Tuesday 2-19-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Ball St. Cardinals vs. Miami (OH) Red Hawks Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 02/18/2019

The Miami of Ohio RedHawks are coming off the indignity of a loss to the Mid-American Conference's cellar-dweller. And that is something they would love dearly to be able to bounce back from.

All they have to do is beat a Ball State Cardinals team that got a big lift with a last-second victory over Akron and possesses a lot more in the way of veteran leadership.

This MAC battle takes place on Tuesday night at Millett Hall in Oxford, Ohio.

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

ABOUT BALL STATE: Trey Moses came through in the final seconds with a tip-in to propel Ball State to a 57-56 win over Akron, which got the Cards a little closer to the .500 mark in conference play. Head coach James Whitford described Akron as "the best defensive team we've faced all year." And they certainly made it tough to get off good shots. Tyler Persons led the way for Ball State with 15 points, and he added nine rebounds. KJ Walton also had nine rebounds, as did Moses and Tahjai Teague. These guys had quite a few opportunities, as the Cardinals shot just 21 of 61 from the field. They did control the defensive boards (with 37). And they proved to be very tough to shoot against themselves, allowing only 30.2% from the floor. Ball State is now 14-11 straight-up and 5-7 in the MAC. And they also evened up their pointspread record at 12-12. Moses has had 27 rebounds in his last three games but has also turned the ball over twelve times. Persons had one offensive rebound for Ball State, and that's a rare occurrence, as he has pulled down only ten all season. On the other hand, he is the MAC's active leader in both career points and assists. With four more games in double figures, he will have 100 for his career. Teague made two of six in two-point shots against Akron but is hitting 62.4% inside the arc this season. In his second game back from an injury, Brachen Hazen had eight points and four rebounds.

ABOUT MIAMI OF OHIO: For the first time this season, a Miami game went into overtime, and that is when things came up short for the RedHawks in the 84-79 loss. to Western Michigan. The Broncos had gone into the game with a 1-11 conference record, so it was definitely one of those games that represented a missed opportunity. Abdoulaye Harouna and Dalonte Brown each had 17 points for Miami, and 6-5 guard Jalen Adaway, who plays like a forward, had 14 points and 13 rebounds. The RedHawks' shooting inside the arc hurt them, as they made just 12 of 35 attempts. The defeat drops Miami to 13-12 straight-up and 5-7 in conference play. They are now 12-11 against the pointspread. Miami is 34.2% when it comes to three-point shooting. One of the players who doesn't launch a lot of triples is Darrian Ringo, the point guard who was one of the NCAA's leaders in assists and steals last season. Ringo has hit just three of 23 three-point attempts over the last nine games. But he ranks 17th in the nation in Assist Rate. Bam Bowman, who'd had a career high of 23 points to go with 12 assists against Ohio a week ago Saturday, had just six points and three rebounds against Western Michigan.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ball State guard Ishmael El-Amin, who has missed the last thirteen games with an injury, is the son of Khalid El-Amin, who was the point guard on UConn's national championship team in 1999.

2. Miami has a game coming up with Buffalo on March 1. The Bulls, for the moment, are nationally-ranked, and the last time the RedHawks have beaten a team in the national rankings was December 20, 2001, when they scored a win over Boston College.

3. The first meeting between these teams this season was on January 22, as Miami shot 52% in a 71-65 road victory, despite 17 turnovers and only five offensive rebounds.

PREDICTION: Ball State 73, Miami of Ohio 71

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn St. Nittany Lions Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

Penn State may still reside in last place in the Big Ten, but its play in February suggests it will find a way to crawl out of the cellar before the end of the regular season. After going winless in January, the Nittany Lions attempt to move to 3-2 this month on Tuesday when they host Nebraska.

Eight of Penn State's 10 losses during its 0-10 start in conference play took place last month, and although the Nittany Lions offered hints of their improved play with three close defeats to end January, they weren't able to break through until posting a 59-52 victory at Northwestern on Feb. 4. Penn State followed a four-point setback at Ohio State three days later with a stunning upset of No. 7 Michigan last Tuesday before dropping a 12-point decision at No. 11 Purdue on Saturday. The Cornhuskers have experienced their own rebirth over the last week, snapping a seven-game skid with home wins over Minnesota and Northwestern. Nebraska needs a strong finish if it has any hope of working its way back into NCAA Tournament consideration, and the Cornhuskers will have a chance to do so as they face four consecutive ranked teams to end the regular season after they try to replicate their 70-64 win over Penn State from Jan. 10.

