Larry Ness
Utah
The 17-9 Utah Utes are 8-6 in Pac 12 play and are in the running for a top-four finish in conference play, which would give them a first-round by in the upcoming Pac 12 tourney. They travel to Corvallis Sunday evening to face an Oregon State team which opened the season by going 4-9 in non-conference play but remains winless in Pac 12 games so far, at 0-14.
Oregon State's season ended for all practical purposes when 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.2-8.3), the coach's son, broke his wrist after six games. Guards Thompson (16.1 & 4.4) and McLaughlin (11.2) plus the 6-10 Eubanks (14.8 & 8.4) are quality players but the Beavers just don't have enough talent to break through in Pac 12 contests.
Utah may have to play without its best player as well, the 6-9 Kuzma (15.7 & 10.2). He missed Thursday’s 79-61 loss at No.7 Oregon after spraining an ankle in practice the previous day, Kuzma has a Pac-12-high15 double-doubles on the season but his availability is expected to be a game-time decision. The 6-8 Collette (14.4-4.9) is a nice frontcourt partner for Kuzma plus Utah has a deep group of perimeter players in guards Bonam (12.7), Daniels (10.5-4.8 ), Barefield (9.4), Zamora (7.5) and Van Dyke (5.1). What I like most about this team is its efficiency, as Utah makes 50.6 percent of its shots, ranking 4th in the nation.
The Utes were no match for the Ducks on Thursday but this game and a visit to Colorado next Thursday (Utah's lone game next week), are almost "musts" if the Utes want that first-round Pac 12 tourney bye.
Utah
The 17-9 Utah Utes are 8-6 in Pac 12 play and are in the running for a top-four finish in conference play, which would give them a first-round by in the upcoming Pac 12 tourney. They travel to Corvallis Sunday evening to face an Oregon State team which opened the season by going 4-9 in non-conference play but remains winless in Pac 12 games so far, at 0-14.
Oregon State's season ended for all practical purposes when 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.2-8.3), the coach's son, broke his wrist after six games. Guards Thompson (16.1 & 4.4) and McLaughlin (11.2) plus the 6-10 Eubanks (14.8 & 8.4) are quality players but the Beavers just don't have enough talent to break through in Pac 12 contests.
Utah may have to play without its best player as well, the 6-9 Kuzma (15.7 & 10.2). He missed Thursday’s 79-61 loss at No.7 Oregon after spraining an ankle in practice the previous day, Kuzma has a Pac-12-high15 double-doubles on the season but his availability is expected to be a game-time decision. The 6-8 Collette (14.4-4.9) is a nice frontcourt partner for Kuzma plus Utah has a deep group of perimeter players in guards Bonam (12.7), Daniels (10.5-4.8 ), Barefield (9.4), Zamora (7.5) and Van Dyke (5.1). What I like most about this team is its efficiency, as Utah makes 50.6 percent of its shots, ranking 4th in the nation.
The Utes were no match for the Ducks on Thursday but this game and a visit to Colorado next Thursday (Utah's lone game next week), are almost "musts" if the Utes want that first-round Pac 12 tourney bye.
Anthony Michael
Maryland +6
Love the Terps here since they are 7-1 ATS their last 8 road games and they are 13-3-2 ATS their last 18 Big 10 games. Wisconsin is struggling lately losing their last 2 games SU and failing to cover their last 4 in a row. With these 2 strong defenses look for the points to be the difference here in getting this cover.
Maryland +6
Love the Terps here since they are 7-1 ATS their last 8 road games and they are 13-3-2 ATS their last 18 Big 10 games. Wisconsin is struggling lately losing their last 2 games SU and failing to cover their last 4 in a row. With these 2 strong defenses look for the points to be the difference here in getting this cover.
Power Sports
Creighton
Revenge was a huge factor in many of my plays yesterday, a card that saw me go 4-1 overall in NCAAB! Here's yet another game where the revenge angle applies. Back on January 25th, Creighton lost at Georgetown, 71-51. That is easily the Blue Jays' largest margin of defeat in a game all season. In fact, three of the other four losses have been by single digits and the fourth by exactly 10 points. Coach McDermott's program certainly knows "a thing or two" about exacting revenge. They are 63-33 ATS the L96 times playing with revenge for a road loss. In Omaha, look for a little payback this afternoon.
