Tuesday 1-8-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

The NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning must rebound from a regulation loss for the first time since late November when they open a two-game homestand against the surging Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. The Lightning had gone 15-0-1 to pull within two games of the franchise-record point streak before hitting the post three times and dropping a 5-2 decision at San Jose on Saturday.

"We've got a lot of pride in here," Tampa Bay defenseman Ryan McDonagh told reporters. "We're proud of what we've accomplished, but there are a lot of games left. We should feel confident thinking where this team is headed." The Lightning, who lead the league in scoring (4.12) and on the power play (30.1 percent), will go after a fifth straight victory over the Blue Jackets after routing them 8-2 in Tampa on Oct. 13 with a pair of goals from Brayden Point. Columbus has points in nine of its last 11 games (8-2-1), but had dropped two of three before grinding out a 4-3 win at Florida on Saturday after defenseman Seth Jones' goal 18 seconds into overtime for coach John Tortorella's 599th career win. "Every team wants to stay away from any of those valleys, as far as winning and losing," Tortorella, who recorded 239 wins and a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay, told reporters Saturday. "I think we've answered a number of different situations this year that way."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Columbus), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (24-14-3): Left wing Artemi Panarin is on one of his best offensive surges of the season, making the scoresheet in seven straight games with four goals and seven assists, to lead the team with 45 points. Right wing Cam Atkinson has been blanked in the last two contests, but tops Columbus with 24 goals at the midpoint of the season, while Jones posted a point in his last five outings. However, the Blue Jackets have not been able to solve their problems on a power play that ranks last in the league (12.9 percent) after going 0-for-23 in the last 10 contests.

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (32-8-2): Right wing Nikita Kucherov saw his 12-game point streak come to an end and posted a minus-4 rating against San Jose, but leads the league with 69 points after a relatively slow start to the season. Point (team-most 24 goals) also saw an eight-game point streak end last time out, while captain Steven Stamkos had an assist Saturday after scoring once and setting up two at Los Angeles on Thursday. Defenseman Victor Hedman has registered a goal and six assists during a six-game point streak and has 15 of his 26 points this season on the power play.

OVERTIME

1. Columbus captain F Nick Foligno could miss his fourth straight game to be with his five-year-old daughter, who is recovering from surgery.

2. Tampa Bay G Andrei Vasilevskiy has two shutouts and a .934 save percentage in six career games against the Blue Jackets.

3. Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski needs one goal to reach double digits for the third straight season and boasts seven points in the last seven games.

PREDICTION: Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 1

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Montreal Canadiens vs. Detroit Red Wings Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Success has been difficult for the Detroit Red Wings to attain, regardless of where they play. Detroit looks to begin turning around its fortunes when it completes its five-game homestand Tuesday against an Original Six rival, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Red Wings have gone 1-2-1 during the stretch at Little Caesars Arena and have lost 11 of their last 13 overall (2-8-3) after dropping a 3-2 decision to Washington on Sunday. Anthony Mantha scored to become the fifth player to reach double digits in goals for Detroit, which is 2-6-2 in its last 10 at home. Montreal is coming off a 1-2-0 homestand that concluded Monday with a 1-0 loss to Minnesota. The Canadiens, who scored a total of three goals during the string at Bell Centre, have won four of their last five on the road.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS (Montreal), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE CANADIENS (22-16-5): The oft-injured David Schlemko appears to be on his way out of Montreal as the defenseman was placed on waivers Monday. The 31-year-old veteran has notched two assists in 18 games this season and 94 points in 415 career contests with seven teams. Carey Price, who has allowed a total of four goals in three contests since returning from a nagging lower-body injury, has elected to forego participating in the All-Star Game.

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (16-21-7): Dylan Larkin has landed on the scoresheet in 16 of his last 17 contests, collecting eight goals and 11 assists in that span. The 22-year-old center leads the team with 18 tallies, 41 points and four game-winning goals - all in overtime. Gustav Nyquist notched an assist Sunday, giving him a point in five of his last six contests.

OVERTIME

1. Red Wings rookie D Filip Hronek has recorded a goal and two assists over his last two games.

2. Montreal C Max Domi is one goal behind Brendan Gallagher (15) for the team lead despite being in the midst of a 13-game drought.

3. Detroit C Andreas Athanasiou, who had his three-game goal-scoring streak snapped Sunday, scored twice in a 7-2 loss at Montreal on Oct. 15.