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

ABOUT NEBRASKA (15-11, 5-10 Big Ten): Isaiah Roby (11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.4 steals) tallied a season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the year in the first meeting but saved his best for Northwestern, amassing 19 points, a career-high 16 boards, a season high-tying five blocks and two steals. In doing so, the 6-8 junior became the first Cornhusker since Aleks Maric in 2008 to produce at least 19 points and 16 boards in a game. Glynn Watson Jr. (12.1 points) has returned to form offensively following a four-game stretch in which he totaled 15 points on 6-of-37 shooting, averaging 15.5 points while converting 13 of his 28 field-goal attempts over the last two contests.

ABOUT PENN STATE (9-16, 2-12): Lamar Stevens (team-high marks of 19.2 points and 8.0 rebounds) ranks second in the conference in scoring and became only the 11th Nittany Lion to reach 1,500 career points with 18 against the Boilermakers, although he was also responsible for half of his team's 16 turnovers. Myles Dread buried a pair of 3-pointers Saturday to push his team-high total to 57 for the season, leaving him 11 shy of tying Pete Lisicky (68; 1994-95) for the most ever by a Penn State freshman. After averaging 6.3 points over a seven-game stretch in January, fellow rookie guard Rasir Bolton (12.2 points) is scoring 15.4 points per game over his last five outings, topping his season scoring average each time.

TIP-INS

1. Penn State senior G Josh Reaves is four steals shy of tying Monroe Brown (239; 1989-92) for second place on the school's all-time list.

2. The Cornhuskers have committed 10 or fewer turnovers in five of the last six games but failed to score 70 points in 10 straight.

3. After averaging 10.5 points and 10.4 rebounds in eight January outings, Nittany Lions F Mike Watkins has totaled 18 points and 17 boards through four games this month.

PREDICTION: Penn State 65, Nebraska 56

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Purdue Boilermakers vs. Indiana Hoosiers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

Surging Purdue heads to Indiana on Tuesday night in a dogfight for first place in the Big Ten with Michigan and Michigan State as the regular season enters its final three weeks. Meanwhile, Indiana's season has spun out of control, but one way the Hoosiers could pull out of their tailspin is with a win against their in-state rival.

After the 13th-ranked Boilermakers lost four non-conference games, it appeared they might not be a contender in the Big Ten this year, but instead are tied for the lead in the loss column with the Wolverines and Spartans after winning nine of their last 10 games. All three of their conference losses have come on the road and so they'll be guarding against an upset in Bloomington. Indiana is the polar opposite of Purdue, losing 10 of their last 11 after a 12-2 start. The Hoosiers were humbled in their latest loss, an 84-63 rout Saturday at Minnesota.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT PURDUE (18-7, 11-3 Big Ten): Junior guard Carsen Edwards ranks seventh nationally and first in the Big Ten in scoring at 24.4 points per game. Senior guard Ryan Cline is the only other starter in double figures at 12.2 points as Purdue sometimes struggles to get offensive production from anyone other than Edwards. Purdue split two games last week, with a loss at Maryland in which the Boilermakers made 6-of-36 shots from the field and 1-of-16 from 3-point range in the second half.

ABOUT INDIANA (13-12, 4-10): The Hoosiers desperately need a win to sustain any NCAA Tournament hopes with only six conference games remaining before the Big Ten tournament. Freshman Romeo Langford maintains his status as Indiana's scoring leader (17.2 points per game), but managed only four points in the first matchup with Purdue in January and had 10 in Saturday's loss at Minnesota. Senior Juwan Morgan is averaging 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds after finishing with 14 and eight along with four blocks and three steals against Minnesota, but Indiana's depth is a major problem and the bench provided only nine points in that game.

TIP-INS

1. Edwards made 8-of-27 shots from the floor and 3-of-13 3-pointers in Purdue's loss to Maryland last week before committing seven turnovers while the team struggled against Penn State's three-quarters court trap in a 76-64 victory Saturday in West Lafayette.

2. Purdue has dominated the series, winning four straight and seven of the last eight meetings after last month's 70-55 victory in West Lafayette.

3. Indiana's lone victory since Jan. 3 was an overtime upset at No. 11 Michigan State on Feb. 2, but the Hoosiers couldn't gain any momentum from that game and have lost their last three, including two at home.

