Betting tips and advice for college basketball last home games before the Madness

The final week of the the 2023-24 college basketball regular season has arrived. More major conference teams are playing games and determining conference tourney and NCAA Tournament positions and seeds. It's also Last Home Games (LHG) for many teams and situations and profiles we can use to guide us towards more betting winners. 

Last week I chipped-in the Last Home Game situations and applied them to the smaller conference teams playing in thelr LHG. There were some major conference teams included in LHG profiles, along with a pair of winning picks and analysis with additional stats and information you can bet on. There were some big games including Top 25 contests last weekend that were key games in conference races and seeding. 

POLL ALERT: Houston remains No. 1 in AP Top 25, UConn jumps Purdue to No. 2; Kansas out of top 10 for first time in three seasons.

Full poll: https://t.co/ZJG5mgWrsa pic.twitter.com/JGFE1tPu7d

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) March 4, 2024

Now the big boys in the major conferences are finalizing the regular season conference races this week and tuning up for tournament action and the biggest betting weeks of the season during CCT's and March Madness. Other teams are also fighting hard to earn finish above .500 and earn a invitation to other post season tournaments including the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). 


Many of these Last Home Games bring a level of emotion and effort from both the players and fans. Seniors make their final appearance for the home faithful and some teams will be playing for conference titles and stronger post-season positioning. Other teams may be playing out the string, but understand there is emotion, scheduling and momentum/letdown situations that must be analyzed along with the betting line and live betting options as you evaluate the stats and match-ups in your point spread prognosis. 

As the smaller College Conference Tournaments tip off this week with a single (one) NCAA Tournament bid available to the CCT winners, know that the regular-season champion of any NCAA Division I conference will secure an automatic qualification to the NIT if they fail to qualify (win CCT) and make the NCAA Tournament. 

Last Home Games And Betting Situations

So here are some Last Home Game situations to assist you while saving you the time, energy and effort, and utilizing my decades of experience and ability to analyze stats, isolate stronger situations and higher level handicapping for success. 

Play on any team that is .500 or better in their Last Home Game (LHG) that fit these parameters. The more situations (1-6) that meet the parameters and scenario's, the stronger percentage play. 

1. Home team is an underdog or up to a -2 point favorite
2. Home team is playing with same season revenge (lost to opponent)
3. Home team has won at least 75% of their games on home court
4. Home team is 8 games or better above .500 this season
5. Home team is off consecutive losses
6. Away team (opponent) is coming off a win last game

Last Home Game Teams That Fit Profiles March 4-10. 

All times Eastern, Conference and TV/Stream noted and betting lines on favorites from consensus of top online sportsbooks and subject to change. Situational profiles that fit home team in parentheses (more is better). Updating more games through week, so check back for betting lines as available, results along with my insight, any picks and information you can bet on. 

Also, be sure to check out and join the OSGA 22nd annual NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge that's free to enter with a $1,000 prize pool and $500 to the winner. Also, BetOnline has a $20 entry NCAA Tournament contest with a $200,000 prize pool for college basketball fans who sign-up with a top online sportsbook.  

Mon., March 4

- 7 pm: ACC - No. 9 Duke (-6.5) at NC State (1,3,5,6), Total 149.5, ESPN - Duke wins 79-64
- 9 pm: Big 12 - Texas at No. 11 Baylor (-6.5)  (2,3,4,6) Total 145.5, ESPN - Baylor wins 93-85

