College Basketball Best Bets for Today, March 4th

Conference Tournaments take centerstage on Friday with most major conferences gearing up for their regular season finales on Saturday.

Here are handful of best bets on the college basketball slate for Friday, March 4th, looking at all conference tourney plays.

A 3-2 Thursday brings us just about break even after a downswing the last two weeks. Let's close out the regular season this weekend in the positive.

Odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook

Column Record: 82-78-3 (-0.55 Units)

Parlay: Loyola Chicago/Missouri State/Utah State

Three team parlays are not necessarily the most +EV bet out there, but this is centered around getting Loyola Chicago down to about an even money payout.

I'm a bit nervous about the Ramblers covering the 5.5 point spread against Bradley, who they beat in overtime and lost to on the road last month. However, I do believe Drew Valentine's team can win this game due to their MVC best turnover rate against a sloppy Bradley team that is bottom 100 at protecting the ball.

I'll pair the Sister Jean's with Missouri State (the best offense in the MVC) to dispose of Valparaiso and Utah State in the late game in the Mountain West action. San Jose State is 1-16 in conference play this season and I don't see them getting win No. 2 tonight. The Aggies have not lost to a team outside of KenPom's top 200 since the first game of the season. SJSU's inability to defend the interior will be pivotal against the MWC's best 2-point offense.

Both teams are double digit favorites against hapless foes, I think we avoid a massive upset and cash this parlay that is near pick.

PICK: Loyola Chicago/Missouri State/Utah State -109

Southern Illinois (+3.5) vs. Drake

Southern Illinois covered both times against Drake this season, including last Saturday when the team lost by two on the road as 7.5-point underdogs.

One of the best defenses in the Missouri Valley Conference can stick with the Bulldogs who struggle to generate clean looks at all (last in the MVC in three-point percentage). Not to mention, the Bulldogs lost their ace defender DJ Wilkins to a torn ACL last week. That will open up the perimeter for the best 3-point shooting team in the conference, namely Salukis guard Lance Jones, who struggled with Wilkins blanketing him.

Both games were tight, Drake wo by a combined three points, and I think the Salukis, who play at a bottom 10 tempo in the country, can keep it within two buckets.

PICK: Southern Illinois +3.5, play to +3

Morehead State (+4.5) vs. Belmont

Love this spot for the Eagles, who covered both times as underdogs against Belmont, including an outright win at home. Simply put, MSU is a tough matchup for the Bruins, who rely on big man Nick Muszynski to dominate on offense.

Overall, Belmont is the best team in the country in 2-point percentage, but I believe they are going to struggle against a Morehead State team that is top 30 nationally defending the interior and has wings to give Belmont's ballhandlers fits, making it difficult to get the ball into their big man.

The Eagles defense has given Belmont fits both times this season (the second meeting was a 48-47 win for Belmont at home), and I trust the underdogs to thrive from distance, the weak point of the Bruins defense. Morehead State has the second best 3-point mark in the conference while Belmont has the worst defensive numbers.

Morehead State is live for an upset come Friday night, but I'll be safe and take the points.

PICK: Morehead State +4.5

College Basketball Best Bets

• Portland -1

You can find all of Reed's bets HERE!