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Basketball Best Bets
Basketball Best Bets
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COLLEGE
2 Star Selection
SE Missouri Sate (-5) over JACKSVONILLE STATE
20-Dec-07 05:30 PM Pacific Time
Jacksonville State is one of the worst teams in Division 1 basketball and the Gamecocks have lost all 8 games against other Division 1 competition so far this season. SE Missouri State is not a great team, but the Redhawks have won and covered 3 consecutive conference games and apply to a 65-26-5 ATS road favorite momentum situation tonight. Jacksonville State, meanwhile, applies to a negative 43-104-7 ATS situation. My ratings favor SE Missouri State by 5 ½ points, so the line is fair, and I’ll take SE Missouri State in a 2-Star Best Bet at -6 points or less and for 3-Stars at - 4 or less.
2-Stars at -6 or less, 3-Stars at -4 or less.
2 Star Selection
FULLERTON STATE (-6 ½) over Montana
20-Dec-07 07:00 PM Pacific Time
Fullerton State applies to a solid 58-21-1 ATS situation tonight and the Titans have a history under coach Bob Burton of beating the teams that they are supposed to beat. In fact, Fullerton is 31-17-2 ATS under Burton when facing a team with a losing record, including 17-3 ATS against losing teams that are coming off a loss. My ratings favor Fullerton State by 9 ½ points and the Titans have already beaten Montana by 9 points in Missoula back on November 30th. Forward Frank Robinson missed the Titans’ last game with a sprained ankle but the Titans registered their highest game rating of the year in that 36 points win over Southern Utah and Robinson is expected to be available tonight. I’ll take Fullerton State in a 2-Star Best Bet at -7 points or less.
2-Stars at -7 or less.
Root
Chairman - Utah
Millionaire - Rams
NORTHCOAST
MARQUEE NFL Pit/Stl OVER 43.5
Marquee Utah/Navy OVER 64.5
Reg Opinion Utah -8
Chicago Sports Connection
Navy +8.5
J'Ville St. +6 Wiseguy Play
Larry Ness' Las Vegas Insider-Navy/Utah (12-2 CFB run!)
My Las Vegas Insider is on Utah at 9:00 ET. Navy's incredible rushing attack (351.5 YPG / 5.7 YPC / 51 TDs) is able to control the game clock and allowed Navy to punt just 21 times all season, the fewest on any school in the nation. For that reason, despite an undersized defense, the Middies have been formidable underdogs, going 23-12-1 ATS under Paul Johnson (2002-07). Navy was just 4-4 ATS as an underdog in Johnson's first season (2-10 SU), making them 19-8-1 as an underdog these last five years, all of which have ended in bowl appearances. However, Johnson has left to take the job at Ga Tech and while assistant head coach Ken Niumatalolo has taken over (insuring a smooth transition), I still believe this will be a tough spot for Navy and that Utah will be one tough opponent. Navy typically takes a 10-day break (for exams) after the Army game, meaning prep time has been limited. Meanwhile, Utah was said to have begun preparing for Navy, prior to the actual matchup being confirmed. Utah started 1-3 but then won SEVEN straight (6-1 ATS), before losing a very tough battle to BYU (17-10) in the season finale (BYU ended the year on a nine-game winning streak). Utah QB Brian Johnson will LOVE a Navy pass D that ranks dead-last in passing efficiency, allowing 69.1% completions with a ratio of 31-9. No one stops Navy's running game but Utah's D allowed just 15.6 ppg (3rd-best) and 131.1 YPG on the ground, holding as many as five different opponents to less than 100 yards rushing! Navy played four bowl teams TY, beating only Air Force. It lost 41-24 at Rutgers and at home to both Wake (44-24) and as a seven-point favorite to Ball St (34-31). Utah's in its FIFTH straight bowl, winning the last four years by the combined scores of 115-30 (4-0 ATS!). The Utes have won the last six bowl games in which they've played, covering the last five. The number keeps "coming down" and that makes little sense to me. Las Vegas Insider on Utah.