Tuesday 1-29-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NBA Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
Suns vs. Spurs Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

The San Antonio Spurs look to record their 11th consecutive home win over the Phoenix Suns when the teams clash on Tuesday. Phoenix hasn't won in San Antonio since registering a 105-101 triumph on Feb. 27, 2013.

Spurs shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (knee) is in jeopardy of missing his second straight game but the offense clicked without him in Sunday's 132-119 home win over the Washington Wizards. Seven players scored in double figures and San Antonio shot 57 percent from the field while scoring 130 or more points for the fifth time this season. The Suns have lost eight straight games and fell to 4-22 on the road with Sunday's 116-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Rookie center Deandre Ayton, who averages 16.4 points and 10.6 rebounds, is expected to miss his sixth straight game due to an ankle injury.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE SUNS (29-22): Phoenix lost four games by 20 or more points during the latest slide, which is its second-longest of the season behind a 10-game skid from Nov. 25-Dec. 10. Standout shooting guard Devin Booker scored 21 points against the Lakers and is averaging 27.7 points over the past three games. Backup small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. had 14 points against Los Angeles for his 11th straight double-digit outing but was just 4-of-14 shooting and is 15-of-46 over the past three games.

ABOUT THE SPURS (28-22): Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 29 points and 10.5 rebounds in back-to-back wins over the New Orleans Pelicans and Wizards and figures to again be the focal point of the offense if DeRozan is held out. Aldridge scored 25 or more points in four of the past five games and he also tallied a career-high 56 points in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month. Small forward Davis Bertans (personal reasons) returned from a two-game absence to match his season best of five 3-pointers and score a season-high 21 points against Washington.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. SG Bryn Forbes is 8-of-13 from 3-point range against the Suns this season to help the Spurs win two of the first three meetings.

2. Phoenix PF Richaun Holmes (foot) returned from a four-game absence and had 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots versus Los Angeles for his third double-double of the season and ninth of his career.

3. San Antonio PG Derrick White is averaging 14.3 points on 17-of-25 shooting over the past three games.

PREDICTION: Spurs 121, Suns 97

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NBA Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
76ers vs. Lakers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

All-Star center Joel Embiid is expected back in the lineup and swingman Jimmy Butler might be as well when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Embiid (back) sat out Saturday's 126-110 loss to the Denver Nuggets while Butler (wrist) missed the past three games.

The 76ers won nine of their past 13 games despite losing the opener of a four-game road trip while missing Embiid, Butler and forward Wilson Chandler (hamstring). "We did all right considering what we had to play," shooting guard JJ Redick told reporters after the setback. "Overall, we competed. We made mistakes. Young guys made mistakes. You move on." Lakers forward LeBron James (groin) has resumed practicing but is expected to miss his 17th straight contest since being injured against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. Los Angeles is 6-10 without James after cruising to a 116-102 home win over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE 76ERS (32-18): Veteran swingman Corey Brewer has been in the starting lineup with Butler sidelined and he had 20 points, six rebounds and four steals in 32 minutes in just his fourth game since joining the squad. "I know I can play basketball," Brewer told reporters after the strong effort. "I felt like I should have been in the league, but other GMs didn't want me." Rookie guard Landry Shamet received 28 minutes against Denver and recorded a season-high seven assists but was just 2-of-6 shooting while scoring eight points.

ABOUT THE LAKERS (26-24): Los Angeles is putting together a patchwork starting lineup with James and point guard Lonzo Ball (ankle) sidelined and the club also was without forward Kyle Kuzma (hip) against the Suns. Kuzma is hopeful of playing against Philadelphia and the Lakers would like to get another big outing from center Ivica Zubac, who had 24 points and a career-best 16 rebounds versus Phoenix. "He does a great job of getting himself open," point guard Rajon Rondo told reporters after Sunday's win. "Finding the right spots, getting into the creases where the ball can reach him. And he's able to finish. He has great touch around the rim with both hands and he's probably one of the strongest bigs in the game."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Lakers won nine of the past 15 meetings.

2. Los Angeles SG Josh Hart (knee) departed Sunday's contest and is questionable to play against the 76ers.

3. Chandler (hamstring) is expected to return after sitting out against Denver.

PREDICTION: 76ers 109, Lakers 102

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kent St. Golden Flashes vs. Western Michigan Broncos Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 01/28/2019

The Kent State Golden Flashes had rough circumstances under which to attempt an upset of Buffalo the other night, and it appears that they may have run out of gas near the end. Still, they are going to be a threat in the Mid-American Conference for the rest of the campaign.

The Western Michigan Broncos can't seem to get out of their own way, and even though their big man is showing some signs of regaining his form, they are losing by some alarming scores.

Can they stay within earshot of the visiting Golden Flashes on Tuesday night? They'll host the game at the Read Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo, MI.

