Saturday 2-17-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
North Carolina

Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Atlantic Coast.
Tar Heels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Tar Heels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Tar Heels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.

Louisville

Cardinals are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Cardinals are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
Cardinals are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Cardinals are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
Cardinals are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 vs. Atlantic Coast.
Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Cardinals are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Cardinals are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

OU Trends
North Carolina

Over is 4-0 in Tar Heels last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 4-0 in Tar Heels last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 8-2 in Tar Heels last 10 road games.
Under is 8-2 in Tar Heels last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 8-2 in Tar Heels last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 15-6 in Tar Heels last 21 games following a ATS win.

Louisville

Under is 4-0 in Cardinals last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-1-1 in Cardinals last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Over is 4-1 in Cardinals last 5 Saturday games.
Over is 7-2-1 in Cardinals last 10 overall.
Over is 15-5-1 in Cardinals last 21 games following a ATS win.
Over is 20-7-2 in Cardinals last 29 games following a straight up win.
Over is 20-8-1 in Cardinals last 29 vs. Atlantic Coast.
Under is 9-4-1 in Cardinals last 14 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
Under is 34-16-2 in Cardinals last 52 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

Head to Head

Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 8:30 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi
Matchup Edge
MISS Edge in: MSST
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Ole Miss at Mississippi State
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

Ole Miss has its eye on the future while Mississippi State is looking to find a way into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009. Immediately ahead, though, is the second of two regular-season meetings between the SEC rivals as the Rebels visit the Bulldogs on Saturday night.


At 18-8 but below .500 in SEC play with an RPI of 70 entering Friday, Mississippi State is on the far curve of the NCAA tourney bubble after consecutive losses to Missouri (89-85) and last-place Vanderbilt (81-80). The Valentine’s Day loss in Nashville was a true heartbreaker as the Bulldogs were sunk by a 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining after rallying to erase an 11-point deficit. “The last play of the game was obviously very frustrating because we left the ball open, and (the Commodores’ Riley LaChance) made an uncontested 3,” Mississippi State coach Ben Howland said afterward. “We had four guys back on the shot, but mistakes are made.” Ole Miss, meanwhile, has dropped six straight, and on Monday, the program’s winningest coach, Andy Kennedy, announced he will stepping down after this season, his 12th in Oxford.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network


ABOUT OLE MISS (11-15, 4-9): Since their 64-58 home win over the Bulldogs on Jan. 6, the Rebels have dropped eight of their last 10, including their current six-game skid in which they’ve lost by an average of 14.7 points. The latest setback came Tuesday, the day after Kennedy’s announcement, as Ole Miss shot a season-low 29.0 percent from the field in a 75-64 loss to visiting Arkansas. Guard Deandre Burnett scored a game-high 24 points to up his team-leading average to 14.8 points per contest, but second- and third-leading scorers Terence Davis (13.3) and Bruce Stevens (10.9) combined for only 10 points on 3-of-15 shooting.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (18-8, 6-7): The Bulldogs had reeled off four straight wins from Jan. 27 through Feb. 6 but the four-point overtime loss at Missouri and the crushing defeat at Vanderbilt have followed, knocking Mississippi State back below .500 in the conference. Three of the Bulldogs’ next four games, though, are at home where they’re an SEC-best 16-1. Backcourt starters and brothers Quinndary (14.7 points) and Nick Weatherspoon (11.2) and forward Aric Holman (11.3) are the leading scorers for Mississippi State, which ranks third in the conference with a 46.9 team field-goal percentage and is tops in scoring defense, allowing 66.8 points per outing.


TIP-INS

1. Ole Miss’ Burnett and fellow guard Breein Tyree scored a combined 37 points in last month’s win over Mississippi State – the Rebels’ eighth win in their last nine games against the Bulldogs.

2. Ole Miss has dropped all eight of its true road games this season, losing by an average of 14.1 points per contest.

3. Abdul Abo, a 6-foot-11 forward, is averaging a team-best 6.9 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who own a 3.5 rebounding margin while the 6-foot-4 Davis (6.5 boards) is the leading rebounder for the Rebels, who have a minus-0.3 margin on the glass.


PREDICTION: Mississippi State 78, Ole Miss 70

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Mississippi

Rebels are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Rebels are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Rebels are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Rebels are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Rebels are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Rebels are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Rebels are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rebels are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Rebels are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Rebels are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. Southeastern.

