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Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-15-19 | Brown v. Cornell | Top | 66-70 | Win | 100 | 12 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Crusher (Ivy League) is on Cornell at 7:00 ET. The Brown Bears and the Cornell Big Red meet in Ithaca, NY for Ivy League action from the Newman Arena at Bartels Hall on Friday night. The Brown Bears beat Princeton 78-70 in its last outing and comes in 14-8 overall but just 2-4 in Ivy League play. Meanwhile, Cornell swept Dartmouth and Harvard on the Ivy road last weekend and while the Big Red are 12-10 overall, they are 4-2 in conference play (tied with Harvard and Princeton), just one-game back of first-place Yale (5-1). Desmond Cambridge led Brown in scoring as a freshman (17.3) and tops the team again this season, averaging 16.4 PPG. That said, 6-5 SF Choh (12.8), could be the team's best all-around player, leading in rebounds (8.9) and assists (3.5). Senior guard Okolie (11.0) is the the team's third double-digit scorer. Cornell's Matt Morgan has led the Ivy League in scoring in each of the last three seasons and the senior is well on his way to making if FOUR times in four years. He enters the season having scored in double digits in 51 straight games and has extended that streak to 73 in a row, this season (he's averaging 23.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG). 6-8 swingman Warren adds 10.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.1 APG. Jimmy Boeheim (Coach Boeheim's son) rounds out the double digit scorers at 10.6 PPG and the 6-6 Julian is the team's top rebounder at 6.5 per game (adds just a modest 4.0 PPG). "The Ancient Eight" (as the Ivy used to be called) joined the rest of the college hoops world by holding a postseason tourney a few years back but only the top-four teams get in. onA loss here by Brown (would fall to 2-5) could put the Bears' tourney hopes on 'life-support.' However, "must win" doesn't mean "will win." It's hardly good news that Brown's leading scorer (Cambridge) comes in shooting just 12 of 61 (19.7%) from the floor in his last four contests. Cornell's "road sweep" last weekend (see above) is a good sign for the Big Red, as is Cornell's recent domination of Brown (won both meetings last year). In fact, Cornell is 15-5-2 ATS in the last 22 meetings between these two schools and Brown limps in 1-9-1 ATS in its last 11 Ivy games. Go Big Red! |
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02-15-19 | Harvard v. Princeton -1.5 | 78-69 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 48 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Princeton at 7:00 ET. 15-4 Yale sits atop the Ivy League at 5-1, with Cornell, Harvard and Princeton a game back at 4-2. Harvard (a 10-point home favorite) appeared to be in complete control with a 13 point lead at the half last Saturday but the Big Red went on a 46-27 second half run, as Cornell snapped Harvard's five-game winning streak. With Harvard's five-game homestand now in the rear-view mirror, the Crimson take to the Ivy road the next two weekends, beginning with tonight's game in Princeton against the Tigers. Princeton (also 4-2 in Ivy play) is 12-7 overall (Harvard is 11-8). The Tigers just completed four road games the last two weekends and now (in direct contrast to Harvard), will be home these next two weekends. Harvard's Bryce Aiken did not play in the Crimson's Ivy opening loss on Jan 12 to Dartmouth but he made his junior season debut on Jan 21 at Howard, 348 days to the date he went down in agony in Morningside Heights, as the Crimson suffered a rare loss to the Columbia Lions (his left knee would require offseason surgery). Aiken averaged 14.1 PPG last season and in six games this season, is averaging 19.2 PPG. The 6-9 Chris Lewis (11.9 & 4,3) and guard Bassey (10.3 & 7.3) have been stalwarts this season, although Bassey did not play in the loss to Cornell (?). Guards Juzang (9.7) and Kirkwood (9.2) plus the 6-8 Djuricic (7.3 & 4.1) round out the main contributors. Princeton's senior guard Cannady (19.8) is one of the Ivy's best backcourt players and is joined in the backcourt by fellow senior Stephens (12.6), who is also the team's leading rebounder (6.5). Freshman guard Llewellyn joined the team in December and is closing in on averaging double digits at 9.3 PPG. 6-9 center Aririguzoh averages 11.4 & 5.9. The winner here keeps it close with Yale (the Bulldogs are a big road favorite tonight at Columbia) and note that Harvard is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games overall plus enters this game 1-5 ATS in its last six away games (lone cover at Howard of the MEAC). Princeton had a seven-game winning streak snapped with back to back road losses last weekend and the Tigers will be happy to get back home, The Tigers won 67-66 at then-No. 17 Arizona State during their seven-game winning streak and I like them here at home vs the overrated Crimson. The price is cheap! Good luck...Larry |
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02-14-19 | BYU v. San Diego -3.5 | Top | 88-82 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* LEGEND play is on San Diego at 10:00 ET. It's live from the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego on Thursday night, as 16-win teams BYU and San Diego square off in WCC action. The Cougars are 16-10 overall and their 8-3 league mark puts them in second -place behind only the No. 3-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, who are 23-2 (including 10-0 in WCC play). BYU looks to build on their current 3-game winning streak, after a 69-59 win over Pacific in the team's last outing. San Diego is hoping for a little more consistency, after alternating wins and losses in each of its last four games. The Toreros lost 70-67 at Pepperdine in their last outing, failing to avenge their LONE home loss of the season (more on that, later).. The 6-8 Yoeli Childs led the Cougars with 19 points along with 13 rebounds for the double-double in BYU's win over Pacific. Guard Connor Harding (13 points) was the only other BYU player to finish in double figures. BYU can score, averaging 80.2 PPG (36th). Childs leads the Cougars in scoring (21.0) and rebounding (9.7) but the biggest percentage of BYU's offense comes from the perimeter. PG Haws averages 17.0 PPG and 5.0 APG and Hardnett just misses out on double digits with 9.7 PPG, Another trio of guards combine for about 20 PPG. bYU's problem is a defense that allows 75.4 PPG (272nd) San Diego's 6-7 Isaiah Pineiro(19.2 & 9.0) will be a excellent counter to BYU's Childs. As for the backcourt, Carter averages 16.0 PPG, Wright 13.4 & 4.0 and PG Williams 8.8 & 3.1 APG. Helping out Pineiro up front are the 6-10 Massalski (7.6 & 5.9) and the 6-8 Floresca (5.2 & 3.1). San Diego doesn't score as much as BYU, as the Toreros check in averaging 73.5 PPG but they play better D, allowing 68.0 PPG (91st) BYU owns lots of firepower but the Cougars have been betrayed by theri porous D, especially on the road. BYU is 3-7 SU in true road games this season, allowing 86.5 PPG. BYU is 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games and 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a winning record. Sure, it's slightly uncomfortable laying points with an inconsistent San Diego team but the Toreros are 11-1 SU at home (lone loss to Pepperdine) and BYU's only conference road wins have come at Pacific, Pepperdine and Portland, teams which have combined to go 8-25 in WCC play. BYU's play against higher-quality opposition has seen them lose three times by 19 or more vs WCC 'heavies' Gonzaga, USF, & Saint Mary’s. San Diego is clearly NOT in Gonzaga's class but the Toreros are on par with the latter two. San Diego easily beat BYU at Jenny Craig last year (75-62) and is BYU is 4-0 ATS in BYU's last four visits to this venue. Also note that BYU's third-leading scorer (Hardnett) is sidelined with hand injury. Make that 5-0! Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-19 | Arizona State v. Colorado -1 | Top | 73-77 | Win | 100 | 12 h 31 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Crusher (Pac 12) is on Colorado a7%) run with all CBB plays since Saturday.t 10:30 ET. The Colorado Buffs opened the season 9-3 in non-conference games but when Pac-12 play began, Colorado started 2-6. However, the Buffs have rebounded from their poor Pac-12 start to post impressive double-digit wins over Oregon and UCLA, before winning 69-65 at USC Saturday as a 5 1/2-point underdog. Suddenly, Colorado is the hottest team in the Pac-12. The 14-9 Buffaloes (5-6 in Pac-12 play) will try to build on their positive mojo Wednesday night when they host 16-7 Arizona State. The Sun Devils have won five of their last seven contests and are tied with Utah and Oregon State for second place at 7-4. That’s still a full three games in back of Washington but Arizona State is fresh off handing the Huskies their first conference setback, winning 75-63 at home Saturday night. Two days have struggling through one of their worst shooting games of the season (33.8-percent in a 91-70 home loss to Washington State), the Sun Devils shot a season-best 61.7 percent in beating Washington. Forward Romello White had 17 points to lead four Arizona State players in double figures and also was one of three Sun Devils to collect at least eight rebounds. ASU dominated the Washington 40-23 on the boards. Led by guards Luguentz Dort (16.2 points per game) and Remy Martin (13.1), five players are averaging double figures for Arizona State. Senior forward Zylan Cheatham (11.5 & 11.0) plus guard Edwards at 10.4 and the 6-7 Lawrence at 10.O are the other two. White (9.3 & 5.7, just misses. ASU leads the conference in overall scoring at 78.9 PPG (that's 52nd nationally) and average rebound margin (7.1). As for Colorado, even with its win streak, the Buffaloes haven’t gained much ground in the Pac-12 standings. They are currently part of a four-way tie for seventh place at 5-6. Only Washington State (3-8) and hapless California (0-11) are worse. That said, the Buffs have dominated defensively during their current three-game win streak, holding Oregon, UCLA and USC to a combined 39.6 shooting, including 17-of-70 from three-point range (24,3%). PG McKinley Wright leads the team with 13.0 PPG and 4.9 APG. Swingman Tyler Bey adds 12.0 PPG and a team-high 8.9 RPG. 6-10 forward Lucas Siewert (11.3 & 5.1) and guard Gatling (10.7) round out the double digit scorers. I noted Colorado's excellent defensive play earlier but the Buffs have played excellent D all season long. Colorado is third in the conference in allowing 68.8 PPG and is limiting the opposition to 30.5-percent shooting from three-point range (33rd nationally). Arizona State’s 61.7-percent shooting outing versus Washington marked its first 60-pecent showing in a Pac-12 game since 2013.DO NOT expect a repeat performance here in Boulder, where the Buffs are 8-2 SU. No real pointspread to worry about here. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-19 | Heat v. Mavs -2.5 | Top | 112-101 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 40 m | Show |
My 10* NBA Game of the Week is on the Dal Mavs at 8:35 ET. The Miami Heat have performed well away from home for much of the season. However, the Heat will conclude a five-game road trip prior to the All Star break with tonight's game in Dallas. Wins have been tough to come by on their current trip, against some of the best the Western Conference has to offer. Miami opened the trip with a 118-108 win at Portland (Feb 5) but has since dropped THREE in a row. One night after a valiant effort in a two-point loss at Golden State, Miami dropped a 103-87 decision at Denver on Monday, tumbling out of the top eight in the East with a 25-30 record. As for the 26-30 Mavericks, they traded four starters in an eight-day span. Second-leading scorer Harrison Barnes (17.7 & 4.2) was the last to go, when Dallas shipped him to the Sacramento Kings for fellow forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. Prior to that, the Mavs traded PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.9 & 4.3 APG), SG Wesley Matthews (13.1) and center DeAndre Jordan (11.0 & 13.7) to the New York Knicks. That left star rookie Luka Doncic as the lone remaining starter.The Mavs had won SIX of nine but their last time out, lost 120-104 to James Harden ("just" 31 points!) and the Houston Rockets on Monday. Center Hassan Whiteside entered Denver averaging 17.8 points and 14.6 rebounds during a streak of five straight double-doubles but he was held to six and eight, respectively, against the Nuggets' big men. The 29-year-old Whiteside (12.9 & 12.5) averages 14.1 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks at home, where Miami plays 10 of 12 games soon after the All-Star break. With PG Dragic and his 15.3 PPG and 4.9 APG sidelined, Winslow (12.4-5.3-4.1) has been playing at the point with Wade (13.8-3.8-4.4) coming off the bench. SG Richardson (17.6) leads the team in scoring. Miami's D has been good all season, allowing 105.7 PPG on 44.4% shooting (both rank 3rd-best in the NBA). Rookie Luka Doncic (20.8-7.1-5.5) had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Dallas in the road loss at Houston. Doncic is likely looking forward to the break, after playing all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter in Sunday's win over Portland and then carrying Dallas through 36 minutes in the loss to Houston. I expect that both Hardway (14.5 PPG in his four games with Dallas) and Burke (8.5 in the same span), will get plenty of "PT" here in Dallas. Also, expect forwards Powell (8.7 & 4.4) and Finney-Smith (7.9 & 4.7) to see increased minutes and offer increased production after the trades. In fact, Powell is shooting 62.3 percent from the floor over his last 10-games. Miami opened this trip with an upset of Portland and sat 14-11 SU (16-9 ATS) on the road at that time. However, the Heat are 0-3 over the previous seven days. This is the final contest of a five-game, nine-day road trip and Dallas is 20-8 SU (19-8-1 ATS) at American Airlines Center this season. Doncic will surely be looking forward to a rest with the All Star break coming (that said, he has to be a little miffed he's not playing in it) but 19-year-old isn't showing any signs of slowing down on the stat sheet. He's averaging 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in five games in Feb. Mavs roll. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-19 | Ole Miss v. Auburn -8 | 60-55 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 29 m | Show | |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on Auburn at 8:30 ET. Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the SEC preseason media poll but the Rebels, under first-year head coach Kermit Davis, opened the season 13-2 and a near-perfect 14-1 ATS. The Rebels have cooled since that incredible start but at 16-7 (6-4 in the SEC) are making a serious bid for their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in four seasons. Ole Miss has answered a four-game losing streak with back-to-back victories and looks to complete a season sweep of the Tigers tonight in Auburn. The Tigers won NINE of their first 10 games but have gone 7-6, since. Auburn was ranked 14th at 13-3, when it lost to Kentucky, the first of a three-game skid. The Tigers snapped that three-game losing skid by winning three in a row but then blew an early 16-point lead in Saturday's 83-78 loss at LSU (currently ranked 19th). Ole Miss rode a 31-point performance from Breein Tyree to an 80-64 win at Georgia on Saturday, moving them to 6-4 in conference play, the first time it has been above .500 through 10 games in the SEC since last going to the NCAAs in 2014-15. Tyree is Ole Miss' leading scorer (18.5) and has been on a tear over the past five games, averaging 24.0 points. Backcourt mate Davis is second on the team in scoring (16.2) plus leads in rebounding (6.3) and assist (3.6). He has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive games but note that no other Rebel averages more than 9.3 PPG. Senior guard Bryce Brown (16.7) is the Auburn's leading scorer and junior PG Jared Harper (15.6) leads the SEC in assists (6.3), 6-8 sophomore forward Chuma Okeke (10.5 7 6.7) has stepped up with 6-11 junior Austin Wiley's missing four straight with a leg injury. Wiley's hardly played the last two games but still checks in at 9.6 & 5.5 on the season. Okeke has 12 points in the loss to LS( he's been in double digits on SEVEN of his last eight) plus added a season-high 14 rebounds. Auburn was CLEARLY rusty in its 82-67 Jan 9 loss at Ole Miss, as that contest followed an extended 11-day layoff. In this rematch (or should I say, "revenge" match?), expect the Tigers to be energized at Auburn Arena, where they are 12-1 SU (lone loss a two-point one vs Kentucky), outscoring opponents 87.5-to-63.8 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-19 | Syracuse v. NC State -3 | 58-73 | Win | 100 | 8 h 5 m | Show | |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on NC Stata at 8:00 ET. It's an ACC clash Wednesday in Raleigh, as 17-7 Syracuse (8-3 in league play) visits 17-7 NC State (5-6 in league play). Syracuse bounced back from an 'ugly' 82-60 home loss to Florida State a week ago Tuesday with a 67-56 home win over Boston College on Saturday. The Wolfpack struggled through a rough stretch that saw them lose four of five — all to ranked teams — but managed to hold off the late-charging Pitt Panthers for the 79-76 road win on Saturday. Buddy Boeheim, a freshman guard averaging 13.5 minutes and 5.7 PPG, had a career-high 16 points in the win over BC. "He's helping us," Boeheim’s father and head coach Jim Boeheim told reporters after the game. "He's making shots. We need somebody to make shots out there and he's making shots." Junior guard and leading scorer Tyus Battle (17.9 points per game) once again led the Orange with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Up front, it's forwards Elijah Hughes (14.0 & 4.3) and Oshae Brissett (13.6 & 8.0). Boeheim's zone D is giving opponents fits this season (as always), as Syracuse allows just 64.0 PPG (21st on 39.4% shooting (15th). Kevin Keatts' Wolfpack like to put as many as four guards on the floor at a time and push the tempo. Swingman Torin Dorn is the team’s top scorer (13.6) and rebounder (6.6) despite being just 6-6, while C.J. Bryce (12.5 & 5.0) and PG Markell Johnson (11.1 & 4.0 APG) both shoot better than 40 percent from three-point range. Devon Daniels (9.5) and Braxton Beverly (9.8) also contribute to a talent-rich backcourt. 6-10 sophomore Funderbunk (8.5 & 4.1) is NC State's best inside player. The Wolfpack were in desperate need of a win, as their losing streak saw them drop out of the top-25 and to the bottom half of the ACC standings. They got one by competing hard at both ends of the court in the win over BC. Now, it's time to beat a quality opponent. The last time the Wolfpack played at home (Feb 2), they were held to 24 points by Virginia Tech.However, they are averaging 87.5 points over their last two games (both on the road). Despite NC State's 'nigthmare' of game vs Va Tech, the Wolfpack are 12-3 SU at home, outscoring opponents 82.9-to-64.7 PPG. Expect an easy win for NC State, here. Good luck...Larry |
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02-13-19 | SMU v. Temple -4.5 | 74-82 | Win | 100 | 11 h 2 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Temple at 7:00 ET. It's an AAC contest Wednesday night as the SMU Mustangs (4-7 in AAC play) travel to Philly to take on the 17-7 Temple Owls (7-4 in AAC play). SMU most recently lost by six points to UCF and enters this contest having lost SIX of its last seven games.As for Temple, the Owls were crushed 76-58 by Tulsa 76-58 on Saturday, as leading scorers Shizz Alston Jr., Quinton Rose and Nate Pierre-Louis combined to shoot 8-of-31 from the floor (26%). The Mustangs hope to break a four-game losing streak in tonight's game at Temple. Jimmy Whitt Jr. had a career-high 23 points for SMU against UCF but he went scoreless in five minutes against UCF. Head coach Tim Jankovich said, "He was late for practice yesterday, so that was a big part of it. And it's been hard for him to practice. Last week he didn't one time and then this two days before the game he only practiced once because he's a little dinged up. Hopefully he'll get healthy quickly." If McMurray is hurting against Temple, can guard Whitt (12.9-6.4-4.5) and the 6-8 Isiaha Mike (12.3 & 5.1) step up? Mike notched his first double-double of the season (18 points, 10 boards) against the Knights. The 6-9 Chargois (12.3 & 6.7) also averages in double digits. Temple owns a three-headed scoring attack on the perimeter in PG Shizz Alston Jr. (18.1 & 5.0 APG) plus fellow guards Quinton Rose (16.6) and Nate Pierre-Louis (13.8 & 5.9) The Owls endured a putrid effort against Tulsa, as only Alston (4-of-14) made more than two field goals and the team as a whole managed a total of five two-point baskets in the game. Rose committed seven turnovers and shot just 2-of-12 from the floor. Pierre-Louis (12 points) has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games but is just 4 of 22 from three-point range in the previous seven games. Temple is still very much alive for a third-place finish in the AAC (behind Houston and Cincy) and is 9-2 SU at home. This price seems very "doable," as I expect Temple's perimeter trio (see above), to return to form. Lay the short price. Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-19 | Jazz v. Warriors -8.5 | 108-115 | Loss | -109 | 17 h 54 m | Show | |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the GS Warriors at 10:35 ET. The Golden State Warriors have scored at least 100 points in 26 consecutive games, the franchise's best run since a 36-game streak during the 2016-17 campaign. At 40-15, the Warriors will look for their 16th victory in their last 17 games when they host the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. However, in the 32-24 Utah Jazz, Golden State will face a team which is almost as hot. The Jazz visit Oakland having won 14 of their last 18 games, after an impressive 125-105 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Center Rudy Gobert had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting and collected 13 rebounds against San Antonio for his fourth straight double-double (14th in his last 16). The reigning NBA Defensive of the Year is viewed as one of the biggest snubs for the All-Star Game, as he's averaging 15.2 & 12.8. All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (22.4-3.8-4.0) scored 23 points against the Spurs and has topped 20 in 16 of the last 17 games, averaging 27.2 points during the stretch. PG Rubio (12.9 & 6.1 APG) is back healthy and the above three are joined in the starting lineup by SF Ingles (11.8-3.8-5.0) and PF Favors (11.0 & 71.). Coming off the bench are Crowder (11.9 & 4.8) and Korver (9.6 & 40.2% on threes). Utah is one of the league's best defensive teams, allowing 105.8 PPG (4th). The Warriors rallied from 19 points down to edge the Miami Heat 120-118 at home on Sunday night. It was the second straight game in which the Warriors won after trailing by at least 17 points. They overcame a 17-point deficit to win at Phoenix on Friday. The Warriors have won FIVE times this season after falling behind by at least 15 points, including Oct 19 at Utah, when Golden State rallied from 16 points back to prevail 124-123 on a buzzer-beating tip-in by Jonas Jerebko. Forward Kevin Durant (39 points on Sunday) and guards Klay Thompson (29) and Stephen Curry (25) have each scored 25 or more points in 12 straight games after the club rallied from a 19-point deficit to record a hard-fought 120-118 home win over the Miami Heat. DeMarcus Cousins (14.1 & 6.5 in his 10 games / eight starts) made the decisive two free throws with 5.4 seconds left against the Heat and coach Steve Kerr said he is impressed with the effect the big man has had on the squad since returning from an Achilles injury. "He's basically single-handedly negated the dog days, he really has," Kerr told reporters. "DeMarcus has come in and energized our team. ... He's just bringing this excitement and energy every game and he's getting better and better and fitting right in with the group." With Cousins now healthy enough to play, Golden State's starting-five is quite scary. The Warriors rank first in scoring (119.1 PPG) and FG percentage (49.3), while ranking third in three-point percentage (38.6) and free-throw percentage (81.4). The Warriors have yet to lose (8-0) since Cousins joined Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in the starting lineup. Don't expect the Warriors to fall behind early in this one, as no comeback will be needed in a likely wire-to-wire win 'Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-19 | Alabama v. Mississippi State -5.5 | 62-81 | Win | 100 | 15 h 7 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Miss St at 9:00 ET. Alabama’s 83-79 home win over then-No. 22 Mississippi State on Jan 29 helped the Crimson Tide right the ship in the SEC. 15-8 Alabama has won three of its last four games to climb into a tie for fifth place in the SEC standings at 6-4. As for the Miss St Bulldogs, they have headed in the opposite direction by losing three of their last four contests. Miss St (16-7 / 4-6) let two close home games against ranked opponents slip away last week. The Bulldogs lost 92-88 in overtime against No. 21 LSU and then pushed No. 5 Kentucky to the brink of a 71-67 defeat. Alabama is a perimeter-based team, led by freshman PG Lewis (14.3 & 3.0 APG) and sophomore guard Petty (11.7 & 4.1). That duo is joined by Mack (9.0 & 3.7) and Ingram (7.6 & 4.0). Alabama's lone inside threat is the 6-9 Hall (10.9 & 8.7). Miss St opened 12-1 but enters this contest just 4-6 in its last 10. The Bulldogs are led by one of the SEC’s most dynamic players. The 6-5 Quinndary Weatherspoon averages 17.9 PPG (5.5 RPG) and can score in numerous ways. PG Lamar Peters (12.4 & 5.7 APG) is a solid play-maker and the duo is joined by Weatherspoon's brother Nick (9.8) on the perimeter. Starting up front are the 6-11 Perry (8.7 & 6.4) and the 6-11 Aldo (5.0 & 4.8). However, the Bulldogs' best frontcourt player comes off the bench, as the 6-10 Holman averages 10.6 PPG and a team-high 7.0 RPG. Revenge should work here, as Miss St is 10-3 SU at home, while averaging 84.2 PPG. Freshman forward Reggie Perry has moved into the starting lineup in the last three games and is averaging 14.4 points and nine rebounds over his last five contests. Miss St has way more depth up front and the Bulldogs' guard trio of the Weatherspoon brothers and Peters is more than a match for Alabama's guards. Home team wins with "room to spare.!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-19 | Butler v. St. John's -3.5 | Top | 73-77 | Win | 100 | 15 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on St John's at 8:30 ET. Marquette edged Villanova on Saturday, 66-65. The result left the Wildcats at 10-1 and moved the Golden Eagles to 9-2. Those schools are well ahead of the rest of the pack in the conference, as the Big East has five teams tied for third at 5-6 in league play. Two of that quintet of teams, which all look up at Villanova and Marquette, will meet Tuesday night when 14-10 Butler visits 17-7 St. John's. All five of those schools will need a strong stretch run if they plan on making this year's NCAA Tournament. Butler rebounded from a three-game losing streak by winning its last two contests by just a combined six points. The Bulldogs' leading scorer Kamar Baldwin had 18 points to help Butler to a 73-69 victory at Georgetown on Saturday. The junior guard leads the team in scoring (17.2) and rebounding (5.0) and is joined on the perimeter by Jorgensen (11.8) and PG Thompson (6.1 & 4.2 APG). 6-7 sophomore forward Jordan Tucker (Duke transfer) scored 14 of his 15 points prior to the break in the win at Georgetown and is now averaging 10.0 & 5.2 since becoming eligible 15 games ago. 6-6 forward McDermott adds 9.9 & 3.8 while the center duo of the 6-11 Brunk (8.1 & 4.1) and the 6-10 Fowler (5.5 & 4.0) complete Butler's major contributors. St John's is coming off a damaging 70-56 home loss to Providence on Saturday. That 56-point effort was the Red Storm's worst in Big East action since it was held to 45 in a loss at Butler last season. The absence of second-leading scorer Mustapha Heron (15.0 & 4.9) with a knee issue was a factor. Junior PG Shamorie Ponds scored 20 points and checks in at 20.7-4.6-5.3 on the season. Fellow guard Figueroa averages 14.3 PPG and a team-high 6.5 RPG plus another guard, Simon, adds 10.1-4.8-3.5. St John's doesn't have much size up front, as the 6-7 Clark (11.4 & 5.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Butler has won seven of the last nine meetings with St John's, including 80-71 at home back on Jan 19 (Baldwin had 30 points). Yes, Butler has made the "Big Dance" in 10 of the previous 12 years but the prospects for a 2018 invite are bleak. Butler has won just two of seven road games this season (averaging only 65.7 PPG), while St John's checks in 9-3 SU at home, where the Red Storm are outscoring opponents 80.7-to-69.6 PPG. More good news comes St John's way in that Heron is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday (see above). Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-19 | Celtics v. 76ers -5.5 | Top | 112-109 | Loss | -124 | 15 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Phi 76ers at 8:05 ET. Elton Brand was as solid NBA player but he's made quite a mark as Philly's GM here in the 2018-19 season. Brand made his second big move since the beginning of the year by adding PF Tobias Harris from the Clippers, after dealing for Jimmy Butler earlier in campaign. Both moves were made to ostensibly to get Philly over the hump vs.new/old nemesis Boston. The Philadelphia 76ers are sure playing like a team that is headed in the right direction, as they are coming off impressive wins over the Denver Nuggets (117-110) and Los Angeles Lakers (143-120) since making a series of deadline moves. The Boston Celtics failed to make any upgrades prior to the deadline and are looking like a team that could have used a shake-up. The Celtics lost 129-128 on a buzzer-beater to the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Thursday and then blew a 28-point lead before falling to the Los Angeles Clippers 123-112 on Saturday in a demoralizing defeat. Boston's Saturday's collapse began late in the first half, after All-Star guard Kyrie Irving suffered a sprained knee that will leave him on the sidelines Tuesday and potentially Wednesday against Detroit at home. Gordon Hayward (10.2 & 4.6) had a team-high 19 points off the bench but Irving's fellow starters combined to shooting 14-for-42 (33.3%) from the floor without their leader. Hayward comes off the bench along with Brown (12.7 & 4.3), while Tatum (16.4 & 6.3) and Morris (14.6 & 6.) typically start up front with Horford (12.4 & 6.6). With Irving sidelined, expect Rozier (9.1) and Smart (8.2) to start in the backcourt. Joel Embiid (27.4 & 13.5) went off for 37 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday's 143-120 rout of the Lakers, as 36-20 Philadelphia moved one game ahead of Boston (35-21) for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Embiid was 12-for-16 from the floor in Sunday's win, while newly acquired forward Tobias Harris had 22 points on 9-of-14 in his second game with the team. Harris was averaging career highs of 20.9 & 7.9 with LA and has averaged 18.0 & 7.0 in his two games with the Sixers. Rounding out Philly's starting-five is Butler (18.9 & 4.9), Redick (18.7) and PG/swingman Ben Simmons (16.7-9.2-7.9). Philly's starting-five may not quite measure up to Golden State's (which team's does?) but it's clearly the East's top unit. I'm not sure Boston can 'hang' with Philly here, without Irving's 23.6 PPG and 6.9 APG. The 76ers are 23-6 at home, averaging a whopping 119.4 PPG. Sans Kyrie, Boston gets rolled, as Philly avenges the Celtics' two home wins (105-87 & 121-114 in OT) over the 76ers earlier this year. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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02-12-19 | Purdue v. Maryland +1 | 56-70 | Win | 100 | 13 h 42 m | Show | |
