Teddy June
10* Cavs
Private Players Club
10* Bulls
Robert Ferringo
3-Unit Play. Take Wyoming (-3) over Northeastern
I really dig this Wyoming team and think that they have a great mojo going right now. One of the things I like to key on in the NIT is teams led by seniors. Whether they wanted to make it to the NCAA Tournament or not, these guys just don't want their careers to end. Brandon Ewing and Sean Ogirri fit that mold. They are an exceptional backcourt, both seniors, and both have been playing well over the last two months. Also, Afam Muojeneke is going to be a Mountain West STUD for the next four years. Mix in some athletic frontcourt players, a clutch home court advantage, a weird cross-country trip for Northeastern, and I think that Wyoming gets this done. I think Wyoming is going to win. And since they are one of the best free throw shooting teams in the nation I trust them to seal the deal.
2-Unit Play. Take Oakland (-4) over Kent State
Once again, this one is about motivation. Kent State has been disinterested for most of the year. That's mainly because they miss their coach, who bailed and went to TCU. The Golden Flashes tried to "turn it on" for the MAC playoffs but that obviously didn't work. They are soft underneath and playing an Oakland team that can ball. Oakland played one of the toughtest schedules in the country, taking trips to Cleveland State, Syracuse, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State and Michigan. That's no joke.
1.5-Unit Play. Take Weber State (+12.5) over San Diego State
Letdown spot. Granted, SDSU has a load of seniors and I think that this team got absolutely screwed out of an NCAA bid (how did Dayton get in?). They know that. But these are the situations that make NIT betting. SDSU is inflated becuase everyone expects a big "statement win". But that's rarely the case. Normally these teams are so deflated and defeated that they have a hard time getting up for a lesser opponent. Weber State has played well all year and has actually competed with some decent squads. They lost by just five at UCLA, by five at Dayton, and by seven at Xavier, so they can compete. They are one of the better 3-point shooting teams in the country and that makes them dangerous.
1-Unit Play. Take St. Mary’s (-4) over Washington State
See, unlike the SDSU game I think that this Letdown Situation is a bit difference. The difference is that with Patty Mills back in the fold the Gaels are a better team than the one that was being judged on Selection Sunday. On top of that they are another team that is loaded with seniors. Finally, most of the "snubs" get shackled with a fat number that they have to cover (8.0 or higher) and they aren't up to task. But this short number really means that St. Mary's just needs to man up and win this game. They get knocked for not playing well in the WCC Tournament. But that Portland team that they played was underrated and Gonzaga was simply playing out of its mind. We've faded Wazzou all season long and I think that this is yet another spot where the value is against them.
1-Unit Play. Take South Carolina (-3) over Davidson
This is a Border War, regional rivalry. And I think that South Carolina is up to the task. Davidson just isn't a great team and are completely and totally dependant on Steph Curry to carry them. Well, Curry has never fully recovered from his injury and seems to be a bit fatigued. Bottom line is that with another short line here I'll take the home team that still has something to play for South Carolina has been an NIT staple and they have made some nice runs to NYC. I do think that this group has the ability to make it another one.
2-Unit Play.TEASER: Take UTEP (+7) over Nevada AND Take New Mexico (-2.5) over Nebraska
Blade I would appreciate your "point of view" regarding Boston vs Chicago tonight?
Thanks in advanced.
Gl ???
THE GOLD SHEET'S LTS (+)
NBA
DALLAS (-5 1/2) over Detroit
UTAH (-15) over Washington
COLLEGE HOOPS
SOUTH CAROLINA (-3 1/2) over Davidson NIT
PENN STATE (-5 1/2) over George Mason NIT
WYOMING (-2 1/2) over Northeastern NIT
just wondering if you have MTi?
Blade I would appreciate your "point of view" regarding Boston vs Chicago tonight?
Thanks in advanced.
Gl ???
No opinion really but I would lean to the Bulls
SMTM Sports Picks
2* Chicago/Boston Over 195
2* Cleveland Cavs -6
2* Dallas Mavericks -5
1* Washington State +4
RAS
Weber State over 129.5
Penn State over 122
C Jordan
600 Kentucky
200 Davidson
BookieBasherSports
Rhode Island + 4.5
Tom Stryker
3* Notre Dame -6
3* New Mexico -7.5
BOB AKMENS
Ottawa
John Ryan
Montreal Canadiens -119
Ai Simulator 7* graded play on Montreal as they host the NY Rangers slated to start at 7:35 EST. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 23-11 making 7.2 units since 2003. Play on home favorites of -200 or less against the money line off 2 or more consecutive home losses and with a winning percentage of between 45-55% on the season in the second half of the season. NYR are only 3-11 against the money line (-9.4 Units) when playing against a marginal winning team with a winning percentage of 51% to 60% this season; 3-13 against the money line (-13.2 Units) against good offensive teams scoring 2.85+ goals/game in the 2nd half of the season this season. Montreal is a perfect 7-0 against the money line (+7.3 Units) against good power play killing teams with the opposition scoring on <14.5% of chances this season. Take Montreal.
Al DeMarco
15 Dime - Wyoming
Wyoming closed out a 13-3 home campaign with consecutive regular season losses to BYU and New Mexico, but the Cowboys redeemed themselves a bit with a 75-67 upset of the Lobos as a 10-point underdog in the Mountain West Tournament before bowing out with a 13-point loss to eventual champion Utah. A 19-13 record wasn't good enough to earn an NIT bid, but they got invited to the CBI Tournament instead where for $60,000 the school earned the right to host tonight's opening-round game against Northeastern. Not only does it give Wyoming's three seniors another chance of ending their career on a winning note, but it gives the team a huge homecourt advantage as Northeastern, which hails from the Boston area, had to made the 2,000-mile journey on less than 24 hours notice, arriving in Laramie late last night.
Making matters worse for the Huskies: they're going to be playing tonight at 7,000 feet above sea level. As Wyoming freshman Afam Muojeke noted, "I know on my (first) visit, I was ready to pass out. The altitude is crazy here."
Northeastern likes a slower tempo game; Wyoming wants to run and will attack the Huskies' zone defense. The Cowboys averaged 80 points at home this season.
After a strong start in Colonial Conference play, the Huskies faded down the stretch, losing five of their final seven games on the floor and seven of nine versus the oddsmakers, getting knocked out of their conference tournament by a 10-point underdog, Towson, in the opening round.
Wyoming is 13-3 SU and 8-3 ATS at home this season with an average winning margin of 10 points a game. The only losses came against the aforementioned Utes and Lobos, plus conference tournament runner-up San Diego State. With a victory tonight the Cowboys would notch their first 20-win campaign in six years.
Paul Leiner
250* Marys -4.5
100* Phi/LAL Over 203
25* Penn State -6
10* Notre Dame -5.5