PREDICTION: Canadiens 3, Red Wings 2

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Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

The Dallas Stars saw their five-game point streak come to an abrupt halt last time out and will try to move in a positive direction again when they visit the last-place St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in a battle of Central Division rivals. The Stars went 4-0-1, a stretch that included wins over Nashville and Washington, before giving up five unanswered goals after taking a second-period lead in a 5-1 setback at Winnipeg on Sunday.

"I think it's going to get harder," Dallas coach Jim Montgomery told reporters of his team's road ahead while sitting in a playoff position. "The intensity of the second half is going to pick up and, you know, that's one of our better road games of the year (on Sunday) and we still didn't come out on top. So you know we still got to keep staying with it and get better." The Stars won the final three meetings of 2017-18 - all at home - but have dropped seven straight regular-season games at St. Louis, which has won two of its last three overall. Jordan Binnington gave No. 1 goaltender Jake Allen (8-4-0 lifetime versus Dallas) a day off Monday and turned aside all 25 shots he faced to earn a shutout in his first NHL start as the Blues won 3-0 at Philadelphia. Ryan O'Reilly leads St. Louis with 40 points and is riding a six-game streak while David Perron brings a seven-game run into the matchup versus the Stars, against whom he's registered 10 goals and 13 assists in 32 career contests.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Dallas), FS Midwest (St. Louis)

ABOUT THE STARS (22-17-4): Tyler Seguin has picked up his production level during a five-game point streak, scoring four goals while setting up three others, and leads the team with 39 points. Alexander Radulov also is wielding a hot stick, notching six of his 37 points in the last three games, and captain Jamie Benn has scored two of his team-best 17 goals over the last three contests. Defenseman John Klingberg (67 points last season) recorded just one point in his first five games following a lengthy stint on injured reserve but has registered four assists in his last four contests.

ABOUT THE BLUES (17-19-4): Vladimir Tarasenko scored on Monday to snap his five-game drought while Brayden Schenn has recorded a goal in back-to-back contests for the first time this season. Tyler Bozak joined the team in Philadelphia but was scratched due to an upper-body injury while Alex Steen left Monday's game with a similar ailment. Captain Alex Pietrangelo notched an assist for his third point in three games while fellow defenseman Carl Gunnarsson set up a goal for his first point of the season.

OVERTIME

1. St. Louis LW Jaden Schwartz has notched an assist in three consecutive games but has gone eight contests without a goal.

2. Dallas G Ben Bishop, who started his career with the Blues, is 4-5-1 with a .921 save percentage in 10 games against his former team.

3. The Blues are 1-for-18 on the power play over their last six contests, while the Stars have scored with the man advantage in five straight games.

PREDICTION: Stars 4, Blues 2

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Colorado Avalanche vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

The Colorado Avalanche travel to Winnipeg to face the Jets on Tuesday, and both squads feel better after snapping out of recent slumps with emphatic victories last weekend. The Avalanche squashed a six-game losing streak Friday by pounding the Rangers 6-1 as Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen each finished with three points, while the Jets defeated Dallas 5-1 on Sunday for their second victory in five games as five different Winnipeg players scored.

The Jets uncharacteristically have struggled offensively of late, scoring seven goals in their previous five games before Bryan Little and defenseman Josh Morrissey paced Winnipeg on Sunday with a goal and an assist apiece. "I thought we got back to a lot of the little things," Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myers told reporters after the game, in which his fourth goal of the season served as the eventual game winner. "Forwards were quick down low, making quick passes, making quick plays." The Avalanche won for the first time since Jan. 19, ending an 0-4-2 stretch as MacKinnon finished with three points (one goal, two assists) entering a season-long five-game road trip. "We had to end (the skid) right now," Rantanen told the media afterward. "We still have half a year left and we're still sitting in a playoff spot, so it's in our own hands."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude TV (Denver), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (20-14-8): MacKinnon's big night extended his point streak to six games (four goals, four assists) and gives him 63 points on the season (third in the NHL). Rantanen's two goals came on the power play to give him seven points in his past six games and 65 points this season (second in the league). Colorado finished 3-for-10 with the man advantage Friday, the most power-play opportunities for the Avalanche in a game since 2008.

ABOUT THE JETS (26-13-2): With forward Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien sidelined by injuries, Winnipeg got a much-needed scoring boost Sunday from Myers, Little, Connor, Adam Lowry and Morrissey. Connor snapped an 11-game scoring drought early in the third period and Little's tally marked his first in 12 games. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck shook off an early goal to make 26 saves to win for the second time in three games.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg F Blake Wheeler has 26 points (20 assists) in his past 20 games after picking up an assist Sunday, giving him a team-high 51 points.

