By Ryan Coleman

I present to you: Hump Day Hoops. I mostly have been sticking to twice a week articles coming out Tuesday and Saturday but there are some quality games being missed out on this wonderful Wednesday. This article/my analysis will be a bit shorter here but don’t you worry, my money-making takes will be provided and that’s the important part, right? Here are my picks for Wednesday’s games. 

West Virginia at Texas Tech
7:00 pm central, ESPN+
Line: Texas Tech -2.5

The Pick: West Virginia +2.5

When these two teams met earlier this year, West Virginia got to the free throw line with ease, reaching their highest free throw rate so far this season. The Mountaineers didn’t even rebound that well despite being the best offensive rebounding team in the nation. This time around, United Supermarkets Arena will be rocking, just as it was against Kentucky, but I don’t think Texas Tech has what it takes to handle WVU. While I do believe that West Virginia is due for another Kansas State no-show game, I don’t think this is it. Even if they are struggling on the offensive side, it’s not like Texas Tech has the world’s greatest offense and the Red Raiders are going up against the best defense in the nation. Mountaineers continue to…mountain (?) in this one and pull off the victory and cover. 

Dayton at Duquesne
6:00 pm central, CBS Sports Network
Line: Dayton -8.5

The Pick: Dayton -8.5

The only reason this line isn’t bigger is because Duquesne stirred up some dust early on this season being undefeated. Duqesne may have solid perimeter defense but they will have no answer for Obi Toppin and Dayton down low. The Dukes don’t even have a home court this season! Dayton has been consistently elite and they are making a pretty solid case for being a one-seed this March. Flyers fly on here and cover. 

Alabama at LSU
6:00 pm central, ESPN2
Line: LSU -5.5

The Pick: Alabama +5.5 (Play of the Day)

Well, this is it. This is the game where LSU finally loses a conference game, my spidey senses are tingling, I can feel it. Even if they do win, the Tigers have won by four or fewer points in each of their last six games so a cover is basically guaranteed here, right? Not necessarily, but the Crimson Tide can take advantage of LSU’s poor perimeter defense and should be able to keep up with LSU’s strong interior play. Alabama has also kinda been playing their faces off of late, sneaking by Kansas State but winning each of their last three conference games by an average of 16 points. LSU should be renamed the “paper tigers” because they continue to flirt with failure. I think their luck catches up to them here, and Alabama rolls. 

Other Picks:

• DePaul at Seton Hall (-11): DePaul +11
• Baylor (-4.0) at Iowa State: Baylor -4.0
• South Carolina at Arkansas (-7.0): South Carolina +7.0
• Houston (-13) at ECU: Houston -13
• VMI at Furman (-17.5): VMI +17.5

Last Time: 5-4
Play of the Day: 6-2-1
Season Total: 144-107-4*

*While I don’t publish all my plays, you can follow each of my picks on the Action Sports Network by following me @RcCola3.