Bobby Maxwell
Tuesday's winners...
300-Unit MAC Must Play - TEMPLE OWLS
This is a complete revenge game and I’m definitely going to lay the points with Temple as the Owls have had this game circled since the schedules were announced.
Ohio beat Temple 35-17 last season and cost the Owls the MAC East Division title. Now, the Owls have tweaked things a bit and come into this matchup rolling, both offensively and defensively. It used to be that Temple’s defense got all the headlines – and well it should, having not allowed an offensive touchdown in any of the last three games. But now the offense is getting some attention behind redshirt sophomore QB Mike Gerardi.
Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Gerardi has thrown for 54-of-81, for 871 yards and eight TDs and just four INTs. That success has had an effect on the entire team as the offense is on the field more and the defense gets to rest.
Ohio’s offense is very good, but senior Boo Jackson, one of the two-headed monster at QB along with junior Phil Bates, is listed as doubtful tonight after suffering a concussion. Bates is the rushing portion of the two-headed monster, so without Jackson in the lineup, this team becomes a one-trick pony without much of a running game.
Temple leads the MAC in scoring defense at 17.5 points per game and that defense is going to come after the Bobcats tonight. Temple is on ATS surges of 6-2 overall, 6-2-1 after a bye, 4-1 as a favorite and 5-1 after a straight-up win.
I have no worries in going with the Owls tonight as they will win this one by two TDs. Play Temple.
100-Unit NBA Smart Play - HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets got off to a terrible start, losing five straight, but these guys have a talented roster and might be figuring things out now. They have won three of their last four and covered the number in four of their last five. I’ll play Houston at home tonight as they should get the best of the Bulls with their newfound defensive intensity.
The Rockets gave up 107 points or more in their first five games, and over the last four have not allowed more than 99. Sunday, Houston went into New York and scored a 104-96 victory as 2 ½-point road ‘dogs, getting the job done on the boards, while led to easier baskets.
Chicago has also won three in a row overall, but they have lost its only two road games this season, at Oklahoma City and at Boston. The Bulls average five points less and give up eight points more on the road than they do overall.
The home team is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings between these two teams, and the favorite is 4-1-1 in the last six.
Houston matches up very well with the Bulls when it comes to team speed and battling on the boards. I’ll play the suddenly red-hot Rockets at home in this one.