CBB
Play: USC Trojans
Rating: 10*

This looks like a good spot to back the USC Trojans at Arizona State Sun Devils Friday night. USC is sitting second in the Pac-12 and it's 8-3-1 ATS in its last 12 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. The Trojans held UCLA to just 34.8% shooting from the field and 26.9% from three-point range in a 80-61 win Thursday last week and they're 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a straight up win.

The Sun Devils are second to last in the conference and just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. They've been shooting well from behind the arc in recent contests and nailed 7 of their 14 attempts from 3-point land in a 67-55 victory on the road against the Cougars last Saturday. I think they'll struggle with the Trojans superior D here though and we can note that Arizona State ranks last in the Pac-12 in field goal % defense (45.0).

USC defeated Arizona State 75-65 home in California on Jan. 7 and should get the job done on the road tonight as well. 

CBB
Play: Oregon Ducks
Rating: 10*

The Pac-12 leading Oregon Ducks are on the road Thursday as they travel to California to take on the Bears. Cal is off a 76-61 home win against Stanford but had lost two straight games prior. The Ducks have won six straight games after a 76-66 win against Utah Sunday and they're 6-0 ATS in their last six vs. teams with a winning record and 5-0 ATS in their last five on Thursdays. The Bears on the other hand are 2-5 ATS in their last seven overall and 0-5 ATS in their last five on Thursdays and will have to do without Tyrone Wallace who is expected to miss at least a month with a broken wrist. The Ducks defeated the Bears 68-65 at home on Jan. 6, and I think they'll hand California its first home loss of the season tonight. 

CBB
Play: Kansas State Wildcats
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Kansas State Wildcats as a short home favorite against the Baylor Bears Wednesday night. Baylor is off a pair of losses to Texas and West Virginia and it's 0-5-1 ATS in its last six overall, 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight road games. The Wildcats on the other hand upset Oklahoma 80-69 last Saturday and are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win, 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 overall and 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games. 

CBB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Michigan State Spartans
Rating: 8*

The Michigan State Spartans are off four consecutive wins (4-0 ATS) and have knocked down a total of 47 3-pointers while shooting 58.8% from behind the arc over the past three games. They're 7-0 SU (6-1 ATS) in the last seven meetings with the Purdue Boilermakers and I like Michigan State to come out victorious of Tuesday's contest. Purdue has won five of its past seven games and is tied with the Spartans for fourth place in the Big Ten, but it's 1-4 ATS in its last five games. It shot 3-of-25 from 3-point range in its last game, a 72-61 road loss to Maryland, and that won't cut it tonight against the red hot Spartans.

The Boilermakers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 while the Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

CBB *GAME OF THE YEAR*
Play: Duke Blue Devils
Rating: 10*

This looks like a good spot to back the Duke Blue Devils when they take on the Louisville Cardinals in North Carolina. They've started the month with a pair of wins but failed to cover the spread in a 88-80 victory over NC State Saturday. We can however note that they're 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss and will host a distraught Louisville team that last week announced it would self-impose a postseason ban for violations it committed within the men's basketball program. The Cardinals managed to muster enough focus to defeat last-place Boston College 79-47 Saturday anyway, and that without leading scorer Damion Lee who is listed as questionable tonight. Duke is a much tougher opponent though, and the Cardinals are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games and 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a straight up win.

CBB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Iowa Hawkeyes
Rating: 8*

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 12-4-1 ATS last 17 vs. Big 10 opponents and should have no trouble to see off the struggling Illinois Fighting Illini Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Illini are just 2-8-3 ATS last 13 home games and their defense ranks second-to-last in the Big 10. That should spell trouble against a Hawkeyes team that is coming off double-digit wins over Northwestern (85-71) and Penn State (73-49). The favorite is 7-2-1 ATS last 10 meetings in series and this looks like a good spot to back the Hawkeyes. We can also note that although the Fighting Illini are off a 110-101 triple-overtime win against Rutgers Wednesday, they're just 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games following a straight up win and 0-5-1 ATS in their last six following a ATS win.

