Brandon Lang
Thursday
5 DIME
Arizona State
Seton Hall
Rider
5 Dime - Arizona State: The Sun Devils had an impressive season, and despite having it deflated from a blowout loss to Southern Cal, they'll finish the campaign with an extraordinary win over the unsuspecting Longhorns. ASU is a rejuvenated team under first-year coach Dennis Erickson, and it's also the latest team from the Pac-10 grumbling about being left out of the BCS lineup, as the league was left without two teams in the bowl games that generate the substantial cash flow once again.
But the bigger disappointment has to be on the sidelines occupied by Mack Brown's troops, who certainly don't feel they should be playing in the Holiday Bowl. Nevertheless, Texas probably got better than it deserved, as this is a team that was involved in several embarrassing games this year. There was the slim win in the season opener at home, where it laid 40-1/2 points and won, 21-13, there was a nail-biter at Central Florida, the back-to-back losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma and of course the season-ending loss to Texas A&M.
The downfall is that atrocious passing defense, and against a kid like Randy Carpenter, I don't know how the 'Horns will be able to contain him and keep up with the Devils against that stifling stop unit. Take ASU, as a win tonight will take the sting out of the USC loss.
5 Dime - Seton Hall: The Pirates are averaging 86.5 points per game so far this season, and that's tops in the Big East Conference. They’ve topped the 80-point mark six times this season, and they do it with a balanced attack, as we've seen them have three players score in double figures in all 10 of their games, while in five games at least four players have. Senior Brian Laing leads the Big East in scoring at 20.2 points per game, while sophomore Eugene Harvey ranks fourth with his 18.2 contribution per game.
Making matters better for us is the depth factor, as the Pirates have gotten great play from their bench all season long. Seton Hall’s reserves have outscored its opponents in eight of its 10 games. And let's not forget that NC State point guard Farnold Degand is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and the Pack will now depend on freshman Javier Gonzalez. This is an easy win and cover for the Pirates, who will trounce NC State with their strong guard play.
5 Dime – Rider: He's been the target of opposing teams' game plans all season, yet Rider's Jason Thompson avoids foul trouble and finds ways to remain on the court to dominate games for the Broncs. And this may sound like a surprise to most, but he was the only returning player in Division I to have averaged at least 20 points and 10 rebounds last season; this season he's already recorded seven double-doubles in Rider's 8-4 start, averaging 19.8 points on 53.4-percent field-goal shooting, while grabbing 11.3 rebounds. He also has 33 assists and 37 blocked shots.
This kid is an absolute monster, and in a conference like the MAAC, he could lead his team to the conference title and into the Big Dance. But the best thing about Thompson, is he's type of player who when not shooting well, makes the right passes, dishes the assists, he's in there rebounding, and he simply makes becomes more valuable because he turns the Broncs into a multi-dimensional team. This is a well-coached team with a number of really good players on the team.
Arthur Ralph
Super Pick Seton Hall College Hoop
900 Gold Key Arizona State Holiday Bowl
Ralph FREE PLAY is MAVS UNDER
EZ Winners
1 STAR: SETON HALL (-2.5) over NC State
SUNSHINE FORECAST
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Texas(-1?) vs. Arizona State [Holiday Bowl]
Power Rating Projection:
Arizona State 29 Texas 28
Statistical Projections
Texas 29
Rushing Yards: 146
Passing Yards: 292
Turnovers: 2 Arizona State 27
Rushing Yards: 97
Passing Yards: 269
Turnovers: 1
SUNSHINE FORECAST Official Prediction:
Texas 36 Arizona State 24
Texas (1 star)
ARMVIN SPORTS
CBB
12/27/2007 NEVADA 20
NHL
FLORIDA at ATLANTA Over 5.5
12/27/2007 MINNESOTA 105
Teddy Covers
College
Rider +
NBA
Under Celts/Sonics
Foots
Over 62 Ariz St/Texas
L. Ness' Holiday Bowl 24* (Texas/Arizona St)
My 24* is on Texas at 8:00 ET.
