[h=1]NCAA Football Game Picks[/h][h=2]Pittsburgh at Connecticut[/h]The Panthers look to build on their 9-1-2 ATS record in their last 12 games against teams with a losing record. Pittsburgh is the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Panthers favored by 13 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-3). Here are all of this week's games.
| FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Time Posted: 10:00 a.m. EST (11/6) |
| Game 111-112: Pittsburgh at Connecticut (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 92.382; Connecticut 79.071 Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 13 1/2; 40 Vegas Line: Pittsburgh by 3 1/2; 43 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-3 1/2); Under |
[h=1]Today's NBA Picks[/h][h=2]San Antonio at Sacramento[/h]The Spurs look to bounce back from their 106-84 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday and build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games following a SU defeat of more than 10 points. San Antonio is the pick (-6) according to Dunkel, which has the Spurs favored by 11. Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-6). Here are all of today's picks
| FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST |
| Game 501-502: Milwaukee at Washington (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee 116.525; Washington 121.974 Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 5 1/2; 194 Vegas Line & Total: Milwaukee by 3; 189 Dunkel Pick: Washington (+3); Over |
| Game 503-504: Brooklyn at Orlando (7:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Brooklyn 113.574; Orlando 110.397 Dunkel Line & Total: Brooklyn by 3 1/2; 192 Vegas Line & Total: Brooklyn by 2 1/2; 196 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Brooklyn (-2 1/2); Under |
| Game 505-506: Philadelphia at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia 122.478; Boston 122.931 Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 182 Vegas Line & Total: Boston by 5 1/2; 179 Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+5 1/2); Over |
| Game 507-508: Dallas at New York (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 115.716; New York 128.497 Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 13; 196 Vegas Line & Total: New York by 6; 199 Dunkel Pick: New York (-6); Under |
| Game 509-510: Miami at Atlanta (7:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Miami 127.531; Atlanta 127.191 Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 204 Vegas Line & Total: Miami by 5 1/2; 201 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+5 1/2); Over |
| Game 511-512: Houston at Memphis (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Houston 116.069; Memphis 126.534 Dunkel Line & Total: Memphis by 10 1/2; 190 Vegas Line & Total: Memphis by 7; 195 Dunkel Pick: Memphis (-7); Under |
| Game 513-514: Charlotte at New Orleans (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 101.651; New Orleans 120.487 Dunkel Line & Total: New Orleans by 19; 177 Vegas Line & Total: New Orleans by 6 1/2; 181 Dunkel Pick: New Orleans (-6 1/2); Under |
| Game 515-516: Detroit at Oklahoma City (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 115.822; Oklahoma City 126.231 Dunkel Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 10 1/2; 201 Vegas Line & Total: Oklahoma City by 11 1/2; 198 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+11 1/2); Over |
| Game 517-518: Indiana at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 118.133; Minnesota 112.669 Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 5 1/2; 186 Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 2; 182 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Indiana (+2); Over |
| Game 519-520: Cleveland at Phoenix (9:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 108.708; Phoenix 121.423 Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 12 1/2; 197 Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 4 1/2; 200 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-4 1/2); Under |
| Game 521-522: San Antonio at Sacramento (10:00 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: San Antonio 127.497; Sacramento 116.372 Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 11; 191 Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 6; 198 Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-6); Under |
| Game 523-524: Utah at Denver (10:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Utah 121.158; Denver 121.587 Dunkel Line & Total: Even; 206 Vegas Line & Total: Denver by 5; 199 Dunkel Pick: Utah (+5); Over |
| Game 525-526: Golden State at LA Lakers (10:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Golden State 115.611; LA Lakers 120.015 Dunkel Line & Total: LA Lakers by 4 1/2; 199 Vegas Line & Total: LA Lakers by 6 1/2; 194 1/2 Dunkel Pick: Golden State (+6 1/2); Over |
CBB
-- UConn has a new coach (Ollie) and this game is in Germany, so hard to tell about them. Michigan State is more athletic this year, but Izzo's teams sometimes struggle in pre-conference play.
-- Marquette is deep on perimeter despite Mayo being ineligible (grades) six of their eight rotation guys are juniors/seniors. Ohio State has three starters back, is picked #4 in Big Dozen- they beat two Big East teams in NCAA tournament last March. One of those battleship games.
