LT Profits
Florida International +5.0
This is a double revenge spot for the Florida International Golden Panthers, who lost this rivalry matchup each of the last two years including an embarrassing 55-23 defeat at home last season.
Very little separates these teams this season however, as FIU is averaging 21.9 points per game giving up 28.0 points per contest, while FAU is scoring 22.3 and allowing 27.5. With numbers this close, this game should come down to intangibles, so the huge revenge motive becomes even more significant here.
Also note that this game is on a neutral field, and FIU has been the more competitive of these teams away from home this season. The Golden Panthers are averaging a respectable 21.7 points per game on the road, and while they are losing their road games by an average of -10.0 points, that is only because they lost at Iowa 42-0 and at Kansas 40-10. They have more than held their own with teams that are on the same level.
Conversely, FAU has struggled on the road, averaging just 13.3 points while losing by an average of -14.7 points per game. They also look awful in a 28-14 loss at Arkansas State last week, as the game was not as close as the score would indicate. In fact, the Owls were outgained by a total of 223 total yards.
All things considered, this game should be a lot closer to a Pick, so we see good value with Florida International at this price.
Pick: Florida International +5
SPORTS ADVISORS
Western Michigan (9-2, 5-5 ATS) at (15) Ball State (11-0, 8-2 ATS)
Ball State can wrap up a perfect regular season and a berth in the Mid-American Conference championship game with a victory tonight over Western Michigan, which brings a three-game winning streak into Ball State Stadium.
Playing their third straight midweek, nationally televised game, the Cardinals held off Central Michigan 31-24 last Wednesday, barely cashing as a 6½-point home favorite. Ball State, which averages 37 points and 456.1 points per game, has scored at least 31 points in 10 of its 11 games and hasn’t scored fewer than 24 points in any contest this season.
The Broncos took last week off after toppling Toledo 27-17 on Nov. 15, failing to cover as a 14-point home chalk. Since a season-opening 47-24 loss at Nebraska, Western Michigan has won nine of its last 10 games, scoring at least 27 points eight times. During their three-game winning streak, WMU has averaged 27 points and 402 total yards per game while giving up 14.7 points but also 402 yards per contest.
Ball State (7-0, 5-2 ATS in conference) controls its own destiny in the MAC West Division, as it leads both Central Michigan and Western Michigan (6-1, 4-3 ATS) by one game. Should the Broncos pull off the upset tonight, though, the three teams will be in a tie, with each having gone 1-1 against the other two schools.
The Cardinals have won five of the last seven meetings both SU and ATS in this rivalry, including last year’s 27-23 victory at Western Michigan in a pick-em contest. The visitor is on a 3-0 SU and ATS roll in this series, and the SU winner has cashed in each of the last nine head-to-head clashes.
Ball State is 5-0 (3-1 ATS) at home, putting up 41.4 points and 467 total yards per game, while allowing 17.4 points and 348.2 yards. Meanwhile, the Broncos are 2-2 SU and ATS on the highway and their offensive stats as a visitor (28.8 points, 394.2 total yards per game) are identical to their defensive numbers (28.8 ppg, 396 ypg).
In addition to its 8-2 ATS mark on the season, Ball State is on pointspread hot streaks of 19-7 overall, 4-1 at home, 15-3 against winning teams, 10-4 in November, 5-2 in MAC action and 6-2 when playing on grass. Western Michigan is 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight November contests, but otherwise is in ATS ruts of 7-15-2 against winning teams and 3-9-1 in league play.
For the Broncos, the over is on streaks of 5-1 on the road and 11-4 on grass, but the under has cashed in each of their last four November outings. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are on “under” streaks of 5-1 overall (4-1 in conference), 7-1 in November and 7-3 on grass. However, the over is 3-1 in the last four Ball State-Western Michigan battles (2-0 at Ball State).