CBB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
Play: TCU Horned Frogs
Rating: 10*

This looks like a good spot to back the TCU Horned Frogs as they host the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday afternoon. The Horned Frogs fell 95-72 to No. 1 ranked Oklahoma on Tuesday, but they're 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points and 5-2 ATS in their last seven at home. They kept it a reasonably close game when they lost 70-63 to the Jayhawks in Kansas on Jan. 16 and the Horned Frogs have covered the spread in four straight head-to-head meetings. The Jayhawks are much stronger home at Allen Fieldhouse than on the road where they've lost three straight, and with matchups against West Virginia and Oklahoma on deck in the upcoming week they're in a bit of a look ahead spot as the Big 12 cellar-dwelling TCU is a rather inconsequential opponent. 

CBB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Monmouth
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Monmouth Hawks home at Multipurpose Activity Center where they're a perfect 6-0 on the season, covering the spread in four of the games. They're 16-5 ATS in their last 21 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and one of the top teams in the nation for scoring with an average of 80.3 points per game. The Fairfield Stags are among the worst in College Basketball for scoring defense giving up an average of 79.6 points per night which is an even worse 82.2 on the road. They lost 64-59 to the lowly Quinnipiac Monday and are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. I don't see how they'll be able to keep this a close game and I'm happy backing Monmouth even at this rather large spread. 

NCAAB 
Play: Temple Owls
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Temple Owls as they host the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Thursday. Tulsa defeated Tulane 62-48 Saturday despite committing a season-worst 22 turnovers. Such sloppy play won't cut it here against the Owls who lead the nation in fewest turnovers per game at 9.3 and are off a 70-63 victory over USF on Sunday. Quenton DeCosey scored a career-high 30 points in that contest, and although he was held to 14 points through two defeats against Tulsa last season I don't see the Golden Hurricanes being able to contain him tonight. The Owls are 6-1 when DeCosey scores 20 or more points, 5-0 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning straight up record and 5-2 ATS in their last seven Thursday games.

NCAAB
Play: Ole Miss Rebels
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Ole Miss Rebels at Mizzou Arena Wednesday night. They've lost five of their last six but they've won four of five all-time meetings with Missouri, covering the spread in all but one contest. They're 5-1 ATS in their last six road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and 4-1 ATS in their last Wednesday night games. The Tigers are losers of six straight, three at home, and off a 76-62 home loss to Mississippi State on Saturday as their top two scorers Kevin Puryear and Wes Clark combined for just six points. The Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last five at home and 0-3-1 ATS in their last four Wednesday games. 

NCAAB *LATE SHOW*
Play: Colorado State
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to take the points on the Colorado State Rams. They average 9.6 made 3-pointers per game which leads the conference and ranks 18th nationally. Shooting well from behind the arc will always give them a great chance to cover large spreads and they're 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600. The San Diego State Aztecs have nine straight wins, five of them by double-digits, but they're just 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

HARDWOOD HAMMER
Play: Kentucky
Rating: 8*

The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 66-48 in Lexington last year to make it eight wins in the past nine meetings. I don't think the Volunteers will be able to hang with the Wildcats tonight either. The Wildcats are off a 90-84 overtime loss at Kansas Saturday, but they're 5-1 ATS in its last six games following a straight up loss and it's fair to say that they did not have the referees on their side in that contest. They're currently tied for second in the conference with South Carolina and 12-4-2 ATS in their last 18 vs. Southeastern opponents. The Volunteers have lost five of their last seven overall and blew a 14-point halftime lead in Saturday's 75-63 road loss to TCU. That must be extremely demoralizing and they're just 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.

BIG12 GAME OF THE YEAR
Play: Texas Longhorns
Rating: 10*

This looks like an excellent spot to take the points on the Texas Longhorns. They've won five of their last six games and knocked off Vanderbilt 72-58 over the weekend as they held the Commodores to just 16 points in the first half. They've covered the spread in each of their last four overall and they're 4-1 ATS in their last five vs. Big 12. The Baylor Bears are 14-1 SU home in Waco this season but only 3-7 ATS in their last 10 in their own building and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. They're 0-3-1 ATS in their last four overall and the Longhorns are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings in Baylor.

