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MISSOURI
Game: Kansas vs. Missouri Game Time: 2/9/2009 9:00:00 PM Prediction: Missouri Reason: I'm laying the points with MISSOURI. Both teams are red hot. Missouri is 3-0 SU/ATS its last three games and 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS its last eight. Kansas is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS its last eight games. The Jayhawks haven't played many tough road games yet though. The Jayhawks did beat a fairly solid Baylor team in their last road game. However, the Bears were (and still are) really struggling at the time, having gone 0-5 SU/ATS their last five games. Note that Missouri had an even more lopsided win against the Bears, prior to Kansas beating them. Other conference road games have come against Iowa State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. Those three teams, along with Baylor, currently all rank in the bottom five in the Big 12 standings. Note that the Jayhawks lost by double-digits when playing non-conference road games at Michigan State and at Arizona. Coach Bill Self acknowleged that this will be an extremely tough venue. He was quoted as saying: "It gets harder from here...I think it will probably be as difficult a setting as we've played in all year." Its true that Missouri hasn't had much success against the archrival Jayhawks lately, having lost five straight. However, while still very talented, this isn't nearly as experienced a Kansas team. Indeed, the defending champs returned just one starter while adding seven newcomers. On the other hand, Missouri coach Mike Anderson finally has the athletes and the depth that he needed to run his fast pace offense and pressure defense. That's been evident by the fact that the Tigers are leading the Big 12 with 84.2 points. They could have easily got caught looking ahead to this game but didn't, beating up on Iowa State by a score of 82-68 and reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since Anderson has been a coach here. The Tigers have won 15 consecutive home games, and they're averaging 90.5 points at Mizzou Arena this season. That's the third- highest mark in the nation at home. The Tigers are a perfect 6-0 ATS in lined games the last six times that they were playing with one or less day's rest in between games. Look for them to build on Saturday's victory as they remain perfect at home on the season and earn a rare win and cover vs. their hated guests. *Main Event
MARIST
Game: Rider vs. Marist Game Time: 2/9/2009 7:30:00 PM Prediction: Marist Reason: I'm taking the points with MARIST. The Red Foxes badly need a victory. After playing reasonably well for an extended period, they've now lost seven in a row. However, a closer look shows that they're still fighting very hard and that they were competitive in nearly every one of those games. The last loss was a 1-point setback, in overtime, on the road. Six of the losses came by 10 points or less and three of the last four came by five points or less, including two by a single point. I believe that the Red Foxes are catching Rider at the right time and that the Broncs will prove to be the perfect opponent to allow them to return to the win column. If there's ever a spot for a "letdown" in the MAAC, it would come after defeating Siena. The Saints are the class of the MAAC and many expected them to go undefeated in league play. Yet, the Broncs handed them their first loss, last time out. Off that massive 90-88 win, I feel that it will be easy for Rider to overlook lowly Marist here. Note that Broncs are just 2-5 SU in lined games on the road this season. They're also 6-11 ATS their last 17 lined games, after scoring 80 or more points in their previous game AND 5-11 ATS their last 16 line games, after allowing 80 or more points. Its also worth mentioning that the Broncs are 0-3 ATS the last three times that they were favored by four points or less. They lost outright as -1.5 home favorites vs. Rutgers. Next, they won by one point against Iona, as four point home favorites. Most recently, the Broncs were favored by two points at Canisius and they lost by 18 points, 84-66. Rider did upset the Red Foxes here last season. However, Marist had won both the previous two series meetings here by double-digits. Rider comes in ranked third in the conference and the Red Foxes have been at their best when hosting the league's top teams. They lost by six vs. Siena here and they destroyed Niagara, the #2 team, by 18 points. Note that Rider lost by double-digits in its lone game vs. Niagara. I expect a highly motivated effort from the Red Foxes here as they snap their losing streak and improve to 8-4 ATS the last 12 times that they listed as home underdogs of three points or less. *Best Bet