My 9* Conf Crusher (Big Ten) is on Maryland at 6:30 ET. 17-6 Purdue will be in College Park on Tuesday night to play 18-6 Maryland. The Boilermakers come in off an 81-62 win over the Cornhuskers on Saturday night, the school's EIGHTH in a row. Purdue sits 10-2 in Big Ten play, a half-game back of first-place Michigan. The Terps have had six days off since last Wednesday's 60-45 victory at Nebraska and sit 9-4 in league play, tied for fourth-place. The Boilermakers eked out a 62-60 victory in the first meeting between the two teams back on Dec 6 in West Lafayette. Preseason All-American guard Carsen Edwards scored 20 points in that first meeting, while sophomore guard Nojel Eastern's blocked Darryl Morsell's potential game-winning three-point try at the buzzer. Edwards leads the Big Ten in scoring (24.6), which also ranks seventh nationally, He's joined on the perimeter by Cline (12.7) and Eastern (7.0 & 5.3), while the 7-3 Haarms gives the Boilermakers a big inside presence, averaging 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Four forwards combine to add about 23 points and 16 rebounds per contest. Maryland begins a stretch where it plays three consecutive top-20 ranked teams with this game vs No. 12 Purdue. The 24th-ranked Terrapins then hit the road to play at No. 6 Michigan and No. 21 Iowa,. Junior PG Anthony Cowan Jr. had 18 points and six assists in the first meeting. He leads the Maryland in scoring (16.2) and assists (4.5). He gets help in the backcourt from Ayala (8.9), Wiggins (8.3) and Morsell (8.0). 6-10 sophomore Bruno Fernando is second on the team in scoring (14.8) plus adds a team-high 10.7 RPG (ranks second in the Big Ten). 6-10 freshman forward Jalen Smith (11.8 & 7.0) is coming in off his third double-double (18 points & 11 rebounds) in the win at Nebraska. Purdue was an underachieving 9-6 in early January but an 84-80 OT win at Wisconsin on Jan 11, jump started an eight game win skein (7-1 ATS). The Boilermakers a good team but far from great. Maryland is an outstanding defensive team (64.9 PPG ranks 37th in the nation) and is 12-2 SU at home. The 6-10 Fernando has recorded a double-double in 15 games this season, including the last six in a row, leading the way for a team which leads the Big Ten and was tied for second in the nation entering the week in rebounding margin (plus-10.4). This is the first of a tough three-game stretch for the Terps (see above) and the ONLY one of the three that the Terps get at home. Expect the home team to prevail. Good luck...Larry |
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02-11-19 | Heat v. Nuggets -10.5 | Top | 87-103 | Win | 100 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
My 3rd play of Monday's STP is an 8* on the Den Nuggets at 9:05 ET. The Denver Nuggets 'limp' home after losing the final three games of their four-game road trip. 37-18 Denver will be looking to avoid matching a season-high four-game losing streak Monday night, when the Nuggets welcome the 25-29 Miami Heat to Pepsi Center. The Nuggets allowed an average of 132 points in two straight losses, before giving Philadelphia all it could handle in a 117-110 loss on Friday. Denver now begins a stretch in which the Nuggets play six of seven at home, where they are an NBA-best 23-4. Miami visits the Mile High City after rallying from nine down in the fourth quarter to take a three-point lead with less than a minute to go, surrender the final five of the game in a 120-118 loss at Golden St (the Warriors own a 40-15 record, best in the West). Josh Richardson (Miami's leading scorer at 17.8 PPG) poured in 37 points but the Heat lost for the fifth time in six games, dropping into a tie with Detroit for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Richardson is averaging 25.3 points over the last three contests and backcourt mate Dion Waiters (9.2) stepped up to score a season-high 24 on Sunday. Center Hassan Whiteside recorded his fifth straight double-double Sunday and is averaging 17.8 points along with 14.2 rebounds during that stretch (he's averaging 13.1 & 12.6 on the season). Veteran Dwyane Wade (13.9-3.9-4.4) scored 10 points and has averaged 17.0 PPG over his last four contests. Small forward Justise Winslow had 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting against Golden State but has mostly been playing in the backcourt with PG Dragic (15.3 & 4.9 APG) sidelined. Winslow is averaging 12.3-5.4-4.2 on the season. Denver head coach Michael Malone told reporters his players could hold their heads high after Friday’s effort but guard Will Barton (12.3-4.4-3.4) said it is time to get back to business as the Nuggets’ lead over Oklahoma City for second in the West has shrunk to one game. Center Nikola Jokic continues to put up big numbers, recording triple-doubles in five of the last eight games. He leads Denver in scoring (20.4), rebounding (10.5) and assists (7.7). PG Jamal Murray (18.6-4.3-5.0) has averaged 21 points and 8.5 assists in two contests since returning from a six-game absence because of an ankle injury, while fellow guard Malik Beasley (11.6) is averaging 20.7 points over his past six outings. However, SG Gary Harris (14.8) is expected to miss his sixth straight game, while PF Paul Millsap (12.0 & 6.5) could sit out a fourth straight with an ankle injury. Injuries are nothing new to Denver this season, yet as noted earlier, the Nuggets own the NBA's best home record (23-4 SU), averaging 116.5 PPG and winning by an average of 12 points per game. Miami has been a solid road underdog the last two seasons but the Heat are coming off a heart-breaking loss last night in Oakland and will be playing their third game in four days on the road. That's is NOT a recipe for success. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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02-11-19 | Mavs v. Rockets -10 | 104-120 | Win | 100 | 10 h 7 m | Show | |
My 2nd play of Monday's STP is an 8* on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET. James Harden continued his phenomenal scoring run with 42 points in Saturday's 117-112 loss to Oklahoma City, leaving him two 30-point games away from tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest such streak in NBA history. However, the Rockets collapsed against the Thunder in the second half, allowing OKC to overcome a 26-point deficit. "We have to be consistent for four quarters," Harden told reporters Saturday after his team fell to 19-9 at home and 32-23 on the season. The Dallas Mavericks traded four starters in eight days. Second-leading scorer Harrison Barnes (17.7 & 4.2) was shipped to the Sacramento Kings for fellow forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. Priort to that, the Mavs traded PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.9 & 4.3 APG), SG Wesley Matthews (13.1) and center DeAndre Jordan (11.0 & 13.7) to the New York Knicks. That leaves star rookie Luka Doncic as the lone remaining starter. Doncic (20.8-7.0-5.5) played the entire fourth quarter Sunday and scored 13 points while helping Dallas keep Portland from putting up a single point for nearly seven minutes during one stretch. The Mavs' furious rally gave them a 102-101 home win over the Blazers. Docic had 28 points and the recently acquired Tim Hardaway added 24, as the Mavericks held the Trail Blazers to just nine fourth-quarter points. Dallas has won six of nine and sits 26-29 on teh season. The Huston Rockets have just not been to replicate the defensive prowess that secured their run to the best record in the league last season and to Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Whether due to injuries or roster construction, the results haven't been the same. Houston is allowing 111.0 PPG (14th) on 47.5% shooting (26th). After finishing seventh in defensive rating last season at 105.5 points allowed per 100 possessions, the Rockets are 25th this season (112.0). Since Jan 1, Houston is a modest 11-8 and its leaky defense (113.8 rating) is directly attributed to its inability to build a winning streak and propel up the standings. Houston limited Oklahoma City to 75 combined points in the first, second, and fourth periods but the Thunder posted a whopping 42 points in the third, to erase what was once a 26-point deficit. The Thunder they won the fourth quarter by five points to claim the victory. However, let's not dismiss Houston too quickly. Harden (36.6-6.7-7.8) is having an amazing season, Chris Paul (15.6 & 7.9 APG) is rounding into form after another injury setback plus Kenneth Faried is quietly working on an impressive streak of his own with four straight double-doubles. He shot 8-of-11 from the floor in the loss to the Thunder and is hitting 63 percent of his shots in 10 games since joining Houston last month, averaging a double-double (16.2 & 10.4). Dallas is a surprising 2-0 vs Houston this season and off the team's Saturday collapse to OKC, I expect Houston to be "on its game" in this one. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-11-19 | Wizards v. Pistons -4 | 112-121 | Win | 100 | 11 h 21 m | Show | |
My 1st play of Monday's STP is a 9* on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET. Are the Detroit Pistons starting to pick up some momentum as they try to rejoin the race for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Friday's120-103 win over the New York Knicks on Friday moved the Pistons to 25-29, pushing their winning streak to three in a row. Detroit welcomes the Wizards to town Monday, just a half-game behind the Miami Heat for the No. 8 spot in the East . The 24-32 Washington Wizards sit two games behind the Pistons and enter this contest off back-to-back wins, after Saturday's 134-125 win over the Bulls. Washington brought in forwards Bobby Portis (14.1 & 7.3 in 22 games with the Bulls) and Jabari Parker (14.3 & 6.2) from Chicago prior to the deadline. Parker fell out of the Chicago rotation before being dealt but is being given a prominent spot with Washington. He had 20 points, five rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes against his former team. Meanwhile, power forward Bobby Portis is averaging 20 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in two wins since the trade. Bradley Beal has stepped up big time since Wall was lost for the season and checks in averaging 25.0-5.1-5.2. Trevor Ariza has also been a great addition, averaging 14.9-5.4-4.2 in 26 games with the Wizards. Detroit bolstered its rotation by signing veteran shooting guard Wayne Ellington as a free agent, after he cleared waivers on Saturday. He expects to take the minutes that opened when starting shooting guard Reggie Bullock was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers in front of the trade deadline. Detroit has leaned on All-Star forward Blake Griffin (26.1-8.1-5.3) heavily for most of the season. Center Andre Drummond collected 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting along with 20 rebounds in Friday's win and has been an excellent 'second banana' all season, averaging 17.1 & 14.9. The home team has won and covered both meetings this season between Washington and Detroit and I see no change here. Washington is just 7-21 SU away from home this season, going 8-20 ATS. Detroit comes into this contest winning three in a row by an average of by an average of 18.7 points. Detroit didn’t make a huge splash at the deadline, but acquiring C/F Thon Maker from Milwaukee helps shore up the frontcourt bench. The Pistons have played better defense recently, holding their last 11 opponents to an average of 100.9 PPG, compared to 107.8 on the season. Another bonus for Detroit in this one is the fact that the Pistons have been able to keep Griifin under 30 minutes in two of the last three contests. Home team wins and COVERS! Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-19 | Stanford v. Oregon -6 | 46-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 46 m | Show | |
My 9* Conference Crusher (Pac-12) is on Oregon at 8:00 ET. Stanford is 12-10 (5-5 in Pac-12) and Oregon is 14-9 (also 5-5 in Pac-12). However, both schools are still alive for a top-four seed and a first-round bye in next month’s Pac-12 Tournament. Washington is running away with things at 10-1 but the winner of tonight's game will tie USC at 6-5, leaving them just one game behind 7-4 schools Ore St, Utah and Arz St, who are all tied for 2nd-place in the conference. The Cardinal look to build on one of their most complete efforts of the season, after shooting 54 percent from the floor and out-rebounding the Beavers 41-26 in Thursday’s 83-60 win at Oregon State. The Ducks bounced back from an ugly 73-51 loss at Colorado, by defeating last-place California 73-62 on Wednesday. The Cardinal have won four of their last five and with just one senior on the roster, Stanford has relied heavily on young players. 6-9 sophomore forward Oscar da Silva (10.0 & 5.7) recorded a career-high 23 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists against OSU. Fellow 6-9 sophomore forward KZ Okpala ranks third in the league in scoring (17.7) while shooting 41 percent from three-point range (he adds 6.0 RPG). However, he was held to 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting against Oregon State. Stanford played much of the game without starting PG Daejon Davis (12.6-3.1-4.2), as he suffered an apparent head injury early in the second half and is listed as day-to-day. 7-0 center Josh Sharma (8.7 & 5.6) leads the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage at 67.5 percent and had 20 points along with eight rebounds in Thursday’s victory. Oregon obviously misses the 7-2 Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.6) but 6-9 freshman Louis King is thriving, averaging 11.6 & 5.1. Junior guard Payton Pritchard (11.8-4.0-3.1) snapped out of a shooting slump by recording his second career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against Cal. However, Pritchard has handed over point guard duties to freshman Will Richardson (6.8), who had a season-high nine assists in Wednesday’s victory. The Ducks own an athletic frontcourt, as 6-9 senior forward Paul White (10. 7 & 3.7) and the 6-9 Wooten (6.7 & 4.5) join King (note: White has scored in double figures in NINE of the last 11 games). Don't think much of Stanford, while Oregon is still a capable home team, going 10-4 SU and winning by an average of 11 PPG. This pointspread is more than manageable. Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-19 | Magic v. Hawks +2.5 | Top | 124-108 | Loss | -115 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on the Atl Hawks at 7:35 ET. The Orlando Magic opened their three-game road trip in impressive fashion on Saturday, continuing a sudden surge back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Magic took advantage of the absence of Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) to coast past the Bucks 103-83 on Saturday, improving to 4-1 on the heels of a 3-11 swoon. Orlando sits at 24-32, " 2 1/2-games out of teh East's final playoff spot. Atlanta's league-worst defense (more later) was on full display in Saturday's loss, as Charlotte shot 54.5 percent and recorded 30 assists on 48 baskets in a 129-120 loss. The Hawks are 18-37 and are hardly thinking postseason as the All Star break looms. Rookie Isaiah Briscoe hit all three of his shot attempts in Thursday's win over Minnesota and was 4-for-5 from the floor while handing out seven assists in the rout of the Bucks. "By far, his best game. Both ways, and he hit his jumper," head coach Steve Clifford said of the 22-year-old guard. Orlando's 7-0 All-Star center, Nikola Vucevic, added 15 points and 17 rebounds. Vucevic (20.5 & 12.0) and 6-9 PF Gordon (15.9 & 7.4) are Orlando's top-two producers, although Clifford has a solid three-guard rotation. That group includes Fournier (14.8), Ross (14.7) and PG Augustin (11.5 & 4.7 APG). The Hawks have opened a seven-game homestand by dropping the first two contests. They allowed 46 first-quarter points to Charlotte and fell short with a late rally in Saturday's nine-point loss. The 6-10 John Collins led the way offensively with 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. That's not exactly new, as the second-year 6-10 forward averages team highs of 19.4 PPG and 9.9 RPG. Rookie PG Trae young checks in at 16.9 PPG and 7.5 APG plus FIVE more players average in double digits (two more check in at 8.3 & 9.4). Scoring is NOT Atlanta's problem. It's a defense that allows 118.4 PPG (30 of 30 teams) on 47.7% shooting (28th). However, with Orlando coming off a win at Milwaukee, a team with the NBA's best record, the Magic are in a perfect spot for a letdown. Note that Orlando looks to win its third straight overall contest, for the FIRST time since mid-November. NOT! Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-19 | Georgia Tech v. Notre Dame -5.5 | 59-69 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show | |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on Notre Dame at 6:00 ET. Two struggling ACC teams square off Sunday when 11-12 Georgia Tech (3-7 ACC) travels to South Bend to take on 12-11 Notre Dam (2-8 ACC).Wins have been difficult to come by for both schools, as the Yellow Jackets have lost FOUR straight games since knocking off Notre Dame 63-61 in Atlanta back on Jan 22, while the Fighting Irish have dropped SIX of their past seven games while The win over ND was the last time the Yellow Jackets were truly at full strength, as sophomore guard Jose Alvarado continues to battle nagging injuries while going 1-for-20 from the floor in the past two games, losses to Florida State and Clemson. “PG Alvarado (12.0-3.9-3.4) is Georgia Tech’s leading scorer and only the 6-9 Banks joins him in double digits at 10.5 PPG (plus a team-high 7.3 RPG). Ga Tech is one of the nation's lowest-scoring teams, averaging 65.8 PPG, ranking 326th! Things aren’t much better for the Fighting Irish on the offensive end. They shot a season-worst 32 percent from the floor while going 4-for-28 from three-point range in a 62-47 loss Wednesday at Miami. Notre Dame's offensive woes have been a season-long challenge, as the Irish rank 14th in the ACC and 327th nationally in field-goal percentage (40.5 percent). Standing out from the rest, 6-9 junior forward John Mooney leads the conference in rebounds and is the only ACC player to average a double-double (14.3 & 10.7), quite a jump from his 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game averages from a season ago. The Irish do feature two solid PGs, in junior Temple Gibbs (13.1 & 3.6 APG) and freshman Prentiss Hubb (7.5 & 3.6 APG). This game figures to be the best chance for either school to get a win in the near future. The Yellow Jackets play three of their next six games after Sunday against ranked teams: at No. 11 Virginia Tech on Tuesday, vs No. 22 Florida State on Feb 16 and at No. 3 Virginia on Feb 27. Notre Dame’s schedule is even tougher, with four of its next five opponents ranked in the top-25: at Virginia on Feb 16, vs Virginia Tech on Feb. 23, at Florida State on Feb 25 and at No. 16 Louisville on Mar 3. Ga Tech has averaged a woeful 59.7 PPG in its seven true road games this season, while Notre Dame is averaging 73.1 PPG in its 15 home contests. Throw in the "revenge angle" (ND lost by two at Ga Tech) and the Irish get the win with "room to spare." Good luck...Larry |
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02-10-19 | Connecticut v. Memphis -7 | Top | 71-78 | Push | 0 | 6 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Memphis at 2:00 ET. UConn began the season 6-1, including a win against Syracuse. It seemed as if players and fans alike were attracted to first year head coach Dan Hurley's intense attitude and aggressive play on the court. However, to put it mildly, Connecticut has had its share of ups-and-downs and comes into Sunday's game at Memphis 13-10 overall, including 4-6 in AAC play. What's more, senior guard Jalen Adams (17.0-3.8-3.) is out for the next four to six weeks, which basically means the season. Memphis also features a first-year head coach but Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway is facing NONE of the issues Hurley is dealing with. The well-liked mentor has his Tigers at 13-10 as well, including 5-5 in league play. Adams was coming off an altercation with Hurley in UConn's previous game and then played just six minutes in the team's 81-63 loss at Temple on Wednesday, before suffering a sprained MCL in his left knee. 6-9 sophomore forward Josh Carlton (8.6 & 5.9) didn't post a double-double in his first 54 games at UConn but he had 18 points and 13 rebounds against Temple for his second straight, following a 20 & 16 performance against East Carolina. Junior guard Christian Vital (14.0 & 6.0) had 18 points and 13 rebounds against the Owls, while Eric Cobb (4.0 & 4.2) added 13 points and five rebounds. He's getting extra time because Alterique Gilbert (13.0 & 3.8 APG) has missed three straight games with a shoulder injury. Memphis knows all about star guards, as the Tigers feature PG Jeremiah Martin. He made a career-high eight, three-pointers while scored a game-high 26 points against No. 25 Cincinnati on Thursday. However, it wasn't enough, as the Bearcats rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half for a 69-64 victory. "We didn't rebound the ball (well) in the second half and they got a couple of easy baskets," said Martin, who was coming off a career-high 41-point effort at South Florida. Martin is averaging 16.7-4.0-4.3 on the season.The 6-8 Davenport chips in 14.3 & 7.4 plus freshman guard Harris adds 12.1 PPG. Hardaway likes to use his bench and Memphis has six more player averaging between 5.5 and 8.8 PPG. UConn is an un-perfect 0-5 SU in true road games and that streak doesn't figure to end here (especially without Adams) against a Memphis team which is 11-2 SU at home, averaging a whopping 87.7 PPG. Memphis is 8-3 as a home favorite, including a PERFECT 6-0 when laying less than double digits! Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Washington v. Arizona State -1 | Top | 63-75 | Win | 100 | 13 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Arizona St at 10;00 ET. Washington returned all five starters from LY's 21-win team (NIT, not NCAA bid) but did anyone expect 12 straight wins and a 10-0 conference start, the school's best since 1952-53? Washington won at Arizona for the first time in seven years 67-60 on Thursday, despite senior forward Noah Dickerson (12.6 & 6.7) struggling with an ankle issue plus senior guard Matisse Thybulle (10.0) and senior forward Dominic Green (6.8) struggling with the flu (entire coaching staff was ill). The 19-4 Huskies (10-0 Pac 12) head to Tempe tonight to face the 15-7 Arizona State Sun Devils (6-4 in Pac-12). Arizona State is coming off its worst loss of the season, a stunning 91-70 home loss against Washington State on Thursday (ASU was favored by 15 points!) Sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell averages team highs of 16.4 points and 3.4 assists, while adding 5.4 RPG. Dickerson battled through an ankle injury to score 10 points in 26 minutes against Arizona, while Thybulle had five steals on Thursday. Washington is off to its best conference start since going 14-0 in 1952-53, boasts the stingiest defense in the Pac-12 at 64 points per game (60.4 during its winning streak) and hasn't allowed more than 70 in a conference game Head coach Bobby Hurley told the media after the Wash St loss, "There really wasn't anything overly positive that you can say. It was a pretty damaging loss for us." Senior forward Zylan Cheatham (11.6-1.1-3.5) entered the week one of 18 players nationally averaging a double-double, but only one other is also averaging at least three assists (Wisconsin's Ethan Happ). Freshman guard Luguentz Dort is the leading scorer at 16.2 PPG, with three more ASU players scoring in double digits. PG Martin checks in at 13.1 (5.1 APG), 12.4), guard Edwards at 10.3 and the 6-7 Lawrence at 10.2 & 4.0). Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22. However, ASU is just 6-5 its last 10. That said, off the team's embarrassing home loss to Wash St, Washington and its unbeaten Pac-12 record should bring out the VERY best in the Sun Devils. They are 10-3 SU at home, while averaging 82.5 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Colorado v. USC -4.5 | Top | 69-65 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on USC at 10:00 ET. The Colorado Buffs opened the season 9-3 in non-conference games but when Pac-12 play began, Colorado started 2-6. However, the Buffs have rebounded from their poor Pac-12 start to post impressive double-digit wins over Oregon and UCLA in their last two outings. In the 22-point win over the Ducks on Feb 2, Colorado dominated defensively, holding Oregon to a season-low 51 points and a nine-year low 31 percent shooting from the floor. At UCLA this past Wednesday, Colorado shot 53.8 percent from the floor, including 13-of-24 from three-point range plus recorded a season-high 22 assists on 28 made baskets in an 84-73 win. The 13-9 Buffaloes (4-6 Pac-12) will try to maintain that momentum Saturday night when they visit USC. The Trojans are 13-10 overall (6-4 in Pac-12 play), after a 77-70 home loss to Utah on Wednesday night. In contrast to Colorado, USC has dropped two of its last three games following a 5-2 Pac-12 start. The Buffs received a huge boost Wednesday from junior-college transfer Shane Gatling who connected on 8-of-10 shots, including 7-of-9 three-pointers, in scoring a season-high 28 points. Sophomore swingman Tyler Bey also stayed hot with 16 points and 10 rebounds, giving him his third double-double in the last five games. Gatling (10.5) and Bey (12.4 & 9.0) are two of the four Buffaloes averaging double figures, with sophomore PG McKinley Wright leading the way (12.7 PPG) plus a team-high 5.0 APG. 6-10 forward Lucas Siewert (11.3 & 5.1 points) rounds out the main contributors. The Trojans fell behind Utah by 23 points midway through the second half and finished with a 38.0 field-goal percentage, including 9-of-26 from three-point range. “That was our worst effort in a long time,” USC head coach Andy Enfield said afterward. “I’m disappointed in our team, (but) I’ll take the blame for that.” USC has a set of "twin towers" in the 6-10 Boatwright (17.3 & 6.7) and the 6-11 Nick Rakocevic (16.0 & 9.9). Guard Jonah Mathews scored 18 points to pace the Trojans vs Utah and he tops a four-man guard rotation by averaging 12.9 PPG on the season. Porter (9.2) is back in the lineup after missing more than a month and joins Aaron (8.8 & 4.6) and PG Thornton (8.4 & 5.0 APG). I still don't trust Colorado away from Boulder and its win over erratic UCLA is not a mind-changer, as it was just the Buffs' second in their last nine Pac-12 road games. Sure, USC is a bit of an underachiever but note that the Trojans had won SEVEN straight at Galen Center before stumbling vs the Utes. USC is the play. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Thunder v. Rockets -1.5 | Top | 117-112 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Hou Rockets at 8:35 ET. The Oklahoma City Thunder (35-19) visit the Houston Rockets (32-22) on Saturday night, with the ABC cameras on hand. James Harden extended his streak of 30-point games to 28 with 36 points in a 127-101 victory at Sacramento on Wednesday, pulling within three games of tying Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in NBA history at 31 (note: Wilt's record 65-game streak is likely NOT in danger!). Coming to town with OKC is Russell Westbrook and he brings along a streak of eight consecutive triple-doubles, after going for 15-13-15 in Thursday's 117-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. That moved him past Michael Jordan and within one of tying the mark of nine straight set by Chamberlain in 1968 (that Wilt guy keeps popping up). The Thunder currently occupy the No. 3 seed in the West, three games ahead of the 5th-seed Rockets (Portland sandwiched in between, one up on Houston and two back of OKC). Westbrook (21.2-11.1-11.2) is averaging a triple-double for the third straight season and leads the NBA in assists, nearly two more than the next-closest player (Toronto's Kyle Lowry is at 9.3). However, Paul George is OKC's top scorer, averaging 28.0 PPG. Backup PG Schroder averages 15.7 & 4.2 APG, starting center Adams 15.2 & 9.7) and PF Grant 13.2 & 5.0. No other OKC player averages as much as 7.0 PPG. The Rockets were active at the trade deadline, acquiring guard Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings while jettisoning James Ennis III (to the Philadelphia 76ers), Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight (both to the Cleveland Cavaliers) to free roster spots in order to aggressively pursue additions via what should be a robust buyout market. Those moves completed the exodus of the five players the Rockets adding during the past offseason, with Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams traded earlier this season. The constant has been Harden, averaging 36.5-6.8-7.9. PG Chris Paul (15.5 & 7.9 APG) is back but center Clint Capela (17.6 & 12.6) is still out. However, he is expected to return after the All-Star break. Can't imagine Harden NOT be primed for this showdown with Westbrook and he's carried Houston since Paul first went out (now back) plus kept it going through Capela's absence, as well. A HUGE bonus has been getting Kenneth Faried (from Boston), as the 6-8 vet has averaged 16.1 & 10.2 in nine games. Houston is 15-3 SU at home since Dec 1 and that has me "all over" the Rockets in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Duke v. Virginia -2 | 81-71 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show | |
My 9* play is on Virginia at 6:00 ET. Saturday's marquee matchup is No. 2 Duke at No. 3 Virginia. Thees teams met in Durham back on Jan 189, as the Blue Devils (-3.5) edged the Cavs, 72-70. The rematch is set for Charlottesville, with Duke coming 20-2 (8-1 ACC) and Virginia at 20-1 (8-1 ACC). Duke's win over UVa jump started a six-game winning streak for the Blue Devils, with their most recent win coming in an 80-55 blowout of Boston College on Tuesday. The Cavaliers have returned to their winning ways since the loss at Duke, picking up a fourth straight victory following their 56-46 home triumph over Miami last Saturday. Duke was without PG Tre Jones in the first meeting. However, the team's best defender, has since returned to the court. Duke prevailed in that first game despite his absence, as the freshman combination of RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson proved to be too much for Virginia to overcome. Barrett scored 30 points and Williamson added 27. Barrett leads with 23.0 PPG (7.2 RPG) and Williamson checks in at 22.0 PPG plus a team-high 9.4 RPG. Cam Reddish (13.5) is the team's third double digit scorer and he scored 24 points, his most since the second game of the season, on 8-of-16 shooting to lead the Blue Devils over Boston College. Jones averages 8.4 PPG and a team-high 5.5 APG. The Cavaliers played without PG and third-leading scorer Ty Jerome (13.0-4.4-4.9) against the Hurricanes and didn't look very sharp (14 TOs and 42.3% from teh floor. Leading scorer De’Andre Hunter (14.7 & 5.1) led the way offensively against Miami with 14 on 6-of-13 shooting, while the 6-9 Mamadi Diakite (7.0 & 3.9 added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Guard Kyle Guy (14.5 & 4.5) is UVa's second-best scorer. As usual, Virginia’s defense made up for its offensive miscues as the Cavaliers held the Hurricanes to 34 percent from the floor. UVa allows 52.9 PPG (1st) on 37.0% shooting (3rd), including 24.7% on threes (1st). Jerome's back is improving but his status against Duke is unknown. The Cavs were out-sized and out-quicked by the Blue Devils in the first meeting, yet lost by just two at Cameron. UVa was able to out-think Duke to stay in that game, as Duke was often flustered by the Virginia's defensive intensity. stop-end presence. Bennett's D completely shut off the perimeter in first meeting, holding Duke to only 2 of 14 from beyond arc. Here at home, where UVa is 11-0 and allowing just 49.0 PPG, the Blue Devils will be in big trouble. Cavs get their revenge. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Louisville v. Florida State -3 | 75-80 | Win | 100 | 9 h 11 m | Show | |