TV: ESPN Plus, 7 PM ET. LINE: Check Intertops for the latest line

ABOUT KENT STATE: They knew they were going to be facing a rather fired-up Buffalo team that had just lost to Northern Illinois. But they still managed to give the 14th-ranked Bulls all they could handle. They did lead the game midway through the second half but then went cold in the final four minutes, opening the door for an 88-79 defeat. Jaylin Walker faced special attention from the Buffalo defense and finished below his season average with 21 points. Philip Whittington had a big game with 18 points and 13 rebounds. This brings Kent State's record to 15-5 straight-up (10-8 against the spread). But after coming back from a 17-point deficit and beating Toledo in overtime, it was more than commendable for them to come back with this effort. If you are looking for concerns in the KSU side, however, you may look at the defensive stats, as they are outside of the top 200 when it comes to defending against both two-pointers and three-pointers. And they are allowing opponents to pull down offensive rebounds almost 32% of the time, which places them outside the top 300 in that category. That means they are going to need to support Whittington, who has done his part, ranking 31st individually in Defensive Rebounding Percentage.

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN: It was another day, another excruciating loss for WMU on Saturday, as they disappeared in the first half and never reappeared in a 93-67 loss to Eastern Michigan, which kept the pedal to the metal, using only six players for more than four minutes. The only player who seemed to shoot well at all for the Broncos was Seth Dugan, who scored 29 points on 12-for-16 from the field, to go with ten rebounds. They were just kind of drab in all areas, losing the rebounding battle, shooting 63% from the line, making five-of-18 from three-point range and committing 16 turnovers (compared to only seven for EMU). After their seventh-straight MAC loss to start the conference sked, they are now 6-14 straight-up and 8-9-2 against the number. Once again, WMU's inability to force turnovers is going to plague it here, as they are seventh from the bottom in that category, while Kent State is extra careful in taking care of the ball (only 16.3% of possessions with a turnover - average 11.5 per game). It would be nice if they could pull some three-pointers out of their hat, but they have hit only 31% for the season. So the hope, since Kent State has had its share of problems defending on the inside, is to turn to Dugan, who seems to have busted out of a slump with 52 points and 25 rebounds the last two games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Going into the encounter with Buffalo, Jaylin Walker had scored 30 points in back-to-back games, and no one had done that for Kent State since 1984.

2. Kent State is 11-6-1 to the "over" this season, while Western Michigan has played 12 of 19 posted games over the total.

3. Western Michigan is currently the only team in the Mid-American Conference without a straight-up victory in league play (0-7).

PREDICTION: Kent State 77, Western Michigan 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Tennessee Volunteers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

South Carolina has been the biggest surprise during SEC play thus far and will try to send an even bigger shockwave through the league when it hosts top-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday. The Volunteers have won 14 straight contests, one shy of matching the longest streak in program history.


Tennessee hasn't lost since Nov. 23 against Kansas, and 11 of its 14 consecutive victories have come by double digits. The Vols' dominant streak has included four road wins, and they've captured six straight on opponents' home courts dating to last season. The Gamecocks struggled through the non-conference schedule but hit their stride in time for SEC play. They've lost two of their last three, including a 74-70 setback at Oklahoma State on Saturday, but have won four in a row at home.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network


ABOUT TENNESSEE (18-1, 6-0 SEC): The Vols have put together an offensive juggernaut that is shooting 50.7 percent from the field, which leads the SEC and ranks third nationally. Grant Williams (20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds), who is the SEC's leading scorer, poured in 43 points in Wednesday's overtime win at Vanderbilt. Swingman Admiral Schofield (16.6 points) has extended his range to create a major matchup problem and Jordan Bone (13.1, 6.3 assists) ranks second in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5).

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (10-9, 5-1): The Gamecocks struggled to find an offensive identity early in the season but have blossomed in league play. Freshman A.J. Lawson (13.2 points) continues to lead the team in scoring by a narrow margin, but senior Hassani Gravett (11.4) has paced the team during SEC play with 15 points per contest. Chris Silva (13.1 points, 6.9 rebounds) has scored in double figures in four of the Gamecocks' six conference games, including a monster performance that included 32 points and 14 boards in a home win over Auburn last Tuesday.


TIP-INS

1. Tennessee's 6-0 start to SEC play is its best since 1981-82, when it won its first eight conference games.

2. South Carolina F Felipe Haase has made 16 consecutive free throws over his last five games.

3. The Vols are 11-0 when G Jordan Bowden (10.9 points) scores 10 or more points.


PREDICTION: Tennessee 79, South Carolina 69

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ohio Bobcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 29th January 2019 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 01/29/2019

The Ohio Bobcats have just completed back-to-back wins in Mid-American Conference play, although observers who note their inconsistency shooting the ball are skeptical about their viability over the course of a full league season.

The Northern Illinois Huskies have recently accomplished something they hadn't done for a long time - beating a ranked team - and that may have proven to be a bit overwhelming for them in their last outing. Still, they can generate offense, which gives them an edge over many of their MAC compatriots.

Ohio and NIU clash on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center in DeKalb, IL.

