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Great Lakes Sports

Utah State at Hawaii
Play: 4* Utah State

The Utah State Aggies are a very solid 4-1 ATS when playing on the road this year, and they are a perfect 5-0 ATS when playing on Saturday's this year. The Hawaii Rainbows is a dismal 4-8 ATS when playing at home this year, and they are a terrible 2-4 ATS after a conference game this year. We look for the Utah State Aggies to grab the road ATS Win & Cover tonight.

Kiki Sports

3 units Marquette -16.5
2 units Penn State -6.5

Fat Harry

Utah Jazz

Pete Ezra

5* Arkansas -4.5

5* Wisc-Milwaukee +13 (Play of the Day)

5* North Carolina State +5.5

5* UCLA PK

5* Dartmouth +15

5* New Mexico State +2

JEFFERSONSPORTS

This should be really high scoring. Missouri should set the tone early with their press and that will get Texas Tech running. They both play at a high pace and both like to run. Tech will be thinking break the press to score, not set-up their offense. Big day tomorrow.

TEXAS TECH OVER 159

Jake Timlin

1500♦ Wyoming Cowboys

My college basketball cheap chalk blowout today is on the Cowboys as they rudely welcome their main rivals in Colorado State. The same Colorado State team that Wyoming destroyed twice in the regular season last year, including a 15 point beat down in Laramie.

For Wyoming while league play is off to a disappointing 1-3 start the Cowboys are better than their record appears as they have had to deal with some tough scheduling with 3 of their first 4 conference games have been away from home where they have dominated. In fact dominating might not fully describe how good Wyoming is at home this year as the Cowboys are a perfect 11-0 straight up at home as they are winning by an average 11 points per game thanks to scoring 82 points per game on the high plains. In the Cowboys most recent home game their home court edge showed big time as they won outright 83-79 as an eight point dog over a SDSU who is only allowing 58 points per game.

Meanwhile, for Colorado State the highway has not been kind as they have lost 26 of their last 27 games way from Fort Collins, including both league games this season by an average 15 points per game.

Bottom line, Wyoming is too good at home and to expect a bad Colorado State team that has troubles on the highway to cover is a stretch. Flat out Wyoming will welcome being back at home and thanks to their ability to score I don’t see the Rams keeping pace. Take the Cowboys minus the points as they win by at least 15 points.

All Wyoming!

500♦ Washington Huskies

Big game for the Huskies at home today makes for one tough spot for UCLA. The same UCLA team just two days removed from surviving by 2 points against Washington State and who let’s face it has not be tested yet this year. Well giving the Bruins a major test today will be a huge Washington team that has just one lose at home and who has beaten UCLA in the last 5 meetings in Seattle, including the Huskies 10 point win last season as a 9 point home underdog. More importantly is it Washington who is big down low as the Huskies lead the nation in rebounding margin for a team that has won 12 of their last 13 games. Flat out, while UCLA might end up winning the PAC 10 I don’t see them winning on the road against a Washington team that will be more than ready for the Bruins today. All Washington!

Ethan Law

Fresno State Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans

Verdict: Fresno State 69, San Jose State 63
PLAY 1* UNIT (2%) ON FRESNO STATE +6

Karl Garrett

40 DIMER - LSU TIGERS

10 DIMERS - TENNESSEE, NEBRASKA, & MICHIGAN

Winning Angle

NBA

Play Milwaukee (-8.5) over Sacramento* (Top NBA Play)

NCAA Hoops

Play Memphis (+3.5) over Tennessee* (Top NCAA Play)

