Torrey Pines, California, leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game. The "hometown hero" is guard Christian Terrell, who comes from nearby Sacramento High School, and often finds himself playing as an undersized forward, which partially can explain the Hornets' dismal 310th ranking in rebounds per game.

The Northern Colorado Bears are led by Coach Steve Smiley, in his first season in charge of the Greeley, Colorado program. Smiley spent four years as the top assistant, and has continued to lead a strong defense, paired with a slow-paced offense. The Bears feature four players averaging double figure scoring, and a slew of juniors who will use this year's experiences to come back even stronger next year. Point guard Tre'Shon Smoots, a native of Sacramento State who opted to join the Bears over his hometown team, should revel in the opportunity to prove the Hornets wrong for passing on him as a recruit.

Pick: Northern Colorado -2

 

Penn State vs. Nebraska - 9:00 PM

The Penn State Nittany Lions have overcome a variety of struggles this year, including replacing their former head coach Pat Chambers in the month running up to the season. The team has not gotten its expected contributions from Binghamton transfer guard Sam Sessoms. Sessoms was an electric scorer in the America East conference, scoring over 1,000 points during his two seasons in Binghamton, but has been an inefficient volume shooter in his first year at State College. Interim Coach Jim Ferry has leaned on sophomore forward Seth Lundy for more and more offensive punch down-the-stretch and it seems to be paying off. The Nittany Lions sport a young team, and will commence a national search for their new head coach at the conclusion of this year.

Coach Fred Hoiberg's team is the worst in the Big Ten by a long-shot. With only 3 conference wins, and a very poor offense AND defense, this team needs a wholesale change starting with recruiting. Hoiberg brought in several transfers who have yet to mesh into a winning cohesive unit, but former West Virginia forward Teddy Allen and former Pitt guard Trey McGowens do offer the offensive creation and spark. With Allen presently unavailable, McGowens, former Western Illinois guard Kobe Webster, and former TCU forward Lat Mayen have been forced to take on more responsibilities and shot creation than they are normally accustomed. Icelandic guard Thorir Thorbjarnarson is a non-threat on offense, but does offer one of the team's better defensive wing players and is the only player still on the roster from former Coach Tim Miles' tenure.

Pick: Penn State -7

 

Thanks for reading, and remember to gamble responsibly.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jauan Jennings

Good to Go in Week 7
George Kittle

Expected to Play With No Limitations in Week 7
Brendan Donovan

Undergoes Sports Hernia Surgery
George Springer

Exits Game 5 Early After HBP on his Knee
Jackson Chourio

Back in Game 4 Lineup Against Dodgers
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Questionable for Week 7
Kyler Murray

Officially Questionable for Week 7
George Kittle

Likely Playing in Week 7
Alexander Romanov

to Be a Game-Time Call Saturday
Nils Lundkvist

Nursing Lower-Body Injury
Justin Danforth

Expected to Miss More Than One Month
Brock Bowers

Considered Doubtful for Week 7
Jonathan Huberdeau

Set for Season Debut Saturday
Brock Purdy

Ruled Out Again in Week 7
Liam O'Brien

Makes Season Debut Friday
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Clears Concussion Protocol, Will be Active on Sunday
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Out Against Wild
Lucas Raymond

to Remain Out Friday
CeeDee Lamb

Off the Injury Report, Will Return in Week 7
Anze Kopitar

Out Week-to-Week
Josh Jacobs

Listed as Questionable For Week 7
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Has Bone Spurs Removed From his Elbow
Carson Wentz

Named Vikings' Starting Quarterback in Week 7
Brendan Allen

Set For UFC Vancouver Main Event
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder A Favorite At UFC Vancouver
Mike Malott

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Puka Nacua

Rams "Very Optimistic" Puka Nacua Will Return After Week 8 Bye
Kevin Holland

Set For UFC Vancouver Co-Main Event
Aiemann Zahabi

Looks For His Seventh Consecutive Win
D'Andre Swift

Bears "Hopeful" That D'Andre Swift Will Play in Week 7
Bradley Beal

Set to Make Clippers Debut in Preseason Finale
Marlon Vera

Returns At UFC Vancouver
VJ Edgecombe

Set to Return for Preseason Finale
Calvin Ridley

Ruled Out for Sunday
Jeremy Sochan

Won't Play in Season Opener
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
AJ Green

Bucks Agree to Contract Extension
Manon Fiorot

Looks To Bounce Back
Stefon Diggs

Questionable for Sunday
Aoriqileng

Aori Aoriqileng Looks To Rebound
Cody Gibson

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Jaylen Brown

Considered Day-to-Day with Hamstring Tightness
Kyle Nelson

Set For Lightweight Bout
Matt Frevola

Set To Open Up UFC Vancouver Main Card
Jaden Ivey

Will Miss Four Weeks After Knee Surgery
Paul George

Expected to Miss Season Opener
Chuba Hubbard

Will Return in Week 7
Joel Embiid

Set to Make Preseason Debut on Friday
Terry McLaurin

Ruled Out for Week 7
Puka Nacua

Inactive for Week 7
Garrett Wilson

Will Not Play in Week 7, Could Return in Week 8?
Chase Brown

Goes for Over 100 Rushing Yards in Win Over Steelers
Mark Stone

Stays Hot With Hat Trick of Assists
Evgeni Malkin

Continues Prolific Start
Shane Pinto

Pots Sixth Goal of the Campaign
Cole Caufield

Pushes Canadiens Past Predators
Shayne Gostisbehere

Delivers Three Assists in Thursday's Win
Matthew Schaefer

Makes History With Another Assist
Bo Horvat

Nets Second Career Hat Trick
Frederick Gaudreau

Sustains Undisclosed Injury Thursday
Jaylen Warren

Highly Efficient on the Ground Thursday, Adds Value as Receiver
CFB

Curt Cignetti Signs Eight-Year, $11.6 Million Extension With Indiana
Carlos Rodón