My 3rd 8* play is on Florida St at 4:00 ET. No. 16 Louisville (17-6 / 8-2 in ACC) will be in Tallahassee on Saturday afternoon to take on No. 22 Florida State (17-5 / 5-4 in ACC). The Cardinals are sitting comfortably at No. 4 in the ACC standings, a half-game back of Virginia, Duke and North Carolina. They come into Saturday's meeting with Florida State winners of seven of their last eight games, the only blemish being 79-69 home loss to then-No. 9 North Carolina Saturday. However, Louisville bounced right back with a 72-64 victory Monday at then-No. 11 Virginia Tech. Then-No. 1 Duke rolled into town to take on then-No. 13 Florida State back on Jan 12 and eked out a 8-78 victory. Florida State spiraled a bit after that Duke loss, dropping its next two games at unranked Pitt and Boston College. However, the Seminoles have since righted the ship and enter this game having won four straight contests. Reserve guard Ryan McMahon (just 8.0 PPG on the season) scored 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting (all from three-point range) in 16 minutes off the bench against the Hokies, tying for the team high in scoring with junior forward Dwayne Sutton (10.9 & 7.0). Leading scorer and rebounder, the 6-7 Jordan Nwora (17.8 & 7.7). PG Cunningham (10.2 & 4.6 APG) is the only other Cardinal to average in double digits but Louisville come in averaging a healthy 78.8 PPG (57th). "Our inconsistency has kind of been our biggest obstacle," Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said. "But I do feel that we made a step in the right direction (against Syracuse), on the road against a good basketball team in a place that is very challenging to win. I thought our guys grew up a little bit." Senior guard Terance Mann () paced the Seminoles against the Orange with 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting while also contributing nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Leading scorer Mfiondu Kabengele, who averages 13.2 points in just 19.7 minutes, added 18 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench. The Seminoles shot 54.5 percent from the floor while dominating inside, outscoring the Orange 38-18 in the paint. EIGHT Florida State players are averaging between 6.2 PPG and Kabengele,'s team-high total of 13.2 (note: Kabengele doesn't even start for the Seminoles). FSU was ranked 17th in the AP's preseason poll (ranked 15th by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook) and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll in early January. The last time FSU hosted a top-25 opponent in its house, it ended in heartbreak (see above vs duke). This time around, it will be a much better (happier) ending. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Villanova v. Marquette -1.5 | 65-66 | Loss | -111 | 8 h 45 m | Show | |
My 2nd 8* play is on Marquette at 2:30 ET. Questions surrounded Villanova after the Wildcats lost back-to-back games to Penn and Kansas, as the defending champs (actually, two titles in a three-year span) sat just 8-4 in mid-December. However, 11 consecutive wins later (including a 10-0 start in the Big East), have erased all doubts that the 19-4 Wildcats are again VERY relevant (''Nova is currently ranked 14th). Marquette is also 19-4 (8-2 in the Big East) but come sin off its first home loss of the season, falling 70-69 to St. John's on Tuesday The Wildcats were led against Creighton by 6-8 freshman Saddiq Bey in their win over Creighton, as he scored a career-high 17 points for his fourth double-digit scoring effort in the last five outings. That said, bey averages just 8.2 PPG on the season (5.0 RPG). 'Nova is led by senior guard Phil Booth (18.3.7-4.) and 6-8 senior forward Eric Paschall (17.3 & 6.2). Sophomore guard Collin Gillespie (12.1) is the team's third double digit scorer. The Golden Eagles are led PG Markus Howard (24.6-4.1-4.2), who is a potential All-American. The 6-8 Sam Hauser (15.7 & 7.0 is joined by his 6-9 younger brother Joey (10.4 & 5.7). Marquette connects on 46.9 % if its FGs, including 39.5 percent from three-point range (16th). Each of its top-three scorers (see above) drain at least 40 percent of their 3-pointers. Villanova can't possibly "win-out" (right?) and this is one tough venue. Maybe Marquette got caught "looking ahead" to 'Nova against St John's but I believe that will make them even more focused here. The Golden Eagles are 14-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 79.2-to-62.5 PPG. Home team wins. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Auburn v. LSU -2.5 | 78-83 | Win | 100 | 7 h 10 m | Show | |
My 1st 8* play is on LSU at 2:00 ET. No. 21 LSU (18-4 / 8-1 in SEC) remained in a tie for second in the conference with No. 5 Kentucky (one game behind the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers), after Wednesday's 92-88 OT victory at Mississippi State. Freshman forward Naz Reid scored 25 of his career high-tying 29 in the second half and OT, while sophomore guard Tremont Waters added 25 points. It's Tigers vs Tigers on Saturday, as 16-6 Auburn (5-4 in SEC) visits Baton Rogue this afternoon. Auburn defeated Florida 76-62 on Tuesday for its third straight victory, as these Tigers have clamped down defensively, allowing just 61.0 PPG in that span (Auburn is one of four teams tied for fifth at 5-4 in the SEC). Auburn's 6-11 junior center Austin Wiley (10.3 & 5.9) returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing five games with a leg injury. However, he played only five minutes as head coach Bruce Pearl told reporters he wants to keep "progressing him." Senior guard Bryce Brown (17.0) is the team's leading scorer and is averaging 19.3 points in conference games. Junior PG Jared Harper (15.4) leads the SEC in assists (6.5), while 6-8 sophomore forward Chuma Okeke has stepped up in Austin Wiley's absence, to average 10.5 & 6.4 on the season. PG Waters leads LSU in scoring (15.6) and assist (5.9 assists), while Reid adds 13.9 PPG plus a team-best 6.0 RPG. Junior guard Skylar Mays (13.1) and freshman guard Ja'vonte Smart (10.5) are the other double-figure scorers plus 6-6 freshman forward Emmitt Williams (8.0 & 5.9) provides support at both ends of the floor. Auburn has won three consecutive SEC games, 92-58 over Missouri, 84-63 over Alabama and 76-62 over Florida on Tuesday but all have come at home.The team now heads out on the road where the Tigers are 1-4 SU, while allowing 79.6 PPG. Beating the Tigers of LSU on their homecourt will be no easy task. LSU opened the season with 11 straight home wins, before losing to Arkansas last Saturday, 90-89 as a 10-point favorite. LSU enters 11-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 86.1-to-70.7. Home team rules in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-09-19 | Wisconsin v. Michigan -6.5 | 52-61 | Win | 100 | 6 h 35 m | Show | |
My 9* Eye-Opener is on Michigan at 12:00 ET. From 1999 through 2017, there was not single NCAA tournament that didn't include Wisconsin. However, in the 2017-18 season, the Badgers finished 15-18 when they lost in the Big Ten quarterfinals, missing the "Big Dance" for the first time in 20 years.Things were slightly better to open this season but the Badgers sat a modest 11-6 when unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Michigan cane to town on Jan 19. Wisconsin's defense and 6-10 fifth-year senior Ethan Happ were the difference that day. The Badgers forced 16 turnovers and held the Wolverines to 40.7% shooting, while Happ racked up 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Today, it's a rematch in Ann Arbor. Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard has reintroduced the old-style, slow-paced Bo Ryan “swing” offense that is effectively dictating tempo in the school's current six-game winning streak (5-0-1 ATS)(5-0-1 vs. line) win streak. The 'sticky' Wisconsin D hasn’t allowed more than 61 points in that span (53.8 PPG allowed during the six games), after a 56-51 road victory against Minnesota on Wednesday. Happ continued his outstanding season, scoring a team-high 15 points plus grabbed 13 rebounds for his 15th double-double (the most in the Big Ten). D'Mitrik Trice (13.4), who leads the Big Ten in three-point percentage (45.2), drilled three triples, including a clutch three-pointer with under two minutes remaining to clinch the win. Backcourt mate Brad Davison (11.2) added 10 points, despite going 2-of-12 from the floor. The 6-11 Nate Reuvers (8.3 & 3.2) flirted with a triple-double, as he added nine points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots against the Golden Gophers.Wisconsin is allowing 61.0 PPG, to rank 18th in the nation. Michigan has won of four of five games since the loss at Madison, including a 77-65 victory against Rutgers on Tuesday. The victory gives the Wolverines sole possession of first-place in the Big Ten at 10-2 (Purdue is 9-2, while Wisconsin & Mich St are 9-3). The 6-7 Ignas Brazdeikis was one of three freshmen named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top-20 Watch List. He knocked down a career-high five, three-pointers en route to 23 points in the win against Rutgers. He leads Michigan with 15.5 PPG (adds 5.5 RPG). The 7-1 Teske (8.8 & 6.3) starts up front with him, while a trio of guards man the perimeter. That group includes Poole (12.9), Matthews (12.5 & 5.3) and PG Simpson (9.2-5.3-6.0). Jordan Poole added 15 points while Zavier Simpson produced 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday. Teske leads the Big Ten in blocks per game (2.2) and Michigan allows 57.3 PPG, the second-best mark in college hoops. The Wolverines have won 20 straight at Crisler Arena, going 14-0 this season while outscoring opponents 72.3-to-56.1 PPG. Michigan will be primed for payback here and I have to go with that. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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02-08-19 | Heat v. Kings -2.5 | Top | 96-102 | Win | 100 | 15 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET. The Sacramento Kings won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season. However, the 28-26 Kings proved that they have EVERY intention of ending their 12-year playoff drought with the acquisition of Harrison Barnes. The Kings acquired the 6-8 forward from the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in exchange for forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph (no big loss, there). Sacramento welcomes the Miami Heat to town tonight, having gone 3-1 on what will be a six-game homestand (note: Kings were routed 127-101 by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday). The 25-27 Heat also made some moves. acquiring forward Ryan Anderson from the Phoenix Suns for guards Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington. The Heat opened their six-game road trip with an impressive 118-108 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Center Hassan Whiteside led Miami with 28 points and 11 rebounds, as he's headed to yet another double-double season (13.0 & 12.4). By moving Johnson (10.8) and Ellington (8.4) the Heat have unclogged their guard rotation, which still includes starters Josh Richardson (17.3) and Justise Winslow (backups 12.3 & 5.7) plus reserves Dwyane Wade (14.0), Rodney McGruder (8.7) and even Dion Waiters (7.9 PPG but just 14 games played). Goran Dragic (15.3 & 4.9 APG), an All-Star point guard in 2017, is on injured reserve (return up in the air). Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.4 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.5% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.3 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a future All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (14.8) and center Cauley-Stein (12.9 & 8.6) have become regular contributors.Not to be forgotten is rookie forward Marvin Bagley III (13.1 & 7.0), who has recorded four straight double-doubles, as the No. 2 overall selection from Duke, is averaging 16.3 points and 11.8 rebounds over the past four games, while scoring in double digits in seven straight outings (also 12 of his last 13 since returning from an injury). The addition of Barnes (17.7 & 4.2 TY with Dallas) will be huge, as he had also averaged 18.9 & 6.1 and 19.2 & 5.0 his first two full seasons with the Mavs. I am aware that the Heat are dangerous as road underdogs (52-25-2 ATS in that role the L3 seasons) but the Kings are 19-9 ATS at home this season. What's more, the Kings are on an 8-1 ATS run at home (7-1 SU in the last eight) and have covered 10 of their last 12 when installed as a favorite at Golden 1 Center going back to last season. The Kings have won the last three meetings with the Heat, including a 123-113 win in Miami back on Oct 29.make that FOUR in a row and a covers as well. Good luck...Larry |
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02-08-19 | Bucks v. Mavs +8 | 122-107 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 8 m | Show | |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET. The Dallas Mavericks traded four starters in the past eight days! The latest move saw the Mavericks trade second-leading scorer Harrison Barnes (17.7 & 4.2) to the Sacramento Kings for fellow forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. Earler, the Mavs traded PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.9 & 4.3 APG), SG Wesley Matthews (13.1) and center DeAndre Jordan (11.0 & 13.7) to the New York Knicks. That leaves star rookie Luka Doncic as the lone remaining starter. "With this trade now, a lot of things are in play," Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. "Everything is going to bump a little here and a little there. I have to let the dust settle and figure out who the hell is going to start." The 40-13 Bucks own the NBA's best record and come to Dallas having won five straight games to become the first NBA team to reach 40 wins this season. Milwaukee picked up some bench help at the deadline by acquiring forward Nikola Mirotic from the New Orleans Pelicans for forwards Stanley Johnson and Jason Smith and four second-round draft picks. Milwaukee is coming off a 148-129 home win over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, a contest in which it scored 50 first-quarter points and led 85-65 at halftime en route to its highest-scoring effort of the season. Milwaukee acquired Johnson earlier in the week from the Detroit Pistons and flipped him to New Orleans to land Mirotic, who is averaging 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32 games this season. Mirotic missed his final seven games with the Pelicans due to a calf injury and a return date isn't yet set. However, the Bucks are interested in making a long playoff run and Mirotic will help Milwaukee's starting-five is terrific, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo (27.0-12.4-5.9). He's joined by SF Middleton (17.3-5.7-4.2), guards Bledsoe (15.9-4.5-5.6) and Brogdon (15.7-4.7-3.3) plus center Lopez (12.2 & 4.1). However, no other palyer averages as much a 7.0 PPG. Injured forward Kristaps Porzingis was the prize of the Mavs' trade with teh Knicks but he isn't slated to play this season as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. The three guards Dallas got were Tim Hardaway Jr, (19.1 PPG this year is a career-best), Trey Burke (11.8) and Courtney Lee (played just 12 games with NY but has averaged 9.9 in his career). Expect Hardaway to get plenty of time alongside Doncic, who leads the team in scoring (20.6), rebounding (7.1) and assists (5.5). Getting more time with Barnes and Jordan gone will be the 6-11 Powell (8.5 & 4.2) and the 6-8 Finney-Smith (7.8 & 4.7). Through all the trade rumors and actual trades, Rick Carlisle continues to do a great job keeping his team competitive. The Mavs won only 24 games last season but enters this game 25-28. The Mavs enter on a EIGHT-game winning ATS stretch. How does won ignore the fact that Dallas is an amazing 9-1 as a home dog this, while the Bucks are around 50-50 as a road favorite. Take the points. Good luck...Larry |
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02-08-19 | Nuggets v. 76ers -4.5 | 110-117 | Win | 100 | 9 h 14 m | Show | |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Phi 76ers at 7:05 ET. The Denver Nuggets surprisingly own the West's second-best record of 37-17, despite dropped their last two games. The Nuggets have fought through numerous key injuries and as they head to Philly tonight, shooting guard Gary Harris (14.8) could miss his fifth straight contest with a groin injury, while power forward Paul Millsap (12.0 & 6.5) is in jeopardy of sitting out his third in a row with an ankle issue. The 76ers welcome the Nuggets to Philly on the heels of making a trade which the team believes has greatly bolstered its title aspirations. The 76ers acquired forward Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers, a player averaging impressive totals of 20.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG. Denver lost 135-130 to the host Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, despite center Nikola Jokic recording 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 10th triple-double of the season. Jokic leads the team in scoring (20.2), rebounding (10.5) and assists (7.7). The good news was that PG Jamal Murray (ankle) returned from a six-game absence to produce 19 points and 11 assists in 32 minutes during the loss to the Nets (he's averaging 18.5-4.3-5.0 on the season). Barton (12.0 & 6.5) is back playing regularly and not counting Harris and Millsap (see above), Denver has FIVE more players chipping in between 7.5 and 11.6 PPG. Rookie guard Landry Shamet (8.3) was the best player Philadelphia gave up in the six-player trade, that also saw the 76ers send two first-round picks and two second-round selections to the Clippers. "We are in the unique position to contend now and we think this trade positions us well for the postseason," 76ers GM Elton Brand said in a statement. "Tobias is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA and possesses an innate ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor."Harris joins Embiid (27.4 & 13.5), Butler (18.9-4.8-3.8), Redick (18.3) and Simmons (17.4-9.4-8.0). There is NO reason for Philly NOT to be excited about the team's chances in the East! The Nuggets are just 10-17 ATS on the road this season, while Philly is 21-6 SU at home, where the team averages 118.7 PPG. Expect Philly to avenge a 126-110 loss at Denver on Jan 26, one in which Embiid sat out. Embiid will be ready this time around and it’s likely Harris makes his debut, as well. Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-19 | Hawaii v. Long Beach State +1 | 77-70 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 7 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Long Beach St at 10:00 ET. Hawaii is 13-8 overall (4-3 in Big West) and will travel for just the school's fourth true road game when visiting Long Beach St on Thursday night. The 49ers are just 8-15 on the season, including 2-5 in Big West play. Hawaii easily handled LBSU 74-57 at home on Jan 31 but then lost this past Saturday at home to UC-Santa Barbara, 75-54. Long Beach St enters on a five-game slide but played very well on Saturday, falling just 82-80 at home to UC-Irvine (Anteaters are 20-5, including a Big West-best 8-1). Hawaii has solid a starting-five led by guards Stansberry (12.4), Stepteau (9.1) and Buggs (8.8-4.2-5.3) plus up front, it's the 6-8 Raimo (11.5 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Purchase (11.4 & 6.1). PG Booker leads Hawaii in scoring (17.9) and assist (4.7) and fellow guard Alberts (10.5) give them a solid backcourt. The 6-7 Yussef (12.0 & 6.8) is now back in the lineup and joins the 6-7 Byers (8.5 & 6.2) in the frontcourt. Long Beach has not had a good season but I liked the etam's last home effort. No reason the 49ers can't take down the so-so Rainbow Warriors in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-19 | Washington v. Arizona +1.5 | 67-60 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 4 m | Show | |
My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. Washington was not expected to be quite this good but in a 'down' year for the Pac-12, Mike Hopkins' Huskies sit 18-4 after an 11-game winning streak, which includes a PERFECT 11-0 start in league play. Meanwhile, Sean Miller's Wildcats are very disappointing 14-8 overall, including just 5-4 in conference play. Washington comes off Saturday's 69-55 victory over UCLA, leaving t Huskies 9-0 in conference play for the first time since winning their first nine Pacific Coast Conference games back in 1952-53. As for Arizona, the Wildcats fell at Arizona State 95-88 in overtime on Jan 31 for their third straight loss. Sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell averages a team-high 16.6 PPG (adds 5.4 RPG) and team-best 3.4 APG. Senior guard Matisse Thybulle (9.7 points & a conference-best 3.2 steals) is one of 15 finalists for the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year award plus Crisp (12.0) makes for an excellent perimeter trio for Washington. Senior forward Noah Dickerson chips in 12.7 PPG and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. However, he hurt his ankle in the UCLA game (had three points, six rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes Saturday before sustaining his injury. ankle) and is expected to miss this one. Arizona knows all about missing a key player, as freshman PG Brandon Williams (12.0 PPG & team-high 3.6 APG) is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Good news came in the fact that 6-10 junior center Chase Jeter returned to the lineup Jan. 31 after missing two games with a back injury. The Duke transfer recorded seven points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes and is averaging 12.7 PPG and a club-high 7.3 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph averages a team-best 15.0 PPG, 11.3 more than he did as a freshman. Also regularly in the starting lineup are guard Coleman (9.1) and the 6-9 Luther (7.1 & 4.7). Here's the bottom line. Yes, Washington returned all five starters from LY's 21-win team (NIT, not NCAA bid) but 11 straight wins? How about that 9-0 conference start, the school's best since 1952-53? Washington earned a 78-75 victory Feb. 3, 2018 over Arizona last season but that win snapped an EIGHT-game losing streak in the series, falling by an average of 13.9 PPG. Yes, Arizona has been a disappointment but the Wildcats are 10-2 at home and checks in a national-best 92-5 at the McKale Center since 2013! I checked and during that run, Arizona has NEVER been a home dog (I took plus-1.5). Arizona HAS to be teh play! Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-19 | Cincinnati v. Memphis +3 | Top | 69-64 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Memphis at 7:00 ET. Cincinnati has won SEVEN in a row and at 19-3 (8-1 in AAC, tied for 1st with Houston), finds itself in the AP top-25 for the first time this season (Bearcats were ranked 25th in Monday's new poll). Cincy embarks on a two-game road trip that starts tonight in Memphis against the 13-9 Tigers (5-4 in AAC play) and ends at 21-1 Houston on Sunday (Cougars are currently 12th in the latest AP poll). Cincinnati held off a second-half rally from SMU for a 73-68 triumph on Saturday, extending its winning streak to seven games. Meanwhile, Memphis comes in off two straight road losses. The Bearcats lost THREE key players from last year's team. Shooting guard Evans (13.0) and the 6-8 Clark (12.9 & 8.7) were NBA draft picks plus the 6-9 Washington (11.3 & 5.3) is also gone. Cincy depends WAY too much on Jarron Cumberlandand (18.7-4.0-3.5). He's second in the AAC in scoring and has scored 23 points or more in three straight games. A trio of guards join him on the perimeter in Williams (11.0), Jenifer (8.8) and Broome (8.2). The 6-8 Scott (9.3 & 6.3) and the 6-11 Brooks (8.5 & 5.7) are Cincy's top-two frontcourt contributors. Mick Cronin-coached teams always play defense and the Bearcats come in allowing 61.5 PPG (11th). Memphis wasted a record 41-point second-half performance from senior guard Jeremiah Martin in Saturday's 84-78 loss at South Florida on Saturday. The Tigers scored just 13 in the first 20 minutes and just couldn't recover. However, head coach Penny Hardaway told reporters after the game, “I’m proud of my guys for fighting back in the second half. The first half was a nightmare. The second half was our type of basketball.” Martin leads the team in scoring (16.4) and assists (4.3), while 6-8 senior forward Kyvon Davenport adds 14.4 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Tyler Harris (12.6) is the top three-point threat (56 makes) plus senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. adds 8.9 PPG. Memphis is nowhere near the defensive team Cincy is (Tigers allow 77.3 PPG, which ranks 301st) but here at FedEx Forum, Memphis is 11-1 SU, averaging 89.7 PPG (average margin of victory is 16-plus PPG!). This isn't exactly Cincy/Xavier in terms of a heated (hated?) rivalry but Memphis is looking to become relative again (the Pastner experience was a washout) and the Tigers would 'LOVE' to take down the Bearcats ahead of Saturday's showdown with Houston. Home dog barks LOUDLY in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-07-19 | Houston v. UCF +2.5 | Top | 77-68 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 2 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on UCF at 7:00 ET. Central Florida looked terrible in a 20-point loss at Memphis on Jan 27 but bounced back with a 73-67 home win last Thursday against UConn. The 16-4 Knights (6-2 in AAC play) haven't played since last Thursday and have to be excited about welcoming No. 12 Houston (21-1 / 8-1 in AAC play) to Orlando this Thursday. The Cougars also have had a week off since a 73-66 win over Temple, avenging their only loss of the season. Junior guard Armoni Brooks entered the last outing as the Cougars' leading scorer but he had an off night against Temple due to foul trouble and was held to a season-low three points. He's now second on the team in scoring (14.3)m but leads in rebounding (at 6.1) to senior guard Corey Davis Jr. (15.0), who had 24 points in the win over the Owls. Senior PG Galen Robinson Jr. sits second in the conference with 5.3 assists per game, while adding 8.1 PPG. Two more guards, Jarreau (8.0 & 3.7) and Hinton (7.7 & 4.5), round out Houston's top scorers. However, Kelvin Sampson has a trio of forwards who combine for about 20 PPG and 13 RPG. Senior guard B.J. Taylor, the conference preseason player of the year, is bidding to lead the club in scoring for the third straight season with an average of 16.9 points and the coaches' son, Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.1 PPG and 5.4 RPG. PG Allen (7.2 & 4.2 APG) makes for a nice guard trio plus 7-6 senior center Tacko Fall (9.8 points, team-high 7.1 rebounds) leads the conference with 2.8 blocks per game. He paces the AAC in field-goal shooting at 75.7 percent to help the Knights shoot a conference-best 46.8 percent. The 6-11 Smith (8.2 & 5.2) is a quality side-kick. Houston is a terrific defensive team, allowing 60.5 PPG (6th) on 36.3% shooting (2nd). UCF ranks second in the conference to Houston in field goal percentage defense (39.3) and third behind Houston and Cincinnati in scoring defense (63.9) but it's a much-improved and efficient offense that is the difference in the team this season (see above). Central Florida was the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference and has a GREAT chance here to make this a nip-and-tuck race to the finish by winning here. Houston and Cincy are both 8-1 but a UCF win over Houston and with some help, a Memphis home win tonight over Cincy, the Knights would be 7-2 to Houston and Cincy's 8-2 mark. UCF can't control the Cincy/Memphis outcome but the Knights can and WILL win here. Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-19 | Rockets v. Kings +3 | Top | 127-101 | Loss | -105 | 15 h 58 m | Show |
