Monday 11/14/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Heat (2-6) at Spurs (7-3)

Date: November 14, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Getting Tony Parker healthy and back into the fold over the weekend was an important piece to the puzzle that's been the first 10 games of the San Antonio Spurs' season. Having Danny Green, his backcourt running mate, alongside him is pretty important as well.

The Spurs will have their starting backcourt intact for just the second time this season on Monday, when they host the Miami Heat at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Green was out with a left quad injury when the two teams squared off earlier this season in Miami, while Parker scored four points in San Antonio's 106-99 win.

Parker missed two of the Spurs' three losses with a right knee injury suffered in San Antonio's season-opening win at Golden State and played his second straight game on Saturday, when the Spurs went east down I-10 and beat Houston 106-100.

"We have to improve our defense for sure," Spurs veteran guard Manu Ginobili said after the win over Houston. "Everything starts there. We have the potential, and the personnel and the talent. Tony knows exactly what's going on -- he's still coming back but today he gave us some solutions."

The Spurs (7-3) have struggled at home, snapping a three-game losing streak at home on Friday against Detroit and then avenging an earlier home loss to Houston by beating the Rockets on Saturday.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said Parker helps to get the Spurs organized. Parker produced 16 points in 27 minutes against the Rockets.

"Tony hasn't been with us much so far this season, so having him for the stretch he played is a stability factor out on the perimeter," Popovich said after the Houston game. "That was a big help."

The Heat (2-6) are struggling this season, losing four straight games including Saturday's 102-91 defeat at home to Utah. Miami trailed by just five points entering the third quarter but missed its first 10 shots and scored a season-low 12 points in the period.

"I definitely wasn't expecting it, and that's not who we are and who we've been for the last month," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said after the Utah game. "It is disappointing. This league doesn't feel sorry for you, so we gather ourselves, get on a plane and head to San Antonio.

"We're not feeling great about the result right now, but we had been building each game and you felt that. Each game we had been building better habits, getting closer, making a step or two forward, and this is a half-step back."

Miami continues to be without point guard Goran Dragic´, who's missed the game against the Jazz after spraining his ankle the previous contest versus Chicago.

Dragic´ scored 25 points against the Spurs when the two teams played on Oct. 30.

Miami center Hassan Whiteside, who had 15 points and 14 rebounds against the Jazz, grabbed double-figure rebounds in each of the first eight games to start this season, marking the longest double-figure rebound streak to begin a season in team history. He is also the only player in the NBA this year to start the season grabbing double-digit rebounds in every game.

"We just got to keep working," Whiteside said. "It's not easy to win in this league. I see effort and we have the talent and we just got to keep working. It's all about attention to details. We all are continuing to learn."

Spoelstra said guard Wayne Ellington is also out for Monday's game but continues to improve from a right thigh contusion that has sidelined him since the last game of the preseason.

The Heat and Spurs meet for the second and final time this regular season. San Antonio currently owns a three-game win streak against the Heat in the Alamo City.

This will mark as the earliest the two teams will complete their season series in franchise history. The previous earliest was during the 2003-04 season, when they played their final matchup on Dec. 6. The Sours are 40-18 all-time against the Heat and owns a 25-3 edge on Miami in games played in San Antonio.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Grizzlies (4-5) at Jazz (7-4)

Date: November 14, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

SALT LAKE CITY -- Becoming road warriors marks the latest sign that the Utah Jazz are evolving into a true NBA playoff contender this season.

The Jazz wrapped up a five-game eastern road swing with a 4-1 mark, capping it off with an impressive 102-91 victory over Miami on Saturday. Utah never trailed in the second half and handed the Heat their fourth consecutive loss.

Once again, Gordon Hayward is a big catalyst behind the success. Hayward scored 25 points on 10-of-20 shooting against Miami -- his fifth consecutive 20-point outing since returning after missing the team's first six games with a broken finger. The 26-year-old forward averaged 24.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists during the road trip.

"I'm trying to help us win games," Hayward said. "It's a huge road trip for us. It's been a while we've been this successful going out east."

Utah (7-4) looks to continue that momentum at home when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. If the Jazz can keep up their recent level of defensive play, it shouldn't a problem. They have allowed just 92.4 points over their last five games and 93.1 points over the entire season. Only the Los Angeles Clippers are allowing fewer points than the Jazz.

With a 99.4 defensive rating (based on points per 100 possessions), Utah is emerging as one of the top 5 defensive teams in the entire NBA. It will present a stiff challenge for a Memphis team struggling to generate offense.

The Grizzlies (4-5) scored 100 or more points just once in their last six games and won twice in that stretch. They are averaging just 97 points per game, the fewest of any Western Conference team. Mike Conley (18.8 points), Marc Gasol (18.1) and Zach Randolph (13.8) are not getting much help in the offensive production department.

A 106-96 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday offered a microcosm of what's gone wrong for Memphis on offense this season. The Grizzlies shot 20 percent (6-of-30) from the perimeter and endured several cold shooting spells each time they rallied to get back in the game with the Bucks.

"We had a lot of really rushed possessions with no detail," Memphis coach David Fizdale said after the game. "We were kind of sporadic and scattered. I was proud of the way we fought back like we always do but at the end, we just didn't execute at a high level."

Both teams have had to deal with the injury bug early in the season. Tony Allen (groin) and Chandler Parsons (knee) have both seen limited action early in the season for Memphis. Utah has been without George Hill (thumb) and Boris Diaw (leg) for several games and Derrick Favors missed the final three quarters of the Miami game with knee soreness.

The Jazz won the season series 2-1 over the Grizzlies last season. Utah won both games played in Salt Lake City.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nets (4-5) at Clippers (9-1)

Date: November 14, 2016 10:30 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- The NBA's top-rated defense and an unblemished road record have the Los Angeles Clippers sitting pretty and fashioning the league's best record.

The Clippers (9-1) will go for their seventh win in a row Monday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets.

Over the weekend, Los Angeles capped a two-game trip with back-to-back wins at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. By beating the Thunder, the Clippers avenged their lone loss, an 85-83 decision at home on Nov. 2.

Although the Thunder snapped the Clippers' string of holding seven consecutive opponents less than 100 points in a 110-108 setback Saturday, Los Angeles wouldn't be deterred en route to its fifth straight decision away from home in a 119-105 romp over the Timberwolves.

The Clippers are off to a franchise-best start and lead the league in several defensive categories, including points allowed (91.5 per game), defensive efficiency (92.7) and opponents' shooting percentage (40.6 percent).

