Tuesday is usually a big night for college basketball, and tonight that is certainly the case.
The annual Jimmy V Classic will take place at Madison Square Garden. This year's event pits the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in the first game before the Iowa Hawkeyes battle the No. 15 Duke Blue Devils in the nightcap.
There will be a handful of NBA prospects in those matchups who will be looking to impress in the World's Most Famous Arena.
There will also be a heated rivalry matchup when Georgia and Georgia Tech get together on the hardwood.
Let's dive in.
Terrence Shannon Jr. Over 15.5 Points (-125)
There are not many players still playing college basketball that know Chris Beard better than Terrence Shannon Jr.
Beard recruited Shannon to Texas Tech, where he coached him for two seasons before leaving for Texas. Shannon faced Texas twice last season in two games he would rather forget, as he scored a combined eight points and left with an injury in one of them.
Shannon is now at Illinois, where he is having a breakout season. The senior is averaging 19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 38.9% from 3.
Shannon has scored 16 points or more in six of eight games this season.
While Shannon has been slightly more efficient than he was at Texas Tech, volume has been a key for him this season. He is averaging 12.6 field goal attempts per game this season compared to a previous career-high of 9.6 at Texas Tech and 7.6 last season.
Shannon has always loved the big moment in his college career. He scored 29 points with eight 3s against No. 19 UCLA at the Continental Tire Main Event in Las Vegas.
He is also coming off of a 19-point performance at No. 13 Maryland.
Facing the No. 2 team in the country and his former coach at Madison Square Garden, I expect another big performance from Shannon. Target this play on DraftKings.
Javon Franklin Over 2.5 Assists (+125)
Since transferring in from South Alabama, forward Javon Franklin has filled up the stat sheet for Georgia Tech.
The senior is averaging 8.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He is second on the team in assists, and that's where I am going to focus, as his team gets ready to take on the rival Georgia Bulldogs.
Franklin has recorded at least two assists in seven of eight games this season. However, in focusing on the last five outings, he's had at least three assists in four of the past five games. That includes a season-high four against Iowa last Tuesday.
Georgia Tech averages 71.9 points per game on 26.4 field goals made per game.
Georgia ranks 75th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. The Bulldogs also have allowed 80 points or more against the two top-100 teams they have faced this year.
Georgia Tech will have its opportunities to put points on the board. If Franklin can get eight potential assist opportunities, I like his chances to convert at least three of them. I will take the plus odds here at DraftKings.
Kyle Filipowski Over 14.5 Points (-125)
Kyle Filipowski arrived in Durham as the No. 4 recruit in the 2022 class. He has not wasted much time in making an immediate impact with Duke.
He has scored in double digits in 10 consecutive games to begin his career and is averaging 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
On average, Filipowski is going over this line. However, he has scored 15 points in six of 10 games this season. That includes matchups against Kansas, Oregon State and Ohio State, and he finished with 14 points against Purdue.
Tonight, he gets the Iowa Hawkeyes, who have never been known for defense under Fran McCaffery.
Through the first seven games, Iowa is 76th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency despite facing just three top-100 opponents. Iowa is 72nd in 2-point percentage and 120th in 3-point percentage defense.
However, the Hawkeyes are also 266th in defensive rebounding percentage. Filipowski averages 2.8 offensive rebounds per game.
If he has an off shooting night, it is possible that he gets four-to-six second-chance points and still ends up with 15 points.
Target this play on FanDuel.