TV: ESPN3, 5 PM ET. LINE: Check Intertops for the latest line

ABOUT OHIO: The Bobcats pushed their record to 3-4 in the MAC on Saturday with a 78-74 victory over Ball State. Jason Carter had 16 points and Gavin Block had 15, and despite surrendering ten triples, Ohio did force 17 turnovers. And it was another outstanding contribution off the bench for Ben Vander Plas, who pulled down a dozen rebounds. That's now 23 rebounds over the last two games for the 6-8 freshman. That was Ohio's second consecutive win, following the 81-76 victory over Western Michigan, and it raised their record to 11-8 straight-up. However, they are the least profitable Mid-American Conference team, with a 5-13 ATS mark. There is a sharp contrast in the numbers as far as shooting ability for Ohio and Northern Illinois. The Bobcats are outside of the nation's top 300 in both three-point shooting and free throw shooting, and 203rd in shooting from two-point range. Meanwhile, NIU is 23rd in three-point accuracy and 63rd in two-point shooting, so there is something of a gap to be made up. Ohio certainly hopes to do that with defense. They are especially proficient with regard to holding their opponents to one shot, ranking 15th in Defensive Rebounding Percentage, an effort that is spearheaded by Doug Taylor. They have also succeeded in making their opponents take shots in a hurry; Ohio's foes have had the ball in their possession for an average of 16.1 seconds for every trip down the floor, and that is the 11th shortest amount of time in the nation. NIU (214th in offensive possession length) doesn't appear to have a lot of interest in speeding up the game.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: After scoring a win over Buffalo, which was ranked 14th in the nation at the time, it might be expected that the Huskies could have a letdown in their next game. And maybe that was the case, although they did come on at the end to make it exciting in a 67-65 loss at Akron. Actually, NIU was ahead by as many as eleven points in the first half, but then the tide turned. In the end game, it was an intentional missed free throw by Eugene German that created the opportunity for the Huskies to get a tip-in to tie, but that missed as Akron escaped. German had 23 points, with Dante Thorpe scoring 16. And now NIU is 11-9 straight-up and 12-6 against the spread. They are tied with Toledo for first place in the MAC West division. German, it should be mentioned, is leading the team with 20.8 points per game. Levi Bradley, a senior from Milwaukee, has been a pretty steady performer across the board, ranking in the MAC's top 15 in the categories of scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and three-point shooting percentage. Against Akron, German moved into tenth place on the school's all-time scoring list, and it also constituted the 18th straight time he has scored in double figures.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This game has experienced a time change from the original tip-off of 8 PM ET to 5 PM ET at the Convocation Center.

2. The teams met previously (January 5), as Northern Illinois came away with a 72-66 victory in overtime, behind a monster effort from Lacey James, who had 20 points and 14 rebounds.

3. NIU's win over Buffalo marked their first victory over a ranked team since February 3, 1973, when they beat Oral Roberts University, which was ranked 19th in the nation at the time.

PREDICTION: Northern Illinois 75, Ohio 60

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Arkansas Razorbacks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

It would be unrealistic to expect Georgia to replicate its torrid shooting performance from Saturday when it travels to Arkansas on Tuesday, but the Bulldogs bring plenty of momentum into the matchup after a 98-88 home victory over Texas. Georgia, which has struggled at times offensively under first-year coach Tom Crean, hit 66.7 percent of its shots from the field - the fourth-best mark in school history - and finished 12-of-17 from 3-point range.

"I can't even tell you how huge the game was for us in terms of building confidence," Georgia sophomore forward Nicolas Claxton told reporters after the Bulldogs placed five players in double figures, led by junior guard Tyree Crump's 21 points (including a career-high six 3-pointers). The Razorbacks need a boost after losing for the fifth time in six games Saturday, a 67-64 defeat at No. 15 Texas Tech. A late Arkansas surge trimmed a double-digit deficit to three points with 26 seconds left, but an ill-timed turnover ended any upset hopes. "We were trying to get a quick score, and then we didn't even get a shot off, so that's disappointing," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson told the media afterward.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT GEORGIA (10-9, 1-5 SEC): Crump's big performance Saturday lifted his scoring average into double figures at 10.4 points per game. Georgia's frontcourt continues to lead the way for the Bulldogs as sophomore Rayshaun Hammonds averages 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, and Claxton contributes 12.8 points and SEC-leading 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Claxton scored 16 of his 18 points Saturday in the second half while Hammonds finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (11-8, 2-4): Sophomore forward Daniel Gafford is the Razorbacks biggest offensive weapon, the tallest player on the roster (6-11) leading the team in scoring (16.2 points per game), rebounding (9.2) and field-goal percentage (65.9 percent). Freshman guard Isaiah Joe is second in the SEC in 3-point shooting (43.3 percent) while averaging 14.4 points per game. Gafford scored 14 points to lead Arkansas in Saturday's loss, after missing significant time in the first half with foul trouble.

TIP-INS

1. Slowing down the opposition has been an issue for both teams: Arkansas is 12th in the SEC in scoring defense (72.7 points per game allowed) while the Bulldogs are 14th (74.2).

2. The Razorbacks shot 4-for-19 from 3-point range Saturday.

3. Arkansas outlasted Georgia 80-77 in double-overtime last season in Athens, and at home owns a 10-3 advantage in the series.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 79, Georgia 77

[Can'tPickAWinner]

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

North Carolina has found itself again after being blasted by Louisville at home, winning three games in a row and enjoying a week-long break that concludes with a visit to Georgia Tech on Tuesday. The No. 10-ranked Tar Heels moved into the pause from action after an impressive performance Jan. 21 against 11th-ranked Virginia Tech, a 103-82 triumph in which North Carolina made a season-best 16 shots from 3-point range.

