BOBBY WING
NCAA-F | Jan 01, 2018
Georgia vs. Oklahoma
1 Unit Free Pick: Oklahoma +125
VIC DUKE
NCAA-F | Jan 01, 2018
South Carolina vs. Michigan
Michigan-8
S. Carolina/Michigan 12:00: Wolverines finally getting healthy in areas of concern. The QB position was an underachieving position virtually all season. Harbaugh got a bit of consistency from Brandon Peters before he went down with a concussion and missing the final two games - both losses. Peters will be back for this one and should audition for a serious starting role leading into the spring with Patterson. He has some healthy capable weapons to go to and RB Higdon (929 yards/11 TDs) behind a respectable offensive line. I'm going to bet Michigan will be able to move the football against a South Carolina defense that has its share of weaknesses. On the other hand, the Michigan defense, despite its youth, was outstanding this season and Don Brown's bunch should limit an underachieving veteran SC offense that ranked 108th in total yards produced. SC QB Bentley is a decent QB but gets caught attempting to make too much out of nothing and it was costly at times (11 INTs). His offensive coordinator - Roper - was fired on December 6th opening the door for WR coach McClendon to assume the role. We'll look for the Michigan sack happy (3.25 per game) bunch to give him more trouble on this big stage today. Michigan the call.
SCOTT SPREITZER
NCAA-B | Jan 01, 2018
Texas vs. Iowa State
Iowa State+3
We have a free play on Iowa State on Monday. Iowa State's nine-game winning streak was snapped by Kansas State, but the Wildcats shot the lights out with a .552 field goal percentage and making 13 of 26 from 3-point distance. It's unlikely Texas can come close to that as the Longhorns are shooting only 27.9 percent from beyond the arc and they shot 43.1 percent in Friday's loss at home to Kansas. Texas is 2-7-1 ATS its last 10 conference games and 2-6 ATS its last eight games overall. The Cyclones have covered eight of their last 11 Big 12 contests and they're 9-4-1 ATS their last 14 home games. Iowa State had to replace starting point guard Monte Morris, but heralded freshman Lindell Wigginton has come through and leads the team with a 16.2 scoring average with a .455 shooting percentage from 3-point range. Donovan Jackson is another threat at the guard position as he averages 15 points and is shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. A free play on Iowa State plus the points on Monday. Happy New Year! Scott Spreitzer.
JESSE SCHULE
NCAA-B | Jan 01, 2018
Southern vs. Texas Southern
Texas Southern-9½ -105
The 0-13 Tigers are one of the most interesting stories so far this season. Despite the fact that they have yet to win a game, they are still heavily favored to win their conference, and the Bookmakers are asking them to win by double digits here in their home opener versus the Jags. The Tigers have played the toughest schedule in the country according to ESPN BPI, and still they have scored more points per game and shot for a higher percentage than the 4-9 Jags. Last year the Tigers swept the season series, winning by a score of 82-69 at home. The previous season they won by a score of 88-66 at home to Southern. The Jaguars are 0-9 on the road this season, and they are 4-22 on the road the last two seasons. They have failed to cover in four straight road games, and they have scored just 63.4 points per game on 35.9 percent shooting on the road this season. The Tigers have waited a long time for a chance to make a statement in a winnable game, and they should go all out here in their home opener.
Take TXSO.
GL,
Jesse Schule
Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach
CBB Game #715 Monday Free Pick OVER the total in Siena Saints vs Quinnipiac Bobcats @ 1 ET
The Saints are off of a horrible shooting performance that led to them scoring only 58 points in their loss at Marist Friday. That was the 4th time this season that Siena has been held to 59 points or less and, after the first 3 they responded each time. The Saints shot at least 48% from the field in each game and averaged 84.3 points per game. Siena should have no trouble putting up big points at home against a Bobcats team that certainly is not known for defense. Couple that with the fact that Quinnipiac is showing some improvement on offense in Baker Dunleavy's first year as head coach and you have the makings of a solid over in this one. The Bobcats enter this game off of a confidence boosting win versus Monmouth. Quinnipiac is now averaging 77.2 points per game their last 5 games. The Bobcats are 11-6 to the over in games with a posted total in the 140s. Look for the Saints to improve to 3-0 to the over this season when off of a game where they were held under 60 points. Free Pick OVER in Siena
JEFF BENTON
Your Monday freebie is the Auburn Tigers in this year's Peach Bowl.
