College Basketball Parlay Picks for Tuesday, February 22th (2022)
As we approach the last couple of weeks of the season, some teams need to grab some big wins to boost their resume. One game has a team in the top 25 that doesn’t have that signature conference win yet, but they can do it tonight. Another features an in-state rivalry where one team will try to pull off the upset they were so close to last time.
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No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 21 UConn (-2) O/U 136.5 (Tip 8 p.m. ET)
UConn is near the top of the conference, but if they want to show the Big East they’re a legitimate threat, they need to beat one of the top teams. They’re below Providence, Creighton, and tonight’s opponent Villanova but do not have a win against one of those teams. On Saturday, the Huskies avenged one of their conference losses by beating Xavier at home 72-61. Forward Adama Sanogo got into foul trouble in their first matchup allowing Jack Nunge to ball out, but this time Sanogo played 39 of 40 mins and dominated on the boards with 15 points and nine rebounds. UConn is looking like a more mature team that has made adjustments, which is a good sign going into a tough matchup.
It’s a tough matchup because Villanova is coming into this game with a five-game winning streak, including at home against these Huskies. A big key to that 85-74 win by attacking Sanogo inside and getting him off the floor with foul trouble. As mentioned, Sanogo had the same problem in the first game against Xavier but was able to adjust in the second game. Lastly, UConn allowed Nova to shoot 54.5% from beyond the arc in that game but have allowed their opponents to shoot just over 35% once since.
The Huskies are going to be ready this time around. Sanogo is playing better. Guards R.J. Cole and Tyrese Martin have played much better on both sides of the ball, and they’ll need to as the Wildcats have starters that can shoot from outside. UConn will get that signature win.
Kansas State vs. No. 5 Kansas (-12) O/U 142.5 (Tip 9 p.m. ET)
In their last matchup, K-State was on a roll in the first half and led 50-34 at halftime. In the second half, Kansas adjusted and cut that deficit in half before the first TV timeout. Unfortunately, the talent of the Jayhawks was too much and an Ochai Agbaji baseline jumper with nine seconds left lifted Kansas to a 78-75 win. The Wildcats were on par with Jayhawks in every category, except they were drastically out-rebound 45-23. They need to keep the ball out of the frontcourt to pull off an upset. Kansas is prone to coughing up the ball (267th in steal percentage allowed), which plays into a K-State strength (90th in steal percentage). They need to put as much pressure on the ball, get some steals, and keep this game close with the extra possessions.
If Kansas wants to rock chalk to a win, they need to get Agbaji some high-percentage shots. While guard Remy Martin has had a disappointing year in scoring, he has been a good facilitator and leads the team in assists. They have to stay consistent as a team that fires away from the perimeter, and that was one of the reasons they were able to surge in the second half to pull off the win in the last game. Also, the Jayhawks out-size in the frontcourt, with forward David McCormack hauling in 15 rebounds, including eight on offense. Look for him to play a factor and help dominate on the boards
The last matchup was out of the norm. K-State started hot, and it allowed Nigel Pack to have the game out of his life with a career-high 35 points. With this game at the fieldhouse, the Jayhawks will feel more comfortable playing their slow-tempo style and finding the high-percentage shots. I can see the Wildcats covering the double-digit spread, but the total is a better call. Kansas won’t have to surmount a big comeback like last time so expect the score to be much lower.
No. 18 Arakansas (-1) vs. Florida O/U 136 (Tip 7 p.m.)
The Razorbacks are coming into this game red-hot by winning 11 of their last 12 and their one loss being by one to Alabama. This quick-tempo team doesn’t give their opponents too much to adjust on defense, and it’s been highly successful. Tennessee got them to play a slower type of offense, but Arkansas overcame that thanks to their defense, and with Flordia being the same type of team, the Razorbacks should be ready.
Since the return of Colin Castleton, Florida has been looking so much better, and it finally came together in an upset win over Auburn. The Gators like to take long-range shots with the luxury of having Castleton clean up the glass. 35% of their shots have come from three-point range, but they’re making just 30.5% of them. Don’t expect that number to be any better, as Arkansas allows opponents to hit 32% of their three-point shots.
The matchup to pay attention to will be Arkansas forward Jaylin William and Castleton. The two exceptional big men should be a fun battle to watch on the boards as they both average nine rebounds per game, but they should neutralize each other, so expect similar stats in the box score. You saw in Arkansas last game how Tennsesse slowed them down. Florida is going to try and play that same way. Both teams are exceptional at defense, but a lack the offensive firepower will keep this score low.
Total Parlay (PointsBet): +595
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