Tuesday 1-15-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Tennessee Volunteers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 15th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/15/2019

Third-ranked Tennessee aims for its first 11-game winning streak in 11 seasons when it hosts Arkansas for an SEC matchup on Tuesday. The Volunteers have won 17 straight home games - their longest streak under coach Rick Barnes.


Nine of the Vols' 10 straight wins have come by double digits, including three impressive victories to open conference play. Tennessee began the SEC portion of its schedule with a 46-point rout of Georgia and recorded double-digit road wins at Missouri and Florida last week. After stealing a victory at Texas A&M to open conference play, the Razorbacks suffered two rare home losses last week, falling to Florida and LSU. Arkansas will need more road success this week to avoid digging a deep hole in the conference standings, as it follows its game at Tennessee with a trip to No. 20 Ole Miss.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2


ABOUT ARKANSAS (10-5, 1-2 SEC): The Razorbacks are one of the most inexperienced teams in the nation with no seniors and only three juniors. They're led by preseason SEC Player of the Year Daniel Gafford (17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds) and fellow sophomore Mason Jones (14.8, 4.9). Jones and freshman guard Isaiah Joe (14.1 points) both love to let it fly from 3-point range, and the latter shoots a healthy 43.2 percent from beyond the arc.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (14-1, 3-0): The Vols create matchup problems for most teams with four starters who are 6-6 or taller, including dominant forward Grant Williams (18.9 points, 7.9 rebounds). Swingman Admiral Schofield (17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds) has improved his outside shooting range, hitting 44.6 percent from 3-point range this season, and the 6-11 Kyle Alexander (10.1, 7.9) is solid in the post. Reserve Jordan Bowden (10.1 points) also averages double digits in points and Lamonte Turner (9.5) is working his way back from injury, adding to the list of scorers to which point guard Jordan Bone (13.8 points, 6.2 assists) can dish the ball.


TIP-INS

1. The all-time series is tied at 20 wins apiece after the Vols snapped the Razorbacks' six-game winning streak with an 84-66 victory in last year's SEC tournament.

2. Arkansas' five losses have come by an average of 3.8 points, with one of their six-point defeats occurring in overtime.

3. Tennessee has shot 50 percent or better 12 times this season, including nine of its last 10 games.


PREDICTION: Tennessee 77, Arkansas 68

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Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Virginia Cavaliers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 14th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/14/2019

Virginia hasn't broken much of a sweat while beginning ACC play with three straight wins for the second straight season, using its trademark recipe of precision offense and suffocating defense. The top-ranked Cavaliers figure to get tested in a big way this week, however, as they begin a challenging two-game stretch Tuesday when they host No. 7 Virginia Tech in the 148th edition of the Commonwealth Clash.

The Division I leader in fewest turnovers per game (8.9) and scoring defense (51.2 points), Virginia is coming off decisive road victories over Boston College (83-56) and Clemson (63-43) and have yet to play a game closer than 13 points during league action. The Cavaliers return home in hopes of avenging their only regular-season conference loss from a season ago - a 61-60 overtime defeat to the Hokies on Feb. 10 - before traveling to No. 2 Duke this weekend. Virginia Tech matched its best start to a season since 1982-83 with Wednesday's 52-49 road victory over Georgia Tech, as the nation's second-best 3-point shooting team entering the contest survived an 18.5-percent effort beyond the arc to earn its ninth straight win. "As demented as it sounds, I think what transpired tonight was very good for us. We were in a similar position 43 days ago (in a 63-62 loss) at Penn State and didn't handle it as well. I thought our guys hung in there even though it wasn't as pretty as we want it to be offensively," coach Buzz Williams told reporters.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Raycom Sports