2. Colorado D Tyson Barrie finished with three assists Friday, moving into first place in franchise history for points by a defenseman with 278.

3. Jets C Mark Scheifele snapped a four-game point drought with an assist Sunday, giving him 50 points on the season.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Avalanche 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New York Rangers vs. Vegas Golden Knights Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

The Vegas Golden Knights have hit the jackpot with their play of late while the New York Rangers will go bankrupt if their defense continues to be as generous as it has been in recent outings. The Golden Knights aim to extend their season-high win streak to seven contests on Tuesday when they host the reeling Rangers, who have been outscored 18-3 in their last three games.

Max Pacioretty capped a whirlwind weekend in style, scoring his second game-winning goal in three nights while squeezing in the birth of his son, Michael, early Saturday morning in Las Vegas. The 30-year-old Pacioretty's heroics in Sunday's 3-2 victory over New Jersey allowed the Golden Knights to extend their point streak to nine games (7-0-2) and 11 on home ice (9-0-2), which is one behind their franchise record set last season. While Vegas has vaulted toward the top of the Pacific Division by posting a 17-3-3 mark in its last 23 contests, New York has dropped three straight five-goal decisions and 14 of 19 overall (5-9-5) to fall into sixth place in the Metropolitan. "We're fragile mentally and physically right now, the way things are going," Rangers coach David Quinn said following Sunday's 5-0 loss to Arizona.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN-Plus, Sportsnet360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, MSG-Plus (New York), AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains

ABOUT THE RANGERS (17-17-7): Chris Kreider rolled into the new calendar year with five of his club-best 20 goals to highlight a five-game point streak, only to be held off the scoresheet for the third straight outing on Sunday despite registering a team-high five shots on goal. The 27-year-old looks to locate his scoring touch versus Vegas, against which he scored in New York's 4-3 overtime loss on Dec. 16. Former Vezina Trophy recipient Henrik Lundqvist has been pulled in each of his last two games and has surrendered four goals in both career contests against the Golden Knights.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (26-15-4): New York native Alex Tuch is riding a career-best six-game point streak (two goals, five assists) and has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in his last 16, including a two-point performance in which he scored 2:11 into overtime at Madison Square Garden last month. The 22-year-old continued his surge by setting up Pacioretty's goal in the second period versus the Devils, boosting his club-best totals in assists (19) and points (33). Paul Stastny scored and set up a goal in the first meeting with the Rangers, igniting a 10-point run (five goals, five assists) in his last 11 games.

OVERTIME

1. Vegas LW Brandon Pirri, who had nine points (six goals, three assists) in seven games in the NHL this season, was recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on Monday

2. Rangers C Mika Zibanejad leads the team in points (34), but his last goal came against the Golden Knights on Dec. 16.

3. Vegas' 17th-ranked power play is mired in an 0-for-16 rut.

PREDICTION: Golden Knights 4, Rangers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Edmonton Oilers vs. San Jose Sharks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NHL Predictions 8th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/08/2019

After ending December with six consecutive losses, the Edmonton Oilers have begun this month by winning two of the first three contests on their four-game road trip. The Oilers look to finish the trek with another triumph when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Edmonton split the first two games of the trip before rolling to a 4-0 victory in Anaheim on Sunday. Cam Talbot made 39 saves en route to his 20th career shutout while captain Connor McDavid scored his team-leading 24th goal, which also proved to be his league high-tying seventh game-winner. San Jose looks to complete a perfect three-game homestand after improving to 3-0-2 in its last five at SAP Center with Monday's 3-1 triumph over Los Angeles. Defenseman Erik Karlsson set up all three goals in the win, giving him a total of 21 assists during his 13-game streak for the Sharks, who have earned points in seven of their last eight contests (5-1-2).

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), NBCS California (San Jose)

ABOUT THE OILERS (20-19-3): Kris Russell was back on the blue line Sunday after missing 10 games with a groin injury and registered one shot while blocking three as he finished with a plus-1 rating in 22 minutes, 39 seconds of ice time. The 31-year-old defenseman has notched one goal and seven assists in 32 contests this season. Leon Draisaitl has tallied in six of his last seven games and is two goals away from 100 for his career.

