The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Colorado (9:30 EST).

The 10-5 Colorado Buffaloes are in Arizona to take on the 14-2 Wildcats and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

I think Colorado is the “hungrier” team tonight, it’s lost two straight after falling 78-77 at Arizona State on Thursday. Arizona on the other hands looks poised for a bit of a letdown here after eight straight victories, most recently a 66-56 win at home over Utah.

Note that the Buffs play with revenge today as the Wildcats have won eight of the last ten meetings. That said, the teams did split a pair of meetings last year. In fact, the last matchup was a nail-biter, but Arizona would end up holding on for the 82-78 victory in the Pac-12 Tournament on March 10th, 2016. 

Colorado enters averaging 74.3 PPG, while conceding 68.1. Keep your eyes on White, who leads the team with 16.3 points, plus 4.1 assists per game. 

Arizona enters averaging 73.8 PPG, while conceding 60.1. Lauri Markkanen leads the way with 15.5 points and 7.2 boards per contest. 

I’ll point out that Colorado is 2-0 ATS in its last two as a road dog of 12 points or more, while Arizona is just 1-3 ATS in its last four when playing on one or less days rest.

I think Arizona comes in a bit complacent here and the determined Buffaloes keep this one closer than what Las Vegas is leading us to believe. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Delaware (7:00 EST).

I think this one favors the home side. 

The Blue Hens are looking to bounce back after getting hammered 90-54 to Northeastern on Thursday, the setback dropped them to 7-9 and 0-3 in the CAA. 

UNC Wilmington comes in complacent after its 18 point win over Drexel on Thursday. The Seahawks are now a comfortable 3-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. 

UNC Wilmington is now 14-2, with its only two losses coming to MTSU and a 14 point road loss to Clemson. The Seahawks are a good team, but I simply feel this is a bad spot for it.

Delaware on the other hand comes in desperate and will be risking life and limb in front of the home town crowd today. Note that the Blue Hens would in fact outscore the Huskies by four in the second half of their last game and suffice it to say, I think the team carries that postiive momentum and tenacity into this one.

While I won’t be so bold as to predict an outright upset, I do definitely expect the hungry home side to keep this one competitive. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Indiana (5:00 EST).

The 11-4 Illinois Fighting Illini are in Indiana to take on the 10-5 Hoosiers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

It’ll be all hands on deck for the Hoosiers today, after rising to No. 3 in the Top 25 poll, they’ve now lost three straight and are in danger of falling out of the rankings. 

Conversely, I think this sets up as a letdown spot for the Illini after winning seven of their last eight. 

If recent history is any precedence, then the home side has to be liking its chances today, as it would go on to take both games last year by wide margin, a 103-69 victory at home and a 74-47 effort on the road. 

The Illini may have won seven of eight, but they did lose their conference opener at Maryland 84-59, before then bouncing back with a 75-70 win over Ohio State. 

League play began for Indiana with an 87-83 loss to Nebraska at home before losing by 15 to the ACC’s Louisville, then followed by a five point loss to Wisconsin. But as mentioned above, the Hoosiers won both meetings last year by a combined 61 points. 

I’ll point out that Illinois is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven on the road and just 1-4 ATS in its last five as an underdog in the seven to 12.5 points range, while Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last five as a home fav in the seven to 12.5 points range and 7-2 ATS in its last nine following an ATS loss. 

Is Indiana as bad as its recent record would indicate? Are the Illini as good as their current win skein would indicate? I think the answer is a resounding “no” to both of those questions.

I like the hungry home side to put the foot on the gas and to comfortably pull away down the stretch. Play on the Hoosiers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Ohio (9:00 EST).

The Kent State Golden Flashes are in Ohio to take on the Bobcats. Kent State is 9-5, while Ohio is 9-3. Both teams won their respective conference openers, but for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Golden Flashes most recently topped the Ball State Cardinals 100-90, led by Jaylin Walker’s 21 points. Note though that the Flashes have the third lowest three-point percentage in the conference and Kent State is at the very bottom of the conference when it comes to field-goal percentage. 

The Bobcats demolished WMU in their opener 89-58. Antonio Campbell led the way with 22 points. Ohio would go on to shoot 50 percent from the floor and almost 52 percent from behind the arc. The Bobcats have dominated from range, ranked as the No. 1 team in the conference in connecting on 40 percent of their attempts. 

I’ll point out that Kent State is just 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 against teams with a winning straight up record and only 2-9-1 in its last 12 on the road, while Ohio is 5-2 ATS in its last seven following a SU win of more than 20 points.

Ohio is 8-0 at home with an average margin of victory of 17 points. Kent State is just 1-2 in its last three road games and is overclassed in every department tonight. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Pacifc (7:00 EST).

The 6-9 Pacific Tigers are in San Diego to take on the 7-7 Toreros and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

The Tigers are the much “hungrier” team in my opinion after losing six of nine, including an 81-61 setback to Gonzaga in their last outing. Jacob Lamping was a bright spot with 18 points on 9 of 11 shooting. So far Pacific averages 71.2 PPG.

The Toreros are regressing as the season has progressed, a five-game win streak has now been followed by back-to-back losses, most recently a 72-60 defeat to St. Mary’s. Brett Bailey led the way in the setback with 18 points. So far San Diego averages 73 PPG.

I’ll point out though that Pacific is 8-6 ATS in its last 14 after allowing 80 points or more, while San Diego is just 1-2 ATS this year after scoring 60 points or more.

While I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, I will in the end recommend grabbing the poitns as I think the visitors matchup extremely well in this one. Play on Pacific.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Santa Clara (10:00 EST).

The 9-5 Portland Pilots are in Santa Clara to take on the 7-8 Broncos and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Pilots look poised for a ledown here in my opinion after two straight wins, most recently a 73-60 victory at home over Pepperdine on December 31st. The Broncos are 1-1 in conference play after hammering San Francisco 72-58 on Saturday. 

Alec Wintering had 23 points for Portland in the win over the Waves on Saturday. So far the Pilots average 77.6 PPG, while conceding 72.6. 

KJ Feain had 22 points, while Jared Brownridge added 20 in the Broncos win over the Dons on Saturday. Note that Santa Clara went 13 of 26 from beyond the arc. The Broncos average just 67.9 PPG, but allow just 66.6 per contest.

I’ll point out that Portland is just 2-4 ATS this year when playing the role of underdog and only 1-2 ATS after allowing 60 points or less, while Santa Clara is 2-1 ATS after allowing 60 points or less and 4-2 ATS against teams with winning records.

I think the Pilots come into this one on “cruise control” and the home side takes advantage. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Hofstra (7:00 EST).

The 4-11 James Madison Dukes are at Hofstra to take on the 9-6 Pride and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

I think the Dukes are primed for a letdown here after three straight vivctories. Conversely, the Pride will be anxious to take out their frustrations on someone after falling 95-93 in OT to William and Mary.

Oh ya, James Madison also won both meetings against Hofstra last season. Both in overtime.

It’s payback time for the Pride!

James Madison got out to a slow start, losing 11 of its first 12 games, but it has to be feeling pretty content after the three straight victories and two conference wins. The Dukes are poor on the offensive end though, averaging 66.4 PPG. They do however own a tough defense which concedes 69.9, ranked 134th overall. 

The Pride had a three-game win skein snapped in the OT setback to William and Mary. Hofstra did shoot a solid 50 percent in the loss. Note that the Pride average 80.1 PPG, ranked 60th overall, while conceding 76.5.

I’ll point out that James Madison is 2-7 ATS as an underdog this year and 1-5 ATS on the road, while Hofstra is 9-5 ATS in its last 14 off a loss against a conference rival.

The Dukes have been playing over their heads of late. Expect the home side to push the pace and to pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Wyoming (10:00 EST).

The 11-4 Wyoming Cowboys are at Fresno State to take on the 9-5 Bulldogs and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

I think Wyoming is the “hungrier” team today as it’s lost two of its last three, most recently to USC and UNLV. 

The Bulldogs enter this one after snapping a two-game slide with a 77-76 win over Nevada on New Year’s Eve. 

Wyoming held the Rebels to just 39.1 percent from the field, but UNLV still topped 80 points. Justin James was a bright spot, scoring a game-high 17 points. In all, four players average double figures.

Fresno State has gotten inconsistent play from its starters of late. Since opening the season with a double-double in a win over Texas-San Antonio, starter Cullen Russo has yet to duplicate that feat since.

I’ll point out that Wyoming is 2-0 ATS already this year after allowing 80 points or more, while Fresno State is just 14-15 ATS in its last 29 when playing the role of favorite.

I think Wyoming bounces back after two straight losses and expect Fresno State to continue to struggle with consistency. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Notre Dame (9:00 EST).

The 12-2 Louisville Cardinals are in Notre Dame to take on the 12-2 Fighting Irish and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Cardinals look primed for a letdown here in my opinion after downing Indiana 76-62 on the road last time out. Notre Dame enters off a 78-77 OT road win over Pittsburgh and will look to keep the momentum rolling in front of the home town crowd.