Freshmen Coby White (27 points) and Nassir Little (23 points) led the charge against the Hokies, as the Tar Heels applied a valuable lesson that bit them in the 83-62 loss to Louisville on Jan. 12 - the worst home defeat in Roy Williams' 16 seasons as coach. "We had won two games in a row, and we played terribly against Louisville," Little told reporters after establishing a career high in points. "We just wanted to keep going, keep that energy going, keep that winning streak going." The Yellow Jackets are in the midst of a difficult stretch of their schedule, but grabbed attention by leading second-ranked Duke at halftime on the road Saturday before succumbing 66-53. "They fight, they scrap, they kick, they claw every possession," Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner told the media after his team's first of three consecutive games against ranked opponents. "That's what we've done the entire year and I'm just really proud of our young men."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSN

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (15-4, 5-1 ACC): The Tar Heels are one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, ranking third nationally in scoring (88.1 points per game), third in assists per game (3.6) and fourth in rebound margin (10.2). Graduate guard Cameron Johnson leads a balanced scoring approach at 15.5 points per game, followed by White at 14.9 and senior forward Luke Maye at 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. White led the Tar Heels against Virginia Tech in points (27), rebounds (seven), assists (six) and steals (four).

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (11-9, 3-4): The Yellow Jackets held Duke to 2-of-21 shooting from 3-point range Saturday and 23 points under the Blue Devils season average of points scored (89.3), with a defense ranking tied for 22nd nationally at 63.6 points per contest. Sophomore guard Jose Alvarado averages a team-best 13.5 points per game, while junior forward James Banks III scores 10.8 per contest on 57.4 percent shooting from the field. Alvarado and Banks combined for just 11 points Saturday as senior forward Abdoulaye Gueye finished with a team-high 14 points.

TIP-INS

1. Georgia Tech committed 11 of its 19 turnovers Saturday in the final 15 minutes, as a seven-point lead evaporated.

2. Maye ranks second in the ACC in rebounding and seventh in field-goal percentage (50 percent).

3. The Yellow Jackets have held their past two opponents (a win over Notre Dame and the Duke loss) to 9-of-51 shooting from 3-point range.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 77, Georgia Tech 64

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Virginia Cavaliers vs. NC State Wolfpack Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

Virginia looks to remain one of four one-loss teams in ACC play as it visits North Carolina State on Tuesday evening, The third-ranked Cavaliers are coming off an easy win at Notre Dame over the weekend, while the 22nd-ranked Wolfpack edged Clemson on Saturday.

Virginia silenced a sold-out Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday afternoon by jumping to a 12-0 lead and making 16 of its first 26 field-goal attempts while holding Notre Dame scoreless for six-plus minutes to start the game. "I told the guys before if you're ready to play, you're ready to play regardless of when you get here," Virginia coach Tony Bennett told reporters after the 82-55 win. "On the road, to come out and be good defensively, our defense made them earn what they got." N.C. State, who has alternated wins and losses over its last seven games, snuck by the Tigers 69-67 as Braxton Beverly hit a game-winning 3-pointer with just one second remaining in regulation. "As soon as it left my hand, I knew I made it," Beverly told the media after the game in which Clemson's Marcquise Reed missed four free throws over the final 14 seconds to help set up Beverly's heroics.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VIRGINIA (18-1, 6-1 ACC): De'Andre Hunter scored a game-high 19 points and added seven rebounds as five Cavaliers reached double figures in scoring against Notre Dame. Kyle Guy, Virginia's leading scorer at 15 points per game, hit his average in what was a bit of a homecoming for him after he was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 2016. The Cavaliers shot 52.2 percent from the floor against the Fighting Irish, including 44.4 percent from long range, and won the rebounding battle 45-33 while only turning the ball over twice.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (16-4, 4-3): Beverly was just 2-of-9 from the field before hitting the game-winner and finished with 12 points, four rebounds and five assists. Markell Johnson scored a team-high 16 points in 23 minutes off the bench, while C.J. Bryce added 15 on 5-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Free-throw shooting proved to be the difference, as the Wolfpack made 12-of-13 while the Tigers made just 17-of-26.

TIP-INS

1. N.C. State leads the all-time series 82-65, but Virginia holds a six-game winning streak.

2. The Cavaliers rank first in the overall KenPom rankings as of Jan. 28.

3. Six different players have led the Wolfpack in scoring this season and five players are averaging in double figures during conference action.

PREDICTION: Virginia 76, North Carolina State 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Maryland Terrapins Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

No. 24 Maryland looks to rebound from a rough week and find the form that led to seven straight victories after Christmas when it hosts Northwestern on Tuesday night in a Big Ten contest. The Terrapins had won six straight league games before losing by 14 at Michigan State last Monday and being outscored by 15 in the second half en route to a 78-67 setback against 6-14 Illinois on Saturday in New York.