Offensively, they are averaging 107 points, a differential of 15.1, which also is tops in the NBA.

"I knew we'd be one of the top offenses in the league. We have so many scorers," said Clippers reserve guard Austin Rivers, according to the Orange County Register. "The combination of us fits perfectly. On defense, I didn't know how we were going to be. I thought we would maybe struggle."

Brooklyn (4-5) has struggled defensively. The Nets are ranked 22nd in opponents' points (107.6) while scoring 106.3 per game.

The Nets have been careless with the basketball, too, committing an average of 17.1 turnovers. They will attempt to limit those mistakes against a Clippers' unit tied with Dallas at third for the least miscues at 11.3 per outing entering Sunday.

The Nets kicked off their three-game swing with a 122-104 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Nets with 20 points and a career-best 13 rebounds in the victory.

"It's been getting better for me," said Hollis-Jefferson, who is averaging 13 points per game in his last four contests since a scoreless outing against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 2. "Finding a peace. I'm playing in a happiness out there. It's really helped me to contribute to the team like I know how to. My teammates are encouraging me to be aggressive."

The Nets' stopover at Staples features back-to-back games against the Clippers and the Lakers on Tuesday before they wrap up their journey at Oklahoma City on Friday.

The Nets will be without guards Jeremy Lin (hamstring) and Isaiah Whitehead (concussion). In their absences, Brooklyn has gotten a boost from guard Sean Kilpatrick, who started for the second time this season and produced 19 points and nine boards against the Suns.

Kilpatrick is averaging 15.8 points, second on the team behind center Brook Lopez (19.4 points).

Blake Griffin leads the Clippers at 20.2 points, while Chris Paul is averaging 19 points and a league-high 2.7 steals. Center DeAndre Jordan averages 10.8 points and 12.2 rebounds (sixth best).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Monday’s games

Pacers won seven of last eight games with Orlando (7-1 vs spread); three of last four series games stayed under. Magic lost four of last five visits here (1-4 vs spread) but won last one. Orlando snapped 3-game skid with win at OKC yesterday; they’re 2-2 as road underdogs, Four of last six Magic games stayed under. Indiana is 2-2 as home favorite; they lost three of last four* games. Over is 6-2 in Pacers’ last eight games.

Thunder won eight of last ten games with Detroit, but Pistons covered four of last five; last four series games stayed under the total. OKC won three of last four visits here (1-3 vs spread). Thunder lost at home to Orlando yesterday; they lost last three games, are 1-1 as road dogs. Detroit won/covered all four of its home games; they’ve lost three of last four games overall. Under is 7-2 in their last nine games.

Knicks lost their last five games with Dallas; Mavericks won last three visits here, by 2-20-7 points. Over is 3-2 in last five series games. Dallas is 2-3 as a road underdog; they’ve lost six of their first eight games, with five of last seven staying under total. New York is 2-1 as a home favorite; they’ve lost five of last seven series games. Over is 2-2 in Knicks’ home games.

Celtics won their last four games with New Orleans (3-1 vs spread); they won last two visits to Bourbon Street by 6-18 points. Over is 3-2 in their last five visits here. Boston is 2-0 as a road favorite; favorite covered four of their five road games (2-3 SU). Last three Boston games stayed under the total. New Orleans is 0-5 at home; they were favored in four of five games. Four of last five Pelican games went over total.

Houston won its last five games with Philly; 76ers covered three of last four series games. Sixers lost their last five visits here (2-3 vs spread) but covered last two. Over is 6-2 in last eight series games. 76ers are 1-8 this season, 1-2 as a road underdog, losing road games by 16-7-21 points. Houston split its two home games, which were decided by total of 7 points; under is 6-2 in their last eight games.

Spurs won/covered their last eight games with Miami, last three of which went over the total. Heat lost last three visits to Alamo by 13-17-24 points. Miami lost six of its last seven games; they’re 1-4 as an underdog, 1-2 on road, losing last two away games by 9-12 points. Spurs won last two games by 6-10 points; they’re 2-3 as home favorites, losing three of last four SU at home. Spurs’ last three games stayed under the total.

Memphis is 6-4 in its last ten games with Utah; under is 7-2 in last nine series games. Grizzlies lost last two visits here, by 5-10 points. Memphis lost three of last four games; they’re 0-3 as a road underdog, losing away games by 7-36-10 points. Under is 4-1-1 in their last six games. Jazz won six of its last eight games; they’re 2-1 at home, 1-1 as a home favorite. Five of last six Jazz games went over the total.

Clippers won five of last seven games with Brooklyn; four of last five series games stayed under the total. Nets lost last five visits to Staples to play the Clippers, covering three of last four. LA is off to a 9-1 start; they’re 4-1 as home favorites, with all four of their home wins by 13+ points. Clippers’ last three home games stayed under. Brooklyn won three of last five games; they’re 3-1 as a road underdog. Over is 3-1 in their road games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Northeastern Huskies (1-0) at Connecticut Huskies (0-1)

Date: November 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

If Kevin Ollie can find a silver lining in Friday night's opening loss to Wagner, it's that his young team may well have learned a valuable lesson at the right time.

"We've got to step back and go back to the drawing board and figure it out," Ollie said after his No. 18 Huskies were stunned by the visitors from Staten Island -- and the Northeast Conference. "This is a dark time right now, but it's going to a period after this where we say we got better from it."

Another good thing for UConn is getting right back at it, which the Huskies will do when they host Northeastern Monday night.

"We've got to get tougher," Ollie said. "Our two toughest guys were our two smallest guys out there. That's (freshmen) C.V. (Christian Vital) and Al (Gilbert). We've got to get tougher and that starts with me as a coach. I've got to get these guys ready to play. I take full responsibility and I will do that."

Northeastern topped local rival Boston University 87-77 Friday night, with senior guard T.J. Williams scoring a career-high 30 points, dishing out eight assists and grabbing four rebounds -- and graduate senior transfer Alex Murphy scoring 20 points in the opener of his sixth college season.

While THOSE Huskies have youth, the experience of the two opening night stars is similar to what Wagner brought to Storrs to snap UConn's 27-game Storrs opening game winning streak.

"We did have a 12-0 run to tie it (in the second half), but they hit a three and every time they needed a bucket they made some big-time plays," said Ollie. "That's what a veteran-laden team does."

Northeastern, out of Colonial Conference, was put on the map by Jim Calhoun, who moved from those Huskies to the UConn Huskies and did pretty well there.

