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2-Unit Play. Take #619 Villanova (-1) over Seton Hall (2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
This is a good game between two excellent teams. Tough to win on the road. But Villanova has the mettle. This is an extremely veteran team and I think it is only a matter of time before they start making more shots from the field. The Pirates are off to a good start this year, but they are just 2-2 this season against Top 50 opponents. The Wildcats have won three straight against Seton Hall and they are 8-2 SU in the last 10 meetings. I like them to get the W here.
7-Unit Play. Take #622 Northern Kentucky (-5) over Milwaukee (2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
Milwaukee has stud Patrick Baldwin. But that's it. The freshman isn't good enough to carry the rest of the slop on this roster and that's a big part of the reason why the Panthers are 3-9 SU. They haven't beaten a Top 300 team yet this year. Baldwin didn't play at Wright State because of COVID protocols and I'm not expecting him in this game either. If Milwaukee can't win with their best player I don't expect things to be any easier without him.
2-Unit Play. Take #628 Coastal Carolina (-5.5) over UL-Lafayette (2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
Lafayette played out of its mind against Appalachian State, outscoring them 43-19 in the first half. I don't see that happening again. Not twice in a row and not twice in a row on the road. Coastal Carolina is a solid veteran squad. They finished No. 2 in the East last season and they opened league play with a 30-point home win. I think they keep rolling with another win here.
1-Unit Play. Take #659 Air Force (+16.5) over Fresno State (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
3-Unit Play. Take #662 Appalachian State (-4) over UL-Monroe (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
Both of these teams got blasted in their last game. I like Appalachian State to bounce back, though. They are the better team and they are playing at home. Monroe got off to a strong start to the season. But they did it against a ridiculous schedule, with five of their wins coming against D-II schools and Northwestern State (which is practically a D-II). App State went the other way. They are just 6-8 SU but it has come against an absolutely brutal schedule. I like App State to bounce back.
3-Unit Play. Take #663 San Diego State (-3) over UNLV (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
2-Unit Play. Take #673 Boise State (Pk) over Wyoming (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
1-Unit Play. Take #677 Florida State (-2) over N.C. State (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
3-Unit Play. Take #688 SE Missouri State (-3.5) over Austin Peay (5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
After five straight road losses Missouri State finally gets a home game. I am looking for a bounce back effort from Brad Korn's squad here after getting railroaded at Murray State. I think that this team is a little better than it has played. I don't feel that way about Austin Peay. This is just a bad basketball team that is in a clear rebuilding phase. New head coach Nate James is kind of learning on the fly and the results haven't been great as his team barely functions on either end of the court. Austin Peay is coming off an ugly home loss and I think they are going to take another here.
1-Unit Play. Take #693 Rice (+10) over North Texas (6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
1-Unit Play. Take #703 Tulane (+11) over Cincinnati (7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
2-Unit Play. Take #709 Omaha (+17.5) over Oral Roberts (8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
Oral Roberts was tied with Denver with 10 minutes to play and somehow ended up winning by 17. I don't see them covering two monster numbers to start league play, though. Omaha is pathetic. But they actually only have two losses by more than 17 points, and those came against Purdue and Texas Tech. Let's hold our nose with this one and take the points.
2-Unit Play. Take #734 Oregon (-6.5) over Utah (10:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
Utah proved again what a horrendous road team it is by losing to Oregon State. I think they will take another one on the chin here. Oregon has gotten off to a weak start. But Dana Altman knows what he's doing. He's had some time to regroup with this team and get everyone rowing in the same direction. I expect them to be a lot better in league play. Oregon is always tough on its home court and I look for one of their better efforts here.
3-Unit Play: Take 654 Depaul +1.5 over Providence (3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
I'm backing Depaul on Saturday. The Blue Demons were rusty in the opening half of their 4-point loss at Butler. It was their first game in three weeks so I'm not sure we can blame them too much. But after trailing by 11 at the break, Depaul nearly came back to win the game. Depaul is an improving program and they're catching Providence off some big wins. The Blue Demons are a physical basketball team playing well on the defensive end and owning the ability to crash the glass. The Friars are solid but they don't shoot too well, especially from the deep perimeter and with the way Depaul hits the boards I doubt we'll see PC get too many second chances. And if Depaul gets David Jones back today (questionable) - it's an added bonus. I'm backing Depaul on Saturday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
6-Unit Play: Take 663 San Diego St. -3.5 over UNLV (4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1)
The hiring of Kevin Kruger was a step in the right direction for UNLV but their four-game winning streak, which came against scrubs, has led to a bit of an overreaction. UNLV is 4-0 since December 8. The best team they faced was Seattle, barely in the top-200 in most power ratings. The other three wins came against teams KenPom has ranked 295th, 340th, and 202nd. SDSU is nasty-stingy on the defensive end and will face a weak-shooting UNLV squad. The Rebels have lost all five of their games against teams ranked inside the top-105, losing by an average margin of more than 15 ppg. Few teams are better than the Aztecs in the number of defensive metrics where SDSU flourishes. I expect a clampdown by the team from So-Cal and I'm laying the points with San Diego State on Saturday afternoon. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.
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