Wednesday 11/16 CBB Picks w/Analysis

Quote Originally Posted by JFen31:

2010-2011: 164-127
2011-2012: 14-11-1 (+5.6 units)

Had a great day yesterday going 5-2 with a money line win on Middle Tennessee. Not a very attractive card tonight, so just one play as of now:

SE Missouri State +6 @ Bradley (1 unit)
The Redhawks have been building their team in anticipation of making an OVC title run this season. Most preseason prognosticators have them finishing 3rd or 4th in the conference (behind AP, Murray, and Tennessee Tech), mainly on the strength of 3 now-eligible transfers. The frontcourt will have great depth this year with Missouri transfer Tyler Stone (6'8, 230) and Missouri State transfer Michael Porter (6'6, 235) joining forces with Leon Powell, the nation's leader in FG percentage in 2010-2011. Powell is on every 1st Team All-OVC list and just returned to action after an early-season injury, going 8-8 from the field against Harris-Stowe. He wasn't able to play in the Redhawks' opener at Missouri, but the team held its own and was quite competitive throughout the game, losing 83-68. The frontcourt should be a strength of the team all season, as even without Powell, the Redhawks only lost the rebounding battle to Missouri by 5 (35-30). The unit earned a rare "A" grade from Blue Ribbon. The backcourt also receives a boost with the addition of Ole Miss transfer Logan Nutt (6'1). He will join returning factor Nick Niemczyk, who was expected to be a major player last season but was lost to injury after 5 games. The other Nutt, Lucas, averaged double-figures last year as the starting point guard. This portion of the deep is also very deep and earned a B+ rating. SEMO entered this season with a lot of confidence, having made the OVC tournament for the first time in several years. Once there, they won a game and advanced to the semis before falling to eventual champ Morehead State.

Bradley is quite a different story. The Braves lost 4 of their 5 leaders in minutes played off of last season's 12-20 ballclub. Bringing in Coach Geno Ford from Kent State was a major coup, but he inherits a roster short on talent. The team was supposed to be returning three starters, but 6'9 F/C Will Egolf tore his ACL in June and will miss the season. He was expected to provide stability inside. Taylor Brown, a 6'6 forward, now becomes the main frontcourt threat, having averaged 14.0 ppg two years ago before missing most of last year to illness. Teammate Jordan Prosser could be a valuable player, as well, having notched 17 rebounds in the opening win against UMKC. Bradley brings in five freshmen, a few of whom are being counted on for immediate contributions. Bradley struggled mightily with Summit League cellar-dweller UMKC in the opener, trailing 54-52 with 5:27 to play before going on a run to end the game.

Based on talent and experience, SEMO appears to be the far better team. Bradley tends to play better at home, but it's hard to ignore the disparity between these two squads. SEMO has been accruing talent with this season in mind and now boasts tremendous depth throughout the roster. Bradley is short on talent and depth, and might not be playing its best basketball until much later this season.

Quote Originally Posted by KineProfessor:



J-Fen and I are buds and exchange info (he has been hot you should study his methods) and I suggested the play.  I did not have time to write it up and now its 140 and climbing so I won't be posting it later as I obviously prefer it at 137.

Quote Originally Posted by GameHunter:



The Underground Network, huh? :)

Quote Originally Posted by KineProfessor:



Shhhhh! First rule of Underground Network is . . . you know the rest

Quote Originally Posted by JFen31:

Thanks, RedSox.

Don't feel like starting a new thread tonight, so I'll post it here.

Temple vs. Western Michigan +9 (1 unit)

I view these teams as nearly even, especially with Scootie Randall still out of action. Temple has a dearth of options from the perimeter and can no longer just dump it into Lavoy Allen.