Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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02-02-21 | Illinois v. Indiana +3 | Top | 75-71 | Loss | -117 | 15 h 15 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Indiana at 9:00 ET. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but it's hardly been 'smooth sailing.' Illinois did 'jump' from No. 19 to No. 12 in Monday's AP poll after Friday's 80-75 victory over then-No. 7 Iowa but the Fighting Illini are 11-5 on the season (7-3 in the Big Ten) with just TWO wins over a ranked team. The other came vs No. 10 Duke, which dropped out of the top-25 back on Jan 17. Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off." Indiana has NOT built on last season's improvement and comes into this contest 9-7 overall, including 4-5 in the Big Ten. Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.9-6.1-4.8) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (16.9 & 10.3) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (8.6 & 4.6 APG), Frazier (9.6) and Williams (5.6 & 5.4) plus freshman Miller adds 9.0 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.8 & 2.8) rounds out the main contributors. Gone from last year's Indiana team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 8.7) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.3 & 6.4) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.8 & 4.4), senior Durham (10.6-3.7-3.1) and junior Phinisee (8.3). Franklin could be out with a recurring ankle injury. Illinois responded well in its win over Iowa, coming off a 10-day layoff due to a Jan 23 game at Michigan State being postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Spartans. However, I'm just not 'sold' on them. Indiana's scheduled game Saturday at No 4 Michigan was postponed due to COVID-19 issues with the Wolverines, so the Hoosiers will take the court tonight having last played Jan 24. The Hoosiers haven't won more than two games in a row all season but also haven't lost more than two in a row. I'm backing the home dog here, as I expect Illinois to once again underachieve, coming off its win over Iowa. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-21 | Penn State v. Wisconsin -7 | Top | 56-72 | Win | 100 | 15 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout is on Wisconsin at 8:30 ET. Wisconsin's 81-71 Saturday loss at Penn St dropped the Badgers (13-5, 7-4 Big Ten) from No. 14 to No. 19 in Monday's latest AP poll. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry called the victory a great program win. "The resiliency of this group just keeps showing," Ferry added. "We really locked in. I thought we defended well, and we got the game to be played at our pace, which we talked about as being very important. We're getting better, and that's the focus." That said, Penn St travels to Madison just 6-7 overall, including 3-6 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams but in a 74-62 loss to Ohio State (Jan 23), the Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed. Wisconsin rebounded by holding Maryland to 55 points in a Jan 27 win but then on Saturday, Penn St 'exploded' for 50 points in the second half! The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.1-3.3-3.8) and Davison (9.1 & 3.1) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.3 & 6.6), the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.5) and the 6-11 Reuvers (9.5 & 3.8). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.2 & 4.4) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.7 & 4.4) both contribute off the bench. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. As noted above, Penn State is playing this season with interim head coach Jim Ferry. The Nittany Lions surely miss All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.2 & 5.0) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.9 & 4.3) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.8) and Sam Sessoms (10.1). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (8.5 & 8.3) and PG Wheeler (5.2-4.1-4.0) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Wisconsin entered Saturday's game at Penn St allowing 64.2 PPG but allowed 50 points in the second half, when the Nittany Lions made 53.6 percent of their shots. "At times we're really good. The notion that we're going to outscore teams is a fairy tale," Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said. "We've got to be really good defensively." Expect "just that" in tonight's contest. Penn St is at the WRONG place at the WRONG time. Good luck...Larry |
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02-02-21 | Baylor v. Texas +6 | Top | 83-69 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Texas at 7:00 ET. No. 2 Baylor is 16-0 (8-0 in Big 12 play) travels to Austin to take on No. 5 Texas (11-3 / 5-2 in Big 12). This is the first meeting of the season between the two schools (only scheduled regular season game), who are two of the Big 12's SEVEN ranked teams. The Bears are off an 84-72 win at home over Auburn on Saturday in a Big 12/SEC Challenge contest. The Longhorns were supposed to play at Kentucky on Saturday but that game was postponed because of limited player availability within the Wildcats' program due to COVID-19. Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the best programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) from last year's team. The strength of Baylor's team is centered around its guards. Butler's (16.8-3.4-5.4) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (14.9 & 4.0), Mitchell (12.9 & 5.9 APG) or Flagler (10.4). The 6-5 Vital (5.9 & 5.3) plays like a power forward and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 8.2 & 6.4. Shaka Smart was a 'genius' at VCU, winning the CBI championship in his first season and then taking the Rams to the Final Four in his second season. He took the Texas job after six seasons at VCU where he was 163-56, an average of 27.2 wins per season. However, in his first five seasons in Austin, he's had one 'nightmare' season (11-22 in his second year) and four more in which the Longhorns have won a total of just 79 games (just under 20 per) with just two NCAA appearances (lost first game each time). Texas returned all FIVE starters plus added the 6-9 Brown, an impressive freshman. The Longhorns opened 10-1 (rose to No. 4 in the nation) but over the last THREE weeks have played just three games (three others have been postponed or canceled) and in the rugged Big 12, this promising could 'slip away.' Texas features a trio of veteran guards in Andrew Jones (14.3 & 4.7), Ramey (13.9-3.2-3.9) and Coleman 13.1-3.5-4.1. Up front, freshman Brown is chipping in 11.9 & 8.0, the 6-11 Kai Jones adds 9.0 & 5.2 and the 6-10 Sims is averaging 7.8 & 6.4. Baylor's 16-0 start means the Bears have gone deeper into a season without a loss only once, when they began the 2011-12 campaign with 17 straight wins. Will they ever lose? If so, that "L" has a good chance of happening here. The Longhorns' cancellation of the Kentucky game might actually help them in the long run, as Texas was set to make the trip minus two of its starters, Courtney Ramey and Jericho Sims, because of COVID -19 protocols and without coach Shaka Smart, who tested positive on Jan 24. However, those Ramey and Sims should be back for Tuesday's contest. Texas' three losses this season have all been at home to ranked teams and by just a combined SEVEN points. Upset Alert? Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-21 | Grizzlies v. Spurs -3 | Top | 133-102 | Loss | -112 | 13 h 15 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the SA Spurs at 8:35 ET. "Break up" the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis entered last season off back-to-back seasons of going 22-60 and 33-49. When the season was shut down due to COVID, the Grizzlies were 32-33. However, they then went 2-6 in 'the bubble,' meaning they needed to win two straight against the Blazers to earn the No. 8 seed. Portland beat them in the first game. Memphis opened this season off three straight non-playoff seasons and opened 2-6. However, the team then ripped off FIVE straight wins before COIVID issues forced five straight postponements. Memphis returned to the court Saturday night at San Antonio and crushed the Spurs 129-112. That's SIX consecutive wins and covers! Who are these guys? The Spurs were 'flat' on Saturday, off an impressive Friday night home win over the Nuggets, snapping Denver's 5-0 SU & ATS run. San Antonio fell to 0-3 on the second night of back-to-backs this season and the result may just have been a classic case of the Grizzlies' fresh legs -- really fresh, in fact (hadn't played in days!) -- vs San Antonio's tired ones. San Antonio is 11-9 and in a log jam of Western Conference teams hovering around the playoff 'cut line' that features two 10-8 teams, two 11-9 ones and a fifth at 9-9. Memphis has SEVEN players on the injured list, including the 6-11 Jaren Jackson and SF Winslow, who have each not played this season. Usual starters guard Grayson Allen (8.0) and center Jonas Valanciunas (14.4 & 10.4) were both out due to "health and safety protocols" on Saturday but Valanciunas is with the team and could play Monday. Morant (22.0 & 7.7 APG) and Brooks (15.1-3.9-3.1) are a strong guard duo and Saturday's other three starters included 6-8 PF Clarke (13.3 & 6.1), 6-9 SF Anderson (12.8-7.1-3.9) and 6-8 PF Tillman (8.3 & 4.1), a Michigan St rookie. The Spurs are led by veteran guard DeRozan (19.8-4.8-6.7) and veteran center Aldridge (14.2 & 4.5) but have a 'TON' of depth. Starting alongside the two above-mentioned vets are 6-6 SF Johnson (14.5 & 7.5) plus guards Murray (15.0-7.2 -5.3) and Walker (12.10. Two players chip in double digits off the bench in guard Mills (14.3) and SF Gay (11.3 & 5.5). San Antonio also got great news in Saturday's loss, as Derrick White (averaged 11.3 PPG last season) saw his first action since missing 14 games with a broken toe and paced the Spurs with 18 points! The Spurs just snapped Denver's 5-0 SU & ATS run and in this quick turnaround, do the same to Memphis' 6-0 SU &ATS run! Lay the small number! Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-21 | Suns v. Mavs -1 | Top | 109-108 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 41 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Game of the Month is on the Dal Mavs at 8:35 ET. The Phoenix Suns surprised all with their 8-0 SU & ATS performance in the Orlando 'bubble' to end last season and made a key offseason move designed to put an end to the team's 10-season playoff drought. The Suns jumped out of the gate 5-1 SU & ATS but have gone just 4-7 SU & ATS their last 11. The Mavs went 43-32 last season, ending a three-year postseason drought and led by the "All-World" Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, expected to be playoff contenders for years to come. However, Dallas enters this contest on a five-game losing streak SU & ATS, giving them an 8-12 record (3rd-worst in the West). These teams also met in Dallas this past Saturday, with center Deandre Ayton dominating the middle and PG Chris Paul coming on strong late as the Suns rallied past the Mavericks 111-105. Ayton (14.4 & 12.6) had 18 and 17 on Saturday, while Paul (15.6-4.6-8.7) scored 16 of his 29 points in the 4th quarter when the Suns outscored the Mavs 34-23. Devin Booker (22.9) sat out for a fourth straight game while dealing with a strained left hamstring and is no better than questionable for tonight's game. Doncic (27.4-9.2-9.40 is again having a 'monster' season and expect Porzingis (18.6 & 8.) to play tonight, after resting on the second night of a back-to-back in Saturday's loss. Dallas has excellent depth, as Hardaway (16.8), Richardson (11.9), Brunson (11.5) and Burke (10.4) all average in double digits. Truth is that Booker remains doubtful for Monday's game, while the Mavs look to almost "all hands on deck." This is a quick rematch for Dallas and the Mavs are already 0-2 vs the Suns this season (lost 106-102 in Phoenix on opening night). The Mavs are 2-8 over their last 10 and enough is ENOUGH. Great revenge and bounce-back spot here for Dallas, plus "the PRICE is sure Right!" Good luck...Larry |
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02-01-21 | Georgia Tech v. Louisville -3.5 | Top | 58-74 | Win | 100 | 6 h 39 m | Show |
My 9* Daytime Dominator is on Louisville at 2:00 ET. No. 25 Louisville (10-4, 5-3 ACC) looks to get back on track after losing THREE of its last four games when the Cardinals welcome the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-5, 4-3) to KFC Yum! Center. The Cards will surely fall out of the rankings in the new AP poll (released this afternoon), after Louisville lost 54-50 at slumping Clemson last Wednesday, making just 18 of 57 FGs (31.6%) and going a pitiful 5 of 24 on three-pointers (20.8%). Meanwhile, is coming off arguably its best win of the season, a 76-65 upset of No. 16 Florida State Saturday in Tallahassee. Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67). Tech had three consecutive games postponed and hadn't played since Jan 3 when it routed Clemson 83-65 on Jan 20. However, two straight losses followed prior to Saturday's win over FSU. Ga Tech has a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. Returning PG Alvarado (18.3-3.5-4.5) and SG Devoe (13.5-4.7-3.2) have been excellent plus returning 6-9 big man Wright (17.1 & 7.2) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (11.0 & 4.8) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (8.1 & 3.4) adds to the team's backcourt depth. However, Parham is currently out (personal reasons?). Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.8-5.5-4.6. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (12.4-5.9-3.6) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 8.8 & 6.6 this season. True freshman guard Davis (8.5) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.3 & 3.6) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers (10.3 & 7.6) all contribute. Ga Tech has shown 'promise' as of late (lost tough games to UVa and Duke) but while Louisville won't stay in the top-25 in today's newest poll, I believe the Cards ARE a top-25 team. Cards prove my point here with a double digit win! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | NC State v. Syracuse -5 | Top | 73-76 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 24 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Syracuse at 6:00 ET. Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh but lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last year's team, NC State is 7-5 (3-4 ACC) as it heads to Syracuse and will be playing its first full game since losing leading scorer Devon Daniels (16.5-5.1-3.2). Jim Boeheim has been at Syracuse since right after the end of the Civil War and the Orange are 9-5 (3-4 ACC) after losing 81-58 at ACC-leading Virginia in Monday night's game. Orange coach Jim Boeheim said there's no easy solution to the team's inconsistent play. "We're playing the guys that are playing the best in practice," Boeheim said. "I quickly appreciated the tenacity and relentlessness he brought into the gym every day," Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said, recalling when Daniels joined the program after transferring from Utah. "Devon built himself into one of the premier players in the ACC with that tireless work ethic." NC State managed to hang on to defeat visiting Wake Forest after Daniels departed in the second half of Wednesday night's game. With the loss of Daniels, the Wolfpack are left with just two double digit scorers, the 6-10 Funderburk (11.9 & 5.2) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11.8 & 5.3). Other significant contributors are the 6-11 Bates (9.0 & 5.3) plus guards Allen (7.4), Hayes (7.0), Moore (6.60 and Beverly (6.3). The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.8) and rebounding (9.4), SF Griffin checks in at 15.5 & 7.2 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.0 & 4.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (14.5) and PG Girard (10.6 & 3.9 APG). Syracuse rates 12th in the ACC (14 teams) with 31.4 percent on three-point shooting but Boeheim insists his players are getting good looks from the perimeter. "We have to make those shots," he said. Maybe they will start falling here vs NC State? The Wolfpack endured a coronavirus-related pause a couple of weeks ago and hadn't won in January until the Wake Forest game. Now, the team will have to make another adjustment minus a key player. What's more, NC State is 0-4 SU (0-3-1 ATS) in its four ACC road games this season (ONLY road games all season have come in conference). I noted earlier that Boeheim has complained about his team's inconsistent play and will add here that the Orange come into this contest 2-2 over their last four games, with all of those results by margins of 18 points or more! my bet says Syracuse is on the 'right side' of a blowout final in this one! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | Sam Houston State v. Stephen F Austin -5 | Top | 68-78 | Win | 100 | 8 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Southland Game of the Year is on SF Austin at 4:00 ET. The Sam Houston State Bearkats are 13-5 and at 7-0 in league play, sit atop the Southland Conference. The Bearkats travel to Nacogdoches, Tx to take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, who are 9-3 (5-1 in Southland play). The Bearkats are looking for an EIGHTH straight conference win, while the Lumberjacks look to bounce back from their first conference loss, an 82-62 defeat at 14-3 Abilene Christian on Wednesday. Sam Houston head coach Jason Hooten opened the season having lost four of five starters for the SECOND straight year. That was the case last season and after a 15-6 start, the Bearkats were just 18-13 when the season was shut down. Guard Nutall is the lone returning starter and he leads the team averaging 19.9 PPG, as well as a team-high 5.9 RPG. Senior guard Lampley (15.9) is the only other double digit scorer. However, the team averages 81.3 PPG on the season (28th). Kyle Keller was hired as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin, replacing Brad Underwood. Following the discovery of an administrative error in declaring student-athletes eligible, on May 20, 2020, Stephen F. Austin reached an agreement with the NCAA to vacate hundreds of wins across multiple sports from 2013 to 2019, including all 117 men's basketball wins from the 2014–15 to 2018–19 seasons. With that behind the program, the Lumberjacks finished the 2019–20 season with a 28–3 (19–1 Southland) record and the regular season Southland title. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southland and NCAA tournaments were cancelled. Last season was highlighted by the Lumberjacks' 85–83 overtime win at No. 1 Duke, giving the Blue Devils their first non-conference home loss in 150 games. SF Austin owns a solid trio of guards in Johnson (18.1 & 4.4), Ware (11.7) and Kachelries (9.8 & 4.1 APG). A pair of 6-7 sophomores start up front in Kensmil (14.1 & 6.3) and Soloman (8.4 & 5.2). The Lumberjacks can score with any team, averaging 82.1 PPG (22nd), while shooting 53.7& from the floor (2nd in the nation). SF Austin's last game was a 'nightmare,' as the team shot just 42.6% on the game (25% on threes) and even went a pathetic 14 of 25 from the FT line (56%). Bounce-back time here for a team that is 8-0 at home this season and 24-1 at home going back to the start of last season. Lay the reasonable points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | Jazz v. Nuggets -1.5 | Top | 117-128 | Win | 100 | 8 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Division Game of the Year (Northwest) is on the Den Nuggets at 3:35 ET. Denver started the season with four losses in the first five games but had won 10 of its next 13 before falling 119-109 to the Spurs on Friday night, when the Spurs outscored the Nuggets in the fourth quarter 32-23. The defeat snapped a five-game Denver winning streak and came in the team's final game of a five-game road trip in seven days. The Nuggets return home but waiting for them are the Utah Jazz, who now own the NBA's best record of 15-4 on the strength of an 11-game winning streak (also, an amazing 11-0 ATS!). Utah has reeled off 11 straight wins, the past two without Donovan Mitchell (23.4-4.4-4.9) and Derrick Favors (5.8 & 5.0). Mitchell (concussion protocol) and Favors (lower back soreness) haven't played since last Tuesday but traveled to Denver on Friday while their teammates were completing a two-game home sweep of the Dallas Mavericks. Their status for Sunday has not been updated but the duo is at best, questionable. The Jazz have terrific depth with SEVEN Players (including Mitchell) averaging in double digits. PG Conley (16.8 & 6.1 APG) has found a home in Utah after struggling last season plus the same can be said about last year's in-season pick-up, 6th-man Clarkson. He comes off the bench to average 17.9 PPG! Center Rudy Gobert is a great defender, good for a nightly 'daily double' (13.6 & 14.1 on the season). However, speaking of 'double-doubles,' Denver center Nikola Jokic notched his 19th straight double-double to start the year in Friday's loss in San Antonio (). He's averaging 25.7 & 11.7 on the season. He had also been averaging double digits in assists but he averaged just 5.3 per game over his last six games, falling to third in the league at 8.7 per game. Denver can match Utah's depth now that Porter (17.2 & 6.8) has been back for the last five games and SG Harris (10.7) has broken out of an extended offensive slump. He is known for his defense but the Nuggets need his scoring, too. In the last nine games, he has hit 46.5 percent from three-point range. Throw in PG Murray (19.1-4.0-4.4) plus Morris (11.1), Green (10.9 & 6.3), Barton (10.7) and Millsap (9.6 & 5.2) and one gets the point. Denver came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Utah in last year's playoffs and in the first meeting this season, Utah edged the Nuggets 109-105 in Denver (Jan 17). It's Denver's turn to 'return the favor' in this one. Utah's 11-game win streak ends here. That's my bet! Good luck...Larry |
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01-31-21 | Cal-Irvine v. Hawaii +3 | Top | 61-62 | Win | 100 | 16 h 42 m | Show |
My 10* Big West Game of the Year is on Hawaii at 11:59 ET. Russell Turner has done a nice job at UC-Irvine. He had losing seasons in his first two years at the school but entered this season have won 20-plus games in SEVEN of his last eight seasons. The Anteaters won 31 games two seasons ago and were 21-11 before the shut down last season. However, UC-Irvine had to replace four senior starters entering this season. The 6-9 Welp is back and leads in scoring at 12.2 2 PPG (adds 6.5 RPG). The only other starter averaging in double digits is the 6-11 Greene (10.7 PPG and a team-high 7.5 RPG). Two newcomers come off the bench in freshman guard Baker (11.5) and fellow guard Davis (8.,5), who is back from a two-year Mormon mission. |
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01-30-21 | Lakers -2 v. Celtics | Top | 96-95 | Loss | -112 | 14 h 4 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on the LA Lakers at 8:35 ET. The Lakers blew a big lead at home to Golden St back on Jan 18 (115-113 loss) and then began a SEVEN-game road trip. LA opened with an impressive 113-106 win at Milwaukee and followed with wins at Chicago and Cleveland, extending their road to record to 10-0 to open the season. However, the Lakers then lost 107-106 at Philly (76ers are at home) but followed with a 107-92 loss at Detroit, when they scored just 34 points in the second half (LBJ had two points after halftime). Two games remain on their demanding seven-game road trip, including tonight at TD Garden with the Celtics. Boston enters off a setback of its own, failing to beat the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday after coming back from as much as 15 points down. Boston was up 101-99 with less than two minutes remaining but couldn't hold on in the 110-106 loss. The Celtics are a modest 10-7 on the season. Anthony Davis has a bruised right quad and did not play at Detroit and is questionable here. LBJ (25.5-7.8-7.5) and A.D. (21.9 & 8.8) lead the Lakers but the additions of PF Harrell and PG Schroder have been HUGE. Harrell comes off the bench to average 12.8 & 6.6 and Schroder has started all 20 games at the point, producing 13.6-3.7-4.2. Caldwell-Pope (9.9) starts at SG and Kuzma (10.1 & 5.8) comes off the bench like Harrell. Boston has its preferred starting-five back, as PG Walker returned five games ago and Tatum is out from under COVID protocols. Brown (27.1 & 5.6) and Tatum (26.5 & 6.8) are quite a one-two 'punch' but while Walker is averaging 16.4 & 4.1 APG, Boston is 1-4 in his five games back. Smart's has been excellent (13.6 & 6.0) and undersized center Theis (9.4 & 4.9) but new acquisitions PF Thompson (6.2 & 8.6) and PG Teague (5.9 & 2.3 APG) have been underwhelming. The Lakers matched the Celtics for most titles in league history at 17 by winning last year's title and there is NO better rivalry in the NBA. Obviously, if A.D. misses it's a big deal but I REALLY like the Lakers off their back-to-back losses, either way. LA's plus-8.3 point differential is the best in the league, while Boston checks in at juts plus-2.3. As LBJ said after the loss at Detroit, "We got to keep our minds fresh, keep our bodies fresh as much as we can to go out there and put together a complete 48-minute game, or close to 48 minutes. Obviously we haven't done it the last couple of games, and we just got to be better on Saturday." LA will "be better" tonight! Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-21 | Bucks -7 v. Hornets | Top | 114-126 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 57 m | Show |
My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET. The Charlotte Hornets topped the Indiana Pacers 108-105 on Friday, avenging a loss to the same team two nights earlier. Charlotte made key plays down the stretch after a double-digit lead had vanished. Hornets head coach James Borrego liked the poise his team demonstrated. The 8-11 Hornets will need more than just poise to get past the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, who will arrive in Charlotte licking their wounds after a 131-126 road loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. The Bucks have owned the NBA's best regular season record in each of the last two seasons but have fallen short in each of the last two postseasons. Milwaukee is just 11-7 this season, as the team's .611 winning percentage is FAR below the .748 win percentage the Bucks have had the last two seasons in going a combined 116-39. Giannis (27.5-11.0-5.5) has won the last two MVP awards and has quite a sidekick in SF Middleton, who is averaging 21.6-6.6-5.9 6.2. Jrue Holiday (15.9-4.7-5.23 has taken over for the departed Bledsoe plus guard DiVincenzo (9.9 & 4.1) and center Brook Lopez (10.9 & 5.2) round out the starting lineup. The 6-10 Portis comes off the bench and has been a HUGE addition in averaging 10.6 & 7.5 in about 22 MPG. Forbes, Connaughton and Augustin add a combined 19 PPG. Gordon Hayward left Boston to sign with Charlotte and one wonders why. He's averaging 22.9-5.3-3.7 but after playing for the Jazz and Celtics, what could he possibly expect this Charlotte team to do the next three-to-five years? Guards Rozier (18.9 &n 4.1) and Graham (13.9 & 6.3) have both played well but the jury is still out on the team's No. 1, LeMelo Ball (11.4-5.9-5.9). PJ Washington (12.9 & 6.8) is a solid frontcourt player and center Zeller (8.0 & 6.9) is back after missing a month. The Bucks stormed back from a 29-point hole before falling at New Orleans, snapping Milwaukee's two-game winning streak. The Bucks have yet to exceed four straight victories this season, so they are still looking to sustain a good roll. I have to believe that 'roll' IS coming and will note that Milwaukee's point differential of plus-8.2 is just shy of LA's league-leading plus-8.3. In comparison, Charlotte's at minus-1.7. Milwaukee has been an excellent ATS play off a SU loss these last two seasons and I see "B-LO-W-O-U-T written all over this one." Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-21 | Minnesota v. Purdue -2.5 | Top | 62-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 25 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Purdue at 7:00 ET. No. 21 Minnesota is 11-5 (just 4-5 in the Big Ten) and Purdue welcomes them to Mackey Arena on Saturday at 11-6 (6-4 in the Big Ten). This is the first of two meetings between the teams over a 13-day span. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but have lost FOUR of their last six. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Minnesota PG Carr (20.9-4.1-5.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.3 & 6.9) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (9.6 & 5.1) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.0 & 6.3) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.3 PPG. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.3 & 3.2 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.3 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (11.1). 7-4 freshman Edey (7.9 & 4.2) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (8.9) gives Purdue five players averaging between 7.9 and 15.3 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Minnesota may be 11-1 at home (Williams Arena) but the not-so-Golden Gophers are 0-4 SU & ATS on the road (all Big Ten games). Meanwhile, Purdue was 6-0 at home before losing 70-53 to Michigan. Purdue shot just 30.8 percent from the floor, including a dismal 2 of 12 on three-pointers, as it was held to a season-low point total. This just in! Minnesota in NO WAY resembles Michigan! Purdue is a GREAT value at this price. Good luck...Larry |
