SORRY RUNNING LATE
Kelso
Basketball Best Bets Investment ClubFriday, November 09, 2012
15 Units
Michigan State (-7½) over Connecticut
6:05 PM -- Ramstein Air Base - Germany
Michigan State (0-0) -7 ½ over Connecticut (0-0)
Prediction: Michigan State by 12-13
Starting Time: 5:35
TV: ESPN
Played at Ramstein Air Base, Reinland, Germany
Comments: Michigan State has every single edge in this game. The Spartans are more talented, taller, faster, quicker and experienced than is Connecticut, a former power that has been stood on its head since last season. First of all, coach Jim Calhoun is gone, replaced by one of his assistants, Kevin Ollie who has never been a head coach. It is of note the suits at Connecticut were so uncertain about Ollie’s ability they gave him but a one-year contract prove himself. But that is just the beginning of possible problems for the Huskies. Connecticut saw four players leave the team and transfer after it was announced it could not make it to the post-season this year because it had failed to meet NCAA graduation standards. In short, Michigan State is everything Connecticut is not and should dominate in this one.
10 Units
Bucknell (+5½) over Purdue
7:00 PM -- Mackey Arena
Bucknell (0-0) +5½ over PURDUE (0-0)
Prediction: Bucknell by 3-4
Starting Time: 7:05
TV: Big Ten Network
Comments: Bucknell is one of college basketball’s giant killers. In recent years, they have knocked teams such as Kansas out in the NCAA Tournament and last season, while playing in the NBA, went to powerful Arizona in the opening round of the NIT and won. Bucknell returns four of five starters and nine of its top 10 players from last year’s 25-10 team and the figures say the Bison can get it done in West Lafayette tonight. Purdue will never be any team’s easy out, especially at home, but is in a rebuilding mode and may at times have as many as four true freshmen on the court. Experience should get it done tonight for the Bison.
10 Units
Creighton (-10) over North Texas
8:05 PM -- Century Link Center
CREIGHGTON (0-0) -10 over North Texas (0-0)
Prediction: Creighton by 16-17
Starting Time: 8:05
No TV
Comments: Creighton has its best basketball team ever, returning nine of its top 10 players from last season’s 29-6 team and being blessed with the presence of 6-8 junior forward Doug McDermott (22.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last season and who is the school’s first first-team All American ever. The Blue Jays are definitely a top 10 team—maybe even a top five squad—and have all the tools to dominate North Texas in this one. It also is of note Creighton has had great practices leading up to this game and is ready to fire its best shot from the get-go.
15 Units
La Lakers (-6½) over Warriors
10:30 PM -- STAPLES Center
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (1-4) -6 ½ over Golden State Warriors (3-2)
Prediction: Lakers by 13-14
Starting Time: 10:35
TV: Comcast Sports San Francisco Bay area, Sports South, CWCS Los Angeles
Comments: The Los Angeles Lakers are much better than their record and have most of the edges in this game with Golden State, which will again be without injured center Andrew Bogut. With Bogut out, the Warriors have no one to slow down Lakers’ center Dwight Howard who is averaging 22.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and tonight can dominate the paint. I also like the fact the Lakers are in major bounce-back mode after playing a terrible game two nights ago at the Utah Jazz and you can take it to the bank Los Angeles—tired of losing—will come out with fire in its eye tonight. It also has not been lost on me the Lakers are 4-0 in their last three meetings with Golden State and 17-1 in the last 18. The good Lakers will show up tonight.