And if recent history is any precedence, then the Irish have to be loving their chances today as they’d take last year’s meeting 71-66. 

Donavan Mitchell scored a career-high 25 points in the win over the Hoosiers for Louisville. He leads the team with 12.1 PPG. So far the Cardinals average 76.1 PPG, while conceding 60.4.

The Irish held Pittsburgh to just 37.5 percent shooting from the field in their big win. Steve Vasturia had 15 points and is now third in team scoring with 14.9 PPG. The Irish feature a high-powered scoring attack with averages 83.2 PPG and also a strong defense which concedes just 66.2.

I’ll point out that Louisville is just 3-10 ATS in its last 13 on the road, while Notre Dame is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 in front of the home town crowd.

Four players average 13 or more points for the Irish and I think this incredible depth will prove to be the difference tonight. Play on Notre Dame.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Michigan State (6:30 EST0.

Rutgers has just three conference wins since joining the Big Ten in 2014 and it hasn’t won a road game yet. 

Unfortunately for the Scarlet Knights, I don’t foresee anything changing this evening as MSU continues to get better as the season wears on.

Rutgers enters off a 60-47 home loss to Penn State. Mike Williams was a bright spot with his third career double-double, finishing with 16 points and ten boards. It wasn’t enough though as the Scarlet Knights would go on to commit 17 turnovers. In all Rutgers would make a season-low 28.6 percent of their field goal attempts and go just 3 of 20 from behind the arc.

The Spartans finished a tough non-conference schedule with a 7-5 record and most recently downed Northwestern 61-52 on Friday. Alvin Ellis III led the way with 16 points in that one. Note that MSU is expected to welcome back Miles Bridges to the lineup tonight, he’s missed the last seven games with an ankle injury. Bridges is averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 boards. 

I’ll point out that Rutgers is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 road games against a team with a winning home record and just 7-25 ATS in its last 32 following a SU loss, while MSU is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 following an ATS win.

Last year the Spartans won 96-62 at home in this game, while shooting 53.1 percent from behind the arc, en route to tying the school record with 17 three-pointers. I’m expecting a similar final outcome this evening. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Kentucky (9:00 EST).

The 8-4 Texas A&M Aggies are in Kentucky to take on the 11-2 Wildcats and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Aggies enter off a 73-63 home loss to Tennessee on Friday, while the Wildcats would bounce back from a tough loss to in-state rival Louisville by hammering Ole Miss 99-76 in their conference opener. 

These teams met in the SEC Tournament Championship game on March 13, 2016 and the Wildcats won 82-77. Suffice it to say, I’m expecting a much bigger margin of victory today. 

The Aggies looked bad in their loss to Tennessee, limited to just 34.4 percent shooting from the field and only 5 of 17 from behind the arc. So far A&M averages 74.3 PPG. The team is strong defensively though in allowing only 64.6 PPG. Tyler Davis leads the teams with 14.3 points plus 7.8 boards per night.

The Wildcats posted 60 first half points and never looked back in the beatdown over Ole Miss. Isaiah Briscoe had a triple-double with 19 points, ten board and 11 assists.

Kentucky is ranked third in the country with an average of 93.5 PPG and 189th scoring defense in coneding 72.1 PPG. 

I’ll point out though that the Aggies are just 1-5 ATS in their last six as an underdog and only 1-6 ATS in their last seven versus a team with a winning straight up record, while the Wildcats are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.

Texas A&M was exposed in the loss to Tennessee and now the team faces its stiffest test of the year in the hostile environment of Rupp Arena. I like the home side to roll in this one, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Appalachian State (8:00 EST).

The 5-7 Appalachian State Mountaineers are in Texas to take on the Arlington Mavericks and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

I think the Mavs are poised for a letdown here after winning ten straight, most recenlty taking down Coastal Carolina on New Years Eve. 

Conversely, App State comes in hungry after falling to Texas State this past Saturday. Ronshad Shabazz had 19 points in the 67-58 setback. 

Kevin Hervey leads the way for Texas-Arlington, averaging 16 points and nine boards per game. 

I’ll point out though that App State is 10-6 ATS in its last 16 as a road dog of 12.5 points or more and 13-10 ATS in its last 23 when playing with one or less days rest, while Texas-Arlington is just 9-15 ATS in its last 24 off a win against a conference rival and just 9-13 ATS in its last 22 when playing with one or less days rest. 

Am I going to suggest to you to “sprinkle” a little on the money line? 

Of course not. I simply feel that the home side gets caught “looking past” the Mountaineers today. Grab as many points as you can.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Delaware (6:00 EST).

The 10-4 Charleston Cougars are in Delaware to take on the 7-7 Blue Hens and for a number of differnet reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Cougars opened their CAA scheudle with a road win over Elon, while the Blue Hens come in hungry after falling 58-56 at home to Hofstra. 

Joe Chealey leads the way for Charleston, he averages 14.2 PPG. The Cougars put up just 64.1 PPG, while ranked 11th on the defensive end in conceding just 59.5 PPG. 

The Blue Hens have six players that average at least 7.1 PPG, led by Ryan Daly who averages 12.6 PPG. So far Delaware averages 64.4 PPG, while allowing 64.7. 

I’ll point out that Charleston is just 14-39 ATS in its last 53 following an ATS victory, while Delaware is 5-0 in its last five against teams with a winning SU record and 6-1 ATS in its last seven as the underdog in this series.

These teams are very similar, but as mentioned off the top, I think the Blue Hens are the “hungrier” side. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Drexel (4:30 EST).

The 8-5 Northeastern Huskies are in Philadelphia to take on the 6-8 Drexel Dragons and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

I think the Huskies finally have a letdown tonight after winning four straight, most recently an 86-64 victory over William & Mary. 

Conversely, the Dragons will be extra motivated here after dropping their conference opener in a 78-67 road loss to James Madison. 

The Huskies are led by TJ Williams, who is averaging 21.1 PPG. Northeastern ranks 191st in the nation in scoring in putting up 73.7 PPG and at the defensive end are ranked 157 in conceding 70.7.

Drexel is led by Rodney Williams, who averages 16.5 PPG. The Dragons rank 134th in the country in scoring 76.2 PPG, while allowing 75.5. 

I’ll point out though that Northeastern is just 1-4 ATS in its last five as a road fav of 3.5 to six points and just 11-14 ATS in its last 25 when playing with one or less days rest, while Drexel is 3-1 ATS in its last four when playing with one or less days rest and 3-1 in its last four following a conference game. 

Drexel is the hungrier side and while I wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset. That said, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can. Play on the Dragons.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on San Diego (9:00 EST).

The 7-6 San Diego Toreros are at St. Mary’s to take on the 11-1 Gaels and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

San Diego enters off an 80-74 loss at San Francisco, breaking a five game win streak. Saint Mary’s has won five straight, including a 72-60 win over Loyola Marymount on the 29th and suffice it to say, I think the home side is poised for a letdown here.

Note that San Diego plays with revenge after falling 60-43 and 79-46 to the Gaels last year.

Brett Bailey had 18 points and six boards in the loss to the Dons for San Diego and he leads the team with 18.5 points and 7.1 boards per game. San Diego averages 74 points and concedes 75.4. 

Saint Mary’s guard Emmett Naar had a season-high 19 points in the win over Loyola Marymount. The Gaels average 74.7 PPG and allow just 57.7, ranked third. 

I’ll point out though that San Diego is 5-0-1 ATS in its last six road games, while St. Mary’s is just 1-4-1 ATS in its last six following an ATS victory. I think the Gaels get caught a little flat-footed today and much improved San Diego does more than enough to cover with the large spread that it’s been afforded. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Fresno State (7:00 EST).

The 12-2 Nevada Wolf Pack are at Fresno State to take on the 8-5 Bulldogs and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Bulldogs will be the “hungrier” teams today as they’ve lost two straight. Fresno State averages 72.2 PPG, while conceding 71.2. Karachi Edo leads the way for the Bulldgos with 13.5 points and 6.5 boards per game. 

The Wolf Pack is poised for a letdown here after winning seven straight in my opinion. Note that Nevada averages 78.4 PPG, while allowing 69.8. Marcus Marshall leads the charge with 20.6 PPG. 

I’ll point out though that Nevada is just 6-10 ATS in its last 16 off a win against a conference rival, while Fresno State is 5-0 ATS as an underdog this year and 4-0 ATS against teams with winning records.

I look for these strong trends to continue, play on Fresno State.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Texas State (5:30 EST).

The 5-6 Appalachian State Mountaineers are at Texas State to take on the 7-5 Bobcats and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

App State looks poised for a letdown here after back-to-back wins. Note that that Mountaineers are just 1-5 in their true road games. App State has eight players that average at least 6.5 PPG, but just one that averages in double figures in Ronshad Shabazz. 

The Mountaineers are 61st overall in putting up 80.1 PPG and on the defensive end they concede 74.0.