Northeastern was picked to finish seventh in the Colonial. But Friday night, Williams became the first Northeastern player to score 30 in an opener since the late Reggie Lewis scored 32 at the Great Alaska Shootout -- against No. 2 Louisville -- in a win in 1986.

That was Calhoun's first year at UConn.

"We lost a lot of experience over the last two years," Northeastern coach Bill Coen said after Friday night's win.

Murphy, who previously attended Duke and Florida, missed all last season because of injury and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA -- taking it at Northeastern.

Clearly, the level of competition rises for Northeastern Monday night -- especially considering UConn already learned the lesson of perhaps overlooking an unheralded opponent.

Transfer Terry Larrier was a bright spot for UConn in his debut, scoring 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

"He played well for us," said Ollie. "He was a real bright spot for us. He played very, very well for us, played with a lot of heart and played with pure heart."

After Monday night's game, UConn, which likely cost itself a spot in the rankings, heads west. They visit Los Angeles, Ollie's hometown, to play Loyola Marymount -- and then across the Pacific to play in the Maui Invitational. They face Oklahoma State in the tourney opener Nov. 21.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: William & Mary Tribe (1-0) at Louisville Cardinals (1-0)

Date: November 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Monday night's game between No. 13 Louisville and William & Mary in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., pits two teams coming off strong performances in their respective season openers.

While trouncing Evansville 78-47 in the season-opener Friday night, the Cardinals got 19 points and 14 rebounds from junior forward Jaylen Johnson and double-digit scoring from sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell (15) and junior center Anas Mahmoud (10) in the win over the Purple Aces (0-1). Louisville's stifling defense held Evansville to just 28.1 percent shooting, out-rebounding the Aces 52-29.

Louisville (1-0) is a heavy favorite coming into Monday night's 7 p.m. tipoff, but coach Rick Pitino isn't take the Tribe (1-0) lightly.

"The game Monday is really going to be a difficult game," Pitino said. "This team opened up with N.C. State last year and they beat them by (in the) opening game."

Pitino said he specifically picked out the Cardinals early-season schedule to provide maximum competition for his talented team. William & Mary seems to fit the bill, going 20-11 last season and returning four of its top five players, including 6-foot-7 forward Omar Prewitt.

"They are a veteran team with a young man from Lexington who's just an outstanding basketball player (Prewitt) and we are going to really play great defense like we did (Friday), the entire night because they are very difficult to guard," Pitino said Friday night. "The young man who is coming back -- Omar Prewitt -- is a hell of a basketball player, so we have two days to prepare and pay attention to it and we think we will be ready."

The Cardinals will face a confident Tribe after William & Mary beat Division III Bridgewater 96-44 on Saturday afternoon. Prewitt was one of five William & Mary players to score in double figures.

Tribe head coach Tony Shaver said, "I was encouraged because I thought we played hard. We had a 30-point lead and Daniel Dixon is still diving on the floor. We have got to have that to be a championship caliber team. I was really proud of all the guys' effort."

In addition to Prewitt's 14 points in 19 minutes Saturday, the Tribe also got 17 points from freshman wing Justin Pierce, 11 apiece from senior guard Daniel Dixon and junior guard Connor Burchfield and 10 from sophomore power forward Paul Rowley.

The Tribe beat Bridgewater with a school record 22 steals, forcing 25 turnovers. William & Mary converted all those turnovers in 36 points. The Tribe shot 53.6 percent from the field, but they know it won't be as easy at Louisville Monday night.

"You think Louisville is a little bigger than these guys?" Shaver said with a smile after William & Mary's win over Bridgewater.

William & Mary will face Louisville, Duke and Rhode Island during its nonconference schedule.

"I don't think it's any question, we're playing the toughest nonconference schedule we've faced," Shaver said. "That schedule, how we handle it is very important. We won't win all those games, but during a stretch like that if you can be successful and have some success it will build confidence and better prepare us for CAA play. But it also can cripple you if you're not playing well. It's a great challenge for our guys."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Buffalo Bulls (1-0) at Xavier Musketeers (1-0)

Date: November 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

CINCINNATI -- No rest for weary Xavier.

Less than 72 hours after a sloppy 84-81 victory over Lehigh in their regular season home opener, the seventh-ranked Musketeers must hop right back in the saddle.

With senior guard Myles Davis suspended and forward Kaiser Gates recovering from knee surgery, XU isn't nearly as deep as its been in recent years. That showed up on Friday when Patriot League favorite Lehigh pushed them until the final buzzer.

The Musketeers, who host Buffalo on Monday night at 7 p.m. at Cintas Center, began the season with only eight scholarship players.

"It's no secret right now, we don't have a ton of depth," said head coach Chris Mack.

Xavier's options still are better than many teams in the country.

On Friday, Trevon Bluiett scored a career-high 25 points with 11 rebounds and three assists. Edmond Sumner added a personal-best 24 points and Sean O'Mara tied a career-high with 10 points.

But, Mack wasn't pleased with Bluiett's defensive effort or Sumner's ball handling, given he committed six of the team's 17 turnovers which helped spark Lehigh's upset bid.

"Some of the mistakes we made were inexcusable down the stretch," Mack said. "It's inexcusable. We have to correct those. We turn the page quickly and play Buffalo on Monday. "

Mack said he'd wait until after Monday's game to respond when asked if it's better to get back on the court barely two days after Friday's performance or if he'd prefer to get some practice time in.

The Musketeers are in a learning curve early in the season but still talented enough to be picked second in the Big East Conference behind defending national champion Villanova.

Buffalo is dealing with its own depth issues heading into Monday's game which is the first meeting between the two teams.

The Bulls defeated Niagara 76-66 on Friday night despite playing without top guard C.J. Massinburg who's out indefinitely with mononucleosis.

"We're a little thin in the backcourt without C.J.," head coach Nate Oats told the Buffalo News.

Monday marks the second game for senior wing Blake Hamilton who returned after being out six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand. He scored 11 points on Friday.

Backup forward David Kadiri is day to day with a knee injury.

As for Davis' status with Xavier, it was unchanged as of Friday.

Earlier this week, Davis, who averaged nearly 11 points and led the team in assists last season, pleaded guilty to one charge of disorderly conduct involving damage to his ex-girlfriend's property. Mack said Davis would have to earn his way back on to the team.

The Musketeers certainly could use him. At one point in Friday's game, Xavier had two freshman and four first-year players on the court at once.

