We had a modest gain Wednesday as all of our teams won, but only 2 of 3 covered and only 1 of 2 total bets covered. Still, that makes it three positive days in a row. We go for four in a row with 20 Units in play. Here are the Streaky Silverback's final plays of the decade. Happy New Year!
Ohio State at Wisconsin (-6) O/U 129
The Buckeyes are still without Big Ten player of the year candidate Evan Turner, and travel to Madison to start conference play in a hostile environment.
The Badgers have already knocked off Duke at home this season and are 128-10 at home under Bo Ryan.
Defense will be featured in this early season Big Ten battle, as both teams rank in the top 50 in Ken Pomeroy’s defensive efficiency and also rank near the bottom of Division I in adjusted pace.
Both teams will look to be patient in their offenses and draw fouls on the opponent. As for as the spread goes, look for Jon Leuer and Trevon Hughes to take over in the second half and give the Badgers a solid start to the conference season.
Take Bucky for 3 Units and the under for 4 Units.
Tennessee at Memphis (-1)
The Volunteers are a hard team to figure out so far this season. They are ranked No. 14, but their best win is a home victory over DePaul. They also played Purdue close, but got run off of the court by USC a couple of weeks ago.
The Tigers meanwhile have played scrappy, disciplined defense, holding opponents to 58 points per game. Couple that with Tennessee’s shooting woes of late, and their inexplicable affinity for the three-point shot on a team with limited three-point shooting options and Memphis should come up with the upset here.
Elliot Williams is a great scorer and distributor and should match up well against Tyler Smith. Take Memphis for 3 Units.
Arizona St. at UCLA O/U 125
Both of these teams play tight man-to-man defense, and are still searching for consistent scoring after the departure of their talented scorers from last season.
The only chance the Bruins have of righting their season is by buying into Ben Howland’s defensive philosophy. If UCLA can limit the Sun Devils’ outside shooting, this one will be played in the 50s.
Take the under for 2 Units.
Oregon at Washington St. (-7)
The Cougars have not missed a beat under new coach Ken Bone, who seems to have opened up the offense a little bit and allowed Klay Thompson to showcase his full talents.
Oregon is 0-2 on the road this season, including a 106-69 drubbing at Missouri, and Pullman is no easy place to play.
The lack of experience and lack of a go-to scorer will hurt the Ducks, and Wazzou should win this one running away. Take WSU for 3 Units.
Arizona at USC (-8.5)
In Arizona’s last outing, it was embarrassed by BYU in the McKale Center. That is not a surprising result with a young Wildcats team.
The Trojans, meanwhile, have been much improved since the addition of Mike Gerrity at point guard. But Arizona point guard Nic Wise has a knack for disrupting opposing guards, and look for his defense to help keep Arizona in this road game.
USC is playing well, but this line is a little inflated based upon recent results. Take Arizona for 3 Units.
Oklahoma at Gonzaga (-8.5)
Neither team is playing up to its capabilities at this point. Gonzaga lost to Duke badly and Oklahoma lost to UTEP at home in the last couple of weeks.
Sooners stud Willie Warren has expressed frustration with the offense, and deservedly so with such a talented team.
OU began the season in the top 25, but has looked nowhere near that this season. Still, this is a team that includes Warren, Tony Crocker, Tiny Gallon and Tommy Mason-Griffin, and if they can put it together on defense, should be able to compete with the balanced Zags.
Nonetheless, I still need to see it to believe it, so only put 2 Units on the Sooners.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Let's Keep the Streak Alive
Coming off of two consecutive winning days and up 13 units overall, we look to keep it going with these three plays. They'll be talking about these three top 25 upsets on Sportscenter tonight:
Connecticut at Cincinnati (-1)
The Cincinnati Bearcats have been waiting five years since they entered the Big East for the chance at an upset like this one. They lost a pair of tough games before the holidays, but have won their last two and will be geared up for this conference opener.
UConn has some experience back from last year’s team, but this will be its first true road game this season. Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker are a solid backcourt to take on the road, but Cincy matches up well with its athleticism and size.
The Huskies have tended to get off to slow starts this season, which means the Bearcats will likely be able to grab the early lead. If they can play 40 minutes of solid defense, look for the upset here. Take Cincy for 2 Units.
UAB at Virginia (-2) O/U 125.5
Mike Davis has done an incredible job with his Blazers this season, moving them into the top 25 prior to the start of conference play. They have to be regarded as one of the contenders in Conference USA, but first they must go on the road to a gritty Virginia team.
UAB recently upset Butler, and may be looking past the Cavaliers, who are searching for their first trademark win this season.
Under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers have held opponents to just 58.9 ppg overall and 55.5 at home. The Blazers have also played great defense, holding opponents to 57 points per contest.
The difference here may be the three-point shooting of Virginia and the home-court advantage. Take Virginia for 3 Units and the under for 2 Units.
Northwestern at Illinois (-7) O/U 135
The Wildcats moved into the top 25 for the first time since 1969 this week, and their reward is a game in Assembly Hall against in-state rival Illinois.
Northwestern is 10-1 and has nine wins in a row, including victories at NC State and against Notre Dame.
The Illini have lost two straight on the road against Missouri and Georgia, and Bruce Weber has hinted at shuffling the starting lineup to spark his team.
Illinois is very tough at home, at 84-16 under Weber, and needs this win to start the Big Ten schedule on the right foot.
In its eight victories this season, Illinois has averaged 84 points per game, and has shot 52 percent at home.
Northwestern is playing well, but walking into a difficult atmosphere against a team hungry for the victory.
Both teams actually rank in the top 50 in Ken Pomeroy’s offensive efficiency ranking, so points will be scored, but Illinois will distance itself for the victory.
Take Illinois for 4 Units and the over for 3 Units.
Connecticut at Cincinnati (-1)
The Cincinnati Bearcats have been waiting five years since they entered the Big East for the chance at an upset like this one. They lost a pair of tough games before the holidays, but have won their last two and will be geared up for this conference opener.
UConn has some experience back from last year’s team, but this will be its first true road game this season. Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker are a solid backcourt to take on the road, but Cincy matches up well with its athleticism and size.
The Huskies have tended to get off to slow starts this season, which means the Bearcats will likely be able to grab the early lead. If they can play 40 minutes of solid defense, look for the upset here. Take Cincy for 2 Units.
UAB at Virginia (-2) O/U 125.5
Mike Davis has done an incredible job with his Blazers this season, moving them into the top 25 prior to the start of conference play. They have to be regarded as one of the contenders in Conference USA, but first they must go on the road to a gritty Virginia team.
UAB recently upset Butler, and may be looking past the Cavaliers, who are searching for their first trademark win this season.
Under Tony Bennett, the Cavaliers have held opponents to just 58.9 ppg overall and 55.5 at home. The Blazers have also played great defense, holding opponents to 57 points per contest.
The difference here may be the three-point shooting of Virginia and the home-court advantage. Take Virginia for 3 Units and the under for 2 Units.
Northwestern at Illinois (-7) O/U 135
The Wildcats moved into the top 25 for the first time since 1969 this week, and their reward is a game in Assembly Hall against in-state rival Illinois.
Northwestern is 10-1 and has nine wins in a row, including victories at NC State and against Notre Dame.
The Illini have lost two straight on the road against Missouri and Georgia, and Bruce Weber has hinted at shuffling the starting lineup to spark his team.
Illinois is very tough at home, at 84-16 under Weber, and needs this win to start the Big Ten schedule on the right foot.
In its eight victories this season, Illinois has averaged 84 points per game, and has shot 52 percent at home.
Northwestern is playing well, but walking into a difficult atmosphere against a team hungry for the victory.
Both teams actually rank in the top 50 in Ken Pomeroy’s offensive efficiency ranking, so points will be scored, but Illinois will distance itself for the victory.
Take Illinois for 4 Units and the over for 3 Units.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Santa delivered
Thanks to a missed free throw by Mac Koshwal in the closing seconds of the DePaul-Pitt contest, we picked up 7 Units. Then, Nevada took care of Portland on its home floor to give us a clean sweep last night. We look to build on that Tuesday with 18 Units worth of plays:
Marquette at West Virginia (-12)
The Golden Eagles handed the Mountaineers their worst loss last season, a 75-53 loss at the Bradley Center. But a lot has changed since that game in Jan. of 2009 as MU lost its top three scorers and West Virginia blossomed into the No. 6 team in the nation.
Bob Huggins has moved sophomore Devin Ebanks to the point in the last couple of games, and though it took some getting used to, the 6-9 stud has taken well to the role, posting 22 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in WVU's last game against Seton Hall. He will be a matchup nightmare for Marquette, whose starting backcourt totals about 12 feet in height.
Huggins took exception to Marquette running up the score last season, and rest assured he hasn't forgotten. This year he has the talent edge and WVU's length and aggressive defense should force Marquette into some turnovers and lead to fast break points for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia will be playing hard all 40 minutes in this one, and will run away in the second half. Take the Mountaineers for 4 Units.
Purdue at Iowa O/U 131
These two teams open Big Ten play at opposite ends of the college basketball spectrum. The Boilermakers enter with an 11-0 record, while the Hawkeyes stumble in at 5-7.
Purdue prides itself on solid defense, having held opponents to under 40 percent shooting this season. Iowa has held opponents to 41 percent shooting at Carver-Hawkeyes Arena, and the only way the Hawkeyes will be able to keep this one close is by playing solid defense.
The Boilermakers have a lot of options on offense, but they know that the way to get a win on the road is by bringing it defensively. They have held opponents in road/neutral games to 43 percent or worse shooting so far this season.
Look for that to continue against a Hawkeye team whose second-leading scorer, Anthony Tucker, was handed an indefinite suspension last week.
Take the under for 4 Units.
Pacific at Oklahoma State (-10.5)
After an embarrassing loss to Tulsa on Dec. 2, the Cowboys have won four straight. James Anderson has been scorching the nets for OSU, and Pacific has allowed opponents to shoot 37 percent from 3-point range, and 47 percent from distance in road games.
