Sunday 1-13-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NBA Predictions 13th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/13/2019

The Portland Trail Blazers will try to register their first five-game winning streak of the season and inch a bit closer to the top of the Western Conference when they begin a two-game road trip on Sunday against the West-leading Denver Nuggets. After dropping the opener of a five-game homestand, the Trail Blazers rolled to four consecutive victories - including a 127-96 triumph over Charlotte on Friday - to match their longest winning streak of 2018-19.

CJ McCollum scored 30 points and Damian Lillard added 20 on Friday for Portland, which should be excited to take on a Denver squad that eked out a one-point win over the Blazers earlier in the season. "They came here and they got one," Lillard told reporters of the Nuggets. "We had a shot at the end of the game to beat them and we didn't feel like we played that well. So we've just got to take this brand of basketball that we've been playing over the last few games and take it to their court and go get another win." Denver will be kicking off a four-game homestand and come in on a sour note after suffering a 102-93 loss at lowly Phoenix on Saturday. Nikola Jokic and Malik Beasley combined for 44 points on 16-of-29 shooting, but the rest of the team went 18-for-59 from the floor.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), Altitude (Portland)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (26-17): Jusuf Nurkic put forth a dominant all-around effort in Friday's win by producing 11 points, 11 rebounds, eight rebounds and six blocked shots as he continued his recent tear. "The big fella's been awesome," McCollum told reporters of Nurkic. "He's playing extremely well, he's confident. He's finishing around the basket. But what I like most about him is that he's being aggressive on both ends. Defensively, he's protecting the rim for us and being selfish on the offensive end and distributing the ball." Nurkic, who is averaging 20 points and 12.2 rebounds this month, registered one of his 21 double-doubles in the team's earlier loss to the Nuggets.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (28-13): Gary Harris played in the club's first four games this month after missing the last 11 in December with a hip injury, but he's now sat out three in a row due to a hamstring issue. Beasley has filled some of the void, and his 21 points in Saturday's loss represented his fourth 20-point performance in the last 10 games. Fellow guard Jamal Murray was 4-for-17 from the floor at Phoenix and is shooting 28.4 percent over the team's last five losses.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. McCollum scored 33 points against Denver earlier this season but missed a potential game-winning jumper at the buzzer.

2. Nuggets SG Will Barton played 16 minutes on Saturday after missing the previous 38 games following hip surgery.

3. Denver has won four straight meetings with Portland.

PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 113, Nuggets 111

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NBA Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

LeBron James will not be on the floor when his new team hosts his old team, and the Los Angeles Lakers can commiserate with the Cleveland Cavaliers when it comes to scratching together wins without the superstar. The Cavaliers own the worst record in the NBA and will be attempting to snap a 12-game losing streak when they visit the Lakers on Sunday.

Cleveland reached the NBA Finals while being led by James in each of the last four seasons but fell off a cliff with the superstar gone and other key injuries ravaging the roster, and it allowed an average of 140.5 points in dropping the first two of a six-game road trip. "We don't have good defenders. Period," an anonymous player told Cleveland.com. "Watch the tape. You can see it. You can't hide them. Those teams will find the two of them in particular and attack, attack, attack. There are times when analytics and numbers are just numbers. This is not one of those times." The Lakers are 3-6 in nine games since James went down with a groin injury, and while he is participating in shooting drills and is scheduled to be evaluated next week, there is no firm timetable for his return. Los Angeles shot 35.9 percent from the floor and went 5-of-27 from beyond the arc in a 113-95 loss at the Utah Jazz on Friday.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Ohio (Cleveland), Spectrum SportsNet (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (8-35): Cleveland allowed the Houston Rockets to shoot 51.7 percent from the floor and watched superstar James Harden go off for 43 points in Friday's 141-113 setback. "How many games has it been? At this point, we've taught everything we can teach," center Tristan Thompson, who is one of the few remaining healthy players from the team James took to the NBA Finals last spring, told reporters. "Now it's up to the players to come out there and just do their job. Do your job. Simple. Our players didn't do their job." The Cavaliers fell to 3-18 on the road with Friday's setback and still have visits scheduled to Portland, Utah and Denver on the current trip.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (23-20): Power forward Kyle Kuzma is trying to step up in James' absence but is struggling with his consistency. The Utah product scored a career-high 41 points on 16-of-24 shooting in a home win over Detroit on Wednesday but slumped to 11 points on 4-of-18 in Friday's setback. "I think I just missed a couple bunnies I usually make around the rim, got a few shots blocked, but like you say I'm never really worried," Kuzma told reporters. "Nine times out of 10 I'm going to make shots around the rim that I missed tonight."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers C Ante Zizic scored a season-high 18 points in Friday's setback.