The Bobcats have won two straight and five of their last seven after getting by Tulane 69-66 in OT on the road. Kavin Gilder-Tilbury had 23 points in the victory and he leads the team in scoring with 15.5 PPG. The Bobcats average 68.9 PPG and concede just 61.9, ranked 23rd in points allowed overall. 

I’ll point out that App State is just 1-5-1 ATS in its last seven against teams with a winning SU record, while Texas State is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight as a home favorite.

The Mountaineers have played terrible on the road and now they face the best defense they’ve seen all year. I think App State’s offense stalls and the Bobcats do just enough to secure the ATS win. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on UCLA (11:00 EST).

The No. 2 UCLA Bruins are at Oregon State to take on the Beavers and the visitors will be out to atone for a loss at No. 21 Oregon on Wednesday night. 

The 13-1 Bruins enter off their first loss of the season after Oregon’s Dillon Brooks hit a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in the eventual 89-87 setback. Big man Thomas Welch had 20 points and ten boards. 

Despite the setback, note that UCLA is still the best offensive team in the country, ranked first in shooting and assists and second in points (95.1 PPG). Oregon has a top 30 defense, so the 87 points on 53.1 percent shooting was still very impressive, even in the loss. 

The Beavers kept it close in a 70-63 home loss to No. 22 USC on Wednesday and the continubed absence of leading scorer Tres Tinkle, who will also miss tonight’s contest, is very evident. Stephen Thompson Jr. was a bright spot, posting a career high 23 points. 

I’ll point out that the Bruins are 5-0 ATS in thier last five following an ATS loss, while the Beavers are just 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight following an ATS victory.

The Beavers have so far disappointed and clearly the team will be eager to break the slide. But this is simply a bad spot for them, catching arguably the best team in the country off its first loss and hungry to take out its frustrations. I’m expecting a wire-to-wire beatdown, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Texas (8:00 EST).

The 6-6 Texas Longhorns are at Kansas State to take on the 11-1 WIldcats and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

UT opened the season ranked 21st in the nation, but has fallen on hard times and owns the conference’s worst record at the moment. Most recently the Longhorns fell 63-58 at home to Kent State. 

K-State though looks poised for a bit of a letdown in my opinion today, it’s lost just once this year and comes in on a six-game win skein. 

Tevin Mack leads the way for the Longhorns this year with 14.7 PPG and shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc.

The Wildcats most recently come off a 67-54 win over Gardner-Webb, but haven’t played in nine days. Will “rest lead to rust?” 

Note that Texas is 6-2 ATS in its last eight as a road dog and 10-4 ATS in its last 12 against the conference, while K-State is just 3-10 ATS in its last 13 following a SU victory and just 1-4 ATS in its last five against teams with a losing SU road record.

I think the Longhorns are the “hungrier” team today and expect them to keep this one a lot closer than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe.

Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Michigan State (6:00 EST).

The 12-2 Northwestern Wildcats are at Michigan State to take on the 9-5 Spartans and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

So far the Spartans have looked shaky this year. The Wildcats have won nine straight and will be looking for an upset at the Breslin Center. 

But I think MSU finds a way to get the job done in this early conference battle.

Northwestern looks poised for a letdown after the extended stretch of excellence and after knocking off Penn State 87-77 to open Conference play. So far the Wildcats average 77.6 PPG, while conceding just 64.5. 

After a brutal 81-73 loss to Northeastern at home, MSU has posted back to back victories, most recently a 75-74 OT win at Minnesota. Nick Ward led the way with 22 points, while Alvin Ellis III came off the bench to contribute 20. 

I’ll point out that Northwestern is just 3-4 ATS in its last seven after scoring 80 points or more, while MSU is 6-2 ATS against teams with winning records this year.

I think it’s all hands on deck for the home side tonight as the Spartans look to defend their home floor. Despite struggling with offensive consistency, MSU still remains one of the best defensive teams in the country. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* PERFECT STORM is on Loyola Marymount (11:00 EST).

The 10-1 Saint Mary’s Gaels are at Loyola Marymount to take on the 7-4 Lions and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. The Gaels have won ten of their first 11, but the Lions have quietly been taking care of business as well, posting wins in five of their last six games. 

Saint Mary’s most recently beat lightweight South Carolina State 74-47. The Gaels are not great offensively, but get the job done with their smothering defensive play which holds opponents to an average of 57.5 PPG, ranked fourth in the country.

Loyola Marymount is led by a trio of top players in Brandon Brown (15.4 PPG), Stefan Jovanovic (11.5 PPG) and Buay Tuach (11.4 PPG). 

Note that Saint Mary’s has already struggled mightily in this spot for bettors, going 0-2 this year after allowing 60 points or less, while Loyola Marymount is 4-1 ATS this season as an underdog and 2-0 ATS against teams with winning records.

The Lions have lost 14 of the last 15 in this series, so to say this is a “revenge” game would be a bit of an understatement. I think the Gaels come in a bit complacent and the much improved Lions keep this one a lot closer than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Oregon State (11:00 EST).

The 13-0 USC Trojans are at Oregon State to take on the 4-9 Beavers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

USC has its best record since 1971, but now opens league play against an Oregon State team which just snapped a five-game losing streak by hammering Kent State by 19 in its last outing (the same Kent State team which just beat Texas last night as a 13 point underdog). 

The Trojans hold a 69-65 all time advantage, but the Beavers are 40-29 in the series in front of the home town crowd. In fact, Oregon State has taken seven straight in this series and will be looking to carry that momentum over here.

I’ll point out that USC is just 2-4 ATS this month, while Oregon State is 4-2 ATS in its last six against good offensive teams which average 77-plus points per contest.

I think the Beavers come to play today to open league action and USC gets caught a little flat footed. While I won’t be so bold as to predict an outright upset, I do definitely feel this is too many points to be giving up. Play on Oregon State.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SIDE OF THE WEEK is on Rutgers (7:00 EST).

The 11-2 Rutgers Scarlet Knights are ready to battle the 11-2 Wisconsin Badgers on Tuesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

Note that Rutgers plays with revenge today after falling 79-57 in Madison last year.

The Scarlet Knights already have four more total wins than last season’s 7-25 squad. Now Rutgers looks to get back on track after a five-game win streak was snapped in a 72-61 setback to in-state rival Seton Hall in its last outing.

I think Rutgers matches up well against the Badgers though: note that Wisconsin is ranked second nationally at +14.2 rebounds per game, while the Scarlet Knights are +11.5, good for sixth overall. Corey Sanders leads the way for Rutgers with 17 PPG.

The only losses that Wisconsin has come against ranked squads Creighton and North Carolina. Last time out the Badgers hammered Florida A&M 90-37. Nigle Hayes was the Big Ten’s Preseason Players of the Year.

I’lll point out though that Rutgers is already 2-1 ATS on the road this season, as well as 5-2 ATS after a non-conference game, while Wisconsin is just 2-3 ATS in its last five after scoring 80 points or more and only 2-6 ATS in its eight after allowing less than 50 points in its previous game.

A year ago the Badgers won this game by 22. Clearly the Scarlet Knights are a different team this season than last. In my opinion, this is too many points to be giving up, play on Rutgers.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* REVENGE GAME OF THE YEAR is on Illinois State.

The 7-4 Illinois State Redbirds look to avenge a loss to the 6-5 Tulsa Golden Hurricane from just two weeks ago.

Tulsa averages 72.4 PPG on 43.3 percent shooting and is led by Jaleel Wheeler, who posts 12.8 points and three assists per contest. Note though that the Golden Hurricane have lost five of their last six neutral site games.

Illinois State has won six of its last eight and is averaging 69.7 PPG. Deontae Hawks leads the charge with 15 points and 7.1 boards per contest. The Redbirds have struggled in neutral site games as well, but note that they’re 6-1 ATS in their last seven following an ATS loss.

But as mentioned off the top, this pick is primarily based on the “revenge factor.” These teams met on December 7th in Tulsa and the Golden Hurricane came away with the 70-68 SU victory.

It’s now payback time for the Redbirds! Note that Illinois State is already 1-0 ATS this year in revenging a road loss against an opponent, while Tulsa is just 4-6 ATS in its last ten after allowing 80 points or more.

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry 

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Cal State Fullerton (10:30 EST).

The 7-4 Portland Pilots get ready to battle the 4-7 Cal State Fullerton Titans and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

I believe the Pilots will have a letodwn here after their 77-75 home loss to Portland State. The Titans will look to get back on track after they fell 102-96 in OT at Nebraska Omaha. 

Note that CS Fullerton plays with revenge today after falling 65-60 in last year’s matchup. 

Only three players score in double figures for Portland. In fact, the Pilots have just five players that average more than 3.7 PPG, one of which is Alec Wintering, who is 24th in the country in scoring at 21.3 PPG. 

Note that Portland is ranked 92nd on the offensive end at 78.3 PPG, while ranked 206th on the defensive end in conceding 71.3 PPG.

Cal State Fullerton averages 76.5 PPG and concedes 77.5. Seven players had at least eight points in the most recent loss. Keep your eyes on Lionheart Leslie (12.5 PPG) and Tre Coggins (19.6).