ATS ADVANTAGE: BALL STATE
Navy (6-4, 4-5 ATS) at Northern Illinois (6-5, 6-4 ATS)
Northern Illinois looks to keep its slim bowl hopes alive as it closes out the regular season with a non-conference clash against Navy at Huskie Stadium.
The last time Northern Illinois was at home, it suffered a heartbreaking 33-30 overtime loss to Central Michigan, erasing a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit before turning the ball over on its first offensive possession in overtime. However, the Huskies bounced back from that defeat with last Tuesday’s 42-14 rout of Kent State, easily cashing as a two-point road favorite. NIU outgained Kent State 397-253 (224-127 in rushing) and forced three fumbles while committing no turnovers.
Navy had a modest two-game winning streak snapped 10 days ago, falling 27-21 to Notre Dame as a four-point underdog. It marked the fourth time in the last five games that the Midshipmen had given up at least 27 points and the fourth time in the last five that they got outgained in total yardage.
This is a rematch of last November’s meeting at the Naval Academy, which the Middies won 35-24, but Northern Illinois got the cash as a 16½-point underdog.
Navy is 1-1 against teams from the Mid-American Conference this year, but the Midshipmen have failed to cash in five straight against the MAC (0-2 ATS this year). They’re also 0-4 ATS in their last four November affairs, but they’re 51-21 ATS in their last 72 on the highway and 15-6 ATS in their last 21 after a defeat.
Northern Illinois is on ATS upticks of 9-4 overall, 9-3-1 in November and 4-1 outside the MAC.
The over is 7-2 in Navy’s last nine on the highway and 8-3-1 in its last 12 in November, but the Middies have stayed under the total in seven of their last eight games on artificial turf. For Northern Illinois, the under is on solid streaks of 20-8-1 overall, 9-1-1 at home, 6-2 in non-conference play, 13-5-1 on turf, 7-3 in November and 7-2 against winning teams.
Finally, despite 59 combined points, last year’s meeting between these teams stayed under the 72½-point posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NORTHERN ILLINOIS and UNDER
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Syracuse (4-0, 1-1 ATS) vs. (22) Kansas (3-0, 1-0 ATS)
(at Kansas City, Mo.)
One night after upsetting 18th-ranked Florida, Syracuse tries to take down another Top 25 foe when it clashes with the defending national champion Jayhawks in the CBE Classic championship game in Kansas City.
Five players, including two reserves, scored in double figures as the Orange got past Florida 89-83 as a 3½-point underdog in the semifinals of this event Monday. Syracuse shot 51.7 percent from the field, limited Florida to 48 percent, made 11 more free throws and enjoyed a 40-34 rebounding advantage. Syracuse is 8-2 SU (4-4 ATS) going back to last March.
Kansas extended its NCAA-best winning streak to 16 in a row with another strong defensive effort Monday, pounding Washington 73-54 as a six-point favorite. The Jayhawks haven’t allowed an opponent to shoot better than 30 percent from the field this season, and limited the Huskies to 29.2 percent. On the offensive end, Kansas shot 50 percent, had just 10 turnovers and saw four players score in double figures, led by Sherron Collins’ 18 points. Kansas has won 28 consecutive games in Kansas City.
These schools last met in the 2003 NCAA championship game, and Syracuse pulled off an 81-78 upset victory as a 5½-point underdog for its first national championship. The all-time series is split at 2-2.
Going back to last March, the Jayhawks are on a 10-3 ATS tear. Additionally, the Jayhawks are on pointspread streaks of 6-1 in neutral-site games and 6-1 in non-conference action, but they’ve failed to cover in five of their last six against the Big East. Meanwhile, Syracuse is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games against the Big 12 but has failed to cash in seven straight games on Tuesday.