Not that Creighton needed any added motivation here, but they are also coming off a "surprise" 87-81 loss at Seton Hall. I had surprise in quotes because the Blue Jays were actually underdogs (+1.5) in that one. Still, I think many would have thought they'd come out the victor there. Last month, they were favored at Georgetown (-1.5), so using that number as our baseline it does look like there's a bit of value on the home side here when you factor in the home court edge.
They've lost four of seven overall, but Creighton has lost B2B times only once this season. Ironically, it was G'town that handed them that dubious distinction. But even coming off an impressive 80-62 win over Marquette, it's not as if the Hoyas are that impressive. They'd lost B2B games prior to that win and the fact they allow 77.0 PPG on the road is a concern here. Creighton remains a top 15 offensive in terms of efficiency and points per game. They average more than 85 per game here at home.
Creighton
Revenge was a huge factor in many of my plays yesterday, a card that saw me go 4-1 overall in NCAAB! Here's yet another game where the revenge angle applies. Back on January 25th, Creighton lost at Georgetown, 71-51. That is easily the Blue Jays' largest margin of defeat in a game all season. In fact, three of the other four losses have been by single digits and the fourth by exactly 10 points. Coach McDermott's program certainly knows "a thing or two" about exacting revenge. They are 63-33 ATS the L96 times playing with revenge for a road loss. In Omaha, look for a little payback this afternoon.
Not that Creighton needed any added motivation here, but they are also coming off a "surprise" 87-81 loss at Seton Hall. I had surprise in quotes because the Blue Jays were actually underdogs (+1.5) in that one. Still, I think many would have thought they'd come out the victor there. Last month, they were favored at Georgetown (-1.5), so using that number as our baseline it does look like there's a bit of value on the home side here when you factor in the home court edge.
They've lost four of seven overall, but Creighton has lost B2B times only once this season. Ironically, it was G'town that handed them that dubious distinction. But even coming off an impressive 80-62 win over Marquette, it's not as if the Hoyas are that impressive. They'd lost B2B games prior to that win and the fact they allow 77.0 PPG on the road is a concern here. Creighton remains a top 15 offensive in terms of efficiency and points per game. They average more than 85 per game here at home.
John Martin
Illinois-Chicago +9½
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are coming off a huge 82-71 win over Valparaiso on Friday that pulled them to within one game of the Crusaders for first place in the Horizon League. After such a big win, I expect them to come out a little flat today against Illinois-Chicago. This is a Flames team that only lost 57-58 as 9-point home dogs to the Golden Grizzlies in their first meeting this season. That places them in revenge mode here having already shown they can play with them. Illinois-Chicago is 6-0 ATS in February road games over the last two seasons. Oakland is 0-9 ATS in its last nine home games off five or more consecutive wins. The Flames are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.
Illinois-Chicago +9½
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are coming off a huge 82-71 win over Valparaiso on Friday that pulled them to within one game of the Crusaders for first place in the Horizon League. After such a big win, I expect them to come out a little flat today against Illinois-Chicago. This is a Flames team that only lost 57-58 as 9-point home dogs to the Golden Grizzlies in their first meeting this season. That places them in revenge mode here having already shown they can play with them. Illinois-Chicago is 6-0 ATS in February road games over the last two seasons. Oakland is 0-9 ATS in its last nine home games off five or more consecutive wins. The Flames are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.
Ken Thomson
Minnesota Pk
Feeling like Richard Pitino will have the Gophers ready for the home court battle tonight. Wolverines not a great road team and a chance for Gophers to get win number 20 on the season and pass the Wolverines in the Big Ten Standings. After dropping 5 straight conference games, Minnesota has won their last four. Home court is king in this conference!
Minnesota Pk
Feeling like Richard Pitino will have the Gophers ready for the home court battle tonight. Wolverines not a great road team and a chance for Gophers to get win number 20 on the season and pass the Wolverines in the Big Ten Standings. After dropping 5 straight conference games, Minnesota has won their last four. Home court is king in this conference!