I’ll point out that Portland is interestingly just 1-4 ATS in its last five against poor defensive teams which allow 77-plus points per contest, while CS Fullerton is already 3-1 ATS at home this year.

I think the Titans are the more motivated side in this matchup and while I wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, I will in the end recommend grabbing as many points as you can. Play on CS Fullerton.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Western Michigan (11:00 EST).

The 3-7 WMU Broncos are at UCLA to take on the 12-0 Bruins and while I won’t be so bold as to predict an outright upset, I do think that the hungry visitors can keep this one competitive against what I think will be a complacent home side. 

The Broncos enter off a hard-fought 92-86 loss at Washington, while UCLA managed an 86-73 win over Ohio State last time out.

WMU averages 75.4 PPG, but it concedes 80.7. 

On paper that doesn’t look too good going against the Bruins second ranked offense, which averages 96.9 PPG. Defensively UCLA allows 74.5 PPG, which is ranked 68th overall in the country. 

From a trend based stand point though, this one sets up very well for the visitors, as note that the Broncos are 8-4 ATS in their last 12 versus good offensive teams which score 77-plus points per contest, while the Bruins are just 2-4 ATS in their last six as a home fav in the 24.5 to 30 points range.

The Broncos have put up at least 75 PPG this year and I think they’ll be able to keep this one close enough to easily cover with the monster spread they’ve been afforded. Play on Western Michigan.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Michigan State (7:00 EST).

The 9-1 Oakland Grizzlies are in Michigan to take on the 7-5 Spartans for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

Oakland enters off a 74-53 win over Robert Morris last week, but then fell to Northeastern 61-59 just last night.

Suffice it to say, I think the Grizzlies come into this one with “heavy legs.” 

Oakland averages 86.3 PPG, which is ranked 31st in the nation and concedes just 66.6. 

The Spartans will look to take advantage and to bounce back after losing 81-73 to Northeastern on Sunday. So far Michigan State averages 72.2 PPG, while conceding 68.8, which is ranked 128th in the country.

I’ll point out that Oakland is just 3-4 ATS in its last seven non-conference games, while MSU is 4-2 ATS against teams with winning records this year and 4-0 ATS versus good offensive teams which score 77 plus points per contest.

I think the Grizzlies come into this one gassed and the hungry and underachieving home side pulls away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Play on Michigan State.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Illinois (7:00 EST).

Frankie Hughes leads Missouri in scoring at 12.7 PPG. The Tigers enter on a losing streak and I think will be hard pressed to match pace with the Fighting Illini.

Malcolm Hill leads the way for Illinois in averaging 18.2 PPG. Most recently Illinois comes off a win over a talented BYU team.

The Tigers have so far been a major disappoinment and note that they’ve struggled mightily in this spot already for bettors, going 3-4 ATS in non-conference games and just 1-2 ATS when playing the role of underdogs, while the Fighting Illini come into this one surging, having gone 4-1 ATS so far in December.

I expect these strong trends to continue, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on Richmond (7:00 EST).

The 5-5 Richmond Spiders are at James Madison to take on the 1-9 Dukes and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

JMU enters off consecutive setbacks to WMU and Appalachian State. 

Richmond can emphathize of late as it’s dropped three of its last four, most recently falling to Texas Tech over the weekend.

The Spiders actually led Texas Tech by one point at half, but gave up 43 during the final 20 minutes of action. Khawn Fore had 19 points in the setback, while De’Monte Buckingham provided 16 off the bench.

The Dukes fell 73-61 to App State in OT, senior guard Jackson kent led the way with 16 points, six assists, three boards and two blocked shots. 

I’ll point out though that Richmond is 10-6 ATS in its last 16 against teams with losing records, while James Madison is just 1-6 ATS as an underdog this year and 9-15 ATS in its last 24 non-conference games.

I think Richmond is the deeper, more skilled team and look for it to do more than enough to cover this small spread. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Cornell (10:30 EST).

The 2-6 Cornell Big Red are at USC to take on the 10-0 Trojans and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

The Big Red have dropped three of their last four and I think they’ll be able to catch the home side a bit complacent here.

USC barely managed to get past Troy on Saturday and I think will also get caught “looking past” lowly Cornell today.

The Big Red had a 17 day gap between games and it was evident in the 97-78 setback to the Cowboys.

USC has the perfect record thus far despite not having top scorer Bennie Boatwright in the lineup, who will be out for another three or four weeks. Jordan McLaughlin has stepped up in his absence and is averaging 21 PPG. 

I’ll point out though that Cornell is 10-8 ATS in its last 18 when playing on one days rest, while USC is just 3-5 ATS in its last eight as a home fav of 18.5 to 24 points. 

I like the Big Red to keep this one competitive and to comfortably sneak in through the back door with the large spread they’ve been afforded tonight. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on SMU (9:00 EST).

The 7-3 Stanford Cardinal are at SMU to take on the 8-3 Mustangs and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

SMU enters with a ton of momentum and confidence and I’m expecting both to get carried over here. The Mustangs have won four straight and are a perfect 7-0 at the Moody Coliseum. 

The Cardinal have a tough task ahead of them tonight. Stanford will be leaning on junior forward Reid Travis, who averages 18.3 PPG and 9.8 boards). Stanford has played some good teams this year and its strength is on the defensive end, conceding 62.8 PPG, ranked 29th overall.

During the Mustangs’ recent win skein, the average margin of victory has been 17.8 points. Keep your eyes on Semi Ojeleye, who is averaging 17.6 points and 7.5 boards per contest. SMU is even better on the defensive end that its opponent today, allowing just 61.4 PPG, ranked 20th in the nation. 

I’ll point out that Stanford is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 road games and only 2-5-1 ATS in its last eight following a SU win over more that 20 points, while SMU is 8-2 ATS in its last ten after scoring more than 90 points in its previous game and 6-1 ATS in its last seven in front of the home town crowd.

SMU is the bigger and more athletic team and I think should be a much bigger fav on its home floor. I’m laying the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Eastern Michigan (7:00 EST).

The 6-4 Eastern Michigan Eagles are in Syracuse to take on the 6-4 Orange and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

EMU enters off an 82-74 road loss to Vermont, while Syracuse fell 78-71 at home to Georgetown.

The Eagles’ four-game win streak was snapped in the loss to Vermont on Saturday. EMU rallied from a 14 point deficit, but would come up short down the stretch.

The Eagles can score with the best of them so far, they average 84.8 PPG, which is ranked 22nd in the country. Willie Magnum IV has scored 17 or more points in five straight games. The defense is the weak point, conceding an average of 73.3 PPG, ranked 219th overall.

The Orange shot just 43.9 percent from the floor and were led by Tyler Lydon, who posted a career-high 29 points to go along with nine boards.

So far Syracuse averages 75.2 PPG, ranked 155th overall. The Orange though are tough on the defensive end, conceding 62.9 PPG, ranked 30th overall. 

I’ll point out that EMU is 4-1 ATS in its last five non-conference games and 4-1 ATS in its last five on the road, while Syracuse is 0-4 ATS in its last four against teams with winning records and 0-4 ATS in its last four non-conference contests.

I think the Eagles have a legitimate shot at scoring an outright upset here. Granted the Orange defense is superior, but EMU can put points on the board in a hurry. In the end I’m going to recommend grabbing as many points as you can.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* NON CONF SIDE OF THE MONTH is on Michigan State (7:00 EST

MSU plays its fourth straight at home as it hosts Northeastern for the first time ever. 

You’ll want to keep your eyes on freshman guards Joshuan Langford and Cassius Winston. Langford is averaging 11.3 points, while Winston is posting 9.7 points, 9.0 assists and just 1.7 turnovers. In fact, over the last four games Winston has totaled 34 assists and just eight turnovers.

The Spartans get the job done on the defensive end, as seven of their 11 opponents this year have been held under 40 percent.

And that doesn’t bode well for the Huskies today in my opinion. Last year MSU traveled to Boston last season and defeated Northeastern 78-58 behind 17 points from Denzel Valentine. 

The Huskies come to East Lansing at 5-5 overall and in the middle of a six-game road trip in which they’ve lost three of four. TJ Williams has been a bright spot, leading the team with 21.9 PPG. 

I’ll point out though that Northeastern is just 1-2 ATS on the road already this year and just 7-11 ATS in its last 18 after allowing 60 points or less, while MSU is 15-6 ATS in its last 21 as a home fav of 12.5 points or more.

I’m expecting a similar final score as when these team’s met last year. Lay the points with confidence, play on Michigan State.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Oregon (11:00 EST).

Oregon is 9-2 and ranked No. 22 in the country. UNLV is 6-4 and most recently bounced back for a win over lowly Incarnate Word after getting hammered by Duke 94-45. 

Oregon opened as a Top 5 team, but has since started to turn things around of late, coming into this one having won seven straight after starting the season 2-2. Chris Boucher leads the Ducks with 14.1 points and 7.8 boards per game. 

Note that three other Oregon players score in double figures too though.