Pacific is 1-3 on the road, which includes losses to San Jose State and Santa Clara.
The Cowboys have turned things around after the Tulsa loss and should cover the number here. Take OSU for 2 Units.
Syracuse (-3.5) at Seton Hall
Both of these teams have the ability to score in bunches, and this contest should be entertaining. The Pirates had a great opportunity to knock off West Virginia on Saturday, but came up short in overtime. Now they host the No. 5 team in the nation that seems to be clicking on all cylinders.
The Orange has a bevy of weapons and has used them all to average 88 points per game. They've also done it with defense, holding opponents to 62 ppg.
The Hall has talent of its own, but may have expended too much energy in that loss to WVU to turn around and compete with a Syracuse team that likes to run only three days later.
Seton Hall may stick around for the first 30 minutes, but look for them to run out of gas down the stretch. Take Syracuse for 3 Units.
Penn State at Minnesota (-11.5) O/U 133
It seems like every year Vegas forgets just what Big Ten basketball is like, and the over/unders are always inflated. This one is no different as Penn State and Minnesota both play hard-nosed defense, holding opponents to 60 points per game or less and 40 percent shooting or less.
Neither team really tends to get out in transition very often. Penn State ranks 296th in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted pace, and will look to slow this game down.
Although Minnesota averages 80 points per game, the Gophers have been held in check against similar opponents to PSU. Take the Nittany Lions for 2 Units and the under for 3 Units.
Marquette at West Virginia (-12)
The Golden Eagles handed the Mountaineers their worst loss last season, a 75-53 loss at the Bradley Center. But a lot has changed since that game in Jan. of 2009 as MU lost its top three scorers and West Virginia blossomed into the No. 6 team in the nation.
Bob Huggins has moved sophomore Devin Ebanks to the point in the last couple of games, and though it took some getting used to, the 6-9 stud has taken well to the role, posting 22 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in WVU's last game against Seton Hall. He will be a matchup nightmare for Marquette, whose starting backcourt totals about 12 feet in height.
Huggins took exception to Marquette running up the score last season, and rest assured he hasn't forgotten. This year he has the talent edge and WVU's length and aggressive defense should force Marquette into some turnovers and lead to fast break points for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia will be playing hard all 40 minutes in this one, and will run away in the second half. Take the Mountaineers for 4 Units.
Purdue at Iowa O/U 131
These two teams open Big Ten play at opposite ends of the college basketball spectrum. The Boilermakers enter with an 11-0 record, while the Hawkeyes stumble in at 5-7.
Purdue prides itself on solid defense, having held opponents to under 40 percent shooting this season. Iowa has held opponents to 41 percent shooting at Carver-Hawkeyes Arena, and the only way the Hawkeyes will be able to keep this one close is by playing solid defense.
The Boilermakers have a lot of options on offense, but they know that the way to get a win on the road is by bringing it defensively. They have held opponents in road/neutral games to 43 percent or worse shooting so far this season.
Look for that to continue against a Hawkeye team whose second-leading scorer, Anthony Tucker, was handed an indefinite suspension last week.
Take the under for 4 Units.
Pacific at Oklahoma State (-10.5)
After an embarrassing loss to Tulsa on Dec. 2, the Cowboys have won four straight. James Anderson has been scorching the nets for OSU, and Pacific has allowed opponents to shoot 37 percent from 3-point range, and 47 percent from distance in road games.
Pacific is 1-3 on the road, which includes losses to San Jose State and Santa Clara.
The Cowboys have turned things around after the Tulsa loss and should cover the number here. Take OSU for 2 Units.
Syracuse (-3.5) at Seton Hall
Both of these teams have the ability to score in bunches, and this contest should be entertaining. The Pirates had a great opportunity to knock off West Virginia on Saturday, but came up short in overtime. Now they host the No. 5 team in the nation that seems to be clicking on all cylinders.
The Orange has a bevy of weapons and has used them all to average 88 points per game. They've also done it with defense, holding opponents to 62 ppg.
The Hall has talent of its own, but may have expended too much energy in that loss to WVU to turn around and compete with a Syracuse team that likes to run only three days later.
Seton Hall may stick around for the first 30 minutes, but look for them to run out of gas down the stretch. Take Syracuse for 3 Units.
Penn State at Minnesota (-11.5) O/U 133
It seems like every year Vegas forgets just what Big Ten basketball is like, and the over/unders are always inflated. This one is no different as Penn State and Minnesota both play hard-nosed defense, holding opponents to 60 points per game or less and 40 percent shooting or less.
Neither team really tends to get out in transition very often. Penn State ranks 296th in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted pace, and will look to slow this game down.
Although Minnesota averages 80 points per game, the Gophers have been held in check against similar opponents to PSU. Take the Nittany Lions for 2 Units and the under for 3 Units.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Here's hoping Santa brought us a winning streak
After a rough couple of opening months to the college basketball season for the Gorilla, hopefully Santa brought us some good luck for the rest of the season. Here's 9 Units to enjoy the Monday after Christmas:
DePaul at Pittsburgh (-12.5) O/U 117.5
The Blue Demons got big man Mac Koshwal back in their last game, a loss at Florida Gulf Coast. He recorded a double-double, but couldn’t help DePaul get the win.
The Panthers have been playing great defense this season, limiting opponents to 56.2 ppg, best among Big East teams. The Blue Demons are second in points allowed, but have struggled on the offensive end, scoring just 61.3 ppg.
The Panthers have enough scorers and will create enough points off turnovers to distance themselves from DePaul in their conference opener. The Demons will have a hard time scoring consistently in this one, and this has the makings of a 60-40 type final score.
Take Pitt for 4 Units and the under for 3 Units
Nevada (-5.5) vs. Portland
The Wolfpack is playing some good basketball right now, having defeated BYU and Tulsa in consecutive days last week. They host Portland in a nonconference game.
The Pilots began the season winning their first five games and jumping into the top 25, but have since lost four of their last five.
Portland has the balance to compete in this game, but the Wolfpack are too tough at home and are too good offensively for Portland to keep pace.
Take Nevada for 2 Units.
DePaul at Pittsburgh (-12.5) O/U 117.5
The Blue Demons got big man Mac Koshwal back in their last game, a loss at Florida Gulf Coast. He recorded a double-double, but couldn’t help DePaul get the win.
The Panthers have been playing great defense this season, limiting opponents to 56.2 ppg, best among Big East teams. The Blue Demons are second in points allowed, but have struggled on the offensive end, scoring just 61.3 ppg.
The Panthers have enough scorers and will create enough points off turnovers to distance themselves from DePaul in their conference opener. The Demons will have a hard time scoring consistently in this one, and this has the makings of a 60-40 type final score.
Take Pitt for 4 Units and the under for 3 Units
Nevada (-5.5) vs. Portland
The Wolfpack is playing some good basketball right now, having defeated BYU and Tulsa in consecutive days last week. They host Portland in a nonconference game.
The Pilots began the season winning their first five games and jumping into the top 25, but have since lost four of their last five.
Portland has the balance to compete in this game, but the Wolfpack are too tough at home and are too good offensively for Portland to keep pace.
Take Nevada for 2 Units.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dec. 22 - 24 Units in play
Looking to get out of the red with a big night tonight.
Tulsa (-5) at Nebraska
The Golden Hurricane stands at 9-1 and is playing well having just defeated Oklahoma State by 21 points. They feature 7-footer Jerome Jordan, point guard Ben Uzoh (16.3 ppg), and staunch defense, having held five of 10 opponents below 50 points.
The Huskers meanwhile have been battling injuries to their backcourt, forcing Huskers coach Doc Sadler to use five different starting lineups in 10 games. The uncertain lineup has caused problems offensively, and they have not scored 60 points in their last two games.
The Tulsa defense will give the Huskers fits in this one, and their size down low should limit Nebraska’s second-chance opportunities. Take Tulsa for 4 Units.
Loyola-Maryland at Indiana (-7.5)
The Hoosiers are playing much better basketball nowadays compared to November when they lost to Boston and George Mason.
Tom Crean has brought up last year’s loss to Lipscomb at Assembly Hall in practice this week, he said, and upperclassmen Verdell Jones and Devan Dumes want to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.
Loyola stands at 5-5, even with IU, but has not played anyone in a BCS conference so far this season.
The Hoosiers have too much talent here for Loyola to keep this one close, especially at Assembly Hall. Take IU for 3 Units.
Michigan State at Texas (-9) O/U 152.5
The Longhorns looked good in a convincing victory over the defending national championship North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday. They were able to hang 100 on UNC, and showed exactly why they were a top 5 team in the country. They have the inside presence with Damion James and Dexter Pittman, along with the guard play from Avery Bradley to really put some points on the scoreboard.
But the Spartans can fill it up, too, with their own powerful frontcourt and leading scorer Kalin Lucas at the point. This one could turn into a track meet with both teams making a lot of plays.
These teams match up well against each other, and MSU has won the last three meetings, so don’t count them out in this one. The Spartans should be able to hang around and score with Texas.
Take MSU for 2 Units and the over for 4 Units.
Marshall at North Carolina (-13)
The Thundering Herd likes to get up and down the floor, and has scored in the 90s four times this season. The only problem is, that’s the exact type of game UNC loves to play, having averaged 84 points this season.
Also, the Tar Heels are coming off a loss to Texas, so expect them to give their best effort in this one. Take UNC for 2 Units.
Butler at UAB (-1.5)
Although the Blazers lost their top four scorers from last season, they are off to a 10-1 start, including a big win over Cincinnati last week.
UAB is doing it with defense, holding opponents to 57.5 points per game, and it has won 30 straight nonconference home games.
Butler is finishing up a brutal nonconference schedule, after recently defeating Xavier in a controversial finish.
UAB is led by Elijah Millsap, whose bloodlines have helped this handicapper cash in some serious units in the past.
The Blazers are looking for some national recognition, and a win here would give that to them.
Take UAB for 4 Units.