Play Oklahoma State (+4) over Nebraska

Play Notre Dame (+1) over Connecticut

Matt Fargo

10* Horizon Game of the Year

Wisconsin-Green Bay v/s Valparaiso
Play: Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wisconsin-Green Bay was 6-1 in the Horizon League before meeting Butler on Thursday. The Phoenix lost by nine points but put forth a great effort in the defeat as they limited Butler to just 7-of-25 shooting in the first half. The Bulldogs proved to be just too tough on their home floor as they pulled away late but now is the time to bounce back. After starting the season 0-2, Wisconsin-Green Bay went 14-3 in its next 17 games and that one league loss came by just a single bucket at Loyola-Chicago. This is no fluke as it was poised to be at the top of the conference this season as it brought back all five starters from last season, the only team in the conference that can say that. Last year was a disappointment as the Phoenix lost six of their final eight games including the final game which was in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament to Valparaiso. This does bring in a revenge angle although that is not part of the reason for this take. Coming off that loss against Butler will have them ready for a big bounce back. While the Phoenix were losing, Valparaiso was winning as it took out Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday. The Panthers did not have much going for them as the Crusaders were playing with revenge from a 14-point loss in Milwaukee earlier in the season and it was likely in lookahead mode to Butler on Saturday. While the win was nice, I think it was more of a loss by the Panthers than anything. That victory snapped a three-game losing streak and it has been a tough season and one that has been the exact opposite of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Valparaiso started the season 2-0 but went on a 3-14 run before Thursday’s victory. One of those victories came against North Park, a small Division III university while the other came against Marian College, an NAIA school out of Indianapolis. The only other victories came against Youngstown St. and Detroit who are a combined 10-27 this season. The Crusaders have yet to put together two good back-to-back games against Division I teams and it likely will not happen here. Not only do the situations favor the Phoenix but they have advantages in almost every pertinent statistic. Green Bay ranks first in the Horizon League in scoring offense at 70.4 ppg, free throw percentage at 79.3 percent, field goal percentage at 43.3 percent and three-point percentage at 39.3 percent. The Phoenix are second nationally in free throw percentage and 23rd in three-point shooting. Valparaiso is hitting just 62.7 percent of its free throws, which is 310th in the nation and 30.8 percent from long range which is tied for 282nd in the country. It doesn’t end there. Wisconsin-Green Bay has an offensive efficiency rating of 106.6 which is 2nd in the conference and 82nd overall while the Crusaders have a 91.8 rating which is 9th in the 10-team conference and 291st in the nation. Wisconsin-Green Bay also has a 1.01 assist/turnover ratio compared to a 0.82 ratio for Valparaiso. To the Crusaders credit, they have played a tougher schedule overall but it has not done much to help in the win column. The Phoenix are an extremely deep team as well as they have had eight different leading scorers and seven different leading rebounders this season. In addition, five players are averaging at least 9.0 ppg, and four are in double figures. Wisconsin-Green Bay has feasted on these types of opponents in the past as they are 12-3 ATS when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games over the last three seasons. Valparaiso is just 3-12 ATS in its last 15 games off a win against a conference rival and it is 1-4 ATS in its last five games against teams with a winning record. The Phoenix are also 9-0 ATS after having won three of their last four games over the last two seasons showing that they just don’t put together back-to-back poor efforts. That will be case again here. 10* Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix

Vegas Sports Experts

10* Take Xavier (+3) over LSU (NCAA Power Play)

Xavier
• 6-0 SU & ATS over the last 6 games
• 5-0 SU in all road games this season
• 4-0 SU when the line is between +3 to -3
• 14-2 SU coming off a road win over the last 3 seasons

5* Take Baylor (+7.5) over Oklahoma (NCAA Bonus Play)

Baylor
• 7-0 SU when playing on a Saturday this season
• 3-0 SU & ATS as an underdog this season
• 7-1 SU coming off a road win by 10 points or more

Bonus Hoops & NHL Plays are:

3* Take Utah (+4.5) over UNLV (NCAA)

3* Take Philadelphia (-8) over New York (NBA)