NCAAB
Play: Wichita State Shockers
Rating: 8*

The Wichita State Shockers defeated the Evansville Purple Aces 67-64 at home earlier this month. I like their chances on the road at Ford Center today as well. The Shockers are on a roll, looking for an 11th consecutive victory and they've covered the spread in six straight games. They've won each of the last six meetings and 11 of the last 13 with Evansville and covered the spread in four of the last five. Evansville is a perfect 11-0 SU at home this season, but 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 home games dating back to last season. Another factor I like to take into consideration for College Basketball is the day of the week, and that trend points to a significant advantage for Wichita State who is 6-1 ATS in its last seven Sunday games while Evansville is 2-6 ATS in its last eight.

Super Early NCAAB
Play: IUPUI Jaguars
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the IUPUI Jaguars. The North Dakota State Bison defeated Western Illinois 65-52 on the road last Saturday, but they've covered the spread in just three of their last 11 away from home and they're 0-5 ATS in their last five coming off an ATS win. The Jaguars have played extremely well lately and they're 6-1 at at home this season. We can also note that day of the week suggest a big advantage for the Jaguars who are 5-0 ATS in their last five on Sunday while the Bison are 1-4 ATS in their last five Sunday games. The Bison have won six straight meetings, but that dominance ends today!

NCAAB
Play: Akron
Rating: 8*

The Akron Zips are off three straight wins and defeated Northern Illinois 77-66 Tuesday. They're 6-2 ATS in their last eight Saturday games and also 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following a straight up win. The Ball State Cardinals are coming off a 12 point loss at Buffalo in their latest game and they're 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a ATS loss and 1-4 ATS in their last five at home. The Zips are 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings and I think they'll prove to be far too strong for the Cardinals today. 

NCAAB
Play: Wisconsin Green Bay
Rating: 8*

The Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix have won five straight in the series, including three straight at home. The game at Green Bay last season was a 96-76 blowout win for the Phoenix who are off a 111-95 home loss to Oakland, a season high in points allowed. They're however still 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a losing road record and Detroit is coming off four consecutive losses. Day of the week is a trend I really pay attention to when it comes to College Basketball, and that stat strongly suggest a play on the Phoenix as they're 5-0 ATS in their last five Monday games. The Detroit Titans on the other hand 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight Monday games. 

NCAAB
Play: Arkansas Razorbacks
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Kentucky Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last six road games and 1-8 ATS in their last nine Thursday games. While day of the week is a dubious trend, I think it's one worth keeping an extra eye on when it comes to College Basketball. The Wildcats have three losses against unranked teams this season and suffered a 75-70 setback at Auburn on Saturday. The Razorbacks are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games and they have a red hot Anthlon Bell who is in the midst of a 21-of-38 run from 3-point range over his last five games and is averaging 17.1 points per game on the season. 

NCAAB Pac-12 Late Show
Play: UCLA Bruins
Rating: 8*

Big game for both teams as the UCLA Bruins and the Oregon State Beavers are involved in a four-way tie for seventh in the conference after last weekend's games. The Beavers are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 vs. Pac-12 teams and will have to do without Jarmal Reid who is suspended for intentionally tripping a referee in the final minutes of Sunday's 59-53 loss to Utah. UCLA is the only Pac-12 team to have at least two scorers in the conference’s top 10 (Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton). The Beavers are 0-7 ATS in their last seven Wednesday games, and while day of the week is a trend I usually don't put that much emphasis on, I think it's a really important one to keep track on for College Basketball. This looks like a good spot to back the Bruins. 

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Clemson Tigers
Rating: 8*

The Tigers are off five straight wins and have covered the spread in each of their last six. They're third in the ACC in scoring defense at 62.4 points per game and I like their chances of upsetting the Virginia Cavaliers tonight. Jaron Blossomgame posted an ACC-career high 25 points in Saturday's 76-65 victory over Miami (Fla.) while the Cavaliers leading scorer Malcolm Brogdon (16.6) must recover from one of his worst shooting performances after making just 4-of-17 in the 69-62 loss at Florida State Sunday. Virginia has lost three of its last four and it's 2-5 ATS in its last seven games overall. 