California at Kansas O/U 153.5
The Jayhawks love to get up and down the floor, and have the weapons to easily score in the 80s, while Cal has the outside shooting to score in bunches.
The Golden Bears will be motivated to prove themselves worthy of their preseason ranking, which has since gone by the wayside. More importantly, they are playing better with Theo Robertson back in the lineup, and he gives them one more go-to scorer along with Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle.
This game will be played in the 80s, so take the over for 3 Units.
Colorado St. at UCLA (-10)
The Bruins have shown signs that they are coming out of their early season slump, hanging tough at Notre Dame in a 84-73 loss. They are 3-7, but Colorado State is 0-3 on the road.
It’s hard to have a lot of faith in UCLA at this point, but Ben Howland will get this team turned around, and they should be able to use their athleticism to distance themselves from the Rams.
Take UCLA for 2 Units.
Tulsa (-5) at Nebraska
The Golden Hurricane stands at 9-1 and is playing well having just defeated Oklahoma State by 21 points. They feature 7-footer Jerome Jordan, point guard Ben Uzoh (16.3 ppg), and staunch defense, having held five of 10 opponents below 50 points.
The Huskers meanwhile have been battling injuries to their backcourt, forcing Huskers coach Doc Sadler to use five different starting lineups in 10 games. The uncertain lineup has caused problems offensively, and they have not scored 60 points in their last two games.
The Tulsa defense will give the Huskers fits in this one, and their size down low should limit Nebraska’s second-chance opportunities. Take Tulsa for 4 Units.
Loyola-Maryland at Indiana (-7.5)
The Hoosiers are playing much better basketball nowadays compared to November when they lost to Boston and George Mason.
Tom Crean has brought up last year’s loss to Lipscomb at Assembly Hall in practice this week, he said, and upperclassmen Verdell Jones and Devan Dumes want to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.
Loyola stands at 5-5, even with IU, but has not played anyone in a BCS conference so far this season.
The Hoosiers have too much talent here for Loyola to keep this one close, especially at Assembly Hall. Take IU for 3 Units.
Michigan State at Texas (-9) O/U 152.5
The Longhorns looked good in a convincing victory over the defending national championship North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday. They were able to hang 100 on UNC, and showed exactly why they were a top 5 team in the country. They have the inside presence with Damion James and Dexter Pittman, along with the guard play from Avery Bradley to really put some points on the scoreboard.
But the Spartans can fill it up, too, with their own powerful frontcourt and leading scorer Kalin Lucas at the point. This one could turn into a track meet with both teams making a lot of plays.
These teams match up well against each other, and MSU has won the last three meetings, so don’t count them out in this one. The Spartans should be able to hang around and score with Texas.
Take MSU for 2 Units and the over for 4 Units.
Marshall at North Carolina (-13)
The Thundering Herd likes to get up and down the floor, and has scored in the 90s four times this season. The only problem is, that’s the exact type of game UNC loves to play, having averaged 84 points this season.
Also, the Tar Heels are coming off a loss to Texas, so expect them to give their best effort in this one. Take UNC for 2 Units.
Butler at UAB (-1.5)
Although the Blazers lost their top four scorers from last season, they are off to a 10-1 start, including a big win over Cincinnati last week.
UAB is doing it with defense, holding opponents to 57.5 points per game, and it has won 30 straight nonconference home games.
Butler is finishing up a brutal nonconference schedule, after recently defeating Xavier in a controversial finish.
UAB is led by Elijah Millsap, whose bloodlines have helped this handicapper cash in some serious units in the past.
The Blazers are looking for some national recognition, and a win here would give that to them.
Take UAB for 4 Units.
California at Kansas O/U 153.5
The Jayhawks love to get up and down the floor, and have the weapons to easily score in the 80s, while Cal has the outside shooting to score in bunches.
The Golden Bears will be motivated to prove themselves worthy of their preseason ranking, which has since gone by the wayside. More importantly, they are playing better with Theo Robertson back in the lineup, and he gives them one more go-to scorer along with Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle.
This game will be played in the 80s, so take the over for 3 Units.
Colorado St. at UCLA (-10)
The Bruins have shown signs that they are coming out of their early season slump, hanging tough at Notre Dame in a 84-73 loss. They are 3-7, but Colorado State is 0-3 on the road.
It’s hard to have a lot of faith in UCLA at this point, but Ben Howland will get this team turned around, and they should be able to use their athleticism to distance themselves from the Rams.
Take UCLA for 2 Units.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dec. 19 Plays
Stanford at Northwestern Over/under 133
Although the Wildcats have scored at least 80 points in their last two games, it has been against lesser opponents. Stanford surrenders about 64 points per games, and does not have a lot of firepower offensively outside of point forward Landry Fields.
Against opponents similar to Stanford, the Wildcats have kept the games in the 60s and 50s, and the same goes for the Cardinal.
Take the under for 4 Units.
Gonzaga (+8.5) vs. Duke
The Zags have been one of the surprises of the early season, and the Blue Devils have done little to impress, beside a win over Uconn.
The Bulldogs have enough talent and shooting to keep pace with Duke, even if they are feeling it from long range.
Look for the Zags to keep this one close. Take Gonzaga for 3 Units.
Florida (-7) vs. Richmond
The Gators are coming off a loss against Syracuse and have had nine days to prepare for this one, while the Spiders are playing their third straight road game and coming off two losses.
Florida should be able to win this one by double digits even though Richmond is one of the dark horses to win the Atlantic 10. Three games in a week will catch up with the Spiders against a well-rested Florida team. Take the Gators for 4 Units.
Wichita State (-5) vs. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have been sneaking up on teams so far this year to an undefeated record. But, in looking at their record, the only noteworthy teams they’ve beaten are Pac 10 teams. The Shockers haven’t defeated anyone of note either, but they are at home and this win would help their resume for March.
Rarely is a ranked team a five-point dog against an unranked team, but it looks like Vegas expects Tech to come crashing down in this one. Take the Shockers for my third stone-cold, lead-pipe, Jimmer-third-game-bowling-under lock for 5 Units.
Although the Wildcats have scored at least 80 points in their last two games, it has been against lesser opponents. Stanford surrenders about 64 points per games, and does not have a lot of firepower offensively outside of point forward Landry Fields.
Against opponents similar to Stanford, the Wildcats have kept the games in the 60s and 50s, and the same goes for the Cardinal.
Take the under for 4 Units.
Gonzaga (+8.5) vs. Duke
The Zags have been one of the surprises of the early season, and the Blue Devils have done little to impress, beside a win over Uconn.
The Bulldogs have enough talent and shooting to keep pace with Duke, even if they are feeling it from long range.
Look for the Zags to keep this one close. Take Gonzaga for 3 Units.
Florida (-7) vs. Richmond
The Gators are coming off a loss against Syracuse and have had nine days to prepare for this one, while the Spiders are playing their third straight road game and coming off two losses.
Florida should be able to win this one by double digits even though Richmond is one of the dark horses to win the Atlantic 10. Three games in a week will catch up with the Spiders against a well-rested Florida team. Take the Gators for 4 Units.
Wichita State (-5) vs. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have been sneaking up on teams so far this year to an undefeated record. But, in looking at their record, the only noteworthy teams they’ve beaten are Pac 10 teams. The Shockers haven’t defeated anyone of note either, but they are at home and this win would help their resume for March.
Rarely is a ranked team a five-point dog against an unranked team, but it looks like Vegas expects Tech to come crashing down in this one. Take the Shockers for my third stone-cold, lead-pipe, Jimmer-third-game-bowling-under lock for 5 Units.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Dec. 16 Plays
Cincinnati (-2) at UAB
The Bearcats lost a heartbreaker at Xavier in a heated crosstown rivarly game Sunday, but they showed an ability to play well on the road.
The Blazers are 8-1, but have not played anyone close to the level of Cincinnati. They had three starters score in double figures in their last game, but Cincinnati plays tough defense and won't make it easy for the Blazers to score.
Although UAB starts forward Elijah Millsap, brother of former Louisiana Tech star Paul Millsap, he will have a tough time competing with Yancey Gates for rebounds.
Take Cincy for 3 Units.
Oregon State (-4) at Illinois-Chicago
The Beavers and the rest of the Pac 10 has been underwhelming this season, but the Flames have been worse, posting a 1-6 record.
OSU played Texas Tech and Nebraska tough, but UIC is riding a six-game losing streak in which they've only lost by fewer than 10 points once.
The Beavers should be able to take this one easily, even on the road. Take OSU for 4 Units.
Oklahoma State at Stanford (-2.5)
This is an interesting matchup with a struggling OSU team going on the road to face a disciplined Stanford team.
The Cardinal played Kentucky tough earlier this season, while the Cowboys were throttled by Tulsa a couple of weeks ago.
But OSU is led by stud swingman James Anderson, who should be able to provide consistent scoring on the road.
Stanford is not the deepest of teams, and will struggle with OSU’s quickness and length. Take the Cowboys for 3 Units.
The Bearcats lost a heartbreaker at Xavier in a heated crosstown rivarly game Sunday, but they showed an ability to play well on the road.
The Blazers are 8-1, but have not played anyone close to the level of Cincinnati. They had three starters score in double figures in their last game, but Cincinnati plays tough defense and won't make it easy for the Blazers to score.
Although UAB starts forward Elijah Millsap, brother of former Louisiana Tech star Paul Millsap, he will have a tough time competing with Yancey Gates for rebounds.
Take Cincy for 3 Units.
Oregon State (-4) at Illinois-Chicago
The Beavers and the rest of the Pac 10 has been underwhelming this season, but the Flames have been worse, posting a 1-6 record.
OSU played Texas Tech and Nebraska tough, but UIC is riding a six-game losing streak in which they've only lost by fewer than 10 points once.
The Beavers should be able to take this one easily, even on the road. Take OSU for 4 Units.
Oklahoma State at Stanford (-2.5)
This is an interesting matchup with a struggling OSU team going on the road to face a disciplined Stanford team.
The Cardinal played Kentucky tough earlier this season, while the Cowboys were throttled by Tulsa a couple of weeks ago.