James Harden takes the court tonight in Sacramento, looking to record his 28th straight game of 30 or more points. The 31-22 Houston Rockets visit the 28-25 Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and have won 15 of their last 17 meetings against the Kings. However, this is not "your father's" Kings. The upstart Kings extended their home-court winning streak to SEVEN in a row on Monday, with a 127-112 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. A 28-25 mark may see ho-hum to some but Sacramento won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season. on Monday (current 12-year playoff drought), a triumph that left Sacramento on Harden poured in 44 points in Monday's 118-110 road win over the Phoenix Kings, registering his 20th, 40-point outing of the season. Harden has now scored 40 or more points in 15 of the last 21 games. "They held him to 44. That's pretty good," Housto head n coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters afterward. "He's seen everything, he's going to score." Power forward Kenneth Faried filled in at center with Capela out and had 17 points and matched his season best of 14 rebounds to post his fifth double-double in the past six games. However, he's played in just 20 games this season, averaging 9.7 & 6.3. The injury-ravaged Rockets have just four games remaining until the All-Star break offers some much-needed rest (more later). Sacramento is now 3-0 on a six-game homestand, after Monday's 127-112 victory over the Spurs. Rookie forward Marvin Bagley III (13.2 & 6.9) has recorded three straight double-doubles and had a season-high 24 points, to go along with 12 rebounds during the victory over the Kings. The No. 2 overall selection from Duke, is averaging 18.3 points and 12.3 rebounds over the past three games and scored in double digits in six straight outings. Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.4 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.9% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.5 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a future All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (14.9) and center Cauley-Stein (13.1 & 8.6) have become regular contributors. Here's the rub. The Rockets won in Phoenix on Monday without center Clint Capela (right thumb) and guard Eric Gordon (right leg), utilizing their 16th different starting lineup in the process. They have thrived on occasion despite the injuries, but far more often they have persevered, with forward P.J. Tucker the only member of the roster to have participated in all 53 contests. PG Chris Paul has missed 23 games this season, while Gordon has missed 12 and Capela 11. James Ennis III made his 25th start in the Rockets' 118-110 victory, but he's been absent 14 games. Have to LOVE the way Sacramento is playing and the team's stretch of home wins is the longest since the Kings won 14 straight during the 2005-06 campaign (last playoff appearance!). Sacramento is 17-10 SU and 19-8 ATS at the Golden 1 Center and comes in having won and covered SEVEN straight at home. No reason NOT to take them here as a home dog, considering the fact that Houston is 5-11 ATS as a road favorite this season. Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-19 | Colorado v. UCLA -5.5 | Top | 84-73 | Loss | -109 | 14 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on UCLA at 9:00 ET. UCLA dismissed head coach Steve Alford on December 31, 2018, two days after the Bruins' ugly 73-58 loss to Liberty. It marked the first time the program ever had made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the Bruins and in his first game (at home vs Stanford), UCLA ended a four-game slide with a 92-70 win over te Cardinal. Two more wins followed but the 'honeymoon' period is over for UCLA's interim coach, as following that 3-0 start in the conference, UCLA has dropped four of its last six Pac-12 games and finds itself in the middle of the pack at the midpoint of the conference season (12-10 / 5-4). The 12-9 Colorado Buffs visit Pauley Pavilion tonight, Meanwhile, Colorado comes in having dropped four of its last six and at 3-6 in the conference, is sitting above only Washington State (1-8) and California (0-9) in the standings. Surprisingly, the Buffaloes are coming off a win a lopsided 73-51 victory over visiting Oregon last Saturday. The Buffs dominated Oregon on the glass (45-32) and at the free-throw line, draining 24-of-28 attempts while the Ducks were 11-of-18. Sophomore swingman Tyler Bey led the way with a career-high 27 points on 9-of-9 shooting while pulling down 10 rebounds. Bey averages 12.2 PPG (2nd-best on te team) plus 8.9 RPG (team-leader). PG Wright leads the team in scoring (12.8) and assists (4.8) plus also averages a healthy 4.8 RPG. Fellow guards Gatling and Schwartz combine to chip in 17.6 PPG plus the 6-10 Siewert (11.6 & 5.1) is Colorado's best big man. Three of UCLA’s four Pac-12 losses have come on the road with the latest being a 69-55 decision Saturday at first-place Washington. The Bruins’ 55 points were a season low while connecting on only 4-of-15 3-point attempts and also committing 23 turnovers. Guard Kris Wilkes scored 20 of the Bruins’ 55 points and leads the team at 17.7 PPG. PG Jaylen Hands (11.7 & 6.5 APG), fellow gurad Prince Ali (10.7) and freshman center Moses Brown (11.2 & 8.8) round out UCLA's double digit scorers. Wilkes has scored in double figures in 24 straight contests (dating back to last season) and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three contests while shooting 56.3 percent during that span. Even after the 55-point effort versus Washington, the Bruins are averaging a conference-best 79.4 points in Pac-12 play, while the Buffaloes are 10th at just 69.4. The Bruins should still be highly motivated, as a possible top-4 seeding in the Pac-12 tournament would give them a bye into the quarterfinal round. UCLA should surely remember losing 68-59 at home to Colorado (as an 11 1/2-point favorite) and 80-76 in Boulder, last season. Note that prior to that, UCLA had won SEVEN of the eight matchups since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Revenge works here, as UCLA has won 40 of 46 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season and Colorado is 1-6 ATS away from Boulder since Dec 1, with the only "W" coming in 68-59 win at Pac-12 doormat Cal (0-9 in league play). Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-19 | Georgia v. Alabama -8 | 74-89 | Win | 100 | 12 h 50 m | Show | |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on Alabama at 9:00 ET. 13-8 Alabama has struggled to find consistency in SEC play, alternating wins and losses in its past seven conference games. The Crimson Tide sit 4-4 in league play, after getting routed last Saturday night at in-state rival Auburn, 84-63. Runs of 21-2 and 17-0 in the first half put Alabama in a 20-point hole at halftime in an eventual 21-point loss. Alabama returns home tonight to welcome 10-1 Georgia to Tuscaloosa. Unlike Alabama, Georgia has been consistent in SEC play. However, not in a good way. The Bulldogs have lost SEVEN of their first eight conference games under first-year coach Tom Crean, after Saturday’s 86-80 home loss to South Carolina. While Georgia's offense showed signs of promise in Saturday's loss with 80 points, the Bulldogs were torched defensively by 57 percent shooting from the floor and 69 percent shooting from three-point range by the Gamecocks. “Today, we did not guard the basketball, and we did not guard the shooter,” Crean told the media afterward. “After a while, the basket looked like Lake Michigan because it was so open. 6-9 senior forward Derek Ogbeide is averaging 14.6 points in his past three SEC games and has raised his average for the season to 10.0 PPG (also 6.0 rebounds), giving Georgia three frontcourt players averaging in double figures. 6-10 sophomore forward Rayshaun Hammonds (12.9 & 6.7) and fellow sophomore, the 6-11 Nicolas Claxton (12.7 & 9.3) are the other two. Guard Crump (10.5) joins those three frontcourt players in double digits. "They had more energy, they out-hustled us,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson told reporters after the loss at Auburn. “We didn’t have our best game. We got off to a decent start, but they got us with their transition offense (and) obviously their 3-point shooting.” Sophomore guard John Perry scored a team-best 18 points Saturday, and in his past four SEC games is averaging 19 points per game (up to12.0 PPG on the season). Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the Crimson Tide in scoring at 13.6 PPG. Up front, 6-9 senior forward Donta Hall is third in the SEC in rebounding at 8.9 per contest and eighth in blocked shots at two per game while averaging 11.5 PPG. Heavily-recruited freshman PG Kira Lewis (13.6 ppg) continues to display remarkable poise and self-confidence and gets better with each game. Also, senior forward Donta Hall is flirting with a double-double every game. I already noted Georgia's SEC woes (1-7 conference start) and includes going 0-4 SU & 1-3 ATS on the road, allowing 92 points or more in THREE of the four! Alabama may also just remember LY's 65-46 blowout in Athens, its worst offensive showing of the 2017-18 campaign. Alabama takes this one with "room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-06-19 | Connecticut v. Temple -3.5 | 63-81 | Win | 100 | 9 h 48 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Temple at 6:30 ET. UConn travels to Philly with a 13-9 overall record, including 4-5 in AAC play. Connecticut has taken advantage of a soft schedule in recent weeks, having defeated Tulane (0-9), Wichita State (3-6) and East Carolina (2-7), three of the bottom four teams in the AAC (Huskies lost at 16-4 / 6-2 UCF last Thursday). However, the Huskies will face a stiffer test Wednesday at Temple. The Owls are 16-6 overall (6-3 in AAC play) and 8-2 SU on their home floor. UConn is led by the backcourt duo of senior Jalen Adams (17.7 & 4.0) and junior Christian Vital (13.8 & 5.3). The Huskies rolled over East Carolina 76-52 on Sunday but Adams was benched for most of the second half after he walked away from head coach Dan Hurley, and then the two engaged in a more animated exchange. "His game was over at that point, regardless of where the score went," Hurley told reporters. "We could have lost by 18, he was done." Adams was held scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting but the 6-11 Josh Carlton (just 8.1 & 5.5 on the season) picked up the slack with 20 points and 16 rebounds (both career highs). Temple owns a three-headed scoring attack on the perimeter in PG Shizz Alston Jr. (18.4 & 4.9 APG) plus fellow guards Quinton Rose (17.1) and Nate Pierre-Louis (13.8 & 6.0). The Owls have a chance here to make a statement as to whether they will be a player in the AAC down the stretch, or just one of the also-rans. I'm sure UConn is aching for a rematch after suffering its worst AAC loss of 2017-18 in last season's 85-57 thumping in Philly. However, UConn is 0-4 SU in true road games this season. The Owls are 8-2 SU at home this season, so this pointspread seems more that manageable, especially not knowing UConn's Adams state of mind (see above). Good luck...Larry |
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02-05-19 | Florida State v. Syracuse -2.5 | Top | 80-62 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Week is on Syracuse at 8:00 ET. The Florida State Seminoles opened the season with a 12-1 record and were ranked 9th in the AP poll when they lost 65-52 at UVa on Jan 5. That began a 1-4 stretch but the Seminoles have rebounded from a three-game losing streak to win three in a row and at 16-5 (4-4 ACC) are No. 22 in the current AP poll. Syracuse lost at home to 'neighbor' Buffalo 71-59 back on Dec 18 but the Orange have since gone 9-2 SU & ATS to check in at 16-6, including 7-2 in ACC play. The Seminoles didn't do much offensively against Georgia Tech in a 69-59 win at Ga Tech in their last game. "We've got to find a way to smooth it out where we're consistent with how we go out and perform every night out," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told reporters. "That's kind of been a moving target for us. I'm just glad that we're back to 4-4 (in the ACC). We have to keep hopefully moving in the right direction." Only two Florida State players scored in double figures, the 6-10 Mfiondu Kabengele (13.0 & 5.0) and guard Terance Mann (11.4 & 6.6), who scored 12 points apiece. FSU finished at 34.8 percent from the floor (including 4-of-16 on threes) but held the Yellow Jackets to 28.3 percent shooting, including 3-of-21 from beyond the arc. Syracuse's leading scorer, Tyus Battle (17.5), scored 31 points against Boston College last week but in his other three games since Jan 24, he has averaged just 8.7 points on 8-of-31 shooting. On the other hand, PG Frank Howard (8.4 & 3.3 APG) is coming on of late and scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half of Saturday's win against Pittsburgh. Up front, head coach Jim Boeheim's team features forwards Elijah Hughes (14.1 & 4.4) and the Oshae Brissett (13.5 & 7.6). as always, Boeheim's zone D is giving opponents fits this season, as Syracuse allows just 63.6 PPG (20th in the nation). FSU's Kabengele averages only 19.3 minutes (fifth-most on the team) but leads the Seminoles in scoring (13.0).I'm not sure he and the 7-4 Koumadji (6.4 & 5.4) will match up all that well against Syracuse's frontcourt duo of Hughes and Brisset. The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between these two schools and note that Syracuse is allowing just 58.3 PPG in its 14 home games this season. The Orange were able to win at Duke earlier and should have little trouble shutting down FSU's mediocre offense here in the Carrier Dome. Good luck...Larry |
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02-05-19 | Clippers v. Hornets -3.5 | Top | 117-115 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* NBA Game of the Week is on the Cha Hornets at 7:05 ET. The LA Clippers are 29-25, a record which gives them the West's No. 8 seed. LA is just 2 1/2 games out of the No. 5 seed but also just three games ahead of the No. 11 seed. The Clippers continue their six-game road trip with a visit to Charlotte on Tuesday. The Hornets are 26-26, leaving them with the East's No. 7 seed, three games up on the 9th-seeded Pistons. Charlotte has knocked off Memphis and Chicago in the first two of a three-game homestand. The Clippers got off to a fine start on their six-game road trip with a win at Detroit on Saturday but could not handle Toronto on Sunday on the second of a back-to-back, dropping a 121-103 decision. Visits to Indiana, Boston and Minnesota will round out the trip, as LA clings to the No. 8 spot in the West. PF Harris continues to lead the team in scoring (20.7) and rebounding (7.9), while Lou Williams (19.2 & 5.7 APG) continues to play as well as any sixth-man in the league. SF Gallinari (19.0 & 6.0) and backup PF Harrell (15.6 & 6.7) are both major contributors, as well. All-Star PG Kemba Walker (24.6-4.2-5.6) continues to carry the team and scored 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter on Saturday against Chicago, while adding 10 assists. NINE more players get regularly minutes for Charlotte, averaging between 6.6 and 14.8 PPG. 6-5 SG Lamb is the team's second-best scorer and also leads the team in rebounding (5.6). Finding secondary scoring is the always a big challenge for Charlotte but second-year guard Malik Monk (10.4) is stepping up as of late. He scored 18 points against the Bulls, his fourth straight game scoring in double figures. The Hornets are catching the Clippers at the right time, as LA limps into Charlotte 5-9 SU & ATS over the team's last 14 games. Meanwhile, Charlotte is 19-8 SU at home (compared to 7-18 on the road), having won FIVE straight at Spectrum Center (4-1 ATS), as well as NINE of 10 since mid-December. No real pointspread to cover here, so go with the Hornets. Good luck...Larry |
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02-04-19 | Penn State v. Northwestern -3.5 | Top | 59-52 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Northwestern at 7:00 ET. Penn State picked up some nice victories early in the season (the best being a 63-62 win over now 18-3 Virginia Tech) but the Nittany Lions are 0-10 in Big 12 play, after opening 2019 with EIGHT consecutive losses (2-6 ATS). Penn State (7-14, 0-10 Big Ten) visits Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston to take on Northwestern (12-9, 3-7 Big Ten) on Monday. The Wildcats look to halt a two-game losing skid when they host Penn State. Northwestern dropped a 62-46 decision at Wisconsin on Jan 26, before suffering a 70-52 setback at then-No. 21 Maryland on Jan 29 (Northwestern is 0-4 against ranked teams this season). Penn State is still winless in Big Ten play after coming up short in its upset bid of No. 17 Purdue on Thursday. The Nittany Lions rallied from a 17-point deficit to force overtime against the red-hot Boilermakers, but ended up on the wrong side of a 99-90 final. Penn St looks for its first win of 2019, as the Nittany Lions last win came back on Dec 29 against UMBC. "I know our record isn't what we expect or where we want it to be but the kids are competing and playing hard," Penn State head coach Patrick Chambers told reporters. "The ultimate goal down the stretch here in February is that they continue to progress."The 6-8 Lamar Stevens leads in scoring (18.9) and rebounding (7.7) and had a team-high 24 points and pulled down six rebounds in the loss to Purdue. Guard Rasir Bolton (10.1 & 4.7) had 18 points and is joined in the backcourt by PG Josh Reaves (10.1 & 3.6 APG) and Myles Dread (9.0). The 6-9 Watkins (8.5 & 8.6) joins Stevens up front. The 6-7 Vic Law leads Northwestern in scoring (15.3) and adds 6.6 RPG. He was limited to five points in the loss to Maryland. Anthony Gaines (6.5 & 4.4) scored 11 of his career-high 18 points in the second half and pulled down seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats shot 31 percent from the floor in the loss to Maryland. 6-8 center Dererk Pardon (13.9 & 7.8) added 14 points and seven rebounds against the Terrapins to finish in double figures for the 19th time in 21 games. Ryan Taylor (11.7) joins Gaines in the backcourt, while the 6-7 Turner (8.1) joins the frontcourt plus leads the team in assists (3.3). I guess Penn St will eventually win a game but I don't expect it to be here against a Northwestern team that still has postseason hopes (albeit one of the three-lettered ones!). Penn State has lost EIGHT consecutive true road games, including all SIX this season while averaging only 62.7 PPG. Meanwhile, Northwestern is 9-3 SU at home, while holding opponents to 60.8 PPG at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The price is 'cheap' in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-04-19 | Hawks v. Wizards -6 | Top | 137-129 | Loss | -105 | 12 h 13 m | Show |
The 17-35 Atlanta Hawks sit 7 1/2 games out of the East's final playoff spot as they head into the finale of a seven-game road trip Monday night at the 22-30 Washington Wizards. The Hawks are 3-3 on the trip so far, after Saturday’s 118-112 victory at Phoenix. The Wizards continue to adjust to life without PG John Wall (20.7 & 8.7 APG), as they come off losing 131-115 at home to Milwaukee on Saturday, their fourth defeat in the past six games. However, Washington sits a more modest 2 1/2 games out of the East's No. 8 seed. Atlanta’s draft-night trade sent Luka Doncic to Dallas for Trae Young. Doncic is likely headed for ROY honors but Young's 'star' is 'shining brightly' these days as well. He has scored 20 or more points with eight-plus assists in each of his last four games, scoring 27 points with eight assists and seven rebounds in Saturday's win over the Suns. He's second on the team in scoring (16.9) and leads Atlanta by handing out 7.4 APG. Atlanta's top scorer and rebounder is second-year player John Collins. The 6-10 big man out of Wake Forest averages 19.7 & 9.9. Collins matched his career high with 35 points Saturday and added 16 rebounds (one off his career best). The Hawks have plenty of depth, as seven players average in double digits but the team struggles because it allows 118.0 PPG (30th of 30 teams). Guard Bradley Beal (24.7-5.0-5.1) scored 24 points in the loss to Milwaukee but he continues to raise his game in Wall’s absence, averaging 27.3 points and shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range in the 17 games since Wall was shut down with a season-ending ankle injury. PG Tomas Satoransky made 41 starts when Wall was injured last season and is averaging 10.4 points and 5.8 assists in 30 starts this season. Trevor Ariza was acquired from Phoenix and the SF has played very well in 22 games, averaging 14.8-5.8-4.1. Otto Porter Jr. (12.6 & 5.6) returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for most of January, and despite a sprained toe finished with 18 points and seven rebounds Saturday. The Hawks have been on an extended road trip because of the Super Bowl being played in Atlanta and will return home after Monday's game. I have to like the Wizards in this one, as the Hawks are just 9-22 SU on the road, allowing a whopping 118.2 PPG. Meanwhile, the Wizards are 7-3 SU and 8-2 ATS at home their last 10. Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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02-03-19 | Patriots v. Rams OVER 56 | Top | 13-3 | Loss | -103 | 76 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* Total of the Month is on the over (6:30 EST). Two teams which revolve around their offensive units collide in the Super Bowl this year. Each team’s defense was decent this season, but clearly each side will be expecting the offense to carry the load and win the day in the end. So with that in mind, I’m definitely expecting a more wide-open affair in Atlanta this Sunday. Tom Brady may never get another shot at winning a record breaking sixth Super Bowl, so it’s essentially now or never for the living legend. The Rams played very little defense this year, but instead relied on their dynamic offense as well, centred around QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley. Brady has less weapons surrounding him perhaps than ever before, but it still didn’t stop him from beating the Chiefs 37-31 on the road last Sunday (and for a second time this season.) Pats’ RB Sony Michel was a bright spot as well in the victory with 113 yards on 29 carries. In fact five different Patriots caught at least four passes, with Julian Edelman leading the way with seven receptions for 80 yards. The Rams could obviously care less about Brady’s legacy. They didn’t care too much about veteran Drew Brees’ legacy last weekend after their controversial 26-23 OT win over the Saints. LA had been torched for 45 points by the Saints in the first meeting between the teams (a Rams loss), and while the defense looked better last week, I still think they’ll have their hands full with Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels. Are ATS stats relevant at this point of the season and in this situation? Perhaps not, but I still think it’s interesting to note that NE has seen the total go over the number in seven of its last eight playoff games, while St. Louis has seen the total eclipse the posted number in five of its last six when playing with two or more weeks of rest. As stated off the top, I’m expecting a wide open affair. Play the over. Good luck…Larry |
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02-03-19 | Patriots -2.5 v. Rams | 13-3 | Win | 100 | 76 h 30 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on the New England Patriots (6:30 EST). With a spread like this, clearly the oddsmakers all agree that these teams are very evenly matched. Honestly it wouldn’t be hard to write a convincing argument for either to this one. New England of course is the most storied franchise in the recent history of the NFL. This is Pats’ QB Tom Brady’s ninth Super Bowl. Brady is looking for a record breaking sixth championship win and I believe his veteran poise in this big game will “win the day.” As I stated off the top, clearly it wouldn’t be difficult to write a great argument on why the Rams should win this game. The combination of Jared Goff and Todd Gurley is a formidable one. Goff and the Rams dispatched the Saints 26-23 in OT in New Orleans two weeks ago, avenging an earlier loss in which they were torched for 45 points. Plenty of controversy surrounded the Rams victory of course and while that’s now in the past, I think LA will have its hands full again with the veteran Brady. Brady and company looked sharp in their 37-31 win in Kansas City. Pats’ RB Sony Michel had 113 yards on 29 carries, while WR Julian Edelman led the way with seven catches for 96 yards. The Pats’ looked extremely sharp defensively last week I thought though, although the score may not have completely reflected that, as note the unit held Chiefs’ dynamic QB Patrick Mahomes to just 16 of 31 passes, while also sacking him four times (Mahomes finished the regular season with 50 passing TDs). I like Brady. I like New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Bill Bellichick over their younger and less experienced counterparts. He’s not my favorite player, but wagering on the Super Bowl has nothing to do with who you personally “like.” Brady is a man on a mission and I look for him to put on a vintage performance here. Play on New England. Good luck…Larry |
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02-03-19 | Xavier v. Creighton -6.5 | Top | 54-76 | Win | 100 | 6 h 1 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout Winner is on Creighton at 1:00 ET. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons but this season is shaping up much differently. The Musketeers have missed the NCAA Tournament just ONCE in the last 13 seasons and haven't finished with a losing conference record since 1982. However, both of those scenarios are in danger of becoming reality in the 2018-19 season. Xavier was the Big East's regular-season champion last season (15-3) but enter Sunday in a tie for last-place in the conference at 3-6 with Providence. The Musketeers lost for a fourth straight time Thursday at Georgetown (80-73), falling to 11-11. As for Creighton (12-9 / 3-5 Big East), the Bluejays rank second in the Big East in scoring with 82.7 PPG and are one of seven teams in the nation shooting at least 50 percent from the floor (50.1% ranks 5th) but the offense "crapped out" in an 83-67 loss at home to St. John's on Wednesday (Creighton finished with a season-worst 41.7 percent mark from the floor). "I was really disappointed," head coach Travis Steele told reporters after Xavier allowed 52 second-half points in the loss at Georgetown. "I told our guys going into the game we couldn't have the mentality to try to outscore the Hoyas. We had to have that defensive nastiness and toughness, which I didn't think we had at all in the second half." Xavier has great balance on offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Guard Scruggs (13.4 & 4.9) leads the way, followed by the 6-7 Marshall (13.3 & 7.0), PG Goodin (12.1 & 4.8 APG), the 6-9 Jones (11.0 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Hankins (10.2 & 4.9). So why is Xavier 11-11? The Bluejays had won two straight before their uncharacteristic offensive struggles vs St John's, which included a 9-of-34 showing from beyond the arc. Alexander leads the team in scoring (17.4) while four other players average between 10.0 and 11.4 PPG. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (10.9 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.8) and Mintz (10.0) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.4 & 6.3) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) have been the best frontcourt contributors but Jefferson remains out with an ankle injury. No reason to think that Creighton won't bounce back from its horrible shooting effort on Wednesday, as the Bluejays not only rank 5th nationally by making 50.1% of all FGs, they also rank 4th in the nation from three-point range at 41.6%. Xavier is 1-5 SU in true road games this year, where the team is averaging just 62.8 PPG. I expect a big bounce-back effort from Creighton and Xavier will NOT be able to keep up. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | 76ers v. Kings +3.5 | Top | 108-115 | Win | 100 | 13 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET. The Philadelphia 76ers are 34-18 (currently own the East's third-best record, four game back of the Bucks) and will try to avoid a letdown after what has to be the team's best win of the season. The 76ers put up a 42-point third quarter en route to a 113-104 win at Golden State on Thursday, snapping the defending champs' 11-game winning streak. Philly now wraps up a four-game road trip at the Sacramento Kings, who are 26-25. That may not seem like much but Sacramento won just 27 games ALL of last season and last produced a winning record back in the 2005-06 season. "It's a fantastic win. This group -- myself included -- we have not beaten Golden State," head coach Brett Brown told reporters. "To do it on the road, to do it in front of their fans against a team that is this good and had won that many in a row, it is a good night." Joel Embiid had 26 points and 20 rebounds in the victory as Philadelphia improved to 14-5 against the Western Conference, the top mark in the East. Embiid (27.2 & 13.4) gets better each game and is supported by Butler (18.6-3.2-5.0 in his 30 games with Philly), Redick (18.3) and Simmons (16.8-9.5-8.1). Philly averages 115.6 PPG (4th-best) but allows 111.9 PPG (21st), including 114.8 PPG on the road where the 76ers are a modest 13-13. The Kings returned from a 2-4 road trip and routed the Atlanta Hawks 135-113 on Wednesday night. Harry Giles (just 6.0 PPG on the season) recorded a season-high 20 points for Sacramento in what was the opener of a six-game homestand. Rookie Marvin Bagley III backed Giles' big effort with 17 points and 12 rebounds of his own against Atlanta as the young Duke products provided a potential glimpse of the future for Sacramento. He's back healthy and is averaging 12.9 & 6.6 RPG. Buddy Hield, the key player in the Boogie Cousins trade, leads Sacramento in averaging 20.2 PPG, while shooting a white-hot 45.8% on threes. Second-year PG Fox (17.4 & 7.2 APG) is looking like a futre All-Star as well. Also, Bogdanovich (15.3) and center Cauley-Stein (13.1 & 8.7) have become regular contributors. Head coach Dave Joerger has an "under the radar" good team in Sacramento. Aren't the Sixers in an obvious "let-down" situation here? It shouldn't go unnoticed that Philly is just 12-20 ATS coming off a SU win this season and beating Golden St in Oakland is no ordinary win! Meanwhile, Sacramento is 15-10 SU and 17-8 ATS at the Golden 1 Center and comes in having won and covered five straight at home. The Kings have also won FOUR of their last five over Philly, including a 2-0 SU & ATS sweep last season. Home dog barks LOUDLY in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | Cal-Irvine -5 v. Long Beach State | 82-80 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 17 m | Show | |
My 8* Bailout Blowout is on UC-Irvine at 10:00 ET. The UC Irvine Anteaters and Long Beach State 49ers meet Saturday in college basketball action at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. UC-Irvine is the class of the Big West, checking in at 18-5, including 6-1 in league play. Meanwhile, Long Beach St is just 8-14, including 2-4 in conference games. The Anteaters have won seven of their last eight games but the loss came at home to LBSU, 80-70 on Jan 16. Meanwhile, the 49ers could really use a victory here, as they enter on a four-game losing streak UC-Irvine owns a solid backcourt duo in Hazzard (11.5) and Leonard (10.4) but this team is mostly about defense, as the Anteaters allow just 65.0 PPG (74th), while holding opponents to only 38.5% from the floor (8th-best in the nation). UC-Irvine is an excellent 9-2 SU in true road games and will seek revenge here (more on that later). Long Beach St has a long trip back from a Thursday night game in Hawaii, with the trip being made even longer due toan 74-57 loss. PG Booker (17.4 & 4.7 PG) and fellow guard Alberts (10.3) give LBSU a solid backcourt but the 6-7 Yussef (12.2 & 6.9) had not played since Dec 29. He returned at Hawaii but scored just THREE points. The 6-7 Byers (8.2 & 6.2) is the only other notable frontcourt contributor. While UC-Irvine clamps down on the defensive end, LBSU allows 77.4 PPG (30th)! Yes, UC-Irvine is the road team but while UCI makes the short trip up I-405 to "the Beach" and the Pyramid, LBSU had to fly back from Hawaii on Friday. "Payback" plays a big part here, as UC-Irvine's excelellent D (see above), allowed LBSU to score 80 points in that home loss at the Bren Center back on Jan 16. The Anteaters are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games and the road team is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings between the two Big West rivals. Long Beach comes in on an 0-4 SU & ATS run. UC-Irvine knows how to win on the road and does just that here, with "room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | Alabama v. Auburn -9 | Top | 63-84 | Win | 100 | 12 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Rout is on Auburn at 8:00 ET. Alabama/Auburn in college hoops is not quite like the "Iron Bowl" on the football field but is still carries plenty of 'weight!' 13-7 Alabama (4-3 SEC) knocked off three ranked teams last in January and now looks to start February in style with a road victory against in-state rival Auburn on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide beat now-No. 7 Kentucky on Jan 5 and then-No. 20 Ole Miss on Jan 22, before taking a double-digit lead and holding on for an 83-79 victory over 22-ranked Mississippi State on Tuesday. As for 14-6 Auburn (3-4 SEC), the Tigers won NINE of their first 10 games but have gone 5-5, since. Auburn was ranked 14th at 13-3, when it lost to Kentucky, the first of a three-game skid. The Tigers snapped that three-game losing streak by pulling away in the second half for a 92-58 victory over visiting Missouri on Wednesday, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson told reporters his team still has “malfunctions,” but continues to battle and possesses strong balance: “We had quite a few guys offensively contribute (Tuesday). When you have eight guys in the rotation with six, seven or more points, it’s kind of hard to scout where our offense is coming from.” PG Lewis leads in scoring at 13.9 PPG but his team-high 2.8 APG is VERY low for a PG. Fellow guard Petty averages 11.8 & 4.2, while four more guards chip in between 6.6 & 8.6 PPG. The 6-9 Hall (11.7 & 8.9) is 'Bama's lone big man of note. “Three (losses) in a row, that wasn’t us,” Tigers junior forward Danjel Purifoy told reporters after scoring a season-high eight points against Missouri. “We just came out tonight just trying to be ourselves and play like we normally play.” Senior guard Bryce Brown (16.8) is the team's leading scorer and tops the team in three-point makes (71). Junior PG Jared Harper (15.4) leads the SEC in assists (6.5), while 6-8 sophomore forward Chuma Okeke has stepped up in Austin Wiley's absence, to average 10.6 & 6.3 on the season. He's averaging 12.8 points over the last five contests, with the 6-11 Wiley (10.8 & 6.1) missing the last four with a leg injury. This is an important crossroads SEC contest, as Alabama has not won back-to-back games in almost a month and need to add a win here to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. Same for Auburn, which sits under .500 in the SEC. It's been reported that the 6-11 Wiley is slated to return from injury for this rivalry game and that would be GREAT news. Even if he's not back, I'm "all over' the revenge-minded Tigers, who were knocked out of the 1st round of the SEC tourney last year in a 81-63 loss to Alabama. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | San Francisco v. St. Mary's -5 | Top | 80-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on St Mary's at 4:00 ET. It's hardly news that 20-2 Gonzaga (No. 4 in the latest AP poll) is dominating the WCC once again with a 7-0 record. However, what is a surprise, is that the St Mary's Gaels are just 13-8 overall, including only 4-3 in league play (that leaves then tied for 4th in the WCC). The Gaels will welcome San Francisco to Moraga, Ca this afternoon The surprising Dons have won 20 and 22 games the last two seasons (lost in the CIT championship game last year) but not many predicted them to be 17-4 (5-2 in WCC play) at this point in this year's season. The Dons look to get back in the win column after a 67-64 loss at San Diego on Tuesday, which ended a three game winning streak. San Francisco appeared to be in control with an 11-point lead at the break but San Diego went on a 46-31 second half run behind a 47.8%-34.5% shooting edge and seven more makes at the FT line.San Francisco starts guards Mineland (14.9 & 5.1), Ferrari (13.7-5.5 APG) and Ratinho (9.7), with the 7-0 Lull (8.0 & 5.5) and the 6-8 Renfro (7.2 & 5.30, up front. However, the 6-9 McCarthy comes off the bench to average 10.5 PPG and a team-high 6.8 RPG. The Saint Mary’s Gaels limp in having dropped back to back contests, after an 84-77 OT loss at Pepperdine as an eight point favorite (lost at BYU 71-66 before that). The 6-8 Malik Fitts (15.7 & 7.8) kept the Gaels in the game pouring in 27 points and hauling in nine rebounds, while leading scorer Jordan Ford (21.7) had 17 points. Joining Ford in the backcourt are PG Kuhse (4.6 & 3.2 APG) and Krebs (9.0 & 4.2). 6-10 center Howard averages 9.4 & 6.0. Randy Bennett's first six seasons at St Mary's resulted in just one postseason appearance (a first round NCAA loss in 2005). However, he's led the Gaels to 11 straight postseason berths entering this season. That streak could end in 2019, as St Mary's checks in just 13-8. However, don't be too quick to eliminate the Gaels. San Francisco might be the second best team in the WCC but it will be tough to sweep the Gaels (won 76-72 at home back on Jan 3). There is plenty of pride on this St Mary's program and note that the Gaels are not just 10-2 SU at home this season but also a MONEY-MAKING 10-2 ATS (have outscored opponents 87.1-to-65.9 PPG). Revenge works, here! Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | North Carolina -1.5 v. Louisville | 79-69 | Win | 100 | 6 h 35 m | Show | |