Been doing a lot of listening and reading on this Peach Bowl, and most feel that the Auburn Tigers missing out on the football playoff have "nothing to play for" today in Atlanta. I could not disagree more!
For one thing, Gus Malzahn's team got smoked 35-19 last year in the Sugar Bowl, and I am sure they would not like another repeat effort to start their new year.
For another thing, the Tigers are returning to the scene of their SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia, 28-7 at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
Finally, War Eagle is getting a rare chance to ruin the only unbeaten team left in the nation as the UCF Knights bid to make it a perfect 13-0 for the campaign. If those factors aren't motivation, then cut my legs off and call me Shorty!
As for Central Florida, they play this game knowing their beloved head coach Scott Frost has already taken the head-coaching gig at his alma-mater Nebraska starting next season. That fact has to have affected preparation for this game against a SEC big-wig.
Make no mistake, Auburn is indeed a SEC big-wig, and were in not for RB Kerryon Johnson injuring his shoulder in the Tigers gas-tank-emptying Iron Bowl win over Alabama, perhaps the Tigers would have been able to upend Georgia on that Championship Saturday in early December. Regardless, Johnson is now healthy, and quarterback Jarrett Stidham has steadily improved as the season has worn on.
The Knights have a good one too in QB McKenzie Milton who had his way all season long, but did so against teams that were not on par with this Auburn team which is limiting their opponents to just 17 points per game. This is by far Milton's toughest test of the year, and as a point of reference, we did just see Sam Darnold of USC have issues against Ohio State on Friday night.
As for UCF's defense, it tended to be a little shall we say, leaky against the better foes it faced, as the Knights allowed 42 points to South Florida, and 55 to Memphis to end the year. While the Tigers are likely not going to post that many points, they should be able to get their fair share of scoring chances.
Then there is the matter of Knights RB Adrian Killins giving Auburn some bulletin board material when he told the media that Auburn hasn't seen the speed UCF has, and is in for a rude awakening - or something close to that nature. Either way, that is NOT the kind of fodder you want to give to any team, let alone an Auburn team that will want to erase the bitter taste of last month's loss to Georgia on this field.
I am going to lay the wood with Auburn as they ruin Central Florida's shot at perfection.
2* AUBURN
TOMMY BRUNSON
New Year's free play is the Bucks and Raptors to hold Under the total.
I have a feeling both teams rang in the new year in style last night, and perhaps neither team will be all that "fresh" on the floor tonight.
The Bucks have played Unders in their last pair of games entering play here on Monday, while the Raptors have been Low in 3 of their last 4, and the Under has been the play in each of Toronto's last 4 games played at home.
These teams met in last year's postseason, and in the 6 games it took to decide, 4 of the 6 did indeed play Under the total. Overall, 12 of the last 16 times these Eastern Conference rivals have played have landed Under the price.
Just don't see the teams eclipsing this big total.
Bucks-Raptors Under the total.
4* MILWAUKEE-TORONTO UNDER
JOEY JUICE
Let's back the New York Rangers as they faceoff against a Sabres team that has been awful this year.
The Rangers may be struggling lately, but the Sabres haven’t been able to win a back-to-back game since the end of October. To make matters worse for the Sabres, they are on the road where Goalie Lehner has a 3.50 GAA as opposed to a 1.94 GAA at home.
In the series, Lehner is 2-3 career vs NYR with a 3.27 GAA. I'm looking for the Rangers to have a breakout offensive game here while Lundqvist easily keeps this bad Buffalo offense in check.
Bottom Line: The Rangers have won 10 of the last 13 in this series and they need this game.
Play NYR on the Puck Line.
1* N.Y. RANGERS -1 1/2 GOALS