Ferringo
2-Unit Play. Take #511 Creighton (+13) over Villanova (6:30 p.m.)
Villanova is a godless killing machine. However, I think that Creighton is a really strong, experienced team and I think that they can avoid getting run here in Philly. The Bluejays won't win this game. But I do think that they can make enough shots to keep this one respectable. They are sound defensively, deep and they can score a variety of ways. I'll take the points.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #514 Temple (+12.5) over Wichita State (7 p.m.) AND Take #547 Northwestern (+7.5) over Wisconsin (8:30 p.m.)
3-Unit Play. Take #514 Temple (+7.5) over Wichita State (7 p.m.)
Wichita State is finding the sledding a bit tougher in the AAC than in the Missouri Valley. They used to be able to just fall out of bed and win games in The Valley. But teams, even bad teams, punch back in this league. And I think that will be the case here. Temple has been a massive letdown this year. This team hammered Auburn and beat Clemson! They also took out South Carolina and Wisconsin. So there is some talent here. But they are just 4-7 in their last 11. That looks bad, but they've only had two real dud performances since Christmas and three of their last five losses have come by three points or less. They almost beat Cincinnati at home and I think that they can do enough to keep it tight with the Shockers here.
1-Unit Play. Take #533 Charleston (+3.5) over Northeastern (7 p.m.)
I don't think that Northeastern is the best team in the CAA. I think that Charleston is. The Cougars beat Northeastern by 16 in the first meeting. I know that this one is on the road, but Northeastern is not as good as their numbers suggest they are. They have been more efficient offensively than Charleston, but I think that the Cougars will turn this game into a grind. Only two teams have beaten the Cougars by more than six points this year and one of them was Wichita State.
2-Unit Play. Take #537 Georgia Southern (-5) over Arkansas-Little Rock (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #544 UT-Arlington (-10) over Appalachian State (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #553 San Diego (+19.5) over Gonzaga (9 p.m.)
This Toreros team is not bad. They played St. Mary's within seven points on the road and they have true road wins over New Mexico State and Colorado. I think they can stay in the ballpark in this matchup with Gonzaga. This game is like the Super Bowl for San Diego and they have had all week to get hyped up for this shot at the league's top dog. Gonzaga has a bigger game with BYU on deck. And the last team that they beat by 20 or more was Portland back on Jan. 11. It's not that Gonzaga can't lay the wood. They just haven't done so as consistently this year. I think San Diego can make enough garbage time buckets to stay within this number.
2-Unit Play. Take #558 UC-Santa Barbara (-7) over Hawaii (10 p.m.)
This is just the third plane ride off the islands that Hawaii's team has made this year. That's pretty wild. They have done nothing but play at home for 16 of their 19 games. They have also played just one game in the last 12 days, and that was a loss to Fullerton. I don't think Hawaii is going to be sharp at all. Santa Barbara is avenging a loss at Hawaii earlier this season. And I think it is clear now that the Gauchos are clearly the best team in the Big West. When Marcus Jackson is your fifth option then you're a really good team. I will take their offense and home court over Hawaii's defense.
2-Unit Play. Take #564 Stanford (-3.5) over Oregon State (11 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #544 UT-Arlington (-5) over Appalachian State (8 p.m.) AND Take #558 UC-Santa Barbara (-2) over Hawaii (10 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #578 Fort Wayne (-6.5) over Oral Roberts (7 p.m.)
Oral Roberts hasn't played a D-I team since Jan. 20. They have played back-to-back games against D-II schools, beating up on East Texas Baptist and Nebraska Christian. They have played four games against D-II schools this year! One-third of their wins have come against D-II schools and they actually lost to Southern Nazarene! Fort Wayne won by 16 points on the road in the first meeting and this is the same Mastadons team that beat Indiana - by 20. I don't see any reason for this to be a close game.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #578 Fort Wayne (-1.5) over Oral Roberts (7 p.m.) AND Take #590 South Dakota State (-2) over North Dakota State (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #594 Eastern Kentucky (+10.5) over Belmont (8 p.m.)
I think this is too many points for Belmont to lay out on the road. Eastern Kentucky is pathetic. But it is tough for the Bruins to really be motivated for this game. Eastern Kentucky still has a lot of pride and they still have some guys that can knock down threes. This game means everything to the home team, which is having a horrible year. Just playing the best team in the league tough would be a moral victory. Especially after just getting blown out at Murray State. Three of EKU's last four home losses are by just three points or less. I think they will get down big in this game but will do enough to fight back and lose inside this number.
2-Unit Play. Take #601 Jacksonville State (-4.5) over Eastern Illinois (8:30 p.m.)
Odd line here. Jacksonville State is just a tick below the two top tier teams in the OVC, Belmont and Murray State. Eastern Illinois is a mess. They are one game out of the basement and 7-14 on the season. EIU has been racked by injuries this year and they are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Jacksonville State has own three straight road games, including a win at Belmont. This should be a low-scoring grinder. But the Gamecocks are clearly the better team and will get this road W.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #561 Western Kentucky (-5) over UTEP (10 p.m.) AND Take #606 SE Missouri State (+15.5) over Murray State (8:30 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #511 Creighton (+13) over Villanova (6:30 p.m.)