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01-30-21 | Wisconsin -4 v. Penn State | Top | 71-81 | Loss | -115 | 5 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on Wisconsin at 3:00 ET. No. 14 Wisconsin will play Penn State in consecutive games starting with a matchup at University Park on Saturday with the second game at Madison on Tuesday. The Badgers (13-4 / 7-3 Big Ten) have won THREE of their last four games, including Wednesday's 61-55 win at Maryland that avenged a 70-64 loss to the Terrapins at home Dec 28. Penn State is just 5-7 (2-6 Big Ten) after an 83-79 loss at No. 13 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions were competitive throughout and had the lead with less than two minutes remaining. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams was OFF a VERY disappointing 74-62 loss to Ohio State last Saturday (Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed), so holding Maryland to 55 points was a good feeling. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.5-3.5-3.9) and Davison (9.2) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.7 & 6.8), the 6-8 Ford (9.0 & 3.8) and the 6-11 Reuvers. 6-5 freshman Davis (6.3 & 4.5) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.3 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to a 3-4 start through Dec 31 but the team's first four games of 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Penn State is trying to persevere through the season but it's been tough. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.0 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (13.8 & 5.0) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.4) and Sam Sessoms (10.3). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.8 & 8.3) and PG Wheeler (4.9-4.1-3.9) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. The Ohio St game (see above) was an aberration, as Wisconsin had held its two previous opponents to 54 and 52 points. Wisconsin was back in 'defensive mode' at Maryland allowed 55 points on 35.8% shooting) and that's what I expect here, Road favorite is the play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-21 | Boise State -1.5 v. Colorado State | Top | 85-77 | Win | 100 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Boise St at 11:00 ET. Niko Medved spent four years at Furman and one at Drake, and had an overall record of 79-087 when Colorado St tabbed him as its next head coach. He went 12-20 in his first season but turned things around by going 20-12 last season, before the shut down. His Rams have opened 12-3 this season (9-2 in the MWC) after an impressive 78-56 home rout of Boise St on Wednesday. Boise's Leon Rice is in his 11th season with the Broncos and has produced EIGHT seasons of 20-plus wins through his first 10 seasons. This year's team could be his best, as the Broncos were 16-1 before getting routed by the Rams two nights ago. FOUR of Boise's starters average in double figures, led by 6-9 guard Alston (17.0 & 3.9). Fellows guards Shaver (13.2 & 5.1) and Dennis (10.9-3.3-3.4) and the 6-7 Kigab (13.3 & 6.0 round out that quartet. The fifth starter is the 6-10 Armus (6.7 & 7.3), while guard Doutrive (10.2) and the 6-8 Akot (7.4 & 4.2) contribute off the bench. CSU misses the 6-11 Carvacho (12.9 & 10.8) but four starters are back from last season. PG Stevens led all scorers last season but the 6-5 Roddy leads this season with 16.0 and 9.4 RPG (also a team-high). Stevens (15.4-4.7-6.5) checks in right behind him with guard Moore (11.2) and the 6-6 Thistlewood (8.9 & 3.3). Depth is provided by guard Tonje (7.1) and the 6-9 Thomas (5.1 & 3.3). Roddy had a career-high 27 points plus 15 rebounds as Colorado State extended its home win streak to seven games, easily beating Boise State 78-56 on Wednesday night. However, the two teams are right back at it in Fort Collins tonight. I surely don't expect CSU to shoot 55.8% again, nor do I expect BSU to shoot 38.2% (Broncos have made 46.9% on the season). Boise St in a bounce-back effort wins. Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-21 | Iowa +2 v. Illinois | Top | 75-80 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 13 m | Show |
My 9* CBB Ranked vs Ranked Showdown is on Iowa at 9:00 ET. Iowa opened No. 5 in the AP's preseason poll and Illinois opened No. 8. As the two schools get set for their first (and only) meeting of the regular season, the Hawkeyes visit Champaign-Urbana 12-3 and ranked 7th, while the Fighting Illini are 10-5 and ranked 19th. Fran McCaffrey came to Iowa City from Siena, where he led the Saints to THREE straight NCAA appearances and a 77-26 record. He's been at Iowa since the 2010-11 season. He's led Iowa to SIX 20-win seasons the last eight seasons, getting four NCAA bids (would have been five last year but the NCAA tourney was canceled). Iowa returned all FIVE starters from last year, including the Preseason P-O-Y. (Luka Garza). Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Garza is the consensus favorite to win national player of the year honors. The 6-11 senior leads the Big Ten with an average of 26.9 PPG (8.9 RPG) while shooting 61%, including 46.2% on threes. Two senior guards join him in the starting lineup in Wieskamp (14.5 & 6.7) and Bohannon (9.8 & 4.7 APG). The 6-11 Nunge (7.0 & 5.5) comes off the bench plus FIVE more players contribute regularly, led by sophomore guard Fredrick (9,1). Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (21.7-6.3-4.9) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.4 & 10.3) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (9.6 & 4.4 APG), Frazier (8.7) and Williams (6.0 & 5.6) plus freshman Miller adds 9.6 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.9 & 2.9) rounds out the main contributors. I believe Illinois has been one of the more disappointing teams from the AP preseason top-25 and I guess the overall strength of the Big Ten keeps them in the current top-25. Meanwhile, Iowa's first two losses came in a neutral-site game with unbeaten and No. 1 Gonzaga plus in OT at Minnesota, which is 11-1 at home. The Hawkeyes haven't played since an 81-69 upset home loss on Jan 21 to Indiana (third loss), which wiped out a second-half deficit with a stunning 23-3 run. Garza and the Hawkeyes bounce back with a win. Good luck...Larry |
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01-29-21 | Nuggets v. Spurs +4.5 | Top | 109-119 | Win | 100 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
My 10* Ultimate Underdog of the Month is on the SA Spurs at 8:35 ET. The Denver Nuggets were the "Comeback Kids" of last season's playoff 'bubble' but struggled out of the gate in the current season. Denver lost on Jan 17 and fell to 6-7 but have since won and covered each of their last FIVE games, The team's recent surge has them 11-7 on the season and owners of the West's No. 4 seed. The Nuggets look to complete a perfect road trip (last four wins have all been on the road) as they conclude their five-game road trip in San Antonio Spurs. Not much was expected of the Spurs coming into this season, after San Antonio saw a 22-year playoff run end last season with a 32-29 record. However, at 10-8, the Spurs own the West's fifth-best record. The Nuggets head to San Antonio off a 109-82 Wednesday win at Miami in which Denver led by 25 points at the half. Jokic (25.2-11.8-8.9) finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his 18th consecutive double-double. Porter Jr. (18.3 & 7.1) scored 17 points, Green (11.5 & 6.7) added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray (19.0-3.9-4.2) had 14 points for Denver. Paul Millsap (9.7 & 5.2) had 11 points and Will Barton (10.8-4.2-3.0) 10 points, giving the Nuggets SIX players in double-figure scoring. The Spurs are led by DeRozan (20.1-5.3-6.8), who is joined by SIX double digit scorers. Aldridge (14.9 & 4.6) is playing center and has averaged 20.3 PPG his last three. PG Murray (14.4-7.3-5.3), SF Johnson (14.4 & 7.4) and guard Walkers (12.6) are San Antonio's other r-three starters, while guard Mills (14.3) and SF Gay (11.5 & 5.5) regularly contribute off the bench. Yes, the Nuggets have won 10 of their 13 games since beginning the season 1-4 but San Antonio is a mix of older and younger players who are coming together. This is Denver's FIFTH road in SEVEN days and is the perfect spot for the home dog to 'bark' LOUDLY! Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-21 | Stanford v. Arizona -7.5 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
My 9* Bailout Blowout is on Arizona at 10:00 ET. Stanford head coach Jerod Haase may be feeling some pressure, as he replaced Johnny Dawkins at Stanford, who earned the title "King of the NIT," leading the Cardinal to NIT titles in 2012 and 2015. However, no school gets much credit these days for an NIT championship. Haase is just 78-66 in his first four-plus years at Stanford (including a 9-5 overall / 5-3 Pac 12 record this season), without an NCAA bid and his lone NIT appearance ended in the second round. Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6) but Arizona opened a surprising 9-1, although it enters this game 12-3 (6-3 in the Pac 12). The 6-9 Oscar da Silva averaged team-leading totals in points (15.7) and rebounds (6.4) last season for Stanford and while he'll miss guard Terry (14.6-4.5-3.2) who left for the NBA, he expected the infusion of young talent to be a boon for his game. Da Silva is averaging 19.8 & 7.1 plus two solid defensive guards are back in Davis (13.1-4.1-3.0) and Willis (9.3 & 4.6). 6-8 forward Ziaire Williams was expected to be the star of the freshman class and he's averaged 12.5 & 5.7. The problem tonight is that 6-6 Mills (12.5 & 7.7) is out with a leg injury plus both guard Dan]vis and freshman Williams (see above on both) may also miss for undisclosed reasons. Arizona has been led by Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (14.3 & 5.5 APG) plus four more double digit scorers. However, fellow guard Baker (12.0) has been sidelined the rest of the season with a broken right wrist plus 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (11.8 & 4.9) went down with a sprained right ankle in Monday's 80-67 win over Arizona State. His status for Thursday is undetermined. That said, Arizona still has 6-11 freshman Azuolas Tubelis (11.0 & 6.4) and 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.3 & 5.4) coming off the bench with guard Terrell Brown (8.7-3.2-3.5). Da Silva had a game-winning basket last Saturday against UCLA off an inbounds pass in a 73-72 overtime. He finished with 26 points. Back in late Dec, Stanford ended a 12-year drought of losing to Arizona with a 78-75 win at home. The victory snapped a 20-game losing streak to the Wildcats and now the Cardinal will go for their first sweep of the Wildcats since the 2007-08 season. I sure DON'T see that happening, as even without fans, the McKale Center is one tough venue. Lay the points, as this one has "B-L-O-W-O-U-T written all over it!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-21 | Memphis v. SMU -3 | Top | 65-67 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 46 m | Show |
My 10* Revenge Rout-Part 4 is on SMU at 8:00 ET. 13-1 Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll and with an 8-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team. Entering Tuesday, 8-2 SMU, 8-5 Memphis and 8-4 Wichita St were all 4-2 in conference. The SMU Mustangs played at Memphis Tuesday and in a game that was close the ENTIRE way, lost 76-72 to the Tigers. The two schools play each other again Thursday, this time Dallas. First-place Houston plays tonight at Tulane and Wichita St won't play until Saturday. No one is likely catching Houston but tonight's a chance for Memphis (5-2 AAC) to put a little difference between themselves and SMU (4-3 in AAC) with a second straight win. Penny Hardaway is in his third season coaching at his alma mater. He went 22-14 in his first season and the Tigers were 21-10 last season before the season was shut down. Memphis had its first three games of 2020 postponed due to COVID issues but the Tigers now own THREE straight AAC wins, a pair of blowout wins over Wichita State and East Carolina plus Tuesday' win over SMU. Va Tech transfer, the 6-7 Nolley (12.8 & 3.4), leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.4 & 5.3), guard Quinones (9.9 & 5.4) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.6 & 7.68). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (10.5 & 5.9) and PG Lomax (5.4 & 4.1 APG). Nolley had 12 points and center Cisse added 10 & 10 in Tuesday's win, while Jefferson (12 points) continued his excellent efforts off the bench. A real bonus was guard Lomax, who scored a team-high 14 points with five assists. Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. Jankovich was running a low-grade fever and two other assistants were back in Dallas as part of contact tracing when SMU won 78-65 at UCF on Saturday. Jankovich was NOT on the sidelines on Tuesday and is unlikely to be available tonight. The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season in Saturday's win at UCF (scored five points in minutes). The good news coming out of Tuesday's loss was that Jolly played 21 minutes and scored 15 points (he averaged 14.5 & 6.2 last season). PG Davis (18.3-4.5-7.6) has been great and three other starters are averaging in or just below double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.9) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.0 & 8.3) and Chargois (9.9 & 5.8). Penny was an exciting offensive player in college (Memphis) and in the NBA but he's a defense-first head coach. He EXPECTS his team to be one of the nation's top defensive teams. Memphis entered Tuesday's game having allowed 61.8 PPG (20th) on 37.7% shooting (7th), including 27.2% on threes (9th). The Tigers have held their last FIVE opponents under 60 points, the longest such streak since a run of seven consecutive games in January 2008. Yes, Memphis pulled out the win but the Mustangs scored 72 points (on the road) while shooting 48.3%. Memphis won because it shot 50.9% (47.6% on threes). Memphis is shooting 4.2% on the season, including 34.5% on threes. SMU star Davis was just 4 of 14 on FGs (8 points) and one HAS to believe he'll bounce back plus Jolly looks like he's ready to be a major contributor. Quick turnaround equals quick REVENGE for the Mustangs. Good luck...Larry |
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01-28-21 | Islanders -132 v. Capitals | Top | 3-6 | Loss | -132 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Month is on the NY Islanders at 7:05 ET. The Washington Capitals are 4-0-3 and their 11 points are tied with Vegas for the second-most in the league, ONE point behind the 6-2-0 Toronto Maple Leafs (12 points). The Caps beat the NY Islanders 3-2 Tuesday night and will go for a second straight victory when they again host New York on Thursday evening. The Islanders scored twice in a row and held a 2-1 lead in the second period before Washington notched the game's two final goals for a big comeback win. Justin Schultz ripped a shot past Semyon Varlamov with 26.4 seconds left for the game-winner. The Isles opened the season 3-1 but have now lost two straight of what will be a five-game road trip (New York plays at Philly on Saturday and Sunday). Center Mathew Barzal led the team in scoring last season (60 points in 68 games) and has three goals and three assists after six games to lead the team once again. Schultz's game-winner handed Semyon Varlamov his first loss this season. He entered the game with a 3-0 record and an 0.33 GAA. Now, he's 3-1 with a 1.00 GAA and .966 SP. Speaking of goaltenders, Washington's lya Samsonov remains on the COVID-19 protocol list. Rookie Vitek Vanecek continues to play well in place of Samsonov (3-0-2 with a 2.70 GAA and a .918 SP. Washington forward Nicklas Backstrom (four goals / four assists) left Tuesday's game late in the third period and did not return. Backstrom is not expected to play tonight plus Washington played Tuesday's game without Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov and goalie Ilya Samsonov, all of whom remain on the COVID-19 protocol list. Washington has now recorded a point in its first seven games and that's just the second time Washington has done that. The 2011-12 season was the other, when the Caps opened that campaign with a 7-0-0 start. I see this a great spot for the Islanders, on the strength of Varlamov's OUTSTANDING play, to hand he Caps their first loss of the season! Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Thunder v. Suns -5.5 | Top | 102-97 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 44 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Pho Suns at 9:00 ET. OKC made it to the NBA Finals back in the 2011-12 season but that was NINE years ago and the Thunder are in rebuilding mode, as the trio of Harden, KD and Westbrook have all since moved on, as have All Stars like Paul George and Chris Paul after brief stints. The 7-9 Thunder are in Phoenix tonight to face the 8-7 Suns and Chris Paul, who they traded away in November as part of a rebuilding effort. The Suns opened the season 5-1 (were 8-0 SU & ATS in the 'bubble') but are just 3-6 since. Leading OKC these days is guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The third-year player is averaging a career-best 21.9 PPG with 5.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He had 24 points with nine rebounds and six assists as the Thunder won 125-122 at Portland on Monday. Mike Muscala (9.8) added 23 points and a career-best six 3-pointers. However, the Thunder played without Al Horford (11.1 & 7.1), who has been out since Jan 15 for the birth of his daughter and George Hill (11.8), who was out with a strained right thumb. Both are NOT expected to play. The Suns are coming off back-to-back narrow defeats against the Denver Nuggets, falling in overtime in the first game and double OT on Saturday. Saturday's 120-112 defeat only went to extra time when Denver's Jamal Murray made a leaning three-pointer at the end of regulation while falling out of bounds (Naturally, I had the Suns in a forgettable week). Booker (22.9 PPG) sat out with an injured hamstring but word is, he'll be back tonight. Either way, I'm 'ON' the Suns. Former first round picks Bridges (15.1 & 5.8) and Johnson (11.9 & 3.2) have made HUGE strides this season plus 6-11 center Ayton is averaging a double-double on the season (15.0 & 12.2). All three have NOT missed a game. Neither has Chris Paul, who is averaging 13.8-4.7-9.0. SF Crowder (FA pickup) has also played all 15 games (12 starts), averaging 10.3 & 4.6). The "situation" is just right for a double-digit Phoenix win. That's the play! Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Wisconsin -3 v. Maryland | Top | 61-55 | Win | 100 | 14 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Rout-Part 3 is on Wisconsin at 9:00 ET. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard is in his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. No. 14 Wisconsin (12-4 / 6-3 in Big Ten) prides itself on being one of college basketball's best defensive teams and the Badgers are looking to re-establish that identity when they play four of their next five games on the road. That stretch starts tonight in College Park against 9-6 Maryland (just 3-6 in the Big Ten). Mark Turgeon coached Wichita St for seven years, before leading Texas A&M to four straight NCAA tournaments in four years going 97-40. He joined Maryland when it was still in the ACC but its move to the Big Ten has been good for the basketball program, as over the last six seasons the Terps have won 20-plus games in five seasons (exception was a 19-win season), making four NCAA tourneys (would have been five, as Maryland was 24-7 when the season was shut down last year). The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.6-3.3-3.9) and Davison (9.4) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.1 & 6.5), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.3 & 3.8) and the 6-8 Ford (9.6 & 4.4). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.4 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.4 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. Wisconsin was disappointed with its defensive performance in a 74-62 loss to then-No. 15 Ohio State on Saturday, as the Buckeyes shot 50.9 percent on Wisconsin's home court and never trailed. It was particularly galling because the Badgers were coming off a pair of strong defensive efforts, when they held Rutgers to 54 points and Northwestern to 52. PG Cowan (16.3 & 4.7 APG) and big man Jalen Smith (15.5 & 10.5) are gone from last season's Maryland team but the Terps have a deep backcourt, Ayala (14.4 & 3.1) and Wiggins (12.2-5.3-3.0) lead the way, supported by Hart (9.8) and Morsell (8.1 & 4.3). Up front, it's the 6-7 Scott (13.0 & 6.9) and 6-8 BC transfer Hamilton (7.4 & 2.8). Maryland's three Big Ten wins have all come on the road, over No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 12 Illinois and No. 17 Minnesota (opponents ranking at the time of each win). That makes Maryland the first team to have such success on the road while being unranked in the last five seasons. It's also the first time in program history that Maryland has won three road games against ranked teams, period Wisconsin will be HIGHLY focused on this contest (remember, four of next five on the road), as the Badgers don't want to see a strong start to the season evaporate. The Badgers allowed Maryland to shoot 50% in a 70-64 home loss to the Terps back on Dec 28 but with that memory and Saturday's poor defensive effort against Ohio St still fresh, I expect a "big-time" defensive effort from Wisconsin here. The Badgers are allowing just 62.2 PPG on 40.5% shooting and remember, Maryland's Big Ten wins have come on the road, NOT here at home (0-3 SU & ATS). REVENGE works in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Lakers v. 76ers +3 | Top | 106-107 | Win | 100 | 10 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Phi 76ers at 7:35 ET. The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are an NBA-best 14-4 and play tonight in Philadelphia against the 76ers, who own the East's best record at 12-6. The Lakers improved to 10-0 away from home on Monday at Cleveland, 115-108, as LeBron James celebrated his homecoming with a season-high 46 points on 19-of-26 shooting to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Philadelphia is looking to bounce back from a 119-104 loss on the road to the Detroit Pistons on Monday, when the 76ers played without Joel Embiid (back) and fell to 0-4 without the All Star this season. Embiid is off the injury list on Wednesday and is expected to play. Only four other players in NBA history have scored at least 46 points in a game once they reached the age of 36. The others? The late Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Jamal Crawford (how'd he get in there?). LBJ (25.2-7.9-7.4) and A.D. (21.8 & 8.9) lead the Lakers but the additions of PH Harrell and PG Schroder have been HUGE. Harrell comes off the bench to average 13.7 & 7.4 and Schroder has started all 18 games at the point, producing 13.6-3.8-4.2. Caldwell-Pope (10.6) starts at SG and Kuzma (9.8 & 5.6) comes off the bench like Harrell. Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and it seems to have worked well, as he has missed just four games, averaging 27.7 & 11.5. PF Harris (19.8 & 6.7) and PG Simmons (12.8-8.4-7.1) have contributed nicely, while rookie Maxey (10.0) plus vets Danny Green (9.1) and Dwight Howard (6.5 & 7.9 in just 15.5 MPG) have all played in each of Philly's 18 games. Seth Curry (15.6) is back after sitting out two weeks due to the league's health and safety protocols plus Milton is adding 15.1 PPG off the bench. The Lakers were last home back on Jan 18 and won't return until playing in Atlanta on Feb 1. This is their FOURTH of seven games on the road and the champs will stumble somewhere. Why not here at Philly, as the 76ers are an NBA-best 9-1 at home? Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Penn State v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 79-83 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on Ohio St at 7:00 ET. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to a 3-4 start through Dec 31 but the team's first four games of 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Penn St returned on Jan 17 and lost at Purdue and two days later at Illinois. The Nittany Lions have rebounded with two straight wins last week and now take a 5-6 record into this game with No. 13 Ohio St (12-4) in Columbus. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio State saw a three-game winning streak end a week ago Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus but rebounded with a wire-to-wire, 74-62 win at then-No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.7 & 4.8) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.7 & 4.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.9) and Sam Sessoms (11.3). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.2 & 8.2) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.1.4-0) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Guard Washington (15.3) leads Ohio St in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.1 APG). The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.5 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.4 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 5.9), 6-8 freshman Key (6.4 & 3.8) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.8). The Buckeyes got a boost with the return of senior starting point guard CJ Walker, who missed four games because of torn ligaments in his right hand. He had eight points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes of playing time in the win at Wisconsin. Having him back is HUGE and note that Ohio St is 7-1 at home (only blemish a two-point loss to Purdue). Yes, Penn St has won back-to-back games but the wins came over Rutgers (2-6 since a 6-0 start) and Northwestern (0-7 after a 6-1 start). Prior to those wins, the Nittany Lions started 0-5 in league play and are 1-4 overall on the road. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-27-21 | Creighton v. Seton Hall +1.5 | Top | 85-81 | Loss | -100 | 9 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Seton Hall at 7:00 ET. Greg McDermott has won 20-plus games in NINE of his first 10 seasons at Creighton and the Bluejays were ranked 11th in the AP's preseason poll, the school's highest-ever preseason ranking. Creighton is 11-4 (7-3 in Big East) entering this game at Seton Hall, ranked 17th. Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but the Pirates are a disappointing 9-6 this season (6-3 in the Big East). Creighton brought back all starters except leading scorer Alexander (16.9 & 5.0) and this season's starting-five is a strong group. A trio of guards start, along with the 6-7 Bishop (11.3 & 5.2) and 6-5 SF Jefferson (13.0 & 4.9). Denzel Mahoney (15.4 & 4.5), PG Zegarowski (14.4-4.0-4.5) and Ballock (9.1) comprise an impressive backcourt, while the 7-0 Kalkbrenner (7.1 & 4.3) comes off the bench. The Pirates have SEVEN players who have participated in all 15 games. The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.4) and rebounding (7.0). Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.8 & 6.9 and fellow wing Myles Cale (11.6) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.9 & 4.5 APG) and Molson (6.5 & 3.2) are solid backcourt performers, while the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.6) starts and the 6-10 Samuel (6.2 & 3.3) comes off the bench to aid Mamukelashvili up front. Creighton lost 70-66 in OT at Butler and then 74-70 at home to Providence (both schools own losing Big East records), before shooting 51.1 percent from the floor on Saturday in a 74-66 home victory against then-No. 23 UConn (3rd straight ATS loss). Creighton enjoyed its best shooting performance of the season in a rout of Seton Hall back on Jan 6, shooting 59.6 percent; including 13 of 24 from three-point range in an 89-53 home win against Seton Hall. Kevin Willard and his team will remember that one and are eager to get back on the court after overcoming a nine-point deficit with 7:21 left to pull even against No. 3 Villanova, only to fall just 76-74 on Jan 19. Creighton is a good team but I believe overrated and falls to the Pirates in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-26-21 | SMU v. Memphis -2 | Top | 72-76 | Win | 100 | 9 h 27 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Memphis at 7:00 ET. 13-1 Houston is now ranked No. 6 in the latest AP poll and with an 8-1 record in the AAC is unquestionably the league's dominant team.8-2 SMU, 8-5 Memphis and 8-4 Wichita St are all 4-2 in conference. The SMU Mustangs are 3-0 on the road for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2015-16 and will look to extend that streak on Tuesday at Memphis. Tim Jankovich took over after Larry Brown once again left a program in tatters and in his first full season (2016-17) went 30-5. However, the Mustangs were just a combined 51-44 the previous three seasons. Jankovich was running a low-grade fever and two other assistants were back in Dallas as part of contact tracing when SMU won 78-65 at UCF on Saturday. Penny Hardaway is in his third season coaching at his alma mater. He went 22-14 in his first season and the Tigers were 21-10 last season before the season was shut down. Memphis its first three games of 2020 postponed due to COVID issues but the Tigers own a pair of blowout wins over Wichita State and East Carolina. The Tigers have held their last FIVE opponents under 60 points, the longest such streak since a run of seven consecutive games in January 2008. The Mustangs returned the outstanding guard duo of Davis and Jolly but Jolly's been battling personal issues and made his first appearance of the current season in Saturday's win at UCF (scored five points in minutes). Will he contribute the rest of the way? TBD. PG Davis (19.3-4.6-7.8) has been great and three other starters are averaging in double digits. The group includes guard Bandoumel (11.8) plus a pair of 6-9 forwards in Hunt (12.2 & 8.6) and Chargois (10.1 & 6.1). Memphis lost centr James Wisman after just three games last season and PF Achiuwa (15.8 & 10.8) after the season (both are now in the NBA as 1st round picks). Va Tech transfer, the 6-7 Nolley (12.8 & 3.5) leads the Tigers in scoring. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Williams (10.5), guard Quinones (10.1 & 5.2) and the 6-10 Cisse (7.5 & 7.6). Coming off the bench is the 6-7 Jefferson (10.4 & 6.2). Penny was an exciting offensive player in college (Memphis) and in the NBA but he's a defense-first head coach. He EXPECTS his team to be one of the nation's top defensive teams. Memphis enters having allowed 61.8 PPG (20th) on 37.7% shooting (7th), including 27.2% on threes (9th). FYI, Memphis allowed opponents to shoot 36.1%, including 28.0% on threes last season. I'm on Penny and the Tigers. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | Texas Tech v. West Virginia -1 | Top | 87-88 | Push | 0 | 8 h 5 m | Show |