Mississippi State

Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Bulldogs are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Bulldogs are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. Southeastern.
Bulldogs are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Bulldogs are 18-8 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up loss.
Bulldogs are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

OU Trends
Mississippi

Under is 6-1 in Rebels last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Rebels last 6 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 13-3 in Rebels last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 13-3-1 in Rebels last 17 vs. Southeastern.
Under is 12-3 in Rebels last 15 overall.
Under is 7-3 in Rebels last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 11-5-1 in Rebels last 17 Saturday games.

Mississippi State

Over is 4-0 in Bulldogs last 4 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 vs. Southeastern.

Head to Head

Rebels are 6-0 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Home team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, Washington
Matchup Edge
UTAH Edge in: WSU
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Utah at Washington State
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

Dismissed by most experts after opening Pac-12 play with a 2-4 record, Utah’s now finds itself in the top tier of a tight conference race. Winners of three straight, Utah sits one game out of second place heading into Saturday’s matchup against Washington State, which snapped a seven-game losing streak with Thursday’s 73-69 win over Colorado.

After allowing an average of 51.5 points in back-to-back wins over Stanford and California, the Utes rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to post a 70-58 victory over Washington on Thursday. Senior forward David Collette scored a game-high 22 points in the win and has averaged 17.6 points during the win streak to lead Utah, which was picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 preseason poll. “The message to our team is there are rare times in life that you’re presented an opportunity to do something special,” coach Larry Krystkowiak told reporters. “We’re kind of at that precipice right now. It’s not time for a lot of talk, it's time for action.” The Utes need to be careful not to overlook a Washington State squad that averages a league-best 11.1 made 3-pointers per game.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT UTAH (16-9, 8-6 Pac-12): All five starters scored in double figures in the win over Washington, including senior forward Tyler Rawson, who filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The team’s veteran backcourt features guards Justin Bibbins (team-high 13.8 points per game) and Sedrick Barefield, who is averaging 14.9 points over the last seven games. Krystkowiak has received a welcome spark in recent weeks from freshman forward Donnie Tillman, averaging 6.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in league play.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (10-15, 2-11): Sophomore guard Malachi Flynn scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the win over Colorado as the Cougars improved to 11th place in the league standings. The Tacoma native has averaged 15.0 points in three career games against Utah, including 19 in last month’s 82-69 loss in Salt Lake City. Forward Robert Franks, the team’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, returned after missing one game with a knee injury and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes against the Buffaloes.

TIP-INS

1. Utah has won the last eight meetings against Washington State and holds a 22-4 lead in the all-time series.

2. Washington State is averaging 40.2 points per game this season in the second half, compared to 32.4 in the first.

3. Utah is 14-1 when leading at the half.

PREDICTION: Utah 83, Washington State 72

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Utah

Utes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Utes are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Utes are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Pacific-12.
Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Utes are 35-15-1 ATS in their last 51 Saturday games.
Utes are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

Washington St.

Cougars are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Cougars are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Cougars are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
Cougars are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a straight up win.
Cougars are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 home games.
Cougars are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
Cougars are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 vs. Pacific-12.
Cougars are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Cougars are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

OU Trends
Utah

Under is 4-0 in Utes last 4 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Utes last 4 vs. Pacific-12.
Under is 5-1-1 in Utes last 7 Saturday games.
Under is 4-1 in Utes last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.

Washington St.

Under is 7-0 in Cougars last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Under is 4-0 in Cougars last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 7-1 in Cougars last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Over is 5-1 in Cougars last 6 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-2 in Cougars last 9 home games.
Over is 10-4 in Cougars last 14 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 games following a ATS win.

Head to Head

Utes are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Home team is 11-3 ATS in the last 14 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: Chiles Center, Portland, Oregon
Matchup Edge
SMC Edge in: PORT
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Saint Mary's at Portland
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

No. 15 Saint Mary's is sliding in the wrong direction after a school-record 19-game winning streak and aims to turn things around when it visits Portland on Saturday in West Coast Conference play. The Gaels have dropped back-to-back games to fall out of first place and stand one game behind Gonzaga.

