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CBB SEASON RECORD: 4-2, +2.75 UNITS WEDNESDAY: 2-0, +2.75 UNITSFriday nights have been magical for me most of the year, so here's hoping to a fun Friday night kickoff in college hoops:
JACKSONVILLE STATE +21 (2.25 UNITS) 
- Georgia is in disarray. Takais Brown, their main inside presence at 14.2 ppg (177th nationally in Effective FG% and 44th nationally in Offensive Rebound %) and 5.6 rebounds was dismissed from the team two weeks ago. At 6'8"/260, he was their muscle in the middle and will be sorely missed. Do it all guard Mike Mercer is suspended for the first 15 games this season. He averaged 13.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg., 3.3 assists and 1.7 spg. Mercer is one of the most versatile players in the country and is a force also on the defensive end. Throw in the loss of graduating senior Levi Stukes (152nd nationally in Effective FG%) and Georgia is without its three main cogs to start off the season. They lack depth, experience and strength on their frontline. Jacksonville State's frontline could be as good and as athletic as any team in the Ohio Valley, which should be an advantage against Georgia. Dorien Brown, a 6'7" forward missed 11 games last season due to a violation of team rules but was the team's 2nd leading rebounder and scorer at 11.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg. 6'10" Amadou Mbodji gives them a defensive shot blocking presence in the middle and Erik Adams returns after contributing 6.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg. In addition, the Cocks add 6'7" Jozay King from JUCO last year where he averaged 11 ppg, 7 rpg and 2.3 bpg. Will Ginn will be moved to off guard this year and should become JSU's main offensive threat. Last season he averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.1 apg. JSU is catching Georgia at their most vulnerable time of the season and with such a strong frontcourt, they should be able to hang with the Bulldogs.
- Georgia is in disarray. Takais Brown, their main inside presence at 14.2 ppg (177th nationally in Effective FG% and 44th nationally in Offensive Rebound %) and 5.6 rebounds was dismissed from the team two weeks ago. At 6'8"/260, he was their muscle in the middle and will be sorely missed. Do it all guard Mike Mercer is suspended for the first 15 games this season. He averaged 13.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg., 3.3 assists and 1.7 spg. Mercer is one of the most versatile players in the country and is a force also on the defensive end. Throw in the loss of graduating senior Levi Stukes (152nd nationally in Effective FG%) and Georgia is without its three main cogs to start off the season. They lack depth, experience and strength on their frontline. Jacksonville State's frontline could be as good and as athletic as any team in the Ohio Valley, which should be an advantage against Georgia. Dorien Brown, a 6'7" forward missed 11 games last season due to a violation of team rules but was the team's 2nd leading rebounder and scorer at 11.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg. 6'10" Amadou Mbodji gives them a defensive shot blocking presence in the middle and Erik Adams returns after contributing 6.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg. In addition, the Cocks add 6'7" Jozay King from JUCO last year where he averaged 11 ppg, 7 rpg and 2.3 bpg. Will Ginn will be moved to off guard this year and should become JSU's main offensive threat. Last season he averaged 9.3 ppg and 4.1 apg. JSU is catching Georgia at their most vulnerable time of the season and with such a strong frontcourt, they should be able to hang with the Bulldogs. - UMASS has to compensate for the loss of Lasme and Freeman, which are huge shoes to fill. Eight freshman and some unproven talent stepping into larger roles should make it a tough beginning of the season for Coach Travis Ford. Cal Poly will contend for the Big West title and have a HUGE advantage having taken a 4 game exhibition tour to Australia prior to the beginning of school giving them some extra game experience and 10 extra practices to build chemistry. That is gigantic when playing against a young and inexperienced UMASS team looking for chemistry. While the Mustangs lose Derek Stockalper, they do bring back 3 starters and many upperclassmen and should be able to win this one outright.TULANE PK (2 UNITS) - Auburn looked primed for a nice run in the SEC this season but starts the season missing last year's two leading scoreres. 6'8" senior Quan Powell is suspended the first 5 games this season. Powell was the Tiger's 2nd leading scorer and rebounder at 12 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Powell was tough to guard because of his size and because he was a good outside shooter (43% from 3). Josh Dollard was the Tiger's leading scorer and rebounder at 12.5 ppg and 7 rpg. He is lost for the season. In Auburn's last 5 games, Dollard averaged 15.6 ppg and shot 50% from the 3. Without Dollard and Powell, their is a large hole in the Tiger's frontcourt. Auburn was the worst 3 point shooting team in the SEC last season at 33.5% and were 11th in scoring defense and 10th in FG% defense. Tulane returns 4 starters from last year's 17-13 team and are lead by 6'7"/240 all-cnference forward David Gomez. Gomez anchors a strong and deep frontline which should have a solid advantage over the depleted Tigers. Tulane ranked 14th nationally in Effective Field Goal % Defense, 4th in 2 point FG% defense and 16th and shot block%. With Powell and Dollard both out, Tulane seems to have solid frontcourt advantages. Auburn is not used to arenas like Fogelman Arena which is 70 years old and holds just 3600 people, and it should be a sold out and loud crowd on hand Friday night maKing it a tough environment for the Tigers.