NCAAB
Play: Over
Rating: 5*

No Comment

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Georgia
Rating: 8*

The Georgia Bulldogs have held each of their last three opponents to less than 40% shooting and I can easily see the Clemson Tigers struggle here tonight. Clemson is just  1-5 ATS in its last six road games and 1-8 ATS in its last nine games vs. a team with a winning straight up record. Georgia has a red hot game-changer in guard J.J Frazier who is averaging 21 points per game in his past four contests.

8* NCAAB *MIDNIGHT MADNESS*
Play: USC
Rating: 8*

No Comment

NCAAB
Play: Oregon State
Rating: 8*

No Comment

NCAAB
Play: SMU
Rating: 8*

No Comment

NCAAB
Play: Michigan State
Rating: 8*

No Comment

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Miami (Fl)
Rating: 8*

No Comment

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Minnesota
Rating: 8*

NCAAB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE* Wisconsin/Oklahoma
Play: Oklahoma
Rating: 8*

The Oklahoma Sooners are superior to the Wisconsin Badgers and will come into this game looking for revenge for a 69-56 defeat last year. Wisconsin returns only 38% of its minutes from that squad and also had to replace National Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky, who had 17 points in last year's meeting, as well as fellow NBA first round pick Sam Dekker.  Oklahoma has impressed on both ends of the court so far this season and is holding its opponents to 34.0% shooting, including 24.1% (19-of-79) from 3-point range. The Badgers are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall and my money is on the Sooners to win this one big.

8* NCAAB
Play: Texas A&M
Rating: 8*

NCAAB
Play: Michigan State
Rating: 8*

10*

NCAAB
Play: Connecticut
Rating: 10*

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Illinois State
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
Play: South Dakota State
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB
Play: CS Sacramento
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 
Play: Miami (OH)
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB
Play: Marshall
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB
Play: UCLA
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 
Play: Iowa State
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
Play: Pepperdine
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 3-Pack
Play: Fresno State
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 3-Pack
Play: Purdue
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 3-Pack
Play: Utah
Rating: 8*

8* NCAAB 
Play: Loyola-Chicago
Rating: 8*

10* NCAAB *LATE SHOW* Xavier/Michigan
Play: Michigan -5
Rating: 10*

Both the Michigan Wolverines and the Xavier Musketeers are coming into this game with a perfect 2-0 record for the season. The Musketeers have failed to cover the spread in both of their wins though, and I think they'll lose big at Crisler Center tonight. The Wolverines meanwhile have blown opponents away in back-to-back games and they're a solid 5-2 ATS in their last seven home games.

8* NCAAB
Play: VCU
Rating: 5*

10* NCAAB *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Murray State
Rating: 10*

The Georgia Bulldogs opened the season with a 92-90 loss to Chattanooga, and while they're likely to win tonight against the Murray State Racers I don't think they'll cover the spread. The Racers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine non-conference games and have started the season with back-to-back wins against Harris Stowe and Middle Tennessee while shooting 52% from the field. The Bulldogs committed 21 turnovers and struggled offensively in the first half against Chattanooga, and I think the Racers will stick with them long enough to avoid the scoreline to run out of hand here. 

10* NBAAB *HARDWOOD​HAMMER*
Play: SMU
Rating: 10*

The SMU Mustangs opened the season with a dominant 85-50 victory over Sam Houston State. They're 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games following a SU win of more than 20 points and I don't think they should have any problem to cover against the Stanford Cardinal tonight. The Cardinal are off a 93-59 win against Charleston Southern, but they're just 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games following a SU win of more than 20 points.

10* NCAAB *Charleston Classic*
Play: Seton Hall
Rating: 10*

8* Super Early *Puerto Rico Tipoff*
Play: Minnesota
Rating: 8*

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have opened the season with back-to-back convincing wins against UMKC and Louisiana Monroe. I think they'll make it three on the bounce when taking on the Temple Owls at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan Thursday afternoon. The Owls are 1-7 ATS in their last eight neutral site games and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 vs. Big Ten. They lost 91-67 to North Carolina in their season premiere and are just 1-5 ATS in their last six games following a S.U. loss. Talented 6-9 sophomore Obi Enechionyia missed the opener with an ankle injury and is questionable for Thursday. The Golden Gophers forward Joey King was named Big Ten co-Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 21 points and six rebounds over the first two contests for the team and has made 7-of-13 from behind the 3-point line so far. Minnesota is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight non-conference games and is looking good here at a pick'em.

