Tom Stryker
6* Stanford
Sports Bank
500 Florida Atlantic
ASA
6* Arizona -2.5
Michigan State -3
David Malinsky
4* INDIANA over NORTHWESTERN
Tactics are always a major issue in a Northwestern game. The Wildcats are a difficult team to prepare for, while Bill Carmody has to do a lot of tweaking of those complex schemes based on the current opponent, because his team lacks the physical tools to win otherwise. And today Tom Crean holds all of the cards in this one.
It has been a full week since Indiana last played, and a significant one – not only is it a rare luxury to get that kind of break in the middle of conference play, but with both Christian Watford and Verdel Jones healthy again, Crean has a full roster to work with, and a chance to put extra focus into those Northwestern X’s and O’s. It will not be difficult for him to get the attention of his Hoosiers, who looked lost on defense in that earlier 93-81 loss at Evanston, and this prep time is a major plus for a young team.
It is a much different setting for the Wildcats, who have played twice while Indiana has been getting that break, including a late-night win over Iowa on Thursday in which the starting five had to log 169 of the 200 floor minutes. It will be the first time all season the Wildcats have had to play two conference games in a span of three days, and that taxes a team with extreme physical limitations – they are allowing an unsightly 50.1 percent shooting through 14 Big 10 games, and losing the battle of the boards by -6.9 per outing, with the defense allowing an ugly ratio of 224 assists vs. only 165 TO’s. All of those weaknesses become magnified in this setting, and as such the short price being laid by the home team is a bargain.
Joseph D'Amico
San Francisco vs. Gonzaga
Play: San Francisco +14½
San Fransisco beat Gonzaga 96-91 back in January. The Dons are a solid squad. They have covered 9 of their L11. The tandem of Guards Michael Williams and Rashad Green are combining for 26.8 PPG and 9.8 RPG. Forwards Perris Blaxkwell and Angelo Coloiaro are pulling down 13.8 RPG. San Fran seems to have Gonzagas number, covering the L4 contests. Gonzaga has had trouble ATS lately, covering 3 of their L9, including only 1 of 4 home games. Steven Gray is the ‘Dogs top scorer at 14.5 PPG. However, the Guard is playing over 31:00 MPG and looks tired. The Dons are 6-1 ATS their L7 games played on the road, 7-1 ATS their L8 vs. teams with a winning record, and 23-8-1 ATS their L32 overall. The Bulldogs are 0-5 ATS their L5 vs. teams with a winning record. Take San Fransisco.
Chip Chirimbes
Boston College vs. North Carolina
Play: Boston College +11½
No. 19 North Carolina (19-6, 9-2 ACC) embarrassed Boston College (16-9, 6-5) three weeks ago in Boston 106-74 and the Eagles were able to bounce back and win two of their next three 'covering' the number in all three games. With a week to prepare for this battle Boston College will grind this one out and make the Tar Heels work for every basket. In the last meeting Carolina hit 57% from the floor while the Eagles sharp shooting guards went 3 for 16. Eagles soar get get the cash...take BOSTON COLLEGE!
Evan Altemus
1* Colorado St. Pk
Colorado State is still not getting the respect of oddsmakers or the betting public. The Rams have been a great point spread team this season and great at home. The Rams also surprisingly have a better conference record than UNLV. They are playing very well right now, winning seven of their last nine games, including a very impressive close two point loss at home to San Diego State. This point spread is just based off of previous seasons of these two teams and not this season. Look for Colorado State to get the win.
Lenny Del Genio
Kentucky -17
This one should be a walk in the park for HC John Calipari and crew as they beat the Gamecocks by 21 here last season and already beat them by 11 in Columbia just a couple of weeks ago. USC comes into this game having lost four straight, losing two of those games by double digit margins and last Saturday had to be the low point as they scored just nine points in the 1st half of a 6-56 loss to Georgia. You can bet that if they only score nine points before halftime here, they will not lose by just a four-point margin. And while UK has lost three straight on the road, they are a perfect 12-0 in Lexingtonand are 17-8 ATS when coming off an ATS loss. They are also 50-26 ATS coming off a win by 6 pts or less & 36-18 ATS coming off a SU win at home where they did not cover the spread. Take Kentucky.
Lance Blankenship
Utah at New Mexico
Pick: Utah +15.5
Utah will cover this spread with ease. The Utes may even win outright. New Mexico is very overrated. The Lobos rely on Gary to much and he isn't a top-notch college player to start with. Utah has speed at guard in Watkins and a deadly score at wing in Clyburn. Throw in 7'3" Foster and Utah looks solid. Take Utah +15- and take the cash
Sean Michaels
50 Dime North Carolina
Sammy P
20* LA Kings
RAS
Maine/Siena Over 139.5
RAS
Marymount/Portland State Over 145
Dr Bob
Alabama
Stanford
Creighton
Ball State
Night College Opinions/Possible Best Bet
George Washington (+3) over LA SALLE
La Salle is just 22-47-2 ATS at home under coach John Giannini and that record is even worse against mediocre and good teams when not a big underdog. The Exploers are a horrendous 6-33-1 ATS at home when not an underdog of 5 points or more against a team with a win percentage of .400 or better. George Washington is 14-7-1 ATS at on the road the last two years, so this is certainly a good technical spot for the Colonials. However, my ratings would favor La Salle by 5 points using a standard home court advantage. La Salle has been 3 points worse at home than their overall rating under Giannini and George Washington is a bit better at home – so I make a fair line of 1 ½ points. There is still some value in going against La Salle at home, so I’ll lean with the Colonials at +3 or more and I’d take George Washington in a 2-Star Best Bet at +4 points or more.
PROVIDENCE (+1½) over Cincinnati
Providence is coming off an embarrassing home loss as an 11 ½ point favorite against a DePaul team that was previously winless in Big East play. That was the Friars’ 3rd consecutive loss, but Providence does apply to a 16-2 ATS subset of a 45-20-1 ATS situation that plays on home teams with a winning record that lost straight up as a double-digit favorite in their last game. Providence has been pretty good at home aside from that loss to DePaul, as the Friars are 13-3 straight up at home with wins over good teams Villanova and Louisville. Cincinnati is only 4-9 ATS in Big East play, which is a usual pattern for the Bearcats under coach Mark Cronin, whose team always starts fast and starts to slide when Big East season starts. The Bearcats are just 31-51-2 ATS in regular season Big East games under Cronin, including 9-20-1 ATS as a favorite. I’ll lean with Providence as an underdog in this game.