This isn't the same Xavier team which went 28-6 and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. By March, it's likely that talent will mesh, but for now XU is a work in progress. On Friday, Lehigh's bench outscored Xavier's 23-7.

"It's not algebra," said Mack. "You look down (the bench), there isn't a lot of options, there's maybe two or three."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Villanova Wildcats (1-0) at Purdue Boilermakers (1-0)
By Jeff Washburn, The Sports Xchange
Date: November 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- If the performances match the mutual respect, Monday night's Gavitt Tipoff Games battle between reigning NCAA champion and No. 4 Villanova and No. 15 Purdue in Mackey Arena has the potential to be special.

The Wildcats opened their season Friday night with an 88-48 victory against Lafayette, getting 17 points from Jalen Brunson, 16 from NCAA title game hero Kris Jenkins, 16 from sixth man Mikal Bridges and 13 from preseason All-American Josh Hart.

Purdue also opened Friday night, crushing McNeese State 109-65, getting 23 points, 20 rebounds and six assists from power forward Caleb "Biggie" Swanigan, 22 points from 7-2 center Isaac Haas, 19 points and 11 rebounds from wing Vince Edwards and 18 points from explosive freshman guard Carsen Edwards -- no relation to Vince.

Swanigan joined Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons as the only Division I college players in the past 10 years to amass at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a single game.

Villanova coach Jay Wright is well aware of Purdue's front line skill, which compiled 64 points and 37 rebounds in the opener.

"We're going to find out Monday night," Wright said when asked about what to make of Swanigan, Haas and Vince Edwards. "We're not going to play anybody bigger. Literally, I think they are the biggest team in the country. (Rebounding with Purdue) is going to be our next test. We're going to find out."

Jenkins, whose 3-pointer beat North Carolina in the 2016 title game, respects this big and strong Purdue team.

"We have a team that is hungry and looking forward to our next game," Jenkins said. "Purdue is going to be a big challenge for us."

Swanigan knows Purdue can't afford a slow start against the Wildcats after McNeese State raced to a 19-14 lead before the Boilermakers countered with a 22-3 run.

"We can't do that Monday night, or a team like Villanova gets up by 10 or more," Swanigan said.

Vince Edwards knows what Purdue is facing in Villanova.

"We have the defending national champions coming in, and a team like that is very capable of taking a 10- or 15-point lead and then milking the clock to make it harder for a team to come back," Vince Edwards said. "We know we can't dig ourselves another hole."

Purdue coach Matt Painter respects Wright and what his program represents.

"They do a great job of playing hard, and they do a great job of guarding and keeping the ball in front of them," Painter said. "They have good guards and good versatility. They just have great talent.

"The thing I love about this Gavitt Games setup is that people like Villanova normally don't want to come here and play us. This way, it's built into the schedule. I have a lot of respect for the way Jay has built that program the right way."

Villanova has won the only two previous meetings with Purdue - once in the 1995 Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif., and again in 2012 in overtime in a game played in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Purdue is 0-5 all-time against Top 5 non-Big Ten opponents in Mackey Arena, most recently dropping a 76-60 decision to No. 4 Duke on Dec. 2, 2008 when the Boilermakers -- led by current New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore and former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Robbie Hummel -- were ranked No. 9.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marist Red Foxes (0-1) at Rhode Island Rams (1-0)

Date: November 14, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The first win out of the way, No. 23 Rhode Island opens play in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off with a home game against Marist on Monday night at Kingston, R.I.

The tournament, which starts at home sites, has the Rams (1-0) playing at home Wednesday against local rival Brown. They then shift to the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., to play Cincinnati (26th in the opening poll) before going up against either No. 1 Duke or Penn State.

E.C. Williams, whose 2015-16 season ended 10 minutes into the opening game because of a knee injury, returned to the court with a 21-point effort on 9-for-12 shooting as URI easily disposed of Dartmouth 84-61 on Friday night.

Hassan Martin added the 16th double-double of his college career with 12 points and 10 rebounds and picked up seven blocked shots.

Martin, who also had a knee injury last season, played just 24 minutes but took a run at his second career triple-double.

"Coach (Dan Hurley) had to calm me down," Matthews said after his return, almost a year to the day of his injury. "He called me last night to let me know just to let it come. It felt good to be back. I've been doing this my whole life. Just being comfortable and reading and reacting and having a good pace are important."

Matthews hit a 3-pointer early in the game, putting him over the 1,000-point career scoring plateau. He also had three steals in the win.

"We got separation in the second half," Hurley said. "We played a level of defense that was an elite defense. We held them to 35 percent from the field and forced 20 turnovers. That's kind of who we are."

The Rams were picked second -- to Dayton -- in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll. They are ranked at the start of the season for the first time since 1998-99 and ranked for the first time overall since 2007-08.

Obviously, having Matthews and Hassan healthy is a major factor.

Martin began the game as URI's all-time leader in field goal percentage at 57.3 percent and went 5-for-6 in the opener.

In a statistical oddity, the Rams had 11 assists, 11 turnovers and 11 blocked shot in the game.

Marist, 7-23 last season, didn't have as much fun down at Duke on Friday night, falling 94-49 in a Hall of Fame game at Durham, N.C.

"I didn't think we played at our best," Marist coach Mike Maker said after the game, "but Duke had a lot to do with that."

The Red Foxes, 4-16 in Matro Atlantic Athletic Conference play last season, was tabbed to finish eighth in the 11-team league.

They should be in for another rough ride Monday night.

Jared Terrell and Kuran Iverson were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Rhode Island, which led 39-26 at halftime.

Stanford Robinson, a transfer from Indiana, played 19 minutes and had seven points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals -- without a turnover -- in his URI debut.

"It's been several months -- a year for some -- since we've been on the court," said Hurley. "The crowd and all the anticipation of our first game -- we've all been working so hard. We're just excited about the season."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: UL - Monroe Warhawks (1-0) at Texas Longhorns (1-0)

Date: November 14, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

Texas learned a lot about itself on opening night of the 2016-17 campaign but will need to be a lot better, and quickly so, if the 21st-ranked Longhorns are going to live up to their preseason hype.

The Longhorns look to take another step forward when they host Louisiana-Monroe on Monday at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin in the first game of the regional round of the Legends Classic.

Texas (1-0) gave up a double-digit lead to upstart Incarnate Word in its season-opener on Friday but rallied in the final minute with an 8-0 run that sealed a 78-73 victory. In the process, the Longhorns improved to 91-20 all-time in season-opening games; Texas has won 14 of its last 15 season-opening contests.