Larry Ness

LEGEND Play

I lost a big play on Michigan last Saturday, when the Wolverines collapsed at home against Ohio St (led 44-40 and lost 65-58). However, if there is one thing I've learned in 25 years in this business is to NOT let one play affect another. I believe Michigan's in a terrific spot tonight, so "here we go again!" Bill Carmody is a well respected head coach and is used to coaching at a school with high academic standards like Northwestern (see Princeton). That being said, last year's 8-22 mark (1-17 in the Big 10) could not have been a pleasant experience. In contrast, this year's 7-1 start (lone loss being 57-53 at Butler) had to put a smile on his face. The Wildcats have some size, with a 7-0 center in Rowley (4,2) plus two 6-8 forwards, Coble (15.6-5.1) and Shurna (7.6-3.3). The starting backcourt is sound with Moore (13.9-3.3-2.8) and Thompson (10.3-2.6-3.7) but there is little depth. By late December Northwestern began slumping and from 12/31-1/15 lost four straight which gave them five losses in six games after that 7-1 start. Then last Sunday, they upset then-No. 18 Minnesota 74-65, ending the Wildcats' 18-game losing slide against ranked opponents (last win over ranked opponent came in Feb of 2006). Minnesota led that game by three points at the half but missed 12 of its first 13 shots in the second half and watched as Northwestern scored 16 straight points. A 27 to 11 edge in FT attempts for Northwestern in the game didn't hurt either. That win was only a mild surprise but this past Wednesday, the Wildcats followed their win over Minnesota by upsetting No. 7 Michigan State 70-65 in East Lansing, ending the Spartans' 28-game home winning streak. What's going on here? Northwestern had not only had no success against ranked opponents as of late (see above) but entering the Minnesota game, had dropped 26 of its previous 27 Big 10 contests as well. Now, all of a sudden, it's two straight wins over ranked conference foes! The 'madness' stops here. Michigan has been ranked at times this year but comes into this game on a three-game losing streak. The Wolverines lost at Illinois prior to losing to Ohio State last Saturday and earlier this week, played a terrible game at Penn State, losing 73-58 (made just 5-of-30 three pointers). However, I fully expect John Beilein to have things straightened out here. Michigan is still 13-6 on the season, owning wins over two teams ranked fourth in the nation at the time, beating UCLA in Madison Square Garden in late November and Duke (here at Crisler Arena) on December 6. Last year's 10-22 season (5-13 in the Big 10) is a distant memory and I expect the Wolves' will have a few more "big wins" in them this year. A win over Northwestern is big only in terms of "stopping the bleeding," which is a must. Swingman Harris (18.1-7.4-4.6) and the 6-8 Sims (15.8-8.1) will be the two most talented players on the floor and with Arizona transfer Lucas-Perry now eligible (he's averaged 9.9 PPG in his 10 games), the Michigan backcourt is solid. Joining Perry are freshman Novak (6.7) and Douglass (5.1) plus sophomore Grady (5.5). Northwestern's offense is one of dribble penetration and Beilein's 1-3-1 zone should handle that just fine, playing with bigger and quicker athletes. Michigan really needs a confidence builder, while Northwestern is 'flying' way too high after back-to-back wins over ranked opponents. Beilein has been stuck on 499 career wins for three games now and his team gets him win No. 500 in a rout!

