11-8-13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

[Can'tPickAWinner]

WINNING POINTS

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Alabama over Oklahoma by 6 (Dallas, TX)
Lost size, and questionable ball-handling would seem to be issues for Lon Kruger’s
Sooners in this particular match-up. Alabama length, and harassing, sticky-fingered
defense, is pretty much a trademark.
ALABAMA, 64-58.

**PREFERRED
SMU over TCU by 11 (Dallas, TX)
Larry Brown’s Mustangs return all five starters from a team that did its best work early
in the season a year ago. Having all off-season to target a local rival from a ‘better’ conference is a nice edge for SMU, especially with TCU being a team that has a long way to go offensively.
SMU, 71-60.

Baylor over Colorado by 13 (at Dallas, TX)
A productive transfer from Denver who wants to be nearer to the ill grandfather he’ll
never visit because he plays ball, studies and goes to class (maybe), practices and goes on road trips – Royce O’Neale – has been cleared to play for Baylor. This Top 20-projected team is happy about that.
BAYLOR, 74-61.

Boston College over Providence* by 1
Former McDonald’s All-American Kris Dunn, a guard, never saw the floor for
Providence last season and has re-injured the shoulder that kept him out. So,
…BOSTON COLLEGE, 70-69.

Connecticut over Maryland by 2 (Brooklyn, NY)
The grinding style that Maryland head coach Turgeon likes to play is a real annoyance
for the runners that UConn recruits.
CONNECTICUT, 65-63.

Richmond* over Delaware by 11
CAA member Delaware opens with 11 of its first 13 games on the road, and the realization that they don’t need to jell until later on because winning the CAA is their real goal. Richmond is always an NCAA At-Large candidate and will be primed.
RICHMOND,69-58.

VCU* over Illinois State by 7

Syracuse* over Cornell by 18

Old Dominion* over Missouri State by 1

Notre Dame* over Miami-OH by 15

***BEST BET
Oregon over Georgetown by 12 (at Seoul, Korea)
Dana Altman’s Ducks are built to pester Georgetown like some of Georgetown’s most
notable bugaboos have pestered them – with quickness and 3-pointers. They even have UNLV transfer Mike Moser, who’ll be a malcontent later but for now, is probably an asset at forward. UCLA transfer Josh Smith – a 6’10”, 310 center -- has been cleared to play for Georgetown and Oregon will no doubt welcome him with open arms and run circles around the big stiff.
OREGON, 73-61.

Texas A&M* over Buffalo by 21

South Alabama* over Detroit by 4

Wisconsin-Milwaukee over Loyola-Chicago* by 1

Virginia* over James Madison by 14

Kansas* over UL-Monroe by 31

Wisconsin over St. John’s by 4 (Sioux Falls, SD)
Steve Lavin has the most balanced squad to date at St. John’s, whose athletic mix will
pose some problems for the Badgers.
WISCONSIN, 59-55.

Mississippi* over Troy by 23

Houston* over Texas State by 13

Boise State* over Texas Arlington by 18

Utah State* over USC by 12
Good luck to first-season head USC head coach Andy Enfield trying to establish a
dunk-first offense on the road against a tried-and-true defensive system with decent
bulk in the paint, and overall smarts.
UTAH STATE, 70-58.

North Carolina* over Oakland by 22

Iowa* over NC Wilmington by 21

Portland* over Cal-Davis by 8

Cal-Irvine* over Fresno State by 2

Arizona* over Cal Poly-SLO by 16

San Diego State* over Cal-Riverside by 23

Nevada* over Pacific by 3
Almost five years into his gig, and Nevada head coach Carter hasn’t found his Nick
Fazekas, Kevinn Pinkney, JaVale McGee or Dario Hunt — a serious big man.
NEVADA,59-56.

St. Mary’s* over Louisiana Tech by 1
A 27-win visitor from last season, that returns 9 of its top 10 scorers from a year ago,
enters a place that lost its heart-and-soul guard Mick Dellavedova to the NBA, has
been sanctioned by the NCAA, and whose coach will be on suspension. Nice opportunity for La. Tech.
ST. MARY’S, 69-68.

UCLA* over Drexel by 9
Bruins’ fifth-year senior Travis Wear had appendicitis last week. Drexel opened last season with 2-point overtime losses vs. Kent State and Illinois State, two pretty decent teams.
UCLA, 68-59.