PREDICTION: Purdue 74, Indiana 70

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Ohio Bobcats vs. Buffalo Bulls Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

Despite three straight wins, No. 24 Buffalo is still not satisfied with its play as it prepares for a three-game homestretch beginning Tuesday against Ohio. The Bulls knocked off a solid Toledo squad on the road Friday behind a big game from Nick Perkins but will be in search of a complete effort against the Bobcats, who have given them plenty of trouble in the past.

The Bulls nearly gave the game away in the early stages against Toledo, trailing 10-0 and 17-4 before righting the ship and using a strong second half from Perkins to pull away for an 88-82 victory. The senior from Ypsilanti, Mich., scored 19 of his career-high 26 points and made four 3-pointers in the second half, and also grabbed 10 rebounds in the contest for the Bulls, who will look to increase their 22-game home win streak. "These games are really important, and February and March are when you want to play your best basketball," Perkins, who is closing in on 1,600 points and 800 rebounds for his career, told the media. "That's something we've got to get back to. We want to play good basketball down the stretch and win some games." The Bobcats have fallen on tough times with five straight losses despite solid play from sophomore Jason Carter (team highs of 16.2 points, 7.0 rebounds per game), who has two double-doubles in his last four contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT OHIO (11-13, 3-9 MAC): Ben Vander Plas posted career highs with 10 field goals, 24 points, 13 rebounds and four assists but it was all for naught as the Bobcats, whose last five-game losing streak occurred in 2014-15, fell at Central Michigan on Saturday. The 6-9 freshman forward has four double-digit rebound games this season, including three in MAC play, and is averaging 15 points over the last three contests. Vander Plas, who hails from Ripon, Wis., also tied his career high with four 3-pointers and has made nine of his last 23 attempts following a 0-for-10 run.

ABOUT BUFFALO (22-3, 10-2): Montell McRae doesn't score in double figures often - it has happened five times this season and eight in two seasons at Buffalo - but he saved one for just the right time. The senior from Cleveland scored 12 points, including six on dunks that allowed the Bulls to stay with Toledo, and grabbed five rebounds one game after being held scoreless against Akron. Senior guard Dontay Caruthers, another role player, notched 10 points against Toledo and has scored in double figures in six consecutive games - averaging 17.0 during that span - to bring his season number to 9.8.

TIP-INS

1. With 31 points and 35 rebounds, Perkins will join Javon McCrea (2010-14) and teammate CJ Massinburg (2015-present) as the only Buffalo players with 1,600 points and 800 rebounds.

2. Despite three straight wins in the series, including a dominating home performance last season, Buffalo's record against Ohio (14-32) is its worst among all MAC opponents.

3. Doug Taylor, a 6-9 forward who leads the MAC with 1.9 blocks per game, has 135 career blocks - good for sixth all-time in Ohio history.

PREDICTION: Buffalo 85, Ohio 71

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Baylor Bears vs. Iowa State Cyclones Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

No. 20 Iowa State returned to the court after a week off and shook up the top of the conference standings with a 78-64 win at league-leading Kansas State on Saturday. The Cyclones will continue their march to the top of the conference and look to improve to 12-2 at home Tuesday when they host Baylor in another key Big 12 matchup.

Sophomore reserve guard Lindell Wigginton led the way with 23 points, connecting on 5-of-6 3-pointers, while freshman Talen Horton-Tucker finished with 20 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers in nine attempts for the Cyclones, who sit 1 1/2 games behind the 21st-ranked Wildcats while Baylor trails by 2 1/2 games. The Cyclones, one of 15 teams in the nation to boast a top-35 adjusted offense (10th) and defense (34th), shot 52.7 percent from the field and 58.3 beyond the arc against a Wildcat defense that yields 43.5 percent shooting, 36.1 from 3-point range and 65.8 points per game - one of the nation's best. A depleted Baylor squad, which was rolling a few weeks back with six consecutive wins, has seen its NCAA Tournament hopes diminish the last two weeks, losing three of four, including 86-61 at Texas Tech on Saturday - its worst loss since Jan. 2, 2016, at Kansas. The Bears knocked off the Cyclones 73-70 in the first matchup this season on Jan. 8, as Makai Mason scored 25 points for Baylor and Marial Shayok tallied 19 for Iowa State.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT BAYLOR (16-9, 7-5 Big 12): The Bears played without Mason (toe) and King McClure (knee), who are both day-to-day, against the Red Raiders and had eight scholarship players available, including a former walk-on. In 11 games since leading scorer Tristan Clark went down with a season-ending knee injury, the Bears have gone to a three-guard offense and improved their 3-point shooting marks from 29 percent and 6.6 makes per game to 39 percent and 9.6, respectively. Four Bears are shooting at least 42 percent from 3-point range and making at least 1.5 per game since Clark's injury: Devonte Bandoo (44 percent, 1.8), freshman guard Jared Butler (43, 2.6), McClure (43, 1.9) and Mason (42, 2.4).