One could make a solid argument that BOTH of these teams are disappointed to be here. Texas had national title hopes before the season (at a minimum expected a BCS bowl bid) while ASU opened a surprising 8-0 and with a win on Thanksgiving night at home vs USC, would have secured a Rose Bowl bid (lost 44-24). Even with the Rose Bowl out of the picture, the Sun Devils were a likely BCS bowl team but the Rose Bowl decided on a traditioanl Big 10/Pac 10 matchup, chosing Illinois to play USC. If the Rose Bowl had chosen Georgia, then ASU would have likely filled that 10th BCS bowl spot! In the end however, I just don't have ANY faith in ASU in a big game. In its two biggest tests TY, ASU flopped at Oregon and at home to USC (lost by 20, allowing 508 yards!). Rudy Carpenter had an excellent year at QB (63% / 251.2 YPG / 23-8 ratio) but he was sacked 51 times (Texas defensive front will love that!). Texas QB McCoy was erratic this year (21-18 ratio), after posting a 29-7 ratio as a freshman. He did lose his best WR (Sweed) and two OL but Texas has great depth. RB Charles (1,458 / 6.3 / 16 TDs) was great and should have a big game. Texas lost back-to-back Big 12 games to open the year but then won five straight (avg win by almost 20 points!) before throwing in a clunker vs an inspired A&M team in its final game. ASU fell behind Colo (14-0), Ore St (19-0) and Cal (13-0) but came back to win each time, in starting 8-0. Then, the Sun Devils "spit out the bit" when it counted. Erickson's team is overrated and is in over its head vs Texas. Head coach Mack Brown just continues to win, as he's the only coach to guide his teams to nine-plus wins in 11 consecutive seasons! Class wins out. 24* Texas.
B. Burns' Thursday Night CBB ROAST *7-1 L8 Roasts!
I'm taking the points with HAWAII.
The Lobos are a solid team and they were playing well heading into the Christmas Break. However, they've ben much better at "The Pit" for years and this is a difficult situation. The Lobos are 0-2 their last two road games and now they have to travel directly after Christmas to take on a revenge-minded Hawaii team on its home floor. Looking back to last season and we find that the Warriors also played a home game, immediately following Christmas. They easily took care of Tenn. Martin in that game, winning by double-digits. Despite covering in the earlier meeting, the Lobos are also just 2-7 ATS their last nine games against teams from the WAC Conference. They're also just 1-3 ATS as road favorites in the -3.5 to -6 range. During that stretch, the Warriors have gone 7-4 ATS as home underdogs in the +3.5 to +6 range. The Warriors are also 6-4 SU/ATS the last 10 times they faced a team which allows 64 points or less and a healthy 14-9 SU the last 23 times they were coming off three or more consecutive losses. Despite a slow start here this season, the Warriors are also 29-11 their last 40 home games. I look for homecourt and the "holiday travel" to be the difference tonight as the Warriors play an inspired game and avenge the earlier loss. *Thursday Night Roast.
S. spritzer's CBB TKO Game of the Week! *58-23, 72% Run!
I'm laying the points with Seton Hall on Thursday.
The already quality-depth shy Wolfpack just suffered a tough blow. Coach Sidney Lowe announced that starting PG Farnold Degand will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Degand was not a big scorer, averaging about 7 PPG, but his leadership on the floor was invaluable. The loss knocks NC State down to six quality bodies in reality. They have a few players to fill time, but no one can step up and provide the quality minutes. It's a Wolfpack team that dropped their previous two road games, even with a healthy Degand on the floor. NC State was pounded by Michigan State and sufferend an away loss to ECU, also. The Pack allowed 81 and 75 points in those defeats and will be hard-pressed, without their floor leader, to have any say in the tempo tonight. Seton Hall loves to run the floor and should have little trouble cruising past this low spread. I'm laying the points with the Pirates on Thursday.
Winners edge
NBA:
Dallas Mavs -6.5 , 2 units
CFB:
Texas -2.5 , 2 units
CBB:
N.C State +3 , 1 unit
JIMMY KRUGER
Arizona State +2.5 over Texas - Bronze 3*
Pointwise Phone (Bowl Record 0-7)
4* Arizona St.