8* CBB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Wake Forest
Rating: 8*

The Richmond Spiders have split their first two games of the season, both at home. I think they're in for a loss tonight when visiting the still undefeated Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The Demon Deacons are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win. They start three sophomores and a freshman, but what they lack in experience they make up in size. Forwards Devin Thomas (19.5 points per game, 14.5 rebounds) and Dinos Mitoglou (12.5 points, 11.5 rebounds) have been dominant inside. The Spiders are 10-28-3 ATS in their last 41 non-conference games while the Demon Deacons are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.

8* NCAAB *LATE SHOW*
Play: Oregon State
Rating: 8*

The Oregon State Beavers opened the season with a  74-52 win against Northwest Christian and I expect them to win big against Iona Gaels tonight.  Oregon State guard Gary Payton II had 16 points, six assists and six rebounds while freshmen Tres Tinkle (14 points), Drew Eubanks (13) and Stephen Thompson Jr. (12) each made an immediate impact. Iona is 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games and lost big in its season premiere.

8* NCAAB *MIDNIGHT MADNESS*
Play: Maryland
Rating: 8*

Both the Maryland Terrapins and the Georgetown Hoyas put up 80 points in their respective season-premieres. Maryland won while Georgetown lost though, and I think Maryland's superior D will be the key to a win here. Maryland held Mt. St. Mary to just 56 points Friday, and while the Hoyas are known for a strong D, that was certainly not the case when they allowed the Radford Highlanders to score 82 points while going 10-for-25 from behind the arc. They were also outrebounded, 40-36 and had just five offensive boards. The Terrapins are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win and I think they'll win and cover tonight as well. 

NCAAB Bonus Play
Play: Duke Blue Devils
Rating: 8*

The Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games and 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games. The Blue Devils are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 non-conference games and 6-0 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games. I think taking the points on the reigning NCAA champions the Blue Devils is the way to go in this contest.

8* Super Early NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Dayton
Rating: 8*

The Dayton Flyers impressed their season-premiere when they defeated the Southeast Missouri State 84-53 last Friday. They were relentless on defense and efficient with the ball, shooting 51.9% from the field and 36.4% from the 3-point line.  The Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off of a 77-64 home victory over Kennesaw St. Alabama in their season-opener. They failed to cover the spread in that game though, and they're just 1-4 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning % above .600. The Flyers are  a solid Flyers are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 vs. Southeastern and 16-7 ATS in their last 23 home games. Keep an eye on Dayton's Ryan Mikesell who came off the bench to play a team-high 26 minutes with 21 points and eight boards against Southeast Missouri State. 

8* NCAAB *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Georgia Tech
Rating: 8*

The line has moved a fair bit to the worse for us since it opened, but that does not concern me one bit since I expect a blowout win for the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets tonight. They were simply outstanding in a 116-81 rout of Cornell Friday as they shot 60.3% from the field and 34.8% from behind the arc. Charles Miller led the team with 21 points and 11 boards and made 10-of-11 of his shots from the field. The Tennessee Volunteeers did not look quite as impressive as they struggled to get past the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in their season-opener the same day. They allowed the Bulldogs to shot 35.3% from 3-point range, and a similar defensive approach will spell disaster here. The Volunteers are 1-9-3 ATS in their last 13 non-conference games and the Yellow Jackets are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.

10* NCAAB *GAME OF THE WEEK*
Play: Indiana
Rating: 10*

I expect the Indiana Hoosiers to cover a boatload of points when they host the Austin Peay Governors Monday night. Austin Peay came out more than a little flat in its season-opener as it lost 80-41 loss at Vanderbilt on Friday while shooting just 21.9%. That's just awful and this might prove to be an even tougher matchup. The 15th-ranked Hoosiers defeated Eastern Illinois 88-49 in their season-premiere as basically the whole team put up an impressive performance, particularly their wide array of talented guards. "We have a great backcourt," Hoosiers forward Max Bielfeldt told reporters. "I think all the guys bring something different and it’s really fun to be a part of." The Governors are 0-5 ATS in their last five non-conference games while the Hoosiers are 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.

