INDIAN COWBOY
4 UNIT* CFB* Take Northern Illinois Huskies (-1.5) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (Saturday @ 5:30pm est)
4 UNIT* CBB* Take Cal Poly Slow (+14.5) vs California Golden Bears (Saturday @ 5pm est)
4 UNIT* NBA* Take Los Angeles Clippers vs. Chicago Bulls OVER 194 (Saturday @8:05pm est)
4 UNIT* NHL* Take Under 5.5 Goals Toronto vs. Vancouver (Saturday @ 7pm est).
4 UNIT* CFB* Take Northern Illinois Huskies (-1.5) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (Saturday @ 5:30pm est)
4 UNIT* CBB* Take Cal Poly Slow (+14.5) vs California Golden Bears (Saturday @ 5pm est)
4 UNIT* NBA* Take Los Angeles Clippers vs. Chicago Bulls OVER 194 (Saturday @8:05pm est)
4 UNIT* NHL* Take Under 5.5 Goals Toronto vs. Vancouver (Saturday @ 7pm est).
DAVID MALINSKY
5* UTEP over BRIGHAM YOUNG
The fact that big underdogs have covered like clockwork in December bowl games through the years is not news in the marketplace. And we have taken the sleigh ride many times over the past couple of decades. We get to do it again here, as the particulars once again fit the pattern.
Why do these dogs work? First we must establish the marketplace, which brings more public action than usual into play. A matchup like this one, for instance, would draw precious little interest during the regular season. With more public money in play it means enough money to the chalk to balance any inclinations the oddsmakers would have to shade the underdogs. When a team is bad enough to be taking double figures in one of these games they are unpalatable to much of the marketplace. And given how overall power ratings dominate the current trading, these lines will rarely get too far from the relative strengths of the teams. So we begin by establishing that the past patterns of these underdogs does not have to influence future lines in terms of corrections.
Then we get to the heart of the matter. When a bad team gets a bowl reward, it really is a reward. That is absolutely the case for a U.T.E.P. team that plays in the post-season for the first time for the fifth-year SR's, and also does it at a venue that is close enough to El Paso to bring a fan base along. This is a genuine reward for a team that will come to play, and we will let QB Trevor Vittatoe take the lead - This is an exciting time for all 26 seniors. It finally paid off, all the work we did. We're going to take this as a business trip. There are things we have to do before the game, but once we get back to the hotel, it's business. We're determined to win. And the silver lining in the grey cloud of the U.T.E.P. season is that a month off also helps an injury riddled team to bring more to these proceedings than their numbers can show. From head man Mike Price - The whole team is healthier. "The biggest change in the last three weeks is getting healthy. Tanner Cullumber is back, Eloy Atkinson is back, Nathan McCage. We have three centers who can play the game. (Donald) Buckram is better, Kris Adams is better. The linebackers are all better and practicing. The safeties are better.
Contrast this with a Brigham Young team that is the epitome of the flat favorite, the kind of team that may care enough to win the game, but will not bring the spark to get a margin. Neither this venue, being at a conference site, nor the opponent, bring any special spark. The NCAA allows 15 practices for bowl games, but the Cougars only plan to have 11 of them, and not all will be productive anyway, an issue of this game being played during finals week at the University. Bronco Mendenhall has noted that there has not been a practice yet that had all hands on deck, especially with several players moving their finals up a few days to take them before leaving for Albuquerque There has been a noticeable difference, in trying to work around (final exams). The guys have to have their finals done by Tuesday, when they normally have all of week to do it.And through Monday, slightly more than 1,000 tickets had been sold to Cougar fans, who also show a lack of interest (the basketball team plays a high-profile game vs. U.C.L.A. the same day that is a bigger travel draw). Look for the underdog to play much harder here, and in this spread range that intensity is more than enough to get us in the money.
5* UTEP over BRIGHAM YOUNG
The fact that big underdogs have covered like clockwork in December bowl games through the years is not news in the marketplace. And we have taken the sleigh ride many times over the past couple of decades. We get to do it again here, as the particulars once again fit the pattern.