Michael Cannon - - was 3-0 yesterday
50 Dime –
ARIZONA STATE
Take Arizona State as the small dog tonight in the Holiday Bowl over Texas.
This is not the best of spots for Texas, as they struggled down the stretch with their pass defense and now have to face a polished passer in Arizona State’s Rudy Carpenter.
Carpenter threw for 3,015 yards with 23 TDs and only eight INTs this year. He was a big reason the Sun Devils finished 10-2 on the year under coach Dennis Erickson.
The Longhorns struggled big time down the stretch on defense, particularly against the pass. Texas allowed a staggering 1,573 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air in its last three games and finished the season ranked 109th in the nation in passing yards allowed.
Arizona State leads the nation in Time of Possession (33:56), while Texas allowed rival Texas A&M to keep the ball for 40 minutes in its season finale. Mind you, the Longhorns were playing with revenge motive against the Aggies and still came up on the short end of a 38-30 final score.
The Longhorns are no pushovers with Colt McCoy leading the offense, but the sophomore quarterback has been prone to mistakes this year with 18 interceptions.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Sun Devils pick McCoy off a few times tonight, as their speedy secondary is ranked No. 6 in passing efficiency defense, allowing 232 ypg on 52 percent completions, with a 17-17 TD-to-INT ratio.
The Texas offensive line is banged up, with starting left tackle Tony Hills and starting center Dallas Griffin both out with season-ending injuries suffered a week apart in November.
Carpenter should have a field day against the Longhorns secondary, which will allow the Sun Devils to sustain drives and control the clock.
Texas is just 2-10 ATS as a bowl chalk (2-6 under Mack Brown). Big 12 bowlers are also just 2-9 ATS off a SU favorite loss, 5-16 ATS as a chalk versus a foe off an ATS win and 1-7 ATS in the last eight bowl matchups when favored over the Pac 10.
Holiday Bowl favorites are just 1-8 ATS and the underdog in Arizona State bowl games has cashed 10 of the last 12 tickets.
Take Arizona State as the small dog tonight as they get it done over Texas.
Tony Mathew's Free College Basketball Selection for December 27, 2007.
Matchup: Idaho State vs. Utah
Selection: Utah -22 (-110)
Explanation: We will side with Utah -22 as they face-off against Idaho State in Thursday's College Basketball contest.
Utah has the much superior offense. Idaho State (on the road) is scoring an average of only 55.1 point per game, while Utah (at home) is scoring an average of 71.6 points per game.
Utah also has the much superior defense. Idaho State (on the road) is allowing opponents to score an average of 72 point per game, while Utah (at home) is allowing opponents to score scoring an average of only 58.4 points per game.
Idaho State is a poor road team. In fact, Idaho State is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 road games.
Take Utah -22!
Sebastian
NHL
10* Phoenix
10* Atlanta
Gina
8:00 p.m. Cleveland (13-16) at Dallas (19-10) Dallas Mavericks - 6½
The Mavericks have won the last three meetings versus the Cavaliers and 12 of the last 14. In the last meeting on October 31st, Dallas hammered the Cavaliers, 92-74 at Quicken Loans Arena. Go with the Mavericks to continue their command over the Cavaliers at home and grab their sixth straight win against Cleveland in Dallas. The Mavericks are 13-2 at home this season, while the Cavaliers are 5-10 on the road.
10:30 p.m. Boston (23-3) at Seattle (8-20) Boston Celtics - 9½
SPORTS MONITOR
PREDICTION: Dallas 102 Cleveland 93
(TRENDS): The favorite has covered 10 of the last 14 in this series.The over is 12-5 in Dallas' last 17 home games. Dallas hascovered five of the last seven when hosting Cleveland.
(GAME SUMMARY): The Cleveland Cavaliers promised they would improve following an opening night drubbing at home courtesyof the Dallas Mavericks. For a while, they delivered- then things got even worse.