Jalen Poyser leads the Rebles with 16.1 PPG, but beyond him, UNLV is fairly “thin.” 

This is simply a bad spot for UNLV, which is already just 1-2 ATS this year as an underdog. And note this is a spot in which Oregon has excelled in for bettors, going 14-8 ATS in its last 22 as a favorite and 3-2 ATS in its last five in all neutral court games.

After the slow start, I can’t see Oregon taking the foot of the gas. UNLV has already struggled against ranked teams this year and I expect this and the rest of the trends listed above to continue tonight. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on USC (10:30 EST).

Troy comes into this one at 6-4 while No. 24 ranked USC sits at a perfect 9-0. 

Troy has won three of four, while USC is gunning for a 10-0 start. 

The Troy Trojans are led by Jordon Varnado, who averages 15.7 points, 6.5 boards and shoots 53 percent. 

After Varnado though, Troy becomes pretty thin. The USC Trojans on the other hand have five players which average in double digits, led by Elijah Stewart, who puts up 17.1 points and 5.8 boards per game.

USC has several advantages working in its favor, including some strong ATS trends, note that it’s 5-1 ATS in its last six after scoring more than 90 points in its previous game and 4-1 ATS in its last five against teams with a winning SU record.

And note that this is a spot in which Troy has struggled in for bettors, going just 5-15-2 ATS in its last 22 following a SU win and 0-4 ATS in its last four against teams with a winning percentage above .600. 

Troy may have won three straight, but it’s been over inferior competition. I think USC comes in focused on the task at hand pulls away comfortably done the stretch. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on California (8:00 EST).

The Cal Poly Mustangs are 5-5 overall and just 1-3 on the road. Cal is 8-2 overall and 7-0 at home. I’m expecting the Golden Bears’ strong home play to continue here and for Cal Poly to once again struggle away from friendly confines.

Cal averages 71 points, while Cal Poly posts 69 per game. 

The Golden Bears have a significant advantage on the defensive end though, conceding 59.9 points per contest, compared to the Mustangs 69.9. 

Cal Poly most recently fell 73-59 to Fresno State on Saturday, going just 8 of 14 from behind the arc. Donovan Fields led the way with 

 seven points, but no other Mustang scored over seven. 

After losing to Northwestern by three in Hawaii, Cal got back to its winning ways with a victory over UC Davis on Saturday. Charlie Moore led all players with 22 points. 

I’ll point out that the Cal Poly Mustangs are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven following a SU loss and interestingly, 4-12-1 ATS in their last 17 road games with a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600, while Cal is 4-1 ATS in its last five following a SU win of more than 20 points and 12-5 ATS in its last 17 following an ATS victory.

I simply can’t see the Mustangs offering much resistance to the much deeper and talented Golden Bears. The home floor advantage can’t be overlooked and neither can Cal’s superior defensive play. 

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Situational Stunner is on LBSU (11:00 EST).

Note that this is a neutral court game, being played in Portland at the home of the Trail Blazers. 

LBSU is just 2-10 this year as it’s faced a very difficult schedule to open the season. So far the 49ers have faced Wichita State, No. 5 UNC, No. 12 Louisville, No. 16 UCLA, Pac-12 school Washington and at No. 4 Kansas. 

LBSU enters off a 71-65 loss to Texas last Saturday, blwoing a 12-point lead. Evan Payne led the charge with 26 points. 

Oregon State is just 3-7 this year. So far the Beavers have underachieved, losing to the likes of Lamar, Nevada, Tulsa, Fresno State and Charlotte. The Beavers though sunk to a new low in a 93-90 OT home loss to Savannah State. Drew Eubanks was a bright spot in the debacle, scoring 23 points, grabbing 16 boards and proving six blocks. 

I’ll point out that the 49ers are 20-13 ATS in their last 33 non-conference games, while Oregon State is just 1-7 ATS in its last eight non-conference contests.

I love LBSU here, it’s the deeper and more skilled team and has played against the absolute best/toughest in the country. The Beavers are reeling and I’d be shocked if they put up much a fight tonight. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker’s Error is on Murray State (8:00 EST).

The 5-5 Murray State Racers are in Ole Miss to take on the 6-3 Rebels and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

The Racers are 5-5 and have won three of their last five, alternating wins and losses in that time. Most recently MSU scored a 103-65 win over Bethel. Nine players would go on to score and six made it to double figures. 

The Rebels have also alternated wins and and losses over their last six games. Most recently Ole Miss played at Virginia Tech on Sunday and lost 80-75. Deandre Burnett leads Ole Miss with 20.0 PPG.

MSU has dropped five tough non-conference road games this year, at MTSU, Bowling Green, Southern Illinois and Evansville respectively, but I think has a legitimate shot at an upset today.

The bottom line is that I think the Racers match up extremely well against Ole Miss. And note that the Rebels are just 1-4 ATS at home this year and just 6-11 ATS in their last 17 after allowing 80 points or more.

Additionally note that Murray State is 4-2 ATS in its last six as a road dog of 6.5 to nine points and 4-2 ATS in its last six against poor defensive teams which allow 77 plus points per contest.

I think this one will be a lot more competitive than what Las Vegas is leading us to believe. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Nevada (10:00 EST).

Cal Irvine has had a difficult opening schedule, with a 75-65 OT loss at then-No. 25 California, a 79-57 setback at No. 20 Arizona and then on Sunday it fell 84-53 at No. 12 Saint Mary’s. 

The Anteaters would allow Saint Mary’s to shoot 64 percent in the second half. UCI is one of the countries worst offensive teams in averaging just 61.8 PPG. But it gets the job done defensively as it concedes just 65.4 PPG. Jaron Martin is a stand out, he leads the team with 12.5 PPG and 3.3 APG.

The Wolf Pack enter off an upset 87-85 win at Washington on Sunday and I expect the team to carry that momentum over into a big effort tonight. Marcus Marshall led the way with 32 points in the latest victory, including hitting a 15-foot runner with time running off the clock to seal the deal. Note that Nevada was pretty good from the foul line, going 22 of 29. 

And I’ll point out that the Anteaters are just 3-7 ATS in their last ten against teams with a win percentage above .600, while the Wolf Pack are 8-1-1 ATS in their last ten following an ATS vicotry and 11-3-2 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.

Nevada averages almost 80 PPG and I simply can’t see the offensively challenged Anteaters keeping pace down the stretch. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Eastern Washington (9:05 EST).

The 2-6 Morehead State Eagles are at Eastern Washington to take on the 7-2 Eagles and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Eastern Washington has won six in a row and is average 79.9 PPG, while allowing 83.1. Bigdan Bliznyuk leads EWU with 21.4 points and 6.9 boards per game. 

Morehead State comes in on the opposite end of the spectrum, having lost six straight. The Eagles average 72 PPG and allow 82.4. Xavier Moon has been a standout, leading the team with 12.9 PPG. 

I’ll point out that EWU is 4-0 ATS in its last four at home and 8-3 ATS in its last 11 following a SU victory, while Morehead State is 0-3-2 in its last five ATS following a SU loss and 0-4-2 ATS in its last six road contests.

I have no faith in Morehead State right now and think this line is a little light. I’m backing the home side, play on Eastern Washington.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker’s Error is on Washington (8:00 EST).

The 7-2 Nevada Wolf Pack are in Washington to take on the 4-4 Huskies and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Wolf Pack most recently handled Bradley 91-69, while the Huskies come in off a humbling 98-71 setback at Gonzaga. 

Nevada wasn’t really tested last time out, but I think it will be today against this determined home side. The Wolf Pack are 87th in the country in scoring at 78.4 PPG and at the defensive end they’re ranked 148th in points allowing, giving up 70.0 PPG thus far. 

Washignton has struggled with consistency from game to game, but it does have seven players that average at least 6.1 PPG, led by Markelle Fultz, who contributes 23.0 PPG, which is ranked 11th in the nation. 

The Huskies can score with the best of them, averging 86 PPG, which ranks 18th in the country. That offense has had to be good, because they’ve given up an average of 82.0 PPG to this point.

I’ll point out that the Wolf Pack are just 18-22 ATS in their last 40 when playing the role of underdog and only 13-17 ATS in their last 30 road games, while Washington is a perfect 4-0 ATS in its last four as a home fav in the 3.5 to six points range and 5-2 ATS in its last seven after failing to cover the spread in three or more consecutive games.

The Huskies have the home court advantage and are the “hungrier” team. I think Washington’s defense finally shows up today and the home side pulls away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Pacific (10:30 EST).

Pacifc faces Rider in the fifth annual Gotham Classic in the Stockton Arena tonight and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the Tigers. 

Rider is 4-3 so far, while Pacific is 3-5. 

The Tigers will be especially motivated here after dropping to 0-1 in the tournament following a listless 72-48 setback at UMass on Thursday. Note though that Pacific is 3-0 in Stockton following a defeat and has won by an average of 14 points per game (also note that the Tigers are 4-2 in their last six following a loss). 

It’s also interesting to note that Pacific’s five losses have come against opponents with a combined 30-15 record. 