My ACC Ranked vs Ranked Showdown is an 8* on North Carolina at 2;00 ET. Louisville is on its best stretch ever in the ACC (six straight wins), although it is admittedly a sample size that includes only five seasons.However, the 15th-ranked Cardinals (16-5) are 7-1 in ACC play, tied atop the league with UVa and Duke. Coming to town on Saturday for this critical ACC showdown is No. 9 North Carolina (14-6 / 6-1 in the ACC), which was stunned by Louisville 83-62 back on Jan 12 in Chapel Hill (Tar Heels were favored by points). That romp was the first of what has become three ACC road victories by margins of more than 20 points for the Cardinals, while the Tar Heels have won four games in a row since the loss to Louisville. Fair to say this game sets up, well! Carolina comes in off crushing Georgia Tech 77-54 on Tuesday. Senior guard Cameron Johnson (leading scorer at 15.8 PPG) scored a game-high 22 on 8-of-10 shooting Tuesday, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Freshman guard Coby White (15.2 & a team-high 4.2 APG) added 19 while hitting five from downtown, as the Tar Heels have shot 48.1 percent overall and 47.1 percent beyond the arc in their last two. Up front, 6-8 senior Maye averages 13.9 & 9.7 plus 6-6 freshman Little averages 10.5 & 4.5. North Carolina 'lights up' scoreboards, averaging 87.3 PPG (3rd-best). Louisville dominated all aspects of its win three weeks ago in handing Tar Heels their worst home loss under coach Roy Williams. Cardinals center Steven Enoch had a season-high 17 off the bench in that win, while forwards Dwayne Sutton and Jordan Nwora also chipped in with 17. That victory ignited a six-game winning streak for Louisville, with its most recent victory coming in an 82-54 blowout at Wake Forest on Wednesday. The 6-7 Nwora leads the team in scoring (18.7) and rebounding (7.8), while SF Sutton (10.2 & 6.9) and PG Cunningham (10.1 & 4.4 APG) are the only other players in double digits. However, Louisville does average 79.6 PPG, ranking 48th in the nation I have to go with the revenge motive here, as the Tar Heels are not only third in the nation in scoring (87.6 points) but second in the country in assists per game (19.8). The Tar Heels are 4-0 in ACC road games for the first time in 11 seasons and they are 6-1 overall in true road this season (winning by 15 points per), falling only at then-No. 7 Michigan. In the past five games, Louisville has encountered only one ranked team (won at home against NC State) but this contest with the Tar Heels marks the first of four straight games for Louisville against ranked teams (watch out!). First things first. NC gets its revenge right here. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | Oklahoma -2 v. West Virginia | 71-79 | Loss | -108 | 6 h 58 m | Show | |
The first 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on Oklahoma at 12 noon ET. Oklahoma is 15-6 overall but just 3-5 in Big-12 play, after an embarrassing 77-47 home loss on Big Monday by Baylor, when the Sooners shot a season-worst 27% from the floor. OU travels to Morgantown on Saturday for a 12 noon contest against West Va, which is just 9-12, including a woeful 1-7 in Big-12 play. “Not much from our direction, not much positive,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger told reporters after his team’s third loss in five games. “(The Bears) had their way on both ends of the floor. We didn’t do what we have to do to fight that off. We were way too tentative to match their physicality.” Not one Sooners player managed to hit half their field goal attempts in Monday’s setback and outside of Kristian Doolittle’s team-high 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, the rest of the team's starters combined to go 5-for-29 from the floor and 2-for-15 from three-point range.6-4 senior gaurd Christian James leads in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (7.3), while the 6-9 Manek (11.1 & 6.7) is the only other Sooner in double digits. However, six Oklahoma players chip in between 4.1 and 8.9 PPG. “This team gets loose balls less than any team I’ve ever had,” head coach Huggins told reporters after the frustrating loss that saw a pair of technical fouls lead to the coach’s ejection late in the second half. “They offensive-rebound it less than any team I’ve ever had. When you couple that with not being very good shooters, that’s a formula for being (9-12).” It’s hard to argue with Huggins' assessment, as the Mountaineers are last in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage (42.1), field-goal percentage defense (44) and steals (5.8). What's more, the Mountaineers could be without two key performers, 6-8 forward Sagaba Konote and junior guard James Bolden. Konote leads the team in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (8.0) but is out indefinitely with a knee injury, while Bolden (12.2) missed the Iowa State loss due to an ankle injury. Expect Lon Kruger’s Oklahoma team to quickly regain its mojo against West Va's sieve-like defense, which has yielded a whopping 83 points or more in FIVE of its last 6six game. As Bob Huggins has bemoaned, “We generally take pride in being able to guard, but this group’s made me a liar.” Also not that the Mountaineers enter February ranked 328th out of 351 Division I teams with 15.8 turnovers per game. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | Memphis v. South Florida | 78-84 | Win | 100 | 6 h 57 m | Show | |
The third 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on USF at 12 noon ET. South Florida looks to continue its climb into the top half of the American Athletic Conference with a third straight victory when Memphis pays a visit on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls are 14-6 (4-4 in AAC play) and have already won their most contests (14) since 2011-12. USF is off seasons of 10, 7, 8, 9 and 12 wins. The Bulls have answered a three-game losing streak by beating Wichita State on Jan 22, before rolling to a 77-57 win at East Carolina last Saturday. Memphis (13-8 / 5-3 in AAC) had a big win over UCF at home last Sunday (77-57) but turned the ball over 17 times and allowed 54.5 percent shooting from the floor in a 97-79 loss at Tulsa on Wednesday (Memphis had won four of its previous five games). “First half we were going through the motions,” Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway told the Commercial Appeal after the Tulsa loss. “Second half we were like, ‘We’re about to lose, let’s play hard.’ Which is weird, but that’s how it’s happened with us on the road all year.” Senior guard Jeremiah Martin leads the team in scoring (15.1) and assists (4.3), but is just 2-of-20 from three-point range over the last four contests. 6-8 senior forward Kyvon Davenport adds 14.5 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game while senior guard Kareem Brewton Jr. (9.1) is averaging 12 points in league contests. Freshman guard Tyler Harris (13.0) is the top three-point threat (55 makes). "I’m really proud of our guys,” USF coach Brian Gregory told reporters after the team's 20-point road win at ECU. “We said this was a response week. We win the game against Wichita State (54-41) and now you go on the road. Our guys wanted nothing to do with anything other than getting it done.” Junior transfer Laquincy Rideau continues to shine at the point, averaging 13.9 points along with league highs of 5.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game after recording a double-double () in the win at East Carolina. Sophomore guard David Collins leads in scoring (14.3), while 6-8 sophomore forward Alexis Yetna had 28 points and 13 rebounds at East Carolina for his 10th double-double of the season. He's averaging 13.2 PPG and leads the AAC in rebounds (10.1). These schools split a pair of games last season but the Bulls have won 11 of their 13 contests in Tampa this season, while the Tigers have struggled to a 2-7 record away from home, including going 1-4 in true road games while allowing 86.8 PPG. I'm on USF. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-19 | Virginia Tech v. NC State -2 | 47-24 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 57 m | Show | |
The second 9* Eye-Opener for Saturday is on NC State at 12 noon ET. No. 23 North Carolina State (16-5 / 4-4 in ACC) just missed out on an upset of No. 3 Virginia on Tuesday night, wiping out a 14-point second-half deficit and then missing on a chance to force a second overtime. Markell Johnson drew a three-shot foul in the final second, but missed the first foul shot and made the final two. The Cavaliers won 66-65. The Wolfpack now welcome the ACC's other team from the Commonwealth on Saturday to PNC Arena in Raleigh, the 12th-ranked Va Tech Hokies (17-3 / 6-2 in ACC). While NC State was in a life-and-death struggle with UVa in its last contest, Va tech had no such concerns in its last outing, Wednesday night in Miami. Tech closed within a game of the conference lead (Va, Duke and Louisville are all 7-1) by taking down Miami 82-70 in Coral Gables. Sophomore Nickeil Alexander-Walker (17.9- 4.2-3.8) tied a season high with 25 points in Wednesday's win. He is one of a trio of Va Tech guards averaging in double digits. He's joined by PG Robinson (14.4 & 5.4 APG) and Hill (13.6). The 6-10 Blackshear (12.7 & 6.4) rounds out the team's double digit scorers. Robinson is the reigning ACC Player of the Week but he left Wednesday’s win at Miami with a left ankle injury and his availability for Saturday is in doubt. With 6-5 small forward P.J. Horne also out indefinitely with an injury, the Hokies could have only seven scholarship players available - and one of them has seen only two minutes of action in ACC play. Kevin Keatts' Wolfpack like to put as many as four guards on the floor at a time and push the tempo. Swingman Torin Dorn is the team’s top scorer (14.2) and rebounder (6.7) despite being just 6-6, while C.J. Bryce (12.2 points) and PG Markell Johnson (11.9 & 3.9 APG) both shoot better than 43 percent from three-point range. Devon Daniels (10.2 & 4.9) and Braxton Beverly (9.6) also contribute to a talent-rich backcourt. 6-10 sophomore Funderbunk (8.4 & 4.10 is NC State's best inside player. At this point of the season, the Hokies are playing for a double-bye in the ACC tournament and a potential top-four seed in the Big Dance. However, I don't believe this visit to Raleigh will go well, especially if Robinson is out or limited. Either way, I'm taking the Wolfpack at home, where they are 12-2 SU and outscoring opponents on average, 87.1-to-65.9 PPG. Let me note that NC State’s bench averages 32.7 points and has outscored opponents’ reserves by 322 points through 21 games. One last thing... The Wolfpack have won three straight home meetings with the Hokies. Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-19 | Rockets v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 122-136 | Win | 100 | 14 h 46 m | Show |
My NBA 10* Game of the Week is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET. Houston's James Harden continued his scoring spree with 37 points on Tuesday, his 24th straight game of 30 or more points. "It's a terrible loss for us. Terrible," Harden told reporters afterward. "A letdown. We had no energy from the beginning of the game." The 29-21 Rockets (currently the West's No. 6 seed) will head to Denver for tonight's game with the Nuggets. Denver beat the 105-99 Pelicans in New Orleans, a day after the Pelicans won in Houston. It was Denver's FOURTH straight victory and 14th in the past 18 contests, giving the Nuggets a 35-15 record (a half-game behind the Warriors' for the West's best record). The good news for Houston is that not only have the Rockets already posted two double-digit victories over Denver earlier this season but Houston opens a four-game road trip looking to defeat Denver for the 10th consecutive time.Harden (36.3-6.7-8.10 is having another MVP-like season and PG Chris Paul (15.3 & 8.0 APG) has returned from a 17-game absence. However, center Clint Capela, averaging career highs in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (12.6), remains sidelined until late-Feb with a thumb injury. Denver center Nikola Jokic had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his eighth triple-double of the season in the Nuggets' win at New Orleans. He leads the team in scoring (20.1), rebounding (10.4) and in assists (7.7), on the season. PG Jamal Murray (18.5) will likely miss his fourth straight game (ankle) and that will give backup Monte Morris (10.2 & 3.7 APG) a chance to follow up on Wednesday's strong effort of 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Most importantly, Morris didn't commit a single turnover in 40 minutes in his second career start and has just four miscues in 118 minutes over the past four games. Denver has fought through key injuries all season but SG Harris (14.8 & 5.6), swingman Barton (12.9 & 4.5) and PF Paul Millsap (12.3 & 6.7) are all back playing regularly. Yes, Houston has won NINE straight over Denver and who can deny what Harden as done lately. Harden just concluded one of the top months in NBA history by averaging 43.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.1 steals in 14 games. He has scored at least 35 points in each of his past 11 games, including efforts of 61, 58 and 57 and has made at least five 3-pointers on 11 occasions. Harden scored 610 points in the month to become the first player since Michael Jordan - 729 in March of 1987 - to reach 600 in a month. However, Houston will be without Clint Capela this time around (27.5 PPG vs the Nuggets this season) and PG Chris Paul's return has resulted in an 0-2 ATS start. Houston is just 8-15 ATS on the road this season, while the Nuggets are 22-4 SU & 18-8 ATS at Pepsi Center this season, outscoring opponents 115.3-to-103.8 PPG. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-19 | Brown v. Dartmouth +2 | Top | 60-58 | Push | 0 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
My 10* Ivy League Game of the Year is on Dartmouth at 7:00 ET. Brown was the Ivy League's highest scoring team last season (77.0 PPG) but the Bears finished 11-16 (4-10 in the Ivy). All five starters returned this season and Brown checks in at 12-6 overall but 0-2 in Ivy play. The Bears head to Hanover, NH Friday night for a game with Dartmouth's Big Green. Dartmouth was just 7-20 last season, including finishing last in Ivy League play at 3-11. The Big Green check in at 10-8 so far this season, after opening with a split against Harvard in the school's first two Ivy League games (Dartmouth won and covered at home and covered in the loss at Harvard). Sophomore guard Cambridge leads the team in scoring (17.9) and 6-5 SF Choh leads in rebounding (8.8) and assists (3.3), while joining Cambridge in double digits (12.7). Guards Okolue (9.6 & 3.7) and Anderson (9.2) fill out the starting backcourt, while the 6-6 Howard (8.5 & 4.5) starts up front with Choh. As for Dartmouth, the 6-7 Knight leads in scoring (15.4) and rebounding (7.6), while a trio of guards join him in double digit scoring. That group includes PG Barry (13.7-3.6-3.7) plus fellow guards Sistare (10.8 & 4.5) and Foye (10.5). The 6-8 Jackson adds 8.9 & 5.3. Brown may be a slightly better team but how does one ignore the fact that going back to the end of last season, Brown will take an 0-7 SU & ATS Ivy League run into this contest at Leede Arena, where the Big Green have fashioned a 7-1 SU home mark this season. Also note that Dartmouth is 18-6-3 ATS in its last 27 games following a loss (Big Green lost but covered at Harvard on Jan 26). Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-19 | Long Beach State v. Hawaii -8.5 | 57-74 | Win | 100 | 13 h 24 m | Show | |
My 8* Conference Crusher (Big West) is on Hawaii at 11:55 ET. The Long Beach State 49ers will travel to the Stan Sheriff Center to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors this Thursday night in Big West play. The 49ers are coming off an 82-71 home loss this past Saturday to UC-Santa Barbara. It marked the school's third consecutive loss and dropped them to 8-13 (2-3 in the Big West). Meanwhile, The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 12-7 (3-2 Big West) on the season, after defeating UC-Davis 80-60, this past Saturday at home.. PG Booker (17.6 & 4.8 PG) and fellow guard Alberts (10.5) give LBSU a solid backcourt but with the 6-7 Yussef (12.9 & 7.2) not playing since Dec 29, the 49ers have only the 6-7 Byers (8. 1 & 5.9) as a notable frontcourt contributor. In contrast, Hawaii has solid a starting-five led by guards Stansberry (12.6), Stepteau (9.0) and Buggs (8.9-4.5-5.3) plus up front, the 6-9 Purchase (12.0 & 6.3) and the 6-8 Raimo (11.6 & 6.6). Long Beach St is 1-9 SU on the road, allowing 82.4 PPG. Meanwhile, Hawaii is 9-3 SU and 7-2 ATS at home. Hawaii had a good shot at knocking off Big West contender UC Irvine in a 75-74 OT home loss on Wednesday, so I'm willing to lay some points with them here. Long Beach is averaging about 16 turnovers per game and as noted, over 80 PPG on the road. Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-19 | Gonzaga v. BYU +14.5 | 93-63 | Loss | -109 | 16 h 0 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on BYU at 11:00 ET. Fourth-ranked Gonzaga looks to record its 11th consecutive victory when it visits BYU in West Coast Conference play on Thursday. The Bulldogs have won by an average of 36.2 points during their 10-game winning streak, so is this game already "been played?" Gonzaga visits Provo 19-2 (6-0 in WCC play) and a "W" would give them a 22nd straight 20-win season, as well as extend its NCAA record of consecutive conference road victories to 28. The Bulldogs are coming off a 98-39 steamrolling of Santa Clara and the 59-point margin of victory ranks third in school history (team set a program record by committing just two turnovers against Santa Clara while forcing 18 miscues and turning them into 26 points). As for BYU, the Cougars are a modest 13-9, including 5-2 in WCC play, but BYU is coming off 71-66 win over Saint Mary's in its last outing. Gonzaga owns a terrific starting-five. Senior PG Josh Perkins (11.0 & 6.6) has been a solid ball-handler all season and has committed just 40 turnovers in 21 games. He's joined by sophomore guard Zach Norvell Jr. (15.7-4.8-3.4) in the backcourt, while the 6-8 Hachimura averages a team-best 19.9 PPG (6.2 RPG). 6-8 power forward Brandon Clarke (16.3) adds a team-leading 7.7 RPG, with the 6-8 Kispert (9.1) rounding out the starting rotation. Gonzaga averages 91.4 PPG (1st) and shoots 52.4% from the floor (also No. 1 in the nation). BYU's 6-8 Yoeli Childs had 23 points and 11 rebounds for his 32nd career double-double in the win over St Mary's and leads the team in scoring (22.3) and rebounding (9.6) on the season. PG Haws (17.6 & 5.2 APG) and fellow guard Haerdnett (10.9) are the only other Cougars in double digits but BYU does average 82.0 PPG (33rd). The Cougars have won four of their past five games and also committed only two turnovers in their last outing while pressuring Saint Mary's into 15 and converting the mistakes into 17 points. Only Kansas (29) and Duke (22) have longer streaks of 20-win seasons than Gonzaga, which has also posted 30-victory campaigns in three of the past four seasons. That said, Gonzaga can win here, yet not come close to covering. BYU has been tough at home with a 10-1 record and the fans were boisterous and loud during last Thursday's 71-66 win over Saint Mary's. We should see a repeat performance, here.I'm taking the 'two TDs!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-19 | Connecticut v. UCF -7 | 67-73 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 50 m | Show | |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on UCF at 9:00 ET. Central Florida was the preseason favorite in the American Athletic Conference. However, the Knights are in bounce-back mode, after their worst loss of the season when they host UConn on Thursday. UCF had won nine of its last 10 contests before the team was routed 77-57 at Memphis on Sunday falling to 15-4 (5-2 in AAC play). As for UConn, the Huskies have won two straight after Saturday's 80-60 victory over Wichita State with the backcourt duo of junior Christian Vital (season-high 21 points) and senior Jalen Adams (19 points, 12 rebounds) leading the way. UConn visits Orlando with a 12-8 overall record, including 3-4 in AAC play. Adams leads UConn in scoring at 18.2 PPG and has averaged 22.8 in his last five games. Vital has averaged 16 points in conference games, raising his season average to 13.6, to go along with 5.6 rebounds. Sophomore PG Alterique Gilbert (13.0 & 3.8 APG) gives UConn three guards in double digits but he re-injured his left shoulder Saturday and is listed as doubtful. The 6-10 Carlton (7.8 & 4.8) and the 6-8 Polley (7.4 & 2.3) start up front. UCF was awful at Memphis, getting out-rebounded 46-28, while going 6-for-26 from three-point range. Senior guard B.J. Taylor, the conference preseason player of the year, is bidding to lead the club in scoring for the third straight season with an average of 16.7 points and teh coaches' son, Aubrey Dawkins averages 15.4 PPG and 5.4 RPG. However, Taylor had just 10 poinst at Memphis, while Dawkins was held to two points, after averaging 18.8 in his previous five games. Expect bounce-back efforts from both. PG Allen (7.6 & 4.3 APG) makes for a nice guard trio plus 7-6 senior center Tacko Fall (9.8 points, team-high 7.1 rebounds) leads the conference and was seventh nationally with 2.84 blocks per game. He paces the American in field-goal shooting at 74.8 percent to help the Knights shoot a conference-best 46.7 percent. The 6-11 Smith (8.0 & 5.3) is a quality side-kick. Throw out Sunday's loss, as UCF,is off to its best 19-game start since the 2003-04 team began 16-3. The Knights have won NINE straight at home, while UConn is 0-3 SU in true road games this season. That's not exactly news, as the Huskies were 2-9 on the road last season and 6-17 over the previous two campaigns, in true road games. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-19 | Xavier v. Georgetown -3 | Top | 73-80 | Win | 100 | 13 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on Georgetown at 8:00 ET. Xavier is just 11-10 overall, including 3-5 in the Big East. The Musketeers already have two more conference losses as they did in 2017-18, when the team went 15-3 in league play to win the Big East regular-season title. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons but this season is shaping up much differently. In contrast, Georgetown is 13-7 overall (3-4 in the Big East), which is a nice improvement over last year's 15-15 team, which finished 5-13 in Big East Play. However, the Hoyas are in search of their first winning streak this season in Big East play. The Musketeers won the first meeting with the Hoyas 81-75 on Jan. 9, behind a double-double (23-10) from the 6-11 Zach Hankins (10.3 & 4.8). That win was followed up with another home win against Butler but Xavier has dropped three straight since, the latest an 87-82 defeat to No. 10 Marquette on Saturday. The Musketeers are greatly underachieving this season. Xavier has great balance on offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Joining Hankins are guard Scruggs (13.3 & 4.8), the 6-7 Marshall (13.2 & 7.1), PG Goodin (12.0 & 4.9 APG) and the 6-9 Jones (11.3 & 7.6). So why is Xavier 11-10? The Hoyas rode freshmen Mac McClung, James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc to a critical 89-78 win at St. John's on Sunday. McClung scored 25 points (his most in a Big East contest this season), as Hoyas accounted for the games' final 10 points! Meaningful contributions have been few and far between for Jamorko Pickett, who after a solid freshman season has been relegated to a lesser role behind this season's newcomers. The 6-8 guard supplied nine points and seven rebounds to the win over St. John's but is averaging only 5.8 & 4.5 this season. McClung (13.9) and PG Akinjo (13.4 & 5.4 APG) form a dynamic freshman backcourt duo, while the 6-7 LeBlanc (9.4 & 7.6) has supported 6-10 senior center Govan (19.8 & 8.2), up front. Xavier has dominated the series with the Hoyas with 14 wins in 18 meetings, including six straight and 10 of 12 as Big East foes.However, this is not "your father's" In fact, a loss would add more impending peril to Xavier's streak of 36 straight seasons with a .500 or better record in conference play (Xavier currently sits at 3-5 in the Big East), a mark that is five seasons longer than any other Division I program. The Musketeers are 1-4 SU in true road games, averaging only 60.8 PPG. Patrick Ewing's team puts another 'nail' in Xavier's 'coffin.' Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-19 | Mavs v. Pistons -2 | Top | 89-93 | Win | 100 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET. Rookie sensation Luka Doncic led the Mavericks past the Pistons 106-101 last Friday in Dallas. The two teams meet again tonight in frosty Detroit, as Doncic will look to repeat his 32-8-8 performance. The 19-year-old rookie is the first teenager in NBA history with multiple triple-doubles in a season after posting two in the past five games. The 23-27 Mavs lost fouhe second game of a four-game homestand, having dropped four of their last five contests to fall to 21-28. Second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.7) returned to the Mavericks after an unhappy sabbatical on Jan 22 and his return coincides with the Mavs' 3-1 run. Smith missed six straight games due to friction over his role but shared the ball-handling duties with star rookie Luka Doncic. Smith scored 13 points, recorded a career-high 15 assists and matched his career best of 10 rebounds against the Knicks for his second career triple-double. He's scored in double digits in each game, averaging 15.5-6.0-7.5. "Smith had a big impact game," Head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters, later adding this remark about Smith posting a triple-double one game after Doncic: "It means that they can play together if you ask me." Doncic is averaging 20.4-6.9-5.4 on the season. With Detroit's season being mired in mediocrity, there is plenty of speculation that the 29-year-old Blake Griffin could be on the move prior to the Feb. 7 deadline. Griffin scored 18 points in Tuesday's 115-105 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, after scoring 30 or more points in eight of his previous 11 appearances. He checks in at 26.3-8.1-5.3 on the season and has NOT asked for a trade. Center Drummond (16.5 & 14.8) is having a solid season but Detroit's backcourt has been shaky at best. PG Jackson (14.3 & 4.2 APG) has been inconsistent and currently Bullock (12.0) and Smith (8.7) are dealing with ankle and groin issues, respectively. There is little doubt that Dallas is a team on the rise, as the team's 23 wins (through 50 games) is just one shy of the team's entire win-total from last season (24). However, Dallas checks in just 5-20 SU on the road this season and off a game last night (a road win to boot), I will not take them in this spot against the avenging Piston with "no margin for error" (will likely need to win to cover!). Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-19 | Jazz v. Blazers -1 | Top | 105-132 | Win | 100 | 15 h 28 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout Winner is on the Por Blazers at 10:354 ET. The Utah Jazz visit Moda Center in Portland on Wednesday having won NINE of 10 and 11 of their last 13. Utah is making its way up the Western Conference standings at 29-22 (currently own the No. 7 seed) but one of the teams still in front of them in the West are the Portland Trail Blazers, who are 31-20 (currently own the No. 4 seed, the last with homecourt advantage in the first round). The Trail Blazers enter on a nice roll as well, having gone 5-1 SU & ATS since back-to-back loses at Denver (Jan 13) and Sacramento (Jan 14). PG Ricky Rubio is back in the lineup (missed six games from Jan 9-18 with a hamstring issue) and the Jazz are thriving behind the play of their starting backcourt. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 22.5-3.8-4.0 and Rubio 12.8 & 6.0 APG. The duo combined for 47 points and 13 assists in a 125-111 win at Minnesota on Sunday. "We were playing the right way," Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "Our shots were better because of our guards. When we attack the rim, everything else opens up and we get easier shots and shoot better." Mitchell has scored at least 24 points in each of the last 12 games (he is averaging 28.1 points on 45.1 percent shooting in January). All five Utah starters average in double figures, as joining Mitchell and Rubio are center Gobert (15.0 & 12.9), swingman Ingles (11.6-3.8-4.9), PF Favors (11.0 & 7.2). Coming off the bench are SF Crowder (12.1 & 4.7) and SG Korver (10.1 PPG on 41.2% from three in his 29 games with the Jazz). Utah is one of the NBA's best defensive teams, allowing 105.1 PPG (3rd-best). Portland has its own dynamic backcourt duo with Damian Lillard (26.2-4.5-6.2) and CJ McCollum (20.8), who recorded his first career triple-double (28-10-10) in a 120-111 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday (Lillard sat that one out but will play here). Note that Seth Curry (6.3) started in place of Lillard on Saturday and scored a season-high 22 points. Center Nurkic (15.2 & 10.4) is vastly underrated, as is PF Aminu, who adds 9.6 & 8.2. Portland's home record is now 21-7 on the season and the Blazers take the Moda Center court tonight on a seven-game home winning streak (6-1 ATS). Portland owns all the tools to cool off the red-hot Jazz, who are after all, a modest 14-12 SU on the road (Utah will need to win to cover here). Portland wins "with room to spare." Good luck... Larry |