-- Kent State has seven new players, but two are JC guys who are more likely to produce quickly. Drexel won 29 games LY but missed NCAAs, has four starters back, and is looking for first NCAAs since '96.
-- Tulane was 9-0 after upsetting Georgia Tech 57-52 at home LY; they went 6-16 from that point on, finished last in C-USA, but they have all their guys back this year. Georgia Tech has four starters back, but they were 11-20 LY in Gregory's first year as coach.
-- Florida State humiliated South Alabama 80-39 LY; Jaguars were 0-24 from the arc in that game. USA has all five of its starters back, Seminoles lost almost half its scoring from LY.
-- Georgetown's roster shows four freshman, four sophs, two juniors, no seniors; they're thin at guard. Florida returns two-thirds of its scoring and is deep. This game is on a battleship, an outdoor game.
-- George Mason turned ball over 22% of time LY, not good; they lost at Virginia 68-48 and Cavaliers are better this year, while Patriots lost three double figure scorers off LY's team that went 24-9, 14-4 in CAA.
-- UCLA unveils refurbished Pauley Pavilion, playing Indiana State, the other school that John Wooden coached at. Bruins don't have freshman star Muhammad eligible yet, they have nine scholarship guys. Indiana State lost four starters, 42 ppg from LY's 18-15 team.
-- South Dakota State has four starters back from 28-8 team that lost to Baylor 68-60 in NCAAs LY; they can shoot. Alabama has four starters back from LY's NCAA team and added star freshman Pollard.
-- Iona went out west LY and beat Denver 80-78 in OT; Gaels have lot of new guys but still have star G Jones, an Arizona transfer, they're #3 pick in MAAC. Denver runs Princeton style; they're picked #2 in their 1st year in WAC. Pioneers have three starters back from 22-9 club.
-- Montana's star G Cherry (foot) is out for month; Griz have two other starters back from LY's 25-7 team that lost 64-58 at Colorado St. Rams have new coach (Eustachy), four starters back from 20-12 team that made NCAAs. 6-10 transfer Iverson (Minnesota) will improve them.
-- Mississippi State has seven new players, a new coach and is picked to finish 14th in 14-team SEC; they crushed Troy 106-68 LY. Trojans have three starters back from LY's 10-18 team, but lost two other starters who transferred out before their senior seasons.
-- Kentucky has another talented, yet mostly-new team this year, one that isn't as talented as LY, but still real good. Maryland got boost when Xavier transfer Wells was declared eligible this week; they've got couple starters back from LY, but the transfers will help Turgeon's team- they are picked to finish 6th in ACC.
-- UConn has a new coach (Ollie) and this game is in Germany, so hard to tell about them. Michigan State is more athletic this year, but Izzo's teams sometimes struggle in pre-conference play.
-- Marquette is deep on perimeter despite Mayo being ineligible (grades) six of their eight rotation guys are juniors/seniors. Ohio State has three starters back, is picked #4 in Big Dozen- they beat two Big East teams in NCAA tournament last March. One of those battleship games.
-- Kent State has seven new players, but two are JC guys who are more likely to produce quickly. Drexel won 29 games LY but missed NCAAs, has four starters back, and is looking for first NCAAs since '96.
-- Tulane was 9-0 after upsetting Georgia Tech 57-52 at home LY; they went 6-16 from that point on, finished last in C-USA, but they have all their guys back this year. Georgia Tech has four starters back, but they were 11-20 LY in Gregory's first year as coach.
-- Florida State humiliated South Alabama 80-39 LY; Jaguars were 0-24 from the arc in that game. USA has all five of its starters back, Seminoles lost almost half its scoring from LY.
-- Georgetown's roster shows four freshman, four sophs, two juniors, no seniors; they're thin at guard. Florida returns two-thirds of its scoring and is deep. This game is on a battleship, an outdoor game.
-- George Mason turned ball over 22% of time LY, not good; they lost at Virginia 68-48 and Cavaliers are better this year, while Patriots lost three double figure scorers off LY's team that went 24-9, 14-4 in CAA.
-- UCLA unveils refurbished Pauley Pavilion, playing Indiana State, the other school that John Wooden coached at. Bruins don't have freshman star Muhammad eligible yet, they have nine scholarship guys. Indiana State lost four starters, 42 ppg from LY's 18-15 team.