ABOUT IOWA STATE (19-6, 8-4): Over his last six games, Wigginton (13.3 points, 2.3 assists) is leading the Cyclones with 17 points per game and shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 51.6 percent behind the arc. Point guard Nick Weiler-Babb (9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists) is shooting a career-high 40 percent from the arc, second in the conference in assists and is the only player in the conference averaging at least nine points, four rebounds and four assists. Horton-Tucker (12.4 points, 5.2 rebounds) leads all Big 12 freshmen in scoring and paces the Cyclones with nine charges taken, while junior forward Michael Jacobson (12 points, six boards) leads the team in rebounding and is shooting 59 percent from the field, including 71 percent the last three games.

TIP-INS

1. Iowa State holds a 19-17 lead in the series, including 14-2 at Hilton Coliseum.

2. Baylor G Mario Kegler is averaging 11.8 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 51 percent over his last eight games, while Butler joined the starting lineup with Clark out and is averaging 12.2 points and 3.7 assists in 11 starts.

3. Iowa State leads the Big 12 in scoring (78.9 points), field-goal percentage (48.2) and free-throw percentage (73.3), while also ranking second in 3-point field goal percentage (36.9).

PREDICTION: Iowa State 88, Baylor 66

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Maryland Terrapins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

No. 19 Iowa looks to extend its winning streak to five games when it hosts 25th-ranked Maryland on Tuesday. Joe Wieskamp banked in a desperation 3-pointer as time expired to lift the Hawkeyes past Rutgers 71-69 on Saturday following Jordan Bohannon's game-winning triple in the 80-79 victory against Northwestern on Feb. 10, and they hope to stay unbeaten in the month of February by avenging a 91-73 loss to the Terrapins last season.


"It was a big shot, but we still got six Big Ten games left plus we want to play deep into the postseason," Wieskamp told reporters. "It's been a lot of fun out there and coach (Fran McCaffery) has a lot of confidence in me." Maryland's road woes against ranked teams continued as it dropped a 65-52 decision to Michigan on Saturday. The Terrapins fell to 0-19 in road games against Top 25 opponents under coach Mark Turgeon after being held to a season-low points total against the Wolverines. They hope to get back on track by knocking off a ranked team away from home for the first time since Jan. 19, 2008. "If I had the answer I would fix it," Turgeon told reporters. "Hopefully we learn from it and do better on Tuesday."

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


ABOUT MARYLAND (19-7, 10-5 Big Ten): Aaron Wiggins was one of the lone bright spots on offense as the freshman guard led the Terrapins with 15 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists in the loss to Michigan. Bruno Fernando missed out on recording his eighth straight double-double as he finished with 12 points, which all came in the second half, and eight rebounds against the Wolverines. Anthony Cowan scored 10 points and pulled down five boards while Jalen Smith tallied eight points as Maryland was held to 36.4 percent shooting from the field.

ABOUT IOWA (20-5, 9-5): Bohannon knocked down three 3-pointers en route to a team-high 18 points and dished out five assists in the win against Rutgers to take sole possession of second place on the Hawkeyes' all-time 3-pointers list. Isaiah Moss added 17 points and three steals while Tyler Cook produced 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists to help Iowa win for the ninth time in 11 games. Wieskamp finished with nine points, including the decisive desperation 3-point heave from the corner with two defenders draped all over him to silence a sellout crowd at the Rutgers Athletic Center.


TIP-INS

1. Iowa is 6-1 in games decided by five or fewer points.

2. Maryland has dropped 27 consecutive road games against ranked opponents.

3. The Terrapins lead the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+9.9).


PREDICTION: Iowa 81, Maryland 77

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

Two teams that are rebuilding and struggling for conference wins square off Tuesday evening as Wake Forest visits Notre Dame. The Demon Deacons have lost two straight and seven of eight in ACC action, while the Fighting Irish have just three conference wins, although two of those have come in the last four games.

