Will Rogers
Virginia -9.5
The set-up: The 18-8 Miami Hurricanes will be in Charlottesville Monday night for a game with the 18-8 Virginia Cavaliers. Both teams are 8-6 in ACC games, although the Cavs have arrived at that record by losing three consecutive games, while the Hurricanes have won two straight and four of their last five.
Miami: The Hurricanes lost both starting guards (McClellan and Rodriguez) from last year's 27-win Sweet 16 team and now have to deal with second-leading scorer Ja’Quan Newton (15.0), who will miss his third straight game for violating team rules. However, it should be noted that the 'Canes have won the last two games without Newton. Senior forward Kamari Murphy (6.8 & 7.6) scored a career-high 15 on Saturday and told reporters. “With guys out, our guys’ motto in the locker room has been to ‘find a way.’ Everybody’s stepping up.” Starting in the frontcourt along with the 6-8 Murphy are the 6-7 Lawrence (7.2 & 3.9) and 6-10 center Izundu (4.8 & 3.2). Newton's a key cog in the backcourt but the duo of senior Reed (15.7 & 4.5) and freshman Brown (11.4-6.2-3.5) still allows Miami to compete well.
Virginia: How quickly a team's fortunes can change in the world of sports. Virginia was up 14 points at the half against rival Virginia Tech back on Feb. 12 and a win would have left the Cavs tied for first place in the ACC. However, Va Tech rallied to win that game 80-78 (2 OTs) plus Virginia followed that collapse with losses to Duke and North Carolina. Suddenly, Tony Bennett and his team are three games out of first place and in the middle of its first three-game losing streak in six years! Virginia is a great defensive team (55.8 PPG allowed is a nation's-best) but the lack of any productive scorers other than PG London Perrantes (12.6-3.2-3.8 ) has clearly caught up to them. Perrantes is the lone Cavalier to average in double digits on the season and is averaging 15.2 PPG over his last six. However, when a team scores just 55 points on 36.8% shooting (including 25.0% on threes) like it did against Duke and follows with 41 points on 27.8% shooting (including just 2 of 20 on threes) like it did against North Carolina, defense is not enough to win!
The pick: The good news for Virginia fans is that Bennett's team should draw confidence from the fact that the Cavaliers have won four of the last five meetings between the two schools, including a 73-68 victory in the ACC semifinals last year. Virginia is currently ranked No. 14 but that won't be the case when Monday's new poll isrelea sed. Bennett's team enters Monday scrambling and desperate for a win. My bet says the Cavs do just that.
Virginia -9.5
The set-up: The 18-8 Miami Hurricanes will be in Charlottesville Monday night for a game with the 18-8 Virginia Cavaliers. Both teams are 8-6 in ACC games, although the Cavs have arrived at that record by losing three consecutive games, while the Hurricanes have won two straight and four of their last five.
Miami: The Hurricanes lost both starting guards (McClellan and Rodriguez) from last year's 27-win Sweet 16 team and now have to deal with second-leading scorer Ja’Quan Newton (15.0), who will miss his third straight game for violating team rules. However, it should be noted that the 'Canes have won the last two games without Newton. Senior forward Kamari Murphy (6.8 & 7.6) scored a career-high 15 on Saturday and told reporters. “With guys out, our guys’ motto in the locker room has been to ‘find a way.’ Everybody’s stepping up.” Starting in the frontcourt along with the 6-8 Murphy are the 6-7 Lawrence (7.2 & 3.9) and 6-10 center Izundu (4.8 & 3.2). Newton's a key cog in the backcourt but the duo of senior Reed (15.7 & 4.5) and freshman Brown (11.4-6.2-3.5) still allows Miami to compete well.