Carlos Rodon Unlikely to Be Ready for Opening Day After Elbow Surgery
Anthony Santander

Removed From ALCS Roster With Back Injury
Jackson Chourio

Aggravates Hamstring, Pulled Early in Game 3 of NLCS
Brady Tkachuk

to Miss 6-8 Weeks After Having Thumb Surgery
Noah Hanifin

Remains Sidelined Thursday
Akira Schmid

Faces Bruins Thursday
Jake Allen

Starts Against Panthers
Troy Terry

Expected to Play Thursday
Aaron Judge

Will Not Need Elbow Surgery
Anthony Volpe

Won't be Ready for Start of Next Season
Gerrit Cole

Won't be Ready for Opening Day Next Year
Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Livingston Waived by the Bucks
Keegan Murray

Nique Clifford Shines in Keegan Murray's Absence
Cooper Flagg

Continues to Start at Point Guard
Ron Harper Jr.

Earns a Two-Way Deal with the Celtics
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Waived by the Hornets
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sterling Shepard's Stock Rising for Buccaneers
CFB

Jermod McCoy Officially Out for Alabama Matchup
CFB

Jam Miller Questionable to Face Tennessee
Jaden Ivey

Considered Day-to-Day
Josh Hart

Making Progress
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Busy in Preseason Debut
Keegan Murray

Lands Five-Year, $140 Million Extension
Domantas Sabonis

Sustains Hamstring Injury Wednesday
Jaylen Brown

"Fine" Following Wednesday's Early Exit
CFB

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt Probable For Saturday
Kevon Looney

Slated to be Sidelined With Knee Injury
Anthony Volpe

Undergoes Left-Shoulder Surgery
CFB

Jayden Gibson No Longer with Oklahoma Program
Emmanuel Clase

to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?
Alex Bregman

Plans to Opt Out of Contract With Red Sox
Christopher Bell

Sits Third in Points After Quiet Third-Place Finish
Chase Briscoe

Passes Denny Hamlin at the Start, but Hamlin Gets Him in the End
Joey Logano

Falling Out of Playoff Picture Despite Other Contenders' Crashes
Ryan Blaney

Stage 1 Crash Puts Ryan Blaney in Severe Playoff Trouble
Denny Hamlin

Wins at Las Vegas and Will Compete for the 2025 Cup Series Title
Kyle Larson

Dominates at Las Vegas but Ends Up Second
Chase Elliott

Struggles to Gain A Solid Finish at Las Vegas After Pit-Road Penalty
William Byron

Strong Run Ends In A Wreck at Las Vegas
CFB

Sam Leavitt Viewed as Day-to-Day with Undisclosed Injury
Anthony Santander

Scratched From Game 2 of ALCS With Back Tightness
San Diego Padres

Mike Shildt Retires as a Manager
Mateusz Gamrot

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Charles Oliveira

Gets Back In The Win Column
Montel Jackson

Drops Decision
Deiveson Figueiredo

Gets Split-Decision Victory
Vicente Luque

Outclassed
Vicente Luque

Joel Alvarez Outclasses Vicente Luque
Jhonata Diniz

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mario Pinto

Remains Undefeated
CFB

Matt Rhule Denying Interest in Penn State Head Coaching Job
CFB

Le'Veon Moss Not Believed to Have Suffered Season-Ending Injury
Ricardo Ramos

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
CFB

Bill Belichick Says he's Committed to North Carolina
Tiger Woods

Undergoes Back Surgery
CFB

UAB Fires Head Coach Trent Dilfer After 2.5 Seasons In Birmingham
CFB

Penn State Fires Head Coach James Franklin After 10.5 Seasons
CFB

Penn State QB Drew Allar Will Miss The Rest Of 2025 Season With Ankle Injury
Brandon Woodruff

Will Not be on NLCS Roster
Max Scherzer

Added to ALCS Roster
Bryan Woo

Makes ALCS Roster
Bo Bichette

Won't Make ALCS Roster
Christopher Bell

the Favorite to Win at Las Vegas
Denny Hamlin

on the Pole at Las Vegas
Joey Logano

Can Joey Logano Get Lucky in Las Vegas Again?
William Byron

has the Fastest Car in Practice at Las Vegas
Ty Gibbs

Speed of Ty Gibbs a Good Sign for Toyota at Las Vegas
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Should Contend at Las Vegas
Ross Chastain

Scrapes Wall in Practice But Qualifies 15th at Las Vegas
Chris Buescher

Looking for Improvement at Las Vegas
Austin Cindric

It Has Been Hit or Miss for Austin Cindric at Las Vegas

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP