Cappers Sports Picks - The Experts

Four straight Wake game shave gone under the total while the Panthers have been an under play after a impressive win for quite some time. 

Expect the Wildcats to be much better defensively than they were against Stanford, especially in the second half. 

The Cavaliers (3-1) have not played since a 71-64 overtime win against Kent State at home on Dec. 4.

Virginia paused activities from Dec. 9-19 due to COVID-19 issues that forced a cancellation against Villanova and postponements against Michigan State and Wake Forest. The game against William & Mary originally was scheduled for Dec. 13.

Through four games, opponents are averaging 57.5 points on 38 percent shooting from the field vs. UVA's stingy defense.

So far not many have created more offense from their defense than Colorado. 

Colorado managed to score just 47 points at Tennessee but have put up at least 76 against their other 4 opponents. 

UCF (1-1) has experienced ups and downs in its play this season after games against Oklahoma and Houston were canceled due to COVID-19.

This campaign opened in promising fashion with a 63-55 win over visiting Auburn, with UCF putting on a strong defensive effort against the Tigers.

But in their first road game nearly two weeks ago in Ann Arbor, the Knights succumbed to host Michigan, dropping an 80-58 decision after the Wolverines used a 20-0 second-half run to put the contest away.

FSU won't shoot 53% in this one like they did against Georgia Tech.

The explorers are coming off a game where UMass scored 85 points on them as they shot 29-of-60 (48.3 percent) from the floor, 11-of-28 (39.3 percent), and shot 23 free-throws. 

The Delaware Blue Hens are giving up 72.3 points per game to begin their 2020 campaign. 

Wright State has played well defensively, giving up 64.7 points per game. They gave up 67 points in their last game and will need to keep playing well defensively if they want to get past the Titans.

Detroit Mercy has struggled offensively, averaging 69.8 points per game. They finished with 67 points in their last game after shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three-point range.

Lavell's Jordan’s team is trying to replace 62.9% of its scoring from a season ago, including the contributions of Kamar Baldwin and Sean McDermott. As a team, the Bulldogs return merely 21 of the 212 3-pointers they made a season ago, and they’re relying on a mix of seniors and freshmen — two classes that combined for all 66 of the points scored earlier this week at Villanova.

Nevada has averaged 80.7 points while giving up 74.3 over its last three.

Last time out against Vanderbilt, Richmond shot 30-of-51 (58.8 percent) from the field and 6-of-15 (40 percent) from 3-point range.

The Ramblers, after opening their 2020-21 campaign with three consecutive victories, suffered their first defeat on Tuesday, falling to the No. 12 Wisconsin Badgers 77-63 on the road.

Their opponents went 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the free-throw line and 10-of-18 from distance (55.6 percent) while committing just 4 turnovers.

After five straight losses to open the season, the Stags finally registered their first win of the season, beating the Iona Gaels 67-52 in the previous game. The Stags have had one game postponed and one canceled due to Covid-19.

The Stags have been awful offensively, averaging just 58.2 points per game. They have managed just 7.7 assists per game

Western Michigan has three underclassmen filling out significant minutes in its top-six rotation. All four of WMU’s games against NCAA-I foes have involved 68 possessions or less.

Due to complications caused by the ongoing pandemic, head coach Kevin Keatts said only nine State players will make the trip. However, it's unknown who will and won't be available for the Wolfpack.

The Pack will also lean on sophomore center Manny Bates, one of the premier defenders in the nation, who's averaging 2.7 blocks per game, against one of the top mid-major programs in the country.

Creighton returns four of its five starters, including BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Marcus Zegarowski, who is averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 assists per contest through six games. The point guard recorded a double-double 11 point, 11 assist performance in the 94-67 win over Omaha on Dec. 1. 

St. John’s will have the heavy task of needing to limit Creighton’s shot attempts from behind the arc, as the No. 9 Blue Jays average a league-high 85 points per game. The Johnnies have struggled with their perimeter defense, allowing teams to make 37.6 percent of their three-point attempts this season.

Texas Tech's major weakness is shooting from beyond the arc and turnovers. They are among the worst in the country in both categories and needing to do that well against Kansas is the top priority.

Since their defeat to Kansas on November 27th, the Hawks program has been on pause due to COVID-19 complications. They are going to come into this one very rusty, which will likely lead to sloppy basketball with a ton of free throws. The Dragons starting five is very experienced with three upper-classmen.

Eastern Washington has been too sloppy for my taste on the offensive end but I do anticipate a better result as the season moves forward. They are 116th in points allowed per game, a number I don't see getting better even though their early schedule has been brutal for a school like the Eagles. 

According to KenPom, the Vols rank fourth nationally and first in the SEC in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing 86.8 points per 100 possessions so far this season.

Tennessee also ranks among the NCAA leaders in scoring defense, allowing just 51.5 points per game.

First game of the Year for the Bonnies and second for Akron. St. Bonaventure was ranked #1 in the nation with 427 assist when we last left them in March. Efficient on offense, one of the worst on Defense. If that trend continues this will easily fly over the number.