::Tuesday:: 1/13 (144-143-0 -13.7 units)

1* 110-115

2* 28-20

3* 4-7

4* 1-1

5* 1-0

Took a trip to Tampa for a golf tournament at Innisbrook, got to play the Cooperhead course where the Valspar is played on the Tour.  Unbelievable experience if you ever get the chance.  You can only bet through Hard Rock in Florida, so I just played golf, drank beer and watched football.  Happy to get back to hoops, and I'll likely play too many games. 

3* Kent St/Buffalo Over 163.5

Kent St has really, really good offensive metrics.  22nd in tempo certainly helps an over bettor, but they get to the foul line a lot, and as a whole, shoot well from there.  They are 64th in 3pt%, and 77th in overall efficiency.  Buffalo on the other hand, has really slowed things down this year, and its paid incredible dividends. Last year they were 28th in tempo and won 9 games.  This year they are 245th, but are 13-3, and certainly aren't doing it with their defense.  41st most efficient offense, 19th best 3pt%, and also shoot a lot of free throws and convert them.  Both teams should score at will tonight.

1* Ohio Bobcats +2.5

Toledo has dominated this series recently, winning 9 straight, and covering the number in 8 of those.  But this years Toldeo team isn't as good as years past. They have losses to the likes of Robert Morris, Oakland, Marshall and South Alabama.  The latter two coming on the home floor, albeit, the first two games of the year.  They have bounced back a little bit, but this spot sucks for them.  Just lost at home to conference leader Miami, and go to another conference power in Kent St next.  I think this is the year that the Bobcats end the streak.  If they don't do it tonight, you can bet your ass I'll be on them Feb. 28th.

1* Michigan St Spartans -7.5

First Indiana.  They just lost a game @ home to undefeated Nebraska, in which they led by double digits with 15 mins to play.  They allowed Nebraska to go on a 16-1 run to close the game in the final 5 mins.  Just a huge kick to the dick.  Now they go to East Lansing to face a team that did not play very well their last time out, although beat NW by 10.  I expect the Spartans to shoot better than 27% tonight against this IU team whose best win is Washington @ IU.  Ewww.

3* UMass Minutemen -2.5

Real bad spot for Western.  They just beat their rival, Eastern Michigan, and then play their conference Super Bowl, when they go to Akron next.  Add in the fact that UMass had dropped 3 in a row before beating lowly Ball St.  The Minutemen have plenty of motivation sitting at 1-4 in conference, to come out focused, and guns a blazin.  They love to run, and share the ball very well.  If we get the focused team I think we get, this one isn't even a sweat.  Dwayne Stephens is no Frank Martin.

1* Tennessee Volunteers -8.5

I bet Bucky McMillan turned off the Tennesse/Florida tape and cried a little bit.  He knows what hell his team is about to enter in Knoxville.  That was the second largest defeat a Rick Barnes coached team had lost by since he's been at Tenn.  I'm betting that the Vols defense comes out with their hair on fire tonight, and the Aggies don't ever have a chance.  They'v been playing great ball lately, and had Tennessee lost by 8 or something, and not given up 90+ in their last game, I may have backed the Aggies here.  But Tennessee is gonna be pissed off. 

2* Loyola Chicago Ramblers +7.5

It's been super ugly for Drew Valentine and his squad.  They've won just 5 games.  Lost 3 in a row.  Just lost by 35 to GW.  Good news is, George Mason probably doesn't even know they have a game tonight.  They just beat VCU, which is the programs biggest road win in years, and play their rival George Washington next.  The money is almost 70% on GMU tonight, but the line has come down.  Someone knows something, and I'm taking their side. 

1* Boston College/Clemson Under 134.5

Neither team is ever in a rush to do anything offensively.  They wait to get a offensive set running, and then run it.  Rarely looking to score any other way.  And both teams play very physical defense, and the refs should know that coming in, and keep the whistles away.  Lets see how that goes.  BCs offense sucks.  They can't shoot, and Clemsons defense will making that weakness, a glaring one.  The Tigers don't shoot the ball well from the perimeter, but inside is where they like to score.  That happens to be the strength of the Eagles D. 

2* UCONN Huskies -5.5

Seton Hall is 14-2! 4-1 in the Big East!!  Ranked in the top 25 now after winning 7 games last year!!!  Here's the downer.  They played the 291st easiest non con in the country.  They haven't seen the size, speed, or athleticism they will be facing tonight.  Dan Hurley played and coached at Seton Hall, and has yet to win there as a coach.  He's an ego maniac and will do whatever it takes to blow the doors off Seton Hall tonight. 

8pm central and on games will be in a bit.

 BOL 

Heels ... 

PS: I think Mason's win over VCU was at home. I grabbed Loyola-Chi at +9.5 and was a bit surprised to see it drop, but your explanation makes a lot of sense.

Good luck STL 

@Floridaman

@rangersmets

 you're 100% correct.  thanks for the correction.  GL tonight buddy.

@totter

 you too my friend!

GL

1* Mississippi St Bulldogs +4.5

2022 was the last time Alabama lost 3 straight SEC games under Nate Oats.  They lost to a bad Mizzou team, then a great Auburn team...and then they had to go to Stark-vegas, and face a middle of the road (in SEC terms) Mississippi St team, where they lost again.  This feels like that same spot. State probably isn't as good defensively as they were then, but the Humph will be rockin' as this is the first game back home with students on campus.  Watch out for a court storm!

1*Oklahoma St Cowboys +1.5

Baylor has dropped 3 straight in the conference, and now have to go play in a VERY tough gym (17th best home court according to KP).  They've already dropped one on the road @ TCU, and then two straight at home, albeit two top ten losses. The Pokes have yet to drop one at Gallagher-Iba, and it appears Lutz finally has guys that can run his offense. They play fast as hell, and are the more effective offense in this match up.  While Baylor has a great offensive rebounding team, that leads to a lot of run outs on the other end due to everyone but one guy hitting the offensive glass.  They don't put forth the same effort on the defensive glass, and it burns them time and time again. 

1* Kansas Jayhawks +3.5

I'm playing the Phog.  I'm playing the full game at 3.5, but I'll take the ML if they ever get down 12+.  As a Missouri kid growing up in the heart of the KU/Mizzou rivalry, and a huge fan of the old Big 12 and even Big 8, I've seen this movie too many times.  Weird things happen in that place and KU usually ends up on the positive side of those things.

2* Oklahoma Sooners +6.5

Florida is coming off the win of the year vs Tennessee, but now have to hit the road, with a look ahead to Vandy next.  OU has dropped two straight, but both were on the road, and now they get to come back to the friendly confines of Lloyd Noble Arena, where the place is sure to jumpin' this evening.  OU doesn't allow scoring inside, and that is where the Gators have to score from. They have the big men to neutralize the size of Floridas front court, and the I think OUs guards may be better as a whole than Floridas. 

1* UNLV Runnin' Rebels +2.5

Boise has dropped 4 of 5 and now has injury issues to deal with.  Javon Buchanan, their best player, left their last game after playing just 10 mins, and they lost by 25.  It doesn't appear he is going to go again tonight, and they can't afford to not have him.  The Rebs just dropped both on their roadie, and come back home.  The line is adjusted to Buchanan not playing I think, but it's still seems like a beg to take the short number on the Broncs. 

GL everyone

@Robards

 you too