Why do these dogs work? First we must establish the marketplace, which brings more public action than usual into play. A matchup like this one, for instance, would draw precious little interest during the regular season. With more public money in play it means enough money to the chalk to balance any inclinations the oddsmakers would have to shade the underdogs. When a team is bad enough to be taking double figures in one of these games they are unpalatable to much of the marketplace. And given how overall power ratings dominate the current trading, these lines will rarely get too far from the relative strengths of the teams. So we begin by establishing that the past patterns of these underdogs does not have to influence future lines in terms of corrections.
Then we get to the heart of the matter. When a bad team gets a bowl reward, it really is a reward. That is absolutely the case for a U.T.E.P. team that plays in the post-season for the first time for the fifth-year SR's, and also does it at a venue that is close enough to El Paso to bring a fan base along. This is a genuine reward for a team that will come to play, and we will let QB Trevor Vittatoe take the lead - This is an exciting time for all 26 seniors. It finally paid off, all the work we did. We're going to take this as a business trip. There are things we have to do before the game, but once we get back to the hotel, it's business. We're determined to win. And the silver lining in the grey cloud of the U.T.E.P. season is that a month off also helps an injury riddled team to bring more to these proceedings than their numbers can show. From head man Mike Price - The whole team is healthier. "The biggest change in the last three weeks is getting healthy. Tanner Cullumber is back, Eloy Atkinson is back, Nathan McCage. We have three centers who can play the game. (Donald) Buckram is better, Kris Adams is better. The linebackers are all better and practicing. The safeties are better.
Contrast this with a Brigham Young team that is the epitome of the flat favorite, the kind of team that may care enough to win the game, but will not bring the spark to get a margin. Neither this venue, being at a conference site, nor the opponent, bring any special spark. The NCAA allows 15 practices for bowl games, but the Cougars only plan to have 11 of them, and not all will be productive anyway, an issue of this game being played during finals week at the University. Bronco Mendenhall has noted that there has not been a practice yet that had all hands on deck, especially with several players moving their finals up a few days to take them before leaving for Albuquerque There has been a noticeable difference, in trying to work around (final exams). The guys have to have their finals done by Tuesday, when they normally have all of week to do it.And through Monday, slightly more than 1,000 tickets had been sold to Cougar fans, who also show a lack of interest (the basketball team plays a high-profile game vs. U.C.L.A. the same day that is a bigger travel draw). Look for the underdog to play much harder here, and in this spread range that intensity is more than enough to get us in the money.
TRIPLE THREAT SPORTS
2* Pacific (+) over New Mexico State
Aggies might be the most banged up team in the country, and as such they will struggle here. Out are Wendell McKines, Hamidu Rahman, and Troy Gillenwater, easily the three best players on the team. Making matters worse, another senior - Gordo Castillo - will miss this one as well, meaning three stars and one key contributor are out here. This team was 3-6 last year without McKines and Gillenwater in the lineup together, and that was with the others healthy, which is not the case here. Pacific has a nice inside/out mix and one of the best in the Big West in Sam Williard, and should be able to get the win here.
2* Pacific (+) over New Mexico State
Aggies might be the most banged up team in the country, and as such they will struggle here. Out are Wendell McKines, Hamidu Rahman, and Troy Gillenwater, easily the three best players on the team. Making matters worse, another senior - Gordo Castillo - will miss this one as well, meaning three stars and one key contributor are out here. This team was 3-6 last year without McKines and Gillenwater in the lineup together, and that was with the others healthy, which is not the case here. Pacific has a nice inside/out mix and one of the best in the Big West in Sam Williard, and should be able to get the win here.
KYLE HUNTER
5* College Hoops Play of the Day - Wichita St -4
The Wichita State Shockers should have beaten UConn in Maui, but they lost at the end. Wichita State also lost to a very good San Diego State team. The Shockers are a high quality team and I think they'll show that in this game. In their last two games, LSU has lost to Coastal Carolina in overtime, then beat McNeese State in overtime. They also only beat Central Michigan by four at home. Earlier this year Nicholls State beat the Tigers by nine on a neutral floor. Wichita State dismantled Nicholls State by 18 on a neutral floor. The Shockers go ten deep, and they have numerous guys who can beat you with the three ball. The Shockers play very good man to man defense, and they allow opponents to shoot just 40.6%. Wichita State is great on the defensive glass, which should limit LSU to one shot almost every possession. The LSU Tigers have struggled with teams who have quality guards and the Shockers definitely have that. I think Wichita State is the superior team. Take the Shockers here.