But OSU is led by stud swingman James Anderson, who should be able to provide consistent scoring on the road.
Stanford is not the deepest of teams, and will struggle with OSU’s quickness and length. Take the Cowboys for 3 Units.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
One Dec. 13 Play
We're looking to bounce back from Saturday with one solid win Sunday.
Xavier (-3.5) over Cincinnati
The Musketeers have been disappointing thus far, and are coming off a bad loss to Kansas State. The Bearcats are ranked 19th in the nation and have been playing well early this season.
Xavier has enough talent to matchup with Cincy, but the question is will they shoot well enough to win. After shooting under 30 percent in the last game, look for Xavier to improve that number greatly at home.
With the size Xavier has down low, they should be able to dominate rebounding and pull away in this rivalry.
Take Xavier for 4 Units.
Xavier (-3.5) over Cincinnati
The Musketeers have been disappointing thus far, and are coming off a bad loss to Kansas State. The Bearcats are ranked 19th in the nation and have been playing well early this season.
Xavier has enough talent to matchup with Cincy, but the question is will they shoot well enough to win. After shooting under 30 percent in the last game, look for Xavier to improve that number greatly at home.
With the size Xavier has down low, they should be able to dominate rebounding and pull away in this rivalry.
Take Xavier for 4 Units.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Dec. 12 Plays
We're looking to get back in black with these plays.
Kentucky (-9.5) at Indiana Over/under 144
The Wildcats have won a couple of huge games in the past week, beating North Carolina and UConn in the same week. Both games were hard-fought, down-to-the-wire contests.
Meanwhile, the Hoosiers earned a big win over Pittsburgh in the Jimmy V Classic and are playing the best they have under Tom Crean.
Both squads are young and inconsistent, but Indiana could give Kentucky a game on their home floor.
But this game will most likely be in the 60s and therefore the prudent play. Take the Hoosiers for 2 Units, and the under for 4 Units.
Ohio State at Butler (-4)
This is a must-win for Butler, and OSU is without its leader, Evan Turner. Take the Bulldogs for 4 Units.
Georgetown (-1.5) at Washington
The Hoyas earned a big win against Butler earlier this week, while Washington was recently upset by Texas Tech. The Huskies need to bounce back here, and G'Town is slightly overrated as the 13th team in the country. Take Washington for 3 Units.
St. Mary’s at Oregon (PK)
The Ducks are too young, and too undisciplined on defense to stop the Gaels outside shooting. Take SMC for 2 Units.
Marquette at Wisconsin (-5.5)
The Badgers are tough in the Kohl Center, and outside of a six-game losing streak last season, are generally tough after a loss. Look for Wisconsin to pull away in the second half. Take Wisconsin for 2 Units.
Davidson at Gonzaga (-12.5)
Davidson is far from the team that advanced to the Elite Eight two years ago. They are 2-6 and travelling across the country to face a deep, talented Gonzaga team. Take the Zags for 3 Units.
Purdue (-4) at Alabama
The Boilermakers have been rising the rankings since the beginning of the season, undefeated and ranked No. 4. Alabama is well-coached and will be motivated for the upset, which could help their resume. Roll Tide for 4 Units.
Kentucky (-9.5) at Indiana Over/under 144
The Wildcats have won a couple of huge games in the past week, beating North Carolina and UConn in the same week. Both games were hard-fought, down-to-the-wire contests.
Meanwhile, the Hoosiers earned a big win over Pittsburgh in the Jimmy V Classic and are playing the best they have under Tom Crean.
Both squads are young and inconsistent, but Indiana could give Kentucky a game on their home floor.
But this game will most likely be in the 60s and therefore the prudent play. Take the Hoosiers for 2 Units, and the under for 4 Units.
Ohio State at Butler (-4)
This is a must-win for Butler, and OSU is without its leader, Evan Turner. Take the Bulldogs for 4 Units.
Georgetown (-1.5) at Washington
The Hoyas earned a big win against Butler earlier this week, while Washington was recently upset by Texas Tech. The Huskies need to bounce back here, and G'Town is slightly overrated as the 13th team in the country. Take Washington for 3 Units.
St. Mary’s at Oregon (PK)
The Ducks are too young, and too undisciplined on defense to stop the Gaels outside shooting. Take SMC for 2 Units.
Marquette at Wisconsin (-5.5)
The Badgers are tough in the Kohl Center, and outside of a six-game losing streak last season, are generally tough after a loss. Look for Wisconsin to pull away in the second half. Take Wisconsin for 2 Units.
Davidson at Gonzaga (-12.5)
Davidson is far from the team that advanced to the Elite Eight two years ago. They are 2-6 and travelling across the country to face a deep, talented Gonzaga team. Take the Zags for 3 Units.
Purdue (-4) at Alabama
The Boilermakers have been rising the rankings since the beginning of the season, undefeated and ranked No. 4. Alabama is well-coached and will be motivated for the upset, which could help their resume. Roll Tide for 4 Units.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dec. 10 Plays
After hitting our second 5-Unit play of the year, we have three plays on a light night of college hoops.
DePaul (+12) over Mississippi St. Over/under 122.5
The Blue Demons have been one of the surprises of the early season at 5-2 with their only losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. DePaul is missing its stud forward Mac Koshwal, but has been able to stay competitive since he went down.
Both teams in this matchup like to grind out possessions and work deep into the shot clock. If the Blue Demons are able to hit some outside shot, which is a question for them, they should be able to keep this one close.
The first one to 60 in this matchup will win, so take DePaul for 2 Units and the under for 3 Units.
Syracuse/Florida Over/under 147.5
This is a very intriguing matchup between two surprising unbeatens in the Big East/SEC Challenge at Tampa. The ‘Cuse has the propensity to score in bunches, and they usually get their opponents to play at their pace.
Florida’s outside shooting is shaky, which could spell doom against the Syracuse zone. But the Gators were able to hang 77 on a good Michigan State defense.
Take the over for 4 Units.
DePaul (+12) over Mississippi St. Over/under 122.5
The Blue Demons have been one of the surprises of the early season at 5-2 with their only losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. DePaul is missing its stud forward Mac Koshwal, but has been able to stay competitive since he went down.
Both teams in this matchup like to grind out possessions and work deep into the shot clock. If the Blue Demons are able to hit some outside shot, which is a question for them, they should be able to keep this one close.
The first one to 60 in this matchup will win, so take DePaul for 2 Units and the under for 3 Units.
Syracuse/Florida Over/under 147.5
This is a very intriguing matchup between two surprising unbeatens in the Big East/SEC Challenge at Tampa. The ‘Cuse has the propensity to score in bunches, and they usually get their opponents to play at their pace.
Florida’s outside shooting is shaky, which could spell doom against the Syracuse zone. But the Gators were able to hang 77 on a good Michigan State defense.
Take the over for 4 Units.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dec. 8 Plays
It’s time for another stone-cold, lead-pipe, Jimmer-third-game-bowling-under lock as part of our Dec. 8 plays.
Illinois (-3.5) over Vanderbilt
The Illini are one of the more balanced teams in the nation with five players averaging over double figures in scoring. Illinois is led by its stringbean forward Mike Davis, reliable guard Demetri McCamey and the dynamic freshman duo of Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson.
The Commodores have had some impressive wins this season, beating Missouri and Arizona and getting a tough win at St. Mary’s. But, those wins aren’t convincing enough to make anyone believe they can win in an environment like Assembly Hall.
Center A.J. Ogilvy is Vandy’s leader, but he will run into some stiff competition inside with Davis and Mike Tisdale.
Look for McCamey to frustrate Vandy’s leading scorer Jeffrey Taylor with his tight, on-the-ball defense.
Take the Illini for our second Jimmer lock of 5 Units.
Xavier (+5) over Kansas State
The Musketeers played much better basketball in their last game than they did in Orlando. They shared the ball, cut down on turnovers and used all of their offensive weapons.
This Xavier team matches up well with Kansas State as each team possesses a talented backcourt. The difference will be Jason Love down-low and what he brings as both a finisher and shot blocker.
The slashing penetration players like Denis Clemente use for scoring will be shut down by Love’s length. Also worth noting is the fact that, through seven games, Love has only committed 15 fouls, which means he does a good job of staying out of foul trouble.
The Wildcats’ top two scorers are guards, and they may have trouble finding shots against Xavier’s tight man-to-man defense and length inside. Take Xavier for 3 Units.
TCU (+1) over Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are 8-0, but their only two impressive wins have been at home against Pac 10 teams. The Tech fans stormed the court twice Thursday when the Raiders upset No. 10 Washington on their home floor.
Tech was able to hang with Washington behind some hot shooting, but the Horned Frogs would prefer to slow this game down and grind out a victory.
This would seem like a curious line for an 8-0 team heading in to play a team that has already lost to Louisiana Tech this season. But oddsmakers are waiting for the other shoe to drop on Tech, and it will be against TCU on Tuesday. Take the Horned Frogs for 2 Units.
Illinois (-3.5) over Vanderbilt
The Illini are one of the more balanced teams in the nation with five players averaging over double figures in scoring. Illinois is led by its stringbean forward Mike Davis, reliable guard Demetri McCamey and the dynamic freshman duo of Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson.
The Commodores have had some impressive wins this season, beating Missouri and Arizona and getting a tough win at St. Mary’s. But, those wins aren’t convincing enough to make anyone believe they can win in an environment like Assembly Hall.
Center A.J. Ogilvy is Vandy’s leader, but he will run into some stiff competition inside with Davis and Mike Tisdale.
Look for McCamey to frustrate Vandy’s leading scorer Jeffrey Taylor with his tight, on-the-ball defense.
Take the Illini for our second Jimmer lock of 5 Units.
Xavier (+5) over Kansas State
The Musketeers played much better basketball in their last game than they did in Orlando. They shared the ball, cut down on turnovers and used all of their offensive weapons.
This Xavier team matches up well with Kansas State as each team possesses a talented backcourt. The difference will be Jason Love down-low and what he brings as both a finisher and shot blocker.
