Larry Ness
8* Colorado St +3
Colorado State and New Mexico both enter the Mountain West Conference tournament with similar agendas; win the tournament or prepare for a date in the NIT (or worse, the CBI or the CIT). These teams split their two games this season with each side winning on their home court. However, while this is the matchup between the four and five seeds of the conference, these two teams enter this tournament moving in opposite directions. New Mexico has won three games in a row (including an 18-point win over BYU) after outlasting the Air Force by a 66-61 score last week. At 8-8 in conference play and 20-11 overall, the Lobos are eyeing the opportunity to face that same Cougars team in the tournament's semifinals that they handled twice in the regular season. Colorado State finished the season 19-11 overall and 9-7 in conference play, after losing four of its last five games. The Rams come off a rough 66-48 loss on the road at the hands of San Diego State. Yet despite these differences in momentum, conference tournaments often 'flip the switch' regarding late season swings. This conference tournament offers Tim Miles' team the opportunity for a clean slate that teams often take advantage of in situations like this. With three seniors in the starting lineup, 6-9 forward Ogide (17.0-7.6), 6-7 forward Franklin (12.3-4.6) and guard Nigon (6.4), the Rams are a veteran bunch which understands what is at stake. Colorado State does a couple things well that should effectively translate into tournament action on a neutral court. First of all, the Rams shoot the ball well with the higher percentage shots that they take. CSU led the Mountain West by converting 52.8% of its two-point shots. Second, this club does a fine job of getting to the free throw line. The Rams' FTA/FGA ratio of 42.7% was also best in the conference. Those are both reliable ways to score baskets. On the other hand, the Lobos have a tendency to not protect the basketball. They were 9th in the Mountain West by turning the ball over in 20.2% of their possessions. That is a worrisome trait to have for a team playing in the opening round of a conference tournament where expectations are high. Jitters and sloppiness are not a good combination. New Mexico won 30 games last year (a school record), making the second round of the NCAA tourney. However, the 6-7 Hobson (15.9-9.3) and the 6-6 Martinez (13.9-5.9) were huge losses. The Lobos own a deep backcourt with Gary (14.5-3.2-5.5), McDonald (11.0-4.6) and Williams (11.0-4.2) plus up front, 6-9 UCLA transfer Gordon (12.6-10.5) joins the returning 6-8 Hardeman (7.5-4.0). Two freshman, the 6-11 Kirk (5.1-3.3) and 6-7 Snell (4.8) have also made significant contributions. However, I'm betting that New Mexico may come out of the gate flat in this one. I believe the Lobos are "looking ahead" to a matchup with BYU and I look for Colorado State to take advantage of this "fresh start" and play an excellent game. This 'rubber match' will not be a blowout but I want the points, as I expect a CSU win.
MTi Sports
5* Lakers
4* Knicks Under
3* Kincks
Jim Feist
5* Lakers
4* Knicks
3* Phoenix
Derek Mancini
Georgia Tech
BIG AL
Indiana
Tennessee
Minnesota
Ben Burns
10* Dallas
10* Miami
10* Wash U
JB Sports
3* Lakers
2* Suns
RAS
Sam Houston Under 135.6
Alabama St Over 124
LSU Over 134
Marc Lawrence
Virginia Tech -5
The Hokies take on the Yellow Jackets in a matchup of Techsters in ACC tourney play tonight Virginia Tech will take the court knowing they are 4-0 ATS this season with three or more days of rest versus an opponent off back-to-back wins. More importantly, our database reminds us that conference tourney teams with five returning starters from last season are 12-1 ATS when playing off a SU and ATS loss versus an opponent off a SU and ATS win. With that look for Georgia Tech to slide to 0-5 SU and ATS in this tourney in games off a win versus an opponent off w loss, while the Hokies to improve to 5-1 ATS in their last six game in this event here tonight. We recommend a 3-unit play on Virginia Tech.
Helmut
Texas Under 131
Texas A&M Over 136.5
UTEP Over 138
UCLA Under 132.5
Al DeMarco
10 Dime Tease Kansas State & UTEP
5 Dime LA Lakers
Matt Rivers
200,000* NC State
Dr Bob
3* Tenn
2* Penn ST
2* Air Force
NBA Opinion
MIAMI (+1) over L.A. Lakers
Miami has lost 5 straight games and 7 straight games to the spread. The Lakers are 8-0 straight up and 7-1 ATS since the All-Star Break. The obvious side in this game seems to be the Lakers, but the NBA is a contrary sport and the Lakers apply to a 52-116-2 ATS road letdown situation while winning teams on a bad streak are good bets as a home underdog or pick (after at least 1 night off) against a good team off a win. My ratings favor Miami by 1 point and the Heat won in L.A. by 16 points on Christmas, so they should have the confidence to win this game. I’ll lean with Miami to break their losing streak.
Thursday Night College Opinion/Possible Best Bet
Maryland (-6) over NC State
Maryland beat up on bad teams early in the season, but the Terrapins had trouble beating good teams. NC State is not a good team and the Wolfpack also had trouble with teams that were better than them (7-1-1 ATS as a favorite, just 3-13 ATS as an underdog) and Maryland applies to a 22-2-1 ATS subset of a 70-31-4 ATS bounce-back situation that is based on their consecutive losses as a favorite. My ratings favor Maryland by 5 ½ points and the line has gone from -4 ½ to -6 points. I’ll lean with the Terrapins at -6 and I’d take Maryland in a 2-Star Best Bet at -5 or less.
Steve Duemig
30 Dime Vanderbilt
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
CONFERENCE USA TOURNEY GAME OF THE YEAR
UTEP -5