NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES, NEWS OPINIONS AND BEST BETS THRU MARCH MADNESS !

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NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, January 31

Wednesday’s 5 interesting games
Northwestern @ Purdue (-13.5)
Northwestern (15-5, 6-3)
KenPom rating: 47
Tempo: 339
Experience: 36
Continuity: 58
Northwestern won five of its last seven games.
Wildcats are 4-2 ATS as a Big 14 underdog, 1-2 on road.
Wildcats are shooting 38.1% on the arc (#24)
Northwestern is 6-4 vs top 100 teams.


Purdue (19-2, 8-2)
KenPom rating: 2
Tempo: 174
Experience: 78
Continuity: 9
Purdue won last five games, scoring 86.6 ppg.
Boilers are 5-4 as Big 14 favorites, 2-2 at home.
Boilers are #18 team on offensive boards.
Purdue is 9-2 vs teams in the top 50.


Northwestern (+5) upset Purdue 92-88 in OT December 1st.
Wildcats also upset Purdue LY (both games at home)
Wildcats lost their last six visits to Mackey Arena.
Big 14 double digit home favorites are 7-5 ATS.


St John’s @ Xavier (-1.5)
St John’s (13-7, 5-4)
KenPom rating: 32
Tempo: 96
Experience: 9
Continuity: 332
St John’s lost three of its last four games.
Red Storm is 1-3 SU on Big East road (dogs 4-0 ATS)
Red Storm is #4 team in country on offensive boards.
St John’s is 7-7 against teams ranked in top 100.


Xavier (10-10, 4-5)
KenPom rating: 41
Tempo: 54
Experience: 120
Continuity: 344
Xavier won three of four Big East home games.
Xavier is 2-7 games decided by 7 or less points.
Opponents are shooting 46.1% inside arc (#43)
Musketeers are 5-8 vs top 100 teams.


St John’s (-5.5) beat Xavier 81-66 at home December 20.
St John’s won four of last six series games.
Red Storm lost 7 of last 8 visits to the Cintas Center.
Big East home favorites of 5 or less points are 5-6 ATS.


Florida @ Kentucky (-5.5)
Florida (14-6, 4-3)
KenPom rating: 36
Tempo: 18
Experience: 86
Continuity: 281
Florida won four of its last five games.
Gators allowed 87-103-85 points in SEC losses.
Florida is #2 team in country on offensive boards.
Gators are 6-6 vs teams ranked in top 100.


Kentucky (15-5, 4-3)
KenPom rating: 21
Tempo: 12
Experience: 161
Continuity: 321
Kentucky won nine of its last 11 games.
Wildcats are 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS as an SEC home favorite.
Wildcats have #8 eFG% in country.
Kentucky is 6-3 against teams in top 100.


Kentucky (+3.5) won 87-85 at Florida January 6th.
Kentucky won five in row, 10 of last 11 series games.
Gators lost 4 of last 5 visits to Lexington.
SEC home favorites of 7 or less points are 10-7 ATS.


Boise State @ New Mexico (-11.5)
Boise State (14-6, 5-2)
KenPom rating: 61
Tempo: 198
Experience: 132
Continuity: 72
Boise State won six of its last eight games.
Broncos’ two MW losses were by 4-6 points.
Broncos are 7-6 vs teams ranked in top 100.
Opponents are shooting 52.1% inside arc (#249).


New Mexico (18-3, 6-2)
KenPom rating: 19
Tempo: 8
Experience: 57
Continuity: 245
New Mexico won its last five games, scoring 91.2 ppg.
Lobos are 4-0 SU/ATS as a MW home favorite.
Lobos are forcing turnovers 21.9% of time (#19)
New Mexico is 5-3 vs teams ranked in top 100.


Boise State won five of last six series games.
Broncos lost three of last four visits to Albuquerque.
MW double digit home favorites are 4-3 ATS.


