Handicapper: IndianCowboy
Sport: College Basketball
Game: Kent State Golden Flashes @ Oakland Golden Grizzlies - Tuesday March 17, 2009 7:00 pm
Pick: 4 unit(s) ATS: Oakland Golden Grizzlies -4 (-110) (Play of the Day)
4 Unit Play. #522. Take Oakland -4 over Kent State (Tuesday @ 7pm est). If you are looking for some solid dogs today who can win outright and more importantly cover, as those are my favorite plays, take a long look at Northeastern at Wyoming (you can read my research on my page why), or UAB on the road at Notre Dame as the public likely gets buried there, or even UNLV catching 7 at Kentucky as this is the same Rebel team that won at BYU and at Louisville - incredibly tough to do. Having said that, let's take Oakland today. Oakland might be one of the hottest teams in the country that no one is talking about coming into this game. Remember, they played a great game againts North Dakota State and frankly should have won that game. If they win that game, they woudl be dancing but simply collapsed with a double-digit lead as North Dakota State essentially won on a buzzer beater. Oakland has been dominant at home even beating Oral Roberts by double-digits earlier this year. Oakland even lost to Cleveland State, the Champs of their respective conference by 3 on the road. Remember, Cleveland State beat Butler on the road to win their conference championship. Kent State has been a bit weak on the road this year losing to the likes of Ohio, Buffalo, Akron, losing to Cleveland State by nearly 26 on the road and even a team outside the top 250 in Western Carolina at home. Oakland came into this game winning 9 straight ballgames and should have won the Championship and I think they are at a solid price here as small chalk. Oakland has consistently beaten some quality teams at home by double-digits and shoots just under 70% at home for free throws. They are a great story and I think it will be great for America to see this team play some more and I hope they make it to MSG. This team beat Oregon and Wisconsin Green-Bay on the road. Remember, Oakland is a top 70 team while Kent State is a top 125 team. Kent State when facing top 70 teams on the road has lost by 5 to Miami of Ohio (top 110), lost by 14 to Akron on the road(top 100), lost by 11 to Buffalo on the road (top 125), and lost by 6 to Ohio on the road (top 200). In fact, if my numbers serve me right, Kent State has not beat a top 100 team all year on the road and I expect them to have the same trouble tonight riding into a hot Oakland team. Let's take the Tourney caliber team, at home, on the short lay, who are 5-0-1 ATS against a team with a winning record and the Golden Flashes of Kent State are 0-9 ATS in non-conference games.