Jack Jones
South Florida/Syracuse UNDER 52
I expect a low-scoring defensive battle tonight between the South Florida Bulls and Syracuse Orange. Syracuse has a vanilla offense, while South Florida just can't seem to get anything going offensively on the road.
The Orange are only averaging 26.7 points and 339 total yards/game this season. South Florida is scoring 16.7 points/game behind 350 yards/game away from home. The UNDER is 3-1 in the Bulls' four road games this year.
Syracuse beat South Florida 13-9 last season. The Orange managed just 307 total yards while the Bulls were limited to 219 yards of offense. I expect a similar output from both teams tonight.
The Orange are 22-9 to the UNDER in their last 31 versus good rushing defenses - allowing <=120 rushing yards/game. Syracuse is 35-15 to the UNDER in their last 50 when the total is between 49.5 and 56 points. Bet the UNDER Friday.
Jeff Scott Sports
4 UNIT PLAY
North carolina -11 over Michigan State: The Spartans are unranked coming into this year and that will happen when a team is off a disapointing year and have lost 3 of their top 4 scorers. Tom Izzo is a great coach, but he has a tough rebuilding project this year. The Heels have no such prob;lems this year as they return their top 7 scorers from last yeras Elite 8 team. Harrison Barnes is one of those returning and coming out of high school he was actually rated higher than Kyrie Irving (Duke) who was taken as the number 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. This is a loaded Carolina team and they should easily take care of a MSU team that will take some time to get used to all the new faces. Look for Carolina to win by 15+.
3 UNIT PLAYS
Oregon +12.5 over VANDERBILT: Vanderbilt enters the season highly ranked and with good reason, as they have all 5 starters back from last years team that went 23-11. Tonight though they will be without one of the top centers in the SEC in Festus Ezelui and that gives Oregon a solid advantage on the inside, where Wake Forest tranfer Tony Woods will set up shop. The Ducks also have Jabari Brown who is a 5 start recruit according to Rivals.com to go along with returning starters EJ Singler and Garrett Sim. Last year the Ducks were picked last in the PAC-10 and then finished 7 and had a good showing in the conference tourney, before moving on to win the CBI Tornamnet, so this team had plenty of extra practice sessions to get ready for this year. This year they come in picked 4th in the PAC-12 and they should be able to keep it close here vs a Vanderbilt squad that is missing a key piece inside.
EASTERN MICHIGAN -5.5 over UIC: The Eagles have just 2 starters back from last years 9-22 team, but transfer Austin Harper will really help this team after scoring 15.4 ppg and hitting 43% of his treys at Glen Oaks (Mich) Community College, plus he did lead the JUCO ranks in assists per game at 9.9. EMU had a very bad season but new coach Bob Murphy has them pointed in the right direction. The Flames of UIC have big problems headinging to the year after they lost 11 players from last years group that went just 2-16 in the Horizon League. Lost from this team is their top 5 scorers and the leagues 2nd ranked rebounder (Paul Carter 8.0 rpg) and their isn't alot of talent to replace all that they lost. Both teams are rebuilding, but the Eagles are far ahead of the Flames and they should win this one easily.
UL Lafayette -5 over NORTHER ARIZONA: Last year the Cajuns had an aweful start, due to mostly injuries, as they went 3-14 to open the year, but once tyhey started to get their players back they reeled off 11 straight wins to end the year. This year they return 3 starters from that team and they are a very deep team as well as a bunch of youngsters got playing time thanks to all the injuries. NAU comes in having to replace some key personell as Cameron Jones is gone (their career scoring leader) and Shane Johannsen, who has led the Nation in FG% in 2 of the last 4 years. Overall 64% of the Lumberjacks offense is gone and it will bard for a team that has some many faces to stay close in this one vs a Cajuns team that is experienced and deep. Look for the Cajuns to win by DD.
2 UNIT PLAYS
Belmont +12 over Duke: The Devils lost a ton of talent from last year and that should help this loaded Belmont squad keep it close in this early season matchup.
St Joes/ Western Kentucky Under 135: The OU is 4-9 in WKU's last 13 non-conference games. I look for some off season rust to take hold here as both offenses will struggle to score. Last year these teams played good defense down the stretch and it should carry over here.
1 UNIT PLAY
Illinois State +2.5 over Fresno State: Because Marco said so. LOL. Just kidding. I feel that could be a force in the MVC this year and they should be able to handle a Fresno team that will struggle in the WAC this year. Fresno is just 20-44 ATS in their last 64 games as ahome favorite of 6.5 or less.