2. Lakers SF Michael Beasley left Friday's game with a hand injury, but x-rays came back negative and he is day-to-day.

3. Los Angeles took a 109-105 decision at Cleveland on Nov. 21, with James scoring 32 points in his return.

PREDICTION: Lakers 125, Cavaliers 101

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nashville Predators vs. Carolina Hurricanes Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

The Nashville Predators endured a dreadful stretch of 10 consecutive losses away from home but have turned things around as they prepare to make the final stop of a six-game road trip at the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon. Nashville has earned points in all five games on the trek, sandwiching 4-3 overtime losses at Detroit and Columbus around three straight wins.

The Predators were denied a fourth consecutive victory despite a valiant comeback, scoring twice in a 38-second span to force overtime against the Blue Jackets on Thursday night. "So far this road trip has been big for us," goaltender Pekka Rinne told reporters after Nashville extended its point streak to seven games overall. The Hurricanes are on a tear of their own with six wins in the last seven games - the lone loss coming at NHL-best Tampa Bay. "This is a really tough stretch. A lot of good teams," Carolina captain Justin Williams told reporters. "We need to make sure we're ready to go."

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, FS Tennessee (Nashville), FS Southeast (Carolina)

ABOUT THE PREDATORS (27-15-4): Nashville regularly features one of the top blue-line corps in the NHL and Mattias Ekholm is among the reasons, becoming the third defenseman in franchise history to register four consecutive games with multiple points. Ekbolm, riding a five-game point streak, notched his career-best 28th assist Thursday and needs one point to match his career high of 35 established in 2015-16. Rinne started a back-to-back Wednesday and Thursday, including the 600th game of his career due to Juuse Saros' illness, but the backup netminder was back on the ice at Saturday's practice.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (21-18-5): Despite a 12-game goal drought earlier in the season, Finnish center Sebastian Aho leads Carolina in goals (18), assists (29) and points (47) after scoring twice as part of a seven-point night from the No. 1 line in Friday's 4-3 win over Buffalo. Williams went 14 consecutive games without a goal earlier in the season but he has heated up since the calendar flipped to 2019 by tallying in four straight contests to extend his point streak to six games. Micheal Ferland, moved back to the top line and the subject of trade rumors, is coming off his first career three-point game.

OVERTIME

1. Predators F Viktor Arvidsson has six goals in his last seven games.

2. Hurricanes G Petr Mrazek is a perfect 6-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average versus Nashville.

3. Rinne is 6-2-1 with a 2.05 goals-against average versus Carolina.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 4, Predators 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

The Anaheim Ducks saw their run of five consecutive Pacific Division titles come to an end last season and could be staring at missing the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12 if they cannot reverse a horrific tailspin. The Ducks will try to halt a franchise-record 10-game slide (0-7-3) when they open a five-game road trip at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night.

Anaheim's skid started by losing the final four of a six-game road trip and now it must play 10 of its next 11 away from home. "We have to go to work," Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf told reporters after his team squandered a three-goal lead in Friday's 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh. "I've done 12 of these interviews in the last three weeks. Message is the same. We have to make a decision - a conscious decision. It won't just happen." The Jets, who sit atop the Central Division, rebounded from a 3-2 loss at Minnesota on Thursday with a 4-2 victory over Detroit the following night as backup netminder Laurent Brossoit improved to 9-1-1. "He's going to get more starts based on play but also based on schedule and it will be easy to do," coach Paul Maurice told the media. "We've got a couple of really good goalies."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Anaheim), TSN3 (Winnipeg)

ABOUT THE DUCKS (19-18-8): Getzlaf, who had been held off the scoresheet in his previous eight games and is a minus-15 during the losing streak, scored one goal and set up another to stake his club to a 3-0 first-period lead before Anaheim unraveled and allowed seven goals over the final 40 minutes. "Terrible. It's awful. Not being able to finish a game you start 3-0," Getzlaf told reporters after the game. "We quit playing." The Ducks have only 16 goals during the skid but Jakob Silfverberg has scored in back-to-back games and Daniel Sprong owns six goals in 16 games since he was acquired from the Penguins.

ABOUT THE JETS (28-14-2): Forward Bryan Little scored what proved to be the deciding tally Friday, giving him 500 points for his career and 29 game-winning goals. "He's not underappreciated by the people here but I think because his numbers maybe aren't quite as high as they were a couple of years ago when he was playing with Blake Wheeler that you think his play has dropped off," Maurice said of Little. "But the fact is it hasn't. He's a better player now than he's ever been." Little has three goals and a pair of assists during a four-game point streak and 14 points in 17 career games versus Anaheim.