8* NCAAB *BASKET BRAWLER*
Play: Nevada
Rating: 8*

Montana State has has split its first two games of the season, but I don't like its chances of winning here when playing Nevada at Hawaii. The Wolf Pack impressed in a 73-56 win against Coastal Carolina in their season opener as D.J. Fenner was 3-of-8 shooting from behind the arc and led the team with 16 points. AJ West dominated the boards with 11 rebounds. Montana State has allowed an average of 87 points over its first two games and I don't see it being able to match up with the Wolf Pack's superior roster here. 

NCAAB
Play: Akron
Rating: 6*

NCAAB
Play: DePaul
Rating: 6*

8* Super Early NCAAB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE* Colorado St.@Northern Iowa
Play: Northern Iowa
Rating: 8*

The Northern Iowa Panthers finished last season with a 31-4 record but have lost their star player, Seth Tuttle. They'll be looking for Wes Washpun who averaged 7.6 points per game, 2.6 assists per game, and 2.5 rebounds per game last season to step up instead, and I think they have enough overall quality to cover the spread against the Colorado State Rams today. Colorado State has lost its three leading scorers from last year and its just 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 non-conference games. Northern Iowa is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games against the Mountain West Conference. 

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: USC
Rating: 8*

San Diego is 2-7 ATS in its last nine road games and I think it'll struggle when visiting Southern California Friday. The Trojans return their top nine scorers from last season, led by juniors Katin Reinhardt and Nikola Jovanovic and sophomore Jordan McLaughlin. The Toreros meanwhile have lost their leading scorer the last four years, Johnny Dee who has graduated and moved to Poland to continue his hoops career.

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: Albany
Rating: 8*

The Wildcats were a fantastic 38-1 last season, with the lone loss coming in the Final Four against Wisconsin. They're just 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games though while the Great Danes are 6-1 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games. Kentucky is returning only two of the nine players who took the court against Wisconsin and none of the starters. While we can expect the new crop to be a talented bunch as well it could take some time for them to gel. This is too many points to give, particularly as I think we will see the Wildcats give plenty of game-time to their bench as well to make sure the whole team gets the season started. 

8* NCAAB *HARDWOOD HAMMER*
Play: North Carolina
Rating: 8*

North Carolina will take on Temple at Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Maryland Friday. Temple is 1-6 ATS in its last seven neutral site games and 2-8 ATS in its last 10 Friday games. North Carolina is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 neutral site games and 5-2 ATS in its last seven non-conference games. The Tar Heels' star point guard Marcus Paige is out with a broken hand, but they still have Justin Jackson, who averaged 10.7 points last year and really improved as the season went along. They're also stacked with talent in the front court with Brice Johnson (12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks) and Kennedy Meeks (11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 blocks). 

10* NCAA FINAL *BASKET BRAWLER*

As I picked Duke and Kentucky to prevail in the Final Four my plan was to play the undefeated Wildcats in the final. Well as it turns out the Wildcats failed to beat the Badgers, so I'm going with the team that knocked out my favorite to take down the tournament. 

The Badgers have been up against the highest possible seed in every game on their way to the final and defeated Kentucky 71-64 Saturday. They were an impressive 7-for-17 from beyond the arc, and the three-point shooting could become a deciding factor in this match-up. While Duke dismissed Michigan Spartans comfortably in a 81-61 win the very same day it went only 2-for-10 from behind the arc, while allowing the Spartans to down seven of their 20 attempts. 

I'm not sure if Duke's thrashing of Michigan State will have a positive effect on this team filled of freshmen, and keep in mind that pride comes before the fall. The Wisconsin players on the other hand have had to be on their toes throughout the tournament and I think they have the mentality to handle the win against the mighty Kentucky the right way. The Blue Devils might rally in the first half, but over 40 minutes of basketball I like the Badgers chances of coming out ahead. 