It has been a difficult season for Wake Forest and Saturday was no exception as the Demon Deacons were crushed at home 95-57 by No. 9 North Carolina. "We came out and didn't do a lot of things well," Wake Forest coach Danny Manning told the media after the game. "Carolina came out, made some shots, rebounded the ball, put us in a tough spot. ... And then from there, it just kind of snowballed." Notre Dame put up a fight against one of the best teams in the country on Saturday but came up just short in losing at No. 3 Virginia 60-54. "That's about as good as we got," coach Mike Brey told reporters after the game when asked about his team's effort. "I'm proud of our group because (Virginia is) really good and can win the whole thing."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (9-15, 2-10 ACC): Little went right for the Demon Deacons on Saturday and it began with freshman Jaylen Hoard - the team's second-leading scorer at 13.9 points per game - oversleeping and not getting the start, although he wound up scoring a team-high 17 points in 18 minutes off the bench. Leading scorer Brandon Childress (14.5 points) had one of the worst games of his career, going scoreless in a 0-for-12 effort from the field. Wake Forest shot 32.8 percent from the floor and 17.4 percent from long range while turning the ball over 20 times.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (13-12, 3-9): Defense kept the Irish in it against Virginia as they held the Cavaliers to 36.5 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from 3-point range. Offensively, T.J. Gibbs scored 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including his team's first 10 points as no other player was able to score until 6:41 remaining in the first half. Junior forward John Mooney, the team's leading scorer and league's top rebounder, continued his stellar play as he finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds for his ACC-leading 16th double-double.

TIP-INS

1. Notre Dame has beaten Wake Forest five times in a row, dating back to the 2015 season, and leads the all-time series 5-3.

2. The Irish commit 9.6 turnovers per game, the fifth-lowest mark in the nation.

3. Freshmen make up three of the Demon Deacons' top-five scorers with Hoard (13.9 points), Sharone Wright Jr. (6.9) and Isaiah Mucius (6.6).

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 68, Wake Forest 61

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas A&M Aggies Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

Alabama has sustained some big hits to its NCAA Tournament resume and will try to avoid another damaging blow when it visits Texas A&M for an SEC contest Tuesday night. The Crimson Tide first fell by 19 points at Mississippi State last Tuesday before losing by 18 at home to Florida in a matchup of teams jockeying for position on the Big Dance bubble.

"I don't think the sky is necessarily falling but boy it's really cloudy right now," Alabama coach Avery Johnson told reporters after his team handed out a season-low six assists and shot 10-of-22 from the foul line Saturday. "I'm very disappointed in myself. I'm very disappointed with our effort." The Crimson Tide are also seeking a measure of revenge against the Aggies, who received a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by TJ Starks to steal an 81-80 win at Alabama earlier this season. That was the only conference victory in the first nine games for Texas A&M, which recovered to top Missouri and Georgia before dropping an 84-77 decision at South Carolina on Saturday. Sophomore guard Savion Flagg hit a career-high six 3-pointers en route to 24 points in the loss.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT ALABAMA (15-10, 6-6 SEC): Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the team in scoring (14.4 points per game) and is averaging 17.2 on 53.7 percent shooting over his last five contests. Senior forward Donta Hall has made 5-of-6 shots in consecutive games to boost his field-goal percentage to 64.2, second in the SEC. Hall also ranks third in the league in rebounding (8.5) and had a career-high 16 boards in the loss to the Aggies on Jan. 12.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (10-14, 3-9): After allowing opponents to hit 11-of-50 from 3-point range in their back-to-back wins, the Aggies let South Carolina drill a school record-tying 16 in only 31 attempts Saturday. They tried to keep pace behind Flagg and junior guard Wendell Mitchell (3-of-5 from beyond the arc, 20 points), but the rest of the team was a combined 0-for-7 from long range. Starks is the team's leader in scoring (13.0) and assists (3.6), while Flagg averages 12.2 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds.

TIP-INS

1. Hall has 219 career blocks, two shy of matching Jermareo Davidson (2004-07) for third on the school's all-time list.

2. Aggies junior F Josh Nebo scored a season-high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting in the first meeting.