OVERTIME

1. Anaheim has earned points in seven straight games at Winnipeg (5-0-2).

2. Jets F Kyle Connor boasts three goals and three assists in the past four following a 10-game point drought.

3. Ducks G John Gibson was burned for six goals Friday but is 2-1-2 with a 2.31 goals-against average versus Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Ducks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New York Rangers vs. Columbus Blue Jackets Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

A day after registering their first win of the month, the New York Rangers seek another when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. New York began January with five consecutive losses before edging the crosstown-rival Islanders 2-1 on the road in the back end of a home-and-home series on Saturday.

Mats Zuccarello snapped a tie with 5:05 remaining in the third period for the Rangers, who had lost three straight away from home. The goal was the 31-year-old Norwegian's 331st career point, moving him past Alexei Kovalev for 31st place on the franchise list. Columbus squandered a one-goal lead late in the third period on Saturday but managed to come away with a 2-1 overtime victory in Washington as Artemi Panarin converted a power-play opportunity 3 1/2 minutes into the extra session. It was the Blue Jackets' ninth win in 12 contests, with each of the last three occuring in overtime.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, NHL Network, MSG (New York), FS Ohio (Columbus)

ABOUT THE RANGERS (18-19-7): With Neal Pionk already out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, the blue line took another hit on Saturday as Fredrik Claesson left the victory in the third period with an upper-body ailment. Forward Filip Chytil scored against the Islanders, giving him two goals in 21 contests since his five-game streak from Nov. 12-21. The 19-year-old Czech is one of seven players in franchise history to record at least eight tallies as a teenager.

ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (26-15-3): Panarin has scored four of his team-high seven game-winning goals this season in overtime, with two coming in the last three days. The 27-year-old Russian has registered 14 (seven goals) of his club-leading 48 points over his last 10 games - a stretch during which he was kept off the scoresheet just once. Cam Atkinson's goal on Saturday was his team-best 25th of the campaign and 317th career point, tying him with David Vyborny for second place on the franchise list behind Rick Nash (547).

OVERTIME

1. Rangers LW Chris Kreider tops the club with 20 goals but enters Sunday with a seven-game drought.

2. Nash, who retired on Friday after a career that included stints with both Columbus and New York, will drop the ceremonial first puck on Sunday.

3. New York C Mika Zibanejad notched his team-leading 24th assist on Saturday, leaving him six away from matching the career high he set in 2015-16.

PREDICTION: Blue Jackets 4, Rangers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Florida Panthers vs. Vancouver Canucks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

There's a chance that Roberto Luongo could be making his final appearance in the city where he starred for nearly a decade when the Florida Panthers continue their five-game road trip with a visit to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night. The 39-year-old Luongo played eight seasons with the Canucks before he was traded back to Florida during the 2013-14 season.

"We're talking about a special athlete," Vancouver coach Travis Green said of Luongo. "He's had an amazing career. Guys that are that elite and play that long are pretty exceptional." Luongo was in net for Friday's 4-3 setback at Calgary that kept the Panthers winless on the road trip (0-2-1) and extended their losing streak to five games (0-3-2). Vancouver also is in a rut, having been shut out four times in its previous seven games before falling to Arizona 4-3 in overtime on Thursday. The teams are meeting for the first time Canucks rookie sensation Elias Pettersson suffered a concussion when he was checked into the boards by Florida's Mike Matheson on Oct. 13 for what Green termed a "dirty" hit.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Florida, Sportsnet (Vancouver)

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (17-18-8): Florida was unable to protect a 2-0 lead in Friday's loss to Calgary after giving up the tying goal in the final seconds of regulation in a shootout loss in Edmonton 24 hours earlier. Mike Hoffman scored his team-leading 21st goal against the Flames, giving his six tallies in his last 10 games and leaving him one shy of matching his season total with Ottawa in 2017-18. Jonathan Huberdeau, who scored his first goal of the season in the 3-2 loss to Vancouver in October, pushed his team-high point total to 47 with a power-play tally Friday.

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (20-21-5): Sven Baertschi, who missed 30 games due to a concussion, scored twice Friday and has three goals in six games since returning to the lineup. "I'm starting to feel more comfortable and I'm getting my chances," said Baertschi, who was elevated back to the No. 1 line. "With a (concussion) break that long, I can be happy with the way things are progressing, but there's always room for improvement." Pettersson, who suffered a sprained knee on Jan. 3, skated after practice Saturday but Green told reporters "we're not going to rush him back."

