NCAA Basketball Best Bets: Kansas vs. Houston, UConn vs. Georgetown Conference Tournament Picks & Odds (Mar. 13)

Four big-name programs take the floor tonight in conference tournament semifinals. Three of them are fine-tuning for March Madness, and the other is trying to be a Cinderella and sneak into the NCAA tournament. Let's take a look at the NCAA basketball best bets for Friday, Mar. 13.

(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Rankings here are tournament rankings:

• BIG EAST: Georgetown (11) vs. UConn (2), 8 PM ET on FS1
• BIG 12: Kansas (3) vs. Houston (2), 9:30 PM ET on ESPN

NCAA Basketball Best Bets for Friday, Mar. 13

Georgetown (16-17) is the only team in this quartet that is playing to extend its season. The Hoyas are not anywhere on the radar of the NCAA Men's Tournament Selection Committee. But if they find a way to beat the Huskies, Georgetown could force its way into March Madness.

Out in the Big 12, the Kansas Jayhawks are somehow underdogs against the Houston Cougars in the conference tourney semis, in what some basketball bettors feel is the real conference final. Does that tip my hand on how I'll bet on that game? Read on, hoops fans. All picks can be found within Caesars Sportsbook.

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Give Up the Points and Take UConn to Roll over Georgetown

Some bettors think the spread at the vig rate is boring betting. Some bettors think the only fun wager is a parlay. Well, some bettors lose a lot. I don't mind drinking a tall glass of "standard juice," which is what sharp bettors call a -110 odds pick.

The Huskies are loaded with up-and-down-the-floor talent. They can defend, run the floor, and rebound. They also get the ball in the hoop, which is required to win. This is all to say: UConn is much more talented than the pesky Hoyas.

Give up the points on the spread, all 15 of them, and go with the "vig line" at -110. That means you will bet $110 and win $100 if UConn wins by more than 15.

• BEST BET: UConn -15 (-110) in Big East Conference Semifinals

After a season of frustration last year, the insufferable Dan Hurley has his team prepared for March Madness and a possible return to the Final Four. Last season, Hurley and the Huskies had to watch St. John's earn the Big East trophy. This time, UConn is on a collision course to face the Red Storm in the Big East tourney finals on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

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Kansas Jayhawks +6 against Houston Cougars

For the life of me, I don't know why Kansas is a 6-point spread underdog against Houston. The Jayhawks defeated the Cougars by 13 last month. Kansas has a highly ranked defense (6th in the nation in opponent field goal percentage), has played the toughest schedule in men's hoops, and still managed 23 wins so far, and 12-6 in the conference.

Oh, and did you hear? Kansas has the best overall player in the country, a guy named Darryn Peterson? This is precisely the type of talent that can carry a team in tournament play. Every game is a must-win. It's survive-and-advance. It's net-cutting time.

Peterson was made for postseason play. Next year, I'll be writing about his NBA Rookie of the Year Odds.

Take the points that Kansas is (somehow) getting, and wager $110 that they beat that spread. You'll be $100 richer for it if they do.

• BEST BET: Kansas +6 (-110) vs. Houston in Big 12 Conference Semifinals

In case you're interested, the odds are +205 on the moneyline for a Kansas outright win. I don't hate those odds. I'm going to throw $20 on that market for a potential $41 profit.