Longhorns coach Shaka Smart said the close opening game was good for his youthful team.

"You really want games like this that you can learn from," Smart said. "At the same time there's a humbling side of this which is good which is, 'man, there's so many things we've got to get better at and improve on.' The bottom line is that our guys came back after we relinquished a double-digit lead. We're down one, and after that I thought some guys made some real winning plays."

Texas' freshmen quartet of forward Jarrett Allen, center James Banks and guards Andrew Jones and James Young logged a combined 114 minutes in the season-opener. Allen recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Banks blocked five shots and Jones and Young scored 10 points each. The Longhorns were led by senior guard Kendal Yancy's 19 points.

The Longhorns won Friday without three players who are expected to be big parts of their success this season, guard Kerwin Roach, guard/forward Tevin Mack and forward Mareik Isom. Roach, who is Texas' leading returning scorer, and Mack are expected back for Monday's game after sitting out the open on suspension for violating team rules in the offseason.

"Some of us got a little fatigued," Yancy said of the Longhorns' effort against Incarnate Word. "We had guys playing over 30 minutes with some of the guys being out. We responded well, and when things weren't going our way, we focused on the next thing, so that's pretty exciting.

"We had four out of seven of the guys playing that are freshmen, responding the way that they did, so I'm pretty excited with those guys."

Louisiana-Monroe (1-0) rolled to a 96-63 win in its opener Friday against Centenary.

Four players finished in double-figure scoring for Louisiana-Monroe, led by junior college transfer guard Jordon Harris' 23 points, 20 of which came in the first half. He was 9 of 11 from the floor including a 5 of 7 showing from 3-point range.

Forward Travis Munnings recorded his first double-double of the year with 16 points and 13 rebounds while guard Nick Coppola added 14 points with seven rebounds and seven assists and junior college transfer guard Marvin Jean-Pierre added 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting from the floor in his first game as a Warhawk.

Overall, Louisiana-Monroe shot 54.4 percent on its field goals and was 12 of 29 from beyond the arc. The Warhawks led 12-6 at the under-16-minute time out, forged a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to stretch their lead to 19 points never looked back.

The Warhawks entered the season off back-to-back 20-win campaigns and a second-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference last year. Louisiana-Monroe faces a tough task in Austin on Monday and they know it.

"We are still going to be a work in progress in each game but it was great to see positives today," Louisiana-Monroe coach Keith Richards said. "Jordan Harris shot it really well in the first half. Coming out of junior college, he had a strong 3-point shooting reputation but hasn't shown that in practice. It's encouraging to see that today.

"Travis Munnings is a year further along and he controls the ball a lot better as an all-around player," Richards added. "He is a better all-around player and is a key piece of this team for the upcoming season."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NCAAB

Monday’s games– not a lot of info early on. I’m giving you what I have.

Charleston won its opener by 13 over Citadel; they lost 67-61 at home to Coastal Carolina LY, after leading by 8 with 13:24 left . Cougars have all five starters back from LY’s 17-14 team; they’re expected to contend for CAA title. Coastal Carolina lost its opener by 17 at Alabama, after leading by 6 at the half. Chanticleers have 3 starters back from a 21-12 team. CAA teams were 4-0 (2-2 vs spread) against SoCon teams LY.

UConn got upset by Wagner Friday, a shocking loss; they were out rebounded by Seahawks. Huskies have two starters back from a 25-11 team- they shot 35.7% from floor Friday. AAC teams were 2-2 (3-1 vs spread) vs CAA teams LY. Northeasterm made 10-21 on arc, 27-37 on foul line is 87-77 win over Boston U Friday; Huskies lost three starters from an 18-15 team but Coen is a good coach who prepares his guys well.

Western Michigan won its last four games with Oakland, by 11-11-4-15 points, but teams didn’t play LY; Broncos beat a stiff team by 16 Friday, plays Villanova Thursday. WMU has 3 starters back from a 13-19 team that went 7-11 in MAC. Oakland beat Bowling Green by 8 in an 81-possession (fast) game Friday; Grizzlies have 3 starters back from a 23-12 team. MAC teams were 13-9 vs spread when playing Horizon teams LY.

Old Dominion lost four of last five games with Richmond, losing last five visits here; Monarchs beat James Madison by 7 in its opener Friday- Monarchs were +7 in turnovers, won despite going 16-27 on foul line. Richmond beat VMI 72-69 in its opener Friday, shooting 52% inside arc. Spiders lost 5 players who could’ve stayed; they need freshman to contribute. ODU has 3 starters back from a 25-12 team and is expected to contend in C-USA.

Defending national champ Villanova crushed Lafayette in its opener; Wildcats have 3 starters back from that 35-5 team- they were 15-41 on arc Friday. Purdue beat McNeese State by 44 in its opener; Boilermakers has 3 starters back from 26-9 team that collapsed and blew 13-point lead in a first round NCAA game with Little Rock. Big East teams were 10-9 vs spread against Big 14 teams LY.

Ole Miss came north, beat UMass 74-64 in Springfield LY; UMass led by 2 at half, missed half their 24 fouls hots. Minutemen lost three starters from a 14-18 team but has a sold recruiting class- they beat a cupcake by 12 in opener Friday, Ole Miss held out UT-martin 86-83 Friday, getting to line 37 times in game they trailed by 9 in first half. Rebels lost 4 starters from LY, but added transfer PG Cullen Neal from New Mexico.

Tex-Arlington is a team we’ll be picking in March; they’re legit good. Mavericks have all five starters back from 24-11 team whose best player got hurt midway thru season- they won opener 89-82 over Texas Southern, despite going 5-24 on arc. Minnesota won its opener by 12 over UL-Lafayette, getting to line 37 times. Gophers have 3 starters back from a team that went thru a horrible 8-24 year.

Loyola Marymount crushed a stiff team in its opener; Lions have a former NBA coach (Dunlap) and 3 starters back from LY’s 14-17 team. Lions are 23-40 under Dunlap but third year should show improvement for LMU. Nevada lost its opener by 18 at a really good St Mary’s team; only six Nevada guys played more than 11:00. Wolf Pack has 4 starters back from a 24-14 team that won the CBI tournament at the end of last year.

East Tennessee State made 12-23 on arc, crushed A-14’s Fordham by 37 in its opener; Bucs split a pair of games vs Horizon squads LY. ETSU lost 3 starters from a 24-12 team, but coach Forbes is a former JC coach who can really recruit. Detroit has a new coach; Titans beat a stiff by 30 in their opener. Detroit has 3 starters back from LY’s 16-15 team that cost the old coach his job.