4* Dog of the Day - Cleveland St +11
The Cleveland State Vikings are 12-0, but very few people have been paying attention to them. I have already made money with them this season, and I think they are a good value again on Saturday. West Virginia is a very solid team, but they certainly aren't nearly as good as they were last season. The loss of Butler hurt this team quite a bit. The Mountaineers are still a strong rebounding team and I expect them to have a rebounding advantage in this one, but they don't force many turnovers, and Cleveland State has a great point guard in Norris Cole. Cole is the best guard on either team, and I really like his quickness. Last year West Virginia squeaked out a two point win at Cleveland State. Two years ago the Mountaineers beat the Vikings by ten at home. The Mountaineers aren't quite as good as they were then, and the Vikings are much better. I like Cleveland State getting the 11 points here.
4* Bookie Basher - Baylor -7
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are not the same team they have been the last few years. They were beaten badly by Washington State on the road earlier this year, and they beaten handily by Illinois as well in Seattle. The Baylor Bears haven't played much tough competition yet this year, but they have dominated everyone they have played. What is the secret to Baylor's success? The Bears are first in all of college basketball in points allowed, and they are shooting 50% from the floor. They are only allowing opponents to shoot 35.5% from the floor. Gonzaga lost a close one to Notre Dame, but they were only close at the end because they made 11-20 three pointers. I expect Baylor to contest those threes and make life miserable for Gonzaga on offense. Baylor is also one of the top rebounding teams in the country. The crowd will be very pro-Baylor, and I think the Bears will make a statement in this one.
5* College Hoops Play of the Day - Wichita St -4
The Wichita State Shockers should have beaten UConn in Maui, but they lost at the end. Wichita State also lost to a very good San Diego State team. The Shockers are a high quality team and I think they'll show that in this game. In their last two games, LSU has lost to Coastal Carolina in overtime, then beat McNeese State in overtime. They also only beat Central Michigan by four at home. Earlier this year Nicholls State beat the Tigers by nine on a neutral floor. Wichita State dismantled Nicholls State by 18 on a neutral floor. The Shockers go ten deep, and they have numerous guys who can beat you with the three ball. The Shockers play very good man to man defense, and they allow opponents to shoot just 40.6%. Wichita State is great on the defensive glass, which should limit LSU to one shot almost every possession. The LSU Tigers have struggled with teams who have quality guards and the Shockers definitely have that. I think Wichita State is the superior team. Take the Shockers here.
4* Dog of the Day - Cleveland St +11
The Cleveland State Vikings are 12-0, but very few people have been paying attention to them. I have already made money with them this season, and I think they are a good value again on Saturday. West Virginia is a very solid team, but they certainly aren't nearly as good as they were last season. The loss of Butler hurt this team quite a bit. The Mountaineers are still a strong rebounding team and I expect them to have a rebounding advantage in this one, but they don't force many turnovers, and Cleveland State has a great point guard in Norris Cole. Cole is the best guard on either team, and I really like his quickness. Last year West Virginia squeaked out a two point win at Cleveland State. Two years ago the Mountaineers beat the Vikings by ten at home. The Mountaineers aren't quite as good as they were then, and the Vikings are much better. I like Cleveland State getting the 11 points here.
4* Bookie Basher - Baylor -7
The Gonzaga Bulldogs are not the same team they have been the last few years. They were beaten badly by Washington State on the road earlier this year, and they beaten handily by Illinois as well in Seattle. The Baylor Bears haven't played much tough competition yet this year, but they have dominated everyone they have played. What is the secret to Baylor's success? The Bears are first in all of college basketball in points allowed, and they are shooting 50% from the floor. They are only allowing opponents to shoot 35.5% from the floor. Gonzaga lost a close one to Notre Dame, but they were only close at the end because they made 11-20 three pointers. I expect Baylor to contest those threes and make life miserable for Gonzaga on offense. Baylor is also one of the top rebounding teams in the country. The crowd will be very pro-Baylor, and I think the Bears will make a statement in this one.
