Here are today’s selections:
5 Units Northern Illinois +2 -110
MAC battle between a team that's bad at home (Ohio is 3-4 at home) while Northern Illinois is poor on the road (1-6). Northern Illinois plays great defense (40% shooting allowed) though they are not tall, led by 6’-4” senior guard P.J. Smith (12 points per game), 6-6” senior Marcus Smallwood (15 ppg, 10 rpg) and 6’-6” sophomore guard Todd Peterson. The Ohio Bobcats (4-10) are struggling, especially on offense where they shoot 40% from the field. 6’-5” senior Jaivon Harris (13 ppg, 42% FGs) and senior guard Thomas Stephens (11 ppg, 38% FGs) lead the way, but both are poor shooters. Ohio broke a losing streak with a win over Buffalo, but No-Illinois has more horses here. Also, they met back on Jan. 3, and Northern Illinois won 73-63 at home.
7 Units Oklahoma -3 -106
The Missouri-Oklahoma game will be a rematch of last year's championship game of the Big 12 Tournament, a 49-47 slugfest won by the Sooners. Rickey Paulding scored 25 points Monday in the Missou 82-68 losing effort to Syracuse. Center Arthur Johnson scored just 8 points and had 10 rebounds. Oklahoma can only hang their heads following the humiliating 86-59 experience in Storrs Connecticut Monday. The Sooners shot 27% from the field and were out rebounded 47-32. Missouri (R: 2-3 SU, 1-2 ATS) was out rebounded in its first two conference games by Iowa State and Texas A&M and now get the Sooners. This will be a difficult stretch for OU to begin Big 12 play. The easiest match up in the three-game set could be at home against Missouri, so expect them to take advantage of this opportunity.
5 Units Wake Forest +10 -112
Duke once again has proved that in order to win the ACC, someone will have to go through Duke. In their last game, Duke crushed an overmatched N.C. State 76-57 SU. Duke has run out to 3-0 SU, in the conference and 13-1 SU (8-5 ATS) overall. Now they face a good Wake Forest (11-1 SU, 7-4 ATS) team that is a little discombobulated after Texas handed them their hats on ESPN, 94-81, at Texas. It will not get any easier for the Demon Deacons at Duke. Although Wake is averaging an amazing 91 points on the Road, Duke is squeezing opponents to just 58 points a game at Home. At least Wake knows what they are getting when the Crazies get going. However, last year the Home team won easy in this annual series. But Wake definitely has a shot in this one. They are a little better rebounding team than Duke (36 rpg –32 rpg) and can score often away from Home (91 ppg on the Road). Finally, they are getting great big man play out of Sophomore Eric Williams (16 ppg, 6 rpg). Look for Wake to be in this game at all times and maybe, just maybe, squeak out a win.
5 Units Nebraska +13.5 -103
Tough week for Nebraska (R: 1-2 SY, 2-1 ATS) who lost two in conference play. After losing to Iowa State last weekend, the Huskers fell 68-60 to Colorado at mid-week. Nate Johnson and John Turek had 13 each to lead Nebraska. Brian Conklin had 11 and Andrew Drevo finished with 10. The Cornhuskers are improved and holding opponents to 36% from the field and 56 ppg. Texas (10-2 SU, 5-4 ATS) comes off a great win over highly ranked Wake Forest 94-81 on Tuesday. Brandon Mouton scored 17 points and freshman P.J. Tucker scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The Longhorns held a commanding 42-28 edge on the glass. Texas extended its home winning streak to 24 games. The Longhorns shot a blistering 60 percent (18-of-30) against WF. Close game in the forecast with the Horns hookin' the Huskers.
3 Units Seton Hall -2 -102
The Seton Hall Pirates (R: 4-2 SU, 4-1 ATS) lost to Providence 63-60 this week following a good win over St. John's, when they won to go 1-0 in the Big East. The most encouraging sign was the balanced Pirates attack. Four players finished in double figures, and the team won without getting much from starters John Allen (4 points) and Andre Sweet (9 points). For the season, five Pirates average double figures in points per game. BC (H: 9-1 SU, 2-4 ATS) has lost two straight following their first Big East game, a 74-62 win over Georgetown. In the Syracuse loss, Craig Smith paced the BC Eagles' attack, with 27 points and nine rebounds. Freshmen Sean Marshall and Jared Dudley each scored 15 against the Orangemen. A well balanced scoring attack favors the Hall here in what shapes up as a close shootout.