My 9* Late-Breaker is on West Va at 9:00 ET. "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." So said Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in the 1987 movie "Wall Street," In the world of college basketball, "Routine is Good." However, NOTHING has been "routine" in CBB 2020-21. The 12th-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-4, 4-3 in Big 12) visit Morgantown on Monday to take on the No. 14 West Va Mountaineers (10-4, 3-3 Big 12). Both schools have seen their routines interrupted. Tonight's game will be Texas Tech's first since Jan 16 after both of the Red Raiders' scheduled matchups last week were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols at TCU and Iowa State. West Virginia just returned from a two-week pause on Saturday with a 69-47 road victory at Kansas State. Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (16.3) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.1 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9 & 3.0). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.3) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (12.8 & 5.0) who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.2 & 7.2) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.9 PPG (10th) on 39.4% shooting (33rd). Bob Huggins had a legendary 16-year stint at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to NCAA berths in each of his final 14 seasons. He returned to his alma mater for the 2007-08 season and has led the Mountaineers to the Big Dance in NINE of his 13 seasons (21-10 LY would have made 10 but COVID took care of that). FOUR of five starters are back from last season but the 6-9 Oscar Tshiebwe (11.2 & 9.2 last season) opted to transfer to Kentucky in mid-season, forcing a complete change of basketball philosophy for Huggins. The 6-10 Culver (13.4 & 10.7) is now the main focus inside, as Huggins now relies on his perimeter people. Guards McBride (15.3-3.4-4.1), Sherman (12.2) and McNeil, plus 6-7 SF Matthews (7.7 & 2.9) are the main contributors. It's true that Texas Tech has opened 3-0 on the Big 12 road (just the second time the Red Raiders have done so since the league began in 1996-97) but as we've seen many times this season, teams have struggled after a layoff. Winning at WVU Coliseum has NEVER been easy and Huggins-coached teams know plenty about playing defense, as well. West Virginia's defense got back to work in style after the two-week hiatus by limiting Kansas State to 38.1 percent shooting (16 of 42) and forcing 28 turnovers, the most by a Big 12 team this season Home team is the play. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | 76ers v. Pistons +7 | Top | 104-119 | Win | 100 | 12 h 39 m | Show |
My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on the Det Pistons at 7:05 ET. The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-110 at Detroit on Saturday, The Pistons have the NBA's worst record at 3-13 but head coach Doc Rivers said he's happy with any road vic0rty. Philly struggled on the road last season and are just 3-4 away from home this season, although Philly owns the East's best record at 12-5. As for the Pistons, they are coming off a frustrating week in which they went 0-4 when they could have easily gone 4-0. They squandered a 19-point lead to Miami, then blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead at Atlanta. Det dropped a one-point decision to Houston before the Sixers came to town and won by four points on Saturday. Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and it seems to have worked well, as he is averaging 27.7 & 11.5). PF Harris (19.4 & 6.6) and PG Simmons (12.9-8.7-8.1) have contributed nicely, while rookie Maxey (9.6) plus vets Danny Green (9.3) and Dwight Howard (6.6 & 8.1 in just 15.5 MPG) have all played in each of Philly's 17 games. Seth Curry (16.5) scored 14 points on Saturday, playing his second game since sitting out two weeks due to the league's health and safety protocols. Milton is adding 15.4 PPG off the bench. Jerami Grant (24.3 & 6.4) has been Detroit's best player all season but the Pistons could also use a bounce-back game from him. Grant was just 3 of 19 from the floor (11 points) on Saturday, after scoring 20 or more points for 14 consecutive games. Detroit's two former All Stars, Rose (14.8 & 4.1 APG) and Griffin (12.8-6.3-4.2) both missed Saturday's game but they are expected to play on Monday. Starting along with Grant in Saturday's game were guards Ellington (11.1) and Wright (8.0-4.1-4.1) plus center Plumlee (8.3 & 8.5) and rookie SF bey (8.1 & 3.3). The silver lining for Detroit on Saturday was the play of young reserves Svi Mykhailiuk (7.6) and Sekou Doumbouya (4.3). The duo combined for 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Detroit gets a second chance (in three days) against the 76ers (at best, a mediocre road team) and note that while Detroit is an NBA-worst 3-13, it is 8-7-1 ATS, Home dog 'barks' LOUDLY in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | Raptors v. Pacers -2.5 | Top | 114-129 | Win | 100 | 11 h 38 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. The Toronto Raptors were the 2019 NBA champions and last season, entered the postseason as the East's No. 2 seed with a 53-19 record, despite losing Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers as a free agent. Note that the Raptors' record last season put them just 2 1/2-games back of the Bucks and was a half-game BETTER than the West's No. 1 seed, and eventual NBA champion Lakers! However, the Raptors opened the current season 2-8 (3-7 ATS) but after winning 107-102 Sunday afternoon at Indiana, have gone 5-1 SU (still just 3-3 ATS), since that terrible start. Indiana Pacers first-year coach Nate Bjorkgren will try to gain a split with his former boss and Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse Monday night when the teams complete a two-game set at Indianapolis. Bjorkgren played at South Dakota when Nurse was an assistant coach there and was an assistant coach for Nurse with the Raptors for the last two seasons before he took over at Indiana this season. The Pacers enter this game just 1-3 SU its last four but 0-4 ATS. The Raptors won on Sunday but were without Kyle Lowry (infected toe) and Pascal Siakam (left knee swelling). Siakam averages 18.6-8.1-4.7 and Lowry 18.2-6.5-7.1. Their status for Monday is uncertain. VanVleet (19.1-4.5-6.4) has developed into an All-Star caliber player plus Anunoby (14.9 & 5.9), Boucher (14.6 & 6.5) and Powell (12.9) all averaging in double digits.as. Oladipo (20.0 PPG) is gone in a trade and his expected replacement (LeVert) has a medical issue. SF Warren (15.5) remains out with a foot injury for the Pacers but there is still enough talent to go around. PG Brogdon (21.9-3.9-7.1) and PF Sabonis (20.9-12.9-5.8) are playing at an All Star level plus center Turner averages 14.0 & 6.8, while leading the NBA in blocks (4.2 per). McDermott is averaging 12.9 PPG on 49.4% shooting off the bench. The Holidays, Justin (11.1) and Aaron (6.3) have both been solid plus Lamb's return from injury is a BIG deal. He has averaged 15.0 PPG in his three games back since tearing his ACL last February. The Raptors held Malcolm Brogdon to 12 points on 5-for-22 shooting from the floor and Domantas Sabonis, who had 10 points and 19 rebounds, did not score in the second half, going 0-for-7 on FGs. All that, and Sunday's game was tied at 102 with 1:09 to play! Quick turnaround (at home, no less) really favors the Pacers. Expect Brogdon and Sabonis to bounce back and who knows about the status of Lowry and Siakam. Good luck...Larry |
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01-25-21 | Syracuse v. Virginia -7 | Top | 58-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Virginia at 7:00 ET. Syracuse's victory against No. 16 Virginia Tech on Saturday was its first against a ranked opponent in more than a year, the last one a 63-55 overtime win at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020. The victory gives the Orange a 9-4 overall record (3-3 in the ACC) as they visit the No. 13 Cavaliers (10-2, 6-0 in the ACC) at Charlottesville on Monday The Orange have little depth but all five starters are averaging more than 30 minutes. The 6-7 Guerrier leads in scoring (16.9) and rebounding (9.5), SF Griffin checks in at 15.7 & 7.2 plus the 6-10 Dolezag adds 11.2 & 5.5. The backcourt is Buddy Boeheim (15.1) and PG Girard (10.8 & 4.1 APG). UVa lost the 6-9 Diakite (13.7 & 6.8) and 6-8 big guard Key (9.9 & 7.4). Four starters are averaging in double digits, led by 6-8 Marquette transfer Sam Hauser (14.5 & 7.4), the returning 7-1 Huff (13.3 & 5.8), the 6-9 Trey Murphy (10.4) and PG Clark (10.2 & 4.1 APG). Guard Morell (6.9) is the best producer off the bench. I noted that Syracuse won 63-55 in overtime at Virginia on Jan 11, 2020 but this Virginia team is riding a six-game winning streak and has won 14 consecutive ACC games dating back Feb 8, 2020. Since losing to No. 1 Gonzaga back on Dec 26, the Cavs have held their last six opponents to 57.8 PPG (season average is 59.6 PPG to rank 6th in the nation). Jim Boeheim is a Hall of Fame coach but since coming to Virginia, Tony Bennett's record is among the best in CBB. He came to Charlottesville to begin the 2009-10 season and in his first two years at the school went 15-16 and 16-15. Enough of that! It's been NINE straight seasons of 20-plus wins since, including four seasons of 30-plus wins. Bennett and UVa lost to UMBC in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament, becoming the first time since expansion in 1985 that a No. 1 seed lost to a No. 16 one, However, the Cavs came back to win the title in 2019, as ESPN called Virginia's championship run "the most redemptive season in the history of college basketball," and NBC Sports took it a step further by calling it "the greatest redemption story in the history of sports." UVa was 23-7 when the season was shut down last March. UVa is the more complete team and wins "with room to spare" here at John Paul Jones Arena. Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Hawks v. Bucks -7 | Top | 115-129 | Win | 100 | 14 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET. The Atlanta Hawks have a bevy of young stars and have won three straight games to reach 8-7, as they head to Milwaukee. The Bucks have owned the NBA's best regular season record in each of the last two seasons but have fallen short in each of the last two postseasons. Milwaukee is off back-to-back losses, 125-123 at Brooklyn and 113-106 at home vs the Lakers, and find themselves just 9-6. The team's .600 winning percentage is FAR below the .748 win percentage the Bucks have had the last two seasons in going a combined 116-39. Trae Young scored 43 in Atlanta's 116-98 Friday win at Minnesota, emerging from a mini-shooting slump that had seen him score 50 points over a three-game stretch. He now has 81 points over the last two games, upping his average to 25.3 PPG (ha hands out 8.7 APG, as well). Young is the brightest star of Atlanta's young talent but don't discount Hunter (16.3 & 5.9), Collins (15.9 & 7.5), Reddish (12.4 & 4.7) and Huerter (11.9). Then there is former Houston center Clint Capela, who is coming off his first career triple-double (13 & 19 plus 10 blocks! He's averaging 14.5 & 14.2 on the season. Giannis (27.0-10.3-5.1) has won the last two MVP awards and has quite a sidekick in SF Middleton, who is averaging 22.9 & 6.2. Jrue Holiday (16.1-4.3-5.2) has taken over for the departed Bledsoe plus guard DiVincenzo (10.1) and center Brook Lopez (9.9 & 5.3) round out the starting lineup. The 6-10 Portis comes off the bench and has been a HUGE addition in averaging 10.9 & 8.1 in about 23 MPG. Forbes, Connaughton and Augustin add a combined 19 PPG. While Atlanta is young, Milwaukee's starting lineup averages nine years of experience. For all its youthful talent, Atlanta's three-game 'surge' has them just 8-7 on the season. Looking closer at that 'surge' and you'll note the Hawks own two wins over Minnesota and one over Detroit, two teams with a combined win percentage of .226. Off back-to-back losses, expect the Bucks to R-O-L-L! Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Cavs v. Celtics -6.5 | Top | 103-141 | Win | 100 | 11 h 47 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on the Bos Celtics at ET. The Boston Celtics have dropped three straight, a stretch during which they have been without star forward Jayson Tatum as he recovers from COVID-19. Tatum was considered 50-50 to play in the team's last game but did not, as Boston lost its third in a row, 122-110 at Philadelphia. Conversely, the Cavaliers are in the midst of their best stretch of the young season, having beaten the Brooklyn Nets in back-to-back meetings to extend their winning streak to three. "Break up the Cavs," who are now 8-7 and currently own the East's No. 6 seed (Cavs last made the playoffs in 2018, going 19-63 and 19-46 the last two seasons). The key to Cleveland's turnaround has been third-year guard Collin Sexton (16.7 & 20.8 PPG in his first two), who has scored at least 20 points in each of the 10 games he has played this season. Sexton poured in a career-high 42 points in a double-overtime win over the Nets on Wednesday and enters this contest averaging 26.8 & 4.2 APG. More good news for Cavaliers came with guard Darius Garland (16.9 & 5.9 APG) returning from eight games missed with a shoulder injury to score 11 points in Friday's win. Center Drummond (18.8 & 15.1) has become a nightly double-double plus newly acquired Prince (15.5 & 5.0) and Allen (15.5 & 8.5) have been better than advertised in their two games since coming from the Nets. Jaylen Brown had 42 points and nine rebounds during the losing effort on Friday and has flourished during Tatum's absence. He's averaging 26.9 & 6.0 on the season, pulling even with Tatum (26.9 & 7.1). Smart (13.8 & 5.6 APG) is the team's best perimeter defender and undersized center Theis (6.7 & 8.3) has performed well. Getting PG Walker back (he's averaged 15.7 & 5.0 APG in three games) is good news but the problem is, Boston's lost all three. Ex-Cav Thompson (6.7 & 8.3) has been fine but has NOT had the breakout season he and the Celtics expected. Again, when Tatum gets back is still unsure but with Boston having won its last EIGHT meetings vs Cleveland, I look for the Celtics to end their current three-game slide against the Cavs off their back-to back wins over the Nets. Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Bills v. Chiefs -3 | Top | 24-38 | Win | 100 | 50 h 43 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the KC Chiefs at 6:40 ET. Buffalo QB Josh Allen did not have a big day against the Ravens (206 passing yards / one TD) and the Bills ran for just 32 yards but the Buffalo D held Baltimore's running game in check. CB Taron Johnson literally "stole the show" when he picked off Lamar Jackson and returned it 101 yards for a TD in the late third, breaking Baltimore's back. Buffalo's 17-3 win allowed the Bills to advance to the AFC championship game for the first time since 1994. The Bills head to KC on an EIGHT-game winning streak and have won 11 of 12 (lone loss was the result of that 'Hail Mary' miracle at Arizona in Week 10). Patrick Mahomes hadn't played in 21 days (since the Chiefs clinched the AFC's top seed in Week 16) when he took the field last Sunday against the Browns. However, the Chiefs began their postseason defense of last year's Super Bowl title by scoring on each of their FOUR first-half possessions while generating 293 yards to build a 19-3 halftime margin. Mahomes completed 11 of his first 12 passes and was 19 of 25 for 233 yards by halftime. Mahomes was KO'd from the game in the third quarter and the Chiefs had to hold on for a 22-17 win. Mahomes will take the field Sunday having won his last 11 starts, as KC becomes the first AFC team to host three consecutive conference title games. The good news for the Kansas City Chiefs is that Patrick Mahomes is planning to play. Mahomes said Friday that he is out of concussion protocol and is ready to start Sunday's game/ "Talking to all of the doctors and going through all of the testing, we have the belief that I'll have no lingering effects and I'll be able to go out there and be who I am,'' said Mahomes, who practiced for the third consecutive day on Friday. Buffalo QB Josh Allen and the Bills lost a 27-16 Week 6 home game to the Chiefs but have since won EIGHT straight and 11 of 12. Allen joins Mahomes plus legends Brady and Rodgers in the NFL's 'Final 4' and has had a season worthy of being in the same class as his counterparts. He completed 69.2 percent in the regular season for 4,544 yards (had EIGHT 300-yard games) with 37 TDs and just 10 INTs (107.2 QB rating). The Bill's running game (107.7 YPG ranks 20th) is suspect but the addition of Stefon Diggs was HUGE. Diggs' All-Pro season included NFL highs of 127 catches and 1,535 yards (also eight TDs). Fellow WR Beasley added a career-high 82 catches. Mahomes didn't play in the Chiefs' last regular-season game after they had already clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed. He finished completing 66.3% for 4,740 yards with 38 TDs and just six INTs (QB rating 108.2). KC's running game was not much better than Buffalo's (121.4 YPG) but rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire (803 yards / 4.4 YPC) is expected back after missing the Cleveland game with an ankle injury. KC has GREAT depth at receiver but Sammy Watkins (slowed by injuries all season) is expected to play here, joining an outstanding group led by All-World TE Kelce (105 catches / 1,416 yards / 11 TDs) and WR Hill (87 catches / 15 TDs). The Bills were not up to the challenge of playing the Chiefs in Week 6 (in Buffalo), as KC held them to 206 total yards. Allen had a season-low 122 passing yards, the team ran for just 84 yards and Diggs had six catches but for only 46 yards. Meanwhile, Mahomes went 21 of 26 for 225 yards with two TDs and no INTs (128.4 QB rating) and Edwards-Helaire ran for 161 yards! Kansas City ended last season winning its final NINE games (including the playoffs) and is 15-2 this season, after beating Cleveland. That's 24-2 SU and KC is just a three-point favorite here at home (Mahomes 'situation' has kept the number this low). I noted that Mahomes has won his last 11 starts (how about 24-1 over his last 25?) and in his five career home starts in the playoffs, has 15 TDs against zero INTs. That's good enough for me to back KC. Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Notre Dame v. Miami-FL -2 | Top | 73-59 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 37 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on Miami-Fl at 6:00 ET. Notre Dame bounced back from a 14-win season two seasons ago to go 20-12 last year but lost PF Mooney, who averaged 16.2 & 12.7. Mike Brey is now in his 21st season at South Bend but this year's team has struggled, going 4-8 overall, including 1-5 in the ACC. Jim Larranaga will likely always be remembered for taking George Mason to the 2006 Final 4 but in SIX of his first seven seasons at Miami, won 20-plus games with four NCAA appearances. However, the 'Canes are coming off back-to-back seasons of 14 and 15 wins and enter this game at 6-7 (2-6 in the ACC). Notre Dame PG Hubb (13.7-3.1-5.0) ) and SG Goodwin (13.3 & 4.7) are a solid backcourt duo plus the 6-10 Laszewski leads the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (7.7). Stanford transfer Ryan (9.4-4.4-3.1) comes off the bench and 6-11 UConn transfer Durham (8.3 & 5.2) has been a solid complement up front with Laszewski. Miami really misses PG Lykes (15.5-4.0-5.5), who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. However, the 'Canes have excellent backcourt depth. Wong (17.5 & 5.8) is joined in the starting lineup by Olaniyui (9.2- and Beverly (8.1-5.5-3.5) plus McGusty (10.0) and Timberlake (9.3 & 5.0) come off the bench. The 7-0 brooks (7.2 & 6.6) and the 6-0 Walker (7.2 & 3.3) start up front. Miami is coming off an ugly 83-57 loss to Syracuse on Tuesday but faces a Notre Dame team that hasn't played since snapping a four-game losing streak with an 80-70 home win over Boston College on Jan 16. Notre Dame's lone road win this season (1-4) came back on Dec 12 64-63 at Kentucky, part of the Wildcats' season-opening 1-6 start. Road win No. 2 is NOT coming here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-24-21 | Bucs v. Packers -3 | Top | 31-26 | Loss | -120 | 102 h 37 m | Show |
My NFL 10* Playoff Game of the Year is on the GB Packers at 3:05 ET. Tom Brady and the Bucs' offense turned three of four Saints turnovers into TDs and Tampa Bay beat the Saints 30-20 in the divisional round of the playoffs Sunday night at New Orleans. The Saints had beaten the Bucs in BOTH regular season meetings, 34-24 at home in Week 1 and then 38-3 at Tampa in Week 9. Two of those TDs came on short passes to WR Mike Evans and RB Leonard Fournette. Then, after an interception by LB Devin White, Brady drove the Bucs to the one-yard-line, from where he scored himself with 4:57 left to virtually ensure his 14th trip to a conference championship game but his first in the NFC. Brady finished 18 of 33 for 199 yards with two TD passes and that TD run. The 30-20 Tampa Bay win resembled more of a defensive struggle, as the Bucs had a modest 316 total yards and the Saints had just 294. However, unlike in his previous two meetings with the Saints (five INTs and six sacks), Brady was not intercepted and largely avoided pressure, taking only one sack. |
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01-23-21 | Nuggets v. Suns +1.5 | Top | 120-112 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 14 m | Show |
My 10* "signature" LEGEND Play is on the Pho Suns at 9:05 ET. 15 games into the season Denver center Nikola Jokic is averaging 25.5-11.3-9.9, just a fraction under a triple-double. He finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists last night, in Denver's 130-126 OT win at Phoenix. The Suns led by as many as 14 but Denver rallied to tie it late in the fourth quarter, then won it in overtime. The Nuggets are now 8-7, the first time this season Denver is above .500. As for the Suns, they fell to 8-6, after a 7-3 start. The Nuggets got a boost Friday with the return of Michael Porter Jr., who had missed 10 games due to coronavirus issues. Porter had seven points and six rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench in his first action since Dec. 29. Porter is averaging 17.0 & 6.6. Swingman Barton missed all 'bubble' games last season with an injury but has played in all 15 games this season (11 starts), averaging 11.8-4.2-3.1.Morris (11.7) and Harris (11.1) contribute in the backcourt alongside Murray (19.1). Millsap (10.7 & 5.1) and Green (10.3 & 6.5) give Jokic support. The Suns are a perfect 8-0 SU & ATS in the Orlando 'bubble' and added Chris Paul (13.3 & 8.7 APG) in hopes of becoming a real playoff contender. He teams with Booker, whose scoring has been slightly down this season (22.9 PPG from 25.6 PPG each of the last two season). However, the Suns are likely to NOT have Booker (31 points last night) for this immediate rematch, as was injured late in overtime during a scramble for the ball. After the game, coach Monty Williams said Booker hurt a hamstring, leaving him doubtful for the Saturday contest. Obviously, I'd prefer to have Booker but I'm "all over" the Suns anyway. Former first round picks Bridges (15.4 & 5.9) and Johnson (11.4) have made HUGE strides this season plus 6-11 center Ayton is averaging a double-double on the season (14.9 & 12.1). Denver has been an underachiever so far this season and I don't trust them at all in trying for a two-game road sweep at Phoenix (on back-to-back nights), whether Booker plays or not! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Missouri v. Tennessee -7 | Top | 73-64 | Loss | -110 | 13 h 45 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Tennessee at 8:30 ET. The Tennessee Volunteers were No. 12 in the AP's preseason poll and the Vols were 10-1 and ranked 6th when they lost 75-49 at Florida to the Gators on Tuesday, Head coach Rick Barnes promised to try a different in Saturday's home game against the surprising Missouri Tigers, who are 9-2 and ranked 19th. Coming off back-to-back losing seasons of 15-17 and 15-16, the Tigers opened 6-0, their best start to a season since they opened 10-0 in 2013. Missouri's 6-0 start was ended when the Volunteers won 73-53 back on Dec 30 in Columbia. Tigers center Jeremiah Tilmon had nine points and four rebounds in that game but has become a force in conference play, scoring 74 points and grabbing 37 rebounds in his last four games. Tilmon's averaging 12.8 & 8.0 and is Missouri's lone big man of note, as Missouri's next four scorers are guards Pinson (12.9), Dru Smith (12.1), Mark Smith (11.6) and Pickett (7.6). Tennessee is loaded with perimeter plays. Guards Bailey (11.6), Springer (11.0), Vescovi (9.8), Johnson (9.1), James (8.1) and Pons (7.3) are quite a group. The 6-9 Fulkerson averages 12.2 & 6.2). The Vols have plenty of offensive balance, averaging 74.8 PPG but Barnes' team thrives on its defense, holding opponents to 58.7 PPG (5th). Missouri head coach Counzo Martin needs more consistency from his guards. Xavier Pinson has as many turnovers (nine) as points in his last two games. Dru Smith averaged 14.6 points in his first five games, then scored just six points in each of his next three games. Mark Smith averaged 17.3 points in his first four games before scoring just 6.8 points per game in his next six. That hardly bodes well against an OUTSTANDING Tennessee defensive team, looking to bounce back from an 'ugly' loss to Florida. In the first meeting at Missouri, Tennessee shot 50.0% and held Missouri to 36.1% shooting and to a season-low 53 points. No revenge here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | LSU v. Kentucky -1 | Top | 69-82 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on Kentucky at 6:00 ET. LSU (10-3, 5-2) entered its home game with No. 18 Alabama (Tuesday) on a four-game winning streak and had a chance to tie the league-leading Tide with a win. Instead, the Tigers allowed the most points in Will Wade's four seasons as head coach in a 105-75 loss (Alabama finished with an SEC-record 23 three-pointers). Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. However, the Wildcats won three straight to open SEC play, after a 76-58 at Florida on Jan 9. Hope was alive in Lexington THREE straight losses have followed. Kentucky welcomes LSU to Rupp Arena 4-9, including 3-3 in SEC play. Freshman guard Thomas (22.0) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (14.9-3.8-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.1 & 7.1), the 6-7 Days (12.9 & 8.2) plus SF Wilkerson (4.9 & 3.6) start up front. It's no surprise that Calipari relies on freshmen, including leading scorer Boston (12.0 & 5.4), who is joined in the backcourt by freshman Clarke (10.7) and Askew (7.5) plus senior Mintz (9.5). 7-0 senior Wake Forest transfer Sarr (10.0 & 6.1) has help up front from 6-10 freshman Jackson (6.5 & 6.4) and now the 6-7 Brooks. The sophomore has been back on the court for the last four games, averaging 10.5 & 4.8. However, his return has been mitigated by Clarke being sidelined with an ankle injury. The Wildcats had a six-point lead at Georgia with two minutes remaining Wednesday night but Kentucky didn't score again. The Bulldogs scored the final SEVEN points in winning 63-62 on a last-second layup by P.J. Horne. "We should have won the game," Wildcats coach John Calipari said after his team lost its third straight. "I'm discouraged." Coach Cal's season is on the brink of being a 'lost cause' and this game with LSU is the ONLY one in the next five for the Wildcats that is not against a ranked team. Win here, or "pack it in!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Ohio State v. Wisconsin -4.5 | Top | 74-62 | Loss | -110 | 8 h 20 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Wisconsin at 4:00 ET. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. Wisconsin got blown out at 77-54 Michigan on Jan 12 but has allowed 54 and 52 points, respectively, in conference wins over Rutgers and Northwestern since the Michigan game. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio State (11-4, 5-4) saw a three-game winning streak end Tuesday night when Purdue's Jaden Ivey drilled a stepback three-pointer with five seconds to secure a 67-65 decision in Columbus. The Buckeyes led by five points with 2:08 left but didn't manage a field goal for the game's remainder. Ohio State hit just 37.7 percent from the floor against Purdue. "Give Purdue credit; I thought they made a few more plays and got to a few more loose balls than we did," Chris Holtmann said. "It was a super-physical game. We have to be tougher with the ball in a game like this. That's my fault." Guard Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and had been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, Walkers is now out with torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.1 & 6.8). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.5 & 5.2), the 6-8 Young (8.0 & 6.1), 6-8 freshman Key (6.7 & 3.7) and the 6-6 Aherns (6.6) The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.2-3.3) and Davison (9.8) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.1 & 6.7), the 6-11 Reuvers (9.1 & 3.9) and the 6-8 Ford (9.4 & 4.2). 6-5 freshman Davis (6.5 & 4.6) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (5.5 & 4.1) both contribute off the bench. I love the way Wisconsin plays and Ohio St is typically vulnerable away from Columbus. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | NC State v. North Carolina -6 | Top | 76-86 | Win | 100 | 5 h 12 m | Show |
My 9* Play is on North Carolina at 2:00 ET. Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh and while he lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last season's team, the Wolfpack have plenty of talent and depth this season. However, NC State is just 6-4 (2-3 ACC) and hasn't played since Jan. 13 because of COVID-19 issues. North Carolina's legendary head coach Roy Williams is coming off a 14-19 season in which North Carolina players lost 99 games to injury. However, the Tar Heels opened No. 16 in the AP's preseason poll. The Tar Heels welcome the Wolfpack to Chapel Hill at 9-5 (4-3 in ACC). NC State enters on a three-game losing streak (most recent game was a 105-73 loss at Clemson) and the team's practice time has been reduced because of the COVID-19 pause. Guard Daniels (15.7 & 4.8-3.3) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11.3 & 5.2) are averaging in double digits, as is the 6-10 Funderburk (12.1 & 5.3), who comes off the bench. Hayes (7.9) and Beverley (6.0) start in the backcourt along with Daniels, while the 6-11 Bates (9.4 & 5.4) starts up front with Hellems. However, Bates is out with an ankle injury. Last year's super frosh Anthony lost time to injury last season (played 22 games) but averaged 18.5-5.7-4.0 and as expected was a "One and Done!" Also gone is senior guard Robinson and his 11.8 PPG for North Carolina. The Tar Heels' strength is their depth. Up front it's the 6-10 Bacot (11.6 & 7.6), the 6-10 Brooks (10.7 & 7.4) and the 6-11 Sharpe (9.0 & 7.6), while the backcourt goes five-deep. The group includes Love (10.2), Davis (9.4), Black (7.0 & 6.0), Walton (6.1) and Platek (5.3). North Carolina lost 79-76 to NC State on Dec. 22 in Raleigh but hasn't lost consecutive games to NC State since 2002-03, the season before Roy Williams became coach. With Williams as coach, North Carolina is 32-5 vs. NC State. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-23-21 | Kansas -1 v. Oklahoma | Top | 68-75 | Loss | -114 | 7 h 22 m | Show |