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (14-1, 3-0 ACC): The Hokies are one of only six Division I teams with four players averaging 12 points, including leading scorer Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 steals), who was named to the midseason Top 25 watch list for the Wooden Award prior to Wednesday's game. Kerry Blackshear Jr. (14.1 points, 6.2 boards) posted his second double-double of the season and is averaging 18.3 points and eight rebounds during conference play. Justin Robinson (13.1 points) ranks second in the ACC in assists (5.8) and needs only 18 more to tie Bimbo Coles (547) for the most in school history, while Ahmed Hill (12.7 points) is one of five Hokies shooting at least 42 percent from 3-point range.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (15-0, 3-0): Kyle Guy (team-high 15.3 points) struggled offensively against Clemson (5-for-15 from the field, including 3-for-9 beyond the arc) but it didn't keep his coach from paying his 46-percent 3-point shooter a nice compliment. "Dell Curry was one of the best I saw when I played with him (in the NBA). Sometimes he wasn't even square, but he could just get that shoulder or that wrist pointed at the rim. Didn't really matter what else was there. ... I think Kyle has that ability," coach Tony Bennett told the Daily Press. Jay Huff - a 7-1 sophomore who averages 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds - made his impact felt for the second time in four games Saturday, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and a block in only 10 minutes of action.

TIP-INS

1. Tuesday will mark the first time that both teams enter the Commonwealth Clash ranked inside the top 10.

2. Virginia has held seven opponents below 50 points, while Virginia Tech has done so five times.

3. The Hokies' win in Charlottesville last season is the Cavaliers' only home loss in the last 26 games.

PREDICTION: Virginia 65, Virginia Tech 63

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NC State Wolfpack vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 14th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/14/2019

North Carolina State second-year coach Kevin Keatts has put together a competitive team much faster than anybody expected, piecing together a team last season that made it to the NCAA Tournament before taking a squad that returned just three players this season and getting them ranked for the first time in six years. His 16th-ranked Wolfpack hope to continue surging when they visit a struggling Wake Forest team on Tuesday.

N.C. State rebounded from a 90-82 loss to No. 15 North Carolina by knocking off the Panthers 86-80 on Saturday despite point guard Markell Johnson playing just nine minutes before departing with a leg injury and Wyatt Walker getting ejected two minutes into the contest for a flagrant foul. The Wolfpack, however, found a way to survive behind 54 combined points off the bench from Devon Daniels, DJ Funderburk and Eric Lockett. "What a game for us," Keatts told the Raleigh Observer. "We found a way to win a game when things weren't going our way. I think we're building something really special here where our guys are learning how to fight and really compete every day." Wake Forest, with a roster dominated by underclassmen, was expected to struggle in conference games this season, and the Demon Deacons dropped their third straight by double digits 76-65 at Miami on Saturday.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Raycom Sports

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (14-2, 2-1 ACC): Daniels (10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds) shot 9-of-14 from the floor and added four rebounds in 23 minutes, Funderburk (9.5, 4.5), made 8-of-10 free throws and added nine rebounds to go along with four blocks in 34 minutes while Lockett (5.9 points) converted 6-of-9 shots, including 3-of-4 beyond the arc, with seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Lockett, who is a 6-5 graduate transfer from Florida International, scored a career-high 30 points nearly a year ago against Charlotte. "He didn't play (much) the last two games, in the conference, and to come in and save us, really, with 17 points and two back-to-backs 3s late in the game, that's beautiful for me," Funderburk said. "Me personally, I'd have had my head down coming into this game. He showed something different."

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (7-8, 0-3): Sophomore Chaundee Brown notched a career-high 22 points against the Hurricanes, Michael Wynn and Brandon Childress each added 11 points - a career high for the freshman Wynn - and freshman Jaylen Hoard led the Deacons with 11 boards. Junior Childress leads the team in scoring (16.5 points), 3-pointers per game (2.6) and assists (4.3), but fifth-year coach Danny Manning is hoping to build around the 6-8 freshman Hoard (14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in 29.7 minutes), a consensus Top 25 recruit and the Deacons' highest-rated in 10 years. Brown is third on the team in scoring at 11.9 points followed by two more freshmen, Isaiah Mucius (7.5 points) and Sharon Wright, Jr. (7.3).

TIP-INS

1. N.C. State swept the series last season and leads all-time 98-72 but lost at Wake Forest the last time the teams played when the Wolfpack were ranked (2012-13 season).

2. Wolfpack senior G Torin Dorn leads the team in scoring (14.2 points) and rebounds (6.9), while Johnson adds 11.6 points on 56.8 percent shooting and 4.1 assists.

3. Hoard is one of eight freshmen in the country averaging 14 points and eight rebounds and joins Duke's Zion Williamson as the only two in the ACC.