For Syracuse, the over is on stretches of 4-1 overall, 5-2 at neutral sites, 5-1 in non-league play and 5-2 on Tuesdays. Kansas has topped the total in six of its last eight against the Big East, but the Jayhawks have stayed low in seven straight lined games overall, including six straight at neutral sites.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS
(8) Notre Dame (3-0, 1-1 ATS) vs. (6) Texas (3-0, 2-0 ATS)
(at Maui, Hawaii)
It’s an early-season battle of Top 10 teams, as Texas clashes with Notre Dame in the semifinals of the annual Maui Invitational.
The Longhorns took down St. Joe’s 68-50 on Monday, cashing as a nine-point favorite. Texas, which has won all three of its games this season by 18 points or more, got a game-high 17 points from A.J. Abrams, and Gary Johnson (14 points, 10 rebounds) came off the bench to record a double-double. The defense stepped up and held the Hawks to 29.3 percent shooting, including 19 percent (4-for-21) from three-point range.
The Fighting Irish took the court after Texas and pummeled Indiana 88-50, easily cashing as a 15-point chalk. The Irish shot 50.7 percent from the field (10-for-26 from three-point land), held the young Hoosiers to 39.6 percent shooting (1-for-12 from long range) and finished with a 43-33 rebounding edge.
Going back to the start of last February, Texas is 18-3 SU and 13-6-1 ATS, while Notre Dame is on a 15-4 SU roll and a 7-4 ATS run.
These schools last met on the hardwood back in 2002, when Notre Dame scored a 98-92 upset win over then-No. 2 Texas as a one-point underdog in a preseason tournament in Washington, D.C.
Texas is on ATS streaks of 9-4-1 on a neutral court, 5-2 in non-conference play, 23-12-1 after a SU win and 7-1-1 on Tuesdays, but the Horns have failed to cash in five straight games against the Big East. The Irish are 4-0 ATS in their last four on Tuesdays, but they’re 2-4 ATS in their last six after a SU win and 1-5 ATS in their last six after a victory of more than 20 points.
The over is 7-3 in Texas’ last 10 games against Big East foes, but Notre Dame is in the midst of “under” streaks of 6-1 overall, 6-1 at neutral sites and 11-4 against non-conference foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS
(1) North Carolina (4-0, 1-2 ATS) vs. Oregon (3-1, 2-1 ATS)
(at Maui, Hawaii)
Oregon faces easily its stiffest test of the young season when it runs up against top-ranked North Carolina in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.
The Ducks took apart Alabama in last night’s opening round, cruising 92-69 as a five-point underdog. Oregon, which lost to Division II Oakland 82-79 in overtime eight days ago, outscored the Crimson Tide 53-33 in the second half, as Joevan Catron (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Michael Dunigan (18 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles.
North Carolina trashed tournament host Chaminade 115-70 in a non-lined game Monday, once again playing without the reigning national Player of the Year, as center Tyler Hansbrough sat out with a shin injury for the third time in the Tar Heels’ four games. UNC has hardly missed the big man, winning all four games by 15 points or more while averaging 82.3 points per game and holding the opposition to 65.3 ppg. Roy Williams’ squad is 40-3 SU since the start of last season, including 33-2 in the regular season.
The Tar Heels have won all three series meetings against Oregon, though the schools haven’t faced each other this decade. The Ducks went 3-6 SU against Top 25 teams last year, but did upset UCLA 68-66 in January 2007 in their most recent matchup against a top-ranked team.
North Carolina is on ATS runs of 36-16 in non-conference play, 4-1 at neutral sites and 4-0 against the Pac-10. On the flip side, Oregon is 1-4 ATS in its last five lined non-conference contests, 1-4 ATS in its last five at neutral sites and 0-4 ATS in its last four on Tuesdays.
The over is on runs of 4-1 for Oregon overall, 5-1 for Oregon on a neutral floor, 4-1-1 for Oregon on Tuesdays and 18-8 for UNC on Tuesdays. However, the Tar Heels have topped the total in nine of their last 10 against the Pac-10.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NORTH CAROLINA and OVER
NBA
Cleveland (10-3, 9-4 ATS) at N.Y. Knicks (7-6, 6-7 ATS)
LeBron James takes his high-scoring act to Madison Square Garden for the first time this season as he leads the first-place Cavaliers against the new-look Knicks.