-- South Dakota State has four starters back from 28-8 team that lost to Baylor 68-60 in NCAAs LY; they can shoot. Alabama has four starters back from LY's NCAA team and added star freshman Pollard.
-- Iona went out west LY and beat Denver 80-78 in OT; Gaels have lot of new guys but still have star G Jones, an Arizona transfer, they're #3 pick in MAAC. Denver runs Princeton style; they're picked #2 in their 1st year in WAC. Pioneers have three starters back from 22-9 club.
-- Montana's star G Cherry (foot) is out for month; Griz have two other starters back from LY's 25-7 team that lost 64-58 at Colorado St. Rams have new coach (Eustachy), four starters back from 20-12 team that made NCAAs. 6-10 transfer Iverson (Minnesota) will improve them.
-- Mississippi State has seven new players, a new coach and is picked to finish 14th in 14-team SEC; they crushed Troy 106-68 LY. Trojans have three starters back from LY's 10-18 team, but lost two other starters who transferred out before their senior seasons.
-- Kentucky has another talented, yet mostly-new team this year, one that isn't as talented as LY, but still real good. Maryland got boost when Xavier transfer Wells was declared eligible this week; they've got couple starters back from LY, but the transfers will help Turgeon's team- they are picked to finish 6th in ACC.
| From Platinum Plays. |
| PLATINUM PLAYS PREMIER PICK the Pittsburgh/Connecticut Game UNDER the Total Of 44 Points |
| From Platinum Plays. |
| 500K CFB Mismatch the Pittsburgh Panthers -3 over the Connecticut Huskies Best Bets the Philadelphia 76ers +5 over the Boston Celtics the San Antonio Spurs -6 over the Sacramento Kings the Miami Heat -5½ over the Atlanta Hawks the Virginia Cavaliers -3 over the George Mason Patriots |
JACK JONES
= TOP PLAY =-
Sport Date Matchup Book Starts
NCAA-F Nov 09 '12
8:00p Pittsburgh vs Connecticut
Take: Connecticut +3½-110 in 11h
20* Pitt/UConn ESPN 2 Friday No-Brainer on Connecticut +3.5
The Panthers could be in a huge letdown spot here. They have to be deflated after their triple overtime loss to the Fighting Irish last Saturday, which was their chance to salvage a poor season. I foresee them showing up mentally to play this game Friday after such a tough defeat.
Connecticut has been better than its 3-6 record would indicate. It is actually outgaining opponents by 28 yards per game this season, which is a number more indicative of a team that would be above .500 on the year. It remains competitive thanks to a stop unit gives up just 18.6 points per game, and one that ranks 9th in the country in total defense at 290.2 yards per game allowed.
Pittsburgh is 1-3 on the road this season where it is scoring just 17.2 points per game and averaging 331 total yards per game. It will have a hard time moving the football on this stingy Huskies’ defense Friday night. The home team has won three straight and six of the last eight meetings in this series.
Paul Pasqualoni is 7-0 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 out of their last 6 games in all games he has coached. Pasqualoni is 11-2 ATS after 2 consecutive games with a turnover margin of -1 or worse in all games he has coached. The Huskies are 38-18-1 ATS in their last 57 games following a S.U. loss. Connecticut is 31-15-1 ATS in its last 47 home games. Bet Connecticut Friday.
BOL
= TOP PLAY =-
Sport Date Matchup Book Starts
NCAA-F Nov 09 '12
8:00p Pittsburgh vs Connecticut
Take: Connecticut +3½-110 in 11h
20* Pitt/UConn ESPN 2 Friday No-Brainer on Connecticut +3.5
The Panthers could be in a huge letdown spot here. They have to be deflated after their triple overtime loss to the Fighting Irish last Saturday, which was their chance to salvage a poor season. I foresee them showing up mentally to play this game Friday after such a tough defeat.
Connecticut has been better than its 3-6 record would indicate. It is actually outgaining opponents by 28 yards per game this season, which is a number more indicative of a team that would be above .500 on the year. It remains competitive thanks to a stop unit gives up just 18.6 points per game, and one that ranks 9th in the country in total defense at 290.2 yards per game allowed.
Pittsburgh is 1-3 on the road this season where it is scoring just 17.2 points per game and averaging 331 total yards per game. It will have a hard time moving the football on this stingy Huskies’ defense Friday night. The home team has won three straight and six of the last eight meetings in this series.