Santa Clara @ Saint Mary’s (-13.5)
Santa Clara (15-7, 6-1)
KenPom rating: 114
Tempo: 94
Experience: 176
Continuity: 323
Broncos won six of their last seven games.
Santa Clara’s two WCC losses were by 19-24 points.
Santa Clara is 4-5 vs teams ranked in top 100.
Broncos have #49 eFG% in country.


Saint Mary’s (16-6, 7-0)
KenPom rating: 30
Tempo: 357
Experience: 187
Continuity: 40
Saint Mary’s is 13-1 in last 14 games, after a 3-5 start.
Gaels are 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS as a WCC home favorite.
Saint Mary’s has #9 eFG% defense in country.
Gaels are #5 team in country on offensive boards.


Saint Mary’s (-6) won 73-49 at Santa Clara January 13.
Gaels won last four series games, by 3-3-19-24 points.
Broncos lost last two visits to Moraga, by 8-15 points.
WCC double digit home favorites are 12-1 ATS.

 

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NCAAB
Dunkel

Wednesday, January 31

 

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NCAAB

Wednesday, January 31

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Trend Report
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NCAAB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, January 31

 

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[Cnotes53]

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
UNCG at VMI	06:00 PM	UNCG -16.5 U 150.5	+500 +500
SJU at XAV	06:30 PM	SJU +1.5 O 156.5	+500 +500
ALA at UGA	06:30 PM	UGA +6.5 O 168.0	+500 +500
NW at PUR	06:30 PM	NW +13.0 O 141.0	+500 +500
CHSO at RAD	07:00 PM	RAD -10.0 U 135.0	+500 +500
L-MD at BUCK	07:00 PM	BUCK -8.5 U 131.5	+500 +500
ARMY at COLG	07:00 PM	COLG -14.0 U 129.5	+500 +500
BAY at UCF	07:00 PM	UCF +3.5 O 138.5	+500 +500
GMU at STJOE	07:00 PM	STJOE -4.5 O 143.0	+500 +500
LAS at URI	07:00 PM	LAS +3.0 O 150.0	+500 +500
CHS at DUQ	07:00 PM	DUQ -12.5 U 135.0	+500 +500
WAKE at PITT	07:00 PM	WAKE +2.0 O 145.0	+500 +500
RICH at FOR	07:00 PM	RICH -2.0 O 139.0	+500 +500
USF at ECU	07:00 PM	USF +2.5 O 136.0	+500 +500
AMER at LAF	07:00 PM	AMER -1.0 U 129.5	+500 +500
CIN at WVU	07:00 PM	WVU +3.5 U 143.5	+500 +500
ETSU at MER	07:00 PM	ETSU +1.5 O 135.0	+500 +500
NAVY at LEH	07:00 PM	NAVY +5.0 O 141.0	+500 +500
PEAY at JAC	07:00 PM	JAC +3.0 O 137.5	+500 +500
UNCA at WEBB	07:00 PM	UNCA +2.0 O 151.5	+500 +500
ND at UVA	07:00 PM	UVA -13.0 O 113.5	+500 +500
LIP at UNF	07:00 PM	UNF +1.0 O 155.5	+500 +500
WICH at TLSA	07:00 PM	TLSA -1.5 U 152.5	+500 +500
CHAT at WCU	07:00 PM	WCU -4.5 O 145.0	+500 +500
FUR at CIT	07:00 PM	FUR -7.0 O 148.0	+500 +500
SCUS at PRE	07:00 PM	SCUS +1.5 O 142.5	+500 +500
WOF at SAM	07:30 PM	SAM -11.5 U 157.5	+500 +500
INST at BEL	07:30 PM	INST -8.5 U 164.0	+500 +500
FLA at UK	08:00 PM	FLA +5.5 O 171.5	+500 +500
ULM at ULL	08:00 PM	ULM +12.0 O 141.0	+500 +500
RICE at MEM	08:00 PM	RICE +16.0 O 157.0	+500 +500
MOSU at SIU	08:00 PM	SIU -4.5 U 134.0	+500 +500
VALP at DRKE	08:00 PM	VALP +19.5 U 144.5	+500 +500
UIC at EVAN	08:00 PM	EVAN +1.0 O 140.5	+500 +500
IW at TAMCOM	08:00 PM	IW +4.0 O 140.0	+500 +500
UNI at BRAD	08:00 PM	BRAD -7.5 O 138.0	+500 +500
ARK at MIZZ	08:30 PM	MIZZ -5.5 U 145.0	+500 +500
USM at ARST	08:30 PM	USM +6.0 O 151.0	+500 +500
PROV at CONN	08:30 PM	CONN -13.5 O 137.0	+500 +500
PSU at RUTG	08:30 PM	RUTG -7.0 U 144.0	+500 +500
UAB at UNT	09:00 PM	UAB +7.0 U 133.0	+500 +500
VAN at AUB	09:00 PM	AUB -19.0 O 143.5	+500 +500
BSU at UNM	10:30 PM	UNM -11.0 O 149.5	+500 +500
SCU at SMC	11:00 PM	SMC -13.0 U 136.0	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday’s 6-pack:
College hoop teams making the highest %age of foul shots:
82.1%— Villanova
80.1%— Virginia Tech
79.9%— Wake Forest
79.1%— Montana
79%— Indiana State
78.8%— Columbia

