Big East, Big Ten battles headline the final loaded Tuesday CBB slate
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Some mid-major conferences have already tipped off their conference tournaments, while major conferences close out the regular season this week.
Tuesday's three best bets feature two regular-season matchups and one win-or-go-home conference tournament matchup.
Providence @ Georgetown (+8, O/U 146.5)
Providence's season is on the ropes. The Friars had a golden opportunity at home against Villanova on Saturday to secure their position in the Big Dance but lost.
Now, Providence might not find the ballroom. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Friars in the "first four out" section in his latest bracket prediction. They must finish their season strong - an upset over UConn on Saturday would certainly help - and then perform well in the Big East tournament to make the dance.
That starts with a focused and dominant effort against lowly Georgetown, which has lost 13 of its last 14 games and is a measly 6-12 against the spread at home. The Hoyas have packed it in and are waiting for the offseason.
The line opened at 6.5 and jumped to 8, indicating action on Providence. Although Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley faces his former team Tuesday night, Providence is desperate and hungry. Georgetown is the opposite. That should lead to a blowout Friars win.
Pick: Providence -8
Queens NC @ Stetson (4.5, O/U 159.5)
This is a second-round matchup of the Atlantic Sun conference tournament. Queens upset Florida Gulf Coast Monday night, but its season will end at Stetson. The Hatters, who have the third-best odds of winning the title, have a good chance of advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
Stetson dominated Queens in January and then lost the rematch in late February. However, that was an uncharacteristic performance by both teams, particularly Queens' offense. That also makes this a revenge spot for Stetson, which is projected to win by six, according to KenPom.
Stetson's offensive firepower will be too much for Queens to handle. The Hatters have the conference's third-best adjOFF rating, while Queens has the fourth worst, according to ShotQuality.com.
Pick: Stetson -4.5
Illinois team total: Over 82.5 points
I'm not convinced Illinois will beat Purdue on Tuesday night. But I know this is a battle between two of the country's most prolific offenses. Illinois leads the Big 10 in scoring, averaging 84.8 points per game.
The Boilermakers have an offense that's on par with Illinois' and a defense that's in the middle of the pack in the Big 10, which should lead to a track meet.
The Fighting Illini hit another gear offensively when they're at home. They're averaging 90 points per contest in their last five home games. They've reached at least 83 points in four of those five contests. Illinois also has the size and rebounding prowess - it leads the Big Ten in offensive and defensive rebounds - to combat Purdue's frontcourt.
Odds: -120
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.