My 9* Eye-Opener is on Kansas at 12:00 ET. When last season was shut down because of COVID, the Kansas Jayhawks were the AP's No. 1-ranked team. Key losses for Kansas entering this season were PG Devon Dotson (18.1-4.9-4.0) and the seven-foot Udoka Azubuike (13.7 & 10.5). The Jayhawks opened the current season losing 102-90 to No. 1 Gonzaga but then won EIGHT in a row before a shocking 84-59 home loss to Texas on Jan 2 (the Longhorns owned just one previous win in 17 tries at Lawrence). The Jayhawks enter this game in Norman at 10-4 (4-3 Big 12), having lost back-to-back games for the first time in two seasons and two consecutive conference games for the first time since 2013. Lon Kruger's Oklahoma team is 8-4 overall and like Kansas, 4-3 in the Big 12. The Sooners lost 63-59 at Kansas back on Jan 9, although the Sooners played without forwards Brady Manek (12.5 & 4.1) and Jalen Hill (3.9 & 3.5) due to COVID-19 protocols. Manek and Hill returned in Tuesday night's 76-50 win over Kansas State, each coming off the bench and scoring six points apiece. The 6-8 Jalen Wilson has bounced back after suffering a broken ankle as a freshman last season to average 13.1 & 7.6 for Kansas this season. Junior Ochai Agbaji (14.8 & 4.4) leads the team in scoring and senior Marcus Garrett (9.2 & 4.3-3.9) is one of the nation's top defenders. Sophomore guard Braun (10.7 & 5.5) and 6-10 junior David McCormack (10.6 & 5.9) round out Self's main contributors. Oklahoma's top scorer from last season is gone (forward Doolittle averaged 15.8 & 8.9). Guards Reaves (15.2-5.5-5.3), Harmon (12.0) and Williams (8.4) are joined by big men like the 6-9 Manek (12.5 & 4.1), the 6-10 Kuath (8.1 & 4.9) and the 6-7 Iwuako (5.6 7 4.0). Oklahoma's playing with revenge but the Jayhawks have had just TWO three-game losing streaks in 18 seasons under Self! I'm backing Kansas. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-21 | Celtics v. 76ers -5 | Top | 110-122 | Win | 100 | 11 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner of the Month is on the Bos Celtics at 7:35 ET. The first game of Friday's ESPN doubleheader is 8-5 Boston playing at 10-5 Philadelphia. These teams met Wednesday in Philly, with Embiid's 42 points leading the way to a 117-109 win (Sixers outscored the Celtics 31-17 in the 4th quarter). Boston has lost two straight after a five-game winning streak and the 76ers are 8-1 at home. Boston's Tatum has been out due to COVID-19 protocols but head coach Brad Stevens said Tatum has a "50-50 chance" of playing Friday. The Celtics played well for large stretches on Wednesday night, led by Jaylen Brown's (25.8 & 5.8) 26 points and 25 from Marcus Smart (13.3 & 5.5 APG). However, they clearly missed Jayson Tatum (26.9 & 7.1). The Celtics did receive a huge lift from PG Kemba Walker, who hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points in just his second game back from a knee injury (Celtics are 0-2 in his return). Rookie Pritchard (8.3) and FA signee Teague (7.1) give Boston depth on the perimeter. Undersized center Theis is shooting 69.1% from the floor, while averaging 9.6 PPG over his last 10. He's now getting help inside from former Cav Thompson, who is averaging 6.9 PPG and a team-high 8.5 RPG. Embiid used a strict offseason conditioning program and is averaging 26.4 & 11.3. His 42-point effort makes him just the second player to have two, 40-point games this season, joining Washington's Bradley Beal. PF Harris (19.3 & 6.8) and PG Simmons (12.2-9.2-8.0) have contributed nicely, while rookie Maxey (11.6) plus vets Danny Green (9.7) and Dwight Howard (6.9 & 7.9) have all played in each of Philly's 15 games. SG Milton is adding 16.8 PPG off the bench. Obviously, it would be GREAT to get Tatum back but note that the Celtics hung with Philly all game on Wednesday, with no Tatum and Embiid scoring 42 points. Tatum or not, the Celtics (Boston swept Philly 4-0 in last season's playoffs) plus the points is the play in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-22-21 | Michigan v. Purdue +4 | Top | 70-53 | Loss | -110 | 11 h 52 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on Purdue at 7:00 ET. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan started the season with 11 consecutive victories before falling 75-57 at Minnesota last Saturday but routed Maryland 87-63 in a game they never trailed on Tuesday. The win came even though Michigan's leading scorer Hunter Dickinson (15.7 PPG) only took three shots and scored three points. The Boilermakers welcome Michigan to Mackey Arena on a current four-game winning streak that began when they rallied from 17 points down against Michigan State back on Jan 8. The Boilermakers have outscored opponents by a combined 39 points in the second half over the last four games. and are 11-5, including 6-0 at home. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 14.1 & 5.7 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (15.7 & 7.5). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.3 & 7.2), Smith (8.6 & 5.8 APG), Brown (9.2), Brooks (8,6 & 3.8 APG). Michigan is averaging 80.5 PPG on 51.4% shooting (10th), while holding opponents to 66.3 PPG on 37.9% shooting (11th). Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is 11-5 this season, including 6-3 in Big Ten. Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.5 & 3.3 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.4 & 9.65 and SG Stefanovic (11.1). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.1 & 3.9) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.1) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.1 and 15.4 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Michigan delivered an emphatic response to its first loss of the season against Maryland but winning here at Purdue is a tough assignment. Trevion Williams has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games (he's averaged 19.3 points during the Boilermakers' current four-game winning streak) but it was reserve freshman guard Jaden Ivey (7.2) who made the game-winning shot. He knocked down a three-pointer with five seconds left and finished with a career-high 15 points in Purdue's 67-65 win at Ohio St. It was Ohio State's first home loss of the season (had opened 7-0), as Purdue's defense held the Buckeyes to 37.7 percent shooting. The home dog barks LOUDLY in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-21 | San Francisco v. Santa Clara +4 | Top | 73-50 | Loss | -107 | 13 h 7 m | Show |
My 10* WCC Game of the Year is on Santa Clara at 10:00 ET. San Francisco went 22-12 last season in head coach Todd Golden's first season and enters this contest 9-7. The Dons lost two key players from last season in leading scorer Mineland (14.4 & 4.7) and huge center Lull (11.9 & 7.6). This year's team revolves around senior PG Bouyea (17.4-3.4-3.8 APG), junior SG Shabazz (15.6-4.1) and 6-9 junior Ryuny (10.3 & 6.0). The Dons are on the road tonight in Santa Clara to face the Broncos. The Broncos are coached by Herb Sendek (NC State and Arizona St), who after going 44-51 in his first three seasons with Santa Clara, went 23-13 last season and has opened this season 8-3. San Francisco shocked UVA 61-60 way back in late-Dec but has been a .500 team since. Joining the above-mentioned double digit scorers in the starting lineup are the 6-9 Jurkatamm (6.5 & 3.0) and the 6-8 Kunen (3.9 & 5.1). Guards Rishwain (6.9) and Milstead (5.5) come off the bench. Santa Clara is led by the 6-9 Vrankic (14.3 & 8.5) and the 6-7 Justice (11.0 & 5.8), who are joined by guards Carlyle (9.1), Williams (8.3 & 3.7) and Caruso (6.8 & 3.7) The 6-8 Mitchell (5.7 & 4.8) and 60-10 Bediako (5.7 & 6.1) come off the bench. No crowds have blunted Santa Clara's success at home, as the Broncos are a perfect 5-0 at Leavey Center. What the Broncos could use more of is, MORE home games. Santa Clara opened the season 6-0, going 5-0 at home but due to COVID cancelations and postponements, haven't played at home since Dec 15. The Dons are in the WRONG place at the WRONG time in this one and any points we get will be a bonus. Good luck...Larry |
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01-21-21 | Lakers v. Bucks +1 | Top | 113-106 | Loss | -107 | 12 h 22 m | Show |
My 10* play is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET. The LA Lakers are 11-4, tied with the Clippers for the NBA's best record. However, the Lakers own the NBA's best point-differential (plus-10.2), with the Clippers checking in at plus-7.1, No team has been better on the road than the Lakers, who take a perfect 7-0 SU run into their game tonight at the Bucks, who are 9-5 (6-1 at home) and own the league's second-best point differential at plus-9.8. Both teams are coming off losses, the Lakers 115-113 at home to the Warriors and the Bucks 125-123 at Brooklyn. The good news for NBA fans is that in this 'Year of COVID,' both teams come in healthy. The Lakers blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead against the Warriors, with LBJ missing a last-second three-pointer. The Lakers are led by the dynamic duo of LBJ (23.7-7.9-7.5) and A.D. (21.3 & 9.0) plus have to added two terrific players in PG Schroder (14.8-4.2-4.7) and PF Harrell, who comes off the bench to add 14.0 & 7.4 in 24 1/2 minutes per game). Giannis (27.2-10.2-5.23) has won the last two MVP awards and has quite a sidekick in SF Middleton, who is averaging 22.1-6.3-3.6. Jrue Holiday (15.7-4.2-5.1) has taken over for the departed Bledsoe plus guard DiVincenzo (10.1 & 3.9) and center Brook Lopez (9.7 & 5.4) round out the starting lineup. The 6-10 Portis comes off the bench and while his numbers are a little shy of Harrell's, he's been a HUGE addition in averaging 10.9 & 8.1 in 23 MPG. Which team to take off a loss? The Lakers are the better defensive team (105.1 PPG ranks third) but Milwaukee is averaging 120.4 PPG (2nd) on 48.5% shooting (5th), including 40.3% on threes (2nd). Beating the defending champs is something the Bucks almost NEED to do. That's my bet. Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-21 | Tulsa v. Houston -12 | Top | 59-86 | Win | 100 | 8 h 37 m | Show |
My 9* Late-Breaker is on Houston at 8:00 ET. Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64 back on Dec 29. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). After opening 1-3, Tulsa has gone 7-1 to enter this rematch with Houston at 8-4. Kelvin Sampson had a great run at Oklahoma (nine NCAA tourneys in 10 seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2002) but then ran into off the court issues in a two-year stay at Indiana. He was away from CBB for a few years but resurfaced at Houston for the 2014-15 season. It took him a while to build the program but his teams won 27 and 33 games in back-to-back seasons before going 23-8 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Cougars opened 7-0 this season, rising to No. 5 in the latest AP poll but lost their first game of the season 65-64 at Tulsa. The Cougars have won all four games since that loss to the Golden Hurricane and enter this rematch 11-1 and ranked No. 8 in the latest AP poll. The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.6 & 7.2), Joiner (9.8-5.1-3.8), Embery-Simpson (7.9) and Jackson (7.3). The 6-9 Idowu (8.5 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 67.8 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 64.3% of its free throws (307th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.9 PPG (16th) while holding opponents to 37.4% from the floor (7th). Houston guards Grimes (17.8 & 6.5) and Sasser (15.5) are the 'big dogs,' joined on the perimeter by Jarreau (8.8-6.0-3.7) and freshman Mark (7.9). The best frontcourt player is the 6-7 Gorham (7.7 & 9.1). Houston is not a high scoring team (73.3 PPG) but Sampson's team can sure play "D," allowing only 56.5 PPG, ranking second-best in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to 37.1% shooting (4th), including 25.6% on threes (also 4th-best). Houston is 8-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 21.0 PPG and wins this one "with room to spare!" Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-21 | Mavs v. Pacers +1 | Top | 124-112 | Loss | -107 | 12 h 43 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. The 6-7 Dallas Mavericks visit Indianapolis to take on the 8-8 Pacers stuck in their first three-game losing streak since late in the 2018-19 season. Dallas lost 116-93 to Toronto on Monday to open a three-game trip. Tonight's contest is the second of a brutal stretch of five games in seven days for Dallas. The Pacers are coming off an 'ugly' 129-96 at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, which concluded an extended road trip that saw the Pacers play four games (a fifth was postponed) from Jan 11-17. Tonight's game begins a four-game homestand for Indiana. Luka Doncic (27.2-9.9-9.3) had 36 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in a 117-101 home loss to Chicago on Sunday but the Raptors held him to 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in Monday's loss. Jalen Brunson returned to the lineup after missing the previous four games due to the NBA's health and safety protocols but the Mavericks still are without Josh Richardson, (13.8), Dorian Finney-Smith (.3 & 5.0), Maxi Kleber (7.4 & 5.3) and Dwight Powell (5.0 & 3.6). The 7-3 Porzingis returned four games ago after recovering from an injury but while he's averaged 18.5 & 7.8, the Mavs have lost THREE of those four games. The Pacers are not 100 percent either, as Oladipo (20.0 PPG) is gone in a trade and his expected replacement (LeVert) has a medical issue. SF Warren (15.) remains out with a foot injury and center Turner (12.4 & 6.8), who also leads the NBA in blocks, is sidelined with a right-hand injury suffered in Indiana's 111-87 win over Portland last Thursday. However, PG Brogdon (22.2-4.0-7.5) and PF Sabonis (21.7-12.8-5.8) are playing at an All Star level. McDermott (2.6 PPG on 51.3% shooting) has played well all season off the bench and the Pacers are getting solid contributions from three more guards. The Holidays, Justin (11.0 & 3.5 APG) and Aaron (5.9 & 2.5 APG) will get increased "PT" plus so will Sumner (6.7). Neither team is 100 percent but the Pacers are the play here at home, as the Mavs continue to struggle, despite Luka's brilliance. Good luck...Larry |
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01-20-21 | Clemson +1.5 v. Georgia Tech | Top | 65-83 | Loss | -109 | 11 h 4 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Clemson at 7:00 ET. 9-1 Clemson was ranked 12th when it welcomed Virginia to Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday. The Tigers were coming off an extended pause due to a positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing. The 11-day break clearly did not turn out well, as UVa routed Clemson 85-50 for its 11th consecutive win over the Tigers. Clemson (9-2) dropped to No. 20 in Monday's AP poll and will travel to Atlanta to take on a 6-3 Georgia Tech team. Brad Brownell came to Clemson for the 2010-11 season, after so-so stints at UNC-Wilmington and Wright St (not a single NCAA bid) and has produced a modest four, 20-win seasons and just two NCAA berths in his tenure. However, he returned four starters plus Fordham transfer Nick Honor is now eligible. The Tigers are led by 6-8 senior forward Aamir Simms (11.6 & 5.7) and senior guard Clyde Trapp (7.2 & 5.1). Simms was a preseason All-ACC first-team and Trapp is surrounded by guards Honor (10.3) and Dawes (8.8). Ga Tech head coach Josh Pastner is in his fifth season with the Yellow Jackets, after SEVEN years at Memphis. His first four seasons have not gone well (just 65-67) and this year's team is 6-3 and similar to Clemson this past Saturday, enters tonight's contest having had four consecutive games postponed and haven't played since Jan 3. Returning PG Alvarado (18.1-3.7-3.8) and SG Devoe (14.2-4.9-3.2) have been excellent plus returning big man Wright (17.0 & 7.1) present an excellent trio. 6-7 USC transfer Usher (9.7 & 5.2) helps out up front plus VMI transfer Parham (9.7 & 3.7) adds to the team's backcourt depth. That's a solid five-man rotation but the Yellow Jackets have little depth. The Yellow Jackets aren't likely to be at full strength against the Tigers, although Pastner did not identify which of his players he expects to miss Wednesday night's game. Georgia Tech had won four straight games before the interruption but so had Clemson prior to facing Virginia. The "situation" is just right for a Clemson bounce-back against a Ga Tech team playing for the first time in 2 1/2-weeks. Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Duke -2.5 v. Pittsburgh | Top | 73-79 | Loss | -110 | 14 h 14 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Duke at 9:00 ET. Duke opened No. 9 in the AP's preseason poll but the team's Jan 12 loss at Va Tech saw 5-3 Duke (3-1 in the ACC) fall out of the AP poll on Monday. It ended the nation's second-longest streak of consecutive weeks in the top-25 at 91. The Blue Devils have been idle since that Jan 12 loss and will travel to Pittsburgh 7-2 / 3-1 ACC) to take on the Panthers. Pittsburgh has played just TWO games across a 25-day period, BOTH against Syracuse, winning each time fueled by second-half comebacks.
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01-19-21 | Alabama v. LSU -1 | Top | 105-75 | Loss | -108 | 14 h 3 m | Show |
My 9* play is on LSU at 9:00 ET. Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season and guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. Alabama has won SEVEN in a row (6-0 in SEC puts them in 1st-place) and at 11-3, just entered the top-25 for the first time this season on Monday (No. 18). LSU head coach Will Wade has been surrounded by controversy but his Tigers enter on a four-game winning streak and at 10-2 (5-1 SEC), can tie Alabama atop the SEC with a home win tonight. Alabama's backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (12.5 & 3.5 APG), Shackleford (13.6 & 4.3), Petty (13.5 & 5.3) and Primo (7.6 & 3.4), while the 6-8 Jones (12.6 & 5.9) had been joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.3), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. However, Brunner is out until mid-Feb with a knee injury. Freshman guard Thomas (22.1) leads the Tigers in scoring, joined by fellow guard Smart (15.2-4.0-4.0) to give LSU one of the SEC's top backcourt duos. The 6-9 Watford (18.7 & 7.0), the 6-7 Days (13.7 & 8.6) plus SF Wilkerson (4.8 & 3.7) start up front. Alabama is off to its best start in SEC play since 1987 and its seventh consecutive win was a 90-59 rout of visiting Arkansas on Saturday. That victory came just four days after an 85-65 victory against Kentucky LSU 85-80 home win against South Carolina on Saturday saw the Tigers hold the Gamecocks without a field goal for more than SEVEN minutes to take control. South Carolina missed 11 consecutive shots and made just one of its last 13. I respect Alabama but LSU is a perfect 8-0 SU at home and with this pointspread, a "W" is a cover! Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Ole Miss v. Mississippi State -2.5 | Top | 64-46 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Game of the Month (SEC) is on Mississippi St at 9:00 ET. Kermit Davis is in his third season at Ole Miss. His first team won 20 games but last season's team won just 15, going 6-12 in the SEC (12th of 14 teams). Davis was critical of his team saying that it couldn't close out games. "We had seven games in SEC play where we had leads but couldn't hold them." Ole Miss is just 6-6 (1-4 SEC) and enters this game having lost three in a row. However, the Rebels have won 10 of the last 14 meetings against Mississippi State. Ben Howland's MSU team went 20-11 last season, its third consecutive 20-win season. The Bulldogs were on a roll (had won 11 of their last 15) and finished with an 11-7 mark in SEC conference play, earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament, earning a bye to the quarterfinals. However COVID-19 had other plans and the conference tournament was canceled. The Bulldogs are 9-5 (4-2 SEC), after a 72-69 win over visiting Florida on Saturday. Ole Miss lost by 14 to LSU, by nine to Florida and despite 24 points and eight assists from Devontae Shuler, lost to Georgia 78-74, at home this past Saturday. PG Shuler (14.1 & 4.3 APG) leads the team in scoring and the Rebels' only other double digit scorer is 6-8 Arizona graduate transfer Romello White (11.2 & 5.8). The returning 6-7 Buffen (9.8 & 4.6 just misses double digits, as do guards Joiner (9.90 and Rodriguez (8.2 & 6.9). Howland lost his four best players in the 6-10 Reggie Perry (17.4 & 10.1), plus guards Tyson Carter (13.9), Robert Woodard (11.4 & 6.5) and Nick Weatherspoon (11.6-3.5-4.1). However, returning guard DJ Stewart is averaging 17.4 PPG plus the 6-11 Abdul Ado has added 5.9 & 6.5). 5.7 & 6.7). The surprise has been sophomore guard Molinar, who averaged only 5.9 PPG last season, but leads the team with 18.4-4.4-3.4. Howland had high hopes for 6-6 forward Jalen Johnson (a transfer from Louisiana who averaged 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds last season) but he has disappointed by averaging 7.4 PPG. That said, 6-10 Tolo Smith (via Western Ky) is averaging 13.8 & 8.9. Tuesday will be the first meeting of the season between the rivals and the Bulldogs and guard Iverson Molinar has scored in double figures in all 11 games he has played this season, while the 6-10 Smith leads the SEC in rebounding. Ole Miss just doesn't match up well here and note that the Bulldogs beat the Rebels 69-44 last season at Humphrey Coliseum. The price seems cheap. Lay it! Good luck...Larry |
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01-19-21 | Penn State v. Illinois -8 | Top | 65-79 | Win | 100 | 14 h 34 m | Show |
My 9* play is on Illinois at 8:30 ET. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run and after sitting on that loss to Maryland for six days, Illinois promptly fell behind 10-2 and 37-19 in the first half against Ohio St, of an eventual 87-81 defeat in Champaign. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry has led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-5 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. Penn State had been idle since Dec 30 (FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program) but returned to the court on Sunday in an 80-72 loss at Purdue. The Nittany Lions were predictably rusty in the first half, scoring just nine points in the first 10 minutes. Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (14.8 & 5.3) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (11.9 & 3.5) plus guards Myreon Jones (15.4) and Sam Sessoms (11.5). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.9 & 7.5) and PG Wheeler (5.0-4.3.4-1) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Penn St allied to take a lead later in the half against Purdue and trailed only 33-32 at intermission, but the Boilermakers started the second half with an 18-5 spurt that was simply too much for Penn State to overcome. Myreon Jones led Penn State with a career-high 23 points, while senior John Harrar enjoyed the best game of his career with 14 points and 14 rebounds. The loss to Ohio St dropped coach Brad Underwood's team to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in the conference, and after the game, he sounded like a man who has seen enough. "I'm getting really frustrated with really poor, lack of emotion, non-competitive starts," he said to the Champaign News-Gazette. "You can't come out of a locker room and can't come out of a pregame huddle and be down 10-2. "You can't have guys not show up and not be assignment-sound and not be dialed in mentally. Right now we have that. We've got to put five guys on the floor who will be competitive, not just ride the emotional waves of good or bad. Just play." Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.7-4.9) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.1 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (8.8 & 4.4 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.2 & 5.6) plus freshman Miller adds 9.6 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.9 & 2.9) rounds out the main contributors. Somehow, Illinois remained in the top-25 in Monday's new poll (22nd) but the Illini won't remain for long without a big (quick) turnaround. With four or five potential pros on its roster and perhaps a couple of future NBA All-Stars, No. 22 Illinois was expected to challenge for the Big Ten Conference title back in November and potentially make a deep NCAA Tournament run. It sure doesn't look like that now. That said, I don't doubt this team's talent. Lay the points. Good luck...Larry |
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01-18-21 | Bucks -2 v. Nets | Top | 123-125 | Loss | -105 | 11 h 28 m | Show |
My NBA 10* Game of the Month is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET. |
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01-18-21 | Florida State v. Louisville -1.5 | Top | 78-65 | Loss | -112 | 12 h 33 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Louisville at 7:00 ET. Leonard Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. Florida State went 14 days in a row without playing due to COVID-19 interruptions but the Seminoles beat North Carolina 82-75 on Saturday for their second consecutive victory after losing two of the previous three games. The now 7-2 Seminoles shot 48.0 percent against North Carolina, after making a blistering 70.7 percent of their shots during a 105-73 rout of North Carolina State on Wednesday. Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first season (NCAA bid) and were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Louisville entered the weekend riding a FIVE-game winning streak and was tied with Virginia atop the ACC. However, a 3-for-20 three-point shooting performance and Miami's 49.2-percent effort from the floor sent the Cardinals to a 78-72 road loss on Saturday. Louisville trailed by 12 at halftime and never found a rhythm offensively. Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 16.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.4 & 5.7), the 6-8 Gray (8.3 & 5.4) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.9 & 4.7) comes off the bench. 6-9 freshman guard Barnes averages 11.1-3.8-4.1 but he's questionable with an ankle issue. Returning guard Polite (9.6 & 4.6) just misses double digits Louisville swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 18.0-6.2-4.9. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (12.9-5.6-4.1) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 7.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (8.9 & 6.2) and the 6-8 Slazinski (6.6 & 4.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers (8.9 & 6.2) all contribute. Florida State won its 20th straight ACC home game on Saturday but now plays its THIRD game over a SIX-day stretch after going 14 in a row without playing (see above). Let me also note that the Seminoles lost 77-67 at Clemson on Dec 29 in their ONLY other true road game of the season and in Louisville, FSU is playing a ranked team for the FIRST time this season. The No. 16 Cardinals (9-2 / 4-1 ACC) look to rebound from their first Atlantic Coast Conference defeat and avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season. Louisville has won its last six home games, outscoring opponents on average, 74.3-to-60.3 PPG. VERY tough spot for the Seminoles. "PERFECT" spot for the Cards! Good luck...Larry |
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01-18-21 | Spurs v. Blazers +2 | Top | 125-104 | Loss | -107 | 6 h 57 m | Show |