3. Texas A&M won the last two matchups on its home floor by a total of five points.

PREDICTION: Alabama 72, Texas A&M 70

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Florida State Seminoles vs. Clemson Tigers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 18th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/18/2019

It's been a heart-breaking week for Clemson as the Tigers suffered back-to-back one-point losses on the road to Miami (Fla.) 65-64 and Louisville 56-55. The going won't get any easier on Tuesday night as Clemson hosts surging Florida State, which moved up two spots to No. 17 in the national rankings after extending its winning streak to a school-record-tying seven straight ACC games with its 69-47 triumph over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

"That's our third one this year (by one point)," Clemson coach Brad Brownell told reporters after the Louisville game. "I'm just incredibly proud of our players. ... Obviously we fought for the full 40 minutes. We defended great, about as well as you can guard them. Our kids played extremely hard." The Tigers fell short despite holding Louisville to just 19 points before intermission, the fourth time in the last 10 halves that Clemson held an opponent under 20 points and the Cardinals wound up with their lowest point total (56) and shooting percentage (35.2) of the season. The Seminoles also know about playing stiff defense and the 47 points they surrendered to Georgia Tech last time out was the school's lowest in an ACC game since it limited Clemson to 41 back in 2014. The Tigers have won their last four at home but the Seminoles have been almost as successful on the road with three straight victories and Florida State's overall winning streak actually began with a 77-68 win over Clemson on Jan. 22.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (20-5, 8-4 ACC): One game after producing his first career double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds) against Wake Forest, 7-4 senior center Christ Koumadje did it again against Georgia Tech with 10 points and 12 rebounds - draining 15-of-19 from the field in the two games. Senior guard Terance Mann remains a team leader but the Seminoles continue to get strong play from a deep bench, outscoring opponents 397-154 in ACC action, as freshman Devin Vassell led the way with 11 points against Georgia Tech. Florida State hurt Clemson with a then-season-high 10 3-pointers in the earlier victory and the Seminoles hit nine in their win over Georgia Tech as they are averaging nine long-distance makes during their seven-game winning streak.

ABOUT CLEMSON (15-10, 5-7): The Tigers play four of their last six at home, where they are 11-2 this season, as they try to make a last-gasp tournament push. Brownell continues to rely on his seniors, with Elijah Thomas (15 points), Marcquise Reed (13) and Shelton Mitchell (12) topping the team in scoring against Louisville, with Reed posting his fifth career double-double (12 rebounds). Thomas produced 19 blocks over a three-game stretch (all wins) against Wake Forest (seven), Georgia Tech (five) and Virginia Tech (seven), but he has had just one in each of the last two outings (both losses) against Miami and Louisville.

TIP-INS

1. The Seminoles lead the series 42-32 after the earlier win and they are aiming for their first sweep of Clemson since 2016-17.

2. With Vassell's effort against Georgia Tech, the Seminoles now have nine different leading scorers this season.

3. Clemson has outscored opponents 277-217 in its last four home games.

PREDICTION: Clemson 69, Florida State 67

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Missouri Tigers Preview and Predictions 2019-02-19

NCAAB Predictions 19th February 2019 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 02/19/2019

Riding high after its win over top-ranked Tennessee, No. 4 Kentucky will try to keep the momentum going when it visits Missouri for an SEC matchup on Tuesday. The Wildcats are one game behind Tennessee and LSU for first place in the conference standings.


Kentucky had its 10-game winning streak snapped with a 73-71 loss to LSU last Tuesday, but it responded with a convincing 86-69 home victory over the Volunteers four days later. Now the Wildcats have to avoid a letdown on the road against a Missouri team that has lost three of its last four contests. The Tigers committed 25 turnovers in a 75-65 loss at Ole Miss on Saturday. The Wildcats won the first 11 meetings before losing 69-60 at Missouri last season.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN


ABOUT KENTUCKY (21-4, 10-2 SEC): The Wildcats have rounded into form and are playing like national title contenders. Forwards PJ Washington (14.8 points, eight rebounds) and Reid Travis (11.6, 7.1) have provided some veteran leadership around a trio of freshmen in the starting lineup. Freshmen Keldon Johnson (14.2 points) and Tyler Herro (13.4) have combined to make 77 3-pointers.

ABOUT MISSOURI (12-12, 3-9): The Tigers have gotten good production from Jordan Geist (14.2 points), but they've struggled to find consistency elsewhere. Jeremiah Tilmon (12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds) had a monster game in Tuesday's win over Arkansas with 21 points and five rebounds, but he fouled out in 15 minutes and scored only four points against Ole Miss. Three-point specialist Mark Smith (12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds) returned against Ole Miss after missing six straight games with an ankle injury but was limited to three points in 14 minutes.