Quote of the Day
“Life is too short to be anything but happy………
Falling down is part of life, getting back up is living.”
unknown

Thursday’s quiz
Who was New England’s quarterback before Tom Brady?

Wednesday’s quiz
Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau was once an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs when Jerry Tarkanian was their head coach.

Tuesday’s quiz
2000 was the last time a Big Ten team won the college basketball national title, when Michigan State beat Florida 89-76 in the national championship game.

*****************************************************

Thursday’s Den: Doing some thinking out loud…….​

— Green Bay Packers hired Boston College coach Jeff Hafley as defensive coordinator, one more signal that coaching college football ain’t as much fun anymore. Hafley was 22-26 in four years at BC, getting to three bowl games- they beat SMU 23-14 in this season’s Fenway Bowl.
College recruiting is now a 24/7/365 deal, with NIL deals encouraging players to bolt like free agents in the pros. NFL coaches actually have more down time than college coaches do in the offseason.

— Seattle Seahawks named Baltimore Ravens’ DC Mike Macdonald as their new coach; he is now the youngest head coach in the NFL. Ravens led the NFL in points allowed, sacks and takeaways this year, in Macdonald’s second year on the job.
Since 2013, Ravens are now 0-24 when they trail by 10+ points at halftime; they’re the only NFL team that, over the last 11 years, hasn’t won a game like that.

— Further evidence that players win games, moreso than coaches, although a combination of both is obviously ideal; the 2013 Washington Redskins had these coaches on staff:
Offensive coordinator- Kyle Shanahan (HC of 49ers now)
QB coach- Matt Lafleur (HC of Packers)
TE coach- Sean McVay (HC of Rams)
WR coach- Mike McDaniel (HC of Dolphins)
DB coach- Raheem Morris (HC of Falcons)
Pretty good coaching staff under Mike Shanahan, right?
Washington went 3-13 that season, and Shanahan got fired.

— Pittsburgh Steelers named former Falcons’ coach Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator; Smith went 7-10 three years in a row coaching in Atlanta.

— Totally useless statistic; in the last 19 Super Bowls, the team that wore white jerseys were 16-3. This means absolutely nothing, but it is true. By the way, the 49ers are wearing white jerseys next week.

— San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL signed QB Tommy Flacco from Towson State, the younger brother of Browns’ QB Joe Flacco.

— Happy 69th birthday to former Rams’ safety Nolan Cromwell; he played 11 years as a DB for the Rams, after having been a wishbone QB in college at Kansas. Cromwell also held for kicks; he once scored a TD on a fake field goal in overtime, to win a game.