PREDICTION: North Carolina State 85, Wake Forest 70

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Marquette Golden Eagles vs. Georgetown Hoyas Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 14th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/14/2019

Georgetown and its league-worst scoring defense will welcome one of the hottest scorers in the nation Tuesday when hosting No. 13 Marquette in a Big East game. The Hoyas, long known for their stingy defense, have been anything but heading into a matchup with Markus Howard and the Golden Eagles.

Howard, the leading scorer in the Big East and the No. 4 in the nation at 25.8 points per game, has been on fire since logging eight points in a New Year's Day loss to St. John's. The junior from Arizona has averaged 35 points while making 19-of-38 from beyond the arc as Marquette has won three straight games, including Saturday's 70-66 victory over Seton Hall. Howard has mostly been held in check in four career games against Georgetown, averaging 13.8 points with a high of 23 points as freshman, but the 5-11 guard has been a different player this season. The Hoyas will counter with their stable of freshmen, including Mac McClung and James Akinjo, each of whom hit a big 3-pointer Saturday as Georgetown outlasted Providence at home.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MARQUETTE (14-3, 3-1 Big East): Theo John emerged from the shadows to produce one of his better all-around games for the Golden Eagles against Seton Hall. The sophomore from Minneapolis, who leads the Big East with two blocks per game, recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds while also blocking three shots, giving him seven in the last two games. Sam Hauser had 13 points against Seton Hall to join Howard in the 1,000-point club and the junior moved into ninth place in school history in career 3-pointers (198).

ABOUT GEORGETOWN (12-5, 2-2): Just went it looked like the Hoyas' losing streak to Providence would reach nine, in stepped McClung and Akinjo. McClung forced overtime with a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation and Akinjo followed to force double overtime, which the Hoyas won thanks to some clutch foul shooting by senior Jessie Govan. "Even when we were down three in both overtimes, guys were able to step up and make shots," Govan, who made five free throws in double overtime, told the media. "I think that shows a lot about our team and our heart."

TIP-INS

1. The 105 points and 20 assists in the last three games are the most Howard has had over a three-game span.

2. The Hoyas are allowing 77.9 points per game and are sixth in the conference in field goal defense (43.1 percent) and 3-point defense (33.9 percent).

3. Georgetown has dropped two straight and four of the last five against Marquette to fall below .500 at 13-12 in the series.

PREDICTION: Marquette 88, Georgetown 75

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Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 14th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/14/2019

Notre Dame tries to build off its first ACC win of the season as it visits North Carolina on Tuesday evening. The 15th-ranked Tar Heels will be trying bounce back from an uncharacteristic performance where they got dominated at home on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish learned just before tip-off that they would be without their leading scorer but still managed to eke out a 69-66 win over Boston College on Saturday afternoon. "As T.J. (Gibbs) was exiting the building throwing up, I walked in and told our guys, 'We've got six (players) and Liam (Nelligan, a walk-on) - be ready. Let's make it a great story. And it is. I'm really proud of our group. A lot of different guys stepped forward and made plays. Great for Prentiss (Hubb), and Johnny (Mooney) continues to be a flat-out man," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey told reporters after the win. North Carolina suffered its largest home defeat in 16 seasons under coach Roy Williams on Saturday as Louisville crushed the Tar Heels 83-62 in Chapel Hill, N.C. "We never really got into the game. I'd like to give you a brilliant answer as to why, but I can't give you that brilliant answer," Williams told the media following the loss.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (11-5, 1-2 ACC): Hubb, a freshman guard, scored a season-high 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting and nailed two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining to seal the win. Mooney erupted for a career-high 27 points and added 12 rebounds to go along with three blocks for his ACC-leading eighth double-double of the season. The Irish used just six players, as junior forward Juwan Durham also sat out the game with an ankle injury; there is no word on Gibbs' or Durham's availability for Tuesday.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (12-4, 2-1): The Tar Heels played poorly in just about every aspect of the game Saturday, shooting 35 percent from the floor - including 3-of-22 behind the arc - and committing 14 turnovers. North Carolina, who is sixth in the nation in rebounding margin (plus-10.3), was outrebounded 40-31 by Louisville. Senior guard Kenny Williams led the team offensively with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting while leading scorer Cameron Johnson (15.8 points) was held to 10 points on 3-of-8 from the floor.

TIP-INS

1. North Carolina has a 23-7 edge in the all-time series and is on a five-game winning streak against Notre Dame that dates back to 2016.