Wyoming beat a cupcake by 39 in its opener; Cowboys have 4 starters back from a 14-18 team that went 7-11 in Mountain West. Wyoming also has new coach after Shyatt moved on to be an NBA assistant. Montana has 4 starters back from a 21-12 team; none of their 3 assistants have been out of college more than 11 years- young staff that is recruiting-oriented. Montana lost by 14 at USC in its opener- they were outscored 27-7 on foul line.

Cal-Irvine got drilled by Utah State by 16 in its opener; no Anteaters scored more than 11 points. UCI is younger than they’ve been in while after losing 4 seniors off a team that won 72 games the last three years. South Dakota State lost by 29 at Cal Friday, in its first game with new coach, its first new coach in 22 years. Jackrabbits were 8-30 on arc; they lost 3 starters from last year’s 26-8 team.

San Diego State had five guys sitting out when they struggled past San Diego by 10 Friday- they used only seven guys more than 4:00. Aztecs missed NCAAs LY; beating Gonzaga here would be the non-league win they didn’t have LY. Zags beat Utah Valley by by 23 in their opener. Bulldogs have veteran transfers coming in to help this year and still have the 7-foot kid inside. San Diego State is hurting inside right now.

Green Bay went 23-13 LY playing #6 tempo in country in Darner’s first year there. Pacific gave up 119 points to UCLA in its opener, an 80-possession thrashing where Bruins went 18-30 on arc. Game is on TV; Pacific will be trying impress recruits- this should be up-and-down, but it is also an 11pm local tipoff, unusual. Tigers played nine kids 14+ minutes at UCLA. Green Bay drubbed a cupcake in its opener.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday Night Football betting preview: Bengals at Giants

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants (+1, 47)

Trying to keep pace with the surprising Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East, the New York Giants go for their fourth consecutive victory when they host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. The Giants have rebounded from a three-game skid by sandwiching a pair of home wins around a "road" victory at London to remain two games off the division lead.

New York is coming off a 28-23 victory over Philadelphia, continuing a trend of being able to win the close games -- all five victories have come by a margin of 20 points. "We're getting better day by day," Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said. "Right now we're in a good spot. Just got to keep winning." Prior to last week's bye, Cincinnati played in London and came away with a 27-27 tie with Washington, which posted a 29-27 win at New York in Week 3. The Bengals, who are looking up at first-place Baltimore (5-4) in the AFC North, have been held to 17 points or fewer in each of its losses.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The Giants opened the betting week as 2.5-point home favorites but early action on the Bengals flipped that line to the Bengals as one-point road faves. The total opened at 47 and remains at that number as of Sunday evening.

WEATHER REPORT: The forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies for opening kickoff, increasing cloud as the opening half progresses and a 60 percent chance of rain as the game moves into the second half. Temperatures will be around 50 degrees with barely a whisper of wind (1-2 mph).

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The Giants running game has been horrible this season, averaging just 68 yards per game on the ground and just 3.2 yards per carry (versus opponents that allow 4.0 ypr). Despite a perfect 3-0 SU/ATS record in their past three games, the Giants have still gained just 38, 36, and 54 rushing yards in each of those three wins." - Steve Merril.

INJURY REPORT:

Bengals - DE W. Gilberry (probable, personal), LB V. Burfict (probable, knee), WR J. Wright (questionable, hamstring), DE M. Johnson (questionable, calf), DT P. Sims (questionable, ribs), DT B. Thompson (questionable, knee), HB C. Peerman (questionable, arm), LB R. Maualuga (out, leg), CB W. Jackson III (I-R, pectoral), DT M. Hardison (I-R, shoulder), DT A. Billings (I-R, knee).

Giants - S A. Adams (questionable, shoulder), QB R. Nassib (questionable, elbow), DE K. Wynn (questionable, concussion), WR V. Cruz (doubful, ankle), G J. Pugh (early Dec, knee), S D. Thompson (I-R, foot), RB S. Vereen (elig week 12, tricep), S M. Thompson (I-R, knee), FB N. Whitlock (I-R, foot), LB J. Thomas (I-R, knee), FB W. Johnson (I-R, stinger), TE M. LaCosse (I-R, knee).

ABOUT THE BENGALS (3-4-1 SU, 3-5 ATS, 5-3 O/U): Quarterback Andy Dalton has a streak of four straight games with a 100-plus passer rating snapped in London, but he has thrown for 2,349 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Star wide receiver A.J. Green is second in the NFL with 896 yards, including three games with at least 169 yards, and the offense received an added boost with the return of tight end Tyler Eifert against the Redskins. Eifert had 13 touchdowns last season and showed what a difference-maker he can be in his first start with nine catches for 102 yards and a score. Cincinnati's defense has been vulnerable through the air, allowing an average of 262.4 yards.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (5-3 SU, 4-3-1 ATS, 3-5 O/U): Quarterback Eli Manning is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Philadelphia, the third time he has tossed at least three scoring passes in a game this season, but he also was picked off twice for the third time. Like Cincinnati, the Giants have a stud wideout in Beckham, who caught a pair of scoring passes against the Eagles to give him five in the past four games. The biggest problem for the Giants has been a stagnant running game led by Rashad Jennings that ranks last in the league with a meager average of 68.3 yards per game. Rookie Paul Perkins could see more time this week to help work the clock and protect a defense that yields 277.4 yards passing.

TRENDS:

Bengals are 0-5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Giants are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Under is 8-1 in Bengals last 9 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Giants last 6 home games.
Underdog is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

CONSENSUS: The home team New York Giants are picking up 59 percent of the point spread action and Over is grabbing 68 percent of the totals wagers.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MNF - Bengals at Giants
By Kevin Rogers

The Week 10 finale in the NFL pits an interconference battle between the Bengals and Giants at Met Life Stadium. Cincinnati is playing its second straight NFC East opponent following its tie in London against Washington, while New York is right in the midst of the Wild Card race following a three-game winning streak.

LAST WEEK

The Bengals sat through the bye week in Week 9, but we’ll rewind an extra week back to Week 8. Cincinnati finished in a 27-27 tie against Washington in London as the Bengals failed to reach the .500 mark. The Bengals fell to 3-4-1 SU and 3-5 ATS as Marvin Lewis’ team couldn’t hold onto a 10-point third quarter lead. Kirk Cousins torched Cincinnati’s defense for 458 yards, compared to 284 yards passing from Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton. The Bengals picked up three touchdowns on the ground, including 152 yards rushing, the third straight game Cincinnati has rushed for at least 120 yards.