— Baseball Notes of the Day:
Blue Jays signed Justin Turner for one year, $13M.
Angels signed OF Aaron Hicks for $740K; Bronx Bombers still owe Hicks $19,260,000 over the next two years. Kind of like David Justice in Moneyball: “They’re paying you to play against them.”

— NBA salary cap is $136M this year; it will be $141M next season.

— In his Hall of Fame career, the great Wilt Chamberlain had 27 games where he scored 30+ points, grabbed 20+ rebounds, had 10+ assists; no one else in NBA history has more than eight 30-20-10 games (Oscar Robertson). Denver’s Nikola Jokic has seven.

— Movie of the Day: Runaway Jury (2003)- A juror on the inside and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer.
John Cusack is the influential juror; Dustin Hoffman is one of the lawyers, Gene Hackman is a guy who advises the plaintiff’s lawyers. Bruce McGill, Jennifer Beals are also in this movie, which was written by the same two guys who wrote Billions and Rounders.
By the way, happy 94th birthday to the great actor Gene Hackman.

— Purdue 105, Northwestern 96 OT
Northwestern coach Collins got ejected with 0:01.7 left in OT.
Why? Purdue was 29-46 on foul line; Northwestern was 6-8.
Wildcats were 14-27 on the arc; Purdue was 10-21.

— Alabama 85, Georgia 76
Georgia led this game 17-2 out of the gate.
Alabama shot 64.9% inside the arc.
Crimson Tide was +10 in turnovers (19-9)

— Florida 94, Kentucky 91 OT
Florida hit a 3-pointer with 0:03 left to force overtime.
Kentucky split its last six games, after a 12-2 start.
Kentucky’s eFG% defense is #94; Final 4 teams are usually top 25 in eFG% defense.

— Xavier 88, St John’s 77
Olivari had 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals.
St John’s has lost four of its last five games.
Both teams are now 5-5 in the Big East.

— Rice 74, Memphis 71
4th straight loss for Memphis, after a 15-2 start.
Rice had lost seven of its previous eight games.
Owls were 10-21 on the arc, Memphis 3-18.

— UAB 82, North Texas 79 OT
Blazers never led in regulation.
North Texas led by 17 late in first half.
Third loss in four games for the Mean Green.

— Samford 81, Wofford 79
Samford is 19-3, 8-1 in SoCon; their last four wins were by 4-7-3-2 points.

— Boise State 86, New Mexico 78
Rough night for the Pitino family, with Lobos/St John’s both losing.
Loss snaps New Mexico’s five-game winning streak.
Max Rice scored 35 points; he had 30 in his last game vs New Mexico.

— Let’s compare the coaching resumes of two former NFL coaches:
Coach A: 125-106 in regular season, 0-6 in playoffs.
Coach B: 131-122-3 in regular season, 0-7 in playoffs.
Both coaches turned around losing programs, but couldn’t get over the hump in the playoffs. Any idea who they are? (Hint: they’re both retired)
Coach A is Jim Mora Sr, who led the Saints to their first four playoff spots ever, but he went 0-4 in those games.
Mora had previously gone 41-12-1 coaching the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL (1983-85) winning the championship in two of that league’s three seasons.
Coach B is Marvin Lewis; the Bengals were 19-61 in the five years before he got there; they went 6-25-1 in the first two years after he left, but then they drafted Joe Burrow and things have been good in Cincinnati since then.
But Lewis went 131-122-3 in the regular season, no small feat.

— You can bet on the Super Bowl at the SouthPoint Casino in Las Vegas, with -105 instead of the usual -110 (or worse) vigorish. Makes it a little better for gamblers; plus, the SouthPoint has a hot dog cart right near the sportsbook, and it is very good.

