Packing for Vegas: College Basketball Picks Nov. 24

Friday was a tough day, as I won USC easily but a missed free throw and "meaningless" lay-up cost me in the Tennessee game, as the Vols (-10.5) only won by 10. But that's gambling, as they say. Going .500 only costs me the juice and today's schedule has provided several favorable lines. I will start with the earliest game.

Texas -10 vs. Saint Joe's, 3:00, ESPN2: St. Joe's is coming off a loss to Holy Cross, so I figure the seventh-ranked Longhorns should win by at least 15. The game is in Hawaii as part of the Maui Invitational, but that does not scare me nearly as much as if it were in, say, Puerto Rico.

Notre Dame -15 vs. Indiana, 5:30, ESPN2: Also in Maui, the No. 8 Irish get their first real test of the season. That's what I'd be writing if this was your typical Indiana team. But the Hoosiers lost practically everyone from last year. Only two players return, both walk-ons. The other ten roster spots are taken up by seven recruits and three other walk-ons. "Rebuilding year" doesn't even begin to describe the Indiana basketball program this season. Line opened at 13.5, but even at this number I love it.

Florida Atlantic at Davidson -23.5, 8:00: I think Davidson will be a good bet this year when they aren't playing top teams (like Oklahoma, Purdue, and Duke). The oddsmakers are unlikely to make the spreads 30+, yet the Wildcats are capable of winning by such margins. Florida Atlantic certainly doesn't look horrible on paper, but let's see what happens tonight.

UConn -5 vs Wisconsin, 8:30: In the finals of a tourney in the Virgin Islands, one team has looked a lot stronger so far. Wisconsin needed overtime just to squeak by Iona, while UConn beat Miami by double digits. I don't think Wisconsin will have enough offense to keep pace with UConn's athleticism.

Today's picks: ND -15; 3 units

                    Davidson -23.5; 1 unit

                    Texas -10; 1 unit

                    UConn -5; 1 unit

Season Record: 3-2 (60 percent), +1.8 units