My 9* Oddsmaker's Error is on the Por Blazers at 3:05 ET. The Portland Trail Blazers have won FIVE of their last six and have upped their record to 8-5. They will look to continue their winning ways Monday afternoon at Moda Center when they welcome the 7-6 San Antonio Spurs to Portland. The Spurs have won FIVE of seven and the team's 7-6 record is good enough to lead the Southwest Division (we don't reference divisions much these days). Portland's 8-5 record leaves them one game back of the Jazz in the Northwest. Overall, Portland is the No. 5 seed and San Antonio the No. 6 seed. The Spurs came off an impressive 4-1 road trip but despite leading the roster-depleted Rockets 99-90 with 4:39 to play, got outscored 19-6 the rest of the way to lose. However, the Spurs rebounded from that loss in Saturday's rematch. However, the Rockets, despite suiting up just eight players (the league-mandated minimum), were up to the task until the final five minutes. DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points in Saturday's win, while Jakob Poeltl and Dejounte Murray added double doubles, as the Spurs were at their best when fatigue finally got to Houston. SEVEN Spurs are averaging in double digits, with guards DeRozan (20.7-5.7-6.7) and Murray (15.8-7.3-5.2) leading the way. While the Spurs came back from a double-digit first-half deficit to beat short-handed Houston 103-91, Portland was forced to mount its own comeback against the Hawks without CJ McCollum (26.7-3.9-5.0), who scored 16 first-half points but did not play in the second half due to a sprained left foot. The Blazers limited Atlanta to 20 points in each of the final two quarters and roared back after trailing by seven at halftime to win 112-106. Damian Lillard (27.6-4.8-6.8) led the way vs Atlanta with 36 points. Melo (13.0) and Gary Trent (11.5) have been productive off the bench and center Kanter made his first start of the season, as Nurkic (9.8 & 7.7) is out with a broken hand. Kanter has 12 points and 15 rebounds in 29 minutes and has been a great addition, averaging 10.8 & 9.4 on the season. Other new additions like SF Jones (7.0 & 4.2) and PF Covington (6.5 & 5.9) have underperformed but Jones scored 10 points vs the Hawks, while Covington had 10 rebounds. Nurkic will be missed (out at least EIGHT weeks) but McCollum underwent an MRI and his injury was just a sprain. He will be a game-time decision Monday. Portland is being VERY undervalued here and I say "The PRICE is RIGHT!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-17-21 | Pacers v. Clippers -5.5 | Top | 96-129 | Win | 100 | 13 h 21 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on the LA Clippers at 10:05 ET. The defending champion Lakers own the NBA's best record at 11-3 but their Staples Center co-tenants, the Clippers, look to stay within striking distance when they host the Indiana Pacers tonight. The Clippers have won FIVE of their last seven contests, after they crushed the Kings 138-100 on Friday (15th consecutive win at Sacramento!) to reach 8-4 The Pacers are also 8-4, after routing the Portland Trail Blazers 111-87 on Thursday. The win snapped an 11-game losing streak at Portland, where the Pacers hadn't won since 2007. The Pacers' scheduled game Saturday at the Phoenix Suns was postponed, due to the league's health and safety protocols. The Suns didn't have the NBA's required eight players available because of contract tracing. The Pacers announced on Saturday that they had acquired guard Caris LeVert from the Houston Rockets for guard Victor Oladipo. The trade was reported to be in the works earlier in the week after LeVert was shipped to Houston by the Brooklyn Nets in a deal involving James Harden. However, Levert will be out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney during a physical prior to finalizing the four-team trade. Brogdon (22.8-4.2-7.4) and Sabonis (21.9-12.8-5.8) are off to great starts but the will not have Oladipo (traded), LeVert (see above) and SF Warren (15.5 PPG), who hasn't played since Dec 29 with a foot injury. The Clippers beat the Kings without starting guard Patrick Beverley (personal reasons) and 6th-man Lou Williams (hip). It isn't clear if they will play Sunday. However, the dynamic duo of Paul George (25.3-6.1-5.2) and Kawhi (25.0-4.9-6.0) are ready to go. New additions Ibaka (11.8 & 6.2) and Batum (9.8-5.4-2.9) have started all 13 games, while Marcus Morris Sr. is back healthy, adding 18 points off the bench in Sacramento. Note that George (50.3%), Kawhi (48.3%), Ibaka (51.6%) and Batum (49.4%) all shott right around 50% on the season, while the Clippers are the NBA's best three-point shooting team (43.6%) and FT-shooting team (83.9%).This is Indiana's FOURTH road game in nine days and I'm "all over" the Clippers in this one. Good luck...Larry |
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01-17-21 | Browns v. Chiefs -9.5 | Top | 17-22 | Loss | -108 | 69 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on the KC Chiefs at 3:05 ET. Full, detailed analysis Saturday afternoon by 3:00 ET. |
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01-17-21 | Penn State v. Purdue -5 | Top | 72-80 | Win | 100 | 6 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout of the Month is on Purdue at 1:00 ET. Penn St was 21-10 last season but the Nittany Lions went through some turmoil right as practices started when head coach Pat Chambers resigned in late October following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. Penn State interim head coach Jim Ferry led the Nittany Lions to an unimpressive 3-4 start, after an 87-85 overtime loss at Indiana on Dec 30. However, the Nittany Lions have been idle since that game, as Penn State has had FOUR straight postponements due to COVID-19 concerns within the program and enters on a three-game losing streak. Purdue's Matt Painter is in his 16th season with the Boilermakers and his team was just 16-14 last season, coming off a four-year run of averaging 27.3 wins per season. Purdue is coming off a four-game road trip that included meetings with THREE ranked schools and the Boilermakers return home (where they are 5-0 SU) with a 9-5 overall record (4-3 Big Ten). Penn St surely misses All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 & 6.9) but the Nittany Lions have four players averaging in double figures; the 6-7 Izaiah Brockington (15.1 & 4.7) and the 6-7 Seth Lundy (12.6) plus guards Myreon Jones (14.3) and Sam Sessoms (12.6). Sessoms has come off the bench, with the 6-9 Harrar (7.0 & 6.6) and PG Wheeler (5.3-4.0.4-3) starting alongside Jones and the two 6-7 forwards. Head coach Jim Ferry declined to offer specifics on which players would still be out due to quarantining but said the Nittany Lions would have enough players Sunday as they begin a stretch of four games in seven days. Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.4 & 3.5 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.5 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (10.5). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.2 & 3.7) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.5 & 3.6) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.2 and 15.5 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG, including Wheeler (4.2 & 5.0), who leads the team in assists. Purdue is coming off a win at Indiana, the Boilermakers EIGHTH straight win over the Hoosiers. Trevion Williams has asserted himself in Purdue's last two games, combining for 48 points to spur road victories against then-No. 23 Michigan State and in-state rival Indiana. He has now scored in double figures in NINE straight games, averaging 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds during that stretch. Purdue is 5-0 at home and Penn St is off to an 0-3 start in the big Ten. BOTH of those streaks continue here, as the Boilermakers roll to a win "with room to spare!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Ravens +3 v. Bills | Top | 3-17 | Loss | -117 | 56 h 53 m | Show |
My 9* "Battle of the Bs" is on the Bal Ravens at 8:15 ET. The Baltimore Ravens ended last season on a 12-game winning streak and entered the 2019 postseason 14-2 as the AFC's No. 1 seed. However, the Ravens lost 28-12 at home to the Titans as 10-point favorites. The two teams met in Week 11 of the 2020 season (again in Baltimore) and even with that playoff revenge, the Ravens blew a 21-10 third-quarter lead in a 30-24 OT loss. The Ravens were just 6-5 after their Week 12 loss to Pittsburgh but would go on a 5-0 SU & ATS run to finish 11-5 and earn the AFC's No. 5 seed. The Ravens drew the 4th-seeded Titans in the Wild Card round last Sunday and the THIRD time was 'the charm!' The Ravens fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter but dominated the rest of the way in winning 20-13. Lamar Jackson finally got his first postseason victory (0-2), running for 136 yards and a 48-yard TD while throwing for 179 yards. The Baltimore D held Tennessee to its fewest points all season and smothered 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry. Henry had run all over the Ravens with 328 yards rushing combined in the last two meetings but had his worst performance of the season, gaining only 40 yards on 18 carries. It's been a season to remember for Buffalo in 2020. QB Josh Allen set franchise records of 4,544 passing yards and 37 TDs as well as helping provide a new identity to a rising team that posted the franchise's best victory total since 1991 in going 13-3. The Bills won the AFC East for the first time since 1995 but entered their game with the Colts having lost their last SIX playoff contests since last winning a postseason game following the 1995 season. The Bills' 27-24 win over the Colts snapped that 0-6 postseason skid, winning their first playoff game since a 37-22 win over Miami on Dec 30, 1995. Allen passed for 324 yards with two TDs and zero INTs (121.6 QB rating), while leading the team in rushing with 54 yards and a TD. He's in just this third season but in two playoff games, has become only the FIFTH player since at least 1940 to score a touchdown rushing, passing and receiving in his playoff career (he scored on a 16-yard catch from John Brown in a 22-19 OT loss at Houston a year ago). Baltimore's Jackson became the first QB in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in multiple seasons in Baltimore's 38-3 win at Cincinnati in Week 17. Jackson rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries to give him 1,005 yards for the season. The Ravens finished with 404 rushing yards in that contest and led the NFL in rushing for the second straight season (191.9 YPG). How good is the Ravens' running game? It ran for 1,573 yards during its current 6-0 SU & ATS streak, which is more than SIX teams ran for all season! The Ravens are only the third team in NFL history to have three players top 700 yards rushing in a single season with Jackson (1,005 yards), rookie J.K. Dobbins (805) and Gus Edwards (723). Baltimore's defense finished second to the Rams in allowing just 18.9 PPG on the season. Allen's OUTSTANDING season was sure helped by the signing of WR Stefon Diggs, who caught 127 passes for 1,535 yards and eight TDs in the regular season. He then caught six passes for 128 yards (one TD) vs Indy. Fellow WR Beasley had a career season, catching 82 passes (4 TDs) for 967 yards. Beasley caught seven passes vs the Colts. However, there is a slight concern that BOTH Diggs (oblique) and Beasley (knee) have been somewhat limited this week in practice. It's true that Buffalo enters on a SEVEN-game winning streak and has won 10 of 11, losing only at Arizona when Murray and Hopkins connected on that improbable "Hail Mary." That said, Baltimore has been playing with a win-or-done urgency since early December, following a 1-4 skid that dropped it to 6-5. The Ravens were depleted by a COVID-19 outbreak in a 19-14 loss at Pittsburgh (but covered), before reeling off six consecutive wins and seven straight ATS wins. The Ravens are 'on a mission of redemption' from last season and it WON'T end here in Buffalo. Hey, maybe the Ravens can get the Browns to upset the Chiefs, meaning Baltimore would host the AFC championship game. Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Rockets v. Spurs -6.5 | Top | 91-103 | Win | 100 | 11 h 30 m | Show |
My 10* Weekend Wipeout is on the SA Spurs at 5:05 ET. The 4-6 Houston Rockets and the 6-6 San Antonio Spurs square off for the second time in three days Saturday, with the Rockets looking to build on their first road win of the season. The Rockets needed just nine angry, intense players, none of them named James Harden (24.8-5.1-10.4 or John Wall (18.6-4.7-5.1), to beat San Antonio 109-105 on Thursday in their first game since they traded Harden to Brooklyn in a blockbuster four-team deal. The trade is still being finalized and will eventually net Houston Victor Oladipo (from Indiana), Dante Exum (from Cleveland) and Rodions Kurucs (from Brooklyn, but none were in uniform on Thursday, nor will they be in the lineup on Saturday. What's more, Wall, Gordon (14.3) and House (7.5 & 4.5) are at best, game-time decisions . The Spurs returned home from an impressive 4-1 road to take on the Rockets Thursday night and led 99-90 with 4:39 to play but the Rockets outscored the Spurs 19-6 the rest of the way. Christian Wood (23.1 PPG and 10.1 RPG on the season) had 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The Spurs wasted a career-high 29 points from Keldon Johnson (14.8 & 7.3), who is one of SEVEN Spurs averaging in double digits. Guards DeRozan (20.4-5.5-7.0) and Murray (15.7-7.1-5.4) lead the way. I refuse to overthink this. "The Rockets had something to prove, and they played like it," Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV said. "They felt disrespected. That energy and animosity was built up inside of them. They were definitely ready to play." Added head coach Gregg Popovich, "It's got nothing to do with defense, offense -- it has to do with between the ears, being ready to play. We had four or five guys who were out to lunch." Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Rams v. Packers -6.5 | Top | 18-32 | Win | 100 | 30 h 58 m | Show |
My 10* LEGEND Play is on the GB Packers at 4:35 ET. The Rams started undrafted rookie QB John Wolford at Seattle last week due to Jared Goff's thumb injury but they beat the NFC West champion Seahawks by battering Russell Wilson and avoiding mistakes. The Rams allowed the fewest points (18.5 PPG) and total yards (281.9 YPG) during the regular season and allowed Seattle just 278 total yards and 11 FDs, while holding them to 20 points. Russell Wilson completed only 11 of 27 (40.7%) for 174 yards with two TDS, while throwing a "pick-6" and getting sacked FIVE times (QB rating of 72.1)! Wilson finished the regular season having completed 68.8% for almost 300 YPG with 40 TDs and just 13 INTs with a QB rating of 105.1. The victory came at a price though. Wolford was KO'd in the game and the Rams will go back to starter Jeff Goff, who is less than three weeks removed from thumb surgery. Goff was nowhere near 100% last Saturday, completing 9 of 19 for 1555 yards with one TD and zero INTs. What's more, defensive tackle Aaron Donald (ribs) and leading WR Cooper Kupp (knee) were injured. The Rams have expressed confidence that Donald, a six-time All-Pro, will play Saturday. Head coach Sean McVay said that "unless something unforeseen happens, the Terminator will be ready." Kupp (92 catches) also insists he'll play. He's joined by fellow WR Woods (90 catches / six TDs) to give LA an outstanding WR duo. The Rams' most important offensive players right now might be rookie RB Cam Akers and left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Although both are recovering from recent injuries, they're the keys to a revitalized ground game that racked up 164 yards rushing last week. Akers missed Week 16 and had just 34 yards on 21 attempts in Week 17, before rushing for 131 yards and one TD vs Seattle. The Rams come to Lambeau to face Aaron Rodgers and a Green Bay offense that led the NFL in scoring at 31.8 PPG and also committed the fewest TOs (11). Rodgers was consistently GREAT in 2020, leading the NFL with 48 TDs, a 70.7 percent completion rate, a 121.5 passer rating, a league-tying-low five INTs. He's the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP award. WR Davante Adams is the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 receptions with 18 receiving TDs in a season, as he finished with 115 receptions and 18 TDs in just 14 games. TE Tonyan had 52 catches (11 TDs), while RB Jones added 47 catches and two TDs. Like Adams, Jones missed two games but ran for 1,104 yards (5.5 YPC) and scored 11 rushing TDs. Green Bay lost a Nov 22 game at Indianapolis to the Colts in Week 11 (34-31) but has won SIX in a row since. Green Bay averaged 33.5 PPG during its winning streak and its defense also played very well, allowing only 18.5 PPG. The Packers will be playing a home game in front of paying spectators for the first time this season. The Lambeau Field crowd will include about 6,500 season-ticket holders as well as invited frontline health-care workers and first responders plus a league-mandated allotment for the visiting team. "That's going to help us, give us an extra added home-field advantage that we need, just bringing that extra juice," Packers running back Aaron Jones said. Most importantly, it will be 'Green Bay weather' on Saturday, with temps around freezing or below. Goff has only played two playoff games with temps under 32 degrees and has FIVE interceptions and zero TDs. Rodgers has 40 TDs and just 12 INTs in his 18 postseason games. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Baylor -4.5 v. Texas Tech | Top | 68-60 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* Big 12 Game of the Year is on Baylor at 4:00 ET. FIVE of the Big 12's 10 teams rank among the top-15 in the latest Associated Press poll, including THREE in the top six. No. 4 Texas and No. 15 Texas Tech met Wednesday night in Austin. Texas scored 48 points in the first half (10-point lead) against a team allowing just 58.0 PPG but while the Longhorns led almost the entire game, Tech's Mac McClung made a long jumper with THREE seconds left to give No. 15 Texas Tech a 79-77 win, ending the Longhorns' 4-0 start in the Big 12. Tech returns home to Lubbock on Saturday but "there's no rest for the weary," as No. 2 Baylor comes to town with its 11-0 record (9-2 ATS). Fresh off its first road victory against a top-five opponent in program history, Texas Tech now hosts Baylor, a contest marking the first game between the two schools in which BOTH are ranked in the top-15. Baylor's Scott Drew took over a devastated Baylor program in the 2003-04 season and since 2007-08, has turned the Bears into one of the better programs in the country. Baylor won the NIT in 2013 and has made eight NCAA tourney appearances (26-4 last season would have made nine). Baylor lost 6-9 center Gillespie (9.6 & 9.0) but Tchatchoua is a 6-8 transfer from UNLV and he's averaged 9.0 & 7.2. The 6-5 Vital plays like a power forward, averaging 5.2 & 5.3 and is considered one of the best defensive players in the nation. The strength of Baylor's team is centered around its four guards, all scoring in double digits. Butler's (16.4-3.5-5.4) the best of the group but don't look past Teague (15.6 & 4.2), Mitchell (11.5 & 6.5 APG) or Flagler (10.1).The Bears (11-0, 4-0 Big 12) have been off for several days after their game against No. 13 West Virginia was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns in the Mountaineers' program. Baylor's last outing was Jan 9, when the Bears throttled TCU 67-49 in Fort Worth, for its fourth league win by double digits! Chris Beard went 30-5 at Arkansas St in 2015-16 and was able to to land the Texas Tech job as a reward. In his second season, the Red Raiders won 27 games and made the Elite 8 and then followed that up by winning 31 games in the 2018-19 season, where they lost to UVa in the national championship game. Last year's 18-13 season was seen as a major slump but Tech opened at No. 14 in the AP preseason poll. Georgetown transfer McClung (15.8) leads Tech in scoring and is joined in the starting lineup by guards Edwards (10.4 & 5.4) and freshman Peavy (5.9). The 6-7 Santos-Silva (8.9 & 6.0) is Tech's tallest starter, although the 6-6 Shannon (13.6 & 5.0, who comes off the bench, and 6-6 starter McCullar (11.4 & 6.6) are bigger producers. The Red Raiders' calling card remains defense, allowing 59.4 PPG (9th) on 39.2% shooting (36th). However, here's the rub. Baylor KNOWS more than a little about playing defense too, holding opponents to 61.2 PPG (29th). On the offensive end, Baylor is averaging 89.0 PPG (5th), which is about two 'TDs' more than Texas Tech (75.8 PPG), while shooting 50.9% (14th), including 42.3% on threes (3rd). Maybe Baylor will get tripped up somewhere in its 'travels' through the Big 12 but NOT here, as after 'escaping' at Austin, the Red Raiders will fail here at home to the Bears. Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Michigan v. Minnesota +6 | Top | 57-75 | Win | 100 | 5 h 29 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Rout-Part 2 is on Minnesota at 2:00 ET. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). Howard's sophomore year at Michigan has everyone's attention! Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the No. 9 Badgers on Tuesday, as its scheduled game at Penn State last Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. Fueled by a suffocating defense, the No. 7 Wolverines routed Wisconsin 77-54 on Tuesday to remain the Big Ten's only undefeated team. Michigan held Wisconsin to 30.8% shooting, while making 51.6% themselves. Michigan led the Badgers by as much as 40 points and now faces No. 23 Minnesota (10-4, 3-4 Big Ten) for the second time in three games. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. The Gophers opened 9-1 in Pitino's 8th season but have lost THREE of four entering this game. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 13.8 & 5.5 this season. The Wolverines have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (17.5 & 7.9). Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.5 & 7.1), Smith (9.2 & 5.4 APG), Brown (9.0), Brooks (8.7 & 3.6 APG). Michigan is averaging 82.0 PPG on 52.4% shooting (8th), while holding opponents to 65.8 PPG on 36.9% shooting (8th). Minnesota PG Carr (20.9-3.9-5.5) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.7 & 7.2) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (10.5-5.3-3.0) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.1 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Carr finished with a modest 14 points (made just 5 of 16 FG attempts) when Michigan routed Minnesota 92-57 in Ann Arbor on Jan 6. Michigan's Dickinson scored a career-high 28 points and had eight rebounds that night, as Michigan shot 56.9 percent from the floor. So what's the difference here? Minnesota's at home in Williams Arena where the Gophers are 10-0, averaging 85.5 PPG. The Gophers have beaten then-No. 4 Iowa (102-95), then-No. 17 Mich St (81-56) and then-No. 25 Ohio St (77-60) in this venue! Now-No. 7 Michigan suffers a similar fate! Take the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-16-21 | Ohio State v. Illinois -5.5 | Top | 87-81 | Loss | -110 | 6 h 14 m | Show |
My 9* Eye Opener is on Illinois at 12:00 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 in three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 6-0 in non-conference play but has gone 4-3 in the rugged Big Ten. However, the Buckeyes are off back-to-back conference wins at Rutgers and a Wednesday home win over Northwestern, avenging a 71-70 loss to the Wildcats in Evanston. Brad Underwood made a big 'splash' at S.F. Austin and then made a one year 'pit stop' at Oklahoma St, before landing in Champaign-Urbana. The Fighting Illini were just 14-18 and 12-21 in his first two seasons but had a breakout year in going 21-10 before last season was shut down. Illinois opened the current season No. 8 in the AP's preseason poll but so far, it has NOT been 'smooth sailing.' The Illini opened 3-0 but was just 5-3 before a four-game winning streak from Dec 23 through Jan 7. However, a 66-63 home loss to Maryland on Jan 10 ended that winning run. Illinois is currently ranked 14th as it welcomes No. 21 Ohio St to the State Farm Center. Missing from the lineup in Ohio St's 10-point win over Northwestern were starting point guard CJ Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG) and backup Jimmy Sotos because of injuries. One would expect that leading scorer, the 6-7 E.J. Liddell (13.3 & 6.7), would step up for the Buckeyes but he went 0 of 6 from the floor, scoring just SIX points by going 6-for-8 at the free-throw line. Instead, it was 6-7 junior forward Justice Sueing (10.8 & 5.2) who made his first career start at PG, and had 13 points and seven rebounds Junior guard Duane Washington Jr. (15.7 PPG) led four Buckeyes in double figures with a career-high 23 points. Illinois features one of the top guards in the nation in Dosunmu (22.4-6.9-4.8) plus 7-0 center Cockburn (17.3 & 10.1) has built on a successful freshman season. Dosunmu is joined in the backcourt by veterans Curbelo (9.3 & 4.6 APG), Frazier (8.4) and Williams (6.5 & 5.9) plus freshman Miller adds 9.3 PPG. The 6-9 Bezhanishvili (5.3 & 3.2) rounds out the main contributors. Illinois (9-4, 5-2 Big Ten) was supposed to play at Nebraska on Wednesday but the game was postponed because the Cornhuskers paused full-team activities due to positive COVID-19 results in the program. The unexpected open date prevented the Illini from getting on the court to erase memories of a 66-63 loss to Maryland on Sunday. Illinois led 59-56 with 7:30 left, but the Illini scored just FOUR points the rest of the game! I see this as a great bounce-back spot for Illinois and note that the Buckeyes haven't been to the State Farm Center in more than four years (last played there back on Jan 1, 2017!). Me thinks that after this one, Ohio State will want to take another FOUR years off between visits to Champaign-Urbana. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-15-21 | Mavs v. Bucks -6 | Top | 109-112 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 54 m | Show |
My 10* East/West Conference Game of the Month is on the Mil Bucks at 7:35 ET. Luka Doncic collected 34 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and a career-high four blocks in Dallas' 104-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, leading the Mavericks to their FOURTH straight victory. More good news came in the form of Kristaps making four 3-pointers to highlight his 16-point performance in his season debut. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis (20.4 & 9.5 LY) was playing for the first time since tearing his meniscus in his right knee during the Mavericks' playoff setback to the Los Angeles Clippers back in August. The now 6-4 Mavs travel to Milwaukee on Friday to take on the Bucks, who have had the league's best record in each of the last two regular seasons. Milwaukee opened 2-3 this season but enters this game having won SIX of seven to reach 8-4 on the season. It's GREAT news that Porzingis is back to join Doncic (27.4-9.6-8.3) but here's what the injury list looks like for the Mavericks. Maxi Kleber: out (health and safety protocols), Jalen Brunson: out (health protocols), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (health protocols), Dwight Powell: out (health protocols), Josh Richardson: out (health protocols). Going down the line. Kleber is averaging 7.4 & 5.3, Brunson 11.1, Finney-Smith 9.3 & 5.0, Powell 5.0 & 3.6 and Richardson 13.8. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.2-10.1-5.5 and SF Middleton (21.6-6.3-5.7) is off to a terrific start. Jrue Holiday has been a big addition (no one misses Bledsoe), averaging 15.2 PPG and 5.0 APG. The 6-10 Portis (11.8 & 7.8) has also been a strong addition, while returning guard DiVincenzo (10.7 & 4.2) and center Brook Lopez (9.2 & 4.8) have both started all 12 games. Milwaukee may be "just" 8-4 and only owns a 6-6 ATS mark but the Bucks own the NBA's best point-differential at plus-11.4 PPG. That is as good an indicator as any as to the strength of a team. Lay the points here, against a Dallas team nowhere near 100%! Good luck...Larry |
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01-15-21 | Penguins -103 v. Flyers | Top | 2-5 | Loss | -103 | 12 h 15 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Pit Penguins at 7:05 ET. The Philadelphia Flyers opened their season with a 6-3 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins, led by a four-point performance from Joel Farabee (one goal and three assists). It was their first season-opening win at home since 2003. The Penguins and Flyers took Thursday off but return to the ice tonight, again in Philadelphia. The Flyers lost to the Islanders in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, while Penguins lost early in the playoffs' qualifying round 3-1 to the Canadians. The Penguins played well for stretches on Wednesday but after they tied the game at 3-3, the Flyers finished strong with THREE unanswered goals for the win. The Flyers scored twice on the power play, which was "good news" for head coach Alain Vigneault. Philadelphia was just 4 for 52 on the power play in last year's postseason, including 0 for 13 against the Islanders. While the scoreboard showed a three-goal loss, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan said, "I thought there was a lot to like about our game. "I don't think the score of the game was an indication of how it was played." Sidney Crosby scored once (he has scored 44 career goals against the Flyers, more than any other team). Free agent addition Mark Jankowski had a goal and an assist, contributing the entire game on both ends of the ice! Teams playing two games in one city in back-to-back nights, or two games in three nights like this, will be common in this shortened 56-game season. EVERY game will be vital with the divisions realigned and I'm "all over" the Penguins to come back with a winning performance on Friday! Good luck...Larry |
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01-14-21 | Warriors v. Nuggets -4.5 | Top | 104-114 | Win | 100 | 15 h 12 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET. The Golden St Warriors lost K.D. to free agency last season and Klay Thompson to injury and went 15-50, the worst record in the league. Thompson again re-injured himself before the start of the current season (Achilles this time) and will miss a second straight season, All things considered, the Warriors' 6-5 start isn't bad. The Denver Nuggets have had an uneven start to this year, after coming out of the gates last season with a 12-2 record. Injuries and COVID-19 protocols have been a major factor, as the Nuggets return home with a 5-6 record to host Golden St. Without Thompson and with Durant in Brooklyn, teams are focused on stopping Curry but Steph has averaged 27.8-5.1-6.4. Wiggins (17.9 & 4.8), a former No. 1 overall pick, has found a home in San Francisco plus James Wiseman (2nd pick of the 2020 Draft) has avenged 10.6 & 6.4). FA acquisition Oubre (10.8 & 5.5) has disappointed and after missing some early games, Green has returned to average a modest 4.4-5.1-6.6. He looks nowhere-near the 'force' he once was. Denver center Jokic (24.3-10.9-10.6) has been great but Michael Porter Jr. (19.5 & 6.8) has missed SEVEN games due to issues with the coronavirus, and his return last week was delayed after sitting out three games. Hours before he was to return against Dallas he was ruled out with what coach Michael Malone said Tuesday was due to COVID. The Nuggets were also without Gary Harris (10.6) on Tuesday for personal reasons, a defensive presence that would have helped in the loss to the Nets. Denver had opened its road trip 2-0 but couldn't hold an 18-point lead at Brooklyn. Obviously, Porter and Harris (team's best perimeter defender) are missed but the Nuggets still own excellent depth. Murray (19.7) was terrific in last year's 'bubble' and swingman Barton is back healthy averaging 11.6-4.3-2.8. The 6-8 Green comes off the bench to average 11.4 & 6.4 in about 20 minutes and backup PG Morris (11.4 & 3.2) is a quality reserve. Curry's been held to just 31 points combined in the last two games so watch out but Denver is a VERY good team, even with some missing starters. The Nuggets play their next three games at home and can kick-start their season with some good play. The Warriors are on the road for the FIRST time since Dec 29, coming off a SEVEN-game homestand! I say it's a Blowout Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-14-21 | Purdue v. Indiana -3 | Top | 81-69 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 0 m | Show |
