On what's probably the best college hoops slate of the year to this point, smart money has been flowing steadily across the board, though a handful of games have stuck out as the pros' favorites, including Duke-UNC.
Using the tools at The Action Network, let's take a look at how sharps are betting the history rivalry, along with three other Saturday spreads.
Odds as of Saturday at 11:45 a.m. ET. Check out PointsBet, where Action Network users can access an exclusive promotion to get a 200% deposit match (deposit $50, bet with $150).No strings attached. No rollover required.
Arkansas vs. Missouri
3:30 p.m. ET | SEC Network
A simple comparison of records has made this matchup an easy one to pick for most bettors.
Arkansas comes into this game at 16-6 to Missouri's 10-12, and with just 2.5 points separating the teams to open the betting market, 76% of spread tickets have landed on the Razorbacks.
Those tickets, however, have accounted for just 38% of actual money, which means bigger bettors — the ones more likely to be sharps — are backing Mizzou.
Confirming the action from pro bettors, Sports Insights Bet Signals have identified three instances of market activity caused by smart money hitting the Tigers.
Specifically, sharps took the points at +2.5, and twice more at +2, getting this line down to just a single point.
Sharp angle: Missouri (moved from +2.5 to +1)
Toledo vs. Bowling Green
4:30 p.m. ET | ESPN3
On a slate featuring the likes of Duke-UNC, Kentucky-Tennessee, Seton Hall-Villanova and plenty more high-profile matchups, this MAC matchup isn't getting a whole lot of attention.
Bettors that are stumbling upon it, however, are having no trouble laying the points with Bowling Green.
In a very similar situation to the game above, the far superior team, at least by record, is laying only a few points against a conference opponent — Bowling Green (17-6) opened at just -4 at home over Toledo (11-12).
And once again, the unpopular side has consisted of much bigger bettors, as Toledo's 28% backing has generated 56% of actual money. Another two SI Bet Signals have confirmed the sharp action on the Rockets (at +4 and +3.5), getting the market down to just +3.
Sharp angle: Toledo (moved from +4 to +3)
Oklahoma State vs. Baylor
6 p.m. ET | ESPN2
On the list of things that attract casual bettors, having a little "No. 1" next to a school's name might take the cake.
Baylor is proving that to be true this evening, as the Bears have landed 69% of bettors despite having to lay an opening spread of 13.5 points. And as you could've probably guessed based on the first two games on this card, that line has come down despite the majority backing.
Sixty-one percent of money on the spread has hit Oklahoma State, and with another two Bet Signals marking sharp action on the Pokes, this line is down to +13, or even +12.5 at a few shops.
Sharp angle: Oklahoma State (moved from +13.5 to +13)
Duke vs. North Carolina
6 p.m. ET | ESPN
While the bet distribution hasn't been quite as lopsided in tonight's marquee game, the early sharp angle has still been made clear based on the direction of the line movement.
Duke opened between -8 and -8.5 in Chapel Hill, and given the Tar Heels' struggles this year, 55% of bettors are rolling with the favorite. Once again, though, the line has fallen toward the unpopular side, as oddsmakers have come down to -7.5, or in some cases, -7.
Two Sports Insights Bet Signals have hit North Carolina thus far, both coming at +8, and forcing sportsbooks to give the majority of their customers an easier cover.
Sharp angle: North Carolina (moved from +8 to +7.5)