The Giants improved to 2-1 inside the NFC East after holding off the Eagles, 28-23 to cash as three-point home favorites. Eli Manning put up only 257 yards passing, but threw four touchdowns for the Giants, including a pair of scoring connections with Odell Beckham, Jr. New York’s ground game has been grounded for much of the season as the Giants accumulated only 54 yards on 24 carries, the fifth straight game they have been limited to 80 yards or fewer.

PRIMETIME PROBLEMS

Since 2012, the Bengals have struggled under the lights in the regular season by posting a 5-10 SU and 7-8 ATS record. Cincinnati picked up a victory in its only prime time opportunity this season in Week 4 against Miami, but the Bengals are winless in their last three road contests played on Monday night. Last season, the Bengals split a pair of Monday nighters, including a 10-6 loss to Houston as 10-point home favorites.

GIANT SCORING

Since cashing the UNDER in their home opener against the Saints in Week 2, New York has easily eclipsed the OVER in each of its past three contests at Met Life Stadium. The Giants and their opponent have combined for at least 50 points in each of the last three home contests even though the closing totals were 47, 42 ½, and 42 ½. Monday’s total sits at 48, as the Giants are 4-1 to the UNDER on totals of 44 ½ and higher.

LINE MOVEMENT

The Las Vegas Westgate Superbook opened the Giants as two-point home favorites. However, that line has swung in Cincinnati’s favor as the Bengals are listed as one-point chalk at many sports books, including the Westgate. The total opened at 47 and is hovering between 47 and 48 at most outlets.

SERIES HISTORY

The Bengals are making their first ever trip to Met Life Stadium as Cincinnati last visited New York and the Meadowlands in 2008 as 13-point underdogs. Cincinnati cashed in a 26-23 overtime loss as the road team has never won in this series. The Bengals defeated the Giants in their last matchup in 2012 as 3 ½-point home underdogs, 31-13. Dalton torched New York for four touchdowns, while the Bengals’ defense intercepted Manning twice.

HANDICAPPER’S CORNER

Joe Nelson says that even though the Giants are in the playoff race, there are some negative numbers against them. “The Giants own a negative scoring differential on the season as all five wins have come by seven or fewer points, but New York is currently in a great position as if they can win Monday night the next two games are against the Bears and Browns and 8-3 is a very realistic possibility ahead of a difficult five-game stretch to close the season in December,” Nelson notes.

Since nobody is pulling away in the AFC North, Nelson comments that the Bengals can still finish atop their division if they take care of business, “The Bengals still have four division games remaining including both meetings with the Ravens ahead and no team left on Cincinnati’s schedule has a record better than 5-3 as a great second half run is possible for the 2015 division champions. Cincinnati is 1-3 on the road this season with disappointing numbers, but the three road losses came at Pittsburgh, Dallas, and New England for a formidable slate.”

PROPS – According to Las Vegas Westgate Superbook

Cincinnati

A. Dalton – Total Touchdown Passes
1 ½ - OVER (+110)
1 ½ - UNDER (-130)

A.J. Green – Total Receiving Yards
87 ½ - OVER (-110)
87 ½ - UNDER (-110)

New York

E. Manning - Total Completions
23 ½ - OVER (-110)
23 ½ - UNDER (-110)

E. Manning – Total Touchdown Passes
1 ½ - OVER (-130)
1 ½ - UNDER (+110)

O. Beckham, Jr. – Total Receiving Yards
85 ½ - OVER (-110)
85 ½ - UNDER (-110)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Woodbine Harness: Monday 11/14 Analysis
By Garnet Barnsdale

DRF

Race 1 - $40,000 Guaranteed Pick Five Pool

Race 4 - $50,000 Guaranteed Pick Four Pool

PICK 5: 2,3,10/1,2/1,2,3,4,8,10/8/1,2,3,7 = $28.80

EARLY PICK 4: 8/1,2,3,7/1,3,8/1,2,4,9 = $48

LATE PICK 4: 1,2,4,9/4,6,8/5/2,6,7,8 = $48

MEET STATS: 1 - 10 / $2.80 BEST BETS: 1 - 1 / $2.80

SPOT PLAYS: 0 - 1 / $0.00

Best Bet: WARRAWEE PROTON (9th)

Spot Play: BATTLE CALL (7th)


Race 1

(10) PAMPERED IN PINK was a powerful winner again last week while taking a new life's mark. She can triple up here as her good early speed should help negate the outer post. (2) OCEANVIEW PANCHO ships west in tremendous form and he should be able to shave several seconds off on the big track; using. (3) EMPIRESTATEOFMIND has won 3 of his last 5 after going winless in his first 5 starts. His racing style should play well here; another contender in a contentious opener. (7) NIGHT WITCH will likely be overbet here off her blowout maiden win. I will play to beat her.

Race 2

(2) AWESOMENESS lost positions early in the stretch then came again last week. He may look to control things here. (1) EAST END edged the choice last week and this rematch looks like a two-horse race on paper. (7) SHARKY SHARK is worth a look for the exotics off his nice maiden win. (3) SHADOWFALL should be closer here leaving from a better post.

Race 3

(1) SIBSON is the lone winner facing a debutante from post 10 and eight others that are a combined 0-116. He's worth a swing when you consider those numbers. (10) VEYRON - a $20K Harrisburg purchase - doesn't have to be the second coming of Mack Lobell to compete with these; using. (2) CORE FUSION should improve leaving from the inside and he will likely get put into play early here. (3) ANDOVERS CHOICE is in good form, but he has also failed 23 times in this class; your call.

Race 4

(8) LONEWOLF CURRIER goes for the top barn off the claim coming off a quick and powerful win. He should be tough to beat at a short price here. (9) PAR INTENDED is razor-sharp, but post, pace and racing style could work against him here. (7) P L HEAVENLY's lone 2016 win came at big odds over this track early in the year; consider for exotics. (4) BAZINGA BRAD is in tremendous form and can't be left off tri and super bets.

Race 5

(2) RAGING FINGERS - winner of 35 of his last 55 starts - was reclaimed by Cullen last time and he should get a good trip on or near the pace here; slight nod. (7) STIMULUS SPENDING drops to a level where he is typically tough; toss on horizontal bets. (3) CUNDALINI almost pulled off a shocker two back and he could get a great trip near the front here. (1) LITTLE TURK should be passing many of these late for a smaller share.