James leads the NBA in scoring at 29.1 points per game and contributed 24 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Saturday’s 110-96 rout of Atlanta, with Cleveland holding on to cover as a 12-point home chalk. The Cavs have won nine of their last 10 games, going 7-3 ATS, and they’re 3-1 SU and ATS on the highway during this stretch.
New York snapped a three-game SU and ATS slide with Saturday’s 122-117 home victory over the Wizards as a 2½-point favorite. The Knicks, who were involved in two blockbuster trades last week that sent Zach Randolph to the Clippers and Jamal Crawford to Golden State, had just seven players see action against Washington, but four of the five starters scored at least 22 points. New York is 5-2 (4-3 ATS) at the Garden so far.
The SU winner is 8-1 ATS in the Knicks’ last nine games and 10-2 ATS in Cleveland’s last 12.
These teams have alternated SU wins and losses in the last seven meetings between each other, with the Cavaliers taking last year’s final matchup 119-105 as a 4½-point road chalk. New York is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 against Cleveland, and the ‘dog has cashed in nine of the last 12 battles.
The Cavaliers are on a slew of positive ATS streaks, including 19-7 overall, 9-3 on the road, 11-3 against the Eastern Conference, 13-3 versus the Atlantic Division and 9-4 versus winning teams. On the other hand, New York is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 against the Eastern Conference and 4-11 ATS in its last 15 when going on two days’ rest.
The last four Knicks-Cavaliers matchups have soared over the total. Also, the Knicks are on over streaks of 5-1 overall, 15-7 at home, 6-2 on Tuesdays and 22-7 against winning teams, while Cleveland has topped the total in seven of its last nine overall and five of its last seven against the East.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Indiana (5-7, 6-5-1 ATS) at Dallas (6-7 SU and ATS)
The Mavericks go for their fifth consecutive win and a return to .500 as they host the slumping Pacers at American Airlines Center.
Dallas returned from a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS road trip and blasted the Grizzlies 91-76 as a nine-point home favorite Friday. The winning streak comes on the heels of an 0-5 SU and ATS nosedive, as the SU winner has covered in all 13 Mavericks games this season.
The Pacers kicked off a three-game road journey with Saturday’s 109-100 loss at Miami as a six-point underdog. Indiana has lost two in a row and four of its last five (1-3-1 ATS), and it is 1-4 on the road (3-2 ATS).
Dallas has owned this rivalry of late, winning five of the last six meetings (3-2-1 ATS). Last year, the teams split their season series, with the home team winning and cashing in each contest. The host is 7-2 SU in the last nine clashes and 13-2-1 ATS in the past 16, with the Mavs going 6-1-1 ATS in the last eight games played in Dallas.
Aside from their current 4-0 ATS hot streak, the Mavs are on negative pointspread runs of 1-5 at home, 7-19-1 against the Central Division, 3-7 after a victory and 4-9 on Tuesdays. The Pacers are in ATS slumps of 1-5 versus the Western Conference, 1-4 against the Southwest Division and 5-12 on Tuesdays, but Indiana is 39-18-2 ATS in its last 59 games when going on two days’ rest and 4-1 ATS in its last five after a non-cover.
The over is on a 9-4-1 ATS tear in this rivalry, and the over is also 10-1-2 in Indiana’s last 13 against the Western Conference, 5-0-1 in its last six against the Central Division, 8-3-1 in its last 12 on Tuesdays and 4-0 in Dallas’ last four games played on three or more days of rest.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DALLAS and OVER
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Saint Louis +10
Nebraska is yet to play a team as strong as St. Louis so I will gladly jump on these 10 points. St. Louis is coming off an impressive win over Boston College, holding the Eagles to just 50 points. Nebraska is not a high scoring team and both of these sides take a lot of pride on the defensive end. With this game going to be a defensive battle, odds makers are spotting us too many points. Nebraska is just 6-16 ATS after playing a game as favorite over the last 3 seasons, losing by an average score of 65.5 to 68.8 in these spots. We'll take the points.