OVERTIME

1. Canucks G Jacob Markstrom owns a 1-3-1 mark and 3.30 goals-against average all time versus Florida.

2. Huberdeau has four goals and seven points in nine games against Vancouver.

3. Canucks F Josh Leivo (back), sidelined the last three games, practiced Saturday and is expected back in the lineup.

PREDICTION: Panthers 3, Canucks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Islanders Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 13th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/13/2019

The red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning look to follow up another thrilling comeback victory with a better 60-minute effort when they visit the New York Islanders on Sunday. The Lightning scored three unanswered goals in the third period to rally past Buffalo 5-3 on Saturday as Nikita Kucherov, who leads the NHL with 75 points, recorded a goal and two assists.

"We slept-walked through the first period," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper, whose team was outshot 16-6 in the first period, told reporters. "Especially (against) a team that had to travel and come in on a back-to-back, we just didn't execute. ... But, to be honest, I left them alone and the leaders took over in the second period. ... We got stronger and stronger." While the Lightning - 18-1-1 in their last 20 games - lead everyone in the league in points, the Islanders are in a battle for a playoff position in the Eastern Conference after winning 10 of their last 13 contests. New York coach Barry Trotz told reporters his team played better on Saturday than it did during a win over the crosstown-rival Rangers two days earlier in the opener of the home-and-home series, but it went 0-for-6 on the power play and fell 2-1 at home. "We played better overall in spurts," Islanders captain Anders Lee told reporters after Saturday's setback. "It wasn't a complete game by any means, but we had opportunities. ... It wasn't close to being a full 60 (minutes), which we needed."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE LIGHTNING (35-8-2): Kucherov, who has scored 10 of his 22 goals over the last 13 games, Brayden Point (61 points) and captain Steven Stamkos (51) give Tampa Bay three players with at least 50 points through 45 contests for the first time in franchise history. Defenseman Victor Hedman also has picked up his production level with a goal and nine assists over his last nine games. Andrei Vasilevskiy, who stopped 57 of the 58 shots he faced in his last two contests, is expected back in the crease after being rested on Saturday.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (24-15-4): Anthony Beauvillier scored the only goal for New York on Saturday to snap his nine-game drought and Josh Bailey notched an assist to tie Lee for second on the team with 33 points. Last season's Calder Trophy winner, Mathew Barzal has registered a team-best 41 points and collected a goal and two assists on Thursday before being kept off the scoresheet two days later. Robin Lehner was in net Saturday, and that could mean the start against Tampa Bay will go to Thomas Greiss, who lost his only one thus far this month.

OVERTIME

1. The next game played by Tampa Bay C J.T. Miller (upper body), who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing six contests, will be the 400th of his career.

2. New York RW Jordan Eberle has recorded two goals in his last four games and needs one for 200 in the NHL.

3. The Lightning have won six of the last seven regular-season meetings, including all three in 2017-18 by a combined score of 17-10.

PREDICTION: Islanders 4, Lightning 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Arizona Coyotes vs. Calgary Flames Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NHL Predictions 13th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/13/2019

The Calgary Flames have been on a roll of late and hope to continue the surge when they host the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. Calgary has won six of its last seven contests and each of its last four - including the first two of its five-game homestand.

The Flames posted a thrilling 4-3 victory over Florida on Friday, erasing a 2-0 deficit with four consecutive scores - including a crucial power-play conversion by Sean Monahan with 1:27 remaining in the third period that created a two-goal lead before the Panthers scored with 20 seconds left. Monahan has landed on the scoresheet in seven of his last nine contests, collecting three goals and 12 assists in that span. Arizona is hoping to complete a perfect three-game road trip with its fourth consecutive overall victory after edging Edmonton 3-2 on Saturday. Rookie Conor Garland extended his goal-scoring streak to four games with a pair of power-play tallies, including one 1:54 into the third period that snapped a 2-2 deadlock.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, Sportsnet One (Calgary)

ABOUT THE COYOTES (20-21-3): Jordan Weal made his team debut Saturday and registered one hit in 14 minutes, 51 seconds of ice time. The 26-year-old center recorded three goals and six assists in 28 games with Philadelphia this season before being acquired for Jacob Graves and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick Friday. Garland is the first rookie in franchise history to score in four consecutive contests since Teemu Selanne, who had a nine-game goal-scoring streak from March 14-April 1, 1993 while with the original Winnipeg Jets.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (29-13-4): Michael Frolik has turned up the offense during Calgary's current hot stretch as he has registered four goals and as many assists - his entire assist total this season - over his last seven games. Three of the 30-year-old Czech's 11 tallies this campaign have been game-winners, putting him within one of tying the career high he set with Winnipeg in 2014-15 and matched the following season while with the Flames. Johnny Gaudreau leads the team with 67 points and is riding a seven-game streak during which he has registered seven goals and nine assists.

