Mid-Money Madness: Nov. 15 picks

It’s Friday night and you deserve to make some money. Here are some spots you cash in on tonight in college basketball.

Missouri State/Xavier (Xavier -14.5)

After what we saw in Evansville/Kentucky earlier this week, I’m not sure I want to take a power school as a big favorite against a Missouri Valley school again. Now I’m not calling for Missouri State to pull off an upset here, but I do think they can keep it close and cover 14.5. Plus, if Jon Rothstein’s embedded moles say that Missouri State might wind up being the best team in the conference, why not get behind them Bears.

The Pick: Bears +14.5

Rhode Island/Alabama (PK)

It’s been a big week for the A-10 with VCU upsetting LSU at home, St. Joe’s taking down UConn on the road and Richmond beating Vanderbilt in overtime last night. . Rhode Island has the chance to continue to show that the league is much improved with a home against Nate Oats and Alabama. Alabama opened the season with a disappointing home loss to Penn and now travels halfway across the country to Rhode Island. I really like this Rhode Island team, especially Cyril Langevine, who’s a true monster on the boards and had17 against Maryland. Also, how you can you not root for Fatts Russell? I liked Alabama when this opened with them as a slight underdog, but with the game being a pick I’m going with Rhody.

The pick: Rhode Island PK

Mount St. Mary’s vs. Lamar (Lamar -3)

Mount St. Mary’s has put in its road mileage to start the year, having played games in both Washington, D.C. and Washington State. Now they are off to Texas to play Lamar in what should be a very entertaining game. Lamar opened the year with two D-2 teams and a 10-point loss to Duquesne. Meanwhile, The Mount nearly upset Georgetown and were tied with a good Washington team at the half. I’m guessing Lamar is only favored here since they’re playing at home, and maybe The Mount’s travel schedule catches up to them a bit -- but I’m all over The Mount tonight.

The Pick: The Mount +3

South Dakota St/Nebraska (Nebraska -6.5)

Opening with home losses to UC Riverside and Southern Utah was not the way that many thought the Fred Hoiberg era in Nebraska would begin. I just have to think Nebraska can’t lose a third straight game to a mid-major opponent. The Mike Daum-less Jackrabbits will try to make some noise against a deflated Nebraska team and if I have to take a guess, I will say it’s a close first half. In the second, Nebraska will pull away and win comfortably giving Fred Hoiberg his first win as a Cornhusker.

The Pick: Nebraska -6.5