Scott Ferrall
Miss St -7 to St.Bonney
PENN ST -3.5 to Penn
VA COMM -8.5 to E. Carolina
NEBRASKA -10 to St.Louis
BALL ST +7 from Wisconsin Milwaukee
Creighton -3 to Ark Little Rock
Vegas Experts
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2008-09 Oklahoma City Thunder could quite possibly be the worst team in NBA history. They already got HC PJ Carlesimo fired and it's not even December. That's what happens when you lose 13 of your first 14 games and prior to covering as lofty 15-point home dogs last time out, this team had also failed to cash in six straight. Oddsmakers aren't being nearly as generous tonight and a Suns team that has been shooiting the basketball well all season will take advantage.
Play on: Phoenix
Matt Fargo
Georgia State at Troy State
Prediction: Georgia State
Georgia St. enters this game with a 2-3 record but this team could easily be 4-1 right now. The first game of the season saw the Panthers go down against Bowling Green on a last second three-point bomb and the last game was also a loss in overtime in a game it should have won on regulation. The other setback came against a good Minnesota team by just eight points. The losing record gives the Panther some value and plenty of time to still be able to sneak out some easy wins.
Troy is a home underdog for a reason. The Trojans are extremely young and are once again picked to finish last in the Sun Belt East Division. They return only one starter and the roster contains only two seniors. Troy was able to land Mississippi St. transfer Richard Delk and he is going to be the main go to guy on this team. He is leading the team with 15 ppg but there is not much after him as far as consistent scoring on a game by game basis. This team is going to struggle and that is already shown with three losses.
The Trojans live and die by the three-pointer which was the case last season. They are hoisting an average of 31.5 per game this season and if they get hot, they will be tough to beat. However, they are shooting just 31.7 percent and that type of style can hurt a great deal. It provides easy buckets in the other direction and Troy is allowing opponents to shoot 46.7 percent from the floor. They have 11 players averaging over 10 minutes per game but the Panthers can match up with that.
Georgia St. has nine players averaging 15 or more minutes per game so fatigue is no problem. The Panthers brought back four starters and also brought in five transfers who sat out last season. Joe Dukes is a guard coming in from Wake Forest, forwards Xavier Hansbro and Trey Hampton come from Mississippi, both of whom played under coach Rod Barnes with the Rebels and forward Bernard Rimmer comes over from Mississippi St. These guys offset Delk and Georgia St. rolls to the win here. 3* Georgia St. Panthers
Drew Gordon
Indiana +8 at DALLAS
While the Mavs have won 4 straight, and have been playing much better basketball of late, I'm still not ready to lay this many against a solid Pacers team looking to bounce back strong here tonight.
It may be easy to fade the Pacers after losing 4 of their last 5, but not so fast. The one win they did have was against the Hawks, a solid team this season. While losses to the 76ers (a close one), the Magic (top-tier in the East), and at the Bulls are understandable. Granted, their last loss at the Heat was ugly, but let's not get carried away, Dwayne Wade was amazing in that contest. In other words, this Pacers team is better than their being given credit for, and they'll prove me right tonight.
The Mavericks on the other hand, are not nearly as good as their being given credit for. Sure, in 3 of their last 4 games, coach Carlisle's 10-man rotation has proven effective, but it faltered against the Grizzlies in his last one (albeit still a win and cover - Griz are terrible). Pacers have had plenty of time to think about their loss at Miami, having last played on Saturday, and I expect Granger and company to come out fired up in this one. As long as Coach Carlisle keeps screwing with his rotation, the Mavericks will remain vulnerable against good/ athletic teams like Indiana.