- Auburn looked primed for a nice run in the SEC this season but starts the season missing last year's two leading scoreres. 6'8" senior Quan Powell is suspended the first 5 games this season. Powell was the Tiger's 2nd leading scorer and rebounder at 12 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Powell was tough to guard because of his size and because he was a good outside shooter (43% from 3). Josh Dollard was the Tiger's leading scorer and rebounder at 12.5 ppg and 7 rpg. He is lost for the season. In Auburn's last 5 games, Dollard averaged 15.6 ppg and shot 50% from the 3. Without Dollard and Powell, their is a large hole in the Tiger's frontcourt. Auburn was the worst 3 point shooting team in the SEC last season at 33.5% and were 11th in scoring defense and 10th in FG% defense. Tulane returns 4 starters from last year's 17-13 team and are lead by 6'7"/240 all-cnference forward David Gomez. Gomez anchors a strong and deep frontline which should have a solid advantage over the depleted Tigers. Tulane ranked 14th nationally in Effective Field Goal % Defense, 4th in 2 point FG% defense and 16th and shot block%. With Powell and Dollard both out, Tulane seems to have solid frontcourt advantages. Auburn is not used to arenas like Fogelman Arena which is 70 years old and holds just 3600 people, and it should be a sold out and loud crowd on hand Friday night maKing it a tough environment for the Tigers.WESTERN CAROLINA +1.5 (1.25 UNITS) (5pm)- Western Carolina looks poised for improvement. The best player on the court by far will be Sophomore Nick Aldridge, who last year averaged 18.3 ppg and 7 rebounds. The 6'7"/230 pound forward averaged 23.7 ppg over his last 10 games last season. Six players who started at least 6 games return for the Catamounts and they have added some muscle and size to their front line. Camden Miller is a 6'8" freshman who can have an immediate impact and scored 15 points in WC's exhibition game. Blake Gallagher comes from Fork Union Prep school where he was the team's top inside player and 6'8"/240 pound post player was the Catamounts leading rebounder in their exhibition game. The Louis Orr era begins at Bowling Green with his toughness and rebounding philosophies. Problem is BG is not a good rebounding team (321st last year in offensive rebounding) and aren't very tough. BG returns 3 starters from last year;s 13-18 squad but lose leading scorer Martin Samarco. BG lacks depth and has a lot of inexperience and it may take time for them to adapt to Orr's style. WC head coach got his first coaching victory two years ago against Bowling Green and should repeat the victory here.
- Western Carolina looks poised for improvement. The best player on the court by far will be Sophomore Nick Aldridge, who last year averaged 18.3 ppg and 7 rebounds. The 6'7"/230 pound forward averaged 23.7 ppg over his last 10 games last season. Six players who started at least 6 games return for the Catamounts and they have added some muscle and size to their front line. Camden Miller is a 6'8" freshman who can have an immediate impact and scored 15 points in WC's exhibition game. Blake Gallagher comes from Fork Union Prep school where he was the team's top inside player and 6'8"/240 pound post player was the Catamounts leading rebounder in their exhibition game. The Louis Orr era begins at Bowling Green with his toughness and rebounding philosophies. Problem is BG is not a good rebounding team (321st last year in offensive rebounding) and aren't very tough. BG returns 3 starters from last year;s 13-18 squad but lose leading scorer Martin Samarco. BG lacks depth and has a lot of inexperience and it may take time for them to adapt to Orr's style. WC head coach got his first coaching victory two years ago against Bowling Green and should repeat the victory here.MONTANA -4 (1.25 UNITS)
GOOD LUCK! 
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