Tues., March 5 

- 7 pm: Big Ten - No. 3 Purdue at No. 12 Illinois (-1) - (1,2,3,4,6), Total 166 Peacock - Purdue wins 77-71 
- 7 pm: ACC - Syracuse at Clemson (-9.5) - (3,4,6), Total 153, ESPN2 - Clemson wins 90-75
- 8 pm: - Big 12 - Cincinnati at Oklahoma (-4.5) - (3,4,5,6), ESPN+ - Oklahoma wins 74-41 OT
- 9 pm: - Big 12 - Kansas State at No. 14 Kansas (-10) - (2,3,4,5) - Total 143.5, ESPN/2 - Kansas wins 90-68
- 11 pm: Mountain West - No. 26 Nevada at No. 28 Boise State (-5.5) - (3,4), Total 143.5 FS1 - Nevada wins 76-66
- 11 pm: Mountain West - No. 23 San Diego State (-1.5) at UNLV (1,2,4,6), Total 136, CBSSN - UNLV wins 62-58

Huge games in the Mountain West, which has five teams within 1 game of first place. Utah State (12-4), Boise State (12-4), Nevada (11-5), San Diego State (11-5) and UNLV (11-5). San Diego State also plays their LHG vs. Boise State March 8, and Nevada plays their LHG vs. state rival UNLV on March 9. Utah State plays their LHG March 9 vs. New Mexico, who is projected as a Last Four In by Joe Lunardi for the NCAA Tournament. Six Mountain West teams are projected to make NCAA Tournament with San Diego State playing in the NCAAT Championship Game last year before losing to National Champion UCONN. 

Wed., March 6

- 7 pm: Big 12 - No. 1 Houston (-8.5) at UCF - (1,2,6), Total 130.5, ESPN+ - Houston wins 67-59
- 7 pm: Big Ten - Northwestern at Michigan State (-8) - (2,5), Total 136, Big Ten Netword - MSU wins 53-49
- 7 pm: A-10 - St. Joes at Richmond (-6) - (3,4,6), Total 145.5, ESPN+ - Richmond wins 73-66
- 7 pm: SEC - No. 4 Tennessee (-5) at No. 17 South Carolina - (1,3,4,6), Total 140, ESPN2 - Tennessee wins 66-59
- 7 pm: A-10 - Loyola Chicago (PK) at Davidson - (1,2,5,6), Total 136, ESPN+ - Loyola Chi wins 69-59
- 7:30 pm: Big East - Xavier at Butler (-2) - (1,2,6), Total 156, CBSSN - Butler wins 72-66
- 8 pm: AAC - ECU at SMU (-12) - (3,4,5), Total 142.5, ESPN+ - SMU wins 80-77
- 8 pm: Big East - No. 2 UCONN (-5) at No. 8 Marquette - (1,2,3,4,6), Total 151, FS1 - UCONN wins 74-67
- 8 pm: Big Ten - Indiana at Minnesota (-5) - (2,3,6), Total 150, Big Ten Network - Indiana wins 70-58
- 9 pm: SEC - Mississippi State at Texas A&M (-2) (None), Total 140, ESPN2/U - TAM wins 75-69
- 9 pm: Big 12 - No. 20 BYU at No. 6 Iowa State (-6.5) - (2,3,4,6), Total 147, ESPNU - Iowa State wins 68-63

Thurs., March 7

- 7 pm: Rutgers at Wisconsin (-9.5) - (2,3,5), Total 132, FS1 - Wisconsin wins 78-66
- 9 pm: Washington at Washington State (-6.5), (3,4), Total 149.5, FS1 - Washington wins 74-68 

Friday, March 8

- 10 pm: No. 28 Boise State at No. 21 San Diego State (-6.5) - (2,3,4), Total 135.5, FS1 - Boise State wins 79-77 OT