Paul Pasqualoni is 7-0 ATS in home games after having lost 4 or 5 out of their last 6 games in all games he has coached. Pasqualoni is 11-2 ATS after 2 consecutive games with a turnover margin of -1 or worse in all games he has coached. The Huskies are 38-18-1 ATS in their last 57 games following a S.U. loss. Connecticut is 31-15-1 ATS in its last 47 home games. Bet Connecticut Friday.
BOL
Carrier Classic: Ohio State vs. Marquette
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (+5, 145.5)
Fourth-ranked Ohio State begins the post-Jared Sullinger era Friday when it meets Marquette in the second annual Carrier Classic in Charleston, S.C. The game will be played on the deck of the USS Yorktown, which resides in the Patriots Point complex in Charleston Harbor.
The Buckeyes reached the Final Four last season, but Sullinger decided to forgo his senior year for the NBA draft. No one should shed a tear for coach Thad Matta, however, since Ohio State returns plenty of talent and should once again be a major factor when March rolls around.
The Golden Eagles' roster also took a hit. Jae Crowder, last season's Big East Player of the Year, and All-Big East guard Darius Johnson-Odom have both moved on to the NBA.
While the Buckeyes are expected to contend with Indiana and Michigan in the loaded Big Ten, Marquette has been picked to finish seventh in the Big East.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
WEATHER: The forecast for Charleston, S.C is calling for clear skies and temperatures in the mid 40s Friday night. Winds are expected to blow NNE between 10 and 5 mph.
"Offense could be a problem for both teams," John Avello, sportsbook director at the Wynn, told Covers about last year's Carrier Classic between UNC and MSU. "Shooters usually have a difficult time when their backgrounds are changed - it doesn't matter if we're talking about an NFL stadium or an aircraft carrier."
ABOUT OHIO STATE (2011-12: 31-8, 20-14 ATS): In addition to losing Sullinger, one of the best post players in the country, wing player William Buford, who scored 1,990 career points, has also moved on. The two were main cogs on a team that finished in a three-way tie for the Big Ten regular-season title and won the conference tournament.
Power forward Deshaun Thomas and point guard Aaron Craft will carry the Buckeyes this season. Thomas, an explosive player who stands 6 feet 7, has the talent to score 20 points per game and is a difficult matchup for anyone. Craft does an outstanding job in running the offense and is one of the top backcourt defenders in the nation. The Buckeyes have only one senior and Matta will be looking to inexperienced players to fill the holes at center and small forward.
ABOUT MARQUETTE (2011-12: 27-8, 18-13-1 ATS): Fifth-year coach Buzz Williams admits he over-scheduled considering how much talent his team has lost. In addition to Ohio State, the Golden Eagles will play Butler, Florida and Wisconsin and face a possible matchup with North Carolina in the Maui Invitational.
Williams will rely a lot on Trent Lockett, a graduate-student transfer who led Arizona State in scoring and rebounding last season. Lockett, who will be part of a three-guard offense, averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds last year. Vander Blue and Junior Cadougan are the other guards, but the Golden Eagles won't be able to replace Johnson-Odom's outside shooting. Williams is expecting big things from forward Jamil Wilson, who averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-high 1.4 blocks last season.
TRENDS:
* Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five Friday games.
* Buckeyes are 6-2 ATS in their last eight vs. Big East.
* Golden Eagles are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Golden Eagles are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine non-conference games.
TIP-INS:
1. Matta has never lost in 12 season openers when he coached at Butler (1-0), Xavier (3-0) and Ohio State (8-0).
2. Marquette G Todd Mayo, who averaged 7.9 points last season as freshman, is academically ineligible.
3. Ohio State leads the all-time series 5-4, but the teams haven't played since 1994 - an 82-70 win for Marquette.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (+5, 145.5)
Fourth-ranked Ohio State begins the post-Jared Sullinger era Friday when it meets Marquette in the second annual Carrier Classic in Charleston, S.C. The game will be played on the deck of the USS Yorktown, which resides in the Patriots Point complex in Charleston Harbor.
The Buckeyes reached the Final Four last season, but Sullinger decided to forgo his senior year for the NBA draft. No one should shed a tear for coach Thad Matta, however, since Ohio State returns plenty of talent and should once again be a major factor when March rolls around.
