SHARPEST EDGE SPORTS
NCAAM
Xavier Musketeers at Butler Bulldogs
A huge Top-15 clash between Xavier and Butler takes place at Hinkle Fieldhouse, as both teams try to get back to form and gain some traction in the Big East.
Both teams are coming in off tough road losses this week. The Musketeers were pounded in their first true test of conference play by Villanova, 79-54. The Bulldogs got off to a putrid start in their 75-64 loss at Creighton on Wednesday. Anemic offenses as a team and poor performance by each team’s stars can be mostly to blame for such lopsided defeats. Xavier’s top two scorers, Trevon Bluiett (17.2 ppg) and Edmond Sumner (15.4 ppg) combined for a paltry 21 points on 5-of-25 shooting against the Wildcats. Butler’s top scorer, Kelan Martin (16.8 ppg), didn’t fare any better against the Bluejays as he tallied only 7 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
With both teams struggling on offense, defense becomes crucial, and that might not be a bad thing for Butler. They rank second in the Big East in scoring defense, allowing 69.2 points per contest. Then-No. 1 Villanova scored a mere 58 points against the bulldogs in the defending champions’ loss last week. On the flipside, Xavier has given up at least 76 points in each of their last three contests and they can’t afford to do the same against Butler, as points are tough to come by against the Bulldogs. The Musketeers are just 1-3 on the road this season and have lost both of their games to ranked foes by an average of 20 points. Butler’s 9-0 home record and some Hinkle magic doesn’t help Xavier’s cause.
Notable Trends
Musketeers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Bulldogs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games & 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 following a straight up loss.
PICK: Butler Bulldogs -4 – 3 Units
New Mexico Lobos at Colorado State Rams
Teams head in seemingly opposite directions, Colorado State and New Mexico, square off at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, in a Mountain West Conference clash.
After starting league play 2-0 the Lobos are on a 3-game skid after falling Tuesday to UNLV at home, 71-66. Conversely, the Rams have won their last two, and are coming off a home thrashing of Air Force, 83-58. The Rams and Lobos now sit at 3-1 and 2-3 in conference play, respectively.
The home/road splits for the two teams tell an imperative story. New Mexico has averaged 78.2 ppg and has allowed 79.0 ppg in league play so far, while on the road this year they have averaged 66.8 ppg and have allowed 76.2 ppg. The Rams have put up 81.2 ppg and have allowed 70 ppg in MWC play so far this year, while at home overall they have averaged 75.2 ppg and have allowed 65.9 ppg. Simply put, the Lobos have been outscored by nearly 10 ppg on the road, while the Rams have outscored opponents by nearly 10 points at home. Location, location, location…
Notable Trends
Lobos are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games & 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. Mountain West.
Rams are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Mountain West.
PICK: Colorado State Rams -3 – 2 Units
Florida International Panthers at UTSA Roadrunners
Only one of UTSA’s 3 conference wins is impressive, at Louisiana Tech, but that doesn’t change the fact that UTSA is undefeated at home this season and has covered in all 3 of their lined games at the UTSA Convocation Center.
Notable Trends
Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall & 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Conference USA.
Roadrunners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
PICK: UTSA Roadrunners -3.5 – 1 Unit
NCAAM
Xavier Musketeers at Butler Bulldogs
A huge Top-15 clash between Xavier and Butler takes place at Hinkle Fieldhouse, as both teams try to get back to form and gain some traction in the Big East.
Both teams are coming in off tough road losses this week. The Musketeers were pounded in their first true test of conference play by Villanova, 79-54. The Bulldogs got off to a putrid start in their 75-64 loss at Creighton on Wednesday. Anemic offenses as a team and poor performance by each team’s stars can be mostly to blame for such lopsided defeats. Xavier’s top two scorers, Trevon Bluiett (17.2 ppg) and Edmond Sumner (15.4 ppg) combined for a paltry 21 points on 5-of-25 shooting against the Wildcats. Butler’s top scorer, Kelan Martin (16.8 ppg), didn’t fare any better against the Bluejays as he tallied only 7 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
With both teams struggling on offense, defense becomes crucial, and that might not be a bad thing for Butler. They rank second in the Big East in scoring defense, allowing 69.2 points per contest. Then-No. 1 Villanova scored a mere 58 points against the bulldogs in the defending champions’ loss last week. On the flipside, Xavier has given up at least 76 points in each of their last three contests and they can’t afford to do the same against Butler, as points are tough to come by against the Bulldogs. The Musketeers are just 1-3 on the road this season and have lost both of their games to ranked foes by an average of 20 points. Butler’s 9-0 home record and some Hinkle magic doesn’t help Xavier’s cause.
Notable Trends
Musketeers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Bulldogs are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games & 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 following a straight up loss.
PICK: Butler Bulldogs -4 – 3 Units
New Mexico Lobos at Colorado State Rams
Teams head in seemingly opposite directions, Colorado State and New Mexico, square off at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, in a Mountain West Conference clash.
After starting league play 2-0 the Lobos are on a 3-game skid after falling Tuesday to UNLV at home, 71-66. Conversely, the Rams have won their last two, and are coming off a home thrashing of Air Force, 83-58. The Rams and Lobos now sit at 3-1 and 2-3 in conference play, respectively.
The home/road splits for the two teams tell an imperative story. New Mexico has averaged 78.2 ppg and has allowed 79.0 ppg in league play so far, while on the road this year they have averaged 66.8 ppg and have allowed 76.2 ppg. The Rams have put up 81.2 ppg and have allowed 70 ppg in MWC play so far this year, while at home overall they have averaged 75.2 ppg and have allowed 65.9 ppg. Simply put, the Lobos have been outscored by nearly 10 ppg on the road, while the Rams have outscored opponents by nearly 10 points at home. Location, location, location…
Notable Trends
Lobos are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games & 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. Mountain West.
Rams are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall & 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Mountain West.
PICK: Colorado State Rams -3 – 2 Units
Florida International Panthers at UTSA Roadrunners
Only one of UTSA’s 3 conference wins is impressive, at Louisiana Tech, but that doesn’t change the fact that UTSA is undefeated at home this season and has covered in all 3 of their lined games at the UTSA Convocation Center.
Notable Trends
Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall & 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Conference USA.
Roadrunners are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
PICK: UTSA Roadrunners -3.5 – 1 Unit
SPORTS INSURANCE ADJUSTERS +57 UNITS YTD
Bonus Play: Houston vs New England Under 44.5
NFL Service Plays:
5*****New England -15
Seattle +5.5
NBA Service Plays:
Chicago -1.5
NHL Service Plays:
Nashville vs Colorado Over 5.5 +120
NCAA Basketball Service Plays:
Penn St. -1.5
Louisville -4
Colorado St. -3
Richmond +2.5
Valparaiso -5.5
5*****Air Force -4
Notre Dame +2.5
Elon +1
Texas Arlington -5
Boise St. -1.5
Murray St. -7.5
Eastern Washington +9
Bonus Play: Houston vs New England Under 44.5
NFL Service Plays:
5*****New England -15
Seattle +5.5
NBA Service Plays:
Chicago -1.5
NHL Service Plays:
Nashville vs Colorado Over 5.5 +120
NCAA Basketball Service Plays:
Penn St. -1.5
Louisville -4
Colorado St. -3
Richmond +2.5
Valparaiso -5.5
5*****Air Force -4
Notre Dame +2.5
Elon +1
Texas Arlington -5
Boise St. -1.5
Murray St. -7.5
Eastern Washington +9