My 10* Rivalry Game of the Month is on Indiana at 7:00 ET. The Indiana Hoosiers football team and the Purdue Boilermakers football team play annually for The Old Oaken Bucket. There is no trophy in basketball but that doesn't mean an Indiana/Purdue basketball game is not a bitter rivalry. Both schools play solid defense with Purdue allowing 66.2 PPG and Indiana 66.6 PPG. Indiana ranks 14th nationally per KenPom in adjusted defensive efficiency, while Purdue ranks 36th. Purdue is 8-5 (3-3 in the Big Ten) and Indiana has the exact same record overall and in Big Ten play. Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.3 & 3.4 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (15.0 & 9.5) and SG Stefanovic (10.7). 7-4 freshman Edey (8.8 & 4.0) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.3) gives Purdue five players averaging between 8.8 and 15.0 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Archie Miller spent six years at Dayton, winning 20-plus games in five seasons. Over his final four at the school, the Flyers averaged 25.5 wins per season and went to four straight NCAA tourneys. He got the Indiana job beginning with the 2017-18 season and was just 16-15 and 19-16. However, last year's team was 20-12 before the season was "called off!" Gone from that team are Devontae Green (13.5 & 8.4) who graduated and the 6-7 Justin Smith (10.4 & 5.2), who transferred to Arkansas. This year's Indiana team is led by the 6-9 Jackson-Davis (20.1 & 9.3) and the 6-8 Thompson (9.5 & 6.6) up front plus in the backcourt, it's sophomore Franklin (12.7 & 4.2), senior Durham (11.1-3.8-3.3) and junior Phinisee (8.0). The bad news for the Hoosiers is that Franklin is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. That will give some extra minutes to the 6-7 Hunter (5.2 & 3.2) and guard Galloway (5.0), who started for Franklin in the last game. Purdue has won SEVEN straight in the rivalry between the two schools but the Boilermakers are coming off a dramatic, 55-54 win at Michigan State. In that game, Purdue rallied from down 15 points at halftime to win on a short jumper by Trevion Williams with 4.5 seconds remaining. As for Indiana, it enters with THREE wins in its last four, losing only in double-OT at the-No. 8 Wisconsin. Jackson-Davis has posted double-doubles in three straight games (against Maryland, Wisconsin and Nebraska) and I expect that the Hoosiers are primed to end their SEVEN-game slide against the hated-Boilermakers, who have averaged just 59.6 PPG in five road games this season. That's the play! Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-21 | Blazers v. Kings +4.5 | Top | 132-126 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 18 m | Show |
My 10* Underdog of the Month is on the Sac Kings at 10:05 ET. The Portland Trail Blazers made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago but last year needed a strong run 'in the bubble' to sneak into the postseason. Led by 'Bubble' MVP Lillard, the Blazers were a 'sexy' pick to upset the Lakers in the first round but after a 100-93 upset in Game 1, Portland lost FOUR in a row. The Blazers have won THREE straight and are 6-4 as they welcome the Sacramento Kings to Moda Center (I miss the Rose Garden) on Wednesday. Luke Walton begins his second season with the Kings, having gone 31-41 in last year's pandemic-shortened season. Walton's in good company, as the Kings opened this season on a run of 14 consecutive losing seasons and non-playoff appearances. Just a thought. Think Sacramento fans feel that it may have been a mistake to fire Rick Adelman after EIGHT straight winning and playoff seasons because he was never able to deliver an NBA championship? Probably a rhetorical question, right? 5-6 Sacramento's starting-five are all averaging in double digits, led by the Kings' excellent guard duo. PG Fox (18.3 & 5.4 APG) and Hield (14.7 & 4.2) lead the way, while three Sacramento frontcourt players are producing as well. The Kings don't have a true center, as that frontcourt trio includes 6-8 SF Barnes (17.9 & 6.9) plus 6-8 PF Holmes (13.2 & 7.7) and 6-11 PF Bagley (12.7 & 8.0). Rookie PG Haliburton ((12,1 & 5.3 APG) from Iowa St has stepped right in and looks like he'll be a quality NBA player. More depth is provided by four players chipping in between 6.4 and 7.8 PPG. Speaking of backcourts, Portland believes it owns the NBA's best in Lillard and McCollum. McCollum is off to a great start, leading Portland in scoring (28.1 PPG), while adding 4.1 RPG and 5.0 APG. Lillard's numbers are slightly down (26.1-4.9-6.4) but the fact that one can say that with a straight face, proves what type of player he is. Portland expected to be healthier this season plus acquired Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. to shore up defense. Neither Covington (6.6 & 6.0) nor Jones (6.4 & 3.5) have been as good as hoped for, with both players starting all games. The problem has been no player is even HALF as much as either McCollum or Lillard. Carmelo Anthony (13.0) has added a scoring 'punch' off the bench, as have backup center Kanter (11.2 & 9.3) and guard Trent (10.8). Starting center Nurkic (9.5 & 7.2) has underperformed and is currently listed at day-to-day (quad) while PF Collins (ankle) has yet to play a game this season. The Blazers routed the Kings 125-99 this past Saturday and that memory is still fresh in the Kings' memory. Sacramento enters the rematch with a bit of momentum, after producing a convincing 127-122 home win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Portland recovered from a 17-point deficit and still trailed by 14 with 9 1/2-minutes remaining in the game but 'escaped' with a 112-11 home win over Toronto (NBA-worst record of 2-8 ) on Monday. no comeback here, as the Kings get some quick 'revenge.' Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-21 | Northwestern v. Ohio State -7.5 | Top | 71-81 | Win | 100 | 10 h 35 m | Show |
My 9* Revenge Game of the Month is on Ohio St at 7:00 ET. Chris Collins took over at Northwestern back in the 2013-14 season and won 20 games in the 2015-16 season. The very next season, he led the Wildcats to a 24-12 year, as Northwestern finished with its first winning Big Ten Conference record in 49 years (10-8) and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history (Wildcats even won their first game). It was NO small accomplishment, as Northwestern had been the only member of a power conference to have never made the "Big Dance." However, three straight losing seasons followed. However, with four starters back for this season, the Wildcats won SIX of their first seven, including a 3-0 start in the Big Ten. Northwestern won its first THREE conference games for the first time since the 1967-68 season (note: Northwestern was 3-17 in the Big Ten last season!) and entered the AP poll on Dec 28th (No. 19) for the first time this season but hardly told the whole story. Northwestern's No. 19 ranking was its highest this late in a season since 1969! However, the Wildcats have lost THREE in a row since. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 71-70 at Northwestern, pounded visiting Nebraska 90-54 and lost 77-60 at Minnesota. The Buckeyes produced a 22-4 burst while building a 42-30 halftime lead at Rutgers on Saturday and won 79-68. Ohio St is back in the latest AP poll at No. 21. I noted that Northwestern has lost three straight but last Thursday's defeat is worthy of note. The Wildcats held a 15-point halftime over visiting Illinois last Thursday but were outscored 53-13 in the second half while shooting 2 of 24 from the floor, leading to an 81-56 loss. A major conference school had not been outscored by 40 points in a half since Kentucky was 43 points better in the second half vs Vanderbilt on March 5, 2003. The 6-7 Kupp (13.8) leads Northwestern in scoring. Guard Audige (11.7), the 6-10 Nance (11.4 & 5.8) and PG Buie (10.3& 5.0 APG) join Kupp in double digits. The 6-10 Young (9.0 & 6.1) and the 6-9 Beran (7.6 & 3.5) contribute off the bench, as does freshman guard Berry (7.1). SG Washington (15.1) leads the team in scoring and has been paired with PG Walker (8.7 & 4.2 APG). However, he is expected to be lost for multiple games due to torn ligaments in his right hand. The frontcourt has four solid contributors led by arguably the team's best player, the 6-7 Liddell (14.0 & 6,4). He's joined on the frontline by the 6-7 Sueing (10.7 & 5.0), the 6-8 Young (7.9 & 6.3), 6-8 freshman Key (6.9) and the 6-6 Aherns (5.3). Coming off a total collapse against Illinois does not bode well for the Wildcats here in Columbus, where Ohio St is 6-0 (average margin of victory 20.7 PPG) and 'itching' for revenge from that 71-70 at Northwestern back on the day after Christmas. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-13-21 | NC State v. Florida State -4 | Top | 73-105 | Win | 100 | 10 h 55 m | Show |
My 10* (ACC Game of the Year is on Florida St at 7:00 ET. Florida State(5-2 / 1-1 in ACC) just dropped out of the AP top-25 on Monday and tonight, will end its longest in-season layoff since a holiday break during the 1956-57 season when it plays host to North Carolina State (6-3 / 2-2) in Tallahassee. COVID-19 positive tests and contact tracing within the program led to three postponed games. NC State lost four games due to COVID but opened 6-1 (2-0 ACC) before losing its last two games to Clemson and Miami in ACC play. Head coach Kevin Keatts took over at NC State for Mark Gottfried beginning in the 2017-18 season, after leading UNC-Wilmington to 25-8 and 29-6 records in his final two seasons (both teams earned NCAA tourney bids). He's won 21, 24 and 20 games his first three seasons in Raleigh and while he lost leading scorer Bryce (13.3 & 6.3) plus PG Johnson (12.8-4.4-6.8) from last season's team, the Wolfpack have plenty of talent and depth this season. Guard Daniels (15.9 & 5.2) and 6-7 wing Hellems (11/2 & 5.1) are averaging in double digits, as is the 6-10 Funderburk (13.0 & 5.5z), who comes off the bench. Hayes (7.7) and Beverley (6.4) start in the backcourt along with Daniels, while the 6-11 Bates (9.4 & 5.4) starts up front with Hellems. Leonard Hamilton is now in his 19th season with FSU and he's been greatly underappreciated (more later). Florida State was 26-5 and poised to make a Final Four run before the postseason was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but entered this season losing three key players from a team.PG Forrest (11.6-4.4-4.0), SG Vassell (12.7 & 5.1) and 6-7 swingman Williams (9.7 & 4.0) were all chosen in the NBA draft. Guard MJ Walker is back and leads with 15.3 PPG plus is surrounded by a talented group. Frontcourt veterans like the 7-1 Koprivica (9.9 & 5.90, the 6-8 Gray (7.0 & 6.0) start, while the 6-9 Osborne (3.6 & 5.1) comes off the bench. Freshman Barnes, a 6-9 guard averages 11.1-3.9-4.3) and returning guard Polite (10.9 & 5.1) are both double digit scorers. Here's the bottom line. Hamilton has built a championship-caliber program at Florida St, one that has produced the THIRD most victories among ACC schools behind Duke and Virginia since 2016. How many knew that? "We missed those practices," Hamilton said about the team's layoff. "We are kind of still a team, like most teams right now. We are still growing and developing." My bet is that Hamilton's crew "won't miss a beat!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Alabama v. Kentucky -2 | Top | 85-65 | Loss | -109 | 12 h 17 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM of the Month is on Kentucky at 9:00 ET. The lead in the Southeastern Conference will be at stake when Alabama visits Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington. That the Tide and Wildcats are atop the standings even this early in the season is somewhat of a surprise since both teams struggled in non-conference play. Alabama went a modest 5-3, while Kentucky opened 1-6, its worst start to a season since the 1926-27 Wildcats lost eight of nine. However, Alabama is 4-0 to open SEC play and Kentucky 3-0 (note: the only other unbeaten team in the SEC is 1-0 South Carolina!). Alabama head coach Nate Oats was 96-43 at Buffalo, leading the Bulls to three NCAA tourneys in his four years, including going 27-9 and 32-4 in his last two seasons. 'Bama was just 16-15 last season but guard Lewis (18.5-4.8-5.2) left after one year for the NBA. The starting backcourt is strong, with PG Quinnerly (13.0 & 3.4 APG), Shackleford (13.1 & 4.8), Petty (12.4 & 5.5) and Primo (7.7 & 3.3), while the 6-8 Jones (12.9 & 6.5) is joined up front by he 6-10 Brunner (7.8 & 5.6), who is a rare Yale graduate transfer. Kentucky was ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll but its 1-6 start took care of that. Not surprisingly, Calipari again relies on freshman and transfers. Three Wildcats are averaging double digits thus far, freshmen Brandon Boston (12.8 & 5.3), 7-0 Wake Forest transfer Sarr (11.2 & 5.6) and Creighton transfer Mintz (10.3 & 7.3). Freshman guards Askew (7.7) and Allen (7.1) plus 6-10 freshman Jackson (5.7 & 7.2) are getting their 'sea legs.' Then there is 6-7 sophomore Keion Brooks Jr., playing his first game after missing the first nine with a left calf injury. He scored 12 points plus has six rebounds and four assists in Kentucky's impressive 76-58 win at Florida this past Saturday. Did anyone really think Kentucky would just fold after that 1-6 start? Alabama PG PG Quinnerly has NOT played in the team's last two games and there is no indication he's expected to play here. Either way, I'm "all over" Kentucky here, as the Wildcats open 4-0 in the SEC. Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Wisconsin +4 v. Michigan | Top | 54-77 | Loss | -110 | 12 h 21 m | Show |
My 9* Ultimate Underdog is on Wisconsin at 7:00 ET. The new AP poll was released on Monday and the Big Ten has SEVEN teams in the top-25, including THREE in the top-10. TWO of those schools square off Tuesday as No. 7 Michigan (10-0 / 5-0 Big Ten) welcomes No. 9 Wisconsin (10-2 / 4-1 Big Ten) to Crisler Arena. Michigan's Juwan Howard's first season as head coach saw his team open 7-0, then go 6-9 over its next 15 games. A six-game win streak followed but Michigan lost three of four before the shutdown (19-11 finish). In his sophomore year, Michigan is off to even a better start. Wisconsin has had a terrific basketball program for decades and head coach Greg Gard enters his sixth season at Madison, having had FOUR 20-win seasons in his first five. The Badgers start FIVE seniors, guards Trice (14.8-3.3-3.7) and Davison (10.0) plus the 6-10 Potter (12.5 & 7.0), the 6-11 Reuvers (10.3 & 4.3) and the 6-8 Ford (9.8 & 4.1). 6-5 freshman Davis (7.3 & 4.8) and 6-9 sophomore Wahl (4.9 & 3.6) both contribute off the bench. Gone from Michigan's team last season are PG Simpson (12.9-4.5-7.9) and the 7-1 Teske (11.6 & 6.7). 6-7 senior Livers led Michigan in scoring last season and is averaging 13.9 & 5.4. The Wolverines, like the Badgers, have an experienced group but their leading scorer is 7-1 freshman Hunter Dickinson (18.0 & 9.1) and scored a career-high 28 points in Michigan's last game, an 82-57 romp of Minnesota on Wednesday. Experience comes in guards Wagner (12.2 & 6.), Brown (9.2), Brooks (9.1 & 3.8 APG) and Smith (8.1 & 5.3 APG). Michigan got some extra time to prepare for the Badgers as its scheduled game at Penn State on Saturday was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Nittany Lions' program. The Wolverines have defeated their last four opponents by double digits through a combination of a suffocating defense and a very efficient offense (Michigan is shooting 52.5% on the season). However, Wisconsin knows all about playing defense, allowing just 61.5 PPG (24th) on 38.9% shooting (26th). The Badgers went into Breslin Center back on Dec 25 and beat Michigan St 85-76 by shooting 52.9%. It was Wisconsin's first win in East Lansing since 2004 (had lost 12 straight!). Why can't (won't) the Badgers win here in Ann Arbor? Take the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-12-21 | Butler v. St. John's -1.5 | Top | 57-69 | Win | 100 | 12 h 10 m | Show |
My 9* Weekly Wipeout is on St John's at 7:00 ET. LaVall Jordan is in his fourth season at Butler and last year's team was 22-9 before the shutdown (would have made the NCAAs for a fifth time in six seasons). The team lost key players from that team, including leading scorer Baldwin (16.2) and three-point shooter McDermott. Butler is struggling so far, going 3-6 overall (2-4 in the Big East). St John's is coached by Mike Anderson, who is in his second season in Queens. He's had success wherever he's been, going 89-41 in four years at UAB, 111-57 in five years at Missouri and 169-102 in eight years at Arkansas. Anderson took over a recently struggling St John's program last season and went 17-15, giving him his 18th consecutive winning season as a head coach (zero losing seasons). Could that streak end this season? St John's is just 6-6, including 1-5 in the Big East. Senior guards Thompson (14.3 & 4.5 APG) and Bolden (13.0 & 4.1) lead the but fellow guards N\Harris (11.1) and Tate (7.9) contribute. Up front, it's just the 6-7 Nze (9.9 & 6.6) and the 6-9 Golden (9.9 & 5.3). Anderson lost LJ Figueroa (14.5 & 4.5) to Oregon but THREE newcomers have already made HUGE contributions. Vince Cole is a 6-5 two-time junior-college All-American and is averaging 10.5 PPG, freshman PG Posh Alexander averages 9.3 & 4.4 APG and 6-10 JC transfer Isaih Moore (but with a 7-6 wingspan) comes off the bench to average 9.7 & 5.8. There's all sorts of depth in the backcourt with Williams (11.8), Dunn (7.3) and freshman Addae-Wusu (5.8). However, the team's star is 6-8 wing Julian Champagnie, who averages 21.0 & 7.9. The bottom line is that this contest is a 'battle' of styles. Butler enters Tuesday averaging 63.7 PPG, which is not only is the worst scoring average in the 11-team Big East but also marks the Bulldogs as the only team below 70 per game. Conversely, the Bulldogs are allowing 69.0 PPG, which is the fourth-best figure in the league. In stark contrast, St John's is second in the Big East with 80.5 PPG (39th nationally) but is allowing 80.8 PPG (327th in the nation). The team that "plays its game" wins and I believe that's St John's here at home. Butler has averaged 60.3 PPG away from home, while St John's has averaged 83.2 PPG at home. Blowout Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-11-21 | Ohio State v. Alabama -7 | Top | 24-52 | Win | 100 | 151 h 9 m | Show |
My 10* "Signature" LEGEND Play is on Alabama at 8:00 ET. It's 7-0 Ohio State vs 12-0 Alabama in the CFP Championship Game Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Buckeyes advanced with a DOMINATING 49-28 win over Clemson on Jan 1 in the semifinals. Ohio St QB Justin Fields threw for 385 yards and six TDs, while RB Trey Sermon ran 31 times for 193 yards, as the Buckeyes avenged last season's 29-23 semi final loss to the Tigers. The Clemson defense had NO answer for Fields and the Ohio St offense, as the Buckeyes reeled off 28 unanswered points to take a 35-14 halftime lead. Mac Jones threw four TD passes, three to WR DeVonta Smith, plus RB Harris 'hurdled' his way to 125 rushing yards, as top-ranked Alabama rolled to a 31-14 victory over fourth-ranked Notre Dame to reach the CFP title game for the FIFTH time in the system's seven seasons (won in 2015 and 2017). Alabama scored on its first THREE possessions and seemed to get 'bored' after taking a 28-7 lead in the third quarter (won 31-14). Justin Fields has some VERY sore ribs (broken) but there's VERY little doubt he will be under center for this game. He's completed 73.4% for 1,906 yards (remember, just seven games) with 21 TDs and six INTs. WRs Wilson (40 catches / 16.8 YPC/ 5 TDs) and Olave (42 catches / 15.7 YPC / 7 TDs) are terrific, while TE Ruckert has just 12 catches but FIVE have resulted in TDs. RB Sermon enters off running for 331 yards in the Big Ten championship game vs Northwestern and following with 193 yards against Clemson. Mac Jones completes 77.0% of his passes for 4,036 yards with 36 TDs and just four INTs, giving him a nation's best QB rating of 203.0. DeVonta Smith (105 catches / 15.6 YPC / 20 TDs) is considered the best WR in the nation and Nick Saban just announced that WR Jaylen Waddle (25 catches / 22.3 YPC / 4 TDs in four games) has been cleared to return to practice and could play in this game. RB Harris can't match Sermon's heroics of the last two games but ran for 1,387 yards on 6.1 YPC with 24 TDs on the season. Both offenses seem 'unstoppable,' as Ohio St averages 42.5 PPG (8th), while Alabama averages 49.7 PPG (2nd). Both defenses are strong with Ohio State allowing 21.0 PPG and Alabama 19.5 PPG. However, the Alabama defense has really 'found itself,' after a poor start. The Crimson Tide allowed 28.8 PPG through their first four games but just 14.1 PPG over their last eight. Note, that includes them giving up 46 points to Florida in the SEC title game. Eliminating that game and the Tide allowed just 9.6 PPG over SEVEN of their last eight! Yes, Ohio St can claim it's won EIGHT of its last nine games as an underdog SU but matching its effort against Clemson here vs Alabama is to me, 'a bridge too far!' According to Ohio St head coach Ryan Day, his team's loss to Clemson last season reverberated for nearly a year among the Buckeyes. "Fresh off of that game, it was right on our minds, and something that when we got back to work and winter workouts, January, February, it was right there for us," Day said Sunday. "Coming off that game, we just didn't get over it in one day. It took time. "There was even a sign with the score posted in the Buckeyes' weight room , an honor usually reserved for rival Michigan. Ohio St threw a 'near-perfect game' at Clemson and my bet says the Buckeyes can't "do it again" vs Alabama, a team which can 'gain separation' VERY quickly against an opponent. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-11-21 | Colorado v. Utah +3.5 | Top | 65-58 | Loss | -114 | 13 h 56 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner is on Utah at 6:00 ET. The Colorado Buffaloes (8-3, 2-2 Pac-12) and the Utah Utes (4-4, 1-3) meet Monday in Salt Lake City. It was originally scheduled for March 6 but was moved up after Colorado's game with the Beavers was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within the Oregon State program. The Utes are fitting this game in between Saturday's loss to the Oregon Ducks and Thursday's game against Stanford. Both teams are coming off home games against Oregon, with different results. The Buffs beat the Ducks 79-72 on Thursday (the 10th straight time they've defeated Oregon in Boulder), Utah fell 79-73 to the Ducks on Saturday. Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center for the Buffs), Colorado is off to an 8-3 start. The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder for his senior season. Wright (16.0-5.0-5.2) is the team leader and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 6-8 Evan Battey (9.9 & 5.2) and the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6 & 3.0) plus the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer) adds 11.3 & 5.8. Depth is provided by FIVE players combining to average 33 PPG. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.4 & 5.6, just ahead of guard Alfonso Plummer (13.4). Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (10.3 & 4.9), the 7-0 Carlson (6.3) and the 6-9 Battin (6.3 & 3.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (6.8 & 4.8 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (8.3) comes off the bench. Colorado has played strong defense (62.6 PPG ranks 31st) and is scoring 75.6 PPG. Utah's defense is decent (65.8 PPG) but its offense averages less than 70 PPG (not good). However, this is NOT a good "situation" for Colorado. This contest was supposed to be in the middle of a four-game homestand for the Buffs but instead of resting after a game against Oregon State, the Buffaloes will be on the road. Utah had been 4-0 at home before its loss to Oregon and has scored 70-plus points in all FIVE home games this season (75.6 per). This will be the 20th meeting between the teams since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 before the 2011-12 season and they have split the last six games, with the home teams winning EACH time. Make that SEVEN straight wins by the home team in this series and as a bonus, we get about a 'FG!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-21 | Browns v. Steelers -3.5 | Top | 48-37 | Loss | -116 | 152 h 57 m | Show |
My NFL 10* Wild Card Game of the Year is on the Pit Steelers at 8:15 ET. The Cleveland Browns clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2002 with a 24-22 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. The 11-5 Browns snapped the NFL's longest current playoff drought, making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. RB Nick Chubb rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown, ending the season with 1,067 (5.6 YPC) with 12 TDs, despite playing in only 12 games. QB Baker Mayfield completed 17 of 27 passes for 196 yards and a TD and also rushed for a season-high 44 yards. Pittsburgh had clinched the AFC North and a playoff spot in Week 16, so they rested Ben Roethlisberger. Mason Rudolph got the start and completed 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards with two TDs and one INT. Now, one week later, the third-seeded Steelers and sixth-seeded Browns will "do it all over again" Sunday night in Pittsburgh. Mayfield had a promising rookie season but regressed in 2019, with 22 TDs and 21 INTs for a QB rating of just 78.8. However, he got better throughout the season and finished with 26 TDs and 8 INTs for a 95.9 QB rating in 2020. Chubb (see above) and Hunt (842 yards on 4.2 YPC with six TDs) have given Cleveland excellent balance, as Cleveland's running game comes in averaging 148.3 YPG on the ground (3rd-best). The Cleveland defense got slightly better as the season wore on but finished allowing 26.2 PPG (21st). The 38-year-old Ben Roethlisberger bounced back from elbow surgery a year ago to complete 65.6% for 3,803 yards with 33 TDs and only 10 INTs in 15 games. The running game ranks last in the NFL (84.4 YPG) but "Big Ben" has an OUTSTANDING group of receivers. Schuster-Smith leads with 97 catches (9 TDs) but fellow WRs like Johnson (88 catches / 7 TDs), Claypool (62 catches / 9 TDs) and Washington (just 30 catches but five TDs) give Big Ben a plethora of options. The offense has averaged just 334.6 YPG (25th) but has managed to average 26.0 PPG, 12th-best. However, defense remains Pittsburgh's 'calling card.' The Steelers' D enters having allowed 19.5 PPG (3rd) on 305.8 YPG (3rd). Pittsburgh's 56 sacks are No. 1 in the NFL. The Browns are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 but the franchise's last playoff win came way back in 1994! First-year Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski, whose leadership helped end Cleveland's playoff drought, must now 'watch from afar,' after testing positive for COVID. I guess no AFC team would want to draw the Chiefs as its first playoff opponent but for the Browns, the LAST team they wanted was to face the Steelers, in a one-week turnaround, playing in Pittsburgh with "Big Ben back at QB. Contests between the Browns and Steelers have always been heated given the teams' proximity and history but the Steelers have dominated this series dating back to 2004 (Big Ben's rookie year) with a 28-5-1 SU record! Cleveland's postseason return lasts ONE game. Lay the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-21 | Cincinnati v. Wichita State -2.5 | Top | 76-82 | Win | 100 | 10 h 5 m | Show |
My 10* AAC Game of the Year is on Wichita St at 4:30 ET. The Cincinnati Bearcats and the Wichita State Shockers have each been regular NCAA tourney participants but their respective 2020-21 seasons have NOT begun well. John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2. The Bearcats are coming off a 76-69 win at Tulsa on Jan 7 but that snapped a FIVE-game losing streak. Cincy is just 3-6 entering this contest. Wichita St's season was marred before it got started, as head coach Gregg Marshall resigned as coach of Wichita State after multiple allegations of verbal and physical abuse spanning years on November 17, 2020. Marshall's success started at Winthrop (seven NCAA berths in nine years) and continued at Wichita St, winning the NIT title in 2011 then winning 30-plus games in three straight seasons, including a Final 4 appearance in 2013. Lead assistant Isaac Brown was named interim head coach. Guard Keith Williams leads the Bearcats in scoring with 15.1 PPG, while fellow guard Jeremiah Davenport has 10.6 & 4.1 to give Cincy a pair of double digit scorers. Guards Mike Adams-Woods (8.6) and David DeJulius (8.2-4.7- 5.1_ round out a strong backcourt. The frontcourt offers little, with 7-1 returning center Chris Vogt (5.4 & 3.6) being the biggest disappointment, coming off a season in which he averaged 11.1 & 5.7. The 6-7 Eason (7.6 & 5.7) and the 6-10 Ivanauskas (6.7 & 5.0) have been Cincy's top frontcourt performers. Center Echenique (11.3 & 7.1) plus guards Stevenson (11.1 & 4.7( and Burton (10.3-3.5-3.4) are all gone from last year's 23-8 team (top-3 scorers). However, the Shockers are a deep team this season, led by a trio of guards in Etienne (17.9 & 3.8), UConn transfer Gilbert (10.8-3.4-3.3) and Dennis (8.3 & 3.3). The top frontcourt performers are the 6-8 Udeze (7.2 & 2.6(, 6-7 JUCO transfer Jackson (5.7 & 4.8) and the 6-6 Wade (5.6 & 5.7). Wichita St is 6-3 but all three losses have come against quality opponents, losing to now-No. 13 Missouri, a solid 8-3 Oklahoma St team and this past Wednesday to No. 11 Houston. That loss snapped the team's FIVE-game winning streak. Wichita St opened 1-2 SU & 0-3 ATS but has gone 5-1 SU since, including 4-0 ATS with two games with no pointspread. In contrast, before Cincy won at SMU on Thursday, the Bearcats were 1-7 ATS on the season and had lost their previous five games. Home games are not what they used to be this season but the Charles Koch Arena has always been good to the Shockers and this season's Cincy team is just NOT very good. Off a surprising road win at SMU, expect the Bearcats to lose in Wichita to a Shockers team that has played excellent opponents well so far and should have no problem with this Bearcat team. Double digit win expected here! Good luck...Larry |
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01-10-21 | Ravens -3 v. Titans | Top | 20-13 | Win | 100 | 95 h 41 m | Show |