Saint Mary's was rolling before being outclassed by Gonzaga on Saturday and then it suffered a costly 70-63 setback against San Francisco on Thursday to fall into second place in the WCC. "It just felt like we lost a bit of rhythm both offensively and defensively," senior point guard Emmett Naar said of the stunning loss to the Dons. "We want to be able to separate and you do that by getting two, three stops in a row, but it felt like we could never do that. We might get one and then they'd score." That marked the first road loss of the season - after nine victories - for the Gaels and they now face a Portland squad that they beat 72-55 on Jan. 27. The Pilots have dropped their past three contests, including Thursday's 81-72 home loss to Santa Clara.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ROOT, Spectrum SportsNet, NBCS Bay Area (Saint Mary's)

ABOUT SAINT MARY'S (24-4, 13-2 WCC): Senior center Jock Landale is averaging 21.9 points and 10.5 rebounds and is just the fifth player in program history to have at least 1,500 points and 700 rebounds in his career. Naar, who averages 10.6 points, ranks second nationally with 8.7 assists per game and last week passed current NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova (768 from 2009-13) for most career assists in school history. Junior forward Evan Fitzner (5.2 points per game) was surprisingly good with a season-best 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Dons to reach double digits for just the fifth time this season.

ABOUT PORTLAND (10-18, 4-11): Senior guard D'Marques Tyson is averaging 8.6 points off the bench and shooting a WCC-leading 47.7 percent from 3-point range. Tyson needs 18 points to become the 40th player in Pilots' history to reach 1,000 career points and ranks second in school history with 245 career 3-pointers. Senior center Philipp Hartwich has set the school single-season record with 68 blocked shots while freshman guard Marcus Shaver Jr. (11.8 points) and sophomore forward Josh McSwiggan (11.2, team-best 61 3-pointers) are the team's lone double-digit scorers.

TIP-INS

1. Saint Mary's has won 15 of the past 16 meetings.

2. The Pilots are last in the WCC in free-throw percentage (67.2), primarily due to Hartwich's troubles (25-of-87, 28.7 percent).

3. Gaels senior F Calvin Hermanson, who averages 10.9 points, ranks second in the WCC behind Tyson with a 44.6 3-point shooting percentage.

PREDICTION: Saint Mary's 79, Portland 71

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
St. Mary's

Gaels are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Gaels are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Gaels are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.

Portland

Pilots are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Pilots are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Pilots are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Pilots are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 vs. West Coast.
Pilots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Pilots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Pilots are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Pilots are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Pilots are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 home games.

OU Trends
St. Mary's

Under is 3-0-1 in Gaels last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-0 in Gaels last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 8-2-1 in Gaels last 11 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Over is 3-1-1 in Gaels last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Under is 20-7-1 in Gaels last 28 overall.
Under is 40-16-2 in Gaels last 58 road games.
Under is 35-17-2 in Gaels last 54 vs. West Coast.

Portland

Under is 5-0 in Pilots last 5 Saturday games.
Over is 6-1-1 in Pilots last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 6-1 in Pilots last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 11-3-1 in Pilots last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Over is 5-2 in Pilots last 7 home games.
Under is 7-3 in Pilots last 10 overall.
Under is 7-3 in Pilots last 10 vs. West Coast.

Head to Head

Gaels are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Portland.
Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Portland.
Under is 11-3-1 in the last 15 meetings.
Gaels are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Underdog is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Road team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 10:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
Matchup Edge
MARQ Edge in: CRE
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Marquette at Creighton
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

Creighton can lock down its third straight 20-win season with a victory in Saturday's Big East game against visiting Marquette. The Bluejays stepped out of conference Tuesday to trounce Bemidji State, but now will try to end a three-game losing streak against the Golden Eagles.

Coach Greg McDermott, who has won 20 or more games in six of his first seven seasons with the Bluejays, gave his bench a lot of minutes against Bemidji State, resulting in Marcus Foster's streak of seven straight 20-point games coming to an end. Foster is one of five players averaging better than 20 points in Big East games along with Butler's Kelan Martin, Marquette's Markus Howard, St. John's Shamorie Ponds and Villanova's Jalen Brunson. Defending the 3-point line, something the Bluejays have done a solid job at this season, will be critical against the Golden Eagles, who shoot 40.2 percent as a team to lead the conference. Howard (84) and Andrew Rowsey (81), who broke out of his slump with 34 points in last Saturday's loss to St. John's, are poised to move into the top three in team history for 3-pointers made in a season, and have an outside shot to catch leader Steve Novak, who made 121 3-pointers in 2005-06.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Networks

ABOUT MARQUETTE (14-11, 5-8 Big East): In addition to making 3-pointers at a 38 percent clip, Howard also picks up a bunch of points at the foul line, where he is second in the country at 93.5 percent. The sophomore from Arizona is 43 points shy of 1,000 for his career and can join the five other Marquette players, including Dwayne Wade, Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, to reach the milestone during their second season. Rowsey, who is shooting 41.14 percent from the field and 41.11 percent from the 3-point line, needs 143 points to join Howard in that exclusive club.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (19-7, 8-5 Big East): With reigning Big East Defensive Player of The Year Khyri Thomas leading the way, the Bluejays have shut down many of the top scorers in the Big East this season. Of the top 10 scorers, only Brunson has averaged better than 15 points and all seven Creighton has faced have been held below the seasonal average. This will be the Bluejays first crack at Howard and Rowsey, who combined for 48 points in two games last season.

