College Basketball Weekend Preview & Best Bets (March 7, 2025)
Introduction
Welcome to the Need for Seats College Basketball Podcast, hosted by Griffin Warner and Big East Ben. This episode covers the biggest upcoming college basketball games, analyzing team form, player performances, key statistics, and betting picks. The hosts break down the top matchups, trends, and best bets, while mixing in humor and insights on the latest developments in the NCAA basketball landscape.
Alabama at Auburn
- Spread: Auburn -7.5
- Total Points: 178.5
- Game Insights:
- Alabama struggled against Florida, missing key three-pointers.
- Mark Sears shot just 2-for-10 from three, raising concerns.
- Auburn’s defense and rebounding are inconsistent.
- Senior Day boost: Auburn’s starting five is one year younger than the NBA’s OKC Thunder.
- Best Bets:
- Big East Ben & Griffin Warner: Over 178.5
Arizona at Kansas
- Spread: Kansas -3
- Total Points: 153
- Game Insights:
- Kansas had turnover issues but played strong defense vs. Houston.
- Arizona’s defense gave up 100 points to Arizona State, a red flag.
- Kansas hasn’t lost a Senior Day game in 20 years.
- Hunter Dickinson’s inconsistency remains a concern.
- Best Bets:
- Big East Ben: Kansas -3
- Griffin Warner: Under 153
Houston at Baylor
- Spread: Houston -4.5
- Total Points: 131
- Game Insights:
- Baylor struggles defensively, ranking 248th in rebounding and 289th in three-point defense.
- Houston is the 4th-best three-point shooting team (39.6%).
- Baylor is just 2-11 against the spread on the road.
- Best Bets:
- Big East Ben: Houston -4.5
- Griffin Warner: Over 131
St. John’s at Marquette
- Spread: Marquette -2.5
- Total Points: 143
- Game Insights:
- Marquette has no standout Big East wins this season.
- St. John’s recent hype (including a Jimmy Fallon appearance) might be overblown.
- Davion Smith (St. John’s) is out, hurting their backcourt depth.
- Senior Day for Marquette gives them extra motivation.
- Best Bets:
- Big East Ben: Marquette -2.5
- Griffin Warner: Pass
Kentucky at Missouri
- Spread: Missouri -5.5
- Total Points: 168.5
- Game Insights:
- Missouri lost to Oklahoma, raising concerns.
- Kentucky’s injuries (Jackson Robinson, Curry) impact depth.
- Mark Mitchell leads the SEC in free throw attempts, a major factor.
- Best Bets:
- Big East Ben: Missouri -5.5
- Griffin Warner: Over 168.5
Best Bets Recap
- Big East Ben: Marquette -2.5
- Griffin Warner: Indiana -2 vs. Ohio State
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Final Thoughts
- Senior Day motivation and injuries impact betting strategies.
- Houston and Kansas emerge as strong favorites based on stats.
- Marquette’s inconsistency remains a key discussion point.
- Humor, sharp analysis, and betting insights make this a must-listen episode.