Virginia: How quickly a team's fortunes can change in the world of sports. Virginia was up 14 points at the half against rival Virginia Tech back on Feb. 12 and a win would have left the Cavs tied for first place in the ACC. However, Va Tech rallied to win that game 80-78 (2 OTs) plus Virginia followed that collapse with losses to Duke and North Carolina. Suddenly, Tony Bennett and his team are three games out of first place and in the middle of its first three-game losing streak in six years! Virginia is a great defensive team (55.8 PPG allowed is a nation's-best) but the lack of any productive scorers other than PG London Perrantes (12.6-3.2-3.8 ) has clearly caught up to them. Perrantes is the lone Cavalier to average in double digits on the season and is averaging 15.2 PPG over his last six. However, when a team scores just 55 points on 36.8% shooting (including 25.0% on threes) like it did against Duke and follows with 41 points on 27.8% shooting (including just 2 of 20 on threes) like it did against North Carolina, defense is not enough to win!
The pick: The good news for Virginia fans is that Bennett's team should draw confidence from the fact that the Cavaliers have won four of the last five meetings between the two schools, including a 73-68 victory in the ACC semifinals last year. Virginia is currently ranked No. 14 but that won't be the case when Monday's new poll isrelea sed. Bennett's team enters Monday scrambling and desperate for a win. My bet says the Cavs do just that.
Jimmy Moore
Texas +16
Texas is not having a stellar season in hoops but this is a matchup they are awesome in as they have covered 8 of their last 9 against the Mountaineers. West Virginia has only covered 1 of their last 4 home games and they have gone to OT their last 2 games in a row so they may be a bit more worn out than usual. Look for Texas to keep this game within this number to get the cover here.
Texas +16
Texas is not having a stellar season in hoops but this is a matchup they are awesome in as they have covered 8 of their last 9 against the Mountaineers. West Virginia has only covered 1 of their last 4 home games and they have gone to OT their last 2 games in a row so they may be a bit more worn out than usual. Look for Texas to keep this game within this number to get the cover here.
David Banks
West Virginia
Texas (10-15, 4-8 ) hasn’t enjoyed the type of season that it had hoped for, but the Longhorns have a chance to make a late season statement when they travel to No. 13 West Virginia on Monday night. Texas almost pulled the upset the first time they played the Mountaineers losing 74-72 back on Jan. 14. The Longhorns held their own with West Virginia and even outshot the Mountaineers from 3-point range, but playing short-handed and being inexperienced hasn’t helped Texas this season.
The Mountaineers (20-5, 8-4) will face No. 3 Kansas and Texas Tech before welcoming the Longhorns. Head coach Bob Huggins team has already beaten the Jayhawks once and another win over one of the nation’s best would almost guarantee West Virginia a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. That, of course, would depend upon how well the Mountaineers play down the stretch. That includes dominating a Texas team that is not in the same league with the talented Mountaineers.
Huggins plays 10 players consistently and all are capable in the Mountaineers up-tempo, pressure system. Jevon Carter (11.8 ppg) and Esa Ahmad (11.6) lead West Virginia and players like Nathan Adrian, Tarik Philip, and Daxter Miles Jr. are capable of lighting it up on any given night. The Longhorns finish a tough season with the Mountaineers, No. 3 Kansas, and No. 6 Baylor among their final six games.
West Virginia
Texas (10-15, 4-8 ) hasn’t enjoyed the type of season that it had hoped for, but the Longhorns have a chance to make a late season statement when they travel to No. 13 West Virginia on Monday night. Texas almost pulled the upset the first time they played the Mountaineers losing 74-72 back on Jan. 14. The Longhorns held their own with West Virginia and even outshot the Mountaineers from 3-point range, but playing short-handed and being inexperienced hasn’t helped Texas this season.
The Mountaineers (20-5, 8-4) will face No. 3 Kansas and Texas Tech before welcoming the Longhorns. Head coach Bob Huggins team has already beaten the Jayhawks once and another win over one of the nation’s best would almost guarantee West Virginia a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. That, of course, would depend upon how well the Mountaineers play down the stretch. That includes dominating a Texas team that is not in the same league with the talented Mountaineers.