TIP-INS

1. Howard and Rowsey have combined for more 3-pointers (165) than any other duo in the country, just ahead of Nevada's Kendall Stephens and Caleb Martin (164).

2. The Golden Eagles won a pair of high-scoring games last season against the Bluejays to pad their series lead, which sits at 52-32 - including 21-20 on the road.

3. With a win, Creighton would improve to 17-1 against unranked teams, a mark topped only by No. 5 Cincinnati (23-0) and No. 3 Virginia (21-1).

PREDICTION: Creighton 95, Marquette 88

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Marquette

Golden Eagles are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Golden Eagles are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up loss.

Creighton

Bluejays are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
Bluejays are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Bluejays are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Bluejays are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
Bluejays are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Bluejays are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Bluejays are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big East.
Bluejays are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

OU Trends
Marquette

Over is 7-1 in Golden Eagles last 8 road games.
Over is 5-1 in Golden Eagles last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Golden Eagles last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Golden Eagles last 5 vs. Big East.
Over is 19-7 in Golden Eagles last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 19-9 in Golden Eagles last 28 games following a straight up loss.

Creighton

Under is 5-1 in Bluejays last 6 home games.
Under is 9-3 in Bluejays last 12 overall.
Under is 15-5 in Bluejays last 20 vs. Big East.
Over is 5-2 in Bluejays last 7 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Over is 5-2 in Bluejays last 7 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.

Head to Head

Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 10:15 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Matchup Edge
ORE Edge in: UCLA
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Oregon at UCLA
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

UCLA is running out of time to win just its second Pac-12 regular-season title in the past 10 years, and the Bruins can't afford another loss to visiting Oregon on Saturday night. UCLA heads into the weekend two games behind No. 19 Arizona for the conference lead and each team with four games remaining, though none against each other.

UCLA has won five of its past six, including a rare win at Arizona last week, keeping the pressure on the Wildcats, who have three games remaining against teams in the bottom half of the Pac-12 standings. Oregon had won five of six before losing to USC 72-70 on a layup with 0.8 seconds left on Thursday, dropping the Ducks three games back of Arizona in the loss column with five games remaining, one against visiting Arizona on Feb. 24. Oregon forward MiKyle McIntosh had a big game against UCLA last month, posting 18 points and eight rebounds in the 94-91 win, and the 6-8 senior who transferred from Illinois State in the offseason is coming off a career-high 23 points in the loss to USC. Point guard Payton Pritchard is another player the Bruins need to focus their game plan against, as he delivered his best conference performance against the Bruins, scoring 25 points and making 5-of-8 from 3-point distance.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT OREGON (17-9, 7-6 Pac-12): The Ducks have made one change to their starting lineup since they played the Bruins earlier this season, replacing 6-9 freshman forward Kenny Wooten with 6-9 junior forward Paul White. Wooten is stronger defensively, evident by his 2.81 blocks a game, 10th-best in the nation, while White is a stretch forward who's effective from long range and much more efficient at the free-throw line than Wooten. White, who played two seasons at Georgetown before transferring to Oregon, is fifth on the team in scoring at 9.5 points a game, and Wooten is seventh with 7.0 points per game.

ABOUT UCLA (18-8, 9-5): Kris Wilkes owns two 21-point, zero-turnover games this season and the second came against Oregon. The 6-8 freshman shooting guard shot 7-for-12 against the Ducks and 3-for-7 from 3-point range, and he's continued to score in double figures in the seven games since, though he's a combined 7-for-28 from the floor in the past two. UCLA leading scorer Aaron Holiday (19.0 points) will also look to escape a two-game shooting slump, as the senior point guard is a combined 10-for-28 in those contests.

TIP-INS

1. Oregon is ranked eighth in the nation in free throw shooting percentage (77.9).

2. Wooten needs one block to give him 74 on the season and move him past Robin Lopez of Stanford (2006-07) for third on the Pac-12 single-season list.