The slashing penetration players like Denis Clemente use for scoring will be shut down by Love’s length. Also worth noting is the fact that, through seven games, Love has only committed 15 fouls, which means he does a good job of staying out of foul trouble.
The Wildcats’ top two scorers are guards, and they may have trouble finding shots against Xavier’s tight man-to-man defense and length inside. Take Xavier for 3 Units.
TCU (+1) over Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are 8-0, but their only two impressive wins have been at home against Pac 10 teams. The Tech fans stormed the court twice Thursday when the Raiders upset No. 10 Washington on their home floor.
Tech was able to hang with Washington behind some hot shooting, but the Horned Frogs would prefer to slow this game down and grind out a victory.
This would seem like a curious line for an 8-0 team heading in to play a team that has already lost to Louisiana Tech this season. But oddsmakers are waiting for the other shoe to drop on Tech, and it will be against TCU on Tuesday. Take the Horned Frogs for 2 Units.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Two Late Sunday Plays
Maryland over Villanova
The Terrapins had a rough go in Maui, but have a chance for a big win in DC tonight. Villanova is not a top 5 team in the country. They are too young, especially down low, and the Wildcat penetrators will struggle with Maryland's length inside. Take Maryland to win at +120 for 4 Units.
Idaho (pk) over Portland
The Pilots are ranked after winning games over UCLA and Minnesota, but for some reason Idaho is a pick here. This smells like our classic play of an unranked team at home that is a pick against an ranked opponent. Take the Vandals for 2 Units.
The Terrapins had a rough go in Maui, but have a chance for a big win in DC tonight. Villanova is not a top 5 team in the country. They are too young, especially down low, and the Wildcat penetrators will struggle with Maryland's length inside. Take Maryland to win at +120 for 4 Units.
Idaho (pk) over Portland
The Pilots are ranked after winning games over UCLA and Minnesota, but for some reason Idaho is a pick here. This smells like our classic play of an unranked team at home that is a pick against an ranked opponent. Take the Vandals for 2 Units.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
First Dec. 5 Play
Here's is our first play for Dec. 5:
North Carolina/Kentucky over 153
Both of these teams a ton of talent, and this won’t be a halfcourt game. Although Kentucky has shown inconsistency this season, it seems to be coming together at the right time for them and playing at home will help them get comfortable offensively.
This will be a fun one to watch with up-and-down basketball. Take the over for 4 Units.
North Carolina/Kentucky over 153
Both of these teams a ton of talent, and this won’t be a halfcourt game. Although Kentucky has shown inconsistency this season, it seems to be coming together at the right time for them and playing at home will help them get comfortable offensively.
This will be a fun one to watch with up-and-down basketball. Take the over for 4 Units.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
One Dec. 3 Play
After a frustrating night that saw us lose two games in overtime and Clemson collapse in the second half, we have one play this evening.
Washington (-1.5) over Texas Tech
Taking an away favorite is always a scary thing, but the Huskies have the solid backcourt get a big road win. Big-time prospect Abdul Gaddy, who left Arizona for Washington, has been in a slump, but look for him to bust out on national television tonight.
The Huskies have the ability to score in bunches, and the Red Raiders don't have the firepower to keep up with them.
Take Washington for 3 Units.
Washington (-1.5) over Texas Tech
Taking an away favorite is always a scary thing, but the Huskies have the solid backcourt get a big road win. Big-time prospect Abdul Gaddy, who left Arizona for Washington, has been in a slump, but look for him to bust out on national television tonight.
The Huskies have the ability to score in bunches, and the Red Raiders don't have the firepower to keep up with them.
Take Washington for 3 Units.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Dec. 2 Plays
After last nights disappointing effort, we have a smorgasbord of selections Wednesday.
Duquesne (+6) over Pittsburgh
The Panthers have done little to convince anyone they are a formidable team so far this season. Pitt’s best win was against Wichita State. Outside of that, they’ve struggled to put away lesser opponents and were housed by Texas.
Duquesne meanwhile has an underrated squad led by former Marquette prospect Damian Saunders, who has a double-double in each of the Dukes’ first six games. At 6-7, he’s a matchup nightmare for a young Pitt team.
The game will be played at a “neutral site” in Mellon Arena, marking the final college basketball game there prior to its demolition.
Take the Dukes for 2 Units.
Georgia Tech (-5) over Siena
The Saints came into this season heralded as the next mid-major to take the step into legitimacy along with Gonzaga and Butler, but things haven’t gone quite as well as hoped.
The Yellow Jackets climbed into the rankings this past week and are trying to prove themselves with freshman stud Derrick Favors, junior guard Iman Shumpert and experienced post man Gani Lawal.
No doubt, Paul Hewitt will have his charges ready for this one as he once coached the Saints. Look for Tech to get a resume-building home win easily. Take GT for 2 Units.
Clemson (-4) over Illinois
Some people out there don’t like Clemson, but we do. The Tigers are playing just their third home game Wednesday, and have all the firepower to blow the Illini off of the reservation.
Not only can Clemson score from the outside, but the Tigers can dump it down low to the Booker brothers. They will give the slight Mike Davis all he can handle, and Clemson’s guards can get up and guard those young Illini guards, save Demetri McCamey, and cause some turnovers. Take the Tigers for 4 Units.
Arizona (-3.5) over UNLV
Rarely do you get two unranked home teams favored against ranked road teams twice in one night, but that’s what we have Wednesday.
UNLV travels to Arizona after a big home win over Louisville last weekend. The Wildcats have a ton of talent, and proved their mettle by fighting by against Wisconsin in Maui.
Arizona is young, but should be fired up to knock off a ranked opponent in what should be a rabid MacKale Center. Take UA for 3 Units.
Ohio State (-7) over Florida State
The Seminoles are coming off of a four games in five days stretch, ending with a hard-fought, comeback win over Marquette on Sunday.
The Noles won’t have the energy to hang with the Buckeyes for 40 minutes. Look for OSU to pull away in the second half, and frustrate the FSU offense with its matchup zone. Take OSU for 3 Units.
Michigan (-6) over Boston College
The Wolverines have something to prove after going 1-2 in the Old Spice Classic. The Golden Eagles are simply the unlucky team to play an experienced Michigan squad after that lackluster tournament.
Take the Wolverines for 2 Units.
New Mexico (-4) over California
The Lobos enter this game at 6-0 facing a Cal team that has struggled in the onset. The Bears may have Theo Robertson back, questionable with a foot injury, but Cal is battling the flu with two others questionable with flu-like symptoms.
NMU is a young team with only one senior on the team, but coach Steve Alford, yes that Steve Alford, predicates his team on defense, which can only help them against a perimeter-oriented Cal team.
The Pit is always a tough place to play and the young Lobos will be ready to try and knock off a ranked opponent. Take the Lobos for 5 Units as our first stone-cold, lead-piper, Jimmer-third-game-bowling-under lock and thank me later.
Duquesne (+6) over Pittsburgh
The Panthers have done little to convince anyone they are a formidable team so far this season. Pitt’s best win was against Wichita State. Outside of that, they’ve struggled to put away lesser opponents and were housed by Texas.
Duquesne meanwhile has an underrated squad led by former Marquette prospect Damian Saunders, who has a double-double in each of the Dukes’ first six games. At 6-7, he’s a matchup nightmare for a young Pitt team.
The game will be played at a “neutral site” in Mellon Arena, marking the final college basketball game there prior to its demolition.
Take the Dukes for 2 Units.
Georgia Tech (-5) over Siena
The Saints came into this season heralded as the next mid-major to take the step into legitimacy along with Gonzaga and Butler, but things haven’t gone quite as well as hoped.
The Yellow Jackets climbed into the rankings this past week and are trying to prove themselves with freshman stud Derrick Favors, junior guard Iman Shumpert and experienced post man Gani Lawal.
No doubt, Paul Hewitt will have his charges ready for this one as he once coached the Saints. Look for Tech to get a resume-building home win easily. Take GT for 2 Units.
Clemson (-4) over Illinois
Some people out there don’t like Clemson, but we do. The Tigers are playing just their third home game Wednesday, and have all the firepower to blow the Illini off of the reservation.
Not only can Clemson score from the outside, but the Tigers can dump it down low to the Booker brothers. They will give the slight Mike Davis all he can handle, and Clemson’s guards can get up and guard those young Illini guards, save Demetri McCamey, and cause some turnovers. Take the Tigers for 4 Units.
Arizona (-3.5) over UNLV
Rarely do you get two unranked home teams favored against ranked road teams twice in one night, but that’s what we have Wednesday.
UNLV travels to Arizona after a big home win over Louisville last weekend. The Wildcats have a ton of talent, and proved their mettle by fighting by against Wisconsin in Maui.
Arizona is young, but should be fired up to knock off a ranked opponent in what should be a rabid MacKale Center. Take UA for 3 Units.
Ohio State (-7) over Florida State
The Seminoles are coming off of a four games in five days stretch, ending with a hard-fought, comeback win over Marquette on Sunday.
The Noles won’t have the energy to hang with the Buckeyes for 40 minutes. Look for OSU to pull away in the second half, and frustrate the FSU offense with its matchup zone. Take OSU for 3 Units.
Michigan (-6) over Boston College
The Wolverines have something to prove after going 1-2 in the Old Spice Classic. The Golden Eagles are simply the unlucky team to play an experienced Michigan squad after that lackluster tournament.
Take the Wolverines for 2 Units.
New Mexico (-4) over California
The Lobos enter this game at 6-0 facing a Cal team that has struggled in the onset. The Bears may have Theo Robertson back, questionable with a foot injury, but Cal is battling the flu with two others questionable with flu-like symptoms.
NMU is a young team with only one senior on the team, but coach Steve Alford, yes that Steve Alford, predicates his team on defense, which can only help them against a perimeter-oriented Cal team.
