NCAAB: Cuse hosts the Hoyas
Great Saturday action starts at noon Saturday as Georgetown and Syracuse renew their long-standing rivalry, each attempting to get back on the winning track.
What a difference a month makes! Exactly four weeks ago this Saturday, Syracuse went to Georgetown and each team was ranked in the Top 12 in the country. Now, a multitude of losses later, each is trying to regain confidence to make a big push into March.
For the Hoyas (13-9, 6-11-1 ATS), it’s about getting the ball in the hands of guard Jessie Sapp and freshman center Greg Monroe. Each has been more of the playmaker needed to make the G-Town offense run properly.
If this doesn’t happen, the offense breaks down. Another contributing factor to failures is the lack of defensive rebounding block-outs, which has allowed a bevy of points. Georgetown is only 2-9 ATS in Big East play.
When Syracuse’s (18-7, 9-12 ATS) team is ready and emotionally involved, they are a load, but too often this team is derailed by misfortune, be it injuries or of their own doings like free throw shooting.
Defensively all season, Syracuse has not been reliable, allowing 70.8 points per game and they are in scheduling gauntlet right now, after playing at Villanova and Connecticut.
The ‘Cuse is 14-2 and 6-6 ATS at the Carrier Dome this year and 7-1 and 5-3 ATS versus Georgetown in upstate New York. The Hoyas are 1-9-1 ATS1-9-1 ATS since upsetting Connecticut on December 29th.
Power Line – Georgetown by 4
NCAAB: Battle in Badgerland
The ESPN College Gameday crew will be spending their Valentine’s holiday in Madison, WI, awaiting the 9:00 pm between the Badgers and the Buckeyes.
This game is intriguing, as Ohio State and Wisconsin are both playing better and each will try to stay hot in order to improve their tournament resume.
This turns out to be were the flex scheduling could come in handy, with neither Ohio State (17-5, 11-7 ATS) nor Wisconsin among the leaders in the Big Ten, like many believed back in November.
To start the conference campaign, the Buckeyes lost confidence shooting. After converting 54.8 percent against Michigan State, the swagger returned across the board and the Buckeyes have shot better than 54 percent in their last five outings.
Evan Turner has been the catalyst and his aggressive play has led the surge. The Scarlet and Gray are 20-9 ATS after playing a home game and have won and covered four in a row.
Wisconsin (15-9, 10-11-1 ATS) is working on a big second half push, with three consecutive triumphs, trying to get themselves to 19 wins by season’s end and hoping for a win or two in the Big Ten tourney, which might be enough to get them into the Big Dance.
Coach Bo Ryan went back to basics and worked his players through the most elementary of fundamentals to finally end their six game losing streak when they defeated Illinois.
For the Badgers, it is about playing the man defense with help and sagging in the post area. When the players execute this properly, Wisconsin is a tough out. They are 16-7 ATS off a straight up victory.
The Badgers are 6-3 and 4-5 ATS vs. Buckeyes at the Kohl Center.
Power Line – Wisconsin by 5