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01-30-19 | St. John's v. Creighton -4.5 | Top | 83-67 | Loss | -105 | 14 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* 35-Club Play is on Creighton at 8:30 ET. Expectations were high coming into the current CBB season for St. John's. The Red Storm opened with12 consecutive victories and by winning 14 of their first 15. However, as St John's gets set to open a challenging three-game road trip (No. 2 Duke and No. 10 Marquette follow), the Red Storm have lost FOUR of their last five (now 15-5 / 3-5 in Big East). The school's lone win in its last five was an 81-66 victory at home over Creighton, which is the team St John's opens its three-game road trip against on Wednesday. Creighton improved to 7-4 at home after easing to a 75-61 win over Butler this past Friday. The Bluejays welcome the Red Storm to CenturyLink Center 12-8 overall, including 3-4 in the Big East. Junior PG Shamorie Ponds has scored at least 20 points in six straight games, including a team-high 21 against Georgetown in Saturday's 89-78 loss to the Hoyas. He leads the team in scoring (20.6) and assists (5.6). Backcourt partner Mustapha Heron is averaging 18.7 points over the last three games to boost his season average to 15.4 PPG (also 5.0 RPG). Three more players average in double digits, the 6-6 Figueroa (14.6 & 6.8), the 6-7 Clark (12.4 & 5.8) and guard Simon (10.8 & 5.2). Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander has been instrumental in Creighton's B2B two victories last week, making six 3-pointers and scoring 26 points in the 91-87 win at Georgetown, before adding 19 points against Butler to earn Big East player of the week honors. Alexander leads the team in scoring (17.6), after averaging only 5.7 as a freshman. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (11.0 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.6) and Mintz (10.4) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.3 & 6.4) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) have been the best frontcourt contributors but Jefferson will be out with an ankle injury. St John's Jan 16 win over Creighton halted a string of six straight losses in the series but also note that the Bluejays have won all SEVEN matchups in Omaha against the Red Storm. Creighton averages 83.4 PPG (20th) on 50.5% shooting (4th), including 42.5% on threes (2nd). That's TOO much 'firepower' for the slumping Red Storm. Lay the modest impost. Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-19 | Providence v. Seton Hall -3.5 | 63-65 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 14 m | Show | |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Seton Hall at 7:00 ET. Seton Hall made more than a little 'noise' back in December with upset wins over Kentucky (now-No. 7) and Maryland (now-No. 21). However, as the 12-8 Pirates (3-5 in the Big East) welcome Big East rival Providence to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J, the team is looking to snap a season-high four-game losing skid. The 13-7 Friars (3-4 in the Big East) have won three of their last four, after defeating both Xavier and DePaul. Alpha Diallo made all 14 of his free-throw attempts and finished with a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds in Sunday's 70-67 triumph over the Blue Demons. Diallo has been the "Alpha male" for the Friars, as the workhorse junior guard is averaging team highs in points (17.0), rebounds (8.4), assists (3.3), steals (1.8) and minutes (36.3). Freshman guard A.J. Reeves scored 11 points in as many minutes on Sunday in his return from a nine-game absence due to a foot injury. He's second on the team in averaging 13.9 PPG. Four more guards chip in between 4.1 and 9.3 PPG. 6-10 center Watson (11.2 & 5.4) is the only real 'size' the Friars own. The Hall's best player, guard Myles Powell (21.2) failed to find any rhythm to his offense and finished with just three points In the team's recent loss to Villanova. Sophomore wing Myles Cale (9.6) scored a team-high 14 points in Sunday's 80-52 shellacking by the Wildcats but PG McKnight (10.0 & 3.8 APG) finished with just five points versus Villanova. Seton Hall does have some size up front with the 6-10 Mamukelashvili (9.2 & 7.4) and the 6-8 Nzei (9.2 & 5.0). I believe Seton Hall can win the "inside game" with Mamukelashvili and Nzei plus the Hall's perimeter game is a s good as the Friars'. Seton Hall is clearly not as good as the school's upsets over Kentucky and Maryland might suggest but I expect the Pirates to be handle Providence in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-19 | Ole Miss v. Florida -5 | 86-90 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 43 m | Show | |
My 8* Conference Crusher (SEC) is on Florida at 6:30 ET. Both Ole Miss (14-5 / 4-2 in SEC) and Florida (11-8 / 3-3 SEC) are back in SEC action tonight, as the Gators welcome the Rebels to Gainesville. Both schools suffered disappointing losses this past Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge .Ole Miss lost badly at home to Iowa St (87-73), while the Gators lost 55-50 at TCU. Ole Miss was picked to finish last in the SEC preseason media poll but the Rebels, under first-year head coach Kermit Davis, opened the season 13-2, including 3-0 in SEC play (more importantly to sports bettors, Ole Miss started a remarkable 14-1 ATS). However, Ole Miss limps into Florida 1-3 SU & ATS in its last four. Mike White's Gators have been inconsistent all season and hope to avoid the school's first 3-4 start in SEC action since 1998 with a win in tonight's contest. Ole Miss' backcourt duo of junior Breein Tyree (17.3) and senior PG Terence Davis (15.8 & 3.5 APG) continues to be the biggest offensive threat for the Rebels. Tyree has had nine 20-point games this season, including a 22-point effort in the loss to Iowa State, with Davis chipping in with 16 points along with a team-high six rebounds. Fellow guards Shuler (9.5) and Hinson (9.1) also start, along with the 7-0 Olejniczak (6.6 & 3.6). The 6-8 Stevens (8.3 & 4.5) and 5-7 freshman KJ Buffen (5.9 & 4.6) come off the bench. TCU held the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead but Florida fought back from a 16-point deficit late in the 1st half to tie the game at 36-all with 12:23 left in regulation. The Gators missed 14 of their first 15 shots but they showed fight in rallying to tie the game in the second half before falling short in the end. Senior guard KeVaughn Allen (leading scorer at 12.7 PPG) was the only Gator in double figures with 13, as freshman guard Noah Locke (11.2 PPG) was just 2-of-9 for seven points, one game after setting a career high with 27 points. PG Nembhard (7.0 & 5.9 APG) does give White a solid guard trio. The 6-9 Hayes (6.8 & 6/2) has been surrounded by a pair of 6-5 forwards in Johnson (6.3 & 5.1) and Stone (6.1 & 3.9). However, Stone is now out for the season with a knee injury. Here's the rub. Ole Miss has "come back to earth" and has averaged just 63.0 PPG in its last two games. The Rebels face an excellent Florida defense (Gators allow just 61.5 PPG, 10th-best in the nation) and is a team in an almost a "must-win" situation. Up next for Florida will be No. 7 Kentucky, Auburn and No. 1 Tennessee in its next three contests. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-19 | Mississippi State v. Alabama -2 | Top | 79-83 | Win | 100 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Alabama at 8:30 ET. The Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-4 / 3-3 SEC) travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-7 / 3-3 SEC) tonight, as two of the three SEC teams at 3-3 meet. Miss St is ranked 22nd in the current AP poll and is coming off a 92-84 Home win over then-No. 15 Auburn. As for Alabama, the Tide stepped out of league play this past Saturday, losing 73-68 at Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Mississippi State entered last Saturday's home contest against Auburn off its worst offensive performance of the season in a 76-55 loss at Kentucky on Jan 22.. The Bulldogs had season-lows of 19 FGs made and a 31.1 shooting percentage (they made just 3-of-20 three-pointers). However, they bounced back from that result in fine fashion with a victory over Auburn on Saturday, by shooting 50.9 percent in their best offensive effort in SEC action. "We were playing as a team," senior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon told reporters after tying his season high with 27 points. "I'm excited about that and I'm excited about the win." .Weatherspoon (17.3 & 5.6) leads the team in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by PG Peters (13.0 & 5.9 APG) and by his younger brother Nick (10.3). Starting up front are the 6-10 Holman I(11.4 & 7.6) and the 6-11 Ado (5.3 & 4.9). Coming off the bench are guard Carter (9.7) and the 6-10 Perry (7.3 & 5.9). Perry is a freshman and he posted his second career double-double in Saturday's win with 10 points and 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes. Senior guard Riley Norris hit all six of his shot attempts - four from beyond the arc - en route to a season-high 16 points and the Crimson Tide also shot 50.9 percent from the floor, but they had one basket in a span of over five minutes during a difficult stretch run (Alabama finished the game 5 of 17 on threes!). The Crimson Tide entered last weekend ranked second in the SEC in rebounding margin (plus-6.7), but the Bears beat them on the boards 35-31, including a 16-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Alabama has a seven-man rotation (all with 17-plus minutes per game), with six guards averaging between 6.4 and 13.9 PPG. Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the team in scoring (13.9) and assists (2.8). the team's lone big man of note is 6-9 senior forward Donta Hall (11.3 PPG), who ranks third in the SEC in both rebounding (8.9) and field-goal percentage (61.2). Miss State head coach Ben Howland called Saturday's victory "a really big-time win for us when you look at our drive to try to get to the NCAA Tournament this year." He's hoping the Bulldogs can continue to share the ball like they did against Auburn. Meanwhile, in talking about the loss at Baylor, Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, "We didn't have our best game. We didn't play enough of a 40-minute game to win on the road. I thought it was the opposite of how we played our last game at home." The last home game he's referring to was last Tuesday, when Alabama routed then-No. 20 Ole Miss, 74-53. Yes, Mississippi State triumphed 67-63 in the second matchup last season with Alabama but prior to that, Alabama had won 10 of 11 previous meetings between the two schools. The Tide are 7-2 SU at home this season and the Bulldogs are averaging just 68.2 PPG in true road games this season. That WON'T get it done, here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-19 | Kansas +1 v. Texas | 63-73 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 44 m | Show | |
My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Kansas at 7:00 ET Kansas opened the current CBB season No. 1 in the AP's preseason poll but it's hardly been smooth sailing for head coach Bill Self's Jayhawks. 7-0 center Udoka Azubuike (13.4 & 6.8) played in just nine games and will be out the remainder of the season with a broken hand. Kansas is currently 16-4 and at 5-2 in Big-12 play, finding themselves in a three-way tie atop the conference, along with Kansas St and Baylor. The Jayhawks travel to the Frank Erwin Special Event Center in Austin on Tuesday to take on the 11-9 Texas Longhorns (3-4 in Big-12 play). Kansas enters this contest having scored just five field goals over the final 10 minutes (while shooting a season-low 36.5 percent from the floor for the game) of a 71-63 loss at Kentucky in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. As for the Longhorns,they also played a game as part of the SEC/Big-12 Challenge this past Saturday. Texas lost 98-88 at Georgia, the team's second straight defeat and its FIFTH in its last six games. Self wasn't happy about his Jayhawks' second-half struggles at Kentucky, but didn't seemed too concerned after the fact. "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 lost, despite yet another double-double (20 points and 15 rebounds) from the Dedric Lawson, who leads the team in scoring (19.5) and rebounding (11.1), proding 14 double-doubles this season. Surrounding Lawson are starters Vick (14.8 & 4.0), PG Dotson (10.8 & 3.4 APG), Grimes (8.4) and Garrett (7.5 & 3.5). The Longhorns allowed Georgia to shoot 66.7 percent from the floor, including 12-of-17 beyond the arc, in Saturday's loss. Texas wasted a career-high 19 points from freshman guard Courtney Ramey (just 6.4 PPG), who converted a career-high 7-of-15 from the floor, including a career-best 5-of-8 clip from three-point range. Texas mainstays are guards Roach (14.3 & 4.7) and Coleman (10.2) in the backcourt, plus the 6-11 Hayes (10.4 & 5.0) and the 6-9 Osetkowski (10.1 & 8.2) in the frontcourt. Hayes is a freshman who leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 74.3 percent and blocked shots at 2.7 per contest. Kansas hasn't been winning "by margins" this season (just 8-12 ATS) but that won't be an issue here, with this pointspread. Even with all of this year's issues, Kansas remains in prime contention for a 15th consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship! The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with the Longhorns 32-8 and note that the road team ihas covered NINE is a row in this series. Want more? How about this? Kansas is off a Saturday loss at Kentucky, so the following applies.Since 2013-14 season, the Jayhawks are 38-3 SU following a loss, with their ,889 win percentage ranking as the best in college basketball. That's good enough for me. Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-19 | TCU v. Texas Tech -4.5 | Top | 65-84 | Win | 100 | 14 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* signature LEGEND Play is on Texas Tech at 9:00 ET. Chris Beard's Texas Tech Red Raiders won 27 games last season and made the first Elight 8 appearnance in school history (lost to eventual national champ, Villanova). Tech lost four significant contributors from that 27-win team, including leading scorer Evans (17.6) and the 6-4 Zhaire Smith (11.3 & 5.0), a 1st round pick of the 76ers. The Red Raiders opened the season unranked but opened 10-0 before losing 69-58 at Duke. At 15-1, Tech was ranked 8th when it lost at home to Kan St 58-57 on Jan 16. Two more losses followed, before the Red Raiders edged Arkansas 67-64 at home this past Saturday (Tech is currently 16-4, including 4-3 in the Big 12 and is ranked 14th, pending Monday's new poll). TCU opened the season 20th in the AP's preseason poll, coming off a 21-win season. The Horned Frogs opened 12-1 but the their 55-50 win Saturday over Florida makes them 3-3 in their last six. TCU was ranked 25th when it lost 77-68 at Kansas on Jan 9 but at 15-4 (3-3 in the Big-12), is currently unranked. Both schools return to league play tonight (after winning games in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday), as the Horned Frogs visit Lubbock. The Horned Frogs were exceptional on defense during Saturday's 55-50 win over Florida, as TCU allowed its fewest points and recorded its lowest defensive field-goal percentage (30.6) in Jamie Dixon's 2 1/2 seasons as coach. However, despite holding the Gators to three points in the first 11:35 of the game to build an 18-3 lead, TCU allowed Florida to fight back from a 16-point deficit late in the 1st half to tie the game at 36-all with 12:23 left in regulation. 6-7 sophomore forward Kouat Noi scored 22 points and junior guard Desmond Bane added 17 against Florida. Bane leads the team in scoring (15.0 & 5.7) and Noi is second (14.7 & 4.4). PG Robinson (12.9-3.8-7.7) runs the show but TCU misses guard Fisher (12.9), who is out for the season and will transfer. The 6-8 Miller (10.5 & 6.5) is the team's rebounding leader. After losing its third straight game and scoring the fewest points since the 2014-15 season in a 58-45 loss at Kansas St on Jan 22, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard was hoping he could find more options to help the "do-everything" Jarrett Culver (18.5-6.9-3.9). Sophomore Davide Moretti answered the call Saturday, when he scored a career-high 21 points in a win over Arkansas. Moretti averaged 12.3 minutes in 37 games last season (3.5 PPG) but is averaging 10.4 points this season in 29.8 minutes (he comes in averaging 13.3 points in his last eight games). Fellow guard Matt Mooney added 12 points in the victory and is third in scoring at 10. PPG. The 6-10 Owens adds 8.0 & 5.1, while 6-8 center Odiase averages 3.8 & 4.7. Both teams play excellent defense, with TCU allowing just 66.0 PPG (42nd), However, Tech is "something special" on the defensive end, allowing 56.4 PPG (2nd) on 35.7% shooting (1st), including 26.1% on threes (3rd)! Bottom line here is that Texas Tech has been exceptional at home, posting an 11-1 record and limiting its opponents to 52.0 PPG points per game and 32.8 percent shooting (Tech is a scoring 73.3 PPG at home). Meanwhile, TCU has played only four true road games this season (1-3), averaging only 66.0 PPG. Those numbers just don't add up for the Horned Frogs. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-19 | Jazz v. Wolves +4 | Top | 125-111 | Loss | -106 | 10 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Min T-wolves at 7:05 ET. The Utah Jazz finished a successful homestand with a 106-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Utah heads out on the road after having played EIGHT of its last nine in Salt Lake City, with the Jazz going 7-1 in those eight home contests. Utah opens a game quick two-stop road trip on Sunday, by completing a home-and-home set with the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The T-wolves played without injured PGs Jeff Teague (11.5 & 8.1 APG) and Derrick Rose (18.6 & 4.7 APG) Friday in Utah but Minnesota rallied from a 21-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter and drew within a point in the final minute. The Timberwolves actually had a chance to take the lead but Jerryd Bayless and Luol Deng each missed a go-ahead three-pointer in the waning seconds. Utah's Donovan Mitchell (22.2-3.8-3.9) had 24 points in Friday's win plus added a career-high 11 assists. The second-year player has scored at least 24 points in 11 consecutive contests. All five Utah starters average in double figures, as joining Mitchell are PG Rubio (12.7 & 6.01 AGP), swingman Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9), PF Favors (11.0 & 71.) and center Gobert (15.0 & 13.1) Coming off the bench are SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.7) and SG Korver (10.0 PPG on 40.6% from three in his 28 games with the Jazz). Utah is one of the NBA's best defensive teams, allowing 105.0 PPG (3rd-best). Minnesota saw three guards - Derrick Rose, Jeff Teague and Tyus Jones - each miss Friday's loss due to foot or ankle injuries. Injuries to those players have revealed that this is a team that won't go down without a fight. Minnesota leaned heavily on center Karl-Anthony Towns (as usual), who scored 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting. He averages 22.8 & 12.3 on the season. The T-wolves outscored the Jazz 33-16 in the fourth quarter on Friday, giving the team some momentum heading into the rematch. Towns comes in with a string of four straight double-doubles, in which he's averaged 28.8 points and 13 rebounds. Utah center Rudy Gobert was questionable on Friday with a sore hamstring but gutted it out to finish with 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. He may need to be 100 percent here in Minnesota. Utah went just 5 of 27 from the floor in the fourth quarter on Friday and I'm "all over" Minnesota here in this quick turn-around. The Jazz have been home for EIGHT of their last nine games, a period from Jan 9-25. Utah will get no 'love' here at Target Center, where the T-wolves are 16-8 SU this year (the pointspread is MORE than manageable). Good luck.,..Larry |
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01-27-19 | UCF v. Memphis -1 | Top | 57-77 | Win | 100 | 9 h 26 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 4:00 ET. Memphis' three-game winning streak came to a halt on Thursday, as the Tigers came up short at Temple 85-76. Penny Hardaway's team must now bounce back on Sunday, when the 12-7 Tigers (4-2 in AAC play) take on American Athletic Conference preseason favorite, UCF. The Knights are 15-3 overall, including 5-1 in league play. It's crowded at the top in the AAC, with four, one-loss teams. Temple is 5-1 like UCF, while Houston and Cincy are 6-1 (all four one-loss teams are in action on Sunday, with Cincy playing at Temple and Houston visiting Tulsa). UCF has become known for its defensive prowess under head coach Johnny Dawkins and the Knights showed why in shutting down Tulane 75-50 on Wednesday. The Knights sit second in the conference in scoring at 63.0 PPG (20th nationally) and opponents' FG percentage at 38.7 (10th nationally). The offense is averaging a modest 74.5 PPG (152nd) but guards BJ Taylor (17.1) and Aubrey Dawkins (16.2), the coaches' son, are quite a duo. UCF leads the AAC in field goal percentage (47.2), while ranking third from long distance (35.2). Naturally, we can't forget the 7-6 Tacko Fall (9.9 & 7.2), who has 52 blocked shots, as well. Let's not count the Tigers out of the AAC 'hunt' just yet. However, the Tigers can't survive if they shoot as poorly as they did in the loss to Temple, when they wound up hitting just 1-of-23 three-pointers, barely extending their three-point streak to 605 straight games. "We won every category except for three-point shooting," Hardaway told reporters. "And it's hard to win like that." However, it's worth noting that Memphis still fought back from a 20-point first-half deficit to make it a two-point game late. Jeremiah Martin continued to play well since returning to point guard, as he led the way with 28 points to regain the team scoring lead (15.4 & 4.1 APG) from 6-8 forward Kyvon Davenport (14.8 & a team-high 7.5 RPG). ). Guard Harris averages 12.7 PPG, while six others play regularly, averaging between 5.7 and 9.7 PPG. Memphis boasts the conference's top scoring offense at 83.6 PPG (that's 20th nationally) and enters this almost "must-win" game with a 10-1 record at FedEx Forum, where the Tigers are averaging a whopping 90.8 PPG. UCF will be trying to win consecutive road games for the FIRST time this season and while the Knights did win at Memphis last year, it's important to note that the Knights had lost 14 in a row before last year's victory. It's "Back to the Future," as Memphis wins at home over UCF. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-19 | Cincinnati v. Temple +3 | 72-68 | Loss | -109 | 5 h 27 m | Show | |
My 9* Eye-Opener is on Temple at 12:00 ET. Cincinnati may be 17-3 (6-1 in AAC play) but the Bearcats remain unranked this season. Cincy travels to Philadelphia on Sunday for an AAC showdown with Temple. The Owls check in at 15-4 and are 5-1 in AAC play. Cincinnati and Temple have emerged as two of the top contenders in the American Athletic Conference, along with No. 17 Houston (6-1) and UCF (5-1). All four of those one-loss schools are in action Sunday, as Houston is at Tulsa and UCF is at Memphis (Tigers are lurking at 4-2). Cincinnati has won five games in a row, including an 88-64 rout of Tulsa, its last time out. The Bearcats rely heavily on Jarron Cumberland, who leads the team in scoring at 18.1 PPG. A trio of guards join him on the perimeter in Williams (11.1), Jenifer (9.1) and Broome (8.2). The 6-8 Scott (9.5 & 6.5) and the 6-11 Brooks (8.8 & 5.8) are Cincy's top-two frontcourt contributors. Mick Cronin-coached teams always play defense and the Bearcats come in allowing 60.9 PPG (7th). Temple has won its last five league games, suffering only a surprising home loss to Ivy League foe (and Big-Five rival) Pennsylvania during that stretch. The Owls come in off an 85-76 win over Memphis, behind Quinton Rose's 26 points. Rose is averaging 17.1 PPG but before going 5-of-9 from three-point range against the Tigers, he was just 15-of-77 from beyond the arc, entering that game. PG Shizz Alston Jr. was only 2-of-13 from the floor against Memphis and is 7-of-31 over the last two games but is Temple's top scorer (18.5) and assist leader (5.2). A third guard, Nate Pierre-Louis (14.2 & 5.8), continued his solid play of late with 15 points, giving him eight straight games in which he has scored between 13 and 22 points. The frontcourt is adequate but hardly anything special, with the 6-10 Aflakpui (6.7 & 7.5), the 6-7 Perry (5.1 & 3.4) and the 6-7 Moorman (5.1 & 3.6). The Bearcats lost THREE key players from last year's team, NBA draft picks Evans (13.0), a shooting guard, and the 6-8 Clark (12.9 & 8.7). Also gone is the 6-9 Washington (11.3 & 5.3). Cincy depends WAY too much on Cumberland (he has attempted 97 more shots than anyone else on the team) and Temple's guard trio is more than a match for the Bearcats' perimeter group. Neither team has much of a frontcourt but I'll note that Temple's 6-10 center Ernest Aflakpui is averaging 13.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the last three games. Cincinnati won both meetings with Temple last season, including a buzzer-beating win in Philadelphia, 55-53. 66.2 PPG in five road contests this season, while the Owls come in having won EIGHT of the their last nine, while going 8-1 SU at home on the season (lone loss to Penn, see above). Temple stays a lone-loss AAC team after this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | Loyola Marymount v. Santa Clara +1.5 | 69-61 | Loss | -107 | 12 h 48 m | Show | |
My 8* Bailout Blowout is on Santa Clara at 9:00 ET. Loyola-Marymount is 14-6 and will be on the road tonight at Santa Clara, which is 11-10. However, the Lions are just 2-4 in WCC play, while the Broncos check in a 3-4. Marymount's head coach Mike Dunlap entered his fifth year at the school this season with a 48-75 (.390) record but he was optimistic about the year, after his team played an exhibition schedule this summer in Australia. All five starters are back and this year's team is led by senior guard James Batemon (17.2-3.2-4.0) and 7-3 junior center Mattias Markusson (11.0 & 7.3). Most notably, the team's defense has been outstanding, allowing a modest 62.8 PPG (17th). As for Herb Sendek's Santa Clara Broncos, guard Eaddy (15.8) leads the team in scoring, teamed with PG Trey Wertz (13.1 & 4.8 APG). The frontcourt is led by the 6-8 Vrankic (13.1 & 6.1), 6-5 SF Justice (10.4) and the 6-7 Martin (5.8 & a team-high 8.1 RPG). Santa Clara has had problems stepping up against the upper-tier of the WCC (Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s) but the Broncos have covered spreads vs everyone else since early December and were 8-2 ATS before getting clobbered 98-39 against Gonzaga (again, a team way above Santa Clara's class!). LMUs' 12-2 non-conference record is now in teh rear-view mirror. Expect the Broncos to win handily here at home. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | Warriors v. Celtics +3.5 | Top | 115-111 | Loss | -115 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
The Golden State Warriors have won THREE of the last four NBA titles and now are the hottest team in the NBA at the moment. The Warriors have won NINE in a row and at 34-14, own the West's best record and trail only the 35-12 Milwaukee Bucks for the league's best record, overall. Golden State won 126-118 at Washington on Thursday, despite Curry and Thompson combining to go 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Warriors continue a five-game road trip in Boston on Saturday night (ABC cameras will be there). The 30-18 Celtics are hardly 'chopped liver, ' as Boston has won five straight, after pushing its home winning streak to 10 in a row with a 123-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. Golden State hardly needs an introduction, as with Boogie Cousins now in the starting lineup at center (he started the last three games and averaged 13.0 & 7.0 in about 20 minutes), the Warriors start FIVE All-Stars! I'll by-pass the individual numbers and point out that Golden St leads the NBA in scoring (118.9 PPG), FG percentage (49.1) and FT percentage (82.0), while 'wallowing' with the league's second-best three-point percentage (38.9). Boston All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving (23.5-4.8-6.9) sat out Wednesday with an illness (flu) and Terry Rozier got the nod to start in his spot. Rozier responded by going 8-of-8 from the floor in the first half and scoring 22 of his 26 points before the break to set the tone as the Celtics coasted to a 20-point win. Can't imagine Irving will miss this one. Tatum (16.3 & 6.2), Morris (14.8 & 6.0), Brown (12.3 & 4.3) and Hayward (11.0-4.6-3.5) give Boston a plethora of quality frontcourt players plus there is always the versatile Horford (12.2-6.4-3.6). When these teams met last season in Boston (November), the Celics won 92-88, holding the Warriors to their fifth-lowest point total of the season. Boston enters this contest, second in the league in both opponents' FG (44.1) and three-point (33.4) percentage. Beware, the Warriors are just 9-11 as a road favorite this season. The TD Garden rocks tonight. Take Boston. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | Auburn v. Mississippi State | 84-92 | Win | 100 | 12 h 38 m | Show | |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on Miss St at 8:30 ET. SEC rivals Auburn (13-5) and Mississippi State (14-4) square off Saturday night in Starkville. Both schools cruised through the majority of their non-conference schedules playing every bit like the ranked teams they were for the first two months of the season. Auburn won 11 of 13 in non-conference action, while Mississippi State won 12 of its 13 non-conference contests. However, SEC play has humbled both teams, as both the Tigers and the Bulldogs are 2-3. Auburn has lost its last two games, falling at home to Kentucky 82-80 last Saturday, before losing at South Carolina 80-77 on Tuesday. The Tigers fought back from a double-digit deficit in both games to take a second-half lead before falling short in the end. Auburn overcame a 17-point deficit last Saturday against Kentucky only to lose by two and the Tigers trailed South Carolina by 10 points with about six minutes remaining, then went on a 12-0 run to take the lead with four minutes left but then didn't make any FG after that. Shooting guard Brown (16.9) is the team's leading scorer, followed by PG Harper (15.3 & 6.6 APG). However, the team's inside duo of the 6-11 Wiley (10.8 & 6.1) and the 6-8 Okele (10.1 & 6.2) is now down to one, as Wiley is out indefinitely with a leg injury (went down Jan 16 vs A&M) Mississippi State is coming off its worst offensive performance of the season in a 76-55 loss at Kentucky on Tuesday. The Bulldogs had season-lows of 19 FGs made and a 31.1 shooting percentage. They made just 3-of-20 three-pointers. Quinndary Weatherspoon (16.8 & 5.1) is the fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,685 career points and is one of five SEC players to eclipse the 20-point mark six times this season. PG Lamar Peters (12.8 & 5.7 APG) is the team's second-leading scorer. MSU has a tall and deep frontcourt, led by the 6-10 Holman (11.7 & 7.7), the 6-10 Perry (7.1 & 5.7) and the 6-11 Ado (5.1 & 5.1). Both teams are seeking to get back to .500 in conference play but I have to believe that healthy MSU stands the MUCH better chance. Auburn has won just ONE of four true road games this season, while Miss st is 9-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents 84.8-to-69.5 PPG. Throw in the fact that MSU head coach Ben Howland will surely remind his team just how it squandered a 14-point second-half lead in losing 76-68 last season at Auburn. Revenge works, here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | UNLV v. San Diego State -5.5 | Top | 77-94 | Win | 100 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* CBB Game of the Month is on San Diego St at 8:00 ET. 11-7 UNLV is 5-1 in MWC play, as it heads to the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl on Saturday night to take on San Diego State. the Aztecs are 10-8 (2-3 in MWC play) but own a great recent history against the Rebel. UNLV's early conference schedule has been kind (a steady diet of second-division foes), allowing the Rebels to stay close to current No. 7 Nevada. However, things start to get a bit tougher from here forward. The Aztecs are likely going nowhere this season but I will elaborate later on the school's history vs UNLV. Marvin Menzies' team could sure use the 6-7 Shakur Juiston (10.8 & 8.8) but he's lost for the season with a knee injury. Guards Clyburn (13.4 & 4.9),s Hardy (12.1) and Robotham (8.3) join the 6-9 Ntambwe (12.5 & 6.2) as team stalwarts. However, I will note that 6-5 SF Blair did come out of nowhere to score 26 point in the team's recent 75-58 win over New Mexico. Without Juiston, SDSU's 6-10 Williams (16.1 & 8.1) will be tough to contain. He's joined up front by the 6-6 Mitchell (11.4 & 3.&) plus the Aztecs own a solid three-man guard rotation. PG Watson (15.4 & 5.0 APG) leads the way, joined by Hemsley (9.1) and Schakel (8.3). SDSU is 8-2 SU at home this season, averaging 80.4 PPG. Head coach Brian Dutcher led the Aztecs to an NCAA bid and 22-11 record in his first season but that won't be repeated this season. However, series history all favors SDSU in this matchup. UNLV is just 9-27-5 ATS its last 41 road games (overall) and 14-39-4 ATS in its last 57 MWC games. More notably, the Rebels are 6-18-2 in their last 26 meetings with the Aztecs, who enter on a 15-6 ATS at their home court. SDS beat UNLV 95-56 at this venue last season, giving them three straight home wins over UNLV by a combined 87 points. Enough said! Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | VCU v. Duquesne +4 | Top | 80-74 | Loss | -110 | 7 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Duquesne at 2:00 ET. Virginia Commonwealth owns a rich BKB tradition but is coming off an 18-15 season (no postseason tourneys). The Rams head to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon 13-6 overall, including 4-2 in A-10 play. Meanwhile, the Duquesne Dukes are 14-5 overall, including 5-1 in league play. Both VCU's Mike Rhoades and Duquesne's Keith Dambrot are head coaches in their second years at their respective schools. PG Evans (13.3) leads VCU in scoring and is joined in the backcourt by SG Jenkins (11.9). Up front, the 6-6 Vann (10.9 & 4.) and the 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.8) are the main contributors. Let me note that Evans averages just 2.8 APG (terribly low for a starting PG) and VCU shoots an awful 29.9% on threes as a team (334th). The surging Dukes are on a five-game winning streak after beating previously unbeaten (in A-10 play) St Louis, 77-73 at home on Wednesday. Williams is a 6-6 guard and leads the team in scoring (13.2) and rebounding (7.8). His backcourt partner is Curry (12.1 & 3.9) and up front, 6-8 center Hayes (12.1 & 6.4) and 6-5 SF Weathers (9.8 & 6.1) do the most damage. You may just remember Dambrot (he was LBJ's high school coach) and in 13 seasons at Akron, won 20-plus games in each of his final 12 years. The Dukes finished tied for 10th in the A-10 (16-16 overall) last year but look at the strides being made this season. The Dukes are 11-1 at home (shot just 35.8%, including 6 of 28 on threes in that one) and I see NO reason why the Dukes should be home dogs here vs a very average VCU team (reputation?). VCU is just 2-4 SU in true road games this season, averaging a woeful 58.8 PPG. The home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one, Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-19 | Alabama v. Baylor -3 | 68-73 | Win | 100 | 6 h 52 m | Show | |