Bottom line, while I do expect the Mavericks to win here, covering is an entirely different animal. The Pacers can score with the Mavericks, and although their defense wanes at times, they'll be highly focused in this one after a bitter loss at Miami in their last one. In the end, the public may think the Mavericks have turned it around, but I'm not entirely convinced just yet.
Take Indiana plus the points over Dallas in this NBA match up.
2♦ INDIANA
Navy at NORTHERN ILLINOIS -3
This is a good spot for the Huskies, who are coming off a blowout confidence-building win at Kent State 42-14 last Tuesday. In that contest, they saw one of the best running QBs in the nation in Julian Edelman, and they showed they're fully capable of stopping that kind of run-based option attack in its tracks, even on the road, which was impressive to say the least.
Fast forward one week, and now they face an even more one-dimensional run-based attack as the Navy Midshipmen come to town. Unfortunately for Navy, they got exposed by Notre Dame Saturday, losing 27-21, thanks in large part to their (relative) struggles running the football, rushing for 178 yards. For most teams, a 178-yard rushing night would be a success, but fact of the matter is, Navy cannot win if they do not FAR supercede that total.
Herein lies the problem, because we know starting QB Enhada won't play, as he's targetting Army in the season finale as his comeback. That's a problem for the Midshipmen, because neither backup QB Bryant or Dobbs has been particularly effective. Both are ZERO threat to the throw the ball, completing at best 53% of their passes, while Enhada was up around 72% for the season. Its his ability to keep the defense somewhat honest with the occasional pass that makes the Navy attack so dangerous... Without him, its no secret what Navy is going to do, and the Huskies know that.
The final piece of the puzzle is the Huskies stout defense, which allows just under 14 ppg at home on 255 total yards. They'll benefit from seeing a Kent State attack that is somewhat similar to Navy last week, and the fact they allow only 3.8 yards per rush at home does not bode well for the Midshipmen. In the end, while the QB position might not seem as important in Navy's run-based attack, you'll see just how critical the injury to Kaheaku-Enhada really is tonight, as the Huskies circle the wagons at home in this one!
Small play on Northern Illinois over Navy in this college football match up.
1♦ NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Indiancowboy COMP
Notre Dame +2.5 over Texas
I very rarely bet "public games" but here is an opportunity to roll with a very good Notre Dame team. Look, I am a firm believer in "team chemistry". This Irish team is solid with the likes of Harongody (averaging 14 ppg), Tory Jackson (21 ppg), Kyle McAlarney (18ppg) and Ryan Ayers (avg. 13 ppg). I mention that to point that this team is a very balanced and veteran team from top to bottom. Texas has their strength with Abrahams, but they are relying on this kid way too much. After all, he was very effective last year coming off screens to shoot. This year, they are running through the point with him and he has to create off the dribble - hence, this is the value of D.J. Augustine (now with the Bobcats) who opened up this team far more. I think the "Team" concept of Notre Dame gets it done here against Texas as the Irish big three of McAlarney, Harongody and Jackson will be too much to handle for Abrahams and Texas. The Irish are good folks
Dave Malinsky
Alabama @ Chaminade
PICK: 4* Alabama
Although this tournament has provided Chaminade with some opportunities to take down some much better opponents in the past, this is one year that Matt Mahar would probably have opted out if he could – he only has even serviceable players right now, and three games in three days against this class of competition is going to be an exhausting task. We saw signs of those weaknesses with the Silverswords got whipped by 17 vs. a mediocre Hawaii team in their only exhibition game, and note the reality behind that 115-70 drubbing vs. North Carolina on Monday – the Tar Heels were without Tyler Hansbrough, and the starting five only played 114 of the 200 available minutes. Roy Williams had 13 different players on the court for at least four minutes, and several of those players are not likely to find their way on the floor again this season.