Sat., March 9

- 12 pm: Memphis at FAU (-6.5) (2,3,4,6), Total 162.5, CBS - FAU wins 92-84
- 12 pm: Arkansas at No. 16 Alabama (-14.5) - (3,4,5,6), Total 175.5, ESPN - Alabama wins 92-88 OT
- 2 pm: Oklahoma at Texas (-5) - (4,6), Total 144.5, ESPN - Texas wins 94-80
- 2 pm: Texas A&M at Ole Miss (-1) - (3,4,6), Total 145.5, CBS - Texas A&M wins 86-60
- 2 pm: No. 6 Iowa State (-4.5) at Kansas State (1,2,3,5,6), ESPN2 - Kansas State wins 65-58
- 2:30 pm: No. 17 South Carolina at Mississippi State (1,2,3,4,5), SECN - SC wins 92-89 OT
- 2:30 pm: Notre Dame at Virginia Tech (-9.5) - (2,3), Total 134, ESPNU - Virginia Tech wins 82-76
- 2:30 pm: No. 10 Creighton (-1.5) at Villanova (1,6), Total 137, FOX - Creighton wins 69-67
- 2:30 pm: Richmond at George Mason (-1) - (2,3,4,6), Total 131, USA - GM wins 64-46
- 4 pm: No. 14 Kansas at No. 1 Houston (-8) - (2,3,4,6), Total 136, ESPN - Houston wins 76-46
- 4 pm: No. 15 Kentucky at No. 4 Tennessee (-9) - (3,4,6), Total 165.5 CBS - Kentucky wins 85-81
- 5 pm: No. 8 Marquette (-2.5) at Xavier (1,2), Total 158.5,FOX - Marquette wins 86-80
- 6 pm: Clemson at Wake Forest (-3) - (3,5,6), Total 139.5, ACCN - Wake Forest wins 81-76 
- 6 pm: No. 11 Baylor at Texas Tech (-2) - (2,3,4,6), Total 147.5, ESPN2 - Texas Tech wins 78-68
- 6:30 pm: No. 7 North Carolina at No. 9 Duke (-4) - (2,3,4,6), Total 149, ESPN - NC wins 84-79
- 6:30 pm: Georgia at No. 13 Auburn (-16.5) - (3,4,6), Total 151, SECN - Auburn wins 92-78
- 7 pm: Utah at Oregon (-2.5) - (2,3,4,5), Total 150.5, Pac-12 Network - Oregon wins 66-65
- 7:45 pm: NC State at Pittsburgh (-7) - (4), Total 146.5, The CW - Pitt wins 81-73
- 8 pm: Georgia Tech at Virginia (-8.5) - (2,4,6), Total 125, ACCN - Virginia wins 72-57
- 8 pm: No. 2 UCONN (-10.5) at Providence - (1,2,3,4,6), Total 141.5, FOX - UCONN wins 74-60
- 8:30: New Mexico at No. 22 Utah State (-2.5) - (2,3,4,6), Total 160, CBSSN - Utah State wins 87-85 
- 9 pm: Oklahoma State at No. 20 BYU (-13.5) - (2,3,4), Total 151, ESPN+ - BYU wins 85-71
- 9 pm: Minnesota at Northwestern (-6)  - (2,3,4,5,), Total 141, Big Ten Network - Northwestern wins 90-66
- 10:30 pm: UNLV at Nevada (-6) - (3,4,6), Total 137, CBSSN - Nevada wins 75-65

Sun., March 10

- 12:30 pm: Wisconsin at No. 3 Purdue (-9) - (3,4,6), Total 148, FOX - Purdue wins 78-70
- 2 pm: Ohio State at Rutgers (PK) - (1,2,5,6), Total 135 - BTN - Ohio State wins 73-51
- 3 pm: SMU at UAB (-1.5) - (1,2,4,6), Total 152.5, ESPN+ - UAB wins 74-70 
- 4:30 pm: Michigan State (-3) at Indiana - (1,6), Total 142, CBS - Indiana wins 65-64
- 7 pm: Illinois (-1) at Iowa - (1,2,3), Total 172, FS1 - Illinois wins 73-61 

Check back for more games, odds, situations.

As you win or cash-in on your tournament pools and other basketball bets or poker, be sure to follow and review this guide to taxes on gambling winnings. Then reinvest and take advantage of the top cash bonuses at online sportsbooks. 

We'll update more ahead with conference tournament previews and top teams NCAA Tournament seeds, stats and additional information you can bet on. 

You can bet on it. 

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