***E Street's Thursday 5-pack w/ 10 star***

[E Street Jeff]

Five plays per day w/ some analysis. That's how I roll. Let's do this ...

Noon to 5 p.m. ET games:

*10 INDIANA (+8)

Nobody is as prepared as Indiana coach Tom Crean, and I'm going to play an interesting angle here as I choose the Hoosiers to not only stay competitive, but possibly pull an outright win. Let's call it the "DePaul factor," or the "Air Force" factor, if you'd like, teams that struggle all season and are beyond terrible but will benefit from getting a fresh start. Let's be honest here: do you really think it matters for teams like DePaul or Indiana or Air Force the difference between being 0-14 or 0-15 or 0-16? It's a long season, and all the losses bleed into each other. They snowball. That's why I wasn't the least bit surprised to see DePaul and Air Force not only play competitively, but also WIN games outright in the first round of their respective conference tournaments. It's a fresh start. I think Indiana, who lost by 10 at home to Penn State early in conference play and fell by just 3 on the road toward the end of the year, will play exceptionally well in this spot. Add to that the fact that 62% of the betting public is on the Nittany Lions, and the game is being played in state, and I feel comfortable making this a 10-star play!

*8 MINNESOTA (-1)

Let me just say that this is quite obviously a dangerous spot for Minnesota, as I think Northwestern doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves. The Wildcats have continued to surprise everyone, and have played competitively both home and away in a season that has far surpassed anyone's preseason expectations. However, this is Tubby Smith we're talking about here, and he is a finisher. He let one get away from him at the end of the season, falling at home to Michigan and John Beilein, another great big-game coach. But there's no way he lets it happen again. I typically don't like siding with the Public (65% on Minnesota), but there's just no way Tubby drops the ball in this spot. The Gophers need this one badly, and will get it, bolstering their NCAA Tournament hopes in the process.

*5 VIRGINIA TECH/MIAMI OVER 136

There's been no bigger disappointment than Miami and Virginia Tech in the ACC this year. And though I'm not comfortable picking either side (Va Tech won the previous meeting, 88-83 in OT, and I would actually lean toward the Hokies despite Miami playing the revenge card), I'm loving the over in this spot. Three of the last five games have gone over the total between these teams, and Va Tech has gone over the posted total in 17 of 26 games on the season. With a close game highly probable, we can bank on some free throws late (or possibly OT), though I see this one climbing into the 150s anyway.

*4 CENTRAL MICHIGAN (-1)

How's this for a convincing argument -- the Chippewas are simply a better team right now. The Chips won the first meeting at home before falling to Ball St. by 9 on the road just three weeks ago. Watched CMU's first-round game closely and liked what I saw, and I think they'll play well on revenge against a Cardinals team that lost three straight to close the season and isn't quite ready to make the jump. Marcus Van will carry the Chips on his back down the stretch and I say they finish the job handily. CMU has a rotation chock full of upperclassmen, this is a program that has tasted success before, and I look for them to win by at least five points today. 62% of the betting public is on Ball State.

*2 OLE MISS (+7)

Andy Kennedy will not let his Rebels lose by 7 to Kentucky. I know Billy Gillespie has enormous pressure on him to win a few games and find a way into the SEC Championship game, but frankly, I think the Wildcats will struggle just to get past the Rebels today. Kentucky does have revenge (they lost 85-80 at Ole Miss in January), but let's be honest ... this line is only 7 points because the team is Kentucky.

[E Street Jeff]

Wow ...

ADDING A HUGE 15-star play on Kansas!!

I feel terrible making a 15-unit play on my very first day -- I never go higher than 20-units -- but this is just too good for me to pass up. I had this game capped as KU by 13, and though I think the betting public will be all over the Jayhawks in this spot, I'm still taking them.

KU is always game for the Big 12 tourney, and frankly, Baylor, playing yesterday against a scrappy Nebraska team, will come out with tired legs. This is a team that has already refused to defend for most of the season as it is.

Look for Baylor to battle early, but the Jayhawks will pull away toward halftime and certainly after half and win this one by 20.

[RanPicks]

GL Jeff and welcome to the Mall

[Scottish Rebel]

Welcome to the Mall and BOL today!! Like the KANSAS play!!!

[Windy City Irish]

gl jeff. welcome to CM!!

[E Street Jeff]

ADDING -- Kansas -7.5 2H for 10 units!!!

Baylor 37
Kansas 33

HALF