The Pit is always a tough place to play and the young Lobos will be ready to try and knock off a ranked opponent. Take the Lobos for 5 Units as our first stone-cold, lead-piper, Jimmer-third-game-bowling-under lock and thank me later.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Back from Hiatus
We’re back from the Thanksgiving break with three plays. We’re feeling a little "under" the weather.
Northwestern at NC State Under 123
This game will be played close to the vest, especially by Northwestern on the road.
NC State does not see the Wildcats’ 1-3-1 zone very often, and it’s difficult to prepare for.
On top of that, the Wolfpack has not scored 70 points in a game this season, and the only times NU has scored over 70 was on a hot-shooting night against UND and in a blowout home win over Northern Illinois.
Expect this one to be a slow-paced game. Take the under for 3 Units.
Michigan St. at N. Carolina Under 155
The marquee matchup of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge pits North Carolina against Michigan St.
Both teams enter the game with one loss, each of those resulting from a plague of turnovers. UNC is still searching for a consistent backcourt and Sparty has had trouble finding consistent scoring so far this season.
The Tar Heels do not have nearly the weapons that they had last season, and the only chance for MSU to compete in the Dean Dome tonight is to slow the game down and play the tough, physical defense it is known for.
Both teams value rebounding, which will limit the second-chance points. On top of that, both teams have had trouble with turnovers, which will result in a number of empty possessions for both teams.
In the night of lines that all look about right, let's take the under for 4 Units. Get it as soon as you can, as the number has already dropped to 153 in some books.
Virginia Tech at Iowa Under 117.5
These teams both rank in the 300s in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted pace category. Translation: Neither team will be scorching the nets in this one. Or if they do, it will be well into the shot clock.
Both teams have struggled from the floor this season, as neither squad has made more than 28 field goals in a single game.
Iowa’s strength is its outside shooting, but Tech’s length and quickness should limit the Hawkeyes' looks.
Take the under for 2 Units.
Northwestern at NC State Under 123
This game will be played close to the vest, especially by Northwestern on the road.
NC State does not see the Wildcats’ 1-3-1 zone very often, and it’s difficult to prepare for.
On top of that, the Wolfpack has not scored 70 points in a game this season, and the only times NU has scored over 70 was on a hot-shooting night against UND and in a blowout home win over Northern Illinois.
Expect this one to be a slow-paced game. Take the under for 3 Units.
Michigan St. at N. Carolina Under 155
The marquee matchup of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge pits North Carolina against Michigan St.
Both teams enter the game with one loss, each of those resulting from a plague of turnovers. UNC is still searching for a consistent backcourt and Sparty has had trouble finding consistent scoring so far this season.
The Tar Heels do not have nearly the weapons that they had last season, and the only chance for MSU to compete in the Dean Dome tonight is to slow the game down and play the tough, physical defense it is known for.
Both teams value rebounding, which will limit the second-chance points. On top of that, both teams have had trouble with turnovers, which will result in a number of empty possessions for both teams.
In the night of lines that all look about right, let's take the under for 4 Units. Get it as soon as you can, as the number has already dropped to 153 in some books.
Virginia Tech at Iowa Under 117.5
These teams both rank in the 300s in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted pace category. Translation: Neither team will be scorching the nets in this one. Or if they do, it will be well into the shot clock.
Both teams have struggled from the floor this season, as neither squad has made more than 28 field goals in a single game.
Iowa’s strength is its outside shooting, but Tech’s length and quickness should limit the Hawkeyes' looks.
Take the under for 2 Units.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday Play
The final play before I head down to Orlando for Thanksgiving is a nonconference rivalry in the Sunshine State.
Florida State (+4) over Florida 3 Units
The Seminoles have some serious size in the frontcourt and will always get after you on the defensive end. The Gators are still aiming to rebuild after back-to-back national championships, and Billy Donovan hauled in his best recruiting class since that group.
Florida is young in the backcourt, which could be detrimental against a physical Seminoles defense. The Noles should be able to turn the Gators over and get some easy points in transition, and if the Florida guards decide to drive, Solomon Alibi, one of the best shot blockers in the country, will be waiting for them.
Take FSU for 3 Units.
Florida State (+4) over Florida 3 Units
The Seminoles have some serious size in the frontcourt and will always get after you on the defensive end. The Gators are still aiming to rebuild after back-to-back national championships, and Billy Donovan hauled in his best recruiting class since that group.
Florida is young in the backcourt, which could be detrimental against a physical Seminoles defense. The Noles should be able to turn the Gators over and get some easy points in transition, and if the Florida guards decide to drive, Solomon Alibi, one of the best shot blockers in the country, will be waiting for them.
Take FSU for 3 Units.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Monday Plays
Sunday was a little disappointing with some poor first-half shooting taking the Villanova/Ole Miss over out of play, but we should rebound with these three plays Monday.
Please note that there may not be many picks this week as I will be out of town.
Cincinnati (+4) over Vanderbilt 4 Units
The Bearcats are hoping this is their breakout season in the Big East, and take on the Commodores in the Maui Invitational. This is by far the most talented Cincinnati team Mick Cronin has had in his tenure in the Queen City.
Vanderbilt is always a solid team, especially defensively, under longtime head coach Kevin Stallings, but the matchups here favor Cincy. The Dores best player, A.J. Ogilvy, will have his hands full against Yancy Gates, who was Newcomer of the Year in the Big East last season.
Look for Lance Stephenson to start to make a name for himself on the national stage, and get his Bearcats a big win.
Take Cincy for 4 Units.
Wichita State (+6) over Pittsburgh 3 Units
In the first game of the CBE Classic, the Shockers take on a young Panthers team looking to make a splash against a Big East team.
Pitt is still searching for its identity in this early season, and WSU matches up well physically with the Panthers. Both teams are without their top scorers, but this one seems to favor the Shockers. Pitt has not impressed in the early going. Take the Shockers and the points for 3 Units.
Arizona vs. Wisconsin (-3)
This is a clash of the disciplined versus the athletic in the Maui Invitational. This line may seem a little curious with Bucky giving points to a more talented Arizona team, but Wisconsin will always play its own game and should have the advantage against a primarily inexperienced Wildcats team.
If U of A can get out and run, it might have a chance to get the win, but expect Wisconsin to slow the game down, get to the free throw line and grind out a victory.
Take Wisconsin for 2 Units.
Please note that there may not be many picks this week as I will be out of town.
Cincinnati (+4) over Vanderbilt 4 Units
The Bearcats are hoping this is their breakout season in the Big East, and take on the Commodores in the Maui Invitational. This is by far the most talented Cincinnati team Mick Cronin has had in his tenure in the Queen City.
Vanderbilt is always a solid team, especially defensively, under longtime head coach Kevin Stallings, but the matchups here favor Cincy. The Dores best player, A.J. Ogilvy, will have his hands full against Yancy Gates, who was Newcomer of the Year in the Big East last season.
Look for Lance Stephenson to start to make a name for himself on the national stage, and get his Bearcats a big win.
Take Cincy for 4 Units.
Wichita State (+6) over Pittsburgh 3 Units
In the first game of the CBE Classic, the Shockers take on a young Panthers team looking to make a splash against a Big East team.
Pitt is still searching for its identity in this early season, and WSU matches up well physically with the Panthers. Both teams are without their top scorers, but this one seems to favor the Shockers. Pitt has not impressed in the early going. Take the Shockers and the points for 3 Units.
Arizona vs. Wisconsin (-3)
This is a clash of the disciplined versus the athletic in the Maui Invitational. This line may seem a little curious with Bucky giving points to a more talented Arizona team, but Wisconsin will always play its own game and should have the advantage against a primarily inexperienced Wildcats team.
If U of A can get out and run, it might have a chance to get the win, but expect Wisconsin to slow the game down, get to the free throw line and grind out a victory.
Take Wisconsin for 2 Units.
Sunday Plays
After a fairly even Saturday, we have 7 units in play Sunday.
Villanova (-3.5) over Ole Miss 3 Units
Over 154.5 4 Units
These two teams meet in the championship of the Puerto Rico Shootout at 7 p.m. CDT on Sunday, and have taken very different roads to get there.
The Wildcats have squeaked past George Mason and Dayton, while the Rebels have easily handled Indiana and Kansas State.
Both teams have solid backcourts and a bevy of shooters, but Villanova has a little too much talent for Ole Miss here. The Rebels have been shooting well, but Villanova is known for its ball pressure and should be able to at least make it difficult for the Rebels to shoot from the outside.
Nonetheless, both teams won’t take a lot of time to get into their offenses here, so take the over for 4 Units and Villanova for 3 Units.
Villanova (-3.5) over Ole Miss 3 Units
Over 154.5 4 Units
These two teams meet in the championship of the Puerto Rico Shootout at 7 p.m. CDT on Sunday, and have taken very different roads to get there.
The Wildcats have squeaked past George Mason and Dayton, while the Rebels have easily handled Indiana and Kansas State.
Both teams have solid backcourts and a bevy of shooters, but Villanova has a little too much talent for Ole Miss here. The Rebels have been shooting well, but Villanova is known for its ball pressure and should be able to at least make it difficult for the Rebels to shoot from the outside.
Nonetheless, both teams won’t take a lot of time to get into their offenses here, so take the over for 4 Units and Villanova for 3 Units.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Nov. 22 Plays
We were one garbage bucket by South Florida away from a perfect Friday. Nonetheless, we were up 8 Units thanks to Ohio State's holding down a late Cal charge, Vanderbilt grabbing a road win at St. Mary's and Iowa finally breaking its shooting slump at home over Bowling Green.
Here are Saturday's plays. Enjoy.
Kentucky (-18) over Rider 2 Units
Kentucky has looked like anything but a top 10 team in the nation thus far, squeaking out a couple of home wins. The problem for UK has been turnovers (20 pg) and defense, allowing 73.7 ppg.
The Wildcats have a huge talent edge here, and this line may be skewed since Rider upset a ranked Mississippi State team earlier this month.
The Broncos are no walkover as they have four players averaging in double figures. But the recipe for an easy win against Rider is to play defense, which Virginia did and won 79-46 on Thursday.