8*

There is no surprise here as the top seed from their respective region the Kentucky Wildcats and the Wisconsin Badgers will square up in the Final Four for a second straight year. The Wildcats came out on top last season after a dramatic finale, and I think they'll come out as winners tonight as well giving them a chance to complete the perfect season in the national final later on.

Wisconsin has impressed in its games leading up the semi-final and has won three straight games with seven points and it defeated Arizona 85-78 last Saturday as Frank Kaminsky led the team with 29 points. Keep in mind though, Kaminsky was limited to only eight points in last years semi-final match-up and if anyone knows how to shut players out its this Kentucky D that has given up only 53.9 points per game over the season. Kentucky may have had problems to get past Notre Dame coming in as a massive favorite in its Elite 8 match-up (68-66) after annihilating every team in its previous match-ups in the tournament. That might work as a wake-up call though, and also work to our favor here as I expected a bigger spread. 

I expect Kentucky to put the pedal to the metal from the get go here, and once Wisconsin is trailing it will find it very very hard to stay in the game. 

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The 7th seed from the East Regional, the MSU Spartans will take on the South Regional top seed the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis tonight. It will be coach Tom Izzo vs. coach Mike Krzyzewski where the latter has prevailed in eight of the previous nine meetings. He led the Blue Devils to an 82-72 win when the teams did battle in Michigan back in November, and I think he'll find a way to outsmart his counterpart tonight as well.

The Spartans managed to force OT to eventually get past Louisville in their Elite 8 match-up while the Blue Devils cruised past Gonzaga in a convincing 66-52 victory, despite shooting only 37.5% from the field. They did however go 8-for-19 from beyond the arc and we can expect more efficient three-point shooting here as they went 7-for-14 against the Spartans earlier in the season. MSU were allowed to shoot 43.3% from the field against Louisville but will be up against one of the best defensive teams in the nation here and I think it'll have to work mighty hard to get to shooting opportunities.

I've been backing Duke throughout the tournament and I'm not stopping now. It is 4-0 ATS in its last four NCAA Tournament games and also 4-0 ATS in its last 4 vs. Big Ten. 

10* NCAAB *ELITE 8 BIG SLICK*

The South Region top seed the Duke Blue Devils are taking on the second seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs at NRG Stadium in Sunday's Elite 8 action. The Blue Devils dismissed Robert Morris and San Diego State comfortably before beating Utah by six points in their Sweet 16 match-up Friday. Make no mistake though, Duke was in full control throughout the game and Utah was lucky to make it as close as it was in the end. 

The Blue Devils held Utah to a 35% field goal percentage, and although Gonzaga cruised past UCLA 74-62 its last time out it shot only 40.3% from the field while downing a measly three of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. Such inefficiency will obviously not cut it in this match-up, especially as the Blue Devils were rather efficient themselves against Utah shooting 44.4% from the field while going 3-for-9 from three-point range. 

Both teams are showing impressive ATS trends, but the Blue Devils' stands out a bit extra to me. They're 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall and 5-1 ATS in their last six when facing a team with a winning % above .600. Furthermore they're a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five non-conference games while the Bulldogs are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six against Atlantic Coast teams.

I'm taking the Blue Devils on the ML here as I expect a very close contest, but in the end I reckon Duke's enthusiastic youngsters will overcome the "old-timers" from Gonzaga.

10* NCAAB *TOTAL TURMOIL*

Two of the strongest offenses in College Basketball will be matched up against each-other in this Elite 8 contest in Cleveland, Ohio tonight as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are taking on the Kentucky Wildcats. 

Kentucky annihilated West Virginia its last time out, outscoring its opponent 78-39. It'll face a bigger challenge tonight against a Notre Dame team that is off a 81-70 win against Wichita State and has averaged 78.8 points per game on the season. It went 9-for-19 from beyond the arc against the Shockers, and my guess is it'll go for many three point attempts here as well in order to keep up with the Wildcats. 

How the Fighting Irish are going to stop Kentucky's offense that has averaged 74.9 points on the season is the million dollar question though. West Virginia is by no means a poor team defensively but was still forced to give the Wildcats 32 free throws of which they converted 26, and we might end up seeing something similar tonight. 