The Golden Eagles' roster also took a hit. Jae Crowder, last season's Big East Player of the Year, and All-Big East guard Darius Johnson-Odom have both moved on to the NBA.
While the Buckeyes are expected to contend with Indiana and Michigan in the loaded Big Ten, Marquette has been picked to finish seventh in the Big East.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
WEATHER: The forecast for Charleston, S.C is calling for clear skies and temperatures in the mid 40s Friday night. Winds are expected to blow NNE between 10 and 5 mph.
"Offense could be a problem for both teams," John Avello, sportsbook director at the Wynn, told Covers about last year's Carrier Classic between UNC and MSU. "Shooters usually have a difficult time when their backgrounds are changed - it doesn't matter if we're talking about an NFL stadium or an aircraft carrier."
ABOUT OHIO STATE (2011-12: 31-8, 20-14 ATS): In addition to losing Sullinger, one of the best post players in the country, wing player William Buford, who scored 1,990 career points, has also moved on. The two were main cogs on a team that finished in a three-way tie for the Big Ten regular-season title and won the conference tournament.
Power forward Deshaun Thomas and point guard Aaron Craft will carry the Buckeyes this season. Thomas, an explosive player who stands 6 feet 7, has the talent to score 20 points per game and is a difficult matchup for anyone. Craft does an outstanding job in running the offense and is one of the top backcourt defenders in the nation. The Buckeyes have only one senior and Matta will be looking to inexperienced players to fill the holes at center and small forward.
ABOUT MARQUETTE (2011-12: 27-8, 18-13-1 ATS): Fifth-year coach Buzz Williams admits he over-scheduled considering how much talent his team has lost. In addition to Ohio State, the Golden Eagles will play Butler, Florida and Wisconsin and face a possible matchup with North Carolina in the Maui Invitational.
Williams will rely a lot on Trent Lockett, a graduate-student transfer who led Arizona State in scoring and rebounding last season. Lockett, who will be part of a three-guard offense, averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds last year. Vander Blue and Junior Cadougan are the other guards, but the Golden Eagles won't be able to replace Johnson-Odom's outside shooting. Williams is expecting big things from forward Jamil Wilson, who averaged 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-high 1.4 blocks last season.
TRENDS:
* Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five Friday games.
* Buckeyes are 6-2 ATS in their last eight vs. Big East.
* Golden Eagles are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Golden Eagles are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine non-conference games.
TIP-INS:
1. Matta has never lost in 12 season openers when he coached at Butler (1-0), Xavier (3-0) and Ohio State (8-0).
2. Marquette G Todd Mayo, who averaged 7.9 points last season as freshman, is academically ineligible.
3. Ohio State leads the all-time series 5-4, but the teams haven't played since 1994 - an 82-70 win for Marquette.
MSU-UConn tip off season Friday in Germany
Armed Forces Classic - Ramstein, Germany
Tip-off: Friday, 5:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Michigan State -11, Total: 129.5
No. 14 Michigan State and Connecticut will play one of college basketball’s most unique openers when the storied programs meet up on an aircraft base in Germany Friday night.
The Spartans enter the year with a lot of battle-tested players and a huge front line, while UConn is entering a transitional year under first-year head coach Kevin Ollie with no postseason to play for. Both teams were above .500 on neutral courts last season, as MSU went 5-3 (SU and ATS) and Connecticut was 4-3 (SU and ATS). However, the Spartans were 7-6 ATS in non-conference games, while the Huskies were just 3-6 ATS versus non-Big East teams.
UConn is breaking in a new head coach for the first time since 1986-87 as UConn alum, long-time NBA point guard and former Calhoun assistant Ollie takes over for the retired Hall of Famer. The Huskies, coming off a disappointing national title defense, have plenty of firepower in the backcourt. PG Shabazz Napier (13.0 PPG, 5.8 APG) and combo guard Ryan Boatright (10.4 PPG, 4.0 APG) are an undersized but explosive pairing. And freshman combo guard Omar Calhoun is an aggressive scorer who will make an immediate impact off the bench.