LEGEND play on Michigan

Daytime Dominator

Doc Sadler's 'Huskers are an odd team, which basically starts five guards. The 6-5 Dagunduro (10.6-3.6) and the 6-4 Anderson (5.8-4.6) are the team's best rebounders and six players average 23-plus minutes (McCray gets about 18 minutes, averaging 6.8-3.4), The 5-11 Harley (12.3-3.6-2.4) is the team's leading scorer, followed by Dagunduro, the 6-3 Henry (9.5-3.4-2.3) and the 6-2 Velander (9.5). Nebraska is 11-1 at home this year, with its lone loss coming right before Christmas (12/23), when Maryland-Balt Co. came to Lincoln and shot 57.1 percent in a two-point win. That was just "one of those games." Nebraska is coming off a Wednesday loss at Norman, where the 'Huskers gave the No. 6 Sooners all they wanted. Nebraska led 38-32 at the half but finally succumbed, as Blake Griffin was too much. The 6-10 sophomore had 27 points and 18 rebounds for his 15th double-double on the year. Nebraska's defense frustrated Oklahoma for a good part of the game but Griffin was just relentless. The good news here is that Oklahoma State has no Blake Griffin. In fact, the Cowboys look a lot like the 'Huskers. OSU lost its best big man from LY, the 6-9 Dove (9.5-5.7) and this year's lone big man of any consequence, the 6-11 Thomas (averaging 8.3-3.9 in about 20 minutes per game), decided to leave the team after seven games and transfer. Travis Ford (former Kentucky player and a successful head coach at U Mass) is in his first year at Stillwater and this year's team is much like the last few OSU ones. The Cowboys are a tough 'out' at home but get them away from Stillwater and they are very vulnerable. When OSU beat Texas A&M last Feb 16, the victory ended a 19-game road losing streak for the Cowboys and Ford hasn't been able to do much to change things this year. The Cowboys lost 83-71 to Gonzaga and 94-79 to Michigan State in a November tourney in Orlando, before beating Siena 77-68. The team's only true road games this year have been a win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi plus losses at Washington (not close) and Baylor. The 6-6 Anderson (17.9-5.5) and two 6-5 players, Muonelo (15.9-9.8) and Harris (14.7-4.9) are a very talented trio (Muonelo is quite a rebounder!). PG Eaton (13.7-3.5-5.8) and freshman guard Page (10.2) round out the team's main players. Ford 'loved' to shoot the 'three' as a player at Kentucky and this team is in his mold, as the Cowboys average 86.0 PPG (4th) and shoot 42.0 percent from beyond the arc (2nd). However, Sadler's team can play defense (allows 56.8 PPG / 31.3 percent on threes!) and OSU's effectiveness drops considerably away from Stillwater. Nebraska can and will dictate a slower and more methodical pace than OSU would like. Just see its game vs Missouri on Jan 10, where the 'Huskers beat the Tigers 56-51, while not allowing a single fast-break point (Tigers are averaging 84.8 PPG). OSU won 77-63 last year in Stillwater but here in the friendly confines of the Devaney Sports Center ('Huskers are 25-4 SU at home since the beginning of last year), it will be a much different 'story.'

Daytime Dominator on Nebraska

Las Vegas Insider

Lorenzo Romar has had some memorable years in Seattle with three straight NCAA teams (two Sweet 16s) but two years ago his 19-13 team went uninvited to the postseason and last year's 16-16 team lost at home 72-71 to Valparaiso in the new CBI tourney to end the year 16-17. However, Washington has an NCAA bid in their sights this year, opening 14-4 (5-1 in the Pac 10). The guard combo is one of old and new, with senior Dentmon (14.2-2.9-2.3) being joined by 5-8 freshman Thomas (15.9-3.1-3.1), who is reminding many of Nate Robinson. Overton (4.7) and Turner (3.9) are the top reserves. The 6-7 Brockman (15.1-10.8) is now a senior (seems like he's been there forever!) and is having a superb season, despite going 0-for-8 from the floor on Thursday vs USC (four points). The 6-6 Pondexter (10.1-5.8) and 6-8 freshman Gant (3.4-3.7) join him in the starting lineup with 6-9 sophomore Bryan-Amaning (8.9-5.4) providing excellent play off the bench. While Washington didn't cover vs USC (missed by a point!), the fact that the Huskies won with Brockman having such an awful game, should give Romar great comfort. Guards Thomas and Dentmon combined for 39 points vs the Trojans and here Washington goes for a sweep of the LA schools against the Bruins. No. 13 UCLA is 15-3 (also 5-1 in the Pac 10) and comes off a hardly inspiring 61-59 win in Pullman over Washington State. However, let's not underestimate the Bruins or head coach Ben Howland. Collison (14.6-5.4 APG) is joined by freshman Holiday (9.5-3.7-2.9) in the starting backcourt with swingman Shipp (11.6) and two 6-9 players, Aboya (9.0-5.3) and Dragovic (7.9-3.4) rounding out the starting lineup. Dragovic is off a career-high 20 points vs WSU and Aboya has made excellent strides this year, after averaging 2.9-2.2 LY. The same can be said about the 6-5 Roll (7.8), who is up from 2.8 PPG last season. The 6-8 Keefe (3.9-4.3) and 6-5 freshman Lee (4.5) are also solid contributors, although Lee has been bothered by an injury, playing in just two of the team's last seven games. UCLA's victory at Pullman makes it 11 wins in its last 12 (since a 68-64 loss at Texas), with that only loss coming at home to ASU, 61-58 in OT. UCLA is known for its defense (58.6 PPG allowed) but Ben Howland's style of play (rough and tumble) is not always as effective on the road as it is in Pauley Pavilion, where the refs are more tolerant. There's no denying UCLA's three consecutive appearances in the Final Four under Howland but this Washington team he'll face today is the school's "most complete" team since Brandon Roy left for the NBA in 2006. The Huskies have won 12 of 13 games overall and are 11-1 SU at home (lone loss was 88-85 in OT to Cal) and Washington has beaten UCLA four consecutive times here in Seattle, including last year's upset of the then-No. 5 Bruins. The Bruins look vulnerable, having lost at home in OT to Arizona State last weekend and at Washington State on Thursday, the Cougars missed a potentially winning shot at the end of that two-point UCLA win. Led by Brockman, Washington is tops in the nation in rebound margin (plus-11) and LY's 16-17 team beat UCLA 71-61 at this site. This year's version, which is "new and improved," should do the same.

