::Wednesday:: 2/25 (237-241-0) -34.5 units

1* 199-200 

2* 29-31

3* 7-8

4* 1-1

5* 1-1

1* Wake Forest Demon Deacons -3.5

The Deacs hit a tough patch of games at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb, but they then won 3 straight before losing @ Va Tech on Saturday.  Steve Forbes is a good coach and you usually see progression as the season goes along when teams are well coached.  I believe they just renewed Forbes contract for another year, so that should not only make him feel more comfortable, but his guys should want to play for him tonight.  Other side of things isn't pretty, no matter how you slice it.  BC is bad.  Lost 8 straight, and sit at 2-12 in the ACC.  The number seems short due to Nate Calmeses absence.  Losing your is tough, but this late in the year, Atkins has had enough game time to shorten that drop off. BC is the walking dead. 

1* Florida Gators -6.5

I'd imagine the game plan for Texas tonight will be to get the ball into Vokietaitis, and let him get the bigs of Florida in foul trouble.  He's the 2nd best in the country at getting to the foul line, so it's a good idea.  The problem I think lies in the fact that Florida is probably going to do a lot of the same.  And they have 3 guys they can rotate onto Vok if anyone does pick up a couple early fouls.  Texas doesn't have anyone to replace Vok though.  No one is playing better basketball right now than Florida, peaking at the end of February could cost them in a month, but for now, they are a machine that I'm happy to back in the single digits. 

1*Georgia/Vanderbilt Over 164.5

Vandy has dropped two straight, but get to come home for their senior night, and get a team that loves to play their tempo, which is FAST!  Should have some extra juice in the building tonight, and UGA isn't guarding anyone.  I think Vandy gets 90+ on them.  Georgia will score, I'm a little nervous cause of the weird dynamics of Vandys gym, it tends to give shooters trouble cause of the sight lines.  But Blue Cain can really shoot it, and Jeremiah Wilkinson is a great score-first PG.  

1* Wofford Terriers +7.5

ETSU has already locked up the Southern, so not a lot to play for in these last two.  Wofford on the other hand, was 9-3 in conference, but now are 10-6, and find themselves in a mix for second with Mercer, Furman and Samford.  There are actually six teams that could still finish 2nd in the conference I believe, but haven't checked tie breakers.  But all that to say this, Wofford can really improve their seeding for the conference tournament with two more wins, and avoid having to play ETSU in the first round.  I think we get their best tonight.  Also a revenge spot. 

1* Cleveland St Vikings +7.5

I'll start with NKU having Wright St (conference leader) on deck for their senior night.  They don't have a ton left to play for, as they are going to finish middle of the pack.  Cleveland St doesn't have anything to play for as far as seeding goes, they are going to play some good teams out of the gate in the tournament.  But tonight is their Senior night, although I can't find anything that says they are celebrating their seniors, but it did say its Fan Appreciation night, and this is a rivalry that used to be BIG in the Horizon.  So I expect a feisty Viking team to give the Norse all they can handle. 

1* American Eagles -6.5

Close to immediate revenge.  Two weeks ago, Lehigh won on their home floor by 8.  But they shot over 57% from 3, and over 62% from 2 in that game.  Both of those numbers are well over their season averages, and I'm betting they can't do it again.  American has a long shot chance to still finish second in the Patriot too, but they have to win out, and get some help.  That should be enough motivation to clear this number. 

1* Xavier Musketeers +5.5

I think Providence is grossly overrated.  They have a win over St. Johns, it's their best win by far, but that was almost two months ago.  Xavier, while isn't stacking up wins, has been playing people really tough as of late.  Remember what I said about good coaches, and seeing progression?  This is another example.  Pitino will out coach English, and I believe will win the game, but take the points to be safe. 

1* East Carolina Pirates -4.5

UTSA is really bad.  ECU won the first meeting with ease, 88-72 on their home floor.  UTSA is coming off a drubbing by Tulsa, and have their senior night on deck vs. Wichita St.  They are likely just ready to get this season over with.  They got their win a few nights ago, so they didn't get shut out in the conference.  Now they can just mail it in and start thinking about Spring Break and where they are going to transfer to.  This is also the last realistic win on the schedule for the Pirates, and I'm sure they know that. 

1* Pepperdine Waves +7.5

The Waves were in the first meeting until the final whistle, and they've been showing signs of improvement, winning two of their last three. One of those wins completed the season sweep over Portland, who has beaten Gonzaga this year.  Seattle has some nice wins earlier in the year, but they are 0-7 on the road in conference, and now are 8 point favorites??  I'll take my chances. 

1*Creighton Blue Jays -4.5

I like what Holtman is doing at DePaul, CJ Gunn is a really good player.  But when they leave Wintrust Arena, they aren't the same team.  Yes, they just won at Seton Hall last week, but that was the first road win in conference.  Whatever they call the arena in Omaha now, isn't an easy place to play.  Creighton athletics is all those people have.  They pack the house every night.  Add immediate revenge into the mix, as DePaul defended home court and won 72-71, two weeks ago to the day.  Creighton is certainly down this year, but I think they have a big night. 

1* St. Marys Gaels -5.5

Revenge from Jan 17th @ Santa Clara, and the Gaels are returning home from a three game roadie that they swept, so home cooking will be nice.  They do have the Zags on deck, but Randy Bennett is one of the best in the business and has gone through this dog and pony show for 20 something years.  His guys will have their focus in the right spot, and its on these Broncos, whose only two losses in conference, are to the Zags.  Should be an awesome game.  Game of the night for me. 

@STLTarHeels

St Mary's had better not overlook Santa Clara, as they are a very good team.  Gonzaga can wait.

Good luck Heels!! Cleveland St (6-12) can still catch Milwaukee (7-12) for 9th place, thus avoiding playing the 10-11 play-in game against IUPU. On the flipside, they would actually get to host the play-in game since the first 2 rounds of the tournament are on campus.

Good luck STL