I expect the Wilcats to score between 75-80 points and the Fighting Irish to notch at least 65 which would see the over covered with at least a couple of points to spare.

NCAAB 10* *HARDWOOD HAMMER*

The Michigan State Spartans seeded seventh in the nation will take on the third seeded Oklahoma Sooners at the Carrier Dome in New York tonight. The Sooners lost their last regular season game 67-65 against Iowa State and are off two relatively close games against inferior opposition so far in the tournament. The Spartans have played two close games so far as well but a 60-54 win against Virginia in the second round impresses. They committed only six turnovers in that game while stressing the Cavaliers to shoot a lowly 29.8% from the field, going 2-for-17 from beyond the arc.  

The Spartans are the hotter of the two teams and the win against Virginia must have given them a huge psychological boost as well. The Spartans have won 10 of their last 13 games while going 9-4 ATS. The Sooners meanwhile are only 2-8 ATS in their last 10 and a measly 1-6 ATS in their last seven when facing a team with a winning % above .600, and I think they'll struggle to cover even this measly spread.

8* NCAAB *ACE IN THE HOLE*

The Duke Blue Devils are coming into this contest ranked #1 in the country and are asked to cover a reasonable spread against the 5th ranked Utah Utes at NRG Stadium in Texas tonight. The Blue Devils are off two blow-out wins so far in the tournament, first defeating Robert Morris 85-56 and most recently San Diego State 68-49 their last game. The Utes have defeated Stephen F. Austin 57-50 and Georgetown 75-64 in their first two games. 

There is a good reason why the Blue Devils are top ranked, they average a fourth best 80.6 points per game and is 3rd in the nation for field goal percentage, downing 50.2% of their shots. They've played some great D of late as well, holding five of their last seven opponents below 57 points. The Utes are a bit more one-dimensional and relies heavy on their defense. For them to have a realistic chance here they need to find a way to stop the Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor who is the first freshman in school history to surpass 20 points in each of his first two NCAA Tournament games. Many have tried, but few have succeeded so far and I don't like the Utes' chances.

The Blue Devils fear no one (and rightly so). They are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall and 4-1 ATS in their last five games facing a team with a winning % above .600. We can expect them to cover the spread here as well. 

8* NCAAB *CASH COW*

The Gonzaga Bulldogs, ranked 2nd in the nation are facing the 11th ranked UCLA Bruins in a Sweet 16 match-up in Houston, Texas tonight. Gonzaga has breezed past North Dakota State and Iowa so far in the tournament, while UCLA struggled big time to get past SMU in the first round but had little trouble with UAB its last time out, outscoring its opponent 92-75. 

Tonight should be a different story though, coming up against a Bulldogs D that has allowed only 60.9 points per game on the season. Gonzaga has shown tremendous efficiency on the offense as well, averaging 84.8 points per game over their last five and 79.1 points per game on the season. They shot 61.5% from the field against the Hawkeyes in a game where Kyle Wiltjer led the team with 24 points, going 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. He also had 24 points in the first meeting with UCLA in California back in December, a game the Bulldogs won comfortably 87-74. I think they'll get the job done on neutral ground tonight as well, and this spread is more than a couple of points too light. 

10* NCAAB *BASKET BRAWLER*

The Kentucky Wildcats are facing the West Virginia Mountaineers in a Sweet 16 match-up at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland tonight. The Wildcats are still undefeated this season, and although the Mountaineers have defeated Maryland and Buffalo in the tournament, they finished the regular season winning only one of their last four games. They finished the regular season with a 25-9 record and were blown away more often than not in those nine losses. 

Both teams are averaging roughly 74 points per game on the season, but the Mountaineers are giving up close to 13 points more per game than their counterpart. The Wildcats were up against a much sturdier defense against the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday but won that game 64-51. There is also a huge disprepancy in those teams efficiency as Kentucky has a .469 success rate with its field goal attempts which ranks 40th in the country while the Mountaineers ranks 282nd shooting .412 from the field. 

The Wildcats are 11-3-2 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games, and I think they'll end up cruising into the next round. 

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