My 9* PERFECT STORM is on the Bal Ravens at 1:05 ET. Baltimore was just 2-2 through the first four games of the 2019 season but the Ravens would win their final 12 games, covering NINE of their last 10. QB Lamar Jackson was league MVP, posting a 113.3 QB rating (36-6 ratio) while rushing for 1,206 yards (6.9 YPC / 7 TDs), which set a single-record for QBs. Baltimore set a single season record for team rushing yards and became the first team since at least 1950 to average 200-plus pass YPG (201.6) and 200-plus rush YPG (206) in the same season. The D was not quite in the class of the Ray Lewis era units but the Ravens ranked 3rd in points allowed (17.6 PPG) and 4th in yards allowed (300.6 YPG). However, the Ravens were unceremoniously bounced from the playoffs last season, losing 28-12 at home to the Titans as 10-point favorites. These teams met in Week 11 of the 2020 season (again in Baltimore) and even with that playoff revenge, the Ravens blew a 21-10 third-quarter lead in a 30-24 OT loss. The Ravens were just 6-5 after their Week 12 loss to Pittsburgh but would go on a 5-0 SU & ATS run to finish 11-5 and earn the AFC's No. 5 seed. The Titans battled the Indy Colts all season long for the AFC South title but clinched the division (via a tiebreaker) with a 41-38 win at Houston in Week 17. Derrick Henry rushed for a career-high 250 yards and became the eighth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season, in Tennessee's Week 17 win, capped by Sam Sloman 37-yard FG on the final play (banked it in). QB Ryan Tannehill totaled three TDs. Lamar Jackson became the first QB in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in multiple seasons in Baltimore's 38-3 win at Cincinnati. Jackson rushed for 97 yards on 11 carries to give him 1,005 yards for the season. The Ravens finished with 404 rushing yards, which was the fourth most by a team since 1950. Baltimore didn't quite match last year's rushing record but the Ravens did lead the NFL with 191.9 YPG on 5.5 YPC. Mark Ingram topped 1,000-yards last season but this season was replaced by rookie Dobbins (805 yards on 6.0 YPC with nine TDs) and Edwards (723 yards on 5.0 YPC with five TDs). Baltimore's defense finished No. 2 in points allowed (18.9 PPG). Ryan Tannehill has had a career season by completing 65.5% for 3,819 yards with 33 TDs and seven INTs (106.5 QB rating). Henry had 2,027 yards rushing (5.4 YPC / 17 TDs), as the Titans finished second to Baltimore with 168.1 YPG on the ground. WRs Brown (70 catches / 15.4 YPC / 11 TDs) and Davis (65 catches / 15.1 YPC / 5 TDs) team with TEs Smith (41 catches / 8 TDs) and Firkser (39 catches). The Tennessee D is no match for Baltimore's, allowing 27.4 PPG (24th) on 398.3 YPG (28th). That's 8.5 PPG and about 70 YPG more. The Ravens closing 5-0 SU & ATS run saw them outscore opponents on average, 37.2-to-17.8 PPG. Lamar Jackson has 'flopped' badly in two playoff games and I have to believe the "THIRD" time will be the charm. Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | UCLA v. Arizona -3 | Top | 81-76 | Loss | -110 | 15 h 32 m | Show |
My 10* Signature 37-Club Play is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. UCLA (8-2, 4-0 Pac-120 has won two games without injured Chris Smith and will go for three in a row when the Bruins play the Arizona Wildcats (9-2, 3-2) tonight in Tucson. Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St (Nov 25) and its only other loss came 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland back on Dec 19. Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6) but Arizona had opened a surprising 9-1, before losing 87-73 Thursday night at home to USC. UCLA's 6-9 Smith averaged 12.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in eight games but is now out for the season with a knee injury. However, the Bruins still have SIX players averaging between 8.4 and 12.8 PPG. PG Campbell (10.6 & 7.0 APG) is still surrounded by "big guards" like the 6-6 Jaquez (12.8 & 5.7), the 6-6 Juzang (10.7) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.1 & 5.6). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (10.2 & 5.8) and the 6-10 Hill (8.4 & 6.1). Cody Riley scored a career-high 22 points in UCLA's 81-75 OT win Thursday at ASU plus guard David Singleton, who had averaged just 4.3 points through the first nine games, drained two 3-pointers in overtime and finished with 14 points. Arizona saw its four-game winning streak snapped on Thursday by USC, as the Wildcats were the Trojans' overall length and ability to chase them off the three-point line. In fact, starting guards James Akinjo (12.9 & 5.2 APG) and Jemarl Baker (12.7) made 1 of 16 from the floor and finished with a total of three points!! The good news was that 6-11 freshman Azuolas Tubelis (10.5 & 5.9) finished with 31 points, 18 above his previous career high. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) is averaging 10.6 & 6.5, after averaging 16.0 PPG over Arizona's last three games. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.0 & 5.7) is a Nevada transfer and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.6 & 5.2) both make solid contributions. More depth is provided by guard Terrell Brown (8.3-3.2-3.3) and the 6-8 Lee (4.7 & 4.8). UCLA has won three straight Pac 12 games since losing in Cleveland to Ohio St but ALL have been 'squeakers.' The Bruins have edged Utah 72-70) and Colorado (65-62) at home, then won in OT at ASU a couple of nights ago. My bet says their 'luck' runs out tonight at McKale Center! Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | Suns v. Pacers -3 | Top | 125-117 | Loss | -110 | 10 h 49 m | Show |
My 10* East/West Game of the Month is on the Ind Pacers at 7:05 ET. No one was quite sure that the Suns' 8-0 SU & ATS run in the Orlando bubble would carry over to the 2020-21 season, as the Suns opened the regular season having not made the postseason since the 2009-10 season. Phoenix showed it was serious about ending its playoff drought by acquiring 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder. The Pacers had a solid season last year but got swept by the red-hot Miami heat in the playoffs. Both teams have looked good early on, with the Suns taking a 6-3 record into this game with the 6-2 Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse The Suns are coming off a 110-105 overtime loss to Detroit on Friday night but have looked like a solid playoff contender so far. PG Paul (13.0-4.9-8.3) is doing what's expected of him and while Booker's (21.7-3.3-4.4) are down slightly from the last two seasons (he's averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the last two), no one is worried. The 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) is currently the team's second-leading scorer (13.4) and leading rebounder (11.4), while two former first-round picks are coming into their own. The 6-6 Bridges is adding 13.1 & 5.7 plus the the 6-8 Johnson 12.8 & 7.00. SF Crowder was an off-season addition (like Paul) and is averaging 10.9 & 4.4. Indiana SF Warren became a big time score "in the bubble" but is currently sidelined (was averaging 15.5 PPG). Malcolm Brogdon has turned in career-high scoring performances in each of his last two games at home. He boasts team-best averages in points (23.6) and assists (7.0), has padded those numbers by averaging totals of 29.7 and 8.3, respectively, over the last three games. He's had 33- and 35-point performances in his last two at home. Sabonis (20.8-11.4-6.4) is now a bonafide All Star and Oladipo (20.4-6.0-4.3) looks to be back at full-strength, giving Indiana THREE 20-point scorers. Center Turner is averaging 11.9-5.5-4.1 BPG) plus SF McDermott (10.9) and guard Holiday (10.5) add excellent depth. I would have preferred the Suns coming off a win last night at Detroit but this remains a tough spot, playing at Indiana team off a game the previous night, where the Suns haven't won since Nov 18, 2016. Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | Rams v. Seahawks -3.5 | Top | 30-20 | Loss | -110 | 98 h 53 m | Show |
My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on the Sea Seahawks at 4:40 ET. The 10-6 Rams (No. 6 seed) and the 12-4 Seahawks (No. 3 seed) meet for a third time this season in Seattle on Saturday The teams split their two meetings this season, with Los Angeles winning 23-16 on Nov 15 at home (Week 10), while the Seahawks 'returned the favor' with a 20-9 win in Seattle (Week 16). Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay was asked whether he had a timetable to determine his starting QB and replied, "Yeah," he said. "Saturday at 1:39."Jared Goff suffered a fractured right thumb in a 20-9 loss at Seattle on Dec.27 and had surgery the following day. John Wolford replaced Goff last weekend against Arizona, helping the Rams clinch a playoff berth with an 18-7 victory. Wolford completed 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards and rushed for a team-high 56 yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 200 and rush for 50 in their debut. Seattle has no QB concerns with Russell Wilson (4,212 yards / 40 TDs / 13 INTs). "Jared is our starting quarterback -- the reality is that he had a thumb surgery," McVay said. "We're monitoring that every single day, and that's something we're taking a day at a time, but the anticipation is both those guys are getting themselves ready to go." Along with Goff, LA's top rusher Cam Akers (625 yards) is questionable with an ankle injury and fellow RBs Henderson and Brown had done little for weeks. Some good news is that WR Kupp (92 catches) is expected to play after missing Week 17 (COVID) and along with Woods (90 catches) give LA a strong WR duo. TEs Higbee and Everett have combined for 85 catches with Higbee catching five TDs. Defense has been the key all season for the Rams, who ranks first in both scoring D (18.5 PPG) and total D (281.9 YPG). RB Chris Carson has been very solid the last six games with 358 yards on 4.8 YPC. He gives balance to a Seattle offense led by Wilson (see above) and the team's dynamic WR duo of Lockett (100 catches / 10 TDs) and Metcalf (83 catches / 10 TDs). Seattle opened 5-0 with Wilson and the offense overcoming the team's defensive woes. However, the Seahawks then lost THREE of four, before recovering with a 6-1 finish. Seattle's defense allowed 26.6 PPG over the first nine games of the season but in that 6-1 'finishing kick,' the 'Legion of Boom' moniker was applicable by allowing just 15.0 PPG! Seattle won the NFC West title for the first time since 2016 and will host a playoff game for the first time since since January 2017. If Goff plays, he can't possibly be anywhere near 100% and a Wolford/Wilson showdown is a "no-contest!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-09-21 | Seton Hall -3.5 v. DePaul | Top | 76-68 | Win | 100 | 6 h 2 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on Seton Hall at 2:00 ET. Seton Hall believed it could have made a run to the Final Four behind All-American guard Myles Powell (21.0 & 4.3) last season before COVID-19 shut things down. The Pirates were 21-9 and ranked 15th in the country after finishing tied for first in the Big East with a 13-5 record. Powell is now in the NBA but OUTSTANDING head coach Kevin Willard has plenty to work with as this season. The Pirates (8-5, 5-2 Big East), saw their three-game winning streak end with a T-H-U-D in a 36-point loss at No. 7 Creighton on , shooting a season-low 33.3 percent. Seton Hall heads to DePaul on Saturday looking to bounce back. DePaul head coach Dave Leitao is in his second stint at the school and it's been a LONG time since DePaul has had a relevant basketball program. The last time the Blue Demons made the NCAA tourney was 2004 and 2007 was the last time the program was relevant, playing in the NIT. DePaul finished 20-14 that season and hasn't won 20 games since. DePaul became the final major-conference team to make its debut with a 91-72 win over Western Illinois back on Dec 23 and has played just THREE games (1-2 / 0-2 Big East). "We've got to regroup," said Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, whose team absorbed its most one-sided defeat in his 11 seasons at Creighton. "We've got to recover. Every once in a while, you get smacked down and you've got to pick yourself up. This group has done that." The 6-11 Mamukelashvili leads the team in scoring (18.3) and adds 6.8 RPG. Wing Jared Rhoden adds 15.4 and a team-high 7.2 RPG. Fellow wing Myles Cale (11.7) is the team's third double-digit scorer. PG Reynolds (7.8 & 4.6 APG) and Molson (7.1) are solid backcourt performers, while the 6-10 Samuel (6.1 & 3.2) and the 7-2 Obiagu (5.4 & 5.0) aid Mamukelashvili up front. Guards Charlie Moore (16.3-3,7-5.3) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (13.7-5.7-4.0) are the only major players to participate in all three of DePaul's modest total of three games. The 6-7 Weems (13.5 & 4.0), the 6-7 Hall (10.0 & 8.0) and guard Lopez (10.0-4.0-3.5) have all played two games. Seton Hall is by FAR the better team with all things being equal. However, that's NOT the case here, with DePaul starting late (see above) and then playing just THREE games over the last 19 days. Meanwhile, Seton Hall is 7-2 after a 1-3 start and is coming off a 36-point embarrassment at Creighton. BLOWOUT Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-08-21 | Jazz v. Bucks -6 | Top | 131-118 | Loss | -103 | 12 h 36 m | Show |
My 10* Weekly Wipeout is on the Mil Bucks at 8:05 ET. Milwaukee has had the NBA's best record in each of the last two seasons but did not make it to The Finals either time. Milwaukee's 130-115 home victory over Detroit on Wednesday ups the Bucks' record to 4-0 home, even while playing in an empty arena because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Bucks are just 1-3 on the road, leaving them with a modest 5-3 overall record (THREE teams from the East have six wins and Philly has seven). The 4-4 Utah Jazz will visit Fiserv Forum on Friday, coming off a game in MSG in which they blew an 18-point lead early in the second half of a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. The Jazz sputtered on offense and defense in the third quarter and eventually the Knicks took control in the final minutes, scoring 68 points in the second half. The Jazz don't lack for talent with SIX players averaging in double digits. Guards Mitchell (21.3-3.6-5.0) and Conley (17.4-4.1-5.1) start, while Clarkson (15.5) comes off the bench. Center Gobert is averaging a double-double at 13.9 & 13.1. The Bucks are led by forwards Antetokounmpo (26.1-10.8-5.4) and Middleton (21.1-6.1-6.1) plus newcomers Jrue Holiday (14.8-4.1-5.4) and Bobby Portis (11.4 & 8.0) have made an immediate impact. Both teams have excellent depth. Defensive lapses and strings of careless turnovers are becoming a recurring problem for Utah. The Jazz have been roasted on a regular basis by hot-shooting guards this season and teams are no longer fearing Rudy Gobert around the basket as they have in past seasons. It all adds up to a team that has NOT held an opponent under 100 points so far this season and has allowed 116 points per game in its four losses (lost by an average of 15.5 PPG). Yes, Milwaukee is a modest 5-3 but take note that the Bucks own the best point-differential of any NBA team at plus-13.7, 4.9 PPG above the next beat team. Milwaukee averages a league-best 125.3 PPG, while shooting 50.5% from the floor, including 43.7% on threes (both percentages also rank No. 1 in the NBA). W-I-P-E-O-U-T Alert! Good luck...Larry |
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01-08-21 | Purdue v. Michigan State -4 | Top | 55-54 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 35 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Michigan St at 7:00 ET. Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly meant that Tom Izzo's Spartans "were back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. However, Michigan St (8-3 / 2-3 Big Ten) followed that contest with an impressive 68-45 home win over the No. 15 Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Tuesday. Visiting East Lansing Friday night will be Purdue (7-5, 2-3), which has lost THREE of its last four games. The Boilermakers haven't played since falling at Illinois 66-58 on Saturday. Their home game against Nebraska on Tuesday was postponed due to coronavirus issues within the Cornhuskers program. Purdue head coach Matt Painter's lone loss of note from last season's team was the 7-3 Haarms (8.6 & 4.6), who went to BYU as a graduate transfer. The team's "Big Three" are all returning players, senior PG Hunter (10.8 & 4.0 APG) plus juniors like the 6-10 Williams (14.1 & 9.6) and SG Stefanovic (11.3). 7-4 freshman Edey (9.1 & 4.1) has made all forget about Haarms plus freshman guard Newman (9.9) gives Purdue five players averaging between 9.1 and 14.1 PPG. Depth is provided by four players chipping in a combined 21 PPG. Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's recent play, a career-high 27 points vs Nebraska followed by 20 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and two steals in the rout of Rutgers, has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser as the team's top scorer. Henry checks in with a line of 14.0-5.5-3.8 with Hauser posting 12.0 PPG and a team-high 8.5 RPG. Sophomore PG Watts (9.9 & 3.6 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.8) and Loyer (5.6) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.2) and Hall (6.2 & 5.5) give MSU a deep bench. Purdue has lost all FOUR road games, while averaging a meager 60.8 PPG. Izzo's teams have always played excellent D and the Spartans are coming off a game in which they held Rutgers to 30.5 percent shooting. "I thought that was one of our better defensive performances in a couple of years," Izzo said. Michigan St was ranked 13th in the AP preseason poll and I believe are headed on a path to be ranked among the nation's top-10 teams shortly. The price is 'cheap!' Good luck...Larry |
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01-07-21 | Mavs v. Nuggets -2.5 | Top | 124-117 | Loss | -104 | 13 h 16 m | Show |
My 10* Western Game of the Month is on the Den Nuggets at 10:05 ET. Luka Doncic (33-16-11) recorded his first triple-double of the season in Dallas' road win at Houston on Monday night, a day after sitting out a loss to the Bulls in Chicago. Nothing Doncic does these days is a surprise. After all, in four of his other five games, he has averaged 28 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists. The problem for Dallas so far has been the absence of Porzingis, who averaged last season. The 3-4 Mavs head to Denver to take on the 3-4 Nuggets tonight, as both teams look to get their respective seasons back on track. The Mavericks are coming off a playoff appearance in last season's Orlando bubble, which has raised expectations for this season. Denver knows all about high expectations after its run to the Western Conference finals in the bubble. Doncic is joined by two other double digit scorers in Hardaway (17.0 & 4.0) and Richardson (13.7). Denver's Nikola Jokic is playing at an MVP level, averaging a triple-double this season, joining Washington's Russell Westbrook as the only players to do that early in the season. The 7-footer actually leads the NBA in assists (11.9 per game), is fifth in rebounding (11.7) and 16th in scoring (24.1). Only Westbrook and Oscar Robertson have averaged a triple-double for an entire season, but Jokic has that capability. Unlike the Mavs, the Nuggets have great depth with PG Murray (22.2) coming off a breakout performance in last season' playoffs. Porter (19.5 & 6.8) moved into the starting lineup this season but hasn't played since Dec 29 but is listed as probable for tonight's game. Excellent swingman Barton (11.3-4.7-3.0) is back healthy and has played in all seven games (three starts). The Pepsi Center has always been a tough venue and even without fans, I expect the Nuggets to be an OUTSTANDING home team this season. How about starting right here, Denver? That's my bet. Good luck...Larry |
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01-07-21 | USC v. Arizona -3 | Top | 87-73 | Loss | -109 | 13 h 50 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on Arizona at 9:00 ET. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. USC has opened 6-2 (1-1 in Pac 12). Arizona's Sean Miller is in his 12th season with the Wildcats and has had more than a few off the court issues the last few years. He saw THREE freshmen from last year go the 'One and Done' route in PG Mannion (14.0 & 5.3 APG), Green (12.0 & 4.6) and big man Nnaji (16.1 & 8.6). However, Arizona has opened a surprising 9-1, including 3-1 in Pac-12 play. Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value for USC, averaging 15.0 & 8.0. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 8.9 & 7.9. Peterson (10.5-4.9-3.1) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 12.8 PPG and White 7.0 Guard Goodwin (7.4 & 4.9) and Baumann (5.9) come off the bench. Arizona also features a first-year player making a big 'splash' recently. 6-7 freshman Bennedict Mathurin (from Canada) led the team in scoring in both games of a road sweep at the Washington schools last week. He was chosen the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in those two games. He's now averaging 10.6 & 4.9 on the season. Georgetown transfer James Akinjo (14.2 & 5.1 APG) and fellow guard Jemarl Baker (13.7) are the top scorers. The 6-11 Jordan Brown (10.2 & 6.0) is a Nevada transfer plus 6-11 freshman Azoulas Tubelis (8.4 & 5.7) and 7-1 sophomore Christian Koloko (4.9 & 5.5) both make solid contributions. Enfield has a good team at USC and a strong frontline but the Trojans have NOTHING of this surprising Arizona team that is on the verge of cracking the top-25. McKale Center has always been one of the nation's toughest home floors and even without fans, beating Arizona on its home floor will always be quite a challenge. Tough time in Tucson for USC tonight. Good luck...Larry |
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01-06-21 | Raptors v. Suns -3 | Top | 115-123 | Win | 100 | 15 h 15 m | Show |
My 10* Game of the Week is on the Pho Suns at 9:05 ET. The Toronto Raptors were the 2019 NBA champions and last season, entered the postseason as the East's No. 2 seed with a 53-19 record, despite losing Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers as a free agent. Note that the Raptors' record last season put them just 2 1/2-games back of the Bucks and was a half-game BETTER than the West's No. 1 seed, and eventual NBA champion Lakers! How QUICKLY things can change. The Raptors lost Monday night at their temporary home in Tampa 126-114, falling to 1-5. They now open a four-game Western Conference swing Wednesday night at the 5-2 Phoenix Suns, who are enjoying their best start since the 2009-10 season. I'm pretty sure most (all?) remember that the Suns surprised all with their 8-0 SU & ATS performance in the Orlando 'bubble' to end last season. The Raptors started well Monday against Boston and led by as many as 13 during the first quarter but the Celtics dominated in the second quarter (38-14) and by the fourth quarter, Boston led by as many as 26. Fred VanVleet (21.8-5.5-5.5) has been one of the bright spots for the Raptors and scored 35 points Monday (has reached at least 25 in three consecutive games). Kyle Lowry (18.7-4.5-7.7) gives Toronto an All-Star backcourt but breakout star Siakam has struggled this season. "We've got to get these guys playing to their capabilities," Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said. "I think they're better players than that, so we as coaches, and our leaders of our team, need to. ... get these guys together and get them playing." The Suns haven't made the postseason since the 2009-10 but acquired 10-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul from the Thunder in hopes of ENDING that drought. He is teamed with All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker, who has averaged 26.6 PPG in each of the past two seasons. Phoenix also added veteran forward Jae Crowder (VERY underrated) in addition to Paul and are hoping that 6-11 Ayton (18.2 & 7.5 in 38 games last season) will stay healthy all season. SIX players are averaging in double digits. Booker's scoring (21.1-4.1-4.4) is down but Paul has stepped into his role of team-leader averaging 8.3 APG plus has added 13.4 PPG. Ayton has opened by averaging a double-double (13.7 & 10.7) plus as noted above, Crowder (10,0 & 4.7) is underrated. The 6-8 Cameron Johnson averaged just 8.8 PPG as a rookie (No. 1 pick from North Carolina in 2019) but is up 12.7 PPG to start this season. The team's No. 1 pick from 2018, Villanova's 6-6 Bridges, is adding 14.1 & 5.6 after averaging 8.7 PPG his first two seasons. I'm not so sure Toronto is going to get things turned around soon with no true home court for at least HALF the season. The Raptors' 1-5 record is their worst start since they lost their first NINE games of the 2005-06 season. The Suns lost 112-107 at home to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday but after trailing by 31 points, got back in the game late. "I love the way we scrapped and battled," Suns head coach Monty Williams said. "We know we can beat that team because we've done it before. We've just got to get off to a better start than we did tonight." The 5-2 Suns are enjoying their best seven-game opening to a season since they were 6-1 in 2009-10, the last time the franchise made the postseason. Phoenix is the play! Good luck...Larry |
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01-06-21 | Virginia Tech v. Louisville -4 | Top | 71-73 | Loss | -115 | 10 h 51 m | Show |
My 10* ACC Game of the Month is on Louisville at 6:30 ET. Va Tech head coach Mike Young is in his second season with the school, after a record-setting 17-year tenure as the head coach at Wofford. The Terriers posted a 30-5 overall record in 2018-19, including a perfect 18-0 mark in Southern Conference play, and registered a convincing 84-68 win over Seton Hall in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament. Young built the Terriers into one of the Southern Conference's preeminent programs and a perennial NCAA Tournament participant. He guided Wofford to five NCAA Tournament berths over his last 10 seasons and five Southern Conference championships. However, the Hokies were just 16-16 overall in Young's first season at Blacksburg, losing almost two-thirds of their ACC games (7-13). Chris Mack took over at Xavier for the 2009-10 season when Sean Miller took the Arizona job. He led the Musketeers to eight NCAA tourneys in nine seasons before moving to Louisville. The Cards went 20-14 in his first (NCAA bid) but were 24-7 in his second year, when the season was shut down in March (AP ranked them 14th in its final poll). Va Tech's Landers Nolley was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team in leading the Hokies in scoring (15.5 PPG) last season but after the season he announced he was transferring to Memphis. More bad news came when the 6-6 Horne (7.6 & 4.2) also transferred. Sophomore guard Tyrece Radford (10.2 & 6.2) was both the team's leading returning scorer AND rebounder! However, Young liked his team's chance to improve in the 2020-21 season because of some key experienced graduate transfers. Radford is averaging 10.8 & 5.9 RPG and the 6-9 Alleyne (11.1) has made excellent progress in his sophomore season plus two 6-7 transfers start up front The 6-7 Keve Aluma (16.0 & 6.7) followed Young from Wofford and is Va Tech's best players this season, while 6-7 Delaware transfer Justyn Mutts (6.6 & 5.9) has been solid. Returning guards Cone (10.3) and Bede (5.7) have both added valuable contributions. Swingman Jordan Nwora (18.0 & 7.7) is gone from last season's Louisville team but FOUR starters returned. However, Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.4-6.6-5.1. He's a graduate transfer from Radford and was last season's Big South Conference player of the year. He joins returning guard Johnson (14.4-6.3-4.0) in the backcourt. The 6-7 Williamson did little last season but averages 10.0 & 6.2 this season. True freshman guard Davis (9.1) and the 6-8 Traynor (5.4 & 3.3) plus 6-9 redshirt freshman Withers adds 9.0 & 6.9. 8-1 Va Tech comes in as the ranked team (No. 24) but has benefited from playing seven games at home in Blacksburg, with two on a neutral court. The game at Louisville will be the Hokies' first game away from Blacksburg since Nov 29 and their first true road game of the current season. 7-1 Louisville's ONLY loss this season has come at now-No. 8 Wisconsin. What's more, a check of the history book reveals that Louisville has won 16 straight games against Virginia Tech, most recently 68-52 at home on March 1, 2020. The last Virginia Tech win over Louisville was back in February 1991 in Blacksburg, 72-56. Is tonight the night Va Tech ends its losing streak? NOT in my opinion! Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-21 | Rutgers v. Michigan State -1.5 | Top | 45-68 | Win | 100 | 13 h 10 m | Show |
My 10* Situational Stunner Game of the Month is on Michigan St at 9:00 ET. Michigan State lost its first three Big Ten games for the first time since 2001-02 but broke through with its first conference win with an 84-77 victory at Nebraska on Saturday. That win hardly means that Tom Izzo's Spartans "are back," as the Cornhuskers are 0-4 to open Big Ten play this season. Steve Pikiell spent 11 years at Stony Brook, winning 20-plus games in his final five seasons. He led the Seawolves to an NCAA berth in 2015-16 and a 26-7 record. His first three seasons at Rutgers saw the Scarlet Knights go just 15-18, 15-19 and 14-1 but Rutgers was 20-11 last season before the year was shut down. This year's team won its first five games by double digits and opened league play with a 74-60 win at Maryland on Dec 14. The Scarlet Knights improved to 6-0 by pulling out a 91-88 win over then-No. 13 Illinois on Dec 20 (rose to No. 11 in the AP poll) but was unable to duplicate that performance when it lost 80-68 at then-No. 23 Ohio State. Rutgers opened last week with a home win over Purdue but then lost an agonizing 77-75 decision at home to now-No. Iowa on Saturday. The Hawkeyes made three free throws in the final 17 seconds, sandwiching a Scarlet Knights turnover by Myles Johnson with five seconds remaining. Rutgers is ranked 15th in the AP's latest poll (Jan 4) as the Scarlet Knights visiting East Lansing on Tuesday. This is a very good team, led by senior guards Harper (22.1 & 7.0) and Young (15.7 & 5.2 APG). Junior guard Mathis adds 15.3 & 4.1 plus two 6-11 centers, Johnson (8.0 & 8.7) and Omoruyi (5.3 & 5.8), give Rutgers a strong inside presence. A problem for Rutgers is that standout freshman Omoruyi has missed THREE straight games with a knee injury (listed as out indefinitely). Michigan St lost its two best players from last season's team to the NBA Draft, as PG Winston (18.6 & 5.9 APG) was taken by the Wizards and the 6-8 Tillman (13.7 & 10.3) by the Grizzlies. The team's top-two players so far this season have been 6-9 junior forward Joey Hauser, a transfer from Marquette, and 6-6 returning forward Aaron Henry. Henry's (13.4-5.2-4.1) recent play (career-high 27 points vs Nebraska) has pushed him slightly ahead of Hauser (12.3 & 7.9as the team's top scorer, while Hauser remains the team's top rebounder. Sophomore PG Watts (9.8 & 3.9 APG) has stepped in for Winston plus veteran guards Langford (8.6) and Loyer (6.2) join him on the perimeter. Two returning 6-7 forwards, Brown (8.6) and Hall (6.3 & 5.7) give MSU a deep bench. Michigan St has 'cost me' a couple of times this season but I sure like them in this spot. C'mon Tom, get your team playing up to its potential! Good luck...Larry |