TIP-INS

1. Washington has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games, averaging 21 - and 8.1 rebounds - over that span while registering three double-doubles.

2. The Tigers are 11-1 when holding opponents under 70 points, but the Wildcats have failed to reach that mark only three times.

3. Missouri hasn't beaten a top-four team since defeating No. 3 Baylor on the road in January 2012.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 76, Missouri 65

[Can'tPickAWinner]

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Louisiana Downs
Louisiana Downs - Race 3

Daily Double / Exacta / .50 Trifecta / .10 Superfecta / .50 Pick 3 (Races 3-4-5)


Claiming $3,500 • 250 Yards • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 71 • Purse: $3,300 • Post: 1:48P
QUARTER HORSE 250Y, FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 124 LBS.; OLDER, 126 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $3,500.
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Accept
Odds


Race Type: Not Applicable (Quarter Horse). * KEY ANGLES * JUST FOR COS: Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. Jockey/Trainer combination return on investment is at least +20. JESS A LOVIN SIZZLE: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackM aster Power Rating. Horse has the highest average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Class Rating at the distance/surface.
4
JUST FOR COS
8/5

5/2
3
JESS A LOVIN SIZZLE
5/2

5/2




P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
1
KOOL VER MILION GIRL
1

4/1
Average
60

56

4.0

0.0

0.0
2
JESS A JUNKY
2

8/1
Average
69

57

0.0

0.0

0.0
3
JESS A LOVIN SIZZLE
3

5/2
Average
69

65

4.6

0.0

0.0
4
JUST FOR COS
4

8/5
Average
55

78

4.9

0.0

0.0
5
CAPTAIN SEXY
5

9/2
Fast
61

47

1.9

0.0

0.0
6
JESS RED DASH
6

12/1
Average
58

42

5.4

0.0

0.0

[Can'tPickAWinner]

F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Mahoning Valley Race Course
Mahoning Valley Race Course - Race 9

Exacta / 50 cent Trifecta / 10 cent Superfecta / 20 Cent High Five


Claiming $4,000 • 5 1/2 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 3 and up • CR: 76 • Purse: $9,900 • Post: 4:31P
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE SINCE FEBRUARY 19. THREE YEAR OLDS, 118 LBS.; OLDER, 126 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $4,000 (OHIO REGISTERED FOALS PREFERRED).
Contenders

Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line

Accept
Odds


Race Type: Basic Race. This race has a mixed pace scenario. Check on scratches of any of the Front-runners (to look for a lone Front-runner). * KEY ANGLES * SAINT'S BRO: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse has the hig hest average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. OH OZ: Horse has a TrackMaster "+" designation or an "L" designation. Today is a sprint and this is the horse's third or fourth start after a layoff. SAIDTOMYSELF: Horse has run a Good Ra ce within the last 30 days. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. DRINKINATTHEBAR: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Jockey/Trainer combination win percentage is at least 30.
2
SAINT'S BRO
4/1

4/1
11
OH OZ
15/1

5/1
4
SAIDTOMYSELF
3/1

6/1
7
DRINKINATTHEBAR
8/1

10/1




P#

Horse (In Running Style Order)

Post

Morn
Line

Running Style

Good
Class

Good
Speed

Early Figure

Finish Figure

Platinum
Figure
7
DRINKINATTHEBAR
8

8/1
Front-runner
78

70

93.0

58.4

50.9
1
VAULTED SON
1

15/1
Front-runner
69

55

66.4

45.4

25.4
10
COWBOY RUSTY
11

15/1
Stalker
60

63

67.6

59.0

41.0
11
OH OZ
12

15/1
Alternator/Stalker
93

85

70.8

60.4

55.4
8
ARTAVIA
9

12/1
Alternator/Stalker
73

58

69.5

57.6

45.6
4
SAIDTOMYSELF
5

3/1
Alternator/Stalker
80

72

60.8

72.4

66.9
2
SAINT'S BRO
2

4/1
Alternator/Trailer
91

85

65.0

75.6

71.1
6
MASCHERATO
7

15/1
Alternator/Trailer
84

72

43.8

59.6

51.1
1A
BROTHER Z
3

15/1
Alternator/Non-contender
73

64

57.0

46.9

29.4
3
CONEY ISLAND KID
4

5/1
Alternator/Non-contender
70

62

49.4

52.8

39.3
5
QUINNEHTUKQUT
6

20/1
Alternator/Non-contender
72

63

29.8

44.4

25.4
9
RICHARD'S TUNE
10

7/2
Alternator/Non-contender
94

86

0.0

0.0

0.0

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Parx Racing - Race #7 - Post: 3:37pm - Allowance - 5.5 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $39,000 Class Rating: 81