My 9* Eye-Opener is on Baylor at 12:00 ET. It's more of the Big-12/SEC Challenge Saturday at 12 noon ET, as 12-6 Alabama and 12-6 Baylor square off at the Ferrell Center in Waco. Alabama comes in on a very good stretch, winning 70-60 at Missouri and coming within eyelash of now No. 1 Tennessee in Knoxville (lost 71-68), before routing then-20 Ole Miss 74-53 in in its last three games. However, Baylor is similarly-surging, winning on the Big 12 road at Okla Sy=t and West Va, while also beating then-No. Texas Tech 73-62 in its last three. The 6-9 Hall (11.2 & 9.1) is the lone non-guard among 'Bama's top-six scorers. Freshman guard Lewis (13.8) leads the way, followed by sophomore Petty (12.2 & 4.4), who followed a 30-point effort at Tennessee with 15 against Ole Miss. Lewis is in a small slump, scoring just 28 points over his last three games. Hall recorded his fourth straight double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) against the Rebels, tying the team record. Baylor lost the 6-9 Clark (14.6 & 6.2). to a season-ending knee injury on Jan 8 but after a five-point loss to Kansas, has ripped off three straight wins without him. Guard Makai Mason, a graduate transfer from Yale (you don't hear that often), is averaging 15.7 PPG and scored 29 points in the win over West Virginia. He's recorded double digits in 14 of his 15 games this season (scored NINE in the lone game he did not). Guard McClure (10.7 & 5.7) plus fellow guards Kegler (8.6 & 6.1 ) and Butler (8.2) are also stepping up as of late. In particular, freshman Butler is averaging 14.3 PPG in his last four. Scott Drew's teams had won 20-plus games for nine of the previous 10 seasons but finished just 19-15 last season. Four starters are gone from that team and hence, the so-so start to this season. However, even the loss of Clark has been overcome, as of late. The Bears are an excellent defensive team, allowing just 64.3 PPG (26th) and enter this contest on a 7-1 ATS run. This game could have implications once March rolls around, so I'm taking the home team to get the "W" and cover!. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-19 | Pistons v. Mavs -5 | Top | 101-106 | Push | 0 | 11 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Dal Mavericks at 8:35 ET. The Dallas Mavericks welcome the Detroit Pistons to the American Airlines Center on Friday night. Both teams come in 21-26 but while the Pistons seem to be going nowhere, the Mavs have made excellent strides coming off last season's 24-58 year. Luka Doncic (19.9-6.8-5.3) may have already locked up the ROY award and is the current leader of the new-look Mavs (future HOF Dirk Nowitzki is now just a cheerleader, averaging 3.8 & 1.8 in 16 games). The Mavs just ended a four-game skid with a 106-98 win over the Clippers. Detroit is coming off a win as well, after Wednesday's 98-94 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans (note: the Pistons won for just the EIGHTH time in their last 27 games). Power forward Blake Griffin scored 37 points in Detroit's win but center Andre Drummond (concussion) missed a third straight game. Griffin (26.3-8.1-5.3) went on a fourth-quarter roll by scoring 20 of his 37 in the stanza and he also finished with nine rebounds, seven assists and four 3-pointers. "He's carrying us, handling the basketball, making good decisions, just doing everything we could ask a franchise player to do," Detroit coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "He's been great. He sets the tone for us offensively. He'd probably have more assists if we knocked down more shots." As for Drummond (16.3 & 14.9), he's supposedly been cleared of the league's concussion protocol but that doesn't mean he'll play. Second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. (12.7) returned to the Mavericks after an unhappy sabbatical and will again be in the lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Detroit Pistons. Smith missed six straight games due to friction over his role but shared the ball-handling duties with star rookie Luka Doncic in Tuesday's 106-98 victory (he had 17 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes). Doncic is just 14-of-46 from the floor over the past three games and his take on Smith's hiatus was brief: "It shouldn't happen. It's bad for a team." Good for this team is SF Barnes, who is averaging 17.9 PPG after averaging 19.2 and 18.9 in his first two year's with the team. With Drummond questionable at best, the Pistons will be relying WAY too much on Griffin. Note that Detroit's only two other double digit scorers, guards Jackson (14.1 & 4.1 APG) and Bullock (12.1), are shooting a combined 37% overall and 31.8% on threes over the last 10 games. Amazingly, Griffin is the only player averaging 10 PPG or more over the team's last three. The Pistons are just 8-15 SU on the road, while Dallas comes in 17-6 SU & 16-7 ATS at home. What's more, Dallas is 16-5 ATS at the American Airlines Center when not laying more than nine points (that's the case, here). Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-19 | Butler v. Creighton -2 | Top | 61-75 | Win | 100 | 13 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Creighton at 8:30 ET. Butler has gone 'dancing' in 10 of the previous 12 seasons but will need to finish strong to keep to do so again this campaign. The Bulldogs are just 12-8 (3-4 in Big East play), after losing 80-72 at home this past Tuesday to surging Villanova (Wildcats have won SEVEN in a row). Creighton is 11-8 overall, including 2-4 in Big East play. Creighton lost 84-69 at Butler back on Jan 5, beginning a streak of FOUR straight losses, marking the Bluejays' longest skid since the 1999-2000 season. However, Creighton ended its slide with a 91-87 road win at Georgetown on Monday. Butler PG Aaron Thompson (6.7 & 4.2 APG) bounced back from a scoreless, foul-plagued 16-minute effort Saturday against St. John's with club-best marks of 15 points (6-of-9 shooting) and four assists in 31 minutes versus the Wildcats but Butler still lost by eight. However, leading scorer Kamar Baldwin (17.4 & 5.6) finished with only 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting following a three-game stretch in which he averaged 21.7 points on 24-of-41 from the floor. The 6-11 Joey Brunk averaged 14.7 points and seven boards over his first three career starts but he hasn't topped eight points or six rebounds in any of his four outings since (he's averaging 8.6 & 4.4 on the season) . Creighton head coach Greg McDermott said during a postgame radio show after the Georgetown win, “They’ve come hungry, ready to practice. They’re not pointing fingers at me, I’m not pointing fingers at them, they’re not pointing fingers at each other. They’re committed to just trying to get better every day. I think when you commit to that, you have nights like (Monday) where good things happen." Sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander (17.5) knocked down six, three-pointers for the second time in three contests Monday, extending his consecutive games streak with at least one triple to a Big East-best 23. The Bluejays own a deep perimeter, as Ballock (10.9 & 3.6 APG), Zegarowski (10.8) and Mintz (10.3) join Alexander at the guard position. The 6-9 Krampelj (11.1 & 6.3) and SF Jefferson (9.4 & 5,4) are the best frontcourt contributors. Butler's ONLY true road win this season came at DePaul (not saying much) and that win snapped an 0-7 SU & ATS run in true road games by the Bulldogs, going back into last season. Butler is a money-burning 8-17 ATS in its last 25 road games plus is 0-5 ATS in its last five visits to Creighton. The Bluejays shoot 50.5% (4th) overall, including 43.0% on threes (2nd). Butler did get 87 points in winning at DePaul but in its first four true road games this season (all losses), averaged a woeful 59.8 PPG. Don't see any way Butler can match Creighton score-for-score (also note that the home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings between the two schools). Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-19 | Arizona State v. UCLA -1 | Top | 84-73 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
My 10* Pac-12 Game of the Week is on UCLA at 11:00 ET. UCLA dismissed coach Steve Alford on December 31, 2018, two days after the Bruins' ugly 73-58 loss to Liberty. It marked the first time the program ever had made a coaching change in the middle of the season. Murry Bartow (son of former UCLA coach Gene Bartow) was named interim coach for the Bruins and in his first game (at home vs Stanford), UCLA ended a four-game slide with a 92-70 win over te Cardinal. Two more wins followed but the 'honeymoon' period is over for UCLA interim coach Murry Bartow, as the Bruins have lost lost two in row following three straight victories. 10-8 UCLA (3-2 in the Pac -12) welcomes 13-5 Arizona St (4-2 in Pac-12) to Pauley Pavilion tonight. ASU dominated the second half in last Saturday's impressive 78-64 home victory over Oregon,as five players scored in double figures. Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 White just missing at 9.0 & 5.9 The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.4 & 446), fellow guard Martin (12.3 & 4.2 APG), the 6-8 Cheatham (12.1 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.3) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.3 & 3.9). Freshman forward Taeshon Cherry (7.2) had 15 points on five three-pointers against Oregon and head coach Bobby Hurley said, “He has one of the best strokes I’ve seen. He's got so much upside as far as where he can take his game if he keeps developing and getting better.”ASU averages 79.1 PPG (55th in teh nation but No. 1 in the Pac-12), although the Sun Devils allow 72.4 PPG (209th). The Bruins need to bounce back from a dismal outing, after shooting 5-of-22 from three-point range and committing 20 turnovers in last Saturday's 80-67 loss to crosstown rival USC. The Bruins averaged 92 points in wins over Stanford, California and Oregon but slowed down dramatically in losses to Oregon State and USC, averaging just 66.5 points. Bartow needs more consistency from 7-1 freshman Moses Brown, who averages 11.3 points and 8.9 rebounds but was a non-factor against USC, finishing with two points in 20 minutes. UCLA's best player is sophomore guard Kris Wilkes, who is averaging 17.1 & 4.9 (he's scored in double digits in EVERY game this season!). PG Hands checks in at 11.8 PPG and 6.4 APG plus a third guard, Prince Ali, averages 10.6 PPG ( he's shooting 51 percent from the floor and 48 percent from three-point range in five Pac-12 contests). Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22 but ASU is just 6-5 its last 11, after opening the season 7-.0. This UCLA team has the talent and note that the Bruins were picked to finish second in the Pac-12 preseason poll. UCLA has won seven of its last nine games against Arizona State and the home team has won EIGHT of the last 10 meetings between the two schools (UCLA and has covered 15 of the last 21 meetings overall). More tech trends show that the Sun Devils are 7-17-2 ATS in their last 26 vs Pac-12 foes and are 3-10-2 ATS in their last 15 road games. UCLA has won 39 of 44 games in Pauley Pavilion since the start of the 2016-17 season and with this pointspread, a win is a cover! Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-19 | NC State v. Louisville -5.5 | 77-84 | Win | 100 | 11 h 5 m | Show | |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Louisville at 8:00 ET. A pair of ranked teams square off Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center, as No. 21 NC State (15-3) takes on No. 23 Louisville (13-5). The Wolfpack have alternated wins and losses to begin conference play (check in at 3-2), while the Cardinals have won three straight and four of five to begin their ACC schedule (lone loss was 89-86 in OT at Pitt). NC State rebounded from a loss at Wake Forest with a 77-73 win at Notre Dame on Saturday, while Louisville cruised to its third win in a row with a 79-51 victory over shorthanded Georgia Tech on Saturday (Yellow Jackets were without three regulars, including two of their top three scorers). Defense fueled Saturday’s win over Notre Dame, as the Wolfpack held the Irish to just 7-of-28 from the three-point line and 24-of-49 overall (40.7 percent). Offensively, NC State bounced back from its worst shooting game of the season (37 percent from the floor against Wake Forest two games ago), to shoot 43.5 percent from the floor, including 36.8 percent from long range. The Wolfpack average 86.7 PPG (6th), with six players averaging between 9.0 and 14.3 PPG. 6-5 guard Dorn leads the team in scoring (14.5) and rebounding (7.1) and the lone non-guard in the team's top-six scorers is the 6-10 Funderburk (9.3 & 4.6). 6-7 sophomore forward Jordan Nwora has improved his scoring average from 5.7 as a freshman to 18.5 this season and had a game-high 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting against Georgia Tech while also contributing with eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. He also leads the Cardinals with 8.1 RPG. Six more Cards average between 6.6 and 10.4 PPG, with PG Cunningham being the only other double digit scorer (10.4 & 4.2 APG). 6-10 junior center Steven Enoch (9.6 & 5.2) added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes off the bench vs Ga Tech, while 6-11 sophomore center Malik Williams (7.6 & 5.3) added 13 points in only 16 minutes. SF Sutton adds 9.9 & 6.8 plus guards McMahon (7.4) and Perry (6.6) add outstanding depth and balance. First-year Louisville coach Chris Mack (note: he led Xavier to eight NCAA berths in his nine seasons) said, "We know we're only as good as our next game. I don't think success is ever final," after the Cardinals dominated all aspects of the game against the Yellow Jackets. Louisville is ranked for the first time this season and now takes on a ranked Atlantic Coast Conference opponent at home for the first time this season (it's a big deal). NC State has been impacted by the absence of PG Markell Johnson (11.6 & 4.1 APG), who has missed the past two games since taking a hard fall on his backside in the Jan 12 home victory against Pittsburgh. "He's a guy who could play on Thursday or could play three or four weeks from now,"head coach Kevin Keatts said (that doesn't sound promising for NC St backers). This wraps up a three-game road stretch for North Carolina State and I believe the Wolfpack come up "way short" in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-19 | Michigan State v. Iowa +5 | 82-67 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 6 m | Show | |
My 8* Situational Stunner is on Iowa at 7:00 ET. No. 6 Michigan State is 17-2 (8-0 in Big Ten play) and looks to extend its winning streak to 13 in a row when it travels to face No. 19 Iowa (16-3 / 5-3) in a Big Ten matchup at Iowa City. Thursday. The Spartans have won a school-record 20 straight regular-season Big Ten contests and are coming off a 69-55 victory over No. 16 Maryland on Monday, while the Hawkeyes have won five in a row, after routing Illinois 95-71 on Sunday. Michigan State won the first matchup this season 90-68 in December, as 6-9 junior forward Nick Ward led the way with a 10-for-10 shooting effort and 26 points. Junior PG Cassius Winston is the leader for coach Tom Izzo, topping the Spartans in scoring (18.0) and assists (7.3). He's helped ease the loss of the team's third-leading scorer Joshua Langford (15.), who has missed the last six contests with an ankle injury (he is not expected to play here). Up front, MSU is 'loaded' with Ward (15.7 & 6.9), the 6-8 Tillman (8.4 & 7.4) and the 6-7 Goins (7.1 & 9.6). Goins is the team's "glue guy," exhibiting a great feel for MSU schemes on both ends of the floor. The Spartans are averaging 83.8 PPG (20th) and allowing just 66.1 PPG (49th). The Hawkeyes' top two scorers, are 6-9 forwards Tyler Cook (16.5 & 8.2) and the 6-11 Luka Garza (13.9 & 4.9). Iowa start three guards, Wieskamp (11.9 & 5.1), PG Bohannon (11.2 & 3.3 APG) and Moss (10.0). Coming off the bench are 6-6 forward Baer (6.5 & 4.6) and the 6-9 Kriener (5.6 & 2.9). Iowa can score with MSU (82.8 PPG ranks 27th) but allows about a 'TD' more defensively, at 72.2 PPG. Iowa is almost as hot as MSU (13 straight wins), going 10-1 its last 11. The Hawkeyes are an impressive 11-1 at home (averaging 85.7 PPG) and are surely looking to avenge that 90-698 loss at East Lansing in late December. Michigan State's defense, which held Iowa to 32.8 percent shooting in the first matchup, as the lack of outside shooting made it "tough going" inside for Cook and Garza, who combined for just 22 points. However, freshman Wieskamp has caught fire lately, scoring in double figures in nine of the last 10 contests, making Iowa a much more dangerous team to Big Ten foes. The 6-6 guard was perfect against Illinois on Sunday in matching his career high of 24 points, hitting 8-of-8 from the field, including 6-of-6 from three-point range. That kind of accuracy has helped open things up inside for Cook and Garza, as well as making defenders think twice about leaving him to cover Iowa's other shooters. MSU has listed PG Winston as questionable with a knee issue and his loss would be HUGE. Either way, I'm taking Iowa and hoping for some good old home cookin'. Note that Iowa ranked first in the country in free throws made (395) entering Wednesday. Maybe we'll get the Rams/Saints refs in this one? Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Nuggets v. Jazz -3 | Top | 108-114 | Win | 100 | 16 h 44 m | Show |
My 10* NBA Game of the Month is on the Ut Jazz at 10:35 ET. The Utah Jazz saw their six-game winning streak end on MLK Day, losing 109-104 at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. The 26-22 Jazz welcome the 31-14 Denver Nuggets to Salt Lake City tonight, with the Nuggets coming to town having won 10 of their last 13 games, after routing the the Cavaliers 124-102 last Saturday. Denver arrives with the second-best record in the Western Conference (only the 33-14 Warriors are better), while Utah currently owns the West's No. 7. The Jazz are only one game clear of the playoff 'cut line' but are also just 2 1/2 games out of the No. 4 seed, which holds homecourt advantage in the first round. PG Jamal Murray (18.8-4.5-4.9) scored 26 points in the win over Cleveland for his fourth straight game of shooting 50 percent or better. Standout center Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Cavaliers for his third triple-double in the past seven games. He continues to lead Denver in scoring (19.6), rebounding (10.0) and assists (7.7). Denver has fought through key injuries to keep winning but it looks as if Harris (15.5), Millsap (12.8 & 6.7) and Barton (10.3) are now ready to play regularly. The Jazz lost at home to the Blazers, despite another outstanding effort by Donovan Mitchell (22.0-3.7-3.7). He scored 36 points and has scored more than 20 points in each of the past nine games, averaging 29.8 points during the stretch. Center Rudy Gobert (14.9 & 13.1) has recorded eight straight double-doubles and has 39 on the season. He matches up will against Jokic plus PG Ricky Rubio (12.8 & 6.0 APG) returned from a six-game absence due to a (hamstring) to score 12 points in just 14 minutes against Portland. Starters Ingles (11.5-3.9-4.9) and Favors (11.2 & 7.3) also average in double figures, while SF Crowder (12.0 & 4.8) and SG Korver (9.8 PPG on 40.0% three-point shooting in 26 games) have been excellent contributors off the bench. Utah is in "revenge mode" after losing 103-88 in the Mile High City back on Nov 3. In that contest, the Nuggets outscored the Jazz 35-15 in the fourth quarter. Denver is trying to halt a SEVEN-game losing streak in Utah, one in which the Jazz have won by an average of 14 points, holding the Nuggets below 90 points in FIVE of those wins. Note: Utah allows 105.0 PPG, 3rd-best in the NBA. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Missouri v. Arkansas -6 | 60-72 | Win | 100 | 14 h 36 m | Show | |
My 9* Rivalry Rout is on Arkansas at 9:00 ET. Missouri is 10-6 overall (1-3 in the SEC) and Arkansas is 10-7, including 1-4 in SEC play. Neither school in this border rivalry can really afford another loss after their respective sluggish starts to SEC play. Each team’s only SEC win came at Texas A&M. The Razorbacks opened conference play with a 73-71 road win over the Aggies back on Jan 5 but Arkansas has since lost FOUR in a row, including blowout losses at Tennessee (106-87) and Ole Miss (84-67) in its last two contests. Meanwhile, the Tigers lost their first three SEC games (all by double digits) but turned in their best defensive effort of the season in a 66-43 victory at Texas A&M on Saturday. Missouri relies on a defense that's allowing 65.2 PPG (that's 38th in the nation but also second in the SEC in scoring defense). However, on the offensive end, Missouri averages just 68.3 PPG (296th). Guards Geist (13.7-4.1-3.2) and Smith (12.0 & 5.4) form a solid backcourt duo while up front, the 6-10 Tilmon (9.9 & 5.9) and the 6-7 Puryear (8.7 & 5.2) are the team's best inside players. Missouri relies heavily on the three-pointer, shooting an SEC-best 39.2 percent from beyond the arc (that's 4th-best in the nation). The Razorbacks are one of the youngest teams in the nation but they do feature have the Preseason SEC Player of the Year in Daniel Gafford. The 6-11 sophomore is averaging 16.5 & 9.4. Arkansas features an very good guard trio in freshman Joe (14.5), sophomore Jones (14.4 & 4.9) and junior PG Harris (8.3 7 6.8 APG). This team is better than its record. The Razorbacks’ current four-game losing streak is their longest since a six-game skid to end the 2009-10 season. It ends here. This border rivalry is made more intense with former Missouri head coach Mike Anderson now leading Arkansas. The Razorbacks won't compete all that well against the SEC elite but Missouri is hardly elite. Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Raptors v. Pacers -5 | Top | 106-110 | Loss | -105 | 9 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. Toronto capped a 3-0 homestand with a 120-105 win over Sacramento last night. Star swingman Kawhi Leonard (27.6 & 7.9) missed his third game in a row for the Raptors and he is not expected back until Friday at Houston. Surprisingly, the 36-13 Raptors are 11-2 without Leonard this season. Toronto plays again tonight, when it visits Indianapolis to take on the 31-15 Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are 11-4 in the last 35 days but two of those losses have come against the Raptors. Toronto edged Indiana by three points in a Dec 19 win and then won 121-105 in the rematch on Jan 6 (both games were played in Toronto). Toronto overcame Leonard's absence last night with a 16-for-40 showing from behind the arc. CJ Miles made four-of-five from long-range and is averaging 13.7 points in just 16.7 minutes over his last three games (he averaging only 5.5 PPG on the season). PG Kyle Lowry (14.1-4.4-9.4) finished with 19 points and nine assists while Fred VanVleet (10.4 & 4.6 APG) also scored 19. Toronto is still without center Valanciunus (12.8 & 7.2), who hasn't played since Dec 12 (he hopes to be back by mid-Feb). Stepping up big time for Toronto this season has been PF Ibaka (16.2 & 7.3) and the 6-9 Siakam (15.0 & 6.9), who is one of the NBA's most improved players.(he averaged 7.3 PPG last season and just 4.2 in his rookie year). Both of Indiana's losses to the Raptors have been in Toronto."They beat us twice, but we feel like we're right there," Pacers PG Darren Collison said. "Eliminate some mistakes and we'll be OK. We match up pretty well against them. But if we want to be one of the best in the East, this shouldn't be a statement game. We should go out and compete and win. I feel like if you're the best, it shouldn't be a statement game. Statement games are for teams that are underdogs. I don't think we feel like underdogs." Collison (9.5 & 5.6 APG scored 19 points and handed out nine assists while Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 16 points in Sunday's 120-94 victory over the Hornets. Bogdanovic is averaging 16.0 & 4.1 on the season, second to Oladipo (19.2-5.7-5.3), the Pacers' best player. Indiana's depth is impressive, with PF Young (12.6 & 6.0) and center Turner (12.8 & 7.3) rounding out the team's starting-five. However, Sabonis (15.0 & 9.6) has been a 'monster' off the bench plus Evans (10.9) is starting to feel at home with his latest new team (note: he's averaging 15.5 points in 18.7 minutes over his last six games). . This is almost a "must win" for the Pacers. Indiana has lost four in a row to top teams in the Eastern Conference (twice to Toronto and once each to Boston and Philly). The Pacers are now only 3-7 against teams with a .600 or better winning percentage. I realize that the Raptors are 8-1 in the second game of back-to-backs but this is a game Indiana has to win if it has any hope of playing with confidence this postseason. I've got that feeling and will bet on it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-19 | Providence v. Xavier -3 | Top | 64-62 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Game of the Month is on Xavier at 6:30 ET. Xavier is just 10-7 overall, including 3-3 in the Big East. The Musketeers have already has lost as many conference games as they did in 2017-18, when the team went 15-3 in league play to win the Big East regular-season title. Xavier hasn't spent much time worrying about qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in recent years, having gone 'dancing' in 16 of the last 18 seasons. However, this season is shaping up much differently. The Musketeers are hoping a return home will get them back on track, when they host struggling Providence on Wednesday night. The 11-7 Friars are just 1-4 in Big East play, after losing 79-68 at now-No. 12 Marquette, the school's fourth loss in five games "As a leader of this group, I have to try to keep everyone’s heads up and make sure we’re looking ahead to the next game and not dwell on this loss,” Providence's leading scorer Alpha Diallo said.The 6-7 big guard averages team highs of 17.2 PPG and 8.6 RPG. It's notewiorthy that 6-10 sophomore center Nate Watson (11.1 & 5.4) is becoming a bigger force for the Friars, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the second half against Marquette to match his season-high point total set against Georgetown on Jan 12. However, AJ Reeves, a freshman guard who was averaging 14.2 PPG, has not played since going down with a foot injury on Dec 7. That leaves only Diallo and Watson in double figures. It's my belief that this Xavier team is much better than its record. While the Musketeers have great balance on offense with five players scoring in double figures. The 6-7 Marshall (13.3 & 7.4) leads the way, closely followed by guard Scruggs (12.9 & 5.0), PG Goodin (12.5 & 5.3 APG), the 6-9 Jones (10.7 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Hankins (10.5 & 4.9). Jones registered his second double-double in three games with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds against Villanova in Xavier's 10-point loss last Friday. I'm not sure Xavier is going to be NCAA-bound this season but the Musketeers are 9-2 SU at home (holding opponents to 69.6 PPG) and I doubt the team will forget Providence ruining Xavier's Big East tourney experience last season, knocking off the Musketeers 75-72 in OT as 7 1/2-point underdogs. Travis Steele is in his first season as Xavier's head coach but he'll remind this team about that loss, I'm sure. Providence sits in last-place in the 10-team Big East and plays the perfect foil in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-19 | Wichita State v. South Florida -2 | 41-54 | Win | 100 | 12 h 20 m | Show | |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on USF at 8:00 ET. South Florida saw its seven-game home win streak snapped Saturday as then-No. 21 Houston (now 17th) was too much for the Bulls to handle in a 69-60 loss. It was USF's third straight loss and fourth in five games but the Bulls are 12-6. Not impressed? Let me remind you that USF was 10-22 last year, following seasons of nine, eight and seven wins! The Bulls welcome fellow AAC rival Wichita St to the Yuengling Center tonight. The Shockers are just 8-9, including 1-4 in the AAC. That record is more than a little surprising, considering that Gregg Marshall's team entered the year having won 25 games or more the last NINE seasons (includes an NIT title in 2011 and seven straight NCAA bids, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013). Markis McDuffie, 6-8 senior, did the heavy lifting offensively in Marshall's 66-55 home loss to Cincinnati, scoring 21 points on 7 of-14 shooting. The problem being, the rest of his team totaled just 34 points on 38 shots. McDuffie averages 19.6 & 5.2 but only guard Haynes-Jones (13.0) joins him in double digits. The 6-11 Jaime Echenique, a JUCO transfer, leads the team in rebounding at 5.4 (averages 8.5). Brian Gregory's team won just 10 times last season but he's made great strides this season, already owning 12 wins (despite just one win in the team's last five contests). PG LaQuincy Rideauis a Gardner-Webb transfer, averages 14.3 PPG, 5.6 APG and 3.3 steals per game. He's joined in the backcourt by sophomore guard David Collins, who leads the team in scoring at 14.8 PPG. Finally free of eligibility issues, the the 6-7 Alexis Yetna checks in with 12.7 PPG and 11.2 RPG. Marshall not only lost four starters from last year's team but entered the season having lost two assistants. Witchita State is hard to beat at Charles Koch Arena but the Shockers are 0-4 SU on the road this season, going 1-3 ATS (pointspread win was plus-10 at Houston in a nine-point loss). Wichita St has been outscored on average, 78.5-to-61.5 PPG on the road. Meanwhile, USF is an impressive 10-2 SU at home (no real impost to worry about here). Let me note that the disparity in free throw attempts in Wichita State’s 66-55 home loss to Cincinnati on Saturday (35 attempts by Cincy to 7 for WSU)l ed to head coach Gregg Marshall and freshman Erik Stevenson receiving a pair of crucial technical fouls with 5:31 to play that turned a five-point deficit into an 11-point Bearcats lead. FT disparity could come to play here, as well. No American Athletic Conference team has made or attempted more free throws this season than USF (329-for-527), while no team in the AAC has made or attempted fewer than Wichita State (207-for-295). Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-19 | Clemson v. Florida State -5.5 | Top | 68-77 | Win | 100 | 11 h 19 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Florida St at 7:00 ET. Florida State lost 80-78 to then-No. 1 Duke on Jan 12 and actually jumped from 13th to 11th in the AP poll released on Jan 14. However, after road losses this past week at Pittsburgh(75-62) and Bocton College (87-82), FSU fell out of yesterday's latest AP poll (surprisingly, FSU checked in at No. 23 in the coaches' poll). The Seminoles return home tonight to host 11-6 Clemson, which at 1-3 in the ACC, is ahead of FSU in the league standings (Seminoles are one of five teams at the bottom of the league with a 1-4 mark). Clemson comes into this contest having just snapped a three-game slide of its own, with a 72-60 home win over Georgia Tech on Wednesday. Senior guard Marcquise Reed scored a career-high 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting while recording four steals against Ga Tech, as Clemson notched its first conference victory. Reed leads the team in scoring at 19.7 PPG and adds 5.4 RPG. Senior forward Elijah Thomas is second in scoring at 13.1 per game, plus leads the Tigers with 7.7 RPG. Guard Mitchell is Clemson's only other player in double digits, averaging 11.9 PPG and a team-high 3.2 APG.Clemson averages a modest 71.5 PPG on the season (240th). FSU has yet to recover from its "close but no cigar" two-point loss at Duke. The team's malaise was evident in its last outing, when FSU led by 10 points at BC at halftime but couldn’t get second half stops, as the Eagles went on to win, 87-82. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 sophomore, leads a balanced attack with 12.6 PPG, after posting a career-high 26 at Boston College. Senior guard Terance Mann is second on the scoring list at 11.6 PPG. Then there is junior PG Trent Forest (9.9-4.9-3.6), who is averaging 14 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists over his last two contests. However, 6-8 Mike Cofer's foot injury could hurt. He had a breakout season last year (12.8 & 5.1) but has played only seven games this year. It's time for Leonard Hamilton's team to "put up or shut up." FSU was ranked 17th in the AP's preseason poll (ranked 15th by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook) and climbed as high as No. 9 in the AP poll in early January. Finding themselves as one of five teams at the bottom of the ACC at 1-4, is unacceptable. However, Clemson should play the perfect foil here, as the Tigers are playing just their fourth true road game of the season, averaging only 66.3 PPG. Meanwhile, FSU is 8-1 SU at home (lone loss being that two-pointer against Duke), outscoring opponents 82.6-to-69.7 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-19 | Villanova v. Butler -1.5 | 80-72 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 18 m | Show | |
