Will Syracuse cover vs. NC State? | Yankees' Gerrit Cole could miss two months

Greetings, gamblers.

I hope everyone is enjoying the slate of afternoon men's college basketball. As conference tournament week continues, we've got another action-packed day and night in the world of college basketball. Consider this a sneak preview for the type of expert analysis and insight you will receive as a SportsLine subscriber.

• The Eagles have signed Jake Elliott to a four-year, $24 million deal to make him the NFL's highest paid kicker.
• Texas A&M is targeting Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts for the school's AD job.
• Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito will miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing elbow surgery.

All times Eastern |Game odds via SportsLineconsensus

YANKEES ACE GERRIT COLE COULD MISS 1-2 MONTHS WITH ELBOW INJURY

The New York Yankees could be receiving a brutal blow before the 2024 regular season even gets underway. According to a report from the New York Post, Yankees ace Gerrit Cole could miss at least one or two months due to an elbow injury , and is traveling to Los Angeles to have his elbow looked at even further. Per the report, an MRI didn't show a tear in Cole's UCL ligament, but there's enough of a level of concern that Dr. Neal ElAttrache wanted to see Cole in person. Cole tossed two innings in his spring debut on March 1, but hasn't appeared in a game since that point. The Yankees star is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner after tallying a 15-4 record and a 2.64 ERA.

Here's more from CBS Sports MLB writer Mike Axisa on what Cole's absence means for the Yankees:

• Axisa: "It goes without saying that losing Cole for any length of time would be a devastating blow to a Yankees team that is trying to return to the postseason after going 82-80 in 2023, the franchise's worst record in three decades. He is one of the most indispensable players in the game not only because of his excellence, but also his durability. Cole last missed a start for a non-COVID reason in 2016."

ACC Tournament | No. 7 Syracuse vs. No. 10 NC State, 7 p.m. | TV: ESPN2

• The Pick: Syracuse -1.5 (-108)
• Key trend: NC State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games.

SportsLine expert Chip Patterson is 3-1 in his last four CBB picks.

• Patterson: "The uncertainty around whether NC State star guard DJ Horne will play (hip injury, game time decision) does create some volatility to the Wolfpack's projections, but I'm willing to jump in on Syracuse expecting he's either going to be ruled out or not 100% if he goes. The rest of the team did a good job of picking up the offensive slack in a 94-point effort but the NC State defense allowed Louisville to have one of its best offensive performances of the season. That's a bad sign going up against a Syracuse team that's been scoring at a high level recently and swept the season series."

Here's what else SportsLine is saying about the game:The Projection Model has a "B" pick on the spread, while having an "A" pick on the moneyline.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo codeNEWSLETTER*

Atlantic 10 Tournament |No. 6 Duquesne vs. No. 14 Saint Louis, 7:30 p.m. | TV: USA

• The Projection: St. Louis +8 (-111)| Grade: B -- Moderate

SportsLine's Projection Model has "B" grades on the spread and moneyline with a "C" grade for the total for the contest. Saint Louis is 3-1 ATS in its last four games, so we'll back that trend to hold up in this spot.

SportsLine expert picks: Our staff has combed through the Wednesday night CBB slate and offered their best plays as the season continues.Get one week of picks from SportsLine completely free with the promo codeNEWSLETTER*

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