ABOUT THE SHARKS (24-13-7): Defenseman Brent Burns and captain Joe Pavelski had their five-game point streaks halted by the Kings, with the latter being kept off the scoresheet for only the second time in his last 10 contests. Burns was playing for the first time since being named the NHL's Second Star of the Week, an honor he received after recording two goals and seven assists in three games - including his second career four-point performance Wednesday versus Colorado. Joonas Donskoi scored in Monday's win, giving him five goals and two assists over his last six contests.

OVERTIME

1. McDavid has matched the career high in game-winning goals he set last season.

2. San Jose D Radim Simek returned to the lineup Monday after missing two contests with a concussion and recorded two shots in 18:09.

3. Edmonton C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' next game will be his 500th in the NHL.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Sharks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Texas A&M Aggies vs. Kentucky Wildcats Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Kentucky has lost back-to-back games only 12 times under coach John Calipari and will try to avoid making it 13 when Texas A&M pays a visit to Rupp Arena on Tuesday night. The No. 18 Wildcats had a three-game winning streak snapped with a 77-75 loss at Alabama in their Southeastern Conference opener, a defeat that dropped the school four spots in the rankings.

Kentucky rallied from an 11-point deficit against the Crimson Tide and had a chance to win but Tyler Herro's 3-point attempt at the buzzer misfired. "Our league, including this Tuesday, they're all going to be close," Calipari told reporters. "They're all going to come down to the last five minutes." Texas A&M also went down to the wire in its conference opener before dropping a 73-71 decision to Arkansas, its second straight home defeat. "In this league, when you have an opportunity to win and you are at home, you got to win, so we just got to get to get better in the next couple of days and get ready for a good Kentucky team," Aggies coach Billy Kennedy said.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (6-6, 0-1 SEC): After coming off the bench in the last two non-conference games, T.J. Starks returned to the starting lineup and matched his career high with 23 points against Arkansas. Starks also had a team-high 17 points to lead Texas A&M to an 85-74 win over Kentucky last February in College Station. The Aggies continued to struggle from beyond the arc, making only 5 of 24 3-point attempts against Arkansas after going 9 of 28 in the stunning loss to Texas Southern in their previous game.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (10-3, 0-1): Four starters are averaging in double figures for the Wildcats, led by Keldon Johnson at 16.2 points per game, and that balance showed as all five starters had at least 12 points against Alabama. Kentucky struggled inside against the Crimson Tide, losing the battle of the boards 40-32 and managing only one blocked shot after registering at least four rejections in each of the first 12 games. Freshman guard Ashton Hagans scored a career-high 12 points to go with six assists and three steals.

TIP-INS

1. Wildcats F PJ Washington has at least seven rebounds in 10 of the last 11 games.

2. Aggies G Savion Flagg had 20 points and 15 rebounds versus Arkansas for his third career double-double.

3. Kentucky is 46-12 following a loss under Calipari.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 80, Texas A&M 68

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Missouri Tigers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

After opening SEC play with a resounding victory, No. 3 Tennessee looks to run its winning streak to nine games when it visits Missouri for a conference matchup on Tuesday. It's the SEC opener for the Tigers, who enter with a six-game winning streak.


The Volunteers opened conference play with a 96-50 shellacking of visiting Georgia on Saturday - tied for their second-largest margin of victory all-time in SEC action. Tennessee already is off to its best start since 2007-08 and now has key reserve Lamonte Turner back from a nagging left shoulder injury. The Tigers have exceeded expectations in former Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin's second season, getting off to a strong start despite losing star forward Jontay Porter to a season-ending injury in the preseason. Missouri has won each of its last five games by at least 14 points.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2


ABOUT TENNESSEE (12-1, 1-0 SEC): The Vols are an offensive juggernaut led by the SEC's leading scorer in Grant Williams (19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists). The trio of Williams, Admiral Schofield (18.2 points, six rebounds) and 6-11 forward Kyle Alexander (10.4, 7.4) will be a tough matchup for the smaller Tigers. Point guard Jordan Bone (14 points, 6.4 assists) also is having a big season, and Turner's return adds depth to an already potent lineup.

ABOUT MISSOURI (9-3): The Tigers are not a dynamic offensive team, but they do lead the SEC in 3-point shooting at 39.3 percent. Jordan Geist (13.9 points) and Mark Smith (12, 5.4 rebounds) have lit it up from beyond the arc. The Tigers also are tough on the glass, having outrebounded 10 of their 12 opponents - with Jeremiah Tilmon (10.8 points, 6.7 rebounds) leading the way.