New Mexico St over Western Michigan by 11 (at Honolulu)
Marvin’s Menzies are picked to win the WAC. Sometimes, they like to travel around
and get killed by the best programs early, but this year’s opening slate is very, very more than manageable. For very underclassmen-oriented Western Michigan, last year’s
MAC Freshman of the Year Darius Paul loved playing there so much he decided to
transfer to Illinois.
NEW MEXICO STATE, 69-58.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pointspread prognosis Joe Gavazzi

Friday, November 8, 2013
Louisville (-28) at Connecticut 8:30 ET ESPN2
In Bowling Green’s 45-3 destruction of Miami, OH Tuesday night, we witnessed just what can happen in a late season game when the best defensive team in the league takes on the worst offensive team in the league. Tonight, we have Defensive Dandy, Louisville, lining up against Offensive Oaf, Connecticut. The Huskies average 16 PPG and enter on runs of 4-12 ATS, including 1-6 ATS this year. With Houston on the horizon, in a top of the league showdown, why should Louisville care? How about 23-20 revenge for lone home loss revenge from last year and 1 of only 3 losses the Cards have suffered in the last 2 seasons. Lone reason to keep your bankroll under lock and key is the record of Louisville HC Strong who is 7-11 ATS as -10 or more favorite.

Air Force at New Mexico (-3) 9:00 ET ESPNU
In an option vs. option offensive football game, one would consider that such a clock eating affair would lead to a low scoring game. Think again. Each of these defenses allows 37 PPG with Air Force allowing 221/4.7 overland and New Mexico allowing 253/6.3 vs. the run. With two wins apiece, neither of these teams is going anywhere with those shoddy defenses. But, we can slightly favor the momentum of Air Force, who broke their 6 game losing streak, with a 42-28 home victory over Army last week. As Air Force is normally a winning team, it is understandable that they are 0-3 ATS following the Army victory. This year, you can see it as a buy sign from a team who may have reached the nadir of their discontent following a 5-16 ATS and 2-6 ATS record to begin this year. Air Force is the value side as underdog.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Prediction Machine

118

9:00 PM

AF @ NM

59.5

71.8

Over

58.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

How does NCAAB Preseason Poll stack up to NCAA odds?

The USA Today College Basketballl Preseason Coaches’ poll was released Thursday, with the Kentucky Wildcats reclaiming their spot as the nation’s top program.

Here’s how the preseason Top 25 matches up to the NCAAB national title futures odds, revealing which programs hold the most bang for your buck as far as the rankings are concerned:

1. Kentucky (+400)
2. Michigan State (+1,000)
3. Louisville (+1,000)
4. Duke (+700)
5. Arizona (+1,500)
6. Kansas (+800)
7. Syracuse (+2,500)
8. Florida (+1,200)
9. Michigan (+3,000)
10. Ohio State (+1,500)
11. North Carolina (+2,000)
12. Oklahoma State (+4,000)
13. Memphis (+5,000)
14. Gonzaga (+10,000)
15. Virginia Commonwealth (+4,000)
16. Wichita State (+10,000)
17. Marquette (+10,000)
18. Oregon (+4,000)
19. Connecticut (+7,500)
20. New Mexico (+10,000)
21. Wisconsin (+6,000)
22. Notre Dame (+10,000)
23. UCLA (+10,000)
24. Indiana (+5,000)
25. Virginia (+7,500)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAB Betting Top 3 Darkhorse Contenders

With a new NCAA basketball season on the horizon, several teams have been installed as the preseason favorites to reach the Final Four next March. Kentucky leads the way at 4-1 thanks to the presence of draft lottery locks Julius Randle and Willie Cauley-Stein, while Duke (7-1) and Kansas (8-1) are next in line.

Here's a look at three teams that come into the season as darkhorses for the NCAA championship (odds courtesy LVH):

Oklahoma State Cowboys (40-1)

Led by standout point guard Marcus Smart, the Cowboys could potentially boast one of the deepest and most dangerous lineups in the Big 12. Smart was sensational as a freshman with Oklahoma State, averaging 15.4 points to go along with 4.2 assists and three steals. He, along with guard Markel Brown and swingman Le'Bryan Nash, make up one of the top backcourt units in the nation. Shooting was an issue for Oklahoma State last season, but if Smart and others can improve on last year's totals, the Cowboys could make a run at the Final Four.

