JEFF'S #1 COLLEGE BASKETBALL VEGAS INSIDER

My math model favors Abilene Christian by 3.9 points in this game and the Wildcats are 10-3-1 ATS in their last fourteen neutral site games. Abilene Christian enters off a 104-46 win over McMurry, which is significant in that the Wildcats are 8-1 ATS following a win by 30-plus points over the last three seasons. Abilene Christian welcomes back two key contributors from last year’s NCAA Tournament team in point guard Damien Daniels and forward Joe Pleasant. Daniels led the team with 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Pleasant averaged 10.5 points (46.5% 3-PT%) and 5.5 rebounds per game. Pleasant is joined in the frontcourt by senior Airion Simmons, who is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game on 58.3% shooting from the field and 50.0% from beyond the arc. In head coach Brette Tanner’s inaugural season, the Wildcats forced a turnover on 27.1% of opponents’ possessions last season, which was the best mark in the nation. The Wildcats had four different players average at least 1.5 steals per game and got 23.3% of their points from made free throws, the third-highest percentage in the country. Finally, Abilene Christian was 11-3 SU and 8-2 ATS in non-conference play last season so grab the point(s) with the Wildcats and invest with confidence.