CBB Weekend Preview + Best Bets !!

Griffin Warner and Big East Ben beak down CBB betting for this weekend. The guys are ready for March Madness and give out best bets.

Griffin Warner and Big East Ben hosted the Need for Seats College Basketball Podcast (March 7, 2025), providing analysis and bets for significant college basketball matchups.

Griffin Warner opened by acknowledging his recent betting loss on South Carolina against Georgia and humorously presented a Kawhi Leonard San Diego State jersey after their recent game against UNLV, won by Big East Ben's pick (0:15-1:28). Big East Ben celebrated snapping a four-game losing streak, noting UNLV's Julian Rich Wayne's standout performance with 26 points, significantly above his 8 PPG average, alongside Jayden Hensley's 17 points (1:29-2:19).

Warner humorously discussed Julian Rich Wayne's extensive college transfer history (San Francisco, Florida, Boston College, UNLV) (2:20-3:08). They briefly touched upon Ed Cooley's move from Providence to Georgetown and speculated about his future tenure there, predicting he would remain beyond next season (3:35-4:11).

The hosts moved onto detailed analyses of five highlighted matchups:

1. Alabama at Auburn: Auburn favored by 7.5 points, total 178.5. Big East Ben critiqued Alabama’s Mark Sears, highlighting his poor recent shooting (2-10 from three) and questioned his All-American credentials. Both predicted a high-scoring game, recommending betting the "over" due to potential late-game fouls and free throws (6:07-11:05).
2. Arizona at Kansas: Kansas favored by 3 points, total 153. Ben expressed confidence in Kansas's ability at home, referencing their long-standing Senior Day success and recent competitiveness against Houston despite numerous turnovers. Warner preferred betting "under 153," citing Kansas's defensive strength and inconsistent offense (11:06-14:39).
3. Houston at Baylor: Baylor underdogs by 4.5 points at home, total 131. Ben critiqued Baylor’s poor defensive rebounding and perimeter defense, strongly backing Houston (-4.5). Warner opted for "over 131," expecting Houston to dominate Baylor’s zone defense, forcing Baylor to adapt unsuccessfully (14:41-19:07).
4. Marquette vs. St. John’s: Marquette favored by 2.5, total 143. Ben passionately backed Marquette on Senior Day despite disappointment in recent performances. He highlighted Davion Smith’s injury absence for St. John's as crucial. Warner disagreed, seeing the 2.5 spread as excessive given Marquette’s recent inconsistency and St. John’s resilience, despite losing two conference games narrowly (19:08-26:26).
5. Missouri vs. Kentucky: Missouri favored by 5.5 points, total 168.5. Ben supported Missouri, citing Kentucky’s key injuries. Warner preferred betting the "over," expecting both offenses to exploit each other's vulnerabilities, with Missouri’s press defense contributing to a high-scoring pace (26:30-31:12).
6. In concluding, Big East Ben selected Marquette (-2.5) as his best bet, emphasizing Senior Day motivation and St. John’s weakened backcourt. Warner’s best bet was Indiana (-2) over Ohio State, trusting Indiana’s recent form and the home advantage despite previous inconsistency. The podcast also promoted a discount code (March20) for listeners to save on pregame.com bets (31:13-33:43).

Throughout the podcast, the hosts shared humorous exchanges and insightful critiques, enhancing the analysis with statistical details and context for each team and key player discussed.

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