Las Vegas Insider on Washington

Oddsmaker Error

Steve Alford won 24 games in his first year at New Mexico but his team was still regulated to the NIT and the Lobos fell in the first round, at home no less. Gone from LY's team is the 6-6 Giddens, who led in both scoring (16.3) and rebounding (8.8). He did get the 6-5 Danridge back this year (missed all of last season with a broken leg) and the 6-5 senior is leading the team in scoring (13.3-4.2). New Mexico doesn't lack talent, although the Lobos don't have too much size. The best inside player is the 6-9 Faris (11.5-5.9), while the 6-7 Toppert (10.6-3.1) is a quality sixth-man. Swingman Martinez (10.2-3.1) is another solid contributor but Alford's backcourt is young. Last year's star freshman was PG Gary (7.6-4.1 APG) and he returns to join two freshman in TY's backcourt, 6-5 big guard McDonald (8.8-3.9) and PG Garth (4.7-3.7 APG). However, the deal with New Mexico is really the same, the Lobos are a tough home team in "the Pit," but are a very vulnerable one away from Albuquerque. TCU knew it was time for change in Fort Worth, as in six years, head coach Neil Daugherty had produced just ONE winning season and a 75-108 overall mark. In came Jim Christian from Kent State, which over the last 10 seasons, is one of just SEVEN Division I programs with at least 20 wins in each season. Christian was in charge for the last six, going 138-58 overall. His challenge in Fort Worth was that LY's team was just 14-16 and lost 48.7 PPG and 25.0 RPG from nine players no longer on this year's team. So what? After a 1-3 start, Christian has led the Horned Frogs to 12 wins in their last 15 games and with a 4-1 conference mark, TCU sits atop the MWC standings. Seven players have participated in all 19 games and four of them are completely new to the program. Two JUCO transfers have been very good up front, the 6-9 Buljan (12.1-7.6) and the 6-6 Ruzgas (11.3-3.4). Two freshman guards have been a major help in the backcourt, Moss (9.4-2.3-2.5) and the 6-5 Butler (3.8-3.6). Returning from LY's team are the 6-8 Langford (14.0-5.3) plus guards Ebie (6.1-4.1 APG) and Mitchem (6.1). While Alford has more name recognition, insiders of CBB would readily acknowledge that Christian is the far better coach. Since the first of the year, TCU has won at Texas Tech and upset UNLV here in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs lost their first home game of the season to Nebraska but have since won NINE straight in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. TCU knows how to play defense, allowing 61.8 PPG and is holding opponents to just 30.3 percent from behind the line. New Mexico's "three-point gunners" won't back off and that should be the Lobos' undoing. The host has won and covered the last four in this series and nothing should change tonight! Why are the Lobos favored in this one?

Oddsmaker's Error on TCU

PROFIT ON SPORTS

California -13 over Oregon
Washington St. -1.5 over U.S.C.
S. Alabama -1 over Louisiana-Lafayette

Steven Budin

25 DIME

VILLANOVA