Huggins plays 10 players consistently and all are capable in the Mountaineers up-tempo, pressure system. Jevon Carter (11.8 ppg) and Esa Ahmad (11.6) lead West Virginia and players like Nathan Adrian, Tarik Philip, and Daxter Miles Jr. are capable of lighting it up on any given night. The Longhorns finish a tough season with the Mountaineers, No. 3 Kansas, and No. 6 Baylor among their final six games.
Dave Cokin
Texas +16
Longhorns fit the close home loss road dog revenge angle, which is doing okay at right about 60% on the season. West Virginia certainly ought to win this, but they're off a double OT game on Saturday, and of course the prior game was that insane deal at Kansas. So they're not exactly in a perfect spot here and while Texas isn't winning, they're battling and have not have lost a league game by this many. Texas plus the points to hang in enough to get the spread win.
Texas +16
Longhorns fit the close home loss road dog revenge angle, which is doing okay at right about 60% on the season. West Virginia certainly ought to win this, but they're off a double OT game on Saturday, and of course the prior game was that insane deal at Kansas. So they're not exactly in a perfect spot here and while Texas isn't winning, they're battling and have not have lost a league game by this many. Texas plus the points to hang in enough to get the spread win.
Brandon Lee
NCAA-B | Feb 20, 2017
Iowa State vs. Texas Tech
Iowa State +1½ -105 at BETONLINE
10* Free NCAAB Pick (Iowa State +1.5)
The Cyclones are worth a look here at basically a pick'em against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is 15-2 at home, covered the spread in 5 straight games and gave Iowa State all they could handle in Ames earlier this season. It certainly seems like the books are begging for you to jump on the home team in this one. What a lot of people will overlook is the Red Raiders are coming off a double-overtime loss to West Virginia on Saturday. Not only is that a difficult loss to bounce back from emotionally, it will be even more challenging rebounding with just 1-day of rest. They had 3 starters log over 40 minutes, two more played 30+ and two more at 20+. For a team that only uses a 7-man rotation, I think their attempt at revenge will be spoiled by an Iowa State team that is playing some of the best basketball of the season right now. Give me the Cyclones +1.5!
NCAA-B | Feb 20, 2017
Iowa State vs. Texas Tech
Iowa State +1½ -105 at BETONLINE
10* Free NCAAB Pick (Iowa State +1.5)
The Cyclones are worth a look here at basically a pick'em against the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is 15-2 at home, covered the spread in 5 straight games and gave Iowa State all they could handle in Ames earlier this season. It certainly seems like the books are begging for you to jump on the home team in this one. What a lot of people will overlook is the Red Raiders are coming off a double-overtime loss to West Virginia on Saturday. Not only is that a difficult loss to bounce back from emotionally, it will be even more challenging rebounding with just 1-day of rest. They had 3 starters log over 40 minutes, two more played 30+ and two more at 20+. For a team that only uses a 7-man rotation, I think their attempt at revenge will be spoiled by an Iowa State team that is playing some of the best basketball of the season right now. Give me the Cyclones +1.5!
Steve Janus
NCAA-B | Feb 20, 2017
Boston College vs. Florida State
Boston College +18½ -105 at 5DIMES
10* Boston College/Florida St CBB Free Pick
Play Against - Favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (FLORIDA ST) - after being beaten by the spread by more than 18 points in their previous game against opponent after going under the total by 24 or more points total in their last three games. This system is 29-7 (81%) against the spread since 1997. BET BOSTON COLLEGE!
NCAA-B | Feb 20, 2017
Boston College vs. Florida State
Boston College +18½ -105 at 5DIMES
10* Boston College/Florida St CBB Free Pick
Play Against - Favorites of 10 to 19.5 points (FLORIDA ST) - after being beaten by the spread by more than 18 points in their previous game against opponent after going under the total by 24 or more points total in their last three games. This system is 29-7 (81%) against the spread since 1997. BET BOSTON COLLEGE!