VCU Rams (40-1)

Virginia Commonwealth is in good shape heading into the season despite being without standout seniors Darius Theus and Troy Daniels. The Rams' decision to implement a press-at-all-times defence (appropriately named "HAVOC") has met its share of detractors - and moments of defensive collapse - but with a team full of young, athletic players at all positions, VCU is in its best shape ever to force turnovers by the boatload. If the Rams can figure out how to adjust HAVOC to suit all adversaries - particularly those with speedy guards - it could be a long season for opposing teams.

Iowa Hawkeyes (100-1)

The Hawkeyes find themselves in a loaded Big Ten, matched up against powerhouses Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan. But Iowa may find itself right in the mix thanks to a nationally renowned defense. The Hawkeyes played seven games against ranked opponents a season ago and lost five of them by single digits - a key run here or there, and Iowa may have found itself marching to a Final Four appearance rather than settling for a loss to Baylor in the NIT title game. With a softer schedule and a year of seasoning for the team's core players, things should be different this year.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAB Betting Top 3 Letdown Candidates

For every NCAA men's basketball team that defies the odds and jumps from relative unknown to championship contender, there is a team that heads in the opposite direction. Every year, a handful of early-season favorites fail to meet expectations, whether due to injury, ineffectiveness or any number of additional factors.

Here are three teams that could struggle to reward bettors this coming season (odds courtesy LVH):

Florida Gators (12-1)

Oddsmakers and those in charge of the coaches' preseason poll - where the Gators come in at No. 8 - both seem willing to look past the fact that Florida enters the season in turmoil. Between Eli Carter (broken fibula) and Will Yeguete (right knee) recovering from serious injuries, Scottie Wilbekin only recently (and partially) reinstated from a suspension and several other players facing potential in-house sanctions, head coach Billy Donovan has been forced to run practices with far from a full complement of personnel. If the Gators struggle to mesh out of the gate, it could be a long and disappointing campaign in Gainesville.

Syracuse Orange (25-1)

The Orange are leaving a difficult conference (Big East) to join what will likely be an even deadlier one (ACC), and will do so without two of their standout players from last season. Head coach Jim Boeheim described Michael Carter-Williams as "the best defensive guard (Syracuse) has ever had, while Brandon Triche provided a consistent scoring punch. Any team boasting a lottery hopeful in power forward Jerami Grant, an electrifying forward in CJ Fair and a stud freshman in Tyler Ennis will have success, but an unforgiving conference schedule will put the Orange to the test.

Wisconsin Badgers (60-1)

Despite being led by one of the NCAA's best defensive-minded coaches in Bo Ryan, the Badgers have several things working against them. The biggest is the loss of Jared Berggren, Ryan Evans and Mike Bruesewitz, robbing Wisconsin of two top-3 scorers and its three leading rebounders from a season ago. Playing in the always-competitive Big Ten won't help matters - nor will a grueling nonconference schedule that has the Badgers racking up the miles, a development that could lead to fatigue later in the year. Given how much energy they expend on the defensive end, that could ultimately punish them in March.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAB Betting Top 3 'OVER' Teams to Watch

The path to college basketball success often begins with a potent offense.

With every possession so important - particularly at tournament time - teams that can generate points in hurry will often fare best. Several of the top teams in Division I boast formidable units that should present plenty of problems for opposing defenses.

Here are three teams that should reward bettors with consistent "OVER" action this season:

Connecticut Huskies (2012-13 O/U: 11-12-0)

The Huskies are one of the few top teams to return most of their roster core from last season - and what a core it is. Senior Shabazz Napier (17.1 points per game) leads a sensational guard rotation that includes fellow returnees Ryan Boatright (15.4 ppg) and Omar Calhoun (11.1 ppg). DeAndre Daniels (12.1) anchors the frontcourt, and all four players should see plenty of shots. As a perimeter-reliant unit, they'll run cold at times - but expect points in bunches most nights.

Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-14-2)

Any team boasting a lottery-bound guard in Marcus Smart can be counted upon to generate plenty of points. Smart (15.4 ppg) spearheads an impressive four-man offensive attack that includes swingman Le'Bryan Nash (14 ppg) and guards Markel Brown (15.3 ppg) and Phil Forte (10.2 ppg). The departure of big man Philip Jurick represents a major hit to the Cowboys' frontcourt defense, which only increases the chance that their games will be shootouts.

