Alatex
Super Plays
Wisconsin
Lou Tech
Wayne Root
Millionaire-NC
Chairman -California
No-Limit-Wisconsin
Jack Jones
College Basketball
15* Kentucky -22.5
Kentucky returns to action today after a short break, having won four straight games and all of them coming by more than 18 points. The Wilcats have gone past the century mark three times in racking up a 9-3 record overall and going 6-2 at Rupp Arena. Florida Atlantic on the other hand has lost three straight games and seven of their last eight. They have yet to win on the road and are coming off a 76-43 loss at UAB. This one has blowout written all over it.
College Football
10* on West Virginia -1.5
Even though neither one of these teams ending the year playing real great football, I feel like the Mountaineers showed more promise than the Tar Heels. After losing to Colorado back on September 18th, WVU won 7 of their final 9 games. North Carolina on the other hand lost two of their last three, with their one win being over the Duke Blue Devils. That's not enough to impress me. Another thing I think West Virginia has going for them is experience, while North Carolina is a younger team that might not be as prepared as the Mountaineers will be for this bowl game.
BEN BURNS
I'm playing on Portland and Toronto to finish UNDER the number. I won with the Raptors when these teams faced each other a few weeks back but tonight I feel the value lies with the total. The Raptors rallied to win at Sacramento last night. While that game was high-scoring, they've still seen the UNDER go 7-2 their last nine games. Its also worth noting that the UNDER is 14-7 the last 21 times that the Raptors were road underdogs in the +6.5 to +9 range. Additionally, the UNDER is 10-3-1 the last 14 times that the Raptors played the second of back to back games. Portland comes in off a rare home loss, falling 102-94 vs. Dallas on Christmas. The Blazers have typically responded to "upset" losses by playing excellent defense their next time out though. In fact, the UNDER is 3-0 the last three times that they were coming off a SU loss when listed as a favorite and a profitable 16-6 their last 22 in that situation. The Blazers have already seen the UNDER go 4-1 this season when listed as home favorites in the -6.5 to -9 range and I look for tonight's game to also prove lower-scoring than most are expecting. *Annihilator
I'm playing on Washington and Oklahoma City to finish OVER the total. Both these teams have been involved in several relatively low-scoring games recently. While those results have helped to keep this evening's over/under line reasonably low, I expect to see plenty of points scored this evening. The Wizards come in desperate for a victory. They're mired in an extended losing streak and they take to the road after tonight's game. Facing an Oklahoma City team which allows 104 points per game on the road and which is off a devastating loss, I fully expect the Wizards to reach triple-digits in scoring here. A quick look at the recent games between the Wizards and the Sonics shows that Washington scored more than 100 points in six straight series meetings. The Wizards scored 104, 108, 106, 118, 101 and 137 in those games. Not surprisingly, the OVER was 4-1-1. Considering that the Wizards are allowing 102.9 points per game at home, the Thunder should also be able to put up decent numbers. Unlike most teams, the Thunder actually score more points on the road (94.5) than they do at home. They've seen nine of their 15 road games finish above the total. The Thunder have played particularly high-scoring games when playing their second game in two nights. In fact, the OVER is 3-0 the last three and 6-1 the last seven times that they were in that situation. All seven of Oklahoma City's opponents in those games reached triple-digits in scoring and they averaged 108.5. To their credit, the Thunder did score 97 points or more in five of those games themselves. The Wizards have seen the OVER go 14-3-3 the last 20 times they were laying points and this one should also prove higher-scoring than most are expecting. *Best Bet
I'm laying the points with SOUTH FLORIDA. Off back to back losses and with Big East play on deck, the Bulls are hungry for a big win. Iona should represent the perfect opponent. The Gaels come off an upset win their last game, knocking off Hoftra 67-64 as 5.5 point road underdogs. However, I feel that this will prove to be an extremely tough spot for them. Not only are the Gaels playing back to back road games but this will mark their fourth straight road game. Its the only time all season that they play four straight road games and the fact that the trip comes over Christmas figures to make it even more difficult. Note that Iona is 2-9 SU and a money-burning 1-8 ATS in lined games the last 11 times it played its previous three games on the road. The Bulls are holding opponents to a mere 49.7 points on just 32.6% shooting at home this season. Behind another big defensive effort, look for them to improve to 16-9 ATS the last 25 times they were laying points. *CBB GOW
