Saturday’s College Basketball Four-Teamer: The People’s Parlay

It feels like a Sunday. It's only Saturday and the NCAA tournament is less than a week away. What a time to be alive!

Saturday also means it's time for another four-team moneyline parlay aka The People's Parlay. The options were limited compared to a normal Saturday, but we still each found something we liked.

Just as a reminder: All teams are fair game except for double-digit favorites.

We will start things with a 3 p.m. tip Memphis and Houston tip between Clemson and Syracuse on ESPN2.

YTD: 1-3 +4.75 units

Eli: Houston -385

• Spread: Houston 
• Over/Under: 148.5
• Location: Memphis, TN
• Time: 3 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN2

The Cougars blasted UConn by 34 points in the AAC tournament quarterfinals, led by Corey Davis' 26-point outing. While teams are 29-22 (56.9%) against the spread after covering by 30-plus points since 2005 (excluding the regular season), the Tigers are coming off a blowout win over UCF on the back on junior big Isaiah Maurice.

Expect Davis and Brooks to frustrate Memphis' leading-scorer Jeremiah Martin, though, who the two limited to 16 points in their past meeting. Houston is allowing the third-lowest 3-point defense (27.7%) in the nation, and their ball pressure doesn't allow much space around the arc.

Although Martin thrives from 3, the Tigers are more effective inside the arc, generating the second-highest 2-point scoring rate in AAC play (52.3%). But Kelvin Sampson's squad is letting up the lowest scoring percentage from that department (44.3%).

Sampson boasts elite rim protection Breaon Brady and Fabian White, and I'd expect them to spark Houston's transition opportunities, where Davis, Robinson and Dejon Jarreau are all at their best creating in the open floor.

Wilson: Kentucky -120

• Spread: Kentucky -1.5 vs. Tennessee
• Over/Under: 141.5
• Location: Nashville, TN
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Another week, another Tennessee fade for me.

Tennessee-Kentucky, Part III will come to us from Bridgestone Arena in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. While this game is in Nashville, you can expect plenty of blue in the crowd as Big Blue Nation travels as well as any fan base in the country. The drive to Nashville from Lexington is about three hours, which is a walk in the park for rabid UK fans.

The Wildcats should eat on the boards against Tennessee. UK ranks top-10 nationally in offensive rebound percentage and should get a ton of easy putbacks.

But the most important part of this game is the return of Kentucky forward Reid Travis. He was the single-biggest difference between the two regular season meetings when the teams split. His presence on the defensive end is absolutely massive. He shut down Grant Williams in that first matchup. Travis being back should allows P.J. Washington to use less energy on defense.

The Vols shot 45% from deep against Mississippi State in the quarterfinals and would need a similar effort versus Kentucky to pull off the upset. I'm willing to bet against that.

Randle: Western Kentucky -130

• Spread: WKU -1.5 vs. Old Dominion
• Over/Under: 123.5
• Location: Frisco, TX
• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: CBSSN

The third time will be the charm for the Hilltoppers. Despite having one of the most talented teams in Conference USA over the past few years, Western Kentucky has continued to fall short of winning the tournament and gaining an automatic bid. Last year, they suffered through a brutal shooting night (37% 2P, 31% 3P) and lost by one point to Marshall.

This season, Western Kentucky was swept by Old Dominion, losing both games by a combined seven points. The defense of the Hilltoppers will give the Monarchs problems, especially within the arc. Western Kentucky ranks first in effective FG percentage allowed in conference play, and third agaisnt the 2P. Old Dominion is also terrible from the free throw line, ranking 327th in the nation at just 65.4%.

Sophomore guard Taveion Hollingsworth (14.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 spg) and freshman center Charles Bassey (14.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 2.4 bpg) have been superb over the last month, and senior Lamonte Bearden (40% 3P) is shooting 50% from 3P over his last four game.

Take the Hilltoppers as a slight favorite to finally get that elusive NCAA Tournament birth.

Stuckey: UC Irvine -500

• Spread: UC Irvine -9 vs. Fullerton
• Over/Under: 127
• Location: Anaheim, CA
• Time: Midnight ET
• TV: ESPN2

I wrote about this in my situational piece today. This is an absolute nightmare matchup for Fullerton. The Titans entire offense revolves around getting to the bucket — and nobody is better at defending the rim that UC Irvine, which leads the nation in two-point defense.

That defense should absolutely swallow up Fullerton en route to a tourney-clinching win. UCI also has a significant depth edge, which will help tremendously in a back-to-back-to-back scenario.

I think the Anteaters avenge that title loss to this same Titans team in last year's final.

Moneyline Parlay Summary

• Houston -385
• Kentucky -120
• Western Kentucky -130
• UC Irvine -500

Pays: +390

Editor’s note: The opinions on this game are from the individual writers and are based on their research, analysis and perspective. They are independent of, and may not always match with, the algorithm-driven Best Bets from Sports Insights.