3. UCLA has produced the second-most NBA draft selections (118) since 1948, trailing only Kentucky (124).

PREDICTION: Oregon 89, UCLA 87

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Oregon

Ducks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Ducks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Ducks are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 Saturday games.
Ducks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Ducks are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Ducks are 42-20 ATS in their last 62 vs. Pacific-12.

UCLA

Bruins are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bruins are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bruins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Bruins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Pacific-12.
Bruins are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games.
Bruins are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
Bruins are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.

OU Trends
Oregon

Under is 4-1 in Ducks last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Ducks last 5 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 4-1 in Ducks last 5 vs. Pacific-12.
Under is 7-2 in Ducks last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 10-3 in Ducks last 13 Saturday games.
Under is 6-2 in Ducks last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 12-5 in Ducks last 17 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

UCLA

Over is 4-0 in Bruins last 4 Saturday games.
Under is 18-7-1 in Bruins last 26 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 5-2 in Bruins last 7 home games.
Under is 12-5 in Bruins last 17 games following a ATS win.

Head to Head

Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in UCLA.
Ducks are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
Ducks are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in UCLA.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 11:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: Galen Center, Los Angeles, California
Matchup Edge
ORST Edge in: USC
Points Per Game
Field Goal %
Free Throw %
Defense
Rebounding
Turnovers
Bench

Preview: Oregon State at USC
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

After losing three straight road games, USC needs a strong finish in Pac-12 Conference play to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Trojans, who picked up a key 72-70 last-second victory over Oregon on Thursday night to remain tied for second with crosstown rival UCLA, will try to cap their second sweep of the Oregon schools this season when they host Oregon State on Saturday night.

The Trojans swept the Oregon schools on the road for the first time since 2008 last month and followed that up with the big win over the Ducks on Thursday night, winning on a layup by forward Chimezie Metu off an impressive crosscourt lob by point guard Jordan McLaughlin. "This is a huge win for us because we need every win down the stretch," USC coach Andy Enfield said. "We have four games left and we have to hold our home-court advantage. We need to play hard Saturday against Oregon State." The Beavers, trying to finish above .500 this season after a disastrous 5-27 campaign a year ago, had a two-game winning streak snapped at UCLA., 75-68, on Thursday and likely need to win their final five games to garner a top-four seed and a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 tourney. "It (beating USC) is a must for us," forward Alfred Hollins told Oregonlive.com. "We've got to get a split."

TV: 11 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT OREGON STATE (13-12, 5-8 Pac-12): The Beavers rallied from a 13-point deficit to take the lead in the second half at UCLA before poor rebounding and free throw shooting caught up them down the stretch. The Bruins finished with a 51-33 rebounding edge, including 18 offensive boards, and outscored the Beavers, who missed the front end of two key one-and-one's late, by 11 at the free-throw line. Hollins had a career-high 24 points in the loss for Oregon State, which has three players averaging double figures in forward Tres Tinkle (18.2 points per game), junior guard Stephen Thompson Jr. (16.4) and junior center Drew Eubanks (12.8).

ABOUT USC (18-9, 9-5): The win over Oregon was tempered by the loss of 6=10 junior forward Bennie Boatwright, the team's second-leading scorer (13.6) and rebounder (6.4), to a season-ending left knee injury that isn't expected to require surgery. "It's a shame when injuries happen to such hard workers and outstanding young men like Bennie," Enfield said in a statement. "Bennie has been such a valuable part of our program, and he was having another very good year, being a factor on offense and defense." Metu, coming off an 18-point, 10-rebound effort against Oregon, leads the team in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (7.4) to go along with 43 blocks while McLaughlin (12.2 points) and senior guard Elijah Stewart (11.0) also are averaging in double digits.

TIP-INS

1. McLaughlin, who had 11 assists against Oregon, ranks third nationally with an average of 7.6 per game and needs one more assist to tie Damon Stoudemire (663) for seventh place on the Pac-12 career assist list.

2. Hollins, a 6-6 freshman, is averaging 5.8 points on the season but has bumped that up to 18.3 points on 67.9 percent shooting over the last three games as a starter.

3. Oregon State has lost 20 consecutive true road games, including 15 straight in Pac-12 play.

PREDICTION: USC 75, Oregon State 69

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ATS Trends
Oregon St.

Beavers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Beavers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Beavers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. Pacific-12.
Beavers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
Beavers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Beavers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Beavers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.

Southern California

Trojans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Trojans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Trojans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Trojans are 16-7 ATS in their last 23 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Trojans are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games overall.

OU Trends
Oregon St.