Pacific has won the battle on the offensive glass in seven of eight games this season. The Tigers outrebounded UMass on the offensive boards 11-2 on Dec. 8.

Rider has struggled in this spot for bettors, going just 1-8 ATS in its last nine neutral court games and just 6-10 ATS in non-conference contests, while Pacific has excelled, going 7-5 ATS in its last 12 after scoring 60 points or less.

I’m banking on Pacific to ride the wave of emotion from the local crowd and to bounce back in fine fashion after its last dud. Play on the Tigers.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on New Mexico State (9:30 EST).

No need to overthink this one in my opinion, as NMSU plays with revenge tonight after falling to New Mexico in the first installment in the Battle of I-25. 

The Lobos beat the Aggies 72-59 on November 18th. Now it’s payback time!

Last time out NM State continued its hot home run by beating LBSU 93-85. Braxton Huggins had a game-high 26 points. In fact, four of the Aggies’ five starters would go on to score double figures. NM State has now won 15 in a row at home dating back to last season. 

Note that Eli Chuha finished with a career-high 19 points and seven boards. 

New Mexico comes in off a nail-biting 78-77 win over UTEP as an 11-point favorite and I think is poised for a letdown here. Note that the Lobos are just 1-2 ATS as an underdog this year, while the Aggies are 2-0 ATS in their last two after allowing 80 points or more and 4-1 ATS in their last five after scoring 80 points or more.

I’m laying the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on UCLA (8:00 EST).

The 7-2 Michigan Wolverines are at UCLA to take on the 9-0 Bruins and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

ULCA comes in off a momentum building and season defining 97-92 win at Kentucky last weekend, while Michigan comes in off consecutive victories, most recently over Texas.

The Wolverines had to hold on for dear life in the 53-50 win over the Longhorns though, making only seven shots in the second half, including just two in the final seven minutes of the game. Co-captains Zak Irvin and Derrick Walton Jr. combined for only 10 points.

And that kind of pathetic play just isn’t going to get the job done against the red hot Bruins, who are off to their best start since 2006. Six different players scored in double-figures last week, led by Isaac Hamilton’s 19 points. 

I’ll point out that the Wolverines are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and only 2-6 ATS in their last eight following a SU victory, while UCLA is 5-0 ATS its last five at home and 4-0 ATS in their last four against teams with winning records.

Michigan has a good defense, but its inconsistent offensive play will be its downfall today. ULCA is playing at an extremely high level right now and getting tremendous production up and down the lineup. Lay the points with confidence.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Kentucky (8:00 EST).

The 7-1 Valparaiso Crusaders are at Kentucky to take on the 7-1 Wildcats and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Crusaders are led by 6-foot-9 forward Alec Peters, who is posting 25.4 points and 9.4 boards per game. Peters ranks top 10 in the country in many offensive categories.

Kentucky comes into this one highly motivated after dropping its first of the year, falling 97-92 to UCLA. Bam Adebayo was a bright spot with 18 points and 13 boards. 

I’ll point out that Valparaiso has struggled in this spot for bettors for a while now though, just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 non-conference games, while Kentucky has done well by going 5-2 ATS in non-conference games this season and 5-2 ATS when playing the role of favorite.

Despite the setback last time out, the Wildcats have scored more than 100 points in three of their last four. I’m expecting that strong scoring trend to continue tonight and look for Kentucky to bounce back with a convincing effort. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Butler (7:00 EST)

The 8-0 Butler Bulldogs are at the 4-4 Indiana State Sycamores on Wednesday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

The Bulldogs are ranked in the Top 25 after eight straight victories and are likely still feeling a little disrespected. 

Butler is winning by an average of 18.5 PPG and is led by upperclassmen Kelan Martin (18.1 PPG and 4.3 boards) and Andrew Chrabascz (10 PPG and 5.6 boards). 

So far the Bulldogs average 78.9 PPG, while conceding just 60.4. 

Indiana State has won two straight, most recently a harder than expected 62-61 win at Utah State. Suffice it to say, I think the home side is going to falter tonight. 

The Sycamores average 73.6 PPG and concede 67.5. 

I’ll point out that Butler is 5-2 ATS as a favorite this year and 5-2 ATS in non-conference games, while Indiana State is interestingly just 1-3 ATS in its last four against the Big East.

The Bulldogs are playing with a chip on their collective shoulders right now and I don’t foresee the team “looking past” the potentially dangerous Sycamores. I’m expecting Butler to jump out to an early lead and to keep the foot on the gas until the final horn. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Louisville (7:00 EST).

The 5-3 Southern Illinois Salukis are in Louisville, Kentucky to take on the 7-1 Cardinals and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

Both teams come into this one having won two in a row.

Southern Illinois shot 48 percent to beat Texas Southern last time out. Defenisvely the Salukis looked poor though, conceding 52.9 percent shooting, including 36 percent from range. They were also outrebounded by ten. Armon Fletcher was a standout with 18 points.

Southern Illinois averages 76.6 PPG, while conceding 74.6.

After trailing by a point at half time to Grand Canyon last time out, the Cardinals would get their act together in the second stanza and pull away for the victory. Deng Adel had 15 points.

Louisville averages 75.0 PPG, but allows just 59.4. That’s 15th in the country. 

I’ll point out that Southern Illinois is just 2-4 ATS in its last six as a road dog of 12.5 points or more, while Louisville is 6-4 ATS in its last ten as a home fav of 18.5 to 24 points, including 2-0 ATS this season. 

After the scare last time out, I’m expecting Louisville to come in much more focused and expect it to post a comfortable ATS victory once it’s all said and done. Play on the Cardinals.

Good luck…Larry

The third 10* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Texas (9:00 EST).

The 4-3 Texas Longhorns are in Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the 6-2 Wolverines and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

After losing to Virginia Tech at home, the Wolverines bounced back to beat Kennesaw State last time out. 

Texas broke a three-game slide with a 77-68 win over Alabama on Friday.

When these teams played last year, Michigan escaped with a 78-72 victory from Austin. Suffice it to say, I’m fully expecting a similar final outcome today.

Longhorns’ guard Kerwin Roach Jr. had 16 points and was 12 of 16 from the free throw line to lead Texas over Alabama on Friday. Five players would go on to score in double figures. 

So far Texas averages 70.4 PPG, which isn’t great. But what the team lacks on the offensive end, it more than makes up for it on the defensive side of things, conceding an average of just 67 PPG and only 29.9 percent from beyond the arc. 

Michigan forward Moritz Wagner had 11 points in the win over the Fighting Owls. Note though that the Wolverines aren’t lighting up many scoreboards these days either, entering this one averaging just 71.2 PPG thus far. The defense has been exceptional though, allowing just 59.2 PPG. 

I’ll point out that the Longhorns are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 following a SU victory, while the Wolverines are just 1-4 ATS their last five at home and only 6-13 ATS in their last 19 following a SU victory of more than 20 points. 

The Wolverines have already lost to VT and South Carolina, so have a hard time seeing them covering a double-digit spread. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

The first 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Villanova (7:00 EST). 

The 4-2 La Salle Explorers are in Philadelphia to take on the 8-0 Wildcats on Tuesday night and for a number of different reasons, i think this one favors the favorites.

The defending national champions are 8-0 out of the gate and won’t be able to simply look past the Explorers today, who come in having won three in a row.

During La Salle’s three game win streak the team has averaged 87 points and shot just under 53 percent from the floor. BJ Johnson had 22 points and nine boards in the Explorers’ 14-point victory over Bucknell on Saturday. 

But now La Salle faces the absolute best in the nation, dating back to last year sees Villanova having won 15 straight basketball games. Keep your eyes on senior forward Kris Jenkins, who is averaging 21 points and five boards. 

I’ll point out that La Salle is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven following a straight up victory and only 1-8 ATS in its last nine non-conference contests, while Villanova is 8-1-2 ATS in its last 11 against the Atlantic 10.

The Wildcats beat St. Joe’s by 31 and Penn by 25. I think tonight’s game could be the biggest blowout so far, I’m laying the points with confidence.

Good luck…Larry

The second 8* pick of my Superstar Triple Play is on Rhode Island (7:00 EST).

The 5-2 Old Dominion Monarchs are in Rhode Island to take on the 5-3 Rams and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

OD is poised for a letdown here after winning its third straight, this time a tough 60-58 victory over Towson on the road on Saturday. 

Conversely, Rhode Island comes in focused and hungry after losing its second straight and third in its last four by falling 63-60 at Providence on Saturday. 

Note that this non-conference matchup does set up as a “revenge” game for the Rams as well, who fell 71-65 on the road to OD on December 22nd, 2015.

Old Dominion beat the Tigers despite shooting just 38.8 percent from the floor. The defense looked decent, holding the Tigers to just 3 of 14 from behind the arc.

The Monarchs average just 61.4 PPG, ranked 339th in the country. The defense concedes just 58.6 points per night though, ranked seventh overall.