VCU Rams (13-15-0)

VCU had one of the top offenses in the nation a year ago, and this season's edition should be just as potent. Junior guard Traveon Graham (15.1 ppg) returns to lead a starting five that will include dominant forward Juvonte Reddic (14.6 ppg) and versatile guard Rob Brandenburg (10.4 ppg). Making up for the loss of Darius Theus and Troy Daniels may prove daunting, but head coach Chaka Smart runs one of the best up-tempo attacks in the NCAA and should adjust.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Todays Best Bets

3* - [115] Louisville -28 -110 vs Connecticut

3* - [117] Air Force +2.5 -105 vs New Mexico

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Chicago Syndicate

Top CFB Play

Louisville -27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

LA Syndicate

Top CFB Play

Air Force/New Mexico Over 59

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NCAAB tip off: What bettors need to know

Maryland Terrapins vs. Connecticut Huskies (-7, 144)
Site: Brooklyn, New York

The Terrapins are predicted to challenge for that middle tier in the ACC, though another year of maturity from swingman Dez Wells could get them closer to the top. Wells is expected to take on more ball-handling duties and averaged 13.1 points on 52.6 percent shooting as a sophomore last season, including a 30-point outburst in an ACC tournament win over Duke.

The Huskies managed 20 wins despite sitting out both the Big East and NCAA Tournaments last season and will run out a starting lineup with two seniors and two juniors to go along with sophomore Omar Calhoun. Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright combined to average 32.5 points and nine assists in one of the most productive backcourts in the country last season.

TRENDS:

* Under is 8-2 in Huskies last 10 vs. Atlantic Coast.
* Over is 6-2 in Terrapins last eight neutral site games.
* Terrapins are 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games.

Davidson Wildcats at Duke Blue Devils (-17, 152)

The Wildcats are coming off consecutive 25-win campaigns and lost on a last-second shot to third-seeded Marquette in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Davidson, which will move to the Atlantic 10 in 2014, begins its final season in the Southern Conference with the league’s preseason player of the year in De’Mon Brooks (13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds).

Despite the loss of its top three scorers from a season ago, the expectations remain high for No. 4 Duke. The Blue Devils lost Seth Curry, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly to graduation – a trio that accounted for 54.8 percent of the team’s scoring – but highly-touted freshman Jabari Parker was the crown jewel of a recruiting class that is expected to help Duke win the ACC.

TRENDS:

* Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings.
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Duke.
* Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last seven vs. Atlantic Coast.

St. John's Red Storm vs. Wisconsin Badgers (-3.5, 132)
Site: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Despite having five starters and 11 letterwinners returning, the fortunes of this year's St. John's squad could come down to a newcomer Rysheed Jordan. St. John's has a pair of solid scorers returning in D'Angelo Harrison (17.8) and JaKarr Sampson (14.9), as well as the nation's blocked shots leader in sophomore Chris Obekpa (4.03).

Wisconsin has long been a top defensive squad under coach Bo Ryan, who also preaches balance offensively. Senior guard Ben Brust was the team's leading scorer a year ago, averaging 11.1 points, and he'll be a key to the team's success again this year.

TRENDS:

* Red Storm are 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games.
* Red Storm are 0-4 ATS in their last four neutral site games.
* Badgers are 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games.

Oregon Ducks vs Georgetown Hoyas (-5, 131)
Site: Camp Humphreys Army Base, South Korea

With the loss of three frontcourt starters, Oregon coach Dana Altman will once again rely on transfers to carry the Ducks back into the NCAA tournament. Mike Moser is with his third program and is expected to start at forward, while Jason Calliste and Joseph Young will vie for a spot a shooting guard.

Josh Smith, a 6-10, 350-pound transfer from UCLA, should help to offset the loss of Otto Porter, who led the Hoyas in scoring, rebounding and steals. Greg Whittington was expected to take over Porter's role in the offense, but a torn ACL will leave him sidelined for the entire season.

TRENDS:

* Ducks are 5-0 ATS in their last five neutral site games.
* Ducks are 4-0 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Hoyas are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 neutral site games.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma Sooners (-5, 132)
Site: Dallas, Texas

Alabama must depend on senior guard Trevor Releford to carry the load early after a rough offseason which saw three players from the rotation leave the program. Trevor Lacey, Moussa Gueye and Devonta Pollard have all left. Algie Key, who averaged 17.6 points in community college last season, joins the group and more will be expected from guard Retin Obasohan along with forward Nick Jacobs.