2. Johnson is third in the ACC in 3-point percentage (47).

3. Gibbs ranks second in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.41).

PREDICTION: North Carolina 84, Notre Dame 62

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Nevada Wolf Pack vs. Boise St. Broncos Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 14th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/14/2019

Nevada moved up a spot in the national rankings to No. 10 on Monday thanks to an impressive road win at Fresno State. But the Wolf Pack, trying to become the first team in Mountain West history to win three consecutive outright regular-season titles, still have some work to do in that regard, starting with Tuesday night's game at conference co-leader Boise State.

Nevada trails the Broncos and UNLV, who are both off to 3-0 starts in Mountain West play, in the standings thanks to a shocking 85-58 loss at New Mexico on Jan. 5, the team's only loss in 17 games. The Wolf Pack have bounced back from the debacle at the Pit to blow out lowly San Jose State (92-53) followed by Saturday's 74-64 win at Fresno State, which is tied for third with Nevada. With snowy weather hitting the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Wolf Pack shunned a trip home after the win over the Bulldogs and bused to Oakland instead, where they stopped by the Raiders' facilities before flying to Boise. The Broncos, who finished second to Nevada last season and are one of only 21 programs to win at least 20 games in each of the past six seasons, have won four of their last five games and come in off a 87-64 victory at San Jose State on Saturday.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT NEVADA (16-1, 3-1 MWC): Senior swingman Caleb Martin, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, leads the team in scoring (19.1) and has averaged 25 points and five rebounds over the last two games while connecting on 10-of-26 3-pointers. Jordan Caroline, a 6-7, 235-pound senior forward who also was a preseason first team All-Mountain West pick, is averaging almost a double-double (18.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and had 19 points and 16 rebounds in the Fresno State victory. Junior guard Jazz Johnson (11.4), a 5-10 transfer from Portland, and senior swingman Cody Martin (10.2), the twin brother of Caleb, also are averaging in double figures.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (8-8, 3-0): Junior guard Justinian Jessup leads the team in scoring (12.8) and is shooting 41.7 percent from 3-point range after sinking 90 treys last season, second-most in school history for a season. He is 10-of-20 beyond the arc in Mountain West play while also averaging 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Junior guards Roderick Williams (12.7) and Alex Hobbs (10.4) and 6-8 senior Derrick Alston (10-4) also are averaging in double figures with Williams also grabbing a team-best 6.3 rebounds per contest.

TIP-INS

1. Nevada leads the all-time series with Boise State, 44-27, and has won the last four in a row.

2. Cody Martin, the reigning conference defensive player of the year, leads the Mountain West in assists (5.5) and also assist/turnover ratio (3.0).

3. Caroline posted his 40th career double-double in the win at Fresno State and has 10 in 17 games this season.

PREDICTION: Nevada 70, Boise State 64

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Louisiana State Tigers vs. Mississippi Rebels Preview and Predictions 2019-01-15

NCAAB Predictions 15th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/15/2019

After knocking off two top-15 opponents last week, No. 20 Ole Miss looks to avoid a letdown when it hosts LSU on Tuesday. The contest is a matchup between two of the four remaining undefeated teams in the SEC standings.


The Rebels have won 10 straight - their longest streak in 11 seasons - after posting impressive victories over Auburn and Mississippi State last week. The hot streak has earned Ole Miss a spot in the Top 25 for the first time since 2013. The Tigers have been nearly as hot, winning five straight - including high-scoring victories over Alabama and Arkansas to begin conference play. The Rebels have won eight of the last 13 meetings, including five of the last six at home, but LSU posted an 82-66 triumph on its court last season.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network


ABOUT LSU (12-3, 2-0 SEC): The Tigers start three freshmen, including point guard Tremont Waters (13.2 points, six assists) and 6-11 forward Naz Reid (13.2, 5.5 rebounds), who scored 27 points in 26 minutes against Arkansas. Waters and junior Skylar Mays (13.3 points) form a dynamic backcourt duo, and freshman guard Ja'vonte Smart (10.4) also started the first 13 games but has come off the bench in the first two SEC contests. LSU has drained 10 3-pointers in each of its first two conference games.