OVERTIME

1. Flames C Mikael Backlund notched an assist Friday to pull within four points of 300 for his career.

2. Arizona assigned LW Michael Bunting to Tucson of the American Hockey League.

3. Calgary C Elias Lindholm is three assists shy of matching the career high of 34 he recorded in 2016-17 while with Carolina.

PREDICTION: Flames 4, Coyotes 1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Butler Bulldogs vs. Xavier Musketeers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Butler and Xavier are two programs who haven't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, but both teams find themselves in unfamiliar territory midway through the 2018-19 campaign. The Musketeers may have given themselves just the jolt they needed to make a run with their latest win, however, and they will try to continue on that path Sunday when they host the Bulldogs.

Xavier, which has made the Big Dance in 16 of the last 18 seasons, was on the verge of falling to 1-3 in the Big East for the first time since joining the conference in 2013-14 on Wednesday, trailing by 17 at home late in the first half against Georgetown before going on a 12-0 run to end the opening stanza on its way to an 81-75 victory. "Adversity shows who you really are. ... I was proud of (the) response. I loved the resolve,'' first-year coach Travis Steele told the Cincinnati Enquirer. Butler has made the NCAA Tournament in 10 of the previous 12 years but hasn't won a true road contest in nearly a year, dropping six straight such games dating back to Jan. 31, 2018. The Bulldogs, who are in the middle of a three-game road trip, lost for the third time in four games overall following Wednesday's 76-75 defeat at Seton Hall.

TV: Noon ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT BUTLER (10-6, 1-2 Big East): The Bulldogs, who lost by 12 points at Saint Louis on Dec. 1 and by 34 at Florida four weeks later, nearly rallied from double-digit deficits twice in the second half against the Pirates, but their advantage in the turnover department (plus-eight) was negated by 38.8 percent shooting, including 5-for-20 beyond the arc. Sophomore Joey Brunk (9.2 points, 4.8 boards) posted his first double-double in his second career start, reaching career highs in points (20) and rebounds (10). Junior Kamar Baldwin, who ranks among the top 10 in the conference in scoring (16.9 points; eighth), assists (3.9; eighth), steals (1.4, seventh), free-throw percentage (84.3) and minutes (34.1; seventh), moved into 30th place on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,164.

ABOUT XAVIER (10-7, 2-2): After refusing to play his only two post players - Zach Hankins and Tyrique Jones - together for an extended amount of time due to a fear of foul trouble, Steele relented Wednesday and the duo rewarded him with 42 points and 20 rebounds, including a career-high 23 points from Hankins and Jones' first double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) in over a month. "We've been in coach's ear trying to stay on the floor, both of us at the same time. Today, we proved we can both stay on the floor," Jones told reporters. Starting point guard Quentin Goodin, who ranks second in the Big East in assists (5.4) and sixth in steals (1.6), sat out with a right ankle injury Wednesday and remains day-to-day.

TIP-INS

1. Xavier has won three straight meetings and is 9-3 against the Bulldogs since the two teams became conference rivals.

2. Baldwin is averaging 12.7 points on 16-of-55 shooting in true road games this season.

3. Steele is a 2004 graduate of Butler.

PREDICTION: Xavier 77, Butler 72

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Villanova Wildcats vs. Creighton Bluejays Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Creighton may have lost its most recent game, but it certainly caught the attention of Jay Wright. The Villanova coach hopes his team can slow the host Bluejays on Sunday when the Big East rivals square off.

Creighton went toe-to-toe with Marquette on Wednesday before falling 106-104 in overtime despite making 17-of-33 3-pointers and shooting nearly 51 percent overall. "They're scary," Wright said of the Bluejays. "They had that game. When you're their opponent, you look at that as they were good enough to win that game. That's what's scary about them. Their high-powered offense, their ability to go up and down, that's going to test our depth." Villanova is coming off a quality win against St. John's behind 48 combined points from senior leaders Eric Paschall and Phil Booth. The defending national champions enter this matchup having won four games in a row, including its first three league affairs, and they are the only unbeaten team in Big East play.