This will be the game UK shows its true worth, but it’s only worth 2 units. We need to see consistent defense for Kentucky before we invest a lot in them.
Long Beach St. (+5) over Wisconsin-Green Bay 3 Units
The Phoenix returns from a tournament in Kent, Ohio to face the favorite of the Big West Conference. Long Beach is a long, athletic team that might give Green Bay problems.
Jet lag won’t be a problem for the 49ers as they played at Notre Dame on Thursday and stayed in the Midwest for this one.
Green Bay has gotten a couple of wins it shouldn’t have so far this season, and this line respects the team’s record more than its actual talent. Take LBSU for 3 Units.
Siena (+4) over Temple 3 Units
This is a matchup of two very different philosophies. Temple likes to get into your face defensively, while Siena can score with anybody. The difference is Siena can play defense too, when it needs to, especially on the perimeter.
The Owls had trouble scoring against Georgetown earlier in the week, and it’ll be tough for them to pull away from a talented and experienced Siena squad.
Take the Saints for 3 Units.
Oklahoma (-3.5) over VCU 4 Units
Both of these teams are trying to figure out how to play without their best player from last season. Oklahoma loses Blake Griffin and VCU loses Eric Maynor.
It seems at least so far that the Sooners are doing a better job of filling the void. The Rams lost badly to Western Michigan this season, and now host their former coach, Jeff Capel.
Oklahoma is now Willie Warren’s team, and he is an NBA talent who enjoys playing on the road. The Sooner should take care of business with this one, and be able to neutralize VCU’s best player, Larry Sanders, with their own big man, Tiny Gallon.
Take OU for 4 Units.
Here are Saturday's plays. Enjoy.
Kentucky (-18) over Rider 2 Units
Kentucky has looked like anything but a top 10 team in the nation thus far, squeaking out a couple of home wins. The problem for UK has been turnovers (20 pg) and defense, allowing 73.7 ppg.
The Wildcats have a huge talent edge here, and this line may be skewed since Rider upset a ranked Mississippi State team earlier this month.
The Broncos are no walkover as they have four players averaging in double figures. But the recipe for an easy win against Rider is to play defense, which Virginia did and won 79-46 on Thursday.
This will be the game UK shows its true worth, but it’s only worth 2 units. We need to see consistent defense for Kentucky before we invest a lot in them.
Long Beach St. (+5) over Wisconsin-Green Bay 3 Units
The Phoenix returns from a tournament in Kent, Ohio to face the favorite of the Big West Conference. Long Beach is a long, athletic team that might give Green Bay problems.
Jet lag won’t be a problem for the 49ers as they played at Notre Dame on Thursday and stayed in the Midwest for this one.
Green Bay has gotten a couple of wins it shouldn’t have so far this season, and this line respects the team’s record more than its actual talent. Take LBSU for 3 Units.
Siena (+4) over Temple 3 Units
This is a matchup of two very different philosophies. Temple likes to get into your face defensively, while Siena can score with anybody. The difference is Siena can play defense too, when it needs to, especially on the perimeter.
The Owls had trouble scoring against Georgetown earlier in the week, and it’ll be tough for them to pull away from a talented and experienced Siena squad.
Take the Saints for 3 Units.
Oklahoma (-3.5) over VCU 4 Units
Both of these teams are trying to figure out how to play without their best player from last season. Oklahoma loses Blake Griffin and VCU loses Eric Maynor.
It seems at least so far that the Sooners are doing a better job of filling the void. The Rams lost badly to Western Michigan this season, and now host their former coach, Jeff Capel.
Oklahoma is now Willie Warren’s team, and he is an NBA talent who enjoys playing on the road. The Sooner should take care of business with this one, and be able to neutralize VCU’s best player, Larry Sanders, with their own big man, Tiny Gallon.
Take OU for 4 Units.
Friday, November 20, 2009
More Friday Action
The Ohio State-Cal game is looking good on both fronts, so let's keep it going with three more plays tonight.
Vanderbilt (+5) over St. Mary’s 2 Units
Much was made of SMC’s destruction of San Diego St. earlier this week, and the Gaels are always tough at home. But Vandy matches up well against SMC’s big man, Omar Samhan, with their own anchor in the middle, A.J. Ogilvy.
The Commodores always play tough perimeter defense, which should limit the Gaels’ outside shooters. Vandy will keep this one close and potentially grab an important road win.
Take Vandy for 2 Units.
Iowa (-10.5) over Bowling Green 3 Units
The Hawkeyes have gotten off to a herendous start with two home losses to mid-major opponents. Their losses have been marked by poor shooting, thought to be a strength of this team, and turnovers. Iowa has shot under 30 percent from three-point range and had at least 15 turnovers in its two losses.
Bowling Green is an extremely young team and and only has two players scoring in double figures through two games. The Falcons were crushed by Xavier in their last game, and the Mustekeers play a similar type of defense to the Hawkeyes.
Take the Hawkeyes for 3 Units.
South Carolina (-5) over South Florida 4 Units
The Gamecocks are one of the SEC’s sleeper teams and have the homecourt advantage against a South Florida teams going through a possible NCAA scandal. USC has four players currently averaging in double figures, meaning the Gamecocks can really score the ball.
The Bulls have always had trouble putting points on the board consistently, and this season is no different. USF struggles to complement Gus Gilchrist, and the Bulls won’t be able to keep up with the Gamecocks in this one.
Take USC for 4 Units.
Vanderbilt (+5) over St. Mary’s 2 Units
Much was made of SMC’s destruction of San Diego St. earlier this week, and the Gaels are always tough at home. But Vandy matches up well against SMC’s big man, Omar Samhan, with their own anchor in the middle, A.J. Ogilvy.
The Commodores always play tough perimeter defense, which should limit the Gaels’ outside shooters. Vandy will keep this one close and potentially grab an important road win.
Take Vandy for 2 Units.
Iowa (-10.5) over Bowling Green 3 Units
The Hawkeyes have gotten off to a herendous start with two home losses to mid-major opponents. Their losses have been marked by poor shooting, thought to be a strength of this team, and turnovers. Iowa has shot under 30 percent from three-point range and had at least 15 turnovers in its two losses.
Bowling Green is an extremely young team and and only has two players scoring in double figures through two games. The Falcons were crushed by Xavier in their last game, and the Mustekeers play a similar type of defense to the Hawkeyes.
Take the Hawkeyes for 3 Units.
South Carolina (-5) over South Florida 4 Units
The Gamecocks are one of the SEC’s sleeper teams and have the homecourt advantage against a South Florida teams going through a possible NCAA scandal. USC has four players currently averaging in double figures, meaning the Gamecocks can really score the ball.
The Bulls have always had trouble putting points on the board consistently, and this season is no different. USF struggles to complement Gus Gilchrist, and the Bulls won’t be able to keep up with the Gamecocks in this one.
Take USC for 4 Units.
Early Friday Play
We have two plays so far this Friday, but you'll need to act quickly.
Cal faces Ohio State in the MSG at 4 p.m. in the consolation championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
The Golden Bears looked overmatched against Syracuse last night, and it shouldn't get any easier against a talented Ohio State team. Cal's strength is in the backcourt, but the Buckeyes will match up well there also. Speaking of matchups, OSU's matchup zone will likely give Cal fits and the Buckeyes will grind out a victory with their defense here. Take Ohio State (-3.5) for 4 Units and under 152.5 points for 3 Units.
Stay tuned for more picks before 5 p.m.
Cal faces Ohio State in the MSG at 4 p.m. in the consolation championship of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
The Golden Bears looked overmatched against Syracuse last night, and it shouldn't get any easier against a talented Ohio State team. Cal's strength is in the backcourt, but the Buckeyes will match up well there also. Speaking of matchups, OSU's matchup zone will likely give Cal fits and the Buckeyes will grind out a victory with their defense here. Take Ohio State (-3.5) for 4 Units and under 152.5 points for 3 Units.
Stay tuned for more picks before 5 p.m.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
More Tuesday Plays
After Clemson earned us some easy units this morning, here's some more picks to build on that.
Michigan St. (-10.5) over Gonzaga 2 Units
After both programs played a cupcake in their season openers, these powerhouses meet each other in the Breslin Center on Tuesday night.
These teams are at different stages with the Zags rebuilding after losing four starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team, and the Spartans geared up to make a repeat Final Four run.
No doubt Mark Few will have the Bulldogs competitive come March, but it’s too much to ask for them to keep it close in a hostile environment against a loaded Spartans team.
MSU’s senior forward Raymar Morgan might be limited due to a sprained ankle, but they played without him for long stretches last season also. If Sparty can crack the Zags’ zone, they’ll be able to cover the points.
Western Kentucky (+5.5) over LSU 3 Units
This is an interesting matchup between a team clearly favored to win its league against a team that won its league last year, but will struggle to be competitive this year.
Western Kentucky lost its best player, the Sun Belt player of the year, but returns the preseason player of the year in A.J. Slaughter, who dropped 30 points against UWM on Monday.
Trent Johnson has to find a way to replace nearly 40 minutes a game after losing SEC player of the year Marcus Thornton, Garrett Temple and Chris Johnson. The Tigers have struggled to find their shot in the early season, and WKU will give them all they can handle in this one.
This win would be a solid resume builder for the Hilltoppers come March.
Kansas (-12) over Memphis 4 Units
The Jayhawks take on the Tigers in St. Louis in what may be an intriguing matchup next season, but for now KU has the distinct talent advantage.
The Hawks will be playing in front of a largely-partizen KU crowd, and have a ton of weapons offensively to outpace Memphis.
This one won’t be close.
Michigan St. (-10.5) over Gonzaga 2 Units
After both programs played a cupcake in their season openers, these powerhouses meet each other in the Breslin Center on Tuesday night.
These teams are at different stages with the Zags rebuilding after losing four starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team, and the Spartans geared up to make a repeat Final Four run.
No doubt Mark Few will have the Bulldogs competitive come March, but it’s too much to ask for them to keep it close in a hostile environment against a loaded Spartans team.