For the Sooners, Ryan Sprangler, Cameron Clark and Tyler Neal highlight a new frontcourt with leading scorer and rebounder Romero Osby gone. Buddy Hield joins fellow sophomores Je’lon Hornbeak and Isaiah Cousins in the backcourt and coach Lon Kruger will be hoping to increase the 16 points combined they produced last season.

TRENDS:

* Under is 4-1 in Sooners last five neutral site games.
* Under is 5-0 in Crimson Tide last five neutral site games.
* Crimson Tide are 1-5 ATS in their last six vs. Big 12.

Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at Nebraska Cornhuskers (OFF, OFF)

No longer an unknown after last season's improbable NCAA Tournament success, the Eagles come into the season with not only high expectations, but with a new head coach. Former Kansas assistant Joe Dooley takes over for Andy Enfield, who departed for Southern California after leading the Eagles to the Sweet 16 last season.

After a dismal season in head coach Tim Miles' first season, Nebraska will move into the new Pinnacle Arena, which has already sold out for every Cornhusker game this season. Starters Ray Gallegos, Shavon Shields and David Rivers return to a team that finished 10th in the Big Ten last season.

TRENDS:

* Under is 43-21-1 in Cornhuskers last 65 home games.
* Over is 4-1 in Eagles last five non-conference games.
* Eagles are 5-0 ATS in their last five non-conference games.

Colorado Buffaloes vs. Baylor Bears (-4.5, 145)
Site: Dallas, Texas

The Buffaloes will have a hard time replacing Andre Roberson (10.9 points, 11.2 rebounds), who left early for the NBA, but have a player expected to join Roberson in the world's top league next season. Spencer Dinwiddie (team-leading 15.3 points) is a 6-6 junior guard capable of dominating a game and considered making himself available for the most recent NBA draft before his father encouraged him to stay in school.

After reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament twice in three seasons, Baylor settled for the NIT in 2013 and crushed Iowa 74-54 to win the tournament title. The Bears will be led by All-Big 12 preseason selections Isaiah Austin - a 7-1 sophomore center who averaged 13 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds - and senior forward Cory Jefferson (13.3 points, eight rebounds). Both players were considered potential first-round picks in the NBA draft if they opted to leave after last season.

TRENDS:

* Over is 9-4 in Bears last 13 neutral site games.
* Buffaloes are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 neutral site games.
* Over is 4-1 in Buffaloes last five vs. Big 12.

Boston College Eagles at Providence Friars (-2.5, 146)

The Eagles could have one of the nation's better backcourts with sophomore guards Joe Rahon and Olivier Hanlan, who opened eyes coast-to-coast by scoring a freshman-record 41 points in the ACC tournament. Hanlan averaged a team-high 15.4 points and shot nearly 40 percent from long range while Rahon scored 10.1 per game and handed out 123 assists.

The Friars return their top three scorers from a squad that closed the regular season with seven wins in nine games before advancing to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. The one key loss was point guard Vincent Council, but the Friars have a replacement in sophomore Kris Dunn, one of the nation's top recruits two years ago.

TRENDS:

* Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Eagles are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Providence.
* Over is 5-1 in Eagles last six vs. Big East.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Louisville at UConn: What bettors need to know

Louisville Cardinals at Connecticut Huskies (27.5, 49)

A three-overtime loss to Connecticut served as the push that Louisville needed to close out the 2012 season on a high note. One conference change and less than a year later, a similar result seems unlikely when the 16th-ranked Cardinals hit the road Friday to meet the winless Huskies. In their final Big East clash, Connecticut held Louisville scoreless through three quarters and intercepted Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the third overtime en route to a 23-20 victory.