TV: Noon ET, FOX

ABOUT VILLANOVA (12-4, 3-0 Big East): While Booth and Paschall did the heavy lifting offensively against St. John's, the other three starters for Villanova combined for seven points - all by Collin Gillespie - on 2-of-10 shooting. Booth finished 6-of-11 from 3-point range for his seventh straight game with multiple 3-pointers, while Paschall is shooting 53 percent from outside the arc over his last seven games. Gillespie averages 10.7 points - third on the team in scoring behind Booth (17.6) and Paschall (16.3) - but has totaled 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting over the last three outings.

ABOUT CREIGHTON (10-6, 1-2): Ty-Shon Alexander (17.1 points) is having a strong season, although he enters this matchup having shot 10-of-31 over his previous two games. The team has three other double-digit scorers, including Mitch Ballock, who has drained 14-of-22 3-pointers over the last three contests. In fact, the Bluejays are a terrific 3-point shooting team overall (44 percent) with only Lehigh (46.6 percent) shooting more efficiently from beyond the arc among all teams in Division I.

TIP-INS

1. Creighton upset Villanova at home last season, 89-83, behind 52 combined points from since-departed guards Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas.

2. Gillespie is just 3-of-20 from 3-point range in his last four games.

3. Bluejays freshman G Marcus Zegarowski was 3-of-4 from long range versus Marquette and is now 30-of-60 on the season.

PREDICTION: Creighton 79, Villanova 73

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Missouri Tigers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 13th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/13/2019

A day later than expected, Missouri will visit South Carolina on Sunday for an intriguing SEC contest. The game was scheduled for Saturday but had to be postponed because of a snowstorm in the Midwest that derailed the Tigers' travel plans.

Both teams hope to shake up the SEC standings, as Missouri overachieved during its non-conference slate and South Carolina is off to a surprising 2-0 start to conference play. The Tigers held a double-digit, first-half lead over No. 3 Tennessee before fading in their conference opener. The Gamecocks have been the early surprise of SEC action, following a wild 71-69 win at Florida with an 87-82 overtime victory at home against No. 14 Mississippi State on Tuesday. Missouri has won two straight meetings with the Gamecocks, including a 79-68 road victory last season.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus


ABOUT MISSOURI (9-4, 0-1 SEC): The Tigers lead the SEC in 3-point shooting (39.1 percent), with Illinois transfer Mark Smith (47.1 percent) possessing the best individual mark in the conference. Smith (11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds) and backcourt mate Jordan Geist (13.8 points) have been Missouri's most consistent offensive players, but sophomore center Jeremiah Tilmon (10.2, 6.2 rebounds) is their biggest impact player when he avoids foul trouble. Freshman guard Xavier Pinson (5.7 points) has shown glimpses of developing into a dangerous scorer as he recorded a career-high 14 points against Tennessee.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (7-7, 2-0): The Gamecocks have come to life at the offensive end during their three-game winning streak, averaging 85 points and shooting 44.7 percent. Chris Silva (12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds) has been on a tear, scoring in double figures in seven straight games, and frontcourt mate Maik Kotsar (9.6, 5.4) registered a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds against Mississippi State. Freshman guard A.J. Lawson (12.7 points) has been in a bit of a shooting slump recently, but senior guard Hassani Gravett (11.3) continues to shoot well from 3-point range and has averaged 19.5 points in two SEC games.


TIP-INS

1. Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin is 6-0 against the Gamecocks.

2. South Carolina is trying for its first four-game winning streak since the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

3. South Carolina announced this week that freshman G T.J. Moss will redshirt and miss the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain and foot injury suffered in practice on Dec. 18.


PREDICTION: South Carolina 71, Missouri 69

[Can'tPickAWinner]

East Carolina Pirates vs. Central Florida Knights Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Central Florida earned the American Athletic Conference title on the football field. Now the Knights are looking to do the same on the hardcourt, where they have won six in a row overall and are the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play heading into Sunday's home matchup against an improving East Carolina squad.

That the Knights are still undefeated in league action is a bit of a surprise as they come off their first ever road victory at Connecticut (65-53) after six defeats. However, Johnny Dawkins' team is off to the school's best start since it went 14-0 in 2010-11 and the Knights are doing it with a smothering defense that has limited two of the last three opponents -- and six teams overall -- to under 60 points. "I was really, really proud," Dawkins told reporters after the UConn victory. "It was one of our best defensive efforts this year. Our guys had to really be locked in and I think they were for the whole 40 minutes." The Knights can't afford a letdown, but Dawkins may not have to worry about getting his troops ready for an ECU team that pulled off an unexpected victory of its own last Saturday as the Pirates stunned defending conference champion Cincinnati 73-71 before falling short their next time out against Memphis 78-72.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ECU (8-7, 1-2 AAC): The Pirates had hoped to build on their statement victory over Cincinnati and they nearly did before turnovers and missed shots doomed them late against Memphis. Seth LeDay (14 points, 10 rebounds) and reserve K.J. Davis (12 points, 12 rebounds) each recorded a double-double against Memphis, while freshman forward Jayden Gardner posted 18 points for his 13th straight double-digit performance, and he is the school's leading scorer (18.3 ppg) and rebounder (8.8 rpg). The Pirates are shooting 43.4 percent from the floor and were the first team to shoot better than 50 percent (51.1 percent) against Cincinnati this season.