Race 6

(3) HLDONTGHTTOYURDRMS takes a big class plunge here after stretching his legs vs. much better coming off a 4 1/2-month break. I'll give him the nod vs. a mostly suspect group. (8) ROCKIN WITH DEWEY also drops and she should get sent early here; using. (1) ENTRANCED usually races well at this level. He can close late for a piece. (4) CROWN CLASSIC is another that should be passing horses late.

Race 7

(9) BATTLE CALL moves into a potent barn and adds Lasix and he has shown he has the speed to overcome this post; top call. (4) CS EYE returns from a break for trainer Weller and he is likely to be sent hard early here. (2) MACH IT BIG was just short in this class last time and leaving from the inside gives him a good shot in a race with several contenders. (1) FRANKIE BOY displayed good speed both early and late in his qualifier. He is another to consider for Pick 4 bets.

Race 8

(6) JENKINS CREEK went a big trip on the rim last time and he was claimed. A slightly better journey and he gets it done here. (8) HIGHLAND TARTAN has the speed to overcome this post and an aggressive driver; beware. (4) COBALT MAN drops a level and he should be heard from here. (3) NEW YORK NIGHTMARE's style isn't the best for this track, but he should close for a share.

Race 9

(5) WARAWEE PROTON keeps winning and keeps getting claimed. He goes for the top conditioner here and he should be very tough to beat. (4) DEMAND AN ANSWER gets McNair here and he quite often can wake one up the first time he drives; consider for exotics. (1) GIRL DRAMA has taken her seasonal mark at Woodbine. (2) BLUSH AND CRUSH gets an interesting barn change here.

Race 10

(7) DONNA PARTY drops back into a claimer here and she should be prominent throughout. (2) GROUND SHAKER passed rivals as the late pace accelerated last week. She can be a big player here. (8) LADY JEN should share going first off the claim here. (6) ALEXAS HOPE will be passing foes late and she could pass them all if she is close enough at the top of the lane. (4) SHES A MANIAC will be a pace factor early but she is likely to stick around for only a smaller share.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Yonkers: Monday 11/14 Analysis
By Matt Rose

DRF

MEET STATS: 400 - 1152 / $2,182.10

BEST BETS: 52 - 93 / $172.00

Best Bet: HURRIKANE ALI (8th)

Spot Play: BLAISE MM HANOVER (9th)


Race 1

(5) SPECIALCELEBRATION qualified nicely at Dover for ner new connections and she picks up leading driver Bartlett for her local debut. (1) RD BILLIE was a good second in her last two flashing good speed in both races; big threat from the rail. (2) ANOTHER LOOK took a step back last out after finally breaking her maiden the start prior.

Race 2

(1) VINOVIO tired after setting a pressured pace last out; give him another chance. (3) SANTIAGO STYLE rolled right by from the pocket to win easily in last and that's three good efforts since arriving from the Maritimes. (2) BUGGER JERRY hasn't done much of late but he did recently add Lasix and he draws well here.

Race 3

(1) ART ANGEL BABY needed her last start after missing some time and she pretty much toured the track; filly draws best now and will be much more involved. (5) IDEAL PRINCESS has jogged in two straight since the barn change to Abbatiello. (3) ZUZU debuts for the Russo barn and has raced well here in the past.

Race 4

(2) PHOOS GIRL keeps Bartlett and draws well again looking for three straight. (1) WELL SHADED ships in from Saratoga sporting a nice on-the-board record this season. (4) ROSY OUTLOOK fits with this type for the Milici barn but her driver opted off.

Race 5

(6) FASHION DRAGON was game in defeat last week after a nice speed try; give him another chance. (2) PAN OF STEEL showed nothing in his last two starts from outside posts; I expect Bartlett to be much more aggressive tonight. (4) BREAKTIME HANOVER could save ground for a share.

Race 6

(4) ROLL WITH FRED spent overtime on the rim in his last two; he's nothing special but neither is anyone else in here. (5) CLASSY HILL exits claimers, races for more money but may have actually found an easier spot. (1) SPINSTIGATOR could show more in his third local start; Bartlett drives.

Race 7

(3) I SAID PLEASE has raced very well in limited local appearances and the filly may be able to power by late. (1) ENCORE DEO has had a decent season for Burke. (2) FRANNEY LOVE DAT lands a rare inside post and was Bartlett's choice of four; expect more involvement.

Race 8

(2) HURRIKANE ALI sat the pocket and lost all chance when the leader quit in his face last week; chance for redemption tonight. (1) FEELING CAM LUCKY draws best and has enough speed to protect inside position. (5) SHANE ADAM is second-time Lasix and Bartlett drives again.

Race 9

(3) BLAISE HANOVER has raced decently flashing good speed in his three local appearances; 3-year-old appears overdue. (4) DERECHO followed up his two solid front-end scores with a weakening speed effort last week; use caution. (1) MAURICE tripped out to beat cheaper last week.

Race 10

(4) WINNING LINC has been razor-sharp taking four straight and he can be followed despite facing better; strange to see Sears driving instead of Bongoirno tonight despite that nice winning streak. (2) ENDEAVOR has performed well in minor stakes action for Lachance and he may be the one to beat. (1) PERFECT BET returns off a win at Pocono and draws best.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

SPOT PLAYS

For Monday

TRACK (RACE) HORSE, MORNING LINE

Finger Lakes (2nd) Desert Valentine, 7-2
(4th) Dublin Time, 3-1


Mahoning Valley (4th) Thundertap, 8-1
(5th) Bella Figlia, 6-1


Mountaineer (4th) Garava, 3-1
(7th) Victory Square, 8-1


Parx Racing (1st) Silver Silence, 7-2
(2nd) Movie Night, 6-1


Turf Paradise (1st) Brite Ruler, -1
(8th) Sonoran Pegasus, 8-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday’s six-pack

Six most popular picks in Week 10 of the Westgate Super Contest:

6) San Diego Chargers (412) -4- L

5) Carolina Panthers (417) -3- L

4) Green Bay Packers (521) -2.5- L

3) Atlanta Falcons (538) even- L

2) New Orleans Saints (550) -2.5- L

1) Pittsburgh Steelers (671) -2.5- L

Season record: 18-41-2…….popular opinion is taking a beating!!!!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Monday's Free Selection: UL-Monroe Warhawks + 17

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: CBB Louisville -17 Over William & Mary

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Razor Sharp

YOUR RAZOR SHARP FREE PICK FOR MONDAY: Take VILLANOVA -2 over Purdue