TIP-INS

1. Tennessee has not trailed in 110 minutes, 40 seconds of game action.

2. Missouri has not beaten a top-three team since winning at No. 3 Baylor on Jan. 21, 2012 and has not done so at home since upsetting No. 3 Oklahoma on Feb. 26, 2003.

3. The Tigers are 7-0 when committing fewer turnovers that the opposition.


PREDICTION: Tennessee 76, Missouri 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Maryland Terrapins vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Minnesota looks to build off one of its best wins of the season when it hosts Maryland on Tuesday. The Golden Gophers knocked off Wisconsin 59-52 on Thursday to notch their first victory in the Border Battle series since 2014 while extending their winning streak to seven games and hope to continue their upward trajectory by improving to 8-0 at home.


"I try to stay even keeled, but it's a great win and another quality win for us," Minnesota coach Richard Pitino told reporters. "It's important for us to be able to compete in these Big Ten games and find a way to get some wins." Maryland is heading in the right direction after a 77-63 victory against Rutgers on Saturday. The Terrapins used a 16-0 first-half run to pull away from the Scarlet Knights en route to their fifth win in six games, and they hope to take another big step in their development by posting back-to-back road victories in conference play for the first time since Jan. 2017. "It's hard to win on the road and the way we did was good, but more importantly it's how we're playing," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters. "We are who we are, but we're getting better and we're talented so we're figuring it out and that's what's important."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network


ABOUT MARYLAND (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten): Freshman phenom Jalen Smith scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds against Rutgers after sinking the game-winning shot in the 74-72 victory against then No. 23 Nebraska on Jan. 2. Anthony Cowan Jr. added 15 points and three assists in the win against the Scarlet Knights to finish in double figures for the 19th consecutive time dating back to last season. Eric Ayala and Serrel Smith Jr. each tallied 11 points while Bruno Fernando narrowly missed out on his eighth double-double of the campaign after registering 10 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (12-2, 2-1): Amir Coffey led the way with 21 points to go along with six rebounds in the win against Wisconsin to finish in double figures for the 13th time in 14 games. Dupree McBrayer added 14 points while Jordan Murphy, who has registered nine double-doubles in 2018-19, was limited to five points but pulled down 11 rebounds, and he needs nine points to become the ninth player in program history to reach 1,500 for his career. Eric Curry, who missed the first 12 games of the season with a knee injury, corralled five rebounds in his first conference contest since Mar. 5, 2017 while Nate Washington failed to see any action with Pitino revealing after the game it was purely a coach's decision.


TIP-INS

1. Minnesota is 7-0 in games decided by nine points or fewer.

2. Fernando leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.4).

3. Coffey tops the conference in scoring at 24 points per game.


PREDICTION: Minnesota 72, Maryland 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

St. John's Red Storm vs. Villanova Wildcats Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Villanova is the defending NCAA champion, but St. John's is having a season more reminiscent of a championship campaign. The 23rd-ranked Red Storm put their 14-1 record on the line Tuesday when they visit the Wildcats in a Big East showdown.

St. John's has entered the Top 25 following a terrific first two months of the season that has featured only one loss - a controversial two-point defeat against Seton Hall. The team has won its last two games since then, including a squeaker at Georgetown over the weekend that fueled the Red Storm's return to the Top 25. "I think there's tremendous excitement, optimism, and a good feeling," coach Chris Mullin said. "I think it's great that our fan base has watched us throughout. They watched us struggle, improve, and now watch them have success. It's a genuine and authentic way to go about it." Villanova has won three straight, including Big East wins over DePaul and Providence, and hopes to avenge a loss to St. John's in the most recent meeting between the teams.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (14-1, 2-1 Big East): The Red Storm beat the Hoyas by three in overtime thanks to Shamorie Ponds' 37 points - his second 37-point effort of the season to go with performances of 35 and 32 points, as well as four other 20-point efforts. Overall, the junior standout is averaging 20.4 points while shooting over 50 percent from the field and better than 40 percent from the 3-point line - way up from his shooting percentages from the field (42.0) and the arc (25.3) a season ago. Justin Simon, who does a little bit of everything for St. John's, finished the Georgetown game with 14 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a pair of blocks.

ABOUT VILLANOVA (11-4, 2-0): Phil Booth (17.3 points) and Eric Paschall (15.7), both of whom have scored at least nine points in every game, are the senior leaders of a mostly inexperienced Wildcats team. Booth had 23 points against Providence and made multiple 3-pointers for the sixth straight game, while Paschall (13 points, 14 rebounds) notched his first double-double of the season. Cole Swider had perhaps the best game of his freshman season versus the Friars, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.