ABOUT OLE MISS (13-2, 3-0): The Rebels love to shoot from beyond the arc, with guards Breein Tyree (17.5 points), Terence Davis (15.7, 5.6 rebounds) and Devontae Shuler (10.6, 4.2) all shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point range. Davis is the reigning SEC Player of the Week after averaging 19.5 points in the wins over Auburn and Mississippi State. Freshman Blake Hinson (9.7 points) poured in a career-high 26 points against the Bulldogs and is averaging 14.7 in three SEC games to emerge as a fourth offensive option.


TIP-INS

1. Ole Miss is one of two teams in the nation that rank in the top 20 in field-goal percentage (15th) and free-throw percentage (20th).

2. LSU snapped its nine-game road losing streak with its 94-88 overtime win at Arkansas on Saturday.

3. The Tigers rank second in the SEC and 10th nationally with 9.7 steals per game.


PREDICTION: Ole Miss 76, LSU 73

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Sal Michaels

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | Eastern Michigan vs Akron
Play on: Akron -6½ -110 at YouWager

Free Play on Akron -6½ -110

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bobby Conn

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | Kentucky vs Georgia
Play on: Kentucky -7 -108 at YouWager

1* Free Play on Kentucky -7 -108

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Mike Williams

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | Buffalo vs Western Michigan
Play on: Western Michigan +14 -109 at GTBets

1* on Western Michigan +14 -109

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Jimmy Boyd

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | Kentucky vs Georgia
Play on: Georgia +8 -110 at sportsbook

1* Free NCAAB Pick on Georgia Bulldogs +8
Love the value here with Georgia as a big home dog against Kentucky. Not the first time we have seen the Wildcats overvalued away from home. Kentucky is just 1-3 SU and 1-3 ATS on the road this season.
This game has been sold out since June. It's just a whole different ballgame when Kentucky comes to your house in the SEC and the atmosphere will be electric tonight. I think Georgia can ride that energy from the fans to a win here and all we need is for them to keep it within 7 points.
Bulldogs come in off a 78-93 loss at Auburn, but I think they are still getting no respect from that earlier 46-point loss at Tennessee. The Vols are simply that good and the Bulldogs are 7-2 ATS last 9 after a straight up loss, 10-1 ATS last 11 after giving up 90+ points and a perfect 6-0 ATS last 6 on the road. Take Georgia!

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Hunter Price

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | Ball State vs Bowling Green
Play on: Bowling Green +1½ -107 at YouWager

1* Free Pick on Bowling Green +1½ -107

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Totals Guru

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | South Florida vs Cincinnati
Play on: UNDER 127½ -109

Free Total Annihilator On South Florida vs Cincinnati under 127½ -109

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Steve Janus

Jan 15 '19, 7:00 PM in 3h
NCAA-B | West Virginia vs TCU
Play on: West Virginia +7½ -110 at sportsbook

1* Free Sharp Play on West Virginia +7½ -110
My money is on the Mountaineers to cash in an easy win and cover here as a decently priced road dog. This is clearly not one of Bob Huggins' best teams at West Virginia, but I think the fact that the Mountaineers have started out 0-4 in Big 12 play, has them way undervalued here against a TCU team that is coming off back-to-back hard fought losses at Kansas and Oklahoma. Note that while West Virginia is without a win in conference play, they have covered 3 of the 4 and are 3-0 in league play as a dog. Bet the Mountaineers +7.5!

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Scott Rickenbach

Jan 15 '19, 7:05 PM in 3h
NHL | Hurricanes vs Rangers
Play on: OVER 6 -104

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach NHL Game #5 Tuesday Free Pick OVER the total in New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes @ 7:05 ET - The Rangers have lost 6 of their past 7 games and New York has allowed a ridiculous 5.5 goals per game in those 6 defeats. Massive slump for the Blueshirts and now they host a red hot Hurricanes team so the lamp is likely to be lit early and often in this one. Carolina has won 7 of its past 8 games and they've averaged scoring 4.4 goals per game in those 7 victories. Only 1 of the past 7 Canes games resulted in an under. Only 3 of the Rangers past 10 games resulted in an under. Only 2 of the past 9 meetings between these teams resulted in an under and the only match-up between these teams this season resulted in 13 goals being scored. The over is 43-21 in Rangers divisional games including 9-4 this season. Free Pick OVER the total in New York Rangers