"We were cruising a little bit and feeling good about ourselves," Maryland coach Mark Turgeon told reporters after Saturday's defeat. "We just weren't good when we needed to be good, and they were." The Terrapins, who beat Northwestern twice last season within 10 days, look to get back on track while leaning on junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (17.4 points, team-high 4.6 assists) and 6-10 sophomore forward Bruno Fernando (14.6, team-best 10.3 rebounds). The Wildcats will try to get their offense in gear again after scoring a season low in the 62-48 setback at Wisconsin on Saturday, shooting 29.6 percent from the floor with no one reaching double figures. "You don't want to panic. You got beat by a really good team on their home court," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said on the radio postgame show. "We've got to stay the course. We've got to get home, we've got to get right, and hopefully put ourselves in a position on Tuesday at Maryland to try and get a win."

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

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (12-8, 3-6 Big Ten): Senior forward Vic Law leads the team in scoring (15.8), but has struggled the last three games - making just 5-of-29 from the field and averaging 7.7 points. Senior center Dererk Pardon adds 13.9 points per game on 61.1 percent shooting from the floor and leads the Wildcats in both rebounds (7.8) and blocks (24). Senior guard Ryan Taylor (12.0 points) is just 4-of-17 from the field the last two games while junior forward A.J. Turner (8.5 points, 3.5 assists) made just 6-of-21 shots in the past four contests and scored 4.3 per contest.

ABOUT MARYLAND (16-5, 7-3): Cowan has cooled off a bit, shooting 32.7 percent from the field the last four games, while Fernando boasts three straight double-doubles and 12 overall on the season after scoring 19 and grabbing 10 boards against Illinois. Freshman forward Jalen Smith averages 11.8 points on 50.6 percent shooting and freshman guard Aaron Wiggins (9.0 points) has drained 11-of-20 from 3-point range the last four games. Freshman guard Eric Ayala (8.6 points) tops the regulars in 3-point shooting (46.4 percent), but missed both tries against Illinois and did not score.

TIP-INS

1. Northwestern junior F Aaron Falzon has connected on 8-of-10 from 3-point range the last two games.

2. Fernando leads the Big Ten in field-goal percentage (67.4) and is second in blocks (2.0).

3. Maryland is second in the league in rebound margin (plus-10.0) and the Wildcats are 12th (minus-0.8).

PREDICTION: Maryland 76, Northwestern 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ball St. Cardinals vs. Buffalo Bulls Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

Buffalo was able to hold on to its national ranking for a 12th consecutive week heading into Tuesday's Mid-American Conference matchup with visiting Ball State. The No. 17 Bulls, who had been tied with the 1961-62 Bowling Green squad for the longest run in MAC history, will put another streak - 20 straight home wins - on the line when they face the Cardinals.

After drawing the ire of coach Nate Oats with several subpar efforts, one of which resulted in a loss last week at Northern Illinois, the Bulls responded to an early challenge from Kent State on Friday to avoid back-to-back league losses for the first time since January 2017. "Kent State is a hard place to play and they came out ready to go and punched us in the mouth early, but then our guys settled in and made the game a lot more difficult for them," Oats told the media. Dontay Caruthers was instrumental to the effort as the senior took turns guarding Kent State's Jaylin Walker, a 23.3-point per game scorer who had 10 points to help the Golden Flashes build a 25-12 lead after eight minutes but was then limited to 11 the rest of the way. Tayler Persons recorded his eighth 20-point game of the season and 27th of his career Saturday at Ohio, but it wasn't enough for the Cardinals to avoid a fifth loss in its last six games.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT BALL STATE (11-9, 2-5 MAC): The Cardinals are 5-4 in true road games, but have been a much better team away from Muncie, Ind. James Whitford's squad, which is second in the league in field goal percentage (49.5) and free throw shooting (71.8), is shooting nearly 100 points better on the road and has enjoyed a plus-5.3 scoring margin on the road compared to minus-8.7 at home. The Cardinals, who have lost four league games by a total of 13 points, boast the top two shooters in the MAC in juniors Tahjai Teague (59.7 percent) and K.J. Walton (55.8) and have two players (Teague and Trey Moses) in the top 10 in rebounding.

ABOUT BUFFALO (19-2, 6-1 MAC): CJ Massinburg has scored 74 points over the last three contests, which is tied for his most over a three-game span. The senior, who is the No. 4 scorer in the MAC at 18.2 points - two spots ahead of Persons, also netted 74 from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6 last season. Massinburg has shot 52.4 percent from the field, 45.8 percent from beyond the arc and 82.6 percent from the line while averaging 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists over the last three games for the Bulls, who are tied for first in the MAC and were 13th in the nation with Toledo with 17.5 assists per contest entering Monday.

TIP-INS

1. The Bulls are first in the MAC and were ninth nationally in turnover margin (plus-4.5).

2. Buffalo has taken four of the last five games from Ball State, including an 83-63 victory in their only meeting last season, to forge a 15-15 tie in the series.

3. Persons, who is one of five players in Ball State history with 1,000 points and 300 assists, is second in the MAC to Walker in free throw shooting (82.4 percent).