When getting trounced by the #1 team in the nation, it would ordinarily be a chance for a coach to rest his better players, and let others get some work. Mahar could not do that. His own starting five played 159 minutes, including 39 from Shane Hanson and 37 from Darrell Birton, and given the frenetic pace on Monday, that means some serious fatigue for this turnaround. So the last thing that they need to face is an angry opponent looking to vent some frustrations, but that is exactly what they must run into here.
Mark Gottfried’s post-game comments left no doubt about how frustrated he was with Alabama’s second-half collapse vs. Oregon on Monday night, when the Crimson Tide got out-scored 48-27 down the stretch. That means a “crack the whip” type of focus this afternoon, and the depth is there to completely wear this opponent out – 10 different Alabama players saw at least nine minutes of action on Monday, and we expect their edges in athleticism and depth to turn this into an ugly rout.
Larry Ness
Notre Dame @ Texas
PICK: Texas
The sixth-ranked Texas Longhorns and the eighth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet tonight in Maui, with the winner expected to meet No. 1 North Carolina in the finals on Wednesday, assuming the Tar Heels can beat Oregon tonight. The Big East is 'loaded' this year and Notre Dame plans on "stating its case" to being as good as anyone in the nation's toughest conference or anywhere else for that matter. Preseason All-American Luke Harangody (23.7-12.0) is off to a great start. He's joined in the frontcourt by the 6-9 Hillesland (6.3-5.7) and 6-7 swingman Ayers (9.7), while Jackson (14.3-4.3-5.3) and McAlarney (9.3-4.3 APG) run the backcourt. The Longhorns have won 30, 25 and 31 games in each of the last three seasons and while DJ Augustin is off to the NBA, fellow guard Abrams (17.7) returns, along with the 6-7 James (14.3-6.3), who is a 'monster' of a player. The 6-10 Atchley (11.0-3.3) can block shots and knock down three-pointers (a rare combo), while the 6-7 Johnson, one of the nation's top recruits last year before being slowed by a heart condition, is ready to go this year (is averaging 10.3-7.7). The 6-10 Pittman (8.0-5.0) adds excellent size inside, while Mason (3.7-3.3-4.0) is a talented player to be paired with Abrams on the perimeter. Texas has been a regular in tourneys like this for some time now, while Notre Dame has not. In fact, the last (and ONLY time) the Irish have been here in Maui, came back in 1993. I'm sticking with Texas.
Dennis Macklin
Game: Atlanta Thrashers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Prediction: Under
These are two high flying teams that have combined to go 24-14 over on the year yet the series is 8-2-1 under in L11. The Thrashers have lost three of four scoring just five goals and are 16-5 under in L21 non-conference. The Leafs have been involved in a bunch of high scoring games of late but are 44-26 under versus losing records and again, recent history is under including 3-1 and 4-0 in last two. Play the under.
Wunderdog
Cleveland State at Toledo
Pick: OVER 127 -110
Cleveland State meets Toledo tonight and neither of these teams is off to a good start. The Rockets have yet to find the win column and Cleveland St. is off to a disappointing 1-2 start. It will be the first-ever meeting for these two teams which usually bodes well for scoring as neither has the tendencies of the other team down. Cleveland St. has seen their star player J'Nathon Bullock off to a 36% shooting performance as well as two other starters shooting in the mid-30s or less in the first three games, and you know that will change. The stats and scores are misleading however, as the Vikings have gone into games over their head where they played Washington and Kansas St. They shot a combined 43-126 for 34% in those games. The total is being held down because of this, but truly not indicative of where this team is offensively. Likewise, Toledo is being rated on offensive performances against Xavier and Florida - certainly above their level. Against the Mid-American, Cleveland St.is more on their level and has played four of the last five to the OVER, while Toledo has played OVER in four straight after scoring under 50 in their last game. I like this one to go OVER the total.