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01-05-21 | Connecticut v. Marquette -1.5 | Top | 65-54 | Loss | -105 | 13 h 43 m | Show |
My 9* Big East game of the Month is on Marquette at 9:00 ET. UConn moved to the AAC for the 2013-14 season and made an improbable run to the Final Four and won a national championship. However, it has spent the last six seasons going just 110-90, with just two seasons of 20-plus wins and one NCAA tourney appearance. The Huskies have fallen out of the national 'picture' but a return to the Big East this season, along with the hiring of Dan Hurley as its head coach, had expectations running high in Storrs. Hurley spent six seasons at Rhode Island, winning 25 and 26 games in his final two years, ending with NCAA bids. However, he went 14 -19 and 16-17 in his first two seasons with UConn, before going 19-12 in last season's pandemic-shortened one. Marquette opened the current season without Markus Howard, who led the nation in scoring last season at 27.8 PPG. Also gone was fellow senior Scar Anim, who added 13.1 PPG. However, head coach Steve Wojciechowski welcomed an impressive freshman to his roster, the 6-11 Dawson Garcia (31.9 & 9.7 last year in high school) plus has been able to surround him with a deep supporting cast. Connecticut has played just five games so far (4-1 / 1-1 Big East), earning its first conference win last Wednesday night with an 82-61 romp over visiting DePaul. Rhode Island transfer Tyrese Martin collected 22 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double with the Huskies. Martin is averaging 10.3 & 9.3 and is joined on the perimeter by leading scorer Bouknight (23.2 & 5.4) and PG Cole (10.6 & 3.8 APG). Up front, the 6-9 Whaley (8.2 & 5.8), 6-11 Carlton (6.0 & 6.5) and the 6-9 Polley (4.8 & 3.) are the main contributors. Marquette opened 4-1, including an impressive home victory over then-No. 4 Wisconsin (67-65) but comes into this game just 6-5 (2-3 in the Big East). Marquette fell behind Georgetown by 18 points early in the second half Saturday night at Washington, DC and it sure looked like the Golden Eagles were headed for a FOURTH straight Big East Conference loss. However, senior Jamal Cain led a huge comeback that eventually erased a 38-20 deficit, leading to his three-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining that sealed a 64-60 victory. The 6-7 Cain (11.5 & 6.5) scored a game-high 25 points. 6-11 freshman Garcia added nine points and 13 rebounds, winning him Big East Freshman of the Week honors. He is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 PPG and leads the team in rebounding (7.3 per). Senior guard McEwen (13.5-3.5-2.5), sophomore guard Carton (11.4-3.4-3.9), 6-7 freshman Lewis (8.5 & 6.3) and 6-9 senior John (7.9 & 5.8) give Marquette a solid 'Core 6.' This is UConn's first true road game and if Marquette can beat Wisconsin here on its home floor (Fiserv Forum), the Golden Eagles should be 'golden' here against the Huskies. I'm convinced Marquette is SIGNIFICANTLY better than its record and will prove just that in this contest. "The Price is sure Right!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-04-21 | Colorado State v. San Diego State -8 | Top | 65-78 | Win | 100 | 12 h 8 m | Show |
My 10* Conference Game of the Month (MWC) is on SD State at 9:00 ET. Niko Medved spent four years at Furman and one at Drake, and had an overall record of 79-087 when Colorado St tabbed him as its next head coach. He went 12-20 in his first season but turned things around by 20-12 last season, before the shut down. His Rams have opened 6-1 this season, including a 70-67 upset of San Diego St Saturday at the Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl (Rams were a nine-point underdog). Brian Dutcher has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 18 seasons as an assistant to Steve Fisher, first at Michigan and then at San Diego St. Dutcher joined then-interim coach Fisher in 1989 when Michigan won the national championship. He is credited for having a central role in recruiting the Fab Five to Michigan and for bringing Kawhi Leonard to San Diego St. Following Fisher's decision to retire, Dutcher was formally named as his replacement on April 11, 2017. The Aztecs won 22 and 21 games in his first two seasons but last season, the team opened 26-0 with impressive road/neutral site wins over BYU, Creighton, Iowa, and Utah State. SD State finished 30-2 and ranked No. 6 when the season shut down. The Aztecs opened 5-0 this season (including good wins over UCLA and Arizona St) and was ranked 18th when it lost 72-62 at home to BYU. Colorado St fell behind by 26 points in the first half Saturday night against the Aztecs but came all the way back to win 70-67, representing the largest come-from-behind win in MWC history. They miss the 6-11 Carvacho (1.29 & 10.8) but four starters are back from last season.PG Stevens led all scorers last season but the 6-5 Roddy leads this season with 16.0 PPFG and 9.9 RPG (also a team-high). Stevens (13.9-4.1-6.1) checks in right behind him with guard Moore (10.1) and the 6-6 Thistlewood (9.6 & 3.7) just missing double digits. Depth is provided by FIVE other players appearing in all seven games and combining to average about 23 PPG. Matt Mitchell flirted with the NBA draft but returned and leads the Aztecs with 15.3 PPG (adds 4.3 RPG). Guard Schakel (12.9) and the 6-10 Mensah (9.4 & 7.5) are also returning players. In this 'Year of COVID' we are seeing teams playing back-to-back game against each other in the same venue and that's the case here. After a historic comeback (see above), the Rams are in the WRONG place in the WRONG time against SD St, which entered this season 41-6 SU at home the previous three seasons. Yes, the Aztecs have a margin to overcome but I'm laying the points! Good luck...Larry |
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01-04-21 | Pacers v. Pelicans -1 | Top | 118-116 | Loss | -115 | 14 h 33 m | Show |
My 10* Oddsmaker's Error of the Month is on the NO Pelicans at ET. The 4-2 Indiana Pacers and the 4-2 New Orleans Pelicans meet tonight in New Orleans in a East vs West. The Pacers opened 3-0 but have lost TWO of three since, while the Pelicans come in off back-to-back wins. The Pacers come in off a loss to Boston, a win over Cleveland and a loss to the Y Knicks, all at home. This marks just the team's second road game of the season and first since December 26. The Pelicans routed the Thunder 113-80 in OKC (Dec 31) and then on Saturday night, blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter before battling back to edge Toronto 120-116. Indiana's Brogdon (22.2-4.0-6.3) is off to a great plus PF Sabonis (20.8-11.3-6.7) and Oladipo (20.0-5.6-4.4) are both healthy and looking like the All Stars they've become. SF Warren (15.2) is out with a foot injury but center Turner (12.7-6.2-3.7 BPG) and 6th-man McDermott (11.7 & 4.2) have both played well. For New Orleans, Ingram (24.0-6.8-5.3) gets better by the game and of course Zion (19.7 & 8.2) gets as much coverage (hype) as any player in the league. The Pelicans have added guard Bledsoe (12.4 & 4.2 APG) and center Adams (10.0 & 9.0) this season plus Lonzo Ball (12.3-4.5-4.5) and Hart (9.0 & 8.2) joined the team last season along with Ingram in the A.D. trade. What I like most about New Orleans in the early going is the team's defense. New Orleans has held opponents to 102.0 PPG (3rd) on 43.1%) shooting (4th). "The Price is Right" in this one. Take the home team. Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-21 | Ohio State v. Minnesota +1 | Top | 60-77 | Win | 100 | 8 h 46 m | Show |
My 10* Big Ten Game of the Month is on Minnesota at 5:30 ET. Chris Holtmann took over at Butler for Brad Stevens and went 70-31 win three seasons, each ending with an NCAA tourney berth. He took the Ohio St job beginning in 2017-18 and strung together three straight 20-win seasons but was denied a third straight NCAA bid when last season was shut down. Ohio St opened 5-0 and was ranked 20th in the AP poll before a 67-60 road loss at Purdue on Dec 16. A 77-70 win over UCLA (in Cleveland) plus an 80-68 home win over then-No. 11 Rutgers came next. However, the Buckeyes lost 671-70 at Northwestern, before closing 2020 by pounding visiting Nebraska 90-54 on Wednesday. The now-No. 25 Buckeyes (8-2, 2-2 Big Ten) take on the No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-2, 2-2) Sunday at Williams Arena. Richard Pitino is in his eighth season at Minnesota. He led the Gophers to the NIT championship in his first season (2013-14) but over the last six seasons, Minnesota has made just two NCAA appearances (2017 and 2019), while going a combined 56-71 (.441) over the other four. Season No. 8 has begun well but while Minnesota had hoped to build off wins against Iowa (102-95 in overtime) and Michigan State (81-56), it instead trailed by 26 points at Wisconsin on Thursday, before a surge in the final minutes made the 71-59 final look respectable (it wasn't!). The Buckeyes saw five players score in double figures in their blowout of Nebraska and the 90 points was their highest point total in a conference game since defeating Penn State 106-74 back on Dec 7, 2019. The 6-7 Liddell (14.4 & 6,4) is Ohio State's best player. Guard Washington (14.3), the 6-7 Sueing (11.0 & 4.5), PG Walker (9.4 & 4.4 APG), the 6-8 Young (7.7 & 6.7) and 6-8 freshman Key (7.1 & 4.0) round out the main contributors Minnesota PG Carr (22.7-3.9-6.2) ranks with the best in the nation and has been aided by THREE transfers, 7-0 Liam Robbins (13.0 & 7.0) from Drake, the 6-6 Gach (11.1 & 5/7) from Utah and the 6-8 Johnson (8.9 & 6.0) from Western Michigan. Plus, don't dismiss returning junior guard Kalescheur, who's adding 9.8 PPG. Not much went right for anyone for Minnesota at Madison and Carr was NO exception. He entered the game fourth nationally with 24.0 points per game but needed five points in the final minutes to finish with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting. This set up as a great bounce-back spot for Minnesota which is 9-0 at home, outscoring opponents on average, 86.4-to-71.9 PPG! LOVE this price! Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-21 | Packers -4 v. Bears | Top | 35-16 | Win | 100 | 22 h 25 m | Show |
My 10* "Granddaddy of the Them All' Rivalry G.O.Y. on the GB Packers at 4:25 ET. The Bears/Packers rivalry is the NFL's oldest, as two of the NFL's "Originals' meet for the 202nd time. Green Bay leads the series 100-95-6 but I'll have more to say about that a little later. The 12-3 Packers can clinch a first-round bye and the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win or a tie against the Bears. The Packers can also get a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if the 11-4 Seattle Seahawks lose or tie against the San Francisco 49ers. As for Chicago, 'Da Bears can clinch an NFC playoff berth with a win but there also are two other pathways for the Bears to secure a postseason spot. They need 8-7 Arizona to lose at the 9-6 Los Angeles Rams OR, if the Bears and Cardinals each finish Sunday's games with tie scores. Wouldn't that be some 'Daily Double?' Green Bay is on a five-game winning streak and Chicago on a three-game run. More on those streaks in a little bit, as well. The 37year-old Aaron Rodgers has put up MVP-caliber numbers, completing 70.3% for 4,059 passing yards with 44 TDs and only five INTs. He has a 119.4 QB rating, which leads the league and is the second-best of his HOF career (122.5 QB rating in 2011). RB Jones has 1,062 rushing yards (5.6 YPC / 8 TDs) plus 43 catches for two more TDs. WR Adams has missed two games but has 109 catches for 1.328 yards with 17 TDs plus TE Tonyan's 50 catches and 10 TDs is a big improvement from LY's starter, Jimmy Graham. This balanced offense leads the NFL in scoring 31.6 PPG. Mitchell Trubisky has played a key role in the late-season turnaround, after he was benched for veteran Nick Foles during a Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons. He reclaimed his starting job in Week 12 and has posted a 99.3 passer rating since then with 1,243 passing yards, 10 TDs and four INTs. Montgomery has run for 1,001 yards (4.4 YPC and 7 TDs) plus has 45 catches with another two TDs. WR Robinson has exactly 100 catches for 1,213 yards with six TDs and TE Jimmy Graham (remember that name?), has bounced back with a strong season, catching 48 passes for eight TDs. Neither defense is anything special, with Green Bay allowing 23.5 PPG and Chicago giving up 22.3. Let me deal with the two teams' streaks. Green Bay is 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS, although both ATS losses have come in games the Packers won by SEVEN and EIGHT points (would have covered both at this point spread. Much has been made of Trubisky's and Chicago's late run but the team's 3-0 SU & ATS streak has come over the Jags, losers of 14 straight, the Vikings, losers of three straight and SIX straight ATS and the 4-11 Texans, losers of FOUR in a row going 1-3 ATS with the lone ATS win coming by a half-point! As for recent head-to-head matchups, the Packers routed the Bears 41-25 at Lambeau in Week 12, as Rodgers threw four TDs (Bears led 41-10 entering the fourth quarter. The oldest rivalry in the NFL has been a rather one-sided affair in recent years, with Green Bay winning 18 of 21 against Chicago counting the postseason. As for games in which Rodgers has started, the Packers are 20-5 (again, including the playoffs). It's been rumored that Trubisky's future with the Bears is tied to Chicago beating Green Bay in this one. If that's true, it's time to "Hit the Road, Mitch!" Good luck...Larry |
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01-03-21 | Cardinals v. Rams OVER 40.5 | Top | 7-18 | Loss | -121 | 22 h 59 m | Show |
My 9* Featured Sunday Total is on Arz/LAR Over at 4:25 ET. The short-handed LA Rams (9-6) are home in Week 17 against NFC West rival Arizona (8-7). While the Rams are one game better than the Cardinals, they need a victory or a Chicago Bears (8-7) loss to the Green Bay Packers to make the playoff field. Meanwhile, the Cards are in a true win-or-go-home scenario. Beat the Rams and they are in the postseason for the first time since 2015. Lose, and the off season begins Sunday night. The Cardinals were dealt a blow last week when they were completely taken out of their game in a 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The defeat came after consecutive victories over the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. QB Kyler Murray sustained a right leg injury on his final pass attempt Sunday but he WON'T miss here. "Yeah, I'll be playing," Murray said. "There's no holding back. If we lose, I'll be home chillin'. It's my leg. I'm fine. It's an opportunity that only we could ask for. It's an opportunity to play in the playoffs, get in and we're right where we want to be with everything that has happened this year." Murray's had a superb 'sophomore' season, completing 67.1% for 3,884 yards with 26 TDs and 12 INTs. He also has 816 rushing yards (on 6.2 YPC) with 11 TDs. RB Drake has blossomed in 2020 (919 yards and 10 TDs), giving Arizona the third-best running game in the league at 145.9 YPG. The Cardinals' defense has been outstanding at putting pressure on opposing QBs over the past three weeks. The "D" has 17 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles and 24 QB hits over that span. However, the defense has struggled overall, since Week 7. The Cards allowed just 18.7 PPG through their first six games but over their last nine, have allowed 28.7 (easy to see that's 10 more PPG!). The Rams will be without QB Jared Goff, who sustained a thumb injury last Sunday at Seattle and underwent surgery. John Wolford, who has not taken a snap in a regular-season game, is scheduled to start for a team that has lost consecutive games. What's more, WR Cooper Kupp (92 catches / TDs) tested positive for COVID-19 and is out. Those are not the only issues the Rams are dealing with, as RB Darrell Henderson (high ankle sprain) is out while RB Malcolm Brown (shoulder) has been limited at practice. Rookie RB Cam Akers (ankle) will try to get back on the field after not playing against the Seahawks. The LA defense has been terrific all season, allowing 19.3 PGG (3rd) on 286.5 PPG (1st). The situation looks dire for LA but head coach Sean McVay said, "I believe in this team. I trust in their mental toughness and I think that the overarching message is let's put everything that we have into this. Let's not be afraid to put it all out there one more time. Get back up off the mat and keep swinging and have no regrets no matter how this thing ends up." Recent history is sure on LA's side, as the Rams are on a perfect 7-0 SU & ATS run against the Cardinals (average MOV 21 points!), including a 38-28 victory in the desert (Week 13). We don't see over/under numbers this low very often and I'm expecting an excellent game from Murray and for the make-shift LA offense to score against an Arizona D which has been giving up plenty of points since late-October. Go O-V-E-R! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Colorado v. UCLA -2 | Top | 62-65 | Win | 100 | 14 h 48 m | Show |
My 10* PERFECT STORM is on UCLA at 8:00 ET. Tad Boyle is in his 11th season at Colorado and despite losing the 6-7 Tyler Bey (13.8 & 9.0) to the NBA (he played center), Boyle has his Buffs off to a 7-2 start. The good news was that PG Wright flirted with the NBA draft but returned to Boulder and is surrounded by veterans. Mick Cronin made NINE consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances at Cincy, as his Bearcats posted a 235-78 (.751) record in that span. He moved to Westwood last season and his Bruins got better as the year progressed and were playing their best ball when the season was shut down. UCLA lost its opener at San Diego St but then won FIVE in a row, before losing 77-70 to Ohio St in Cleveland on Dec 19. The 6-2 Bruins are coming off a 72-70 home victory over Utah on Thursday night and have opened 2-0 in Pac 12 play. The Colorado Buffaloes came into the week with a tough road trip to start the Pac-12 season. They opened in Arizona against the Wildcats on Tuesday and lost 88-74. That didn't come as too much of a surprise, as the Buffs have NEVER won at McKale Center since joining the Pac 12 for the 2011-12 season. However, Colorado won 72-62 at USC on Thursday. Wright is averaging 15.9-4.7-5.4 and is surrounded by veterans, such as the 7-0 Dallas Walton (9.6), the 6-8 Evan Battey (10.0 & 4.6) and the 6-7 Jeriah Horn (a Tulsa graduate transfer), who adds 10.8 & 6.1. A quartet of guards combine to add about 26 PPG. Cronin's Bruins feature SEVEN players averaging at least 8.5 PPG. 5-11 PG Campbell (10.9 & 7.3 APG) is surrounded by a bevy of "big guards," including the 6-6 Jaquez (13.3 & 5.9), the 6-9 Smith (12.6 & 6.4), the 6-6 Juzang (11.3) and the 6-6 Bernard (10.0 & 4.9). Up front it's the 6-9 Riley (8.8 & 5.0) and the 6-10 Hill (8.5 & 6.7).The Bruins showed some resiliency in their win over the Utes after their lone senior, Chris Smith, was briefly knocked out of the game with a bone bruise in his left knee late in the first half. He returned to finish with a team-high 16 points but got plenty of help from his younger teammates. UCLA will need that kind of depth if Smith is hobbled or unable to play against the Buffaloes. Speaking of injuries, Colorado's Wright suffered an ankle injury in the loss at Arizona on Tuesday night but not only did he play on Thursday at USC, he scored a game-high 19 points. "We have a great trainer," Boyle said after Thursday's game. "People don't talk about college basketball trainers enough, especially in years like this year, with all of the things he has on his plate with testing and protocols and contact tracing. Then he's got to keep our guys healthy mentally and physically. He's an important part of our success. He doesn't get talked about enough." We'll see what kind of shape Wright is in tonight. Regardless, UCLA win over Utah extended the Bruins' current home winning streak to 11 in a row and Colorado is a VERY tough spot, playing its THIRD conference road game in just FIVE days. Just a "PERFECT" spot for a UCLA win! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Oregon v. Iowa State -3.5 | Top | 17-34 | Win | 100 | 73 h 17 m | Show |
My CFB 10* Game of the Year is on Iowa St at 4:00 ET. When the pandemic-delayed Pac-12 season started, Oregon (AP preseason No. 9) was a co-favorite with USC to reach the title game. Both schools were only able to play five games but while USC went 5-0 (with THREE "close calls''), Oregon finished 3-2, second in the Pac-12's North Division behind Washington (3-1). The Ducks were scheduled to play Washington at home on Dec 12 but a COVID-19 spike in the Huskies' program caused Washington to cancel that game. That left Oregon 'out in the cold,' with the Huskies set to play the Trojans. However, the COVID situation in Seattle did NOT improve, so lo and behold, the Ducks replaced the Huskies in the championship game. In less than a week, Oregon went from understudy to center stage. Oregon made the most of the opportunity by defeating host USC 31-24 for the championship. The victory gave Oregon (25th in both the AP and CFP) the Pac-12's automatic berth to a New Year's Six game. Waiting for them will be 8-3 Iowa State (No. 10 CFP / No. 12 AP) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan 2 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cyclones lost their season opener at home to ULL but then won SEVEN of their next eight games, including a 37-30 home win over then-No. 18 Oklahoma and a 23-20 road win at then-No. 17 Texas (it was Iowa St's first win in Austin since 2010). The Cyclones have never won a championship in the Big 12 or their previous league, the Big Eight. Iowa State's last conference title came back in 1912 (MVC). Iowa State made its first-ever appearance in the Big 12 championship game on Dec 19 but couldn't beat Oklahoma second time, falling 27-21. This is Mario Cristobal's third season at Oregon, having led the Ducks to back-to-back bowls while going 9-4 and 12-2. Despite losing QB Herbert to the NFL, the Ducks' current QB Tyler Shough has been a solid replacement, passing for 1,480 yards with 13 TDs and five INTs plus running for 263 yards on 4.2 YPC and two TDs. RB Dye has a team-high 391 yards on 7.0 YPC plus his eight receptions have averaged 27.6 YPC with four TDs. Fellow RB Verdell was coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons but has just 285 yards on 4.4 YPC with three TDs. A trio of WRs have combined for 50 catches and just five TDs. Oregon is averaging 33.7 PPG (30th) but allowing 27.3 PPG (55th) on 409.5 YPG (67th). Iowa St QB Purdy entered 2020 off a 2019 season in which he accounted for 35 TDs (27 passing / 8 rushing) and has completed 66.4% for 2,594 yards with 18 TDs and nine INTs (added four rushing TDs). Speaking of running the football, Breece Hall leads the nation with 1,436 rushing yards (5.9 YPC) and with 19 rushing TDs. WR Hutchinson leads with 60 catches (4 TDs) and TE Kolar has 39 catches with a team-high six TD receptions. Iowa St averaged 32.8 PPG (36th) on 449.1 YPG (26th), which works just fine with a defense allowing 21.8 PPG on 344.3 YPG (ranks 29th in both categories. Defensively, the Ducks are allowing 28.0 PPG. Iowa St's early upset by ULL was fueled by a 95 KO return TD and a 78-yard TD pass. The Iowa St defense held ULL to just 277 yards for the game, 78 of which came on that TD pass. The Cyclones' other two losses were 24-21 at then-No. 6 Oklahoma St and then 27-21 vs Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game, when Purdy threw THREE interceptions! I'm not sure a top Pac 12 team is anywhere near in the class of a top Big 12 team and believe Iowa St will demonstrate just that in this contest. Head coach Matt Campbell was 34-15 at Toledo with four bowl appearances and after a 3-9 first season (2016) in Ames, has now led the Cyclones to a FOURTH straight bowl. The Cyclones were not able to win that elusive conference championship but how about capping off the season with a win in the school's first-ever appearance in a New Year's Six Bowl! That's my bet. You in? I guess if you're reading this, you are! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Utah v. USC -5 | Top | 46-64 | Win | 100 | 7 h 4 m | Show |
My 9* Situational Stunner is on USC at 4:00 ET. The Utah Utes are 4-2 (1-1 Pac-12) and the USC Trojans 5-2 (0-1 Pac12), as both enter this contest off conference losses. The Utes saw their comeback fall short in a 72-70 loss at UCLA on Thursday, while the Trojans lost their Pac-12 home opener 72-62 to Colorado on the same night. Larry Krystkowiak led Montana to back-to-back NCAA berths in his two seasons at his alma mater and then took the Utah job to begin the 2011-12 season. He had losing seasons in his first two years but then led his team to an average of 23.4 wins per season over the next five with postseason berths in each one (3 NIT and 2 NCAA). However, the Utes opened this season off seasons of just 17 and 16 wins. Andy Enfield led Florida Gulf Coast to a 26-11 season in his second at the school, making a Sweet 16 appearance. That gave him the chance to "move on up" to USC but his first two seasons were HUGE disappointments (11-21 and 12-20). However, the Trojans have won 21-plus games in FOUR of the last five seasons, including a 22-9 mark last season. Utah lost Both Gach to Minnesota (transfer) but returned four starters. 6-6 forward Allen led the team in scoring last season and is averaging 15.8-5.3-3.0 this season, just behind guard Alfonso Plummer (16.0 & 3.7), who scored a season high 22 points at UCLA. Joining Allen up front are the 6-8 Jantunen (8.8 & 5.2), the 7-0 Carlson (7.7 & 2.8) and the 6-9 Battin (6.2 & 4.0). Gach liked to play PG and his leaving has opened that role up to Jones (7.8 & 4.5 APG), who joins Plummer in the starting backcourt, while freshman Larsson (7.7) comes off the bench. USC saw its top-five scorers leave after the 2020 season. Onyeka Okongwu left for the NBA, Elijah Weaver transferred to University of Dayton plus seniors Jonah Mathews, Nick Rakocevic, and Daniel Utomi all graduated. However, Enfield recruited a "super frosh" in 7-0 freshman Evan Mobley plus brought in SIX transfers. Evan Mobley has wasted little time in showing his value, averaging 16.7 & 8.4. He joins his brother Isaiah (a 6-10 sophomore), who has added 9.9 & 8.3. Peterson (10.1-4.0-3.3) is a 6-8 swingman from Rice and joins guards Eaddy (Santa Clara) and White, a grad transfer from Utah Valley St. Eaddy is averaging 12.0 PPG and White 6.3 & 3.6. Guard Goodwin (6.9 & 4.9) and Baumann (6.4) come off the bench. USC is the more complete team at this stage of the season plus while Utah gave a 'close but no cigar' effort at UCLA, the fact remains that the Utes have now lost 11 consecutive games on the Pac 12 road. Utah has not won on the road in league play since beating Washington State 92-79 back on Feb 23, 2019. The Utes ATS record in that span is 2-9 or an 82% "go-against" Fight On USC!! Good luck...Larry |
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01-02-21 | Tulsa v. Cincinnati -5 | Top | 70-66 | Loss | -110 | 9 h 17 m | Show |
My 9* Weekend Wipeout is on Cincinnati at 2:00 ET. Frank Haith has had stops at Miami-Fl and Missouri before coming to Tulsa for the 2014-15 season. His teams have averaged 19.3 wins per year in his first six seasons, including going 21-10 before COVID shut down the 2019-20 season. However, Haith's biggest win at Tulsa came this past Tuesday when it stunned No. 5 Houston 65-64. The victory was clinched when Brandon Rachal hit two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining. It was the program's first win over a top-5 opponent in 24 years (Golden Hurricane beat a ranked UCLA team back in 1995!). John Brannen led Northern Kentucky to a 72-30 record in his final three seasons, leading the Norse to the "Big Dance" in two of those three years. He was hired at Cincy on April 14, 2019 when Mick Cronin left for UCLA. The Bearcats went 20-10 in last year's pandemic-shortened season but opened the current season missing guards Jarron Cumberland (15.5) and Jaevin Cumberland (8.8) plus forward Tre Scott (11.4 & 10.5). The Bearcats were one of the last teams in Division I to start their season, not taking the floor until Dec 2, and limp into this contest against 5-3 Tulsa just 2-5. The Golden Hurricane are led by a quartet of guards in Rachal (14.5 & 7.0(, Embery-Simpson (9.3), Joiner (9.0-5.3-4.1) and Jackson (7.1 & 4.0). The 6-9 Idowu (8.4 & 4.8) is the team's best frontcourt player. Tulsa is scoring a modest 71.5 PPG, which is NOT helped by the team making just 60.6% of its free throws (314th). However, Tulsa does play defense, allowing 60.6 PPG (26th) while holding opponents to 36.7% from the floor (15th). Not much has gone right for Cincy so far, as the Bearcats enter on a four-game skid. The Bearcats lost 75-70 at UCF on Dec 22 in their most recent outing, despite getting the first career double-double from Keith Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds) and a career-high 15 points from Zach Harvey. Williams (15.1 & 4.3) is the team's LONE double digit scorer. Big things were expected from the 7-1 Chris Vogt (11.0 & 5.9 LY) but he's off to a poor start (6.4 & 4.1). However, here's the rub. As noted, Tulsa's off its first win over a top-5 team since 1996 and now faces a desperate for a win Cincinnati team which enters having won its last seven meetings with Tulsa, with a MOV of 16 PPG. "W-I-P-E-O-U-T Alert! Good luck...Larry |