I'm playing on California and Miami to finish UNDER the total. Both these defenses are more than capable. Miami comes in having allowed just 315.8 total yards per game throughout the season. Cal has almost identical numbers, having allowed only 315.4 total yards per game. Its true that the Bears put up some huge point totals against weaker defenses and that eight of their 12 games finished above the total. However, when matched up against stronger teams, their games weren't nearly as high-scoring. For example, when facing Arizona State, the Bears won by a score of 24-14. When matched up against USC, they lost 17-3. Including that result, the Bears have held five of their last six opponents to 20 points or less, surrendering seven to Washington in their regular season finale and 16 vs. Stanford the previous week. Looking back a bit further and we find the UNDER at 10-7 (59%) the last three seasons when the Bears have been matched up against a team with a winning record. Its true that the Hurricanes closed out the season with back to back losses, giving up a lot of points in the process. However, they've had a whole month to "right the ship" defensively and I expect a much better effort on that side of the ball. As Coach Shannon said of his defense: "We're going to be back in the weight room getting stronger, getting ready for the bowl game..." Note that prior to the two losses, the Hurricanes had held Virginia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest to a combined 41 points with none of those teams scoring more than 17. Additionally, note that the Hurricanes have seen the UNDER go 5-2 the last seven times that they were coming off back to back losses. During the same stretch, including the 16-14 win over Virginia Tech, they've seen the UNDER go 4-1 when coming off a bye. The Hurricane have played in four bowl games since 2003 and all of them produced 43 combined points or less. I feel that this evening's o/u number is generous and I expect the final combined score to prove lower than most are expecting. *Best Bet
I'm taking the points with WISCONSIN. I believe that the Badgers are a better team than their 7-4 record indicates. They also come in as the "hotter" team. The Seminoles lost three of their final five games, including a 45-15 blowout loss to rival Florida in their regular-season finale. Conversely, the Badgers closed out the regular season with three straight victories, averaging better than 37 points in those games, and four wins in their past five. The lone loss during that stretch came at Michigan State and was by a single point. The Badgers are 19-12 ATS the last 31 times they were underdogs in the +3.5 to +10 range. During the same stretch, the Seminoles have gone 14-22-1 ATS as favorites in the -3.5 to -10 range, including a money-burning 4-9 SU/ATS mark in that role the past few seasons. Wisconsin has gone 2-2 in bowl games the past four years. However, a closer look at the two losses shows that they came by only three and four points. We're getting more than that to work with this afternoon and I feel that provides us with excellent value. *Main Event
NSA
20* Wisconsin +6
Scott Rickenbach
Washington Wizards
DOC
5 Unit Play. Take LSU over Washington State Game of the Month.
Granted the Tigers have not played that great of competition, but they return most of the talent from last season. The Cougars lost most of their talent and has already lost a couple of home games this season. They still play strong defense but that alone cannot win games on the road. This is a long trip for Washington State and they are playing a coach that is very familiar with their style. Coach Johnson left Stanford to take over at LSU and he has been a winner everywhere he goes and it will be no different at LSU. He has better talent then WSU with Thornton and Mitchell and they will be able to reach sixty points, as we collect big in the process.
Elite Sports Circle Guaranteed Selections
9000* COLLEGE HOOPS SLAM DUNK WINNER
Utah -11.5
Blazer
3* Florida St.
Blazer
4* Airforce
3* UAB
Fastbreak
3* Charlotte (NBA)
3* Washington St.
Roundball
4* Memphis (NBA)
3* Minnesota (NBA)
3* Toronto (NBA)
3* UAB (CBB)
Executive
Football
250 Cal
Maddux
NBA - 3 units on Washington -6.5
NCAA - 3 units on UAB +13.5
NCAA - 3 units on Vermont -2
NCAA - 3 units on West Virginia -2
NCAA - 2 units on Wisconsin +6
NCAA - 3 units on Miami +10
Doc
6* Florida St.
4* California
Seabass
30* NC
50* Miami/Cal under
300* FL ST/Wisc over
ASA
NFL
6*Houston (NFL)
4*San Fransciso (NFL)
3* Arizona (NFL)
College
3* Louisina Tech (Bowl Game)
Hoops
3*West Virgina plus 3.5 College Hoops