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Ricky's 1* play on Under.

Key Angle: It's important to remember that Ricky never makes a bet on any game based on just one angle. In order to make the grade, all his premium picks must meet several important criteria. He doesn't share all his secrets within his analysis, instead he chooses to reveal only the angle that he feels is the most significant. Here in this game the recent history of these two teams is particularly significant.

- The Under is 6-2 in UMBC's last 8 games.

- The Under is 4-2 in Howard last 6 games.

- The Under is 5-3 in Howard last 8 games played in March.

Verdict: Points should be hard to come by in this game.

UMBC vs Howard CBB Free Pick

The Angle(s): Howard is 7-2 against the spread as underdogs and 3-2 straight up and 4-1 against the spread as underdogs of seven points or fewer. UMBC is riding a program-best 12-game winning streak but I think it's about to come to an end here. 

The Bet: Howard (2%). 

Red hot 9-1 NBA premium pick run! Mike has a basketball 3-pack with 2 CBB & 1 NBA pick going Tuesday, 

NBA

03/17/2026 (4:10 PT / 7:10 ET)

517. OKC THUNDER  at  518. ORLANDO MAGIC

Oklahoma City is in full championship-caliber form, and this matchup gives them every advantage you want when isolating one premium release: Elite record and efficiency — OKC has been one of the league’s top teams wire-to-wire. Their pressure defense, length, and rotations hold up in any building.  Orlando has been inconsistent, especially against top-tier offenses that can stretch them out.

Take the Thunder to cover here on Tuesday

Jim's FREE Play :  517. THUNDER -9.5 (4:10 PT / 7:10 ET)

PSP Data Driven 1* Blackhawks.

At Professionalsportspicks we see a future where those handicapping sports without advanced analytics and data-driven strategies will be left behind. Our data-driven picks use data integration, search and discovery, and knowledge management along with collaboration with our in-house handicappers. By isolating relevant trends, removing human bias, and targeting only lines with a positive expected value above a certain threshold, our data-driven picks promise to outperform any and all human competitors.

Our models suggest that the value is on the underdog. Minnesota is 1-4 in its last 5 games. Minnesota is 3-7 in its last 10 games played in March.

1* FREE INFO PLAY Cavs -9½ -110

1* Free Sharp Play on Suns +6½ -110

1* Free Pick on NC State -105

NC State is the wrong underdog in this matchup. They are playing their most efficient basketball of the season at exactly the right time.

Texas has looked sluggish over the last two weeks. Their offensive flow has disappeared and they are settling for far too many contested jumpers.

The Longhorns currently rank outside the top 100 in turnover percentage. NC State’s aggressive perimeter defense is built to exploit that specific weakness.

The Wolfpack are forcing nearly 14 turnovers per game lately. Those extra possessions are going to be the difference-makers in a game with such a thin margin.

NC State also holds a massive advantage at the free-throw line. They shoot over 76% as a team and are excellent at drawing contact in the paint.

Texas is relying too much on individual playmaking rather than ball movement. Their assist-to-turnover ratio has been a disaster against high-pressure units.

The Wolfpack have been much better at limiting second-chance points lately. They are crashing the boards with way more intensity than the Longhorns.

NC State's effective field goal percentage has climbed steadily through the post-season. They are finding high-quality looks and finishing consistently at the rim.

Texas is just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games as a favorite. They consistently underperform when they are expected to control the tempo.

The physical style of NC State is going to wear Texas down by the middle of the second half. The Wolfpack have the deeper rotation and better overall conditioning.

This line should have NC State as a small favorite. We are getting great value on a team that is more balanced on both ends of the floor.

Bet NC State ML (-105).

I have identified two high-value opportunities on today's NBA board that meet my strict criteria for a premium play. You can access both of these selections along with my full analysis by visiting my handicapper profile.

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Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #759 Queens Royals +25.5 over Purdue Boilermakers (7:35p.m., Friday, March 20 TruTV) Purdue showed up in Chicago for the Big 10 Tournament but they have not played well during the second half of the season. We will grab the points with the Royals on Friday night in St. Louis, MO. Purdue is nowhere near as strong on defense this year and many of their stars are not shooting it well. They got a cakewalk to the Big 10 Finals by getting to play a depleted UCLA team on Saturday. They are overseeded and are not a strong two seed. The Royals can score points and should get hot at some point in this game to cover this spread. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend Card featuring top plays in basketball, hockey, and other sports. Sign-up now and let 54 years of handicapping experience work for you.