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5 Units Northern Illinois +2 -110
MAC battle between a team that's bad at home (Ohio is 3-4 at home) while Northern Illinois is poor on the road (1-6). Northern Illinois plays great defense (40% shooting allowed) though they are not tall, led by 6’-4” senior guard P.J. Smith (12 points per game), 6-6” senior Marcus Smallwood (15 ppg, 10 rpg) and 6’-6” sophomore guard Todd Peterson. The Ohio Bobcats (4-10) are struggling, especially on offense where they shoot 40% from the field. 6’-5” senior Jaivon Harris (13 ppg, 42% FGs) and senior guard Thomas Stephens (11 ppg, 38% FGs) lead the way, but both are poor shooters. Ohio broke a losing streak with a win over Buffalo, but No-Illinois has more horses here. Also, they met back on Jan. 3, and Northern Illinois won 73-63 at home.
7 Units Oklahoma -3 -106
The Missouri-Oklahoma game will be a rematch of last year's championship game of the Big 12 Tournament, a 49-47 slugfest won by the Sooners. Rickey Paulding scored 25 points Monday in the Missou 82-68 losing effort to Syracuse. Center Arthur Johnson scored just 8 points and had 10 rebounds. Oklahoma can only hang their heads following the humiliating 86-59 experience in Storrs Connecticut Monday. The Sooners shot 27% from the field and were out rebounded 47-32. Missouri (R: 2-3 SU, 1-2 ATS) was out rebounded in its first two conference games by Iowa State and Texas A&M and now get the Sooners. This will be a difficult stretch for OU to begin Big 12 play. The easiest match up in the three-game set could be at home against Missouri, so expect them to take advantage of this opportunity.
5 Units Wake Forest +10 -112
Duke once again has proved that in order to win the ACC, someone will have to go through Duke. In their last game, Duke crushed an overmatched N.C. State 76-57 SU. Duke has run out to 3-0 SU, in the conference and 13-1 SU (8-5 ATS) overall. Now they face a good Wake Forest (11-1 SU, 7-4 ATS) team that is a little discombobulated after Texas handed them their hats on ESPN, 94-81, at Texas. It will not get any easier for the Demon Deacons at Duke. Although Wake is averaging an amazing 91 points on the Road, Duke is squeezing opponents to just 58 points a game at Home. At least Wake knows what they are getting when the Crazies get going. However, last year the Home team won easy in this annual series. But Wake definitely has a shot in this one. They are a little better rebounding team than Duke (36 rpg –32 rpg) and can score often away from Home (91 ppg on the Road). Finally, they are getting great big man play out of Sophomore Eric Williams (16 ppg, 6 rpg). Look for Wake to be in this game at all times and maybe, just maybe, squeak out a win.
5 Units Nebraska +13.5 -103
Tough week for Nebraska (R: 1-2 SY, 2-1 ATS) who lost two in conference play. After losing to Iowa State last weekend, the Huskers fell 68-60 to Colorado at mid-week. Nate Johnson and John Turek had 13 each to lead Nebraska. Brian Conklin had 11 and Andrew Drevo finished with 10. The Cornhuskers are improved and holding opponents to 36% from the field and 56 ppg. Texas (10-2 SU, 5-4 ATS) comes off a great win over highly ranked Wake Forest 94-81 on Tuesday. Brandon Mouton scored 17 points and freshman P.J. Tucker scored a season-high 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds. The Longhorns held a commanding 42-28 edge on the glass. Texas extended its home winning streak to 24 games. The Longhorns shot a blistering 60 percent (18-of-30) against WF. Close game in the forecast with the Horns hookin' the Huskers.
3 Units Seton Hall -2 -102
The Seton Hall Pirates (R: 4-2 SU, 4-1 ATS) lost to Providence 63-60 this week following a good win over St. John's, when they won to go 1-0 in the Big East. The most encouraging sign was the balanced Pirates attack. Four players finished in double figures, and the team won without getting much from starters John Allen (4 points) and Andre Sweet (9 points). For the season, five Pirates average double figures in points per game. BC (H: 9-1 SU, 2-4 ATS) has lost two straight following their first Big East game, a 74-62 win over Georgetown. In the Syracuse loss, Craig Smith paced the BC Eagles' attack, with 27 points and nine rebounds. Freshmen Sean Marshall and Jared Dudley each scored 15 against the Orangemen. A well balanced scoring attack favors the Hall here in what shapes up as a close shootout.
More to Follow Later,
ALLSTAR