My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Butler at 7:00 ET. All are aware that Villanova has won TWO of the last three national championships and with less than two months remaining until Selection Sunday, the Wildcats are beginning to at least partially, resemble those previous teams. Villanova lost four players off last season's national championship team to the NBA, guards Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo plus forwards Mikal Bridges and Omari Spellman. However, since suffering back-to-back losses to Penn and Kansas, the Wildcats have handily beaten UConn (an old Big East rival) and followed with five straight wins in Big East play (14-4 / 5-0 Big East). They vie for their seventh straight victory when they visit Butler on Tuesday The Bulldogs won at DePaul Jan 16 (much-needed 1st road win of the season) and then took down St John's 80-71 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Saturday. Butler has gone 'dancing' in 10 of the previous 12 seasons but will need to finish strong to keep to do so again this campaign (Butler is just 12-7 / 3-3 in Big East). Seniors Phil Booth (18.4 & 3.8 APG) and Eric Paschall (16.6 & 6.4) combine to average 35 points per game, while Collin Gillespie (11.4 points) has come on strong with 32 points over his last two contests. However, the trio are Villanova's only double digit scorers. Guard Booth has averaged 24.0 points in the past four games, while the 6-8 Eric Paschall has averaged 20.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in the Wildcats' five conference games. Butler coming off a quality 80-71 victory over St. John's on Saturday, as Kamar Baldwin scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He leads the team in scoring at 17.7 PPG (adds 5.7 RPG) and is beginning to get some solid help. George Washington transfer Paul Jorgensen joins him in the backcourt to average 12.3 PPG and PG Thompson has been solid, averaging 6.2 & 4.2 APG. Another guard, McDermott, averages 10.4 PPG. McDermott had 12 rebounds against St John's but the bigger news was that the 6-7 Tucker, the highly-touted Duke transfer, came off the bench to score a career-best 24 points. He's now averaging 10.4 & 5.5 in 10 games since becoming eligible in mid-December. Butler is looking for its THIRD straight win over Villanova in the friendly Hinkle Fieldhouse and why can't the Bulldosg get it? Butler is 9-1 SU at home this season, which is no surprise. After all, Butler entered the season having gone 53--12 at home the previous four seasons (clearly, settling into Big East play). Upset? Not really! Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Marshall v. Western Kentucky -4.5 | 59-68 | Win | 100 | 15 h 15 m | Show | |
My 9* Revenge Rout is on Western Ky at 9:00 ET. The Marshall Thundering Herd are 12-6 overall but 5-0 in C-USA, as they travel to the E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky on Monday night to take on the 9-9 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (2-3 in C-USA). Marshall's current 5-game winning streak began with the team's opening of league play and includes a 70-69 home win over Wetern Ky on Jan 12. Western Ky ended a three-game skid with a 105-97 win over FIU the last time out, evening its record at 9-9 on the season. PG Jon Elmore leads Marshall in scoring (20.2) and assists (5.3), while shooting guard CJ Burks checks in at 17.9 PPG (he's had back-to-back 30-point games). The 6-9 Jannson Williams (9.2 & 4.7) tops a group of five players averaging between 5.6 and 9.2 PPG. Marshall averages 81.9 PPG (34th) but allows 81.3 points (341st). Western Ky's leading scorer is Taveion Hollingsworth (16.2 & 4.7) and h led Western Kentucky with 24 points in the win over FIU. Other regular contributors are the 6-11 Bassey (14.1 & 8.9) plus guards Savage (13.4 & 4.7) and Anderson (10.3). This contest has "revenge written all over it." The Hilltoppers were beaten 67-66 by underdog Marshall in the C-USA Tourney last season, costing Western Ky a spot in the Dance (Western Ky had won both regular season meetings). Then on Jan 12 at Huntington, West Va, the Hilltoppers blew an 11-point halftime lead, in a 70-69 loss. Marshall freshman Kinsey scored 23 points in that 70-69 win, NINE points more than had scored in any previous game this season (he enters this game averaging 8.8 PPG)! Marshall may be atop C-USA but the the Thundering Herd checks in just 3-8-1 ATS since Dec 1. REVENGE works in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Iowa State v. Kansas -5 | Top | 76-80 | Loss | -112 | 15 h 13 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Kansas at 9:00 ET. Iowa St beat 77-60 Kansas in Ames back on Jan 5 and will now try to sweep the regular season series with the Jayhawks Monday night in Lawrence. The Cyclones lost two straight after beating Kansas but have bounced back with wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma St. As for Kansas, the Jayhawks answered their loss to the Cyclones with three straight victories but then surrendered the final SEVEN points in Saturday's 65-64 loss at West Virginia. ISU senior Marial Shayock (19.4 & 5.2) is the Big-12's leading scorer. He had 24 points in the Jan 5 win over Kansas plus has added back-to-back 20-point games in the Cyclones' 68-64 win over Texas Tech on Wednesday and 72-59 triumph against Oklahoma State three days later. Head coach Steve Prohm has a perimeter-oriented team, as veteran guards Wiggington (11.9 & 4.4) and Babb (9.7-4.5-4.0) join freshman Horton-Tucker (11.7 & 4.4) and Haliburton (7.8-3.7-4.2) in support of Shayock. The 6-9 Jacobson (13.1 & 6.1) is ISU's only real inside threat. The Lawson brothers transferred from Memphis and were expected to make a HUGE contribution this season for Kansas. Dedric (18.9 & 10.7) has delivered but KJ, who averaged 12.3 & 8.1 for Memphis last season, is averaging only 10 MPG (2.8 & 2.4). Kansas head coach Bill Self has also lost the 7-1 Azubuike (13.4 & 6.8) for the season, so the Jayhawks' 14-year stranglehold on the Big 12's regular season title could be in jeopardy. Kansas' lone senior is Lagerald Vick and he's averaging 15.1 PPG. Fellow guards Dotson (10.9-3.4-3.1), Grimes (8.7) and Garrett (7.2 & 3.4) join Vick on the perimeter. Garrett has scored 35 points in the last two games. Four schools are atop the Big-12 at 4-2 (the other two, Kansas State and Texas Tech meet on Tuesday). While Kansas may not be as good as expected at the start of the season, the Jayhawks have still dominated the Big-12 year after year. Iowa St comes in just 6-13 ATS its last 19 on the road, while Kansas comes in 35-16-3 ATS off a loss. Don't forget, Kansas is 10-0 SU at home, averaging 82.1 PPG. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Rockets v. 76ers -5 | Top | 93-121 | Win | 100 | 14 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the Phi 76ers at 8:05 ET. Reigning MVP James Harden has been in quite a 'zone!. He's scored 30-plus points in 19 straight games, while topping 40 in 10 of his last 13. The Rockets rallied from 18 points down in the second half Saturday to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 138-134 in overtime. Harden scored 48 in the game and is averaging 54.3 points over Houston's last three contests. The 26-19 Rockets will travel to Philadelphia for a MLK Day game with the 30-17 Sixers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday with a 117-115 home loss against Oklahoma City, as they turned the ball over 17 times overall and allowed a four-point play by Paul George with 5.1 seconds left. Houston now sits one game out of third place in the Western Conference after starting the season 11-14 through its first 25 contests.The Rockets continue to fight through injuries, although Chris Paul is expected back soon (early Feb). However, center Clint Capela (career high averages of 17.6 PPG and 12.6 RPG) is out until late-February with a thumb injury. Good news comes in the form of Gordon (16.2) returning to the court the last two games, averaging 25.0 points. Rivers (12.6 PPG in 13 contests) was a great sign after Paul got hurt and veteran swingman Green (9.2 PPG) has averaged 12.7 PPG during the 14 games that Paul has missed. Joel Embiid led the way with 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the loss to OKC. Ben Simmons had 20 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists but despite those efforts, the Sixers weren't able to convert on their last possession with Simmons looking to be confused after handing the ball to Jimmy Butler beyond the three-point arc. Embiid (27.0 & 13.2) is the first Philadelphia player to score at least 30 points in 20 of his first 45 games of a season since Allen Iverson (2005-06). Butler checks in at 19.0-4.8-3.4, Redick at 18.5 PPG and Simmons at 16.6-9.5-8.2. However, I'm not convinced the 76ers are better off with Butler, after exchanging him for valuable role players like Covington and Saric. That said, I sure like Philly to bounce back from its Saturday home loss to OKC. While Harden remains 'on fire,' Houston has cooled off a bit while alternating victories in its last nine outings (5-4 SU and 4-5 ATS). More notably, the Rockets have had trouble scoring away from home since Dec 1, with the exception of the team's 135-134 win at Golden St on Jan 3. Let me point out that excluding that contest, Houston is averaing a very modest 10.1 PPG in its other eight away games since Dec 1. Philly is 19-5 SU at home this season, while averaging 118.9 PPG. Yes, Harden "gets his" but Philly gets the win and COVER! Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Virginia Tech v. North Carolina -3.5 | 82-103 | Win | 100 | 13 h 18 m | Show | |
My 8* Oddsmaker's Error is on North Carolina at 7:00 ET. No. 9 Virginia Tech bounced back nicely after being routed 81-59 by No. 1 Virginia in its previous game. The Hokies shot 57 percent from the floor while holding the Demon Deacons to 37.5 percent shooting in an 87-71 win. Tech is now 15-2 (4-1 in ACC play) as it heads to Chapel Hill to take on 14-4 North Carolina (also 4-1 in the ACC), which is ranked 13th (both rankings pending the AP's latest poll, which will be released Monday afternoon). The Tar Heels were shocked 83-62 at home by Louisville on Jan 12 but have won two straight, the most recent win coming in an 85-76 victory at Miami on Saturday. Sophomore guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a team-high 24 points in the win over Wake and is the team's top scorer at 18.2 PPG (4.3 RPG). The 6-10 Blackshear (13.4 & 5.8) checks in behind Walker, followed by guards Robinson (12.8 & 5.4 APG) and Hill (12.8). Tech plays great D (59.5 PPG ranks 5th) and it will be needed here against the high-scoring Tar Heels. The Tar Heels connected on 55% against Miami, including making 18-of-30 (60 percent) in the second half when they pulled away from a 37-37 halftime tie. Senior guard Cameron Johnson scored a game-high 22 and leads North Carolina by averaging 15.9 PPG on the season (also gets 5.7 RPG). The 6-8 Maye averages 14.4 PPG and grabs a team-high 9.9 RPG. Guards White (14.2) and Williams (8.9 & 4.0 APG) also start, as does the 6-9 Brooks (8.7 & 5.8). 6-6 freshman Little (9.9 & 4.3) is an effective sixth-man. Virginia Tech snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Tar Heels with a win in Blacksburg last season but North Carolina leads the all-time series 31-7. Keeping up with North Carolina seems like a "bridge too far" for Va Tech, which has scored just 52 (Ga Tech) and 59 (Va) points in its two ACC road games. North Carolina is averaging 87.3 PPG (5th) and again, the price looks 'cheap!' Lay it. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-19 | Pistons v. Wizards -5.5 | 87-101 | Win | 100 | 5 h 39 m | Show | |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on the Was Wizards at 2:05 ET. The 20-25 Detroit Pistons will be in Washington on MLK Day to take on the 19-26 Wizards.Detroit is currently in 9th-place in the playoff standings (only EIGHT get in), while Washington sits 10th. However, with basically half the season remaining, both still have reasonable playoff aspirations. Detroit had a three-game winning streak in its sights after wins over Orlando and Miami but was outscored 29-19 in the fourth quarter and surrendered 23 points off 14 turnovers to the Kings in a two-point home loss on Saturday. The Wizards are coming back from a trip to London, where they defeated the New York Knicks 101-100 on Thursday in the first game the franchise has played overseas. Blake Griffin (26.0-8.1-5.3) did all he could in attempting to get the "W" but his third consecutive 30-plus performance (38 points on 12-of-23 shooting) was not enough. The Pistons played that game without Ish Smith (8.7), who missed the game after experiencing problems connected to a right abductor injury. More bad news came in the fact that center Andre Drummond (16.3 & 14.9) was placed in concussion protocol for Saturday's loss, after playing just seven minutes in the team's Friday game vs Miami. He's listed as doubtful for Monday's contest. I get the feeling that the Wizards are slowly pulling themselves out of a funk that has lasted nearly the entire first half of the season. All-Star PG John Wall (20.8 & 8.7 APG) is out with a season-ending heel injury but SG Bradley Beal (24.9-5.0-5.0) remains confident the team can continue to make strides forward. We're a competitive team," Beal told reporters. "Win, lose, or draw, we stick together. We keep our heads high, we continue to get better. We're right here in the playoff hunt, which is where we want to be." It's hardly a positive sign that Detroit allowed the Kings to rally from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit on its home court on Saturday, as Buddy Hield nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer for the Sacramento win. Meanwhile, the Wizards have covered FIVE straight at the Capital One Arena, going 4-1 SU with that lone loss coming in OT by two points to Toronto. Washington has averaged a WHOPPING 123.6 PPG in those five straight ATS home wins, while Detroit limps in 7-14 SU on the road this season, after losing 11 of its last 14 away from home. Take the Wizards. Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-19 | Patriots v. Chiefs UNDER 56 | Top | 37-31 | Loss | -110 | 132 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* Championship Game Sunday O/U Play is on NE/KC Under at 6:40 ET. A storm front is moving through Kansas City and it’s been reported that this could be the coldest game in Chiefs history. Since the news of the storm, this total has been steadily dropping. Regardless, for a number of different reasons I think the correct call will be on the “under” when it comes to the total, as I look for each to try and establish the run from start to finish while on offense. The Chiefs’ much maligned defense looked fantastic in last week’s 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Chiefs front-seven limited the Colt to just 87 yards rushing and the Colts to only 263 total yards. The red-hot Andrew Luck had only 203 yards passing and Indy's lone offensive TD came with 5 1/2-minutes left in the game. KC's low-ranked pass defense (31st of 32 teams) has also displayed noticeable growth in the last two games, thanks to the fast-maturing duo of DB duo of Chavarius Ward (acquired in a preseason trade with the Cowboys) and rookie Jordan Lucas (picked up from Miami Dolphins). QB Patrick Mahomes failed to throw a TD pass for only the second time this season (he had 50 during the regular season) but Kansas City held the ball for nearly 40 minutes in the win over the Colts, as RB Damien Williams rushed for 129 yards and a score on 25 carries (who needs Hunt?). New England is in its 8th straight AFC Title game following its dominating 41-28 home victory over the L.A. Chargers in the Divisional Round. Patriots scored TDs on their first 4 possessions with Tom Brady in top form. The Pats beat the Chiefs 43-40 at home in a Week 6 SNF contest but I believe the last thing that Brady and Bill Belichick will want to do in this one is turn it into a “shootout.” The overall conditions of this one point to more of a “chess match.” The New England attack wasn’t so special away from home this year, with the Pats going just 3-5 SU, averaging only 3.9 YPC on the ground, while scoring just four rushing TDs. Three of the team's five road losses came by double digits This "Under" play is about more than just the weather. I’ll point out as well that New England has seen the total go under the number in 17 of its last 24 on the road, while KC has seen the total dip below the posted number in 19 of its last 27 as a home favorite. Good luck…Larry |
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01-20-19 | Colorado v. Utah -3.5 | Top | 69-78 | Win | 100 | 11 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error is on Utah at 6:00 ET. The Colorado Buffs (10-6 / 1-3 in Pac-12) travel to Salt Lake City to play the 8-8 Utah Utes (2-2 in Pac-12) at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Colorado opened the season 8-1 but enter this contest having lost FIVE of its last seven. Utah owns a .500 overall and conference record. The Utes haven’t had a winning or losing streak longer than two games this season. The Buffaloes now face dealing with an injury to leading scorer McKinley Wright (12.9-4.9-5.3). He missed the second half of the Buffaloes’ Jan. 12 loss to Washington after suffering a shoulder injury and his immediate status is questionable at best (he only returned to practice wearing a brace late in the week) Also, senior Namon Wright is averaging 7.5 points off the bench but has missed the last three games and still wasn’t able to practice this past week. Up front, the 6-7 Bey (12.0 & 9.1) and the 6-10 Siewert (11.4 & 5.0) will be counted on to carry more of the load. Utah's 88-70 win over visiting Washington State on Jan. 12 put the brakes on a two-game slide, as the Utes recovered nicely from their season-low 53 points two nights earlier versus Washington. The freshman trio of Timmy Allen (15 & 9), Both Gach (14 & 4 assists) and Riley Battin (11-4-4) led the way in the win as the youngsters continue to show near-weekly improvement. The 6-6 Allen averages 9.9 & 4.3, the 6-7 Gach 8.1 & 2.5 and the 6-9 Battin 7.1 & 3.4. Senior PG Sedrick Barefield (15.4 & 3.8 APG) and 6-7 sophomore forward Donnie Tillman (11.3 & 5.8) are the only two players averaging double figures for Utah. Sure, Utah's season has been 'stuck in neutral' but that's a better situation than Colorado's, which has seen the team averaging 84.1 PPG in its 8-1 start, fall apart with FIVE losses in its last seven, averaging only 63.2 PPG in those five losses. Utah has outscored opponents 77.9-to-67.4 PPG at home this season and has won EIGHT of the last nine meetings with Colorado, as well as owning SIX straight wins here in Salt Lake City over the Buffs. Everything considered, the price seems 'cheap!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-19 | Rams v. Saints -3 | Top | 26-23 | Loss | -125 | 104 h 1 m | Show |
My 10* signature 35-Club Play is on the NO Saints at 3:05 ET. The Rams opened the 2018 season 8-0, finishing at 13-3 but after a 3-0 ATS start to the season, would go just 2-8-1 ATS before season-ending wins and covers over the hapless Cardinals and 49ers. The Saints opened the season with back-to-back home games (as 10-point favorites) against the Bucs and Browns. New Orleans lost outright to Tampa Bay in Week 1 and almost started 0-2, before eking out a 21-18 victory over Cleveland. However, that Week 2 win was the start of a 10-game winning streak in which the Saints covered NINE in a row. A 13-10 loss at Dallas ended the streak in Week 13. The Saints then won three in a row, before sitting out their regulars in a Week 17 loss, to finish 13-3 (like the Rams). However, The Saints' 45-35 win over the Rams in Week 9 not only ended LA's eight-game winning streak to open the season but it earned the Saints the all-important tiebreaker, which in the end became the determining factor for allowing the Saints to host the Rams in this NFC championship game. The Rams advanced to this game by rushing for 273 yards against Cowboys in a 30-22 win. Todd Gurley II, apparently beyond nagging injuries that limited his contributions (and kept him sidelined) in December, had 115 rushing yards and C.J. Anderson, a 1000-yard rusher in Denver last year, had 123. The team's ball-control offense gave cover to QB Goff, who threw for just 186 yards and zero TDs. I don't see the Rams being able to like that against the Saints (New Orleans ranks second in YPG allowed rushing at 80.2 per and held the Rams to 92 yards rushing in Week 9), so Goff will need to out-play Brees (not likely). Goff may have thrown 32 TD passes this season but he has only five TDPs in the last five games (including the postseason), with FOUR of them coming against the out-manned 49ers in the regular-season finale. The Saints were rusty (regulars didn't play in Week 17) last week vs Philly and fell behind 14-0. However, Brees led te team back and the New Orleans D completely shut down Nick Foles and the Philly offense after teh first quarter. Philly gained 151 yards on their two first-quarter TD drives but were held to 99 yards the rest of the game! Remember when the Saints couldn't play defense? No more! Brees started slowly but wound up with 3-0101 yards and two TDs (one INT). New Orleans ran for 137 yards (4.4) and WR Thomas had 12 catches for 171 yards with one TD (note: he also had 12 catches in that Week 9 win over LA, setting a franchise-record 211 yards). As for teh running game, New Orleans ran for 137 yards (4.4 YPC). The home-field edge MATTERS this time of year, as in each of the last five seasons, the team with home field advantage in both the NFC and AFC championship games advanced to the Super Bowl. The Saints have won their last seven home playoff games, with SIX coming under the watch of Brees and Payton. Enough said. Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-19 | BYU v. San Francisco -6.5 | 63-82 | Win | 100 | 16 h 4 m | Show | |
My 8* CBB Bailout Blowout is on San Francisco at 11:00 ET. The BYU Cougars will travel to War Memorial Gymnasium to take on the San Francisco Dons this Saturday night in WCC action. The Cougars defeated the Pepperdine Waves 87-76 this past Thursday for their third straight win, improving to 12-8 (4-1 WCC) on the season. The Dons also won on Thursday, 53-52 at Pacific, improving to 15-3 (3-1 WCC). BYU can score, averaging 83.5 PPG (23rd), as the the 6-8 Childs leads the Cougars in scoring (22.2) and rebounding (9.8). Guards Haws (18.0& 5.2 APG) and Hardnett (10.9) check in behind him. However, BYU allows 78.2 PPG (311th). San Francisco has nice balance, with a trio of guards in Mineland (15.2 & 5.3), PG Ferrari (13.4 & 5.4 APG) and Ratinho (10.2) all in double figures. Up front, it's the 6-9 McCarthy (9.7 & 6.8), the 7-0 Lull (8.7 & 5.9) and the 6-8 Renfro (6.8 & 5.6). The Cougars check in 2-10 ATS in their last 12 road games, including going 2-6 SU & 1-7 ATS this season (allowing 91.9 PPG)! Meanwhile, the Dons, who rank 18th in points allowed (18th) on tehe season, are 9-1 SU at home. San Francisco had won 20 games just TWICE in 20 years before the arrival of current head coach Kyle Smith. Smith won 20 and 22 games his first two years at SF (lost in the CIT championship game LY) and with 15 wins already TY, is headed for a 'monster' season. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-19 | Oregon v. Arizona State -3.5 | Top | 64-78 | Win | 100 | 15 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Arizona St at 9:30 ET. Preseason Pac-12-favorite Oregon stumbled to a 0-2 conference start but has rebounded nicely with wins over USC at home last Sunday and at Arizona two nights ago. The Ducks are 11-6 overall (2-2 in Pac-12 play) as they travel to Tempe to take on the ASU Sun Devils (12-5 / 3-2). Oregon opened Pac-12 road play in style Thursday, holding Arizona to 54 points and snapping the Wildcats’ six-game win streak and handing the Wildcats their first league loss. Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory. Oregon head coach Dana Altman is learning to deal with the loss of 7-2 freshman Bol Bol (21.0 & 9.2), who is out for the season with a foot injury. Thursday's road win was the big news but Oregon also received a boost with the return of 6-9 sophomore forward Kenny Wooten (6.5 & 5.1), who had five points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes after missing the previous four contests with a broken jaw. Ducks senior forward Paul White said Thursday in the post-game news conference. “And I think our team has done a great job of responding.” White scored a game-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting Thursday and is one of two healthy Ducks averaging double figures at 10.8 PPG. Junior PG Payton Pritchard (11.5 PPG) is the other to go along with a team-leading 4.5 APG. He sealed Thursday’s win by draining a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining. Arizona State also responded in positive fashion Thursday night, bouncing back from an 85-71 road defeat at Stanford by handing visiting Oregon State its first Pac-12 loss in a 70-67 victory. The Sun Devils saw an 18-point early-second half lead trimmed to only one with 22 seconds remaining but Rob Edwards closed it out by draining a pair of free throws with 12.1 seconds to play. Edwards scored 13 points to pace five ASU players in double figures. Five ASU players are averaging in double figures on the season, with the 6-8 While averaging 9.2 & 6.0. The double digit scorers are guard Dort (16.6 & 4.6), fellow guard Martin (12.4), the 6-8 Cheatham (11.8 & 9.6), guard Edwards (10.5) and the 6-7 Lawrence (10.2 & 3.9). Oregon has won 11 of the last 12 in the series (including eight straight) but the Ducks are NOT the same without Bol Bol, despite the win Thursday at Arizona. Bobby Hurley's Sun Devils generated national headlines by handing then-top-ranked Kansas its first loss, 80-76, back on Dec. 22. ASU is just 5-5 its last 10 overall but is 8-2 SU at home, averaging 82.9 PPG. Meanwhile, Oregon is averaging a modest 57.2 PPG in its four true road games. ASU takes this with "room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-19 | Oregon State v. Arizona -5 | Top | 71-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Arizona at 7:00 ET. 11-5 Oregon State will visit Tucson on Saturday to take on 13-5 Arizona. Both schools suffered theri first Pac-12 loses of teh season on Thursday (each fell to 3-1), as the Beavers lost 70-67 at Arizona State and the Wildcats lost at home to Oregon, 59-54. Oregon State's loss wasn't a surprise (Beavers were point underdogs) but Arizona's loss was. The Wildcats rarely lose at the McKale Center (more on that later) but they trailed 31-23 at halftime and finished with their second-lowest scoring output (54 points) and field-goal percentage (36.5) of the season. Oregon State also endured a rough start in Tempe, falling behind 40-22 early in the second half, before rallying to trim Arizona State’s lead to one in the eventual three-point loss. OSU's 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.1-8.3-4.4) and guard Ethan Thompson (13.2 & 5.6) each scored 21 to combine for 42 of the Beavers’ 67 points Thursday. Thompson’s older brother Stephen (15.2 & 4.7) had an off night with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, finishing with four fouls and failing to reach double figures for the first time in his last five games. “You have to give their defense credit,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said in his post-game news conference after the Oregon loss. “We were out of sorts, never could get into an offensive rhythm. Several of our guys had a tough night shooting it.” Guard Brandon Randolph leads the Wildcats in scoring at 15.7 per game, failed to reach double figures for the first time all season Thursday, finishing with five points on a 2-of-9 shooting performance. However, Center Chase Jeter, a 6-10 transfer from Duke, posted his fifth double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He isn't making anyone forget DeAndre Ayton, but he is averaging 13.3 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds. Jeter scored just 103 points in 48 games (10.3 minutes per contest) with Duke from 2015-17 before sitting out the 2017-18 season but is more than just a solid contributor this year. PG Brandon Williams rounds out the team's double-digit scorers at 11.4 PPG and 3.6 APG plus has a solid backcourt partner in Justin Coleman (8.9). The Oregon loss was a jolt but Miller has quietly molded this team into a Pac-12 contender (the league is relatively weak this year). Arizona has won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series, with Oregon State’s only win in the span coming on Jan. 11, 2015. Sure, Arizona lost at home Thursday but how does one ignore that the Wildcats enter this contest a national-best 91-5 at the McKale Center since 2013? Good luck...Larry |
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