PREDICTION: Buffalo 89, Ball State 84

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Central Michigan Chippewas Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 29th January 2019 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 01/29/2019

The Eastern Michigan Eagles are coming off a rather easy victory last time out, and it was something that they really needed. They can do a lot of business on the boards, which is a good thing since they can't shoot straight much of the time.

The Central Michigan Chippewas didn't get to coast so much in their last outing. In fact, they had to launch an exhaustive comeback just to get close, but they ultimately missed out against Toledo.

EMU and CMU will get together on Tuesday night at the McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, MI.

TV: ESPN Plus, 7 PM ET. LINE: Check Intertops for the latest line

ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN: It seemed simple, as EMU completed a 93-67 romp over Western Michigan on Saturday. Elijah Minnie, the 6-9 forward, had 29 points. James Thompson once again had an outstanding effort, with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Paul Jackson had a dozen points and ten assists. It tied the widest margin of victory over their arch-rivals in the long-running series. They now have a record of 9-11 straight-up and 6-10 against the number. Eastern Michigan simply needs to shoot better. They are hitting 31.2% from three-point range, and they are likely to get shut down by Central Michigan, which has allowed opponents to shoot just 30.3% from downtown. It's a good thing that they aren't so dependent on the three-pointer, with 55.8% of their point production actually coming from two-pointers. Wherever they shoot from, the Eagles are going to have a real good chance to shoot again if they miss. They have been one of the strongest offensive rebounding teams in the country (15th to be exact). while Central Michigan has permitted its opponents to grab an offensive board 32.2% of the time. Oddly, EMU is 222nd in three-point defense, 260th in two-point defense, but third best in the nation in an area of defense which they actually don't have very much to do with, as their opponents have made just 61.8% of their free throws.

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: They were down eleven points in the second half and still came back to make a game of it. And in fact, they had it tied with just a couple of minutes remaining. In the end, however, CMU came up short with a 76-72 loss to Toledo. If it was any consolation, they held one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country to just 5-for-25 from beyond the arc. With that loss, their third straight, Central is 14-6 straight-up and 9-8 against the pointspread. They are also 3-4 in the MAC. The guy to watch is Larry Austin, who is tops in the Mid-American Conference in assists and 21st in the nation in Assists Rate. Austin is also averaging 17.6 points per game and has a pretty good chance to break the school's one-season record for steals. On a team that gives very little in the way of playing time to its bench (just 20% of all minutes), Shawn Roundtree is the team leader in minutes played, with 34 per game. In this balanced attack, David DiLeo is the guy who keys most of the effort from downtown, and his three-point shooting percentage (39.4%) is best among the regulars. A discernible weakness here is that while Central Michigan is third in the nation in free throw attempts, they are hitting a very low percentage (64.4%, 324th nationally).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan first started playing basketball back in 1906. CMU holds the overall advantage in the series by a 100-93 margin.

2. EMU is tenth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, with 14, and James Thompson is second individually with 4.4 per contest.

3. In the last meeting between these two teams (February 17), James Thompson had 22 points and 14 rebounds, with Elijah Minnie posting a double-double (13 points, ten rebounds) as EMU scored 44 second-half points en route to a 72-67 road victory.

PREDICTION: Central Michigan 74, Eastern Michigan 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Toledo Rockets vs. Miami (OH) Red Hawks Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 01/28/2019

The Toledo Rockets and Miami of Ohio RedHawks have respective offensive blueprints that might look very unusual to people who are studying the numbers.

While Toledo is a very proficient team from three-point range, they don't shoot it from there as much as you'd expect. And while Miami shoots an awful lot of its shots from downtown, they don't do it as well as you'd expect from a team that placed a big emphasis on it.

Suddenly the RedHawks are hot, and they'll play host to Toledo on Tuesday night at Millett Hall in Oxford, O.

TV: ESPN Plus, 7 PM ET. LINE: Check Intertops for the latest line

ABOUT TOLEDO: There were some concerns about how well the Rockets could bounce back from the devastating loss to Kent State, in which they blew a 17-point second half lead and lost in overtime last Tuesday. But even though had some anxiety, they did get back in the win column with a 76-72 victory over a capable Central Michigan squad on Saturday. It was another nice game for 6-11 center Luke Knapke, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and he's been a go-to guy lately, shooting 25-of-38 from the field with 59 points and 29 rebounds in his last three contests. Jaelan Sanford added 22 points against CMU, but like his other teammates, for the most part, he bricked from long range, hitting just two of 10. As a team, the Rockets went 5-for-25, a big comedown, when you consider that they’re one of the top 20 teams in the nation, hitting 39.1% from beyond the arc. Toledo is now 16-4 straight-up and 11-8 against the number, and they are now back over the .500 mark (4-3) in MAC play. This team could spell trouble for a lot of others if Knapke can continue to hit the boards with some aplomb because Willie Jackson is already a demon on the glass. Jackson has hit double figures in rebounds eleven times this season, and he ranks 11th in the country in Defensive Rebounding Percentage.

