Multiple times each week, The Gaming Juice’s resident action seeker, Brad Evans, will attempt to blast the ‘books with his favorite selections on sides, totals, props, teasers or parlays. As always, fade or follow Brad’s picks — fading is encouraged — but that’s up to you.
Sledgehammer Special — Drake -1.5 vs. Washington State (+100, MGM)
Love the Drake or hate the Drake?
Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer, all mutual friends with an individual who inspired change-with-the-wind feelings on “Seinfeld,” repeatedly agonized over the question in their own neurotic way.
When it comes to college basketball, there’s only one logical answer to the dilemma above.
LOVE the Drake!
On Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament, Drake and Washington State are the final act. Scheduled to tip at yawn-triggering 10:05 p.m. ET, little gambling ghouls and goblins better do a Dew or three to endure what should be a phenomenal conclusion.
The pride of Des Moines isn’t an immediate mid-major to discount. Seeded as the No. 10 in the bEast region, head to toe the toughest bracket section by far, Drake sports all the characteristics needed to litter your pool sheet with unwanted red slashes.
It's "The Drake" sledgehammer from @NoisyHuevos! pic.twitter.com/11yvcNhBHq
— Live on the Line (@LiveontheLine) March 21, 2024
For starters, the Bulldogs receive Milk-Bones on offense.
Checking in at a laudable No. 40 overall in BartTorvik’s metric rankings over the past month, they’re top-50 nationally in effective field-goal percentage offense, netting 50.7% from two and an eye-popping 41.1% from three. They also shoot 76.3% from the free-throw line.
Drake’s right-stuff backcourt (Conor Enright and Atin Wright), bruising paint presence (6-foot-10, 275-pound Darnell Brodie) and vibrant scoring star (Tucker DeVries) have it appropriately favored as the lower seed, despite its dubious defensive efforts (No. 251 in eFG D over its last seven games).
Washington State is an unexpected NCAA Tournament participant. Picked to finish near the bottom by most in the Pac-12’s swan song, the Cougars grossly overachieved. Head coach Kyle Smith deserves a standing ovation.
However, down the homestretch, Wazzu didn’t earn its apples. Only 3-3 straight-up in its last six games entering the Dance, it ranked an unsuitable No. 84 overall, according to BartTorvik. Investigating deeper, Klay Thompson U was an unacceptable No. 239 in effective field-goal percentage offense and No. 238 in effective field-goal percentage defense. Most sketchy in turnover percentage offense (18.9%, No. 295), 2-point defense (54.5%, No. 288) and 3-point offense (28.7%, No.309) over that span, the Cougs own many resume stains.
Drake, the more controlled and free-flowing team, has a distinct edge. If it speeds up Jaylen Wells and teammates to a point of discomfort, It could win decisively. Washington State simply owns too many noticeable weaknesses that the well-drilled Bulldogs typically exploit.
Fingers crossed, money is made on the Missouri Valley’s finest. Just stay awake to witness it, Evans.
Season record: 22-17, +7.58 units
BONUS TIME — 2-leg (alt): NC State +10.5, Samford +12.5 (-103, DraftKings)