TIP-INS

1. Villanova G Collin Gillespie (11 ppg) has 11 total points on 4-of-14 shooting in the last two games.

2. St. John's F Marvin Clark II had shot at least 50 percent from the field in seven straight games before a 4-of-10 showing versus Georgetown.

3. Red Storm G Mustapha Heron (15.6 points) has committed at least four fouls in five straight outings.

PREDICTION: St. John's 93, Villanova 77

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Iowa State Cyclones vs. Baylor Bears Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Iowa State sent a message to both the Big 12 and the NCAA at large by manhandling longtime conference power Kansas to receive its first national ranking since the 2016-17 season. The 20th-ranked Cyclones vie for their first 3-0 start in conference play since the 1999-2000 campaign when they visit Baylor on Tuesday at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.

Freshman Tyrese Haliburton improved to 8-for-11 from long range by drilling four 3-point attempts in Saturday's resounding 77-60 triumph over Kansas, helping Iowa State to its fifth straight victory. "Tyrese has an infectious personality," Cyclones coach Steve Prohm said of Haliburton, who was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. "He's got a pure heart. That's why he has been successful. He is just enjoying the journey." Baylor nearly pulled off quite the comeback in its conference opener, as its bid to erase a 19-point second-half deficit fell just a bit short in Saturday's 85-81 loss to TCU. "Down (19), we could have never made a run, but these guys are going to fight to the end," Bears coach Scott Drew said. "You just want to pull it out when you get there."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNews

ABOUT IOWA STATE (12-2, 2-0 Big 12): Marial Shayok, who is averaging a team-best 20.1 points per game, poured in 24 versus the Jayhawks on 9-for-12 shooting to receive Big 12 Player of the Week honors. The senior guard made all five of his attempts from behind the arc, helping the Cyclones shoot a staggering 52.0 percent from 3-point range to chase Kansas out of Hilton Coliseum. Lindell Wigginton was not as fortunate following his 2-for-11 performance from the field on Saturday, but the sophomore guard erupted for a career-high 30 points in Iowa State's 75-65 win over Baylor in January 2018.

ABOUT BAYLOR (8-5, 0-1): Sophomore forward Tristan Clark answered his first double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Bears' 84-44 romp over New Orleans on Dec. 29 by scoring a team-high 18 against the Horned Frogs. The sophomore forward has made at least 50 percent of his shots in every game and at least 60 percent in all but two contests this season. Clark, who leads the team in scoring (14.5) and rebounds (6.5), collected 16 points and a career-best 15 rebounds in the Bears' loss to Iowa State in January before mustering just two points in an 81-67 win over the Cyclones on Feb. 3.

TIP-INS

1. Baylor has won 13 of 15 all-time home meetings with Iowa State, with the latter's last victory coming in the 2012-13 season.

2. Cyclones G Nick Weiler-Babb recorded 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in last season's January meeting with the Bears.

3. Bears G Makai Mason, who is a Yale transfer, has recorded double-digit scoring performances in nine of 10 games.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 76, Baylor 61

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Toledo Rockets vs. Buffalo Bulls Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Buffalo and its balanced scoring attack host Toledo on Tuesday in a Mid-American Conference game. The 20th-ranked Bulls defeated Eastern Michigan 74-58 on Friday in their MAC opener behind senior forward Montell McRae, whose career-high 18 points - more than 11 above his season average - helped Buffalo overcome a slow start.

"We never know whose night it is to step up in the whole deal, and it was (McRae's) night to step up (Friday) and help us,'' Bulls coach Nate Oats told reporters. "Against Toledo, Tuesday, it might be somebody else's night to step up." Senior forward Nick Perkins, who scored 15 points against Eastern Michigan, reminded reporters that everything changes once conference season begins. "Conference play is a different beast than non-conference, so when you get into conference play, teams are more familiar with your offense and your defense and the way you play," Perkins told the media. "This was good for us. We won by a decent amount, but we've got a lot of stuff we need to work on." The Rockets saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end with a 79-64 loss to Ball State in their MAC opener.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT TOLEDO (12-2, 0-1 MAC): Junior forward Willie Jackson (11.0 points, team-high 10.7 boards) is one of two MAC players averaging a double-double and is 10th nationally in rebounding. Senior guard Jaelan Sanford averages a team-high 17.4 points - fifth-best in the MAC - and leads the conference with an 87.8 free-throw percentage. Luke Knapke, a 6-11 junior center, averages 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, and is a deep threat while making 17-of-37 from 3-point range.