ABOUT MIAMI OF OHIO: The successful turnaround at Miami continues. After losing their first four games in MAC competition, they have come back with three consecutive wins, and they didn't leave a lot of room for doubt last time out against Bowling Green, flattening the Falcons 67-53 behind 25 points from Nike Sibande, the team's leading scorer, who woke up in a big way after having just thirteen points combined over the previous two games. Sibande also had seven rebounds, and that was symbolic of an effort where the RedHawks had an advantage over the nation's top rebounding team on both the offensive AND defensive boards. They also held Bowling Green to a dismal 9-for-30 from two-point range. So now Miami is 11-9 straight-up and 9-9 against the pointspread. Since the RedHawks launch 47.3% of their attempts from three-point range, it may be useful to take a look at what kind of form their top shooters have been in. Sibande is just 4-of-15 from the arc in his last three games, while Dalonte Brown has gone 6-of-15 in the last six contests. Darrian Ringo doesn't shoot the three that often, but he's 2-for-12 in his last four games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Of their 18 games that have been posted on the board, Miami has played twelve of them under the total, and perhaps that's not surprising since they have an average possession length of 19.6 seconds (344th in the country) and an Adjusted Tempo that is 310th.

2. There's a big difference in free throw shooting prowess here; while Toledo ranks fourth in the country at the line (78.8%), Miami is #225 (68.8%). Incarnate Word leads the nation at 80.4%.

3. One stunning statistic is that the ratio of free throw attempts to field goal attempts on the part of Toledo's opponents is just 23%, which is the fourth lowest in the country.

PREDICTION: Miami of Ohio 70, Toledo 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wisconsin Badgers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

After building a solid early resume with a 10-1 showing against a challenging non-conference slate and rebounding from a tough start to Big Ten play, Nebraska appeared poised to enjoy one of its most successful seasons in program history as recently as two weeks ago. The Cornhuskers' fortunes have taken a dramatic turn for the worst since then, and they will be forced to play the rest of the way without one of their linchpins starting Tuesday when they host Wisconsin.

Nebraska rebounded from a 1-3 start in league action by beating Penn State and Indiana, but a 70-64 loss to No. 5 Michigan State on Jan. 17 ended a school-record 20-game home winning streak. A setback at Rutgers followed four days later, but the Cornhuskers' once-promising campaign might have reached a crossroads when senior forward Isaac Copeland was lost for the season to a torn left ACL during Saturday's 70-60 home loss to Ohio State. The resumption of conference play did not agree with the Badgers, as Wisconsin dropped three of four to begin the month. The Badgers ended that forgettable run by handing No. 6 Michigan its first loss on Jan. 19 and earned their third straight win Saturday, riding Ethan Happ's second triple-double of the season to a 62-46 triumph over Northwestern

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network

ABOUT WISCONSIN (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten): Happ (18.9 points, 10.4 boards, 5.2 assists) finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists while adding two blocks and two steals against the Wildcats. "He's a nightmare ... he's like a point guard at the center position. He brings it up, he can drive you from the perimeter, he can get you from the low-post, he's a terrific passer, he's great on the offensive glass, he's great defensively, he's got great instincts and hands for steals and blocked shots. ... He is a phenomenal player and he impacts winning in so many ways," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. Sophomore guards Brad Davison (10.7 points) and D'Mitrik Trice (14.2) took full advantage of the defensive attention Happ drew Saturday, tying for game-high scoring honors with 18 points apiece.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (13-7, 3-6): Copeland was the Cornhuskers' second-leading scorer (14.0 points), rebounder (5.4) and shot blocker (0.9); he will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by former offensive line recruit Tanner Borchardt, who has never scored more than eight points or logged more than 25 minutes in a game. The absence of Copeland figures to place even more pressure on James Palmer Jr. (19.4 points, second in the Big Ten) and Glynn Watson Jr. (13.5 points), who combined for 37 points on 12-of-27 shooting Saturday while their teammates totaled 23 points on 9-for-31 from the floor. After posting a career-high 22 points and a season-high four blocks against Penn State on Jan. 10, junior forward Isaiah Roby has totaled 28 points and five blocks in the four games since.

TIP-INS

1. Wisconsin owns an 8-4 edge in the series since Nebraska joined the conference in 2011-12, but the Cornhuskers have won three of the last four meetings.

2. Happ, who is the only player in the country averaging at least 17 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, is responsible for two of the three triple-doubles in school history (Josh Gasser, Jan. 23, 2011).

3. Since Big Ten play resumed on Jan. 2, the Cornhuskers have been outrebounded by at least nine in five of the seven games.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 62, Nebraska 57

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

Kansas coach Bill Self wasn't happy about his Jayhawks' second-half struggles Saturday at No. 6 Kentucky but didn't seemed too concerned after the fact. With goals set on a 15th consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship, No. 12 Kansas returns to conference play Tuesday at Texas, a team they have dominated in recent years.