The Rams will look to push the pace here and take advantage of OD’s anemic offense. Rhode Island actually had a 35-29 advantage at half-time against Providence, but was unable to hold on down the stretch. Hassan Martin had 14 points and 17 boards. 

The Rams are an above average offensive team, scoring 76.9 PPG. They’re also quite good on the defensive end of the floor, conceding an average of just 68.1 PPG. 

I’ll point out that Old Dominion is just 5-7 ATS in its last 12 after scoring 60 points or less, while Rhode Island is 6-1 ATS in its last seven as a home fav in the 9.5 to 12 points range and 10-5 ATS in its last 15 after scoring 60 points or less.

This one sets up perfectly for the Rams, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Connecticut (7:00 EST).

The 3-4 Connecticut Huskies are at Syracuse to take on the 5-2 Orange and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the Huskies.

Both teams enter off victories, as UConn edged Boston U. 51-49, while Syracuse held on to beat North Florida 77-71 on Saturday to break a two-game slide.

These former Big East rivals played last year and the Orange beat the Huskies in the Battle for Atlantis tournament from Nassau.

Connecticut is injured, as Terry Larrier and point guard Alterique Gilbert have both been lost for the season. Last week it played just eight players to secure the victory over Boston. Keep your eyes on guard Jalen Adams, who leads the team with an average of 18 points, five boards and 5.4 assists per game. 

The Orange had a 24-point lead over North Florida, but faltered down the stretch and only wound up winning by seven points. Dallas Moore had 30 points. Like the Huskies though, Syracuse has struggled with offensive consistency already this year.

I’ll point out that UConn is 19-14 ATS in its last 33 after allowing 60 points or less, while Syracuse is 0-3 ATS in its last three as a neutral court favorite of 6.5 to nine points.

I think Syracuse gets caught looking past UConn tonight and the Huskies keep this one competitive until the final moments. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Stanford (3:30 EST).

The Stanford Cardinal get ready to battle the Kansas Jayhawks and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors. 

Kansas opened the season with a 103-99 OT loss to Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic from Hawaii, but then bounced back four days later to beat Duke by two points from MSG.

The Jayhawks have since won five straight, most recently a 91-61 drubbing of LBSU on Tuesday. 

The Cardinal enter off a 66-51 home to loss to No. 12 St. Mary’s on Wednesday.

Stanford had a horrible night shooting against the Gaels, finishing just 38.2 percent from the floor and only 3 of 13 from behind the arc. I think the team will be much more focused this evening after the shoddy performance last time out. Reid Travis leads the team with an average of 16.3 points and 9.5 boards per game, while Dorian Pickens adds 13.8 points. 

The Jayhawks’ Lagerald Vick caught fire against the 49ers, going 9 of 9 from the field for a career-high 23 points. 

Kansas averages 85.1 PPG, but note that it shoots a poor 59.9 percent from the foul line (ranked 335th).

And note that Kansas is just 2-3 ATS in its last five as a favorite, while Stanford, despite the slow start this season, is still 8-4 ATS in its last 12 after scoring 60 points or less.

I’m not going to predict an outright upset, but I do think this one sets up great for the Cardinals to keep this one competitive until the final moments. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Oddsmaker’s Error is on Texas (9:30 EST).

The 4-2 Alabama Crimson Tide are playing the 3-3 Texas Longhorns on Friday night and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors Texas.

The Longhorns come into this one extremely motivated as they look to snap a three-game slide. 

Conversely, I think this one sets up as a letdown spot for the Crimson Tide, who have won two in a row, most recently against Charleston Southern.

Alabama is led by senior forward Shannon Hale and freshman Donta Hall, who is averaging six points and nine boards per game. Note that nine Tide players average between 4.0 and 10.7 PPG.

Texas has had issues at the point guard position, as sophomore Kerwin Roach and freshman Andrew Jones continue to battle it out for the job after Isaiah Taylor skipped his senior year before going undrafted in the NBA. 

However, I’ll point out that the Longhorns are 3-1 ATS in their last three after failing to cover the spread in three or more consecutive outings.

And I’ll also point out that this is a spot in which the Crimson Tide have struggled in for bettors, going just 1-2 ATS this year after allowing 60 points or less.

I’m banking on the desperate home side in doing just enough to come away with the cover this evening. Play on Texas.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Columbia (7:00 EST).

The Lions looked good in the second half of their 88-86 setback to Hofstra on Wednesday night and I think they carry some of that momentum over into this one.

Columbia would erase a 12-point second half deficit, but the come back effort would fall just short. One player to keep your eyes on today is Luke Petrasek, who had a career-high 27 points and who hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to go to Columbia the lead.

I think Seton Hall gets caught “looking past” the lowly Lions today. The Pirates looked pretty mediocre in Orlando last week as well, beating Quinnipiac, between losses to Florida and Stanford. The team is led by Khadeen Carrington, who is averaging 21.7 PPG.

I’ll point out that the Lions are 6-3 ATS in their last nine after allowing 80 points or more and 13-8 ATS in their last 21 on the road, while the Pirates are just 3-4 ATS in their last seven after scoring 60 points or less and interestingly, just 1-2 ATS in their last three against poor defensive teams which allow 77-plus points per contest.

While I’ll stop short in predicting a huge upset, I do definitely think that there are enough factors working in favor of Columbia to pull the trigger as I expect the Lions to keep this one a lot closer than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* BLOWOUT SIDE OF THE MONTH is on Charlotte (7:00 EST).

The 0-6 James Madison Dukes are in Charlotte to take on the 4-2 49ers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side. 

The Dukes come off a heart-wrenching 80-77 OT loss at George Mason on Saturday, while the 49ers snapped a two-game slide with an 80-72 win over Appalachian State on Monday night. 

James Madison was leading by two at half time in its latest loss, but 32 fouls would be just too much for the team to overcome. Jackson Kent led the way in the setback, finishing with 19 points and six assists.

The Dukes have struggled on both ends of the floor this year, they’re ranked 305th in the nation in scoring with an average of 66.8 PPG, while on defense they’re tied for 267 in conceding an average of 77.5 PPG. 

The 49ers shot 57.4 percent from the floor in their win over the Mountaineers, while holding App State to just 42.6 percent.

Charlotte can score with the best of them, it’s ranked 23rd in the country with an average of 86.2 PPG. Defense has been the main problem though, as the team concedes a whopping 84.3 PPG thus far. Davis leads the team with 20.3 points, plus 3.2 assists per contest.

I’ll point out that James Madison is just 1-5 ATS in its last six non-conference contests, while Charlotte is 5-1 ATS in its last six in the same position.

The 49ers have a big opportunity to get their defensive statistics under control tonight in facing this struggling Dukes’ offense. Combined with the superior offense, the correct call in this one is indeed on Charlotte.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Maryland (7:00 EST).

The 5-1 Pittsburgh Panters are at the 7-0 Maryland Terrapins and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Terps enter this one with a ton of momentum after winning the Barclays Center Classic in New York on Saturday. 

Pitt has won five of its first six games, with its one loss coming against SMU in the semifinals of the 2K Classic.

Last Friday Pittsburgh beat Morehead State 76-63. I had the Panthers in that one. Forward Michael Young had 20 points to lead the way, while the team would shoot 49 percent collectively. 

The Panthers average 81.3 PPG and concede 75.7.

Maryland comes in off an 88-82 OT win over Richmond last Friday, led by 31 points from Trimble. Freshman Justin Jackson averages 11.7 points and 7.1 boards, while also shooting 52 percent from behind the 3-point line.

I’ll point out that Pittsburgh is just 1-5 ATS in its last six road games (and is 0-8 ATS in its last eight against the Big Ten), while Maryland 3-1 ATS in its last four as a home fav in the 3.5 to six points range.

The Terps have already beaten some stiff competition and I think their depth and size will prove to be just too much for Pittsburgh to overcome (note that Maryland has three huge centers in Cekovsky, 7-1, 250, Ivan Bender, 6-9, 235 and Damonte Dodd, 6-10, 250).

Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SIDE OF THE WEEK is on Charlotte (7:00 EST).

After losing two in a row to open the season, the Appalachian State Mountaineers bounced by winning their next two, before then getting smoked 93-58 to Duke in their latest outing.

Charlotte opened with three straight victories, but will be eager to return to the winners circle after two straight losses. 

The bottom line is, I simply can’t see the Mountaineers keeping pace with this high-flying 49ers offense which has scored over 100 points in three of five games this season.

There’s no shame in losing to the Blue Devils obviously, but now App State has to contend with another high-powered offense in Charlotte. The Mountaineers are led by Ronshad Shabazz, who is putting up 17.5 PPG.

The 49ers average 95 PPG overall on 48 percent shooting from the field. They’ve been deadly from the outside as well, shooting 48 percent from behidn the arc. Keep your eyes on Jon Davis, who is averaging 23 PPG and is a fantastic 12 of 18 from behind the three-point line. 

I’ll point out that Appalachian State is just 1-4 ATS in its last five against teams with a winning SU record, while Charlotte is 5-1 ATS in its last six non-conference contests and 16-5 ATS in its last 21 in front of the home town crowd.

