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Brandon Lang
15-Dime Northern Iowa
5-Dime Creighton -
5-Dime Florida State -
FREE - LSU
15-Dime Northern Iowa
5-Dime Creighton -
5-Dime Florida State -
FREE - LSU
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Re: 2-24-09
Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: T-Mac may be done for the season but the Rockets aren't. McGrady was averaging just 15.6 PPG (his lowest since his third year in the league) when it was announced he was "through for the season." The Rockets haven't missed a beat, going 4-0 SU and ATS, while outscoring their opponents on average, 100.0 PPG to 83.5. Ming (19.8-9.6) is having another All Star season and Artest (16.2-5.3-3.1) has become a full-time starter without T-Mac, averaging 20..0 PPG over the last four games. The 6-9 Scola (12.4-8.3) has resoundingly proven that his rookie numbers (10.3-6.4) were no fluke and one of the league's best defenders, Shane Battier (6.9-4.8), has been healthy for the last 18 games with the Rockets going 12-6. Houston also made some news by sending PG Rafer Alston to Orlando but GM Daryl Morey is a big fan of his newest acquisition Kyle Lowry (acquired from Memphis). "We feel like we got better today, upgrading that position was a goal going into the deadline" said Morey. Whether he's right about Lowry or not I'm not sure, but in second-year PG Aaron Brooks (10.4-2.7 APG), the Rockets already have a replacement for Alston. Brooks has stepped into the starting lineup and averaged 13.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 5.5 APG in the last two games as the starter. Both games were Houston wins and Brooks is now 8-1 in his career as a starter. The Blazers have won eight straight home games (23-5 SU and 18-10 ATS on the year) but have lost their last three road games. They are 12-15 SU and 10-17 ATS on the road this year and will play again without Greg Oden (knee injury). Przybilla (5.2-8.0) has filled in nicely for Oden in the three games he's missed, averaging 11.3 RPG but all three of those games have come at home. In fact, over the last two-plus weeks, Portland has been on the road just once, losing 105-98 at Golden state on Feb 12. Roy (22.8-4.8-5.2) is averaging a career-best in points this season and along with power forward Aldridge (17.9-6.9), is hoping to end Portland's five-year playoff drought. PG Steve Blake (11.1-5.0 APG) is back after missing 13 of 14 games with a shoulder injury and in Portland's last game, tied an NBA record with 14 assists in the first quarter (had 17 for the game) of a 116-87 win over the Clippers on Sunday night. Rodriguez and Bayless both played pretty well in Blake's absence but the Blazers are happy to have their starter back. This will be Houston's fifth game of a six-game homestand (already 4-0 SU and ATS) plus going back to Jan 31, the Rockets have won seven straight home games, while going 6-0-1 ATS. The Blazers haven't been away from home much as of late and Oden's absence will be more apparent away from home than in the friendly confines of the Rose Garden. The Rockets have won eight of their last nine at home games against the Blazers and make it NINE of 10 tonight, with "room to spare!" Weekly Wipeout Winner on the Hou Rockets (7.5).
Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: It's nothing new to point out that Nebraska is much smaller than A&M, as that can be said about virtually every one of the Cornhuskers opponents. However, head coach Doc Sadler gets consistently relentless efforts from his players, on both ends of the court. Dagunduro (12.1-4.2) is the team's leading scorer and rebounder for a team which goes nine-deep with just one player of any size in the 6-8 Balham (2.2-2.6), who barely contributes much. Five other players join Dagundro to average at least 24 MPG. They are Harley (10.7-3.4), Henry (8.5-3.3), Velander (7.9), 5-7 PG Miller (7.1-3.8 APG) and Anderson (6.4-4.0). A&M is bigger and stronger led by 6-7 swingman Carter (13.5-4.1), the 6-9 Davis (10.6-6.3), the 6-10 Elonu (10.4-7.6) plus guards Sloan (11.4-3.6-3.0), Holmes (8.5) and Roland 95.9). However, an even better A&M team lost at home to Nebraska last year, 65-59 as a 10.5-point favorite. A&M comes into this game off a big win over Texas (81-66) last Monday and a rare road win this past Saturday, beating Texas Tech 79-73 at Lubbock. I say a "rare road win" because A&M had lost all of its previous five Big 12 road games this year, prior to Saturday's win over the troubled Red Raiders. Meanwhile, Nebraska is 13-3 SU in Lincoln, suffering only a shocking two-point loss to Maryland-Balt Co, a two-point OT loss to Okla State plus a six-point loss to Kansas, in which the 'Huskers led by 13. Anything less than a top-notch effort here by A&M won't be enough. Off two satisfying wins, I believe they are "ripe for the plucking!" Las Vegas Insider on Nebraska (8*).