ABOUT BUFFALO (13-1, 1-0): Senior guard CJ Massinburg averages a team-high 17.8 points - 19.3 over the last four games - and adds 6.5 rebounds. Senior guard Jeremy Harris (13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds) grabbed a season-high 12 boards versus Eastern Michigan and averaged 8.5 rebounds in the past four contests. Perkins averages 13.4 points and a club-most 8.3 rebounds while sophomore guard Jayvon Graves goes for 9.6 points per game but has scored only 31 over his last five contests.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulls are averaging 83.5 points this season after setting a school record with 84.6 in 2017-18.

2. The Rockets, who are seventh nationally in free-throw percentage (78.4), fell to 10-1 this season when outrebounding their opponent after winning the battle on the boards 41-40 versus Ball State.

3. Buffalo won both meetings in 2017-18 - 104-94 during the regular season and 76-66 in the MAC championship game with Perkins scoring a total of 40 points in the two games.

PREDICTION: Buffalo 76, Toledo 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Big 12 play is off to a favorable start for Texas, and Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton knows the Longhorns won't feel sorry for his Cowboys and their 0-2 start in league play. Texas will try and begin 3-0 in conference play for the first time since 2010-11 on Tuesday when it visits the Cowboys, who are attempting to avoid a 0-3 start for the second time in three years.

Oklahoma State went 6-6 in non-conference play but dropped a 69-63 home contest to Iowa State before losing the first Bedlam matchup of the season at No. 22 Oklahoma 74-64 on Saturday. "We had a few breakdowns late in the game, which, they happen from time to time, but we've gotta get back and get better, and I know one thing, Texas, who is next on our schedule, won't feel sorry for us," Boynton told the Stillwater News Press. "They're hoping to make us 0-3, and so our message to our team is, anybody who feels sorry for themselves, don't show up to practice tomorrow, and I won't bother trying to play you on Tuesday." Texas, on the other hand, downed Kansas State by 20 in Manhattan to open league play and followed up with a near wire-to-wire 61-54 win over West Virginia. Sophomore guard Matt Coleman recorded a team-high 17 points and hit a step-back 3-pointer with 1:03 left to provide a five-point lead before sealing the victory about a half-minute later with two free throws.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TEXAS (10-4, 2-0 Big 12): Coleman (10.5 points, 3.3 assists), who shot 6-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the foul line Saturday, added four rebounds and three assists without a turnover in 35 minutes as the Longhorns improved to 4-0 when shooting 50 percent from the floor. Senior forward Dylan Osetkowski (10.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) recorded 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while freshman forward Jaxson Hayes (9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 blocks) set a career high with four blocked shots. The Longhorns held the Mountaineers to 40 percent shooting, including 5-of-20 beyond the arc, and continue to impress on defense, surrendering just 50.5 points and yielding 36.3 percent shooting in the first two conference matchups, both tops in the Big 12.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (6-8, 0-2): Thomas Dziagwa (10.7 points, team-high 44 3-pointers, 45.8 3-point percentage) matched his season high with 16 points on a 4-for-8 performance beyond the arc against the Sooners. Super sub Michael Weathers (team-highs 18.6 points, 2.1 steals per 40 minutes) had 13 points, six assists and a season-high seven rebounds but shot just 3-of-12 from the floor. Junior forward Cameron McGriff leads the squad in scoring (13.2 points) and rebounding (8.0) but he's shooting just 38.5 percent from the field, while junior guard Lindy Waters III chips in 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals.

TIP-INS

1. The teams split the series last season, but the Cowboys have won six of the last seven at home.

2. Oklahoma State, which had outrebounded each of its previous four opponents, were outrebounded 51-39 by the Sooners.

3. Texas made its first 3-pointer of the game against West Virginia, running its school-record consecutive made 3-pointers streak to 10 before missing its second attempt of the game. The Longhorns hit their last nine shots beyond the arc at Kansas State.

PREDICTION: Texas 72, Oklahoma State 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Duke Blue Devils vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

Duke looks to win its eighth in a row and second in conference play as it visits Wake Forest on Tuesday evening. The second-ranked Blue Devils opened ACC play with a resounding 87-68 win over Clemson on Saturday, while the Demon Deacons lost at Georgia Tech in their conference opener.