The Jayhawks scored just five field goals over the final 10 minutes, shooting a season-low 36.5 percent from the floor for the game, which resulted in a 71-63 loss in the Big 12/SEC Challenge despite yet another double-double (20 points and 15 rebounds) from Dedric Lawson. "There were too many errors and too many naked possessions offensively where we didn't get anything out of it and our shot selection was poor," Self said afterward. "If we'd won this game, I'd be happy going home, but trust me, it doesn't mean that much, it's not going to affect us in any way, shape or form preparing for our next game." Kansas, which is tied with Kansas State at 5-2 atop the Big 12 standings, held off a late run and edged Texas 82-80 two weeks ago in Lawrence behind 21 points and five 3-pointers from Lagerald Vick and 20 points and three steals from Marcus Garrett for its 10th straight win in the series. Despite a career-high 19 points by freshman guard Courtney Ramey, the Longhorns lost their second straight and for the fifth time in six tries, dropping a 98-88 decision at Georgia on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT KANSAS (16-4, 5-2 Big 12): The Jayhawks are the only team in the Big 12 with two players ranked in the top eight in scoring; Lawson is second at 19.5 points while Vick is eighth at 14.8 points. Combined with his previous effort - 29 points and 15 rebounds against Iowa State - Lawson upped his career averages to a double-double with 17.9 points per game and 10.0 rebounds between his time at Memphis and Kansas. Garrett is averaging 13.8 points in his last four games, including a career-high 20 versus Texas - and his 1.8 steals per game are second in the Big 12 - while Vick is second the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 45.5 and 3-point field goals made at three per game.

ABOUT TEXAS (11-9, 3-4): The Longhorns allowed Georgia to shoot 66.7 percent from the floor, including 12-of-17 beyond the arc, while Ramey (6.4 points, 36.7 percent shooting) converted a career-high 7-of-15 from the floor, including a career-best 5-of-8 clip from 3-point range, and added five assists in a career-high 38 minutes. "We're at a crossroads right now," forward Dylan Osetkowski told the Austin American-Statesman. "It's cliche, and it's what everybody says. But we've really got to figure out what kind of team we want to be, how we want to finish off conference." Senior guard Kerwin Roach II leads Texas in scoring at 14.3 points - 10th in the Big 12 - and freshman forward Jaxson Hayes (10.5 points, 5.1 rebounds) leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 74.3 percent and blocked shots at 2.7 per contest.

TIP-INS

1. The Jayhawks lead the all-time series 32-8, including a 10-6 record in games in Austin.

2. Kansas is 88-11 following a loss in the Bill Self era, including 3-0 this season. Since 2013-14, the Jayhawks are 38-3 following a loss - the resulting 88.9 win percentage is best in college basketball.

3. Lawson, a Wooden Award Midseason nominee, has six double-doubles in his last eight games, leads the Big 12 in double-doubles (14) and rebounding (11.1) and is ninth in shooting percentage (52 percent) and blocks (1.1).

PREDICTION: Kansas 87, Texas 71

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ohio St Buckeyes vs. Michigan Wolverines Preview and Predictions 2019-01-29

NCAAB Predictions 28th January 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 01/28/2019

Fifth-ranked Michigan looks to move into a tie for first place in the Big Ten standings when it hosts Ohio State on Tuesday. The Wolverines bounced back from their first loss of the season against No. 23 Wisconsin on Jan. 19 with back-to-back wins, including a 69-46 road victory against Indiana on Friday, to pull within a 1/2 game of eighth-ranked Michigan State, and hope to continue their stellar defensive play by extending their home winning streak to 20 games.


Michigan limited the Hoosiers to 27.6 percent shooting from the floor en route to its biggest margin of victory ever in Bloomington and hopes to cap off a successful January by holding its seventh opponent to fewer than 65 points this month. Ohio State notched its first win in almost four weeks when it took down Nebraska 70-60 on Saturday. The Buckeyes had dropped five straight games, including the previous three contests by double digits, before righting the ship against the Cornhuskers, and hope to add a marquee win to their NCAA Tournament resume by knocking off a Top 5 team for the third time in just over a year. "It's no secret we're playing an elite team that's having a special season," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann told reporters. "We're looking forward to a great challenge."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2


ABOUT OHIO STATE (13-6, 3-5 Big Ten): Luther Muhammad stepped up in a big way for the Buckeyes as the freshman guard racked up a career-high 24 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals in the vital win against Nebraska. C.J. Jackson added 10 points and four assists against the Cornhuskers to finish in double figures for the 12th time in 14 games while moving within six assists of reaching 300 for his career. Andre Wesson also scored 10 points and Musa Jallow tallied five points and four rebounds in place of Kyle Young (7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds), who went down with a stress fracture in his leg on Jan. 22.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (19-1, 8-1): Iggy Brazdeikis led the way with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds in the win against Indiana to post the sixth 20-point game of his career. Zavier Simpson produced 12 points, six rebounds and five assists while Jon Teske continues to be one of the most improved players in the Big Ten as he finished with 11 points and a pair of blocks against the Hoosiers. Brazdeikis was named the Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, which is a program record, after averaging 19 points and nine rebounds in the wins over Minnesota (59-57) and Indiana.


TIP-INS

1. Michigan has won 33 of its last 35 games dating back to last season.

2. Ohio State F Kaleb Wesson needs seven rebounds to reach 300 for his career.

3. Teske has recorded at least two blocked shots in nine straight games.


PREDICTION: Michigan 74, Ohio State 67