ABOUT UCF (12-2, 2-0): While the Knights are known for their defense, holding opponents to just 38 percent shooting from the field, their own shooters have nailed an AAC-best 49.1 percent of their shots this season after a blistering 57 percent performance against UConn. Aubrey Dawkins, the coach's son, had a season-high 23 points (9-of-13 from the field) in the victory and is second on the team in scoring (15.7 ppg) behind fellow guard BJ Taylor (17.6), who ranks fifth in the conference. Center Tacko Fall, the tallest player in Division I, sits fifth in the nation with 3.21 blocked shots per game.

TIP-INS

1. UCF owns a 20-9 advantage over ECU after winning the last six meetings, including both contests last season.

2. The Knights are 12-0 when holding the lead with two minutes left in the game.

3. Gardner, a freshman, is the only Pirate to start every game as ECU has used 10 different starting lineups.

PREDICTION: UCF 77, ECU 65

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Michigan St Spartans vs. Penn St. Nittany Lions Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Michigan State will go for its 10th straight victory when it travels to face struggling Penn State in a Big Ten Conference contest Sunday. The fifth-ranked Spartans are undefeated in conference play after a 77-59 win over Purdue on Tuesday, while the Nittany Lions are looking for their first league win and to put an end to their current three-game losing streak.

Coach Tom Izzo has another top point guard in junior Cassius Winston, who leads Michigan State in scoring (18 points per game) and ranked fourth in the nation in assists (7.4) entering Saturday. Junior forward Nick Ward (16.7 points, 65.5 percent shooting) has been a force in the paint all season long, though the Spartans have a number of offensive options, ranking ninth in the country in scoring offense (86.4). Penn State has struggled offensively this season, averaging a Big Ten-worst 67.9 points and ranking 13th in the conference in both field-goal percentage (41.1) and 3-point field-goal percentage (31.2). Junior forward Lamar Stevens has been one of the better individuals in scoring, though, averaging 18.6 points to go along with 8.1 rebounds, while freshman guard Rasir Bolton adds 12.6 points per contest.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten): Since Izzo has been coach at Michigan State, he has emphasized rebounding to his team, and the Spartans are perennially one of the top teams in the country in the category. This season's team has been no different, with the Spartans leading the Big Ten and ranking fourth in the country in rebounding at 44 per contest despite not having a single player taller than 6-9 in their regular rotation. Michigan State has three players - 6-7 Kenny Goins (9.4), 6-8 Xavier Tillman (7.8) and 6-9 Ward (6.6) - among the top 15 rebounders in the Big Ten this season - the only team that can make that claim.

ABOUT PENN STATE (7-9, 0-5): After missing the first five games of the season due to a suspension, junior forward Mike Watkins has been a bit up and down with his play. But coach Patrick Chambers is hoping that his recent play is a return to form, as he's averaged 9.6 points and 9.6 rebounds over the past five contests - including double-doubles in two of the team's last three contests. Watkins leads the team in rebounding with 8.2 per contest and, against the strong Spartans' front line, he'll need to be physical without fouling on both ends of the floor.

TIP-INS

1. Michigan State has won 17 straight Big Ten Conference regular-season games dating back to 2017-18, just one short of the school record of 18 straight over the course of the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 campaigns.

2. The Spartans have held 14 of their 16 opponents below their scoring average entering the contest with the Nittany Lions, including holding eight teams at least 10 below their average.

3. Michigan State is No. 1 in the nation in assists per game with 21.2 and has handed out an assist on 68.9 percent of its field goals this season.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 76, Penn State 64

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Memphis Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Memphis looks to correct some issues on the glass and avoid a letdown when it visits struggling Tulane on Sunday night for an American Athletic Conference battle. The Tigers recovered from their first league loss to 15th-ranked Houston by knocking off East Carolina 78-72 on Thursday and aren't planning on relaxing against the last-place Green Wave after allowing 37 offensive rebounds the last two games.

