Chris James Sports
2* Spurs Under 192.5
2* Lakers Over 196
2* Utah Utes -4
Dr Bob
2 Star Selection
Boston College (+5) over MARYLAND
Maryland is coming off a humiliating 44-85 blowout loss to Duke and it’s not easy to rebound from a confidence shattering loss like that. The Terrapins, in fact, apply to a negative 25-84-7 ATS situation that is based on that big loss and Gary Williams’ teams have not been nearly as good off a loss as they have been off a win over the years. Maryland is only 47-67-3 ATS in regular season conference games following a loss and Boston College has a long history of success on the road under coach Al Skinner. The Eagles are 70-38-6 ATS in regular season road games in Skinner’s 12 seasons. My ratings favor Maryland by 4 points, which is where the line on this game opened, and I’ll take Boston College in a 2-Star Best Bet at +4 points or more.2-Stars at +4 or more.
3 Star Selection
SOUTHERN MISS (-7 ½) over Marshall
Southern Miss is coming off a lackluster effort as a big favorite in a non-conference game against Montana State, a 68-60 win as a 15 ½ point favorite, but coach Larry Eustachy tends to take conference games more seriously. In the last 4 seasons Southern Miss is just 12-16-1 ATS against non-conference opponents, but the Golden Eagles are 39-17-1 ATS against fellow Conference USA teams, including 20-4 ATS as a conference favorite (2-1 this season). Marshall, meanwhile, is just 13-24 ATS overall in 2 seasons under coach Donnie Jones (3-11 ATS this season) and the Thundering Herd are just 1-10 ATS as a road underdog of more than 4 points, including 0-5 ATS this season. In addition to the team trends Southern Miss applies to a very good 208-103-9 ATS home favorite situation and my ratings favor the Eagles by 9 points. Southern Miss has failed to cover in their last 2 games, but Eustachy’s team hasn’t lost 3 consecutive games to the point spread since November of 2005, so I expect a good effort from the Eagles tonight. I’ll take Southern Miss in a 3-Star Best Bet at -8 points or less and for 2-Stars at -8 ½ or -9 points.3-Stars at -8 or less, 2-Stars at -8 1/2 or -9.