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#5 CAPTAIN SAM (ML=7/2)
#8 CONGRESSIONALSTORM (ML=6/1)
#1 IMPERIAL LADY (ML=8/1)


CAPTAIN SAM - I figure Reid is making a good move here. This filly can only be aided by the shorter distance. A repeat of that most recent race on December 4th where she notched a speed figure of 87 looks high enough to prove victorious in this affair. This horse has increased her speed ratings from a fig of 61 to 67 to 87 in a row. CONGRESSIONALSTORM - It looks like Sanchez had to be more familiar with this mare on February 2nd when riding her for the first time. Back on again today. IMPERIAL LADY - It looks like Garcia had to know this mare on Jan 26th when riding her for the initial time. Back on board again today. Preciado brings her back again. I propose you stay with this hot mare.

Vulnerable Contenders: #2 REGAL ANTICIPATION (ML=5/2), #3 LION AND THE WOLF (ML=5/1), #4 HER DIVINENESS (ML=8/1),

REGAL ANTICIPATION - Doesn't look inspiring to me after the lack of any sort of closing response on January 25th. Hasn't been on the Parx Racing oval in the last three weeks. Cause for some concern. The speed rating last time around the track doesn't fit very well in this race when I look at the Equibase class figure of today's race. Mark this horse as a likely underpriced equine. LION AND THE WOLF - If today's race shapes up right, all the early pace horses will force a severe pace duel early. Too bad this animal is one of those front runners. HER DIVINENESS - Speed kills. Plenty of early zip in this race compromises this animal's hopes. This horse likes to be in the money, but doesn't usually get the job done. Don't play in the top spot. Will be tough for this animal to beat this field off of that last speed rating. Doubtful to improve enough to run a figure close enough to today's class rating, so put her on the possibly overvalued equines list.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Play #5 CAPTAIN SAM to win if you can get odds of 7/2 or more

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [1,5,8]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [1,5,8] Total Cost: $6

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
[1,5,8] with [1,5,8] with [1,5,7,8,9] with [1,5,7,8,9] Total Cost: $36

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Sunland Park
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.

Race 9 - SO - 5.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $15400 Class Rating: 95

FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS SINCE FEBRUARY 19, 2018 OR CLAIMING PRICE $10,000. FOUR YEAR OLDS, 122 LBS.; OLDER, 124 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $10,000.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks

# 7 BIG FINISH 8/5

# 2 FIRST PLACE 8/1

# 3 YAH YAH SIR 10/1

My pick in this race is BIG FINISH. Should keep the impressive string of finishes intact this time around. He has posted very good figures under today's conditions and will most likely fare well against this group of animals. Overall the speed figures of this equine look very good in this race. FIRST PLACE - Has been consistently running well as of late. He should be carefully examined given the formidable speed numbers. YAH YAH SIR - Win percentage one of the most favorable in this group of horses. I can't pass on this gelding given one of the strongest jock and conditioner combos on the grounds.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Turf Paradise - Race #7 - Post: 3:45pm - Optional Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $16,000 Class Rating: 97

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#5 TAELYNS PRINCE (ML=3/1)
#4 HOWDY KINGKOWBOY (ML=8/1)


TAELYNS PRINCE - Have to give this mount a long look. In recent races, has posted the best Equibase speed figs on the turf at this distance. HOWDY KINGKOWBOY - As the only front running sort in the race, I expect this gelding to be long gone. Ranked at the very top in earnings per race. Another confirmation that this equine has the class to win.

Vulnerable Contenders: #2 PLAYOFF BOUND (ML=8/5), #6 MOST DETERMINED (ML=7/2), #1 P CLUB (ML=5/1),

PLAYOFF BOUND - This less than sharp equine ran a common speed fig last out. He shouldn't show signs of improvement and will probably get beat in today's race running that figure. MOST DETERMINED - I'd like to see more preferred recent outings with morning line odds of 7/2. P CLUB - Where is the early speed? None to be found in here to set things up for this animal.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#5 TAELYNS PRINCE is the play if we get odds of 3/2 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [4,5]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
None

SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None