Larry Ness
REASON FOR PICK: BYU, New Mexico and San Diego St (all 8-4) are chasing MWC leader Utah (10-2) and all four teams know that they'll have to finish the year in Las Vegas, as UNLV hosts the MWC tourney once again. BYU knows that best of all, as the Cougars have won the last two MWC regular season titles only to fall to UNLV at the Thomas and Mack Center in the conference tourney. BYU was ranked earlier this season but the Cougars have shown their vulnerable side, going 10-6 after a 10-0 start. The 6-6 Tavernari (17.2-7.2), the 6-7 Cummard (17.2-6.3) and guard Fredette (15.3-4.5 APG) are quality players but BYU is not a deep team. Emery (7.8-3.9-3.2) has done a solid job in the backcourt with Fredette (after returning to play after a two-year mission) but the 6-11 Miles (7.5-3.8) hasn't come anywhere near replacing the departed Plaisted (15.6-7.7) inside. Steve Fisher is doing another nice job in San Diego. The Aztecs are holding opponents to a MWC-low 59.3 PPG and while the 6-7 White (9.0-3.9) is expected to miss this game (he left Saturday's loss at New Mexico with knee injury), the Aztecs are deep in the frontcourt. The 6-5 Spain (14.5-5.2) has put last year's problems behind him and is joined by the 6-6 Wade (13.8), the 6-6 Shelton (8.1-4.6), the 6-8 Amoroso (6.7-4.5) and the 6-9 Cheriet (5.2). Gay (7.3) and Williams (7.1-4.2-3.8) are the starting guards. This is a crucial MWC meeting, as the winner takes over second place in the MWC and "keeps hope alive" for a MWC regular season title (MWC typically gets at least two NCAA bids). BYU has won on the MWC road at Air Force (0-13 in MWC play) and slumping TCU but has lost in the tough venues at New Mexico, Utah and UNLV (lost by just one but trailed by 12 points with about three minutes left!). Meanwhile, the Aztecs have won eight straight at home, since losing 67-64 at home to St Mary's back on Dec 13. SDSU lost up in Provo by just six points, despite BYU shooting 56.0 percent from the floor (SDSU shot only 44.1 percent), including 11-of-21 on threes. Here at Cox Arena, things will be MUCH different. MWC 8* San Diego StateComment
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Re: 2-24-09
STU FEINER
1000 DIME HIGH ROLLER-------LSU-3
bought,payed and confirmed-----------Comment
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Re: 2-24-09
Dr Bob
No Best Bets for Tuesday. Opinion on St. John's +4 (2-Stars at +5).
Tuesday College Opinion
ST. JOHN’S (+4) over Syracuse
Rotation #720 – 4:30 pm Pacific
St. John’s has played better since point guard Malik Boothe returned from a 9 game absence at the beginning of this month. The Red Storm have covered the spread in their last 3 games and are in a good position to continue that streak against a slumping Syracuse team that has won only 2 or their last 8 games (2-6 ATS). St. John’s applies to a 42-11 ATS subset of a 95-39-2 ATS home underdog situation, but the line has come down from an opening number of 5 ½ points. My ratings favor the Orange by 4.8 points and I’ll just lean with the Red Storm at +4 or +4 ½ points. But, I will take St. John’s in a 2-Star Best Bet at +5 points or more.Comment
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