The questions for the Huskies are up front. C Andre Drummond (10.0 PPG 7.6 RPG) is with the Detroit Pistons, and PF Alex Oriahki (6.7 PPG) and SF Roscoe Smith transferred to Missouri and UNLV, respectively. They’ll be at a disadvantage against a Spartans team that, as always, will be tough up front. Part-time starter Tyler Olander, a skilled, but at times passive, big man returns and will have to take on a much bigger role. As will DeAndre Daniels, an athletic combo forward who played sparingly as a freshman but played well in exhibition games (11.5 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG) against overmatched opponents. This game will also be a homecoming of sorts for role player wing Niels Giffey, who is from Berlin, Germany. Seven-foot-1 reserve C Enosch Wolf and freshman Leon Tolksdorf are also German-born players.
Michigan State lost do-it-all PF Draymond Green from last year’s Big Ten championship team, but PG Keith Appling (11.4 PPG, 3.9 APG) looks poised to step up as the team’s star this year. But, as usual, Tom Izzo’s team will be defined by size and toughness. Wing Branden Dawson, a high-energy defensive stalwart, is back after tearing his ACL last season. And the low post combination of wide-bodied C Derrick Nix (8.1 PPG) and Adreian Payne (7.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG) could overpower UConn’s thin frontcourt. MSU can also match UConn’s backcourt firepower with Appling and freshman combo guard Gary Harris, an elite recruit who can shoot it or score in traffic.
Armed Forces Classic - Ramstein, Germany
Tip-off: Friday, 5:30 p.m. EDT
Line: Michigan State -11, Total: 129.5
No. 14 Michigan State and Connecticut will play one of college basketball’s most unique openers when the storied programs meet up on an aircraft base in Germany Friday night.
The Spartans enter the year with a lot of battle-tested players and a huge front line, while UConn is entering a transitional year under first-year head coach Kevin Ollie with no postseason to play for. Both teams were above .500 on neutral courts last season, as MSU went 5-3 (SU and ATS) and Connecticut was 4-3 (SU and ATS). However, the Spartans were 7-6 ATS in non-conference games, while the Huskies were just 3-6 ATS versus non-Big East teams.
UConn is breaking in a new head coach for the first time since 1986-87 as UConn alum, long-time NBA point guard and former Calhoun assistant Ollie takes over for the retired Hall of Famer. The Huskies, coming off a disappointing national title defense, have plenty of firepower in the backcourt. PG Shabazz Napier (13.0 PPG, 5.8 APG) and combo guard Ryan Boatright (10.4 PPG, 4.0 APG) are an undersized but explosive pairing. And freshman combo guard Omar Calhoun is an aggressive scorer who will make an immediate impact off the bench.
The questions for the Huskies are up front. C Andre Drummond (10.0 PPG 7.6 RPG) is with the Detroit Pistons, and PF Alex Oriahki (6.7 PPG) and SF Roscoe Smith transferred to Missouri and UNLV, respectively. They’ll be at a disadvantage against a Spartans team that, as always, will be tough up front. Part-time starter Tyler Olander, a skilled, but at times passive, big man returns and will have to take on a much bigger role. As will DeAndre Daniels, an athletic combo forward who played sparingly as a freshman but played well in exhibition games (11.5 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.5 BPG) against overmatched opponents. This game will also be a homecoming of sorts for role player wing Niels Giffey, who is from Berlin, Germany. Seven-foot-1 reserve C Enosch Wolf and freshman Leon Tolksdorf are also German-born players.
Michigan State lost do-it-all PF Draymond Green from last year’s Big Ten championship team, but PG Keith Appling (11.4 PPG, 3.9 APG) looks poised to step up as the team’s star this year. But, as usual, Tom Izzo’s team will be defined by size and toughness. Wing Branden Dawson, a high-energy defensive stalwart, is back after tearing his ACL last season. And the low post combination of wide-bodied C Derrick Nix (8.1 PPG) and Adreian Payne (7.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG) could overpower UConn’s thin frontcourt. MSU can also match UConn’s backcourt firepower with Appling and freshman combo guard Gary Harris, an elite recruit who can shoot it or score in traffic.
At 11:00 AM Eastern time this morning there will be 3-6 college basketball games ordered that will definitely move the line. The source of these games has a proven, verifiable, and transparent history of success. I'm looking for one partner to post up for half of the cost of the service and perhaps bring a reliable "out" to the partnership. Most posters know who responsible for these plays, but those that don't will see them posted by me after I've moved on the games.