Freshman sensation Zion Williamson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, including a highlight reel 360-degree dunk that left even his coach Hall of Fame coach impressed. "There's no ceiling on how many times he can twirl, as long as he puts the damned thing in," Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters after the game. Wake Forest allowed the Yellow Jackets to score their most points in an ACC regular-season game since 2005 in a 92-79 loss on Saturday, as Georgia Tech forward James Banks III scored 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting. "We had a tough time guarding Banks. We wanted to show a little bit more resistance in the paint in that regard," Wake Forest coach Danny Manning told the media after the loss.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT DUKE (12-1, 1-0 ACC): Williamson sits third in both ACC scoring (20.2 points) and rebounding (9.5) while also ranking second in field-goal percentage (66.4), fifth in blocks (1.9) and fifth in steals (2.1). RJ Barrett, the conference's leading scorer with 22.9 points per game, chipped in with 13 points against Clemson while adding nine rebounds and four assists. Tre Jones had a season-high nine assists while Cameron Reddish - the fourth member of Duke's impressive freshman class - struggled with just four points on 1-of-8 shooting and six turnovers.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (7-6, 0-1): The Demon Deacons allowed the Yellow Jackets to shoot 55.8 percent from the field and are allowing opponents to shoot 44.9 percent on the season, which ranks 262nd out of 351 Division I teams. Offensively, junior guard Brandon Childress had a career night with highs in points (28) and 3-pointers (seven) and is averaging a team-best 17.8 points. Freshman Jaylen Hoard added 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while sophomore Chaundee Brown poured in 10.

TIP-INS

1. Duke has won eight straight against Wake Forest and owns a 171-78 advantage in the all-time series.

2. The Blue Devils lead the ACC and rank third in Division I at 91.2 points per game.

3. Childress average 36.5 minutes per game, second-most in the ACC.

PREDICTION: Duke 101, Wake Forest 76

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Preview and Predictions 2019-01-08

NCAAB Predictions 7th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/07/2019

The top defensive teams in the Big 12 will square off Tuesday when No. 8 Texas Tech puts its perfect home record up against No. 22 Oklahoma. The Red Raiders nearly squandered a 15-point halftime lead Saturday against Kansas State but escaped with a 63-57 victory to move to 2-0 in league play.

"I thought we showed grit," Texas Tech coach Chris Beard told reporters after his team committed 13 second-half turnovers. "We weren't playing our best at one point, but we hung in there. This is what the Big 12 is. I would love to come out here and play well for 38 minutes but that's not the reality of this league." The elite Red Raiders' defense showed up Saturday as they limited the Wildcats to 19 points on 23.1 percent shooting in the first half and they enter the week leading the nation in field goal percentage defense (33.4) and 3-point percentage defense (24.1). Oklahoma earned its first Big 12 victory Saturday in a 74-64 Bedlam win over Oklahoma State after the Sooners lost their conference opener 70-63 to No. 9 Kansas on Wednesday. Leading scorer Christian James (17.1 points per game) has recorded all six of his career double-doubles in his past seven games as the 6-4 guard finished Saturday's win with 14 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNews

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (12-2, 1-1 Big 12): The Sooners are second in the league behind Texas Tech in field goal percentage defense (37.5) and limited the Cowboys - the Big 12's best 3-point shooting team (37.3 percent) - to a 6-for-26 shooting performance from downtown. "If we didn't stop (Oklahoma State), we would have been blown out," Sooners' forward Kristian Doolittle told the media after scoring a team-high 16 points Saturday. "We were able to disrupt their shooters, run them off the 3-point line. We did a good job executing our defense." The Sooners are sixth nationally in rebounding (43.5) and are led by James' 7.8 boards per game - fourth in the conference.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (13-1, 2-0): The Red Raiders seemingly won Saturday's contest with their effort in the first 10 minutes as Kansas State missed its first 13 shots and Texas Tech scored the first 14 points. Davide Moretti led the Red Raiders with a career-high 19 points in Saturday's win while the Italian guard added four rebounds and two assists but committed a team-high five turnovers. Jarrett Culver sits second in Big 12 scoring (18.7 points per game) but had his worst offensive performance of the season as the focus of Kansas State's defense, finishing with a season-low nine points on 2-of-7 shooting in 37 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. Texas Tech is the only team in the country that has not allowed 70 points in a game this season.

2. Oklahoma owns a 37-24 series lead and have lost one home game against Texas Tech since the 2010-11 season.

3. The Red Raiders force their opponents into a league-best 17.3 turnovers a game.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 65, Oklahoma 61