EL Qualifier
VEF Riga vs. Strasborg
12 noon (Tuesday)
Strasborg -6.5
Strasborg is a French team that is coached by the same man who coaches the French National team. Riga is a Latvian team that lost 2 key players over the summer and will use mostly 20-23 year olds. I won't be shocked by any result but think the favorites can win by 10. GL!
VEF Riga vs. Strasborg
12 noon (Tuesday)
Strasborg -6.5
Strasborg is a French team that is coached by the same man who coaches the French National team. Riga is a Latvian team that lost 2 key players over the summer and will use mostly 20-23 year olds. I won't be shocked by any result but think the favorites can win by 10. GL!
USA vs. China
women's basketball
Saturday (Sept. 27, 2014)
over 145.5
The USA recently cut several players to get down to their actual roster for the World Championships. In many of the warmup games they used plenty of players who are now gone and it was hard for them to get used to everyone on the team with 16 players around. China is a young team. These two played in Paris and it ended 99-75 (174) and when they played in the 2012 Olympics it was 114-66 (180). The rosters are different but the USA team will try to run and score with Sue Bird (plenty of experience and like many of the girls, a former UConn player under Geno), Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Candace Dupree, Simeone Augustus, Angel McCoughtry, Lindsay Whalen, etc.
It does concern me that the women do focus on defense under Geno Auriemma but the USA men just won the gold medal and jumped out to a big win against Finland in their opener. Hopefully, the women do too...........and the Chinese are able to contribute enough to get to 90-60 (150). GL!
USA/China over 145.5
women's basketball
Saturday (Sept. 27, 2014)
over 145.5
The USA recently cut several players to get down to their actual roster for the World Championships. In many of the warmup games they used plenty of players who are now gone and it was hard for them to get used to everyone on the team with 16 players around. China is a young team. These two played in Paris and it ended 99-75 (174) and when they played in the 2012 Olympics it was 114-66 (180). The rosters are different but the USA team will try to run and score with Sue Bird (plenty of experience and like many of the girls, a former UConn player under Geno), Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Candace Dupree, Simeone Augustus, Angel McCoughtry, Lindsay Whalen, etc.
It does concern me that the women do focus on defense under Geno Auriemma but the USA men just won the gold medal and jumped out to a big win against Finland in their opener. Hopefully, the women do too...........and the Chinese are able to contribute enough to get to 90-60 (150). GL!
USA/China over 145.5
Australia vs. South Korea
women's BB
7:15am Sunday
So Korea +28
Australia is one of the top three teams and beat Cuba by 33 on Saturday and led by solid players like Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell. They are without injured players Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage. South Korea jumped ahead 23-11 after one quarter but ended up losing 70-64 to Belarus. I am hoping the favorites will take Korea lightly and the Opals won't make as many 3's and we see an 80-60 type of score in this early game.
South Korea +28
women's BB
7:15am Sunday
So Korea +28
Australia is one of the top three teams and beat Cuba by 33 on Saturday and led by solid players like Penny Taylor and Belinda Snell. They are without injured players Lauren Jackson and Liz Cambage. South Korea jumped ahead 23-11 after one quarter but ended up losing 70-64 to Belarus. I am hoping the favorites will take Korea lightly and the Opals won't make as many 3's and we see an 80-60 type of score in this early game.
South Korea +28
USA vs. Angola
women's World Championships
Tuesday
Angola +58
The USA is 2-0 while Angola is 0-2 and lost to Serbia by 60 and to China by 26. Angola was able to go 8-0 in Africa and beat Mozambique in OT to win the title. The USA has already qualified for the Q-finals and will play a 2 vs. a 3 in other divisions. In the 2012 Olympics, the USA won by 52 (90-38). Angola is led by Eusebio, Mauricio, Felipe, Tomas, Nadir, Felizarda and Guadalupe and could be the worst team here. The USA could beat them by 75 if they needed to but hopefully will only win this by 52 to 56. Too bad the Plumlees don't have a sister who could come out and play in the 4th quarter. I think this is the last of the games set for Tuesday as Monday is an off day. I hope the USA wants to get out of the gym quickly in the 4th quarter and head to the next round. GL!
women's World Championships
Tuesday
Angola +58
The USA is 2-0 while Angola is 0-2 and lost to Serbia by 60 and to China by 26. Angola was able to go 8-0 in Africa and beat Mozambique in OT to win the title. The USA has already qualified for the Q-finals and will play a 2 vs. a 3 in other divisions. In the 2012 Olympics, the USA won by 52 (90-38). Angola is led by Eusebio, Mauricio, Felipe, Tomas, Nadir, Felizarda and Guadalupe and could be the worst team here. The USA could beat them by 75 if they needed to but hopefully will only win this by 52 to 56. Too bad the Plumlees don't have a sister who could come out and play in the 4th quarter. I think this is the last of the games set for Tuesday as Monday is an off day. I hope the USA wants to get out of the gym quickly in the 4th quarter and head to the next round. GL!
Damn, they lost by 75. LOL. I hate betting against US in international bball. They outclass other countries. WOW, unable to cover 60 is hard to do...but that's how good the US are and how bad Angola is. Get em next time. I hope you have an OVER. I loved OVER 142.5 in the US game....and it sailed wayyyyyy over!
Turkey vs. Serbia
women's FIBA
12 noon (October 3, 2014)
under 128.5
The quarterfinals are underway and the early game ended 63-52 (115 points) as Australia beat Canada. Turkey is the home team and they are 3-0 but their games with France ended 50-48 (98 points) and Canada 55-44 (99 points) were very low scoring. Serbia was in the same group with the USA and had some high scoring games but their last game with China ended 65-63 (128) and that was a pressure game to determine 2nd place. That game did have a high scoring first quarter at 25-22. Hopefully, the home team can control the pace and we don't see overtime. GL!
women's FIBA
12 noon (October 3, 2014)
under 128.5
The quarterfinals are underway and the early game ended 63-52 (115 points) as Australia beat Canada. Turkey is the home team and they are 3-0 but their games with France ended 50-48 (98 points) and Canada 55-44 (99 points) were very low scoring. Serbia was in the same group with the USA and had some high scoring games but their last game with China ended 65-63 (128) and that was a pressure game to determine 2nd place. That game did have a high scoring first quarter at 25-22. Hopefully, the home team can control the pace and we don't see overtime. GL!