"I'm never going to take a team for granted," Memphis coach Penny Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal. "I've been watching Tulane since the beginning of the season. ... Their record doesn't indicate how well they are going to play, especially at home." The Tigers lead the American in scoring (84.1) and Tulane is last (66.6) while losing its first three league games by a total of 59 points, but the closest of those was at home against SMU (74-65). "We have to go into this game and play tough," Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal. "It's not about Xs and Os. It's not about who starts or who doesn't start. ... Whatever time you're on the floor, it's all-out." The Green Wave have dropped five straight games since their last victory against Texas Southern on Dec. 17 and shot 38.6 percent from the field while turning the ball over 26 times in a 66-48 loss at South Florida on Wednesday.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT MEMPHIS (10-6, 2-1 American): Senior forward Kyvon Davenport leads the team in scoring (15.3) after averaging 18.7 in three league games on 18-of-33 shooting from the field, and adds a team-best 7.8 rebounds per contest overall. Senior guard Jeremiah Martin averages 14.4 points to go along with team highs of 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals while freshman guard Tyler Harris (13.6 points) is the top threat from behind the arc with 42 makes from long range. Senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. is averaging 15.7 points on 17-of-22 from the field in league play, well above his season mark (8.9).

ABOUT TULANE (4-11, 0-3): Sophomore guard Caleb Daniels, the team's leading scorer (15.7), missed Wednesday's game with an undisclosed ailment and is considered day-to-day. Senior guard Jordan Cornish (11.9 points) struggled against USF, going 1-of-7 from the field with nine turnovers, while freshman backcourt mate Kevin Zhang scored 11 - more than he totaled in his previous five games. Junior forward Samir Sehic (11.8 points, team-high 8.1 rebounds) has been the most dependable player of late, recording three double-doubles in the last four games after scoring 14 with 12 boards Wednesday.

TIP-INS

1. Memphis freshman guard Antwann Jones has scored in double figures five times in the last six games after doing so once in the first 10 outings this season.

2. Tulane's 7-0 freshman center Buay Koka from South Sudan had eight points and a season-high five rebounds against USF.

3. The Tigers have won the last five meetings, including a 68-63 victory at Tulane last season with 22 points from Martin.

PREDICTION: Memphis 82, Tulane 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines Preview and Predictions 2019-01-13

NCAAB Predictions 12th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/12/2019

Fourth-ranked Michigan can get off to its best start in program history when it hosts Northwestern on Sunday. The Wolverines knocked off Illinois 79-69 on Thursday to equal the school record set by the 1985-86 and 2012-13 squads and hope to go one step further by improving to 17-0 with their eighth straight home victory against Northwestern.

Michigan escaped with a 62-60 win over the Wildcats in their first meeting of the season on Dec. 4 and looks to remain one of two unbeaten teams in Division I by extending their home winning streak to 17 games. Northwestern aims to get back on track following a disappointing 73-63 home loss to Iowa on Wednesday, which dropped the Wildcats to 1-4 in Big Ten play. Northwestern was limited to 38.6 percent shooting from the floor en route to its second defeat in three games in the new calendar year and hopes to turn its fortunes around by knocking off the Wolverines in Ann Arbor for the first time since a 68-62 win on Jan. 10, 2010. "We still have 15 Big Ten games left so we're not down and out," Northwestern forward A.J. Turner told reporters. "We're going to watch the film to see what we can learn and move forward."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (10-6, 1-4 Big Ten): Vic Law recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in the loss to Iowa to register his second double-double in as many games. Anthony Gaines also scored 13 - a career high - to go along with six rebounds while Ryan Taylor added 11 points and three blocked shots, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats were outscored 36-19 in the final 16 1/2 minutes of the game. "We could've came together to try and stop the run, but we just have to do a better of job of bringing each other up," Gaines told reporters. "We have to demand a stop when that happens."

ABOUT MICHIGAN (16-0, 5-0): Zavier Simpson filled up the stat sheet as he led the Wolverines with 16 points and eight assists to go along with five rebounds as all five starters finished in double figures scoring against Illinois. Ignas Brazdeikis added 15 points and eight rebounds while Charles Matthews scored 14 points in the win against the Fighting Illini. Jon Teske produced 13 points and 11 rebounds to register his first double-double of the season and the third of his career while Isaiah Livers tallied nine points in a reserve role after missing the previous two games with back spasms.

TIP-INS

1. Michigan has held 15 of its 16 opponents to 70 points or fewer.

2. Northwestern is ranked seventh nationally in 3-point field goal defense (27.4 percent).

3. The Wolverines have won 30 of their last 31 games overall.

PREDICTION: Michigan 74, Northwestern 67