MISSOURI
Game: Kansas vs. Missouri Game Time: 2/9/2009 9:00:00 PM Prediction: Missouri Reason: I'm laying the points with MISSOURI. Both teams are red hot. Missouri is 3-0 SU/ATS its last three games and 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS its last eight. Kansas is 8-0 SU and 7-1 ATS its last eight games. The Jayhawks haven't played many tough road games yet though. The Jayhawks did beat a fairly solid Baylor team in their last road game. However, the Bears were (and still are) really struggling at the time, having gone 0-5 SU/ATS their last five games. Note that Missouri had an even more lopsided win against the Bears, prior to Kansas beating them. Other conference road games have come against Iowa State, Nebraska and Texas A&M. Those three teams, along with Baylor, currently all rank in the bottom five in the Big 12 standings. Note that the Jayhawks lost by double-digits when playing non-conference road games at Michigan State and at Arizona. Coach Bill Self acknowleged that this will be an extremely tough venue. He was quoted as saying: "It gets harder from here...I think it will probably be as difficult a setting as we've played in all year." Its true that Missouri hasn't had much success against the archrival Jayhawks lately, having lost five straight. However, while still very talented, this isn't nearly as experienced a Kansas team. Indeed, the defending champs returned just one starter while adding seven newcomers. On the other hand, Missouri coach Mike Anderson finally has the athletes and the depth that he needed to run his fast pace offense and pressure defense. That's been evident by the fact that the Tigers are leading the Big 12 with 84.2 points. They could have easily got caught looking ahead to this game but didn't, beating up on Iowa State by a score of 82-68 and reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since Anderson has been a coach here. The Tigers have won 15 consecutive home games, and they're averaging 90.5 points at Mizzou Arena this season. That's the third- highest mark in the nation at home. The Tigers are a perfect 6-0 ATS in lined games the last six times that they were playing with one or less day's rest in between games. Look for them to build on Saturday's victory as they remain perfect at home on the season and earn a rare win and cover vs. their hated guests. *Main Event
MARIST
Game: Rider vs. Marist Game Time: 2/9/2009 7:30:00 PM Prediction: Marist Reason: I'm taking the points with MARIST. The Red Foxes badly need a victory. After playing reasonably well for an extended period, they've now lost seven in a row. However, a closer look shows that they're still fighting very hard and that they were competitive in nearly every one of those games. The last loss was a 1-point setback, in overtime, on the road. Six of the losses came by 10 points or less and three of the last four came by five points or less, including two by a single point. I believe that the Red Foxes are catching Rider at the right time and that the Broncs will prove to be the perfect opponent to allow them to return to the win column. If there's ever a spot for a "letdown" in the MAAC, it would come after defeating Siena. The Saints are the class of the MAAC and many expected them to go undefeated in league play. Yet, the Broncs handed them their first loss, last time out. Off that massive 90-88 win, I feel that it will be easy for Rider to overlook lowly Marist here. Note that Broncs are just 2-5 SU in lined games on the road this season. They're also 6-11 ATS their last 17 lined games, after scoring 80 or more points in their previous game AND 5-11 ATS their last 16 line games, after allowing 80 or more points. Its also worth mentioning that the Broncs are 0-3 ATS the last three times that they were favored by four points or less. They lost outright as -1.5 home favorites vs. Rutgers. Next, they won by one point against Iona, as four point home favorites. Most recently, the Broncs were favored by two points at Canisius and they lost by 18 points, 84-66. Rider did upset the Red Foxes here last season. However, Marist had won both the previous two series meetings here by double-digits. Rider comes in ranked third in the conference and the Red Foxes have been at their best when hosting the league's top teams. They lost by six vs. Siena here and they destroyed Niagara, the #2 team, by 18 points. Note that Rider lost by double-digits in its lone game vs. Niagara. I expect a highly motivated effort from the Red Foxes here as they snap their losing streak and improve to 8-4 ATS the last 12 times that they listed as home underdogs of three points or less. *Best Bet
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