RAS
Nevada 4.5
UL Lafayette -2.5
Power Play Wins
Miami Heat -2.5
Jimmy Boyd
3* Heat -2.5
4* Gonzaga +3.5
3* Georgia +6
Brandon Lang
S.E. Missouri State +8.5
Lance Blankenship
Portland at San Diego
Pick: Portland -7
San Diego has played good basketball lately. The Torreros are an improving team. Portland is undervalued here, though. The Pilots will outclass SD from the tip and should extend to a 15-20 point win. Portland's big men will be the key. Take Portland -7
DAVID MALINSKY
4* OREGON over CALIFORNIA
Both of these teams are finding an excellent offensive identity as young rosters get developed by a pair of savvy coaches. It is a much different story on the defensive end. So after seeing a brisk 162 generated in Cal’s earlier 85-77 win in the first go-round between these two, we may see an even faster pace, and better offensive execution, tonight.
Cal has a nice offensive chemistry, particularly with Jorge Gutierrez becoming much more than a distributor at PG – he is averaging 22.2 ppg through six games in February. And now that Allen Crabbe is healthy again there is tremendous balance, with four different Bears averaging 12.6 ppg or more in Pac 10 play. They are shooting a crisp 46.8 percent from the field, including 38.1 from 3-point range, and have an excellent ratio of 233 assists vs. only 180 TO’s. But they can’t guard. There is neither the size nor depth for Mike Montgomery to build much on that end of the court, and the allowances in conference play are dismal across the board – 78.5 ppg, 46.3 shooting, 39.9 triples, and 215 A’s vs. 181 TO’s. As a team that lacks depth wears down even more on the defensive end of the court (the starters played 207 of 225 floor minutes in that O.T. win over U.C.L.A. on Sunday), those numbers will not get better.
Meanwhile Oregon is adapting well to Dana Altman’s pressing and trapping schemes, with the Ducks relishing the chance to get out and run. In a current 7-3 roll note that they had the lead in the second half in two of the three defeats, and as they continue to grow in confidence it brings more energy into play. In their last two home games they got into the 80’s in beating Oregon State and Washington, and with Jovan Catron back to full health, and Jay Strowbridge becoming an offense force since he began playing without that mask that really limited his game (26 points off the bench vs. Oregon State on Saturday), they can score both inside and out. Their “floor game” has developed to where they lead the conference by a wide margin in assist to TO ratio, and they also lead the conference in FT shooting, an ideal factor to have in our favor for the favorite when playing an Over. In a game that should be close late, we have the potential for scramble points from both sides, although it is likely that we will not even need them.
Sam Paolini
20* Chicago -110
Minnesota +135
Minnesota Under 5 +115
Chris Jordan
300* Celtics
300* Florida
300* San Francisco
Crown City Sports
3* Blues / Canucks Over 5.5
Telly
We hit 2 of 3 last night and just missed TxTech. Here's one of my two free plays today.
Old Dominion -2.5
California Sports
4* NWestern
4* PITT
3* Old Dominion
3* California
Teddy Covers
Georgia +6
Alatex
UL-Lafayette -2.5
Helmut
Youngstown State Over 142
Florida Over 130
Oregon State Under 132
Tennessee State Over 135.5
PPP
5% Kent St
3% Celtics