Under is 3-0-1 in Beavers last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 8-1-1 in Beavers last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Beavers last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Beavers last 5 vs. Pacific-12.
Under is 3-1-1 in Beavers last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 9-3-1 in Beavers last 13 Saturday games.
Over is 18-8-1 in Beavers last 27 road games.

Southern California

Under is 6-1 in Trojans last 7 overall.
Under is 6-1 in Trojans last 7 vs. Pacific-12.
Under is 4-1 in Trojans last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 7-3-1 in Trojans last 11 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Head to Head

Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Beavers are 5-11-1 ATS in the last 17 meetings in Southern California.
Underdog is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
Beavers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 17, 2018
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Matchup Edge
LA Edge in: BUF
Offense
Defense
Power Play
Penalty Kill
Face Offs
Discipline
Goaltending

Preview: Kings at Sabres
Gracenote
Feb 16, 2018

Three-time All-Star defenseman Dion Phaneuf made his mark in his debut with his new team, but the rest of the Los Angeles Kings failed to follow suit as they dropped their third in a row. The Kings aim to get back on track and end an eight-game losing skid in western New York on Saturday afternoon when they continue their seven-game road trip against the Buffalo Sabres.

Phaneuf scored a power-play goal in Los Angeles' 3-1 setback in Pittsburgh on Thursday, two days after being acquired in a four-player deal with Ottawa. Fellow defenseman Drew Doughty was held in check in that outing but scored the go-ahead goal on the power play with two minutes remaining in the third period of the Kings' 4-2 triumph over Buffalo on Oct. 14. Leading scorer Jack Eichel collected a goal and an assist in that tilt for the Sabres, who have pieced together offense in the wake of his ankle injury on Feb. 9. "I think the guys have done a terrific job rallying around it," coach Phil Housley said on Friday. "... It's been leadership by committee. It's been production by committee. And we need more of it. But it does give you a good chance to evaluate your players."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet West, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, MSG-B (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE KINGS (30-22-5): Tyler Toffoli hopes a return matchup versus the Sabres can help him break out of his scoring woes. The 25-year-old had recorded a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 7-3 loss in Carolina before being held off the scoresheet for the 13th time in 15 outings at Pittsburgh. Toffoli scored and set up a goal in the first encounter versus the Sabres to give him six points (one goal, five assists) in nine career meetings with the club.

ABOUT THE SABRES (17-30-11): Scott Wilson and Evan Rodrigues each scored in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to Ottawa, with the former recording four points (three goals, one assist) and the latter having three (one goal, two assists) since Eichel's injury. Fellow forward Ryan O'Reilly has recorded a pair of three-point performances in the last four games and resides one goal shy of 150 for his career. Seven forwards have collected at least two points during Eichel's absence, during which Buffalo has posted a 2-1-1 mark.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo C Zemgus Girgensons scored in the first meeting with Los Angeles before enduring a 21-game point drought.

2. The Kings' last win in western New York came on Feb. 21, 2003.

3. The Sabres have netted at least one power-play goal in 12 of their last 17 games.

PREDICTION: Sabres 2, Kings 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

W/L Trends
Los Angeles

Kings are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Kings are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Kings are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Atlantic.
Kings are 3-7 in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
Kings are 2-5 in their last 7 Saturday games.
Kings are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.

Buffalo

Sabres are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Pacific.
Sabres are 73-160 in their last 233 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Sabres are 37-90 in their last 127 vs. a team with a winning record.
Sabres are 8-20 in their last 28 home games.
Sabres are 18-46 in their last 64 overall.
Sabres are 13-39 in their last 52 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Sabres are 3-9 in their last 12 vs. Western Conference.
Sabres are 2-12 in their last 14 Saturday games.

OU Trends
Los Angeles

Over is 5-0 in Kings last 5 Saturday games.
Over is 4-1 in Kings last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 38-16-13 in Kings last 67 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Under is 20-9-14 in Kings last 43 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Under is 35-17-7 in Kings last 59 road games.

Buffalo

Over is 4-0 in Sabres last 4 home games.
Over is 4-0 in Sabres last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-1 in Sabres last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 5-1 in Sabres last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Sabres last 5 vs. Pacific.
Over is 3-1-1 in Sabres last 5 Saturday games.
Under is 18-7-1 in Sabres last 26 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.

Head to Head

Home team is 23-3 in the last 26 meetings.
Under is 6-2-1 in the last 9 meetings.
Kings are 1-12 in the last 13 meetings in Buffalo.