Villanova is a godless killing machine. However, I think that Creighton is a really strong, experienced team and I think that they can avoid getting run here in Philly. The Bluejays won't win this game. But I do think that they can make enough shots to keep this one respectable. They are sound defensively, deep and they can score a variety of ways. I'll take the points.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #514 Temple (+12.5) over Wichita State (7 p.m.) AND Take #547 Northwestern (+7.5) over Wisconsin (8:30 p.m.)
3-Unit Play. Take #514 Temple (+7.5) over Wichita State (7 p.m.)
Wichita State is finding the sledding a bit tougher in the AAC than in the Missouri Valley. They used to be able to just fall out of bed and win games in The Valley. But teams, even bad teams, punch back in this league. And I think that will be the case here. Temple has been a massive letdown this year. This team hammered Auburn and beat Clemson! They also took out South Carolina and Wisconsin. So there is some talent here. But they are just 4-7 in their last 11. That looks bad, but they've only had two real dud performances since Christmas and three of their last five losses have come by three points or less. They almost beat Cincinnati at home and I think that they can do enough to keep it tight with the Shockers here.
1-Unit Play. Take #533 Charleston (+3.5) over Northeastern (7 p.m.)
I don't think that Northeastern is the best team in the CAA. I think that Charleston is. The Cougars beat Northeastern by 16 in the first meeting. I know that this one is on the road, but Northeastern is not as good as their numbers suggest they are. They have been more efficient offensively than Charleston, but I think that the Cougars will turn this game into a grind. Only two teams have beaten the Cougars by more than six points this year and one of them was Wichita State.
2-Unit Play. Take #537 Georgia Southern (-5) over Arkansas-Little Rock (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #544 UT-Arlington (-10) over Appalachian State (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #553 San Diego (+19.5) over Gonzaga (9 p.m.)
This Toreros team is not bad. They played St. Mary's within seven points on the road and they have true road wins over New Mexico State and Colorado. I think they can stay in the ballpark in this matchup with Gonzaga. This game is like the Super Bowl for San Diego and they have had all week to get hyped up for this shot at the league's top dog. Gonzaga has a bigger game with BYU on deck. And the last team that they beat by 20 or more was Portland back on Jan. 11. It's not that Gonzaga can't lay the wood. They just haven't done so as consistently this year. I think San Diego can make enough garbage time buckets to stay within this number.
2-Unit Play. Take #558 UC-Santa Barbara (-7) over Hawaii (10 p.m.)
This is just the third plane ride off the islands that Hawaii's team has made this year. That's pretty wild. They have done nothing but play at home for 16 of their 19 games. They have also played just one game in the last 12 days, and that was a loss to Fullerton. I don't think Hawaii is going to be sharp at all. Santa Barbara is avenging a loss at Hawaii earlier this season. And I think it is clear now that the Gauchos are clearly the best team in the Big West. When Marcus Jackson is your fifth option then you're a really good team. I will take their offense and home court over Hawaii's defense.
2-Unit Play. Take #564 Stanford (-3.5) over Oregon State (11 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #544 UT-Arlington (-5) over Appalachian State (8 p.m.) AND Take #558 UC-Santa Barbara (-2) over Hawaii (10 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #578 Fort Wayne (-6.5) over Oral Roberts (7 p.m.)
Oral Roberts hasn't played a D-I team since Jan. 20. They have played back-to-back games against D-II schools, beating up on East Texas Baptist and Nebraska Christian. They have played four games against D-II schools this year! One-third of their wins have come against D-II schools and they actually lost to Southern Nazarene! Fort Wayne won by 16 points on the road in the first meeting and this is the same Mastadons team that beat Indiana - by 20. I don't see any reason for this to be a close game.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #578 Fort Wayne (-1.5) over Oral Roberts (7 p.m.) AND Take #590 South Dakota State (-2) over North Dakota State (8 p.m.)
2-Unit Play. Take #594 Eastern Kentucky (+10.5) over Belmont (8 p.m.)
I think this is too many points for Belmont to lay out on the road. Eastern Kentucky is pathetic. But it is tough for the Bruins to really be motivated for this game. Eastern Kentucky still has a lot of pride and they still have some guys that can knock down threes. This game means everything to the home team, which is having a horrible year. Just playing the best team in the league tough would be a moral victory. Especially after just getting blown out at Murray State. Three of EKU's last four home losses are by just three points or less. I think they will get down big in this game but will do enough to fight back and lose inside this number.
2-Unit Play. Take #601 Jacksonville State (-4.5) over Eastern Illinois (8:30 p.m.)
Odd line here. Jacksonville State is just a tick below the two top tier teams in the OVC, Belmont and Murray State. Eastern Illinois is a mess. They are one game out of the basement and 7-14 on the season. EIU has been racked by injuries this year and they are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Jacksonville State has own three straight road games, including a win at Belmont. This should be a low-scoring grinder. But the Gamecocks are clearly the better team and will get this road W.
1-Unit Play. TEASER: Take #561 Western Kentucky (-5) over UTEP (10 p.m.) AND Take #606 SE Missouri State (+15.5) over Murray State (8:30 p.m.)

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