MSU’s senior forward Raymar Morgan might be limited due to a sprained ankle, but they played without him for long stretches last season also. If Sparty can crack the Zags’ zone, they’ll be able to cover the points.
Western Kentucky (+5.5) over LSU 3 Units
This is an interesting matchup between a team clearly favored to win its league against a team that won its league last year, but will struggle to be competitive this year.
Western Kentucky lost its best player, the Sun Belt player of the year, but returns the preseason player of the year in A.J. Slaughter, who dropped 30 points against UWM on Monday.
Trent Johnson has to find a way to replace nearly 40 minutes a game after losing SEC player of the year Marcus Thornton, Garrett Temple and Chris Johnson. The Tigers have struggled to find their shot in the early season, and WKU will give them all they can handle in this one.
This win would be a solid resume builder for the Hilltoppers come March.
Kansas (-12) over Memphis 4 Units
The Jayhawks take on the Tigers in St. Louis in what may be an intriguing matchup next season, but for now KU has the distinct talent advantage.
The Hawks will be playing in front of a largely-partizen KU crowd, and have a ton of weapons offensively to outpace Memphis.
This one won’t be close.
Early Tuesday Selection
After an up-and-down Sunday, here is Tuesday's first pick. Check back later for more Tuesday picks.
Clemson (-10.5) over Liberty 3 Units
There’s nothing like some action at 9 a.m., and we have an early-morning selection.
The Clemson Tigers lost a pair of backcourt studs in K.C. Rivers and Terence Oglesby, but they have reloaded with a bunch of shooters and still have an anchor in the middle in Trevor Booker.
Clemson is notorious for getting out to quick starts in the nonconference, and this year should be no different. They face Liberty which lost its top two scorers from last season’s 23-win team, including guard Seth Curry who bolted to Duke. The Flames also have a first year head coach in Dale Layer, who interestlingly enough was an assistant under Buzz Williams.
The Tigers are on the road, but the Liberty fans are not going to be too rabid while drinking their mocha lattes.
Take Clemson for 3 Units.
Clemson (-10.5) over Liberty 3 Units
There’s nothing like some action at 9 a.m., and we have an early-morning selection.
The Clemson Tigers lost a pair of backcourt studs in K.C. Rivers and Terence Oglesby, but they have reloaded with a bunch of shooters and still have an anchor in the middle in Trevor Booker.
Clemson is notorious for getting out to quick starts in the nonconference, and this year should be no different. They face Liberty which lost its top two scorers from last season’s 23-win team, including guard Seth Curry who bolted to Duke. The Flames also have a first year head coach in Dale Layer, who interestlingly enough was an assistant under Buzz Williams.
The Tigers are on the road, but the Liberty fans are not going to be too rabid while drinking their mocha lattes.
Take Clemson for 3 Units.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Two Sunday Plays
We were one basket in the Kentucky-Morehead St. game away from a perfect Friday. Still, we ended up positive for the day and look to build on that with a pair of favorites who aren’t favored nearly as much as they need to be Sunday.
Arizona (-16.5) over Northern Arizona
The Wildcats have a new head coach in Sean Miller, but luckily have the same, old point guard in Nic Wise, who smartly decided to return for his senior season.
Arizona has a drastically different roster this season with only three players returning who made any significant impact on the team. But they return talent at a key spot to help keep the team competitive – in the backcourt.
Miller has shown a tendency to use his bench in the exhibition games, and if he does so against the Lumberjacks, the athleticism of UA will wear down the visitors.
Northern is picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference and returns just four lettermen, while losing four-year point guard Josh Wilson.
If the Wildcats are able to play pressure defense, which was a signature of Miller’s teams at Xavier, then UA should be able to cover this line. Still, it’s hard to guess how such a green team will respond in its season opener.
Take the Wildcats for 2 Units.
North Carolina (-21) over Valparaiso
It has been well publicized the talent that Roy Williams lost from last year’s national championship team. But that doesn’t mean his team still can’t get up and down the court, run Williams’ trademark secondary break, and apply intense ball pressure while denying passing lanes to create that offense.
The Tar Heels still have a premier frontline, even with Tyler Hansbrough gone, and the guards are more than serviceable.
Valpo won just nine games last season, and the only positive for them this season is the return of guard Brandon McPherson, who missed last season with an injury.
This will be a tough game for the Crusaders to keep within 21, so take the Tar Heels for 3 Units.
Arizona (-16.5) over Northern Arizona
The Wildcats have a new head coach in Sean Miller, but luckily have the same, old point guard in Nic Wise, who smartly decided to return for his senior season.
Arizona has a drastically different roster this season with only three players returning who made any significant impact on the team. But they return talent at a key spot to help keep the team competitive – in the backcourt.
Miller has shown a tendency to use his bench in the exhibition games, and if he does so against the Lumberjacks, the athleticism of UA will wear down the visitors.
Northern is picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference and returns just four lettermen, while losing four-year point guard Josh Wilson.
If the Wildcats are able to play pressure defense, which was a signature of Miller’s teams at Xavier, then UA should be able to cover this line. Still, it’s hard to guess how such a green team will respond in its season opener.
Take the Wildcats for 2 Units.
North Carolina (-21) over Valparaiso
It has been well publicized the talent that Roy Williams lost from last year’s national championship team. But that doesn’t mean his team still can’t get up and down the court, run Williams’ trademark secondary break, and apply intense ball pressure while denying passing lanes to create that offense.
The Tar Heels still have a premier frontline, even with Tyler Hansbrough gone, and the guards are more than serviceable.
Valpo won just nine games last season, and the only positive for them this season is the return of guard Brandon McPherson, who missed last season with an injury.
This will be a tough game for the Crusaders to keep within 21, so take the Tar Heels for 3 Units.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday Plays, including Kentucky
After a solid start with Murray State on Monday, we're back with three picks in tonight's game.
Morehead State (+20.5) over Kentucky
It's usually dangerous playing lines this high, but the Eagles aren't getting enough respect here. MSU returns four of five starters off of last year's NCAA Tournament team, including Kenneth Faried who averaged a double-double last season.
Kentucky is without its stud freshman PG John Wall, who was suspended for this game for accepting money on a non-official visit. The Wildcats will undoubtedly be good, but MSU has the experience factor on them here and the Eagles should be able to keep it close. Take Morehead for 3 Units.
Morehead State/Kentucky over 135
It might be tough to find this line, but if you can this is an early season steal. Kentucky has a ton of firepower even without Wall, and MSU will be able to score too with solid outside shooting. The Eagles averaged 70 ppg last year and if they can get close to that number, this one might be covered with 10 minutes left in the game.
Take the over for 4 Units.
Georgetown (-10.5) over Tulane
The Green Wave does have all of its starters back, but that's not necessarily a good thing when your team finished with 14 wins last season. Georgetown struggled too last year, but that experience should help them this year and the Hoyas will get off to a strong start tonight. Take G'Town for 2 Units.
Morehead State (+20.5) over Kentucky
It's usually dangerous playing lines this high, but the Eagles aren't getting enough respect here. MSU returns four of five starters off of last year's NCAA Tournament team, including Kenneth Faried who averaged a double-double last season.
Kentucky is without its stud freshman PG John Wall, who was suspended for this game for accepting money on a non-official visit. The Wildcats will undoubtedly be good, but MSU has the experience factor on them here and the Eagles should be able to keep it close. Take Morehead for 3 Units.
Morehead State/Kentucky over 135
It might be tough to find this line, but if you can this is an early season steal. Kentucky has a ton of firepower even without Wall, and MSU will be able to score too with solid outside shooting. The Eagles averaged 70 ppg last year and if they can get close to that number, this one might be covered with 10 minutes left in the game.
Take the over for 4 Units.
Georgetown (-10.5) over Tulane
The Green Wave does have all of its starters back, but that's not necessarily a good thing when your team finished with 14 wins last season. Georgetown struggled too last year, but that experience should help them this year and the Hoyas will get off to a strong start tonight. Take G'Town for 2 Units.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Murray St. at Cal (-13.5)
Murray St. (+13.5) over Cal 2 Units
The college basketball season officially tips off tonight with the 2K Sports Classic, which feature three lopsided matchups and one intriguing game between the Cal Golden Bears and the Murray State Racers.
The Bears open the season ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll with four starters returning and are one of the favorites to win the Pac 10. They are led by guards Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle, who helped lead Cal to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Racers are co-favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference and also have four starters returning led by senior guard Danero Thomas. The Racers are driven to return to the NCAA Tournament after an uncharacteristic three-year hiatus and a road win over a ranked team would be a big resume builder.
The key to this game will be the guard play as both teams have experience and their leading scorers in the backcourt. Cal has a propensity to live by the outside shot, which can prove detrimental, especially against a Murray State team that gave up the fewest points in the OVC last season (63.2), were third in field-goal percentage allowed (.432) and were second in rebounding margin (+ 3.1).
If Murray State can limit Cal's outside shooting, it should be able to keep it within the 13.5-point line. Take the Racers for 2 Units to open the season.
The college basketball season officially tips off tonight with the 2K Sports Classic, which feature three lopsided matchups and one intriguing game between the Cal Golden Bears and the Murray State Racers.
The Bears open the season ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll with four starters returning and are one of the favorites to win the Pac 10. They are led by guards Patrick Christopher and Jerome Randle, who helped lead Cal to the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Racers are co-favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference and also have four starters returning led by senior guard Danero Thomas. The Racers are driven to return to the NCAA Tournament after an uncharacteristic three-year hiatus and a road win over a ranked team would be a big resume builder.
The key to this game will be the guard play as both teams have experience and their leading scorers in the backcourt. Cal has a propensity to live by the outside shot, which can prove detrimental, especially against a Murray State team that gave up the fewest points in the OVC last season (63.2), were third in field-goal percentage allowed (.432) and were second in rebounding margin (+ 3.1).
If Murray State can limit Cal's outside shooting, it should be able to keep it within the 13.5-point line. Take the Racers for 2 Units to open the season.
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