I’m laying the points with confidence, play on the 49ers.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Washington State (6:00 EST).

The 1-3 San Jose State Spartans are at Washington State to take on the 3-2 Cougars and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

The Spartans enter off their third straight loss, falling 81-64 at Saint Mary’s on Tuesday night. Washington State would lose for the second time in three games in an 88-79 setback to Loyola-Chicago in the fifth-place game of the Paradise Jam Classic on Monday. 

So far San Jose State has struggled with offensive consistency, averaging just 63.3 PG, which ranks it 311th in the country. The defense is only marginally better, conceding 78 PPG, which ranks 278th overall.

The Cougars didn’t do very well in the Paradise Jam Classic, but they do average 78.6 PPG thus far, ranked 106th. Defensively though the team has struggled, conceding 79 PPG, which ranks it 291st. Overall the offense has looked decent, as the team has shot a solid 49.2 percent from the floor collectively. Keep your eyes on Josh Hawkinson, who averages 17.6 points, 11 boards and 1.8 blocks per contest.

I’ll point out that the Spartans are just 2-6 ATS in their last eight against the PAC-12, while the Cougars are 4-0 ATS their last four against the Mountain West and 4-0 ATS against teams with a win percentage below .400.

San Jose State struggles to put points on the board and also in the rebounding department and I think that spells trouble tonight. The Cougars have a big opportunity to improve their defensive stats and that’s exactly what I’m expecting. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Oddsmaker’s Error is on James Madison (6:00 EST).

The 0-5 James Madison Dukes look to get off the schneid as the get ready to battle the 3-3 George Mason Patriots. While I obviously wouldn’t be shocked by an outright upset, I will in the end recommend grabbing the points.

Madison enters off an 82-70 home loss to UL Lafayette, while George Mason beat Bradley 77-66 in its lastest action.

When these teams played last year, the Dukes prevailed 69-46.

James Madison is on the cusp in my opinion, there were some silver linings in its setback to UL-Lafayette, as the team would go on to hit 49 percent collectively. Jackson Kent led the way with 16 points. Joey McLean leads the Dukes with an average of 13 PPG overall. 

Otis Livingston II had a career high 22 points in the Patriots latest victory. George Mason has a ton of young talent, but is still predicted to finish near the bottom of the A10 Conference this year. 

I’ll point out that James Madison is still 19-7 ATS in its last 26 on the road (despite the slow start this season), and 6-4 ATS in its last ten after allowing 80 points or more, while George Mason is just 5-8 ATS in its last 13 when playing the role of favorite and just 12-15 ATS in its last 27 in front of the home town crowd. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 8* Las Vegas Insider is on Pittsburgh (7:00 EST).

2-2 Morehead State is at Pittsburgh to take on the 4-1 Panthers and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the home side.

If history is any precedence, then Pittsburgh has to be loving its chances today as it’s won 12 straight non-conference home games against unranked opponents (note that the Panthers are in fact 130-5 overall at the Peterson Events Center in non-conference action).

One player to keep your eyes on today is the Panthers’ Michael Young, who was named the ACC Player of the Week in each of the first two weeks of the season. He, along with Jamel Artis, have topped the 20-point plateua in each of the past three outings. 

The Panthers struggled a bit against Yale last time out, but clamped down at the end and recorded the 75-70 decision, not even coming close to covering the 12 point spread though. Young was a stand out, finishing with 24 points, ten boards and three assists, to go along with a career-high four blocks.

Morehead State comes into this one discombobulated, still reeling from the off-court distraction of head coach Sean Woods being suspended. Assistant Coach Preston Spradlin will serve as bench in the interim until the investigation is completed. 

The Eagles have failed in consecutive road contests and face a stiff test tonight. Last year Morehead State fell 72-62 at Pittsburgh. And in their last two losses the Eagles have shot just 37 percent in the second half. Xavier Moon has been a standout, scoring in double figures in three of four games.

After their slow start out of the gates against the Bulldogs last time out, I think the deeper and more talented Panthers put the foot on the gas from start to finish. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* NON-CONFERENCE SIDE OF THE MONTH is on Michigan State (7:00 EST).

The 2-2 Michigan State Spartans are in the Bahama’s for the bracketed portion of Battle 4 Atlantis and takes on 2-1 St. John’s. For a number of different reasons I think this one favors MSU.

The Spartans have started the season with arguably the toughest schedule in College basketball history and without question in MSU history. Note that it has upcoming games against No. 1 Kentucky, No. 6 Duke, No. 8 Arizona and a potential matchup against No. 10 Louisville all in November alone.

Note though that this isn’t a stage which will be too big for the Spartans, as they would defeat Providence 77-64 to win the Wooden Legacy in Anaheim in non conference tourney action last season.

One player to keep your eyes on today is MSU’s Eron Harris, who is shooting 11 of 14 from 3-point range over the last two games. 

The Red Storm are just 10-25 under coach Chris Mullin. St. John’s is averaging 87.7 points through its first three games, led by freshman guards Marcus LoVett and Shamorie Ponds.

Note though that Michigan State’s freshman class of Miles Bridges, Joshua Langford, Nick Ward and Cassius Winston is widely regarded as one of the top recruiting classes in the nation

I’ll point out that St. John’s is just 5-10 ATS in its last 15 after allowing 80 points or more and only 4-6 ATS in its last ten after scoring 80 points or more, while MSU is 38-23 ATS in its last 61 when playing the role of favorite and despite the slow start this season, is still 20-14 ATS in its last 34 non-conference contests.

After a slow start to the season, I look for the more talented Spartans to put the foot on the gas from start to finish and to pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* Las Vegas Insider is on Pittsburgh (7:00 EST).

The 2-1 Yale Bulldogs are taking on the 3-1 Pittsburgh Panthers on Tuesday and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the favorite.

The Panthers come into this one off a big 78-75 win over Marquette after losing to St. Mary’s. 

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 start to the season, but managed just 38 points in a brutal loss to Virginia on Sunday.

Yale would go on to shoot just 33.3 percent from the floor, the lone bright spot being sophomore Blake Reynolds who finished with ten points.

One player you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes on today is Pittsburgh forward Michael Young, who was named the ACC Player of the Week for a second consecutive week. Young averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 boards, 2.0 assists and one block per game as Pitt went 2-1 in the 2K Classic.

I’ll point out that Yale is just 2-7 ATS in its last nine against the ACC and a shocking 0-4 ATS in its last four games following a loss by more than 20 points, while Pittsburgh is 3-1 ATS in its last four after scoring 77 points or more in consecutive games.

I think Young will be just too much for the Bulldogs to handle tonight, lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SIDE OF THE WEEK is on Kansas (9:30 EST).

The Jayhawks have something to prove tonight and will look to take advantage of the Blazers in the CBA Hall of Fame Classic. 

Kansas stumbled in its opener to No. 11 Indiana, but then bounced back to beat No. 1 Duke. Both were close games, but I’m expecting a wire-to-wire blowout effort this evening.

Senior Frank Mason III has so far led the way in averaging 23 PPG for the No. 7 ranked Jayhawks. 

UAB also has a 2-1 record. The Blazers won the Conference USA title last season and have high hopes for a repeat performance in 2016/17 as well. Those hopes though took a hit when starting point guard Nick Norton suffered a knee injury in te first game, now gone for the remainder of the season.

Four players average in double figures so far for UAB, but I think the talent level on Kansas is on an entirely different level.

I’ll point out that the Jayhawks are 4-1 ATS in their last five against teams with a win percentage above .600, while the Blazers are just 1-4 ATS their last five overall.

This is a total mismatch, as Kansas’ back court is one of the best in the nation. I like the Jayhawks to jump out to an early insurmountable lead and to keep the foot on the gas until the final few minutes. Lay the points.

Good luck…Larry

My 10* SIDE OF THE MONTH is on Grambling State (12:00 EST).

The 0-1 Grambling State Tigers are at Providence to take on the 1-1 Friars and for a number of different reasons, I think this one favors the visitors.

While I’ll stop short in calling for an outright upset, I do think the Grambling State can keep this one a lot closer than what the oddsmakers are leading us to believe. 

So far the Tigers have averaged 58 PPG on 35.1 percent shooting. Ervin Mitchell is leading the way with 13.5 points and 4.5 boards, while Remond Brown is averaging 11.5 points and two assists. 

The Friars are averaging 73.5 points on 41.7 percent shooting and allowing 65 points on 45.9 percent shooting. Rodney Bullock is averaging 22.5 points and six boards. 

This is a classic “David vs. Goliath” matchup, but I think the “situation” suits the Tigers. Providence has more talent clearly, but it’s a young team which is still looking for an identiy after losing Kris Dunn and the fast turnaround from the Thursday road loss to Ohio State is a quick one. 

Grambling State has a lot of senior leadership and just went toe-to-toe with East Carolina. I’m banking on the visitors to do more than enough to secure the comfortable ATS victory once it’s all said and done. Grab the points.

Good luck…Larry