The Huskies haven’t won since, but Louisville clinched a BCS berth the following week against Rutgers and defeated Florida in the Sugar Bowl – setting the stage for a strong start to their first season in the American Athletic Conference. While the Cardinals had a week off to savor their 34-3 trouncing of South Florida, Connecticut is looking for answers following a 62-17 loss to Central Florida on Oct. 26. The Huskies – off to their worst start since 1977 – have lost three of their last four games by at least 25 points.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

LINE: UConn opened as a 27.5-point home dog. The total has held firm at 49.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in low-60s with wind blowing toward the SE endzone at 8 mph.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (7-1, 3-1 American Athletic Conference): In his first start of the season, Dominique Brown set career highs in rushing yards (125), catches (six) and receiving yards (61). Bridgewater turned in another efficient performance versus South Florida, going 25-of-29 to increase his completion percentage to an FBS-high 73.7 percent. The Cardinals limited the Bulls to three points and 38 yards rushing – the fifth time they have held an opponent to seven points or fewer and less than 100 yards rushing in the same game.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (0-7, 0-3): One of the few highlights from the Huskies’ loss to Central Florida was Casey Cochran’s 49-yard touchdown pass to Brian Lemelle – the first career scores for both freshmen. Tim Boyle, who replaced Chandler Whitmer as the starting quarterback three games ago, has yet to throw or run for a touchdown. Connecticut ranks second-to-last in the country in rushing yardage (537), as well as yards per carry (2.38) and has run for 91 yards or fewer in all but one game.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 10-1-1 ATS in their last 12 games in November.
* Under is 6-2 in Cardinals last eight games overall.
* Over is 6-2 in Huskies last eight games overall.
* Cardinals are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 road games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Louisville’s second-ranked scoring defense (10.6 points per game) also ranks second in the country against the run (80.5 yards) and third against the pass (164).

2. With a loss, Connecticut will match its worst start in school history.

3. The Cardinals’ offense has produced 67 more passing plays of 10 or more yards than the defense has surrendered (115-48).

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Air Force at New Mexico: What bettors need to know

Air Force Falcons at New Mexico Lobos (-3, 59.5)

Football fans hoping for an aerial assault may want to avoid Friday night's Mountain West tilt between the Air Force Falcons and the host New Mexico Lobos. The teams combine for just over 200 passing yards per game, which may help to explain why both schools are still looking for their first conference victory of the season. The Lobos boast one of the top rush attacks in the nation, but will meet their match against a Falcons team that also relies heavily on the ground game.

Air Force comes in on a high after piling up 343 rushing yards and six touchdowns en route to a 42-28 win over the Army Black Knights. Anthony LaCoste was the catalyst - scampering for a career-high 263 yards and three scores - as he leads a robust ground attack that features eight players with at least 100 rushing yards. New Mexico fell 35-30 to San Diego State last time out, despite racking up 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU
LINE: The Lobos are installed as three-point favorites, with the total set at 59.5.
WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-40s under clear skies.

ABOUT AIR FORCE (2-7, 0-5 Mountain West): Never has the Air Force football team been less appropriately named - the Falcons are 11th in the country at 279.2 rushing yards per game, and have 24 touchdowns on the ground compared to just four through the air. LaCoste's 73-yard scoring run early in the first quarter extended Air Force's streak of consecutive games with at least one rushing score to 56, the longest active run in the nation. The Falcons come into Saturday's contest 55-55 all-time in Mountain West play.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO (2-6, 0-4): The Lobos are led by the more appropriately named Kasey Carrier, who has rumbled for 930 rushing yards and nine TDs on the season. Carrier opened the season on fire - scoring five times in the first four games - but has cooled of late, limited to 141 yards in back-to-back losses to Utah State and San Diego State. Fortunately, New Mexico has an assortment of other ground weapons at its disposal - including quarterback Cole Gautsche (577 yards, six touchdowns) and Crusoe Gongbay (337 yards, three TDs).

TRENDS:

* Falcons are 8-23 ATS in their last 31 games on grass.
* Lobos are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games.
* Over is 6-1 in New Mexico's last seven games.
* The road team is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NHL

Hot teams
-- Toronto won three of its last four games. Devils are 3-2 in last five games, after losing nine of first ten.
-- Nashville won its last two games, scoring ten goals.
-- Colorado won six of its last seven games.
-- Ducks won six of their last seven games.

Cold teams
-- Winnipeg lost seven of its last nine games.
-- Flames lost six of their last eight games.
-- Sabres lost five of their last six games.

Totals
-- Last four New Jersey games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in last six Nashville-Winnipeg games.
-- Six of last eight Calgary games went over the total.
-- Seven of nine Buffalo road games stayed under total.

Series records
-- Maple Leafs won their last four games with New Jersey.
-- Predators won their last four games with Winnipeg.
-- Flames won 11 of last 15 games with Colorado.
-- Anaheim beat Buffalo 6-3 Saturday, its first win in last four series games.