1* 6-2
2* 2-0
3* 0-0
4* 0-0
5* 0-0
1* Rider/Rutgers Under 139.5
This number opened at 147 so I'm getting zero value there, but I still think the number is a smidge too high. Coach Pikiell can go back to playing the style of ball that got Rutgers back on the college basketball map, and thats on the defensive end. Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are great basketball players, they just aren't great college basketball players. Two top 5 NBA draft picks should win more than 15 games, but they didn't buy in on the defensive end, and it showed. In 2023 Rutgers ranked 6th nationally in def. eff., in '24 they were 5th, then the "top prospects" came in and it dropped to out of the top 100. Pikiell knows what needs to happen, and The Rack will be rockin tonight, so I expect very high energy from Rutgers especially defensively. Rider really struggled to score against Virginia in their first game, shooting 35% from the field and 25% from 3. And that isn't Tony Bennetts Virginia defense either.
2* South Dakota/Creighton Over 168.5
South Dakota plays an intense brand of basketball, with full court pressure, and getting out and running on misses and makes. They were they 2nd fastest tempo in the country last year. Two comparable teams that they played last year, to what they are going to see tonight, is Iowa and Nebraska, and those games got to 173 and 175 respectively. I think we get something super similar. The Jays offense will now be without Kalkbrenner on the inside, but that means more opportunities for proven shooters like Josh Dix. The pace will be frenetic, we will just need shots to go down at their usual pace for both teams.
2* Tarleton St +15.5
Billy Gillespie was once a VERY sought after coach. After being dismissed from Kentucky, and resigning from Texas Tech amid player mistreatment allegations, he found a home in Stephenville and is building something there. They won 25 games two years ago, with a set back last year. Last year they lost to SMU on opening night by 34, but on Monday, they lost by 20 (it was a single digit game with 10ish mins to play). This looks to be great progress by a good coach. SMU is farther ahead at this point in time than LSU is, so I like the Texans to keep it close, and you may think about sprinkling the money line too at +1100.
1*Loyola Marymount -8.5
Eastern Washington just played UCLA on Monday, and left Pauley only losing by 6. They were never really out of it, 15 being the largest lead by the Bruins. EWU only missed 7 shots inside the arc, but struggled when stepping outside it shooting 28%. But the biggest reason I'm playing the Lions is because this is a sandwich spot for EWU. UCLA on Monday, tonight, and then to another P5 school in Colorado. Marymount also returns some key pieces, including their rim protector, Rick Issanza who is playing in his SEVENTH YEAR OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!! They have some other size too so I don't think things come easy for EWU. I don't think EWU can get up for this game, after how Monday night went for them. Tough spot.
Thanks for sharing brother.
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