Craig Davis
Wednesday's free play is Ohio State as the underdog at Duke.
I have easily been more impressed with the Big 10 than I have the ACC in this challenge so far (just ask North Carolina).
I've heard way too much about how Duke remembers last year's embarrassment at that hands of these very same Buckeyes and how they're going to come out strong in "revenge mode".
I've heard it so much that I now believe Ohio State will win this game SU. Both teams return several of the players from last year's squad, and while I don't believe Ohio State was 30 points better than Duke last year like the score might have indicated, I also don't believe Duke was in the same class and I don't believe they are this year either.
Ohio State still does one thing better than Duke which will be the difference in the game... play defense!!
PG Aaron Craft, who is still only a junior, is a feisty ball-defender who will probably average 5 or more steals per game this year with his quick hands and great court-vision.
Duke's guards had better prepare for his quickness or they will find themselves in a hole based on Ohio State's transition game.
Both teams have great athletes, but I believe OSU's are better and it will be the other difference in this game.
Should be a fun one to watch, but in the end I believe Ohio State wins by a few.
2♦ OHIO STATE
Jeff Benton
42-27 free play run.
Your Wednesday freebie is the Magic plus the points at home against the Spurs.
You heard me correctly...the Magic!
Yes Orlando is just 5-8 straight up this season, but they do catch the San Antonio Spurs on the eve of their Thursday night spotlight game on TNT at Miami, and a strong case can be made that San Antonio may indeed take the foot of the proverbial gas pedal in this one allowing Orlando to stay close enough to get the home dog cover.
San Antonio also happens to be playing their fifth game in the last eight nights with that Miami tussle still on the horizon.
Of course the Spurs 12-3 straight up mark would give them the inside track to grab another straight up win, but winning by double-digits may be a little tougher with Jackson and Leonard dealing with injuries.
Coach Pop calls off the dogs early in this one as the Spurs get ready for their marquee game against the Heat tomorrow night.
Take Orlando plus the points.
1♦ ORLANDO
Chris Jordan
As Kent State continues its two-game road swing tonight in Youngstown, Ohio for a Northeast Ohio showdown, I like the momentum the Golden Flashes bring into this one after an impressive 74-60 win at Nebraska on Saturday.
It was the program's first victory at a Big Ten school since 1970, and a bit of a statement if you ask me.
Senior Chris Evans has led the charge for the Flashes, averaging 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting over 66 percent from the field in two wins last week. Evans, who was named the MAC East Player of the Week for a second time this season on Monday, was pretty damn impressive Saturday night, connecting on 8 of 9 shots en route to a team-best 19 points and six rebounds.
To date, he leads Kent State in scoring (17.2 ppg), rebounding (7.2 rpg) assists (2.2 apg), steals (2.4 spg), blocks (1.0 bpg), field-goal percentage (.597) and free-throw percentage (.781).
He's supported by junior Darren Goodson, a junior college transfer who has blended into the lineup nicely, and had his best game Saturday, scoring 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting after coming into the contest having scored just 12 points on the year.
And while the Flashes are flying high right now, Youngstown State comes in mired in a three-game losing streak on the heels of a three-game winning streak. I know the Penguins knocked off Georgia early on, but they're playing at a different level right now, and aren't aas confident or consistent as they were at the start of the season.
Kent State leads the all-time series 26-16, has won the last four meetings and nine of the last 11. All this being said, and if the oddsmakers want to give me points, I'll take 'em.
3♦ KENT STATE
For my second freebie for the busy card on Wednesday night, I'm playing the Bradley Braves laying points in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to the Central Michigan Chippewas. I love the low number I see here, as the Braves are looking to match a program record for November wins after a 4-1 start to the season.
I like what I've seen from second-year Braves head coach Geno Ford, and not sure if the Chipps are in a groove just yet under first-year coach Keno Davis, who will face a Missouri Valley Conference program for the first time since his lone season as coach of Drake back in 2007.
And keep in mind, Ford is plenty familiar with the Mid-American Conference, as he was a two-time MAC Coach of the Year in his three seasons at Kent State. Quick disclaimer, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Davis was both the MVC and national Coach of the Year in 2007-08 with the Bulldogs. Still, I think the Braves are playing more cohesive right now, than the Chippewas.
Bradley has scored at least 76 points in each of its first four wins and is averaging 75.2 ppg through the first five games of the season. The Braves are 7-1 over the last two years when scoring at least 70 points. And here's what's impressive to me, Bradley is tied for 287th nationally by shooting just 28.4 percent (21-74) from 3-point range. Tells me this is a blue-collar group that works the ball down low, pops short jumpers and manufactures its points.
The defense is stellar too, as it's allowing the opposition merely 21.2 points per game in the paint, while opponents are shooting just 40.3 percent (71-176) from inside the arc. The defense is forcing 15.8 turnovers per game while it has 49 steals thus far. Overall, Bradley's defense has provided the Braves with a 102-54 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Braves are going to be too much at both ends of the court, and I have no problem laying the points.
1♦ BRADLEY
Matt Rivers
Free play winner for Wednesday is to ride the rolling Hawks.
The price is getting a little steep to back Atlanta in this spot, but no real choice to try and take a chance with a Charlotte team that has not been able to make a dent in the Atlanta armor of late.
Last season Larry Drew's team won and covered all four series meetings, and they picked up right where they left off last Friday night, winning and covering the first meeting this season at Charlotte by a 101-91 count. That win is part of a five game Hawks win streak.
The Bobcats meanwhile just absorbed a 114-69 humiliation at Oklahoma City on Monday night, and they have now failed the pointspread in three of their last four contests.
It may not be a 45 point setback, but it is easy to imagine a 12 points or so loss.
Lay it with the Hawks.
3♦ ATLANTA