Posted:
#1
Sides, 72-73 –7.40
Totals, 10-11, -3.55
Year, 82-84, -10.95
If you would have told me that Louisiana Monroe was getting a +10 here earlier in the season, my initial thoughts would have been that Hooper and Payne were done for the season and that something else had drastically happened to the Monroe basketball team in order to warrant a +10 here. Well, nothing’s happened, except for the simple fact that North Texas is 7-0 at home and were rolling before conference play even started. Ten points is too much. Both of these teams are desperate. Both have started off 0-2 in conference play. This is a Monroe Warhawks squad that has been here before. They beat North Texas by 4 last year as 1.5 point dogs. They also took a 36-24 lead into halftime in the conference tournament before Hooper slipped and fell at the end of regulation before getting a shot off that sent the game to OT. Monroe returns all 5 starters from a team that tied for the Sun Belt title last year, and with revenge from being sent home last year, I look for an inspired effort tonight, w/ the team with the better overall guard play. Some other notes: UNT’s Keith Wooden sprained an ankle in practice on Sunday, his availability is unknown (11.8 ppg, 6.2 rbg). North Texas comes in with a #120 strength of schedule having played 1 top #50 team, while Monroe comes in w/ a #13 strength of schedule having played four top #50 teams. The 7-0 @ home mark is worrisome, along w/ a 3rd straight roady here, but I think you see both team’s best efforts tonight, and w/ some decent guard play, Monroe has a shot at the W here.
3* Louisiana Monroe +10
I’m not sure why these SEMO lines are so low. In fact, I’m shocked. I stated at the beginning of the year that they were easily a top 2 contender in the Ohio Valley with all of that talent after seeing them play at Illinois State. You cannot find an entire roster within the Ohio Valley that has every spot filled w/ talent. They literally have seven people that can take over the ballgame at any time, and after a 6-0 start, oddsmakers are banking on a small letdown here in my opinion w/ fellow Ohio Valley leader Austin Peay on deck. I really don’t think it happens. This is SEMO’s biggest rivalry game on the schedule year in and year out and SEMO’s head coach Edgar came over here from Murray State. If they lose here, it won’t be because Austin Peay is on deck. Murray State’s lone road victory came over cellar dweller Jacksonville State, and they even lost at Eastern Illinois. Their program having success in recent years, hitting the 20 win mark umpteen million years is keeping this # as low as it is. Rivalry game at home, undervalued, revenge (Murray State came in here last year and won big), and a chance at program history.
2* ML Parlay: +132 (SEMO ML -, Tenn State ML -)
1* SEMO –2.5
GL
0
Hot Forum Topics
