Scott Delaney
My free play for Saturday night is on Southern Utah, plus the points, against the UNLV Runnin' Rebels. I don't trust the Rebels, as they play up to the level of competition, and play down to their level of competition. It doesn't matter who they've played, the Rebels just didn't seem to be the team coach Dave Rice hoped it would be.
There's still time for them, before Mountain West play, but something tells me they're going to struggle a little bit in Cedar City, Utah tonight, where the Thunderbirds are always tough and generally look to play bigger and tougher opponents, well, big and tough.
UNLV just lost a player, as forward Jamal Aytes is gone an transferred to BYU. The San Diego-native obviously didn't like the way things are going, and told Rice and the Rebels he was leaving the program. Not sure whether or not it's an indicator of him not liking his playing time, or lack thereof, or that Rice isn't the coach everyone thinks he is.
This should be closer than expected, as Southern Utah will keep this in single digits, and challenge the Rebels.
5♦ SOUTHERN UTAH
Brad Wilton
NBA comp play winner here on Saturday night, as I back the Los Angeles Clippers to get a road win and cover as they close out their 7 game road swing in D.C.against the Wizards.
Doc Rivers has had an emotional couple of days, as his new team has made stops in Boston (to face the team he helped raise a championship banner), and the Clips also stopped in Brooklyn for an emotional reunion with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce on Thursday night. Now after a day off the Clippers look to make this a winning road swing, as they are 3-3 straight up and against the spread on this trek, and they do have the benefit of a night's rest on Friday on their side.
Washington was on court last night in Atlanta, and the Wizards are just 1-8 straight up the last 9 series meetings, with a 3-5-1 against the spread mark in the last 9 showdowns.
The Wizards have covered 4 straight when playing unrested, but I think they are catching the Clippers with their focus squarely on heading back to Lob City with the win.
Take L.A. as the road chalk.
2♦ L.A. CLIPPERS
Brett Atkins
My free play for today is in College Basketball, as I like Air Force over Cal Riverside, which is no match for the Falcons, especially in Colorado Springs, Colo. This is cheap number to lay.
Air Force is wrapping up its eight-game homestand against the Highlanders, as the Falcons come in at 5-4 after trouncing Western State, 94-53, last Monday. The Highlanders, meanwhile, are 3-4 after beating up on the University of LaVerne, 92-77, at home back on Dec. 5.
Air Force is 4-1 this season when it has scored 70 points or more and there is no doubt in my mind it will score at least that at home against a rather bad Riverside team. At the other end of the court, defensively speaking, the Falcons are 4-0 when allowing 70 points or less. Riverside will have trouble getting there in this altitude.
Take the Falcons.
3♦ AIR FORCE
Sean Michaels
I'm going to back Indiana (-4') against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Hoosiers are obviously going to be the fan favorite among the four teams playing in the tournament (the others being Butler and Purdue), and they need a big non-conference win after failing against Syracuse on the road and U.Conn on a neutral court in the season's first month.
Notre Dame's confidence had to be shattered with this week's home loss to North Dakota State. The Irish sport a four-guard lineup and that will give them problems against a bigger Indiana team.
2♦ INDIANA
Jeff Scott Sports
2 UNIT PLAY
Army/ Navy Under 51.5: Bad weather is expected in Philly for this game, and the Under has cashed in the last 7 in this series. Those 7 games have averaged just 37.3 ppg, with no game putting up more than 48 points. A big part of that is the fact that both teams run the ball a ton and that keeps the clock running. Add in the bad weather here and we should have a game that just may be played in the 30's.
Wunderdog
Illinois at Oregon
Pick: Illinois +8
This is a non-conference showdown game as Illinois takes on an Oregon team the Illini is 4-0 against. This is a strong Illini front court, and they have rebounded 38% of their misses, ranking 35th in the nation in offensive rebound percentage. Illinois has just one loss, and the Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS in their last five neutral-site games. They are a good sized dog to an Oregon team that is off an OT win at Ole Miss, a long road trip to Oxford, Mississippi, and now they come home. Ole Miss made 15 three-pointers and Illinois can bomb away, as well. Grab the dog in this even game. Play Illinois.
LT Profits
UC Riverside vs Air Force
Pick: Air Force -7
The Air Force Falcons get one more chance to beat up in a lightweight at home before beginning play inside the tough Mountain West as they host the UC Riverside Highlanders. Air Force has little trouble scoring points, ranking 28th in the country in effective field goal percentage thanks to shooting 40.1 percent from three-point land and 51.8 percent of its two-pointers, and the Falcons also like to pick up the pace here at home, where they have the added advantage of playing at mile-high altitude in Colorado Springs. On the other side, Riverside is one of the worst shooting teams in the country ranking 316th in offensive efficiency, and that is while facing a weak schedule rated 304th in non-conference SOS. The first time Riverside faced a Mountain West team it lost by 36 to San Diego State. Air Force is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 home games.
The Duke's Sports
Oklahoma -11.5
Tulsa off to a sluggish start and they it shouldn't get any better here. In state rival Oklahoma is hitting buckets at a 48% clip strong for a usually defensive minded Kruger team. They're averaging 87 ppg and the Golden Hurricane will have difficulty trading points averaging just 72 ppg. Tulsa's FG% is a sluggish 43% and they struggle late in games finishing. We'll look for the Sooners to bump to 16-5 ATS at home as Kruger wants to keep top recruits from the rich Oklahoma recruiting pool at home and should poor it on here.