The Duke's Sports
Southern Mississippi (-11) for 3 Units
We like the Eagles in this spot - coming off two straight losses on the road to upper tier CUSA teams - UTEP and UAB - where SM miss easily covered both.In this series, the home team and the favorite are 6-2 ATS and 7-1 ATS , respectively. And the Golden Eagles are catching EC off four straight losses and missing a few key players including Darius Morrow (suspension) who averaged 13 ppg and 6.4 rpg for them this season. EC has struggled as a road dog in this price range at 7 -18 ATS and we're jumping on SM here.
Teddy June
20* San Diego St
Drake
Maryland
Karl Garrett
40 DIMER - PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Yes, Michigan did drill Indiana, and they also upset Connecticut, and did cover their last time out at Wisconsin, BUT I don't like their chances to stay competitive with the Boilermakers who are overdue for a blowout win.
Purdue just endured a 3 game losing streak, but were able to stop the bleeding with the win and cover in a tight one at Illinois.
I expect the Boilers to roll strong at home today, as they have ceratinly matched up well against Michigan in recent meetings, taking 6 of the last 9 straight up, while covering in 8 of the last 11 meetings.
This is a revenge spot for Purdue, as Michigan was an 87-78 winner at home last February against their conference rival as the 2 point dog.
Michigan's problem has been staying close on the road, and with Purdue itching for not only payback, but a "get a roll going blowout", the Wolverines are in the wrong place at the wrong time today,
Lay it!
10 DIMER - NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Not hardly going to buy into the fact that DePaul has "turned it around" with their upset win over Marquette as the double-digit underdog.
Fact is, the Blue Demons are still a weak 1-6 straight up their last 7 games, and they have also been a pointspread loser in 4 of their last 5 in the dog role.
Notre Dame has lost their last pair, as they have lost at Cincinnati in a game they did cover as the road dog, and then they just weren't good enough in their home loss to Syracuse. That won't be the case today, as I expect the Irish to come out all fired up for the rout in this one.
The South Benders have covered 5 of their 8 lined home games, and they have won the last 4 series meetings, covering in 3 of those 4 games.
Throw in the fact the Irish own a 6-2 spread mark their last 8 Saturday games, and I would say the rout it on!
10 DIMER - VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
Love what Coach Bennett has done with the Wahoos in his 1st season, as Virginia has now won a whopping 8 straight coming into this conference showdown.
True, the Cavs barely beat UNC Wilmington their last time out, but I have a feeling they were looking ahead to this one, as Wake has won and covered the last 3 series meetings, so you just know Virginia is wanting to end that streak right here.
Wake Forest could be ripe for the upset, as they just won easily at North Carolina, and could be still in the "celebratory mode".
The Demon Deacons are just 2-4 against the spread at home this season, so my money is on the streaking, live-dog.
Take Virginia plus the points.
Al DeMarco
5 Dime - Notre Dame
At first glance it might seem strange backing a team coming off consecutive losses, one that is laying double digits, versus one that is coming off argueably its biggest win of the season, but as I often say, you sometimes have to look much deeper than just the final score and the boxscore to get a sense of how a team is playing.
Notre Dame last played on Monday when it dropped an 84-71 decision at home to Syracuse. Losing that game was nothing to be embarrassed about since the Orange were clearly the better squad and are not only among the best in the Big East, but a legit Top-5 team in the country. That loss was preceded by a heart-breaking 60-58 loss at Cincinnati four days earlier.
Okay, here's what the final scores don't tell you about those two games: First of all, this is the first time all season Notre Dame has dropped consecutive games. Second, in the game against Syracuse, the Irish were within five points with 3:21 to play before the Orange iced it with a 17-7 run. Against a superior team, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Third, in the Cincinnati loss, Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, the Big East's No. 1 scorer, managed a season-low 14 points after missing 15-of-20 shots. Forward Ty Nash had zero points and fouled out with 13 minutes to play. As a team, the Irish missed 10-of-19 free throw attempts, including five tries in the closing four minutes. Yet, they still only lost 60-58 on the road.
DePaul arrives in South Bend fresh off a 51-50 home upset of Marquette which snapped its 24-game Big East regular-season losing streak and earned interim coach Tracy Webster, who took over for the recently fired Jerry Wainwright, his first victory. Mike Stovall canned a shot with seven-tenths of a second remaining to give DePaul its only lead of the night in a game in which it trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half.
Here's how I look at that game: Marquette, a team that has clearly struggled on the road all season, got caught looking ahead to today's big showdown with Syracuse. How could the Golden Eagles not get caught looking past a woeful DePaul squad, a team that everyone had beaten up, with the Orange on the horizon? And the Blue Demons have shown no indication of being competitive of late. Look at what they had done prior to shocking Marquette: a 20-point loss at St. John's, a 17-point home loss to Providence, a 22-point road loss to Villanova, a 13-point road loss to Pitt, and a three-point road loss to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (I don't even know who they are). Any wonder why Wainwright got fired?
Notre Dame isn't a great defensive team, but the Irish can put points on the board. And they've had a full week to get over their loss to Syracuse.
Here's an added benefit: DePaul is once again without its leading scorer and rebounder, Mac Koshwal (15 points, 11 rebounds), who had 26 points and 11 boards in last year's 10-point home loss to the Irish. That's bad news for a team that has little depth as is and played just seven players in the Marquette upset. And the Blue Demons don't score much anyway; averaging 59.4 points a game.
Notre Dame pulls away in the second half and rolls to an 83-57 win.
RAS
Ball State Ov 119
Marc Lawrence
Conf GOM - Arizona
Dwayne Bryant
Charlotte Bobcats +1
Phoenix Suns -11.5
KELSO
50 units Va Tech -7
15 units San Diego St +3
5 units S Miss -11
4 units E Ky -2.5
3 units Loy Md -7
3 units Thunder +7.5
Tim Trushel
Ball State Over
Detroit
Georgia
TWolves
Clayton Rice
2* Mississippi -5
2* Texas -1
2* Harvard -15
2* Arizona +11
Marc Lawrence
Conf GOM - Arizona
Houston CBB
Lenny Del Genio
Vanderbilt -14
Once again, we turn to the SEC for an **EARLY** Blowout Winner. We fully expect this one to get ugly and quick as Auburn faces a red-hot Vandy team that is unbeaten at home. The Commies have won and covered each of their last six games, including three double-digit spreads larger than this one. In nine home victories, their average margin of victory is approaching 22 points per game. They are shooting lights out since the new year, making better than 61% of their attempts in an 89-79 road win at South Carolina last week and furthermore they haven't played since making them a dangerous and fresh team, particularly considering a 7-1 spread mark when coming off a win by 15 points or more. They have shot 51% or better in six of their previous eight, including 60% or better three times. Auburn is a perfect matchup for Vandy as the Tigers lack size and will be unable to contain the wide array of Commodore shooters. Remember that they lost to Sam Houston State earlier in the year, allowing 107 points, and that in their previous road tilt were blown out 81-55 by Tennessee. Vanderbilt is our 15* CBB **EARLY** Blowout.
Charlie
500* Golden St @ Phoenix Over 234
500* Bradley-12
500* Marquette @ Syracuse Over 147
30* Marshall -5'
20* St Johns +6
20* Drake +5
10* Northwestern -1'
Utah -15 Free Play
Great Lakes
5* Texas
4* Detroit
4* San Diego St
3* Northwestern
3* Kansas St
4* Cleve Cavs
3* Pacers
3* Nuggets
The Boooj
20 units on Michigan State (+1.5) over Minnesota
25 units on Texas A&M (-9) over Colorado