 

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NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, February 1

Thursday’s 5 interesting games
Tulane @ SMU (-8.5)
Tulane (12-8, 3-5)
KenPom rating: 115
Tempo: 12
Experience: 7
Continuity: 53
Tulane lost five of its last seven games.
Tulane is 1-3 on AAC road, losing by 14-1-14 points.
Green Wave is shooting 56.7% inside arc (#18)
Green Wave is 1-5 vs top 100 teams.


SMU (13-7, 4-3)
KenPom rating: 45
Tempo: 192
Experience: 74
Continuity: 87
SMU lost its last two games, by 2-5 points.
Mustangs are 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS at home in AAC tilts.
SMU has #2 eFG% defense in country.
Mustangs are 2-6 vs teams in the top 125.


Tulane won three of last five series games.
Green Wave lost six of last seven visits to SMU.
AAC home favorites of 9 or less points are 14-11 ATS.


NC-Wilmington @ Charleston (-4.5)
NC-Wilmington (14-6, 5-3)
KenPom rating: 112
Tempo: 255
Experience: 85
Continuity: 31
UNCW won five of its last six games.
Seahawks are 2-3 SU on CAA road, 0-1 ATS as a road dog.
UNCW is shooting 31.2% on arc in CAA play (#11 of 14)
Seahawks are 2-3 against teams ranked in top 125.


Charleston (15-6, 6-2)
KenPom rating: 122
Tempo: 37
Experience: 214
Continuity: 253
Charleston won 10 of its last 12 D-I games.
Charleston is 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS as a CAA home favorite.
Cougars are shooting 59.6% inside arc in CAA tilts (#1)
Cougars are 2-4 vs top 125 teams.


Charleston lost 78-69 at UNCW 12 days ago.
Seahawks won six of last nine series games.
Teams split their last four meetings in Charleston.
CAA home favorites of 5 or less points are 10-5 ATS.


Wisconsin (-1.5) @ Nebraska
Wisconsin (16-4, 8-1)
KenPom rating: 11
Tempo: 327
Experience: 49
Continuity: 8
Wisconsin won nine of its last ten games.
Badgers are 3-1 SU on Big 14 road (dogs 4-0 ATS)
Wisconsin is #7 team in country on defensive boards.
Badgers are 16-1 when they allow less than 80 points.


Nebraska (15-6, 5-5)
KenPom rating: 55
Tempo: 149
Experience: 51
Continuity: 162
Nebraska is 3-4 in its last seven games.
Home team is 10-0 ATS in their Big 14 games.
Opponents are shooting 45.3% inside arc (#29)
Nebraska is 6-5 against teams in top 100.


Nebraska won last 2 meetings, after losing previous 7.
Badgers won four of last five visits to Lincoln.
Big 14 home dogs of 4 or less points are 7-5 ATS.


Seattle @ Grand Canyon (-9.5)
Seattle (12-8, 5-4)
KenPom rating: 123
Tempo: 107
Experience: 102
Continuity: 15
Seattle won six of its last nine games.
Four of their last ten games went to overtime.
Seattle is 2-3 vs teams ranked in top 100.
Redhawks are 0-4 SU/1-3 ATS on WAC road.


Grand Canyon (19-2, 9-1)
KenPom rating: 62
Tempo: 140
Experience: 69
Continuity: 161
Grand Canyon is 9-1 SU/3-7 ATS as a WAC favorite.
Antelopes are 4-0 SU/ATS as a MW home favorite.
Antelopes are forcing turnovers 20.4% of time (#38)
Grand Canyon is 3-2 vs teams ranked in top 125.


Seattle (+6) upset Grand Canyon 86-79 at home 12 days ago.
Redhawks won three of last four series games.
Seattle lost five of last six visits to Grand Canyon.
WAC home favorites of 9+ points are 4-7 ATS.


Cal-Davis @ Cal-Santa Barbara (-4.5)
Cal-Davis (12-8, 7-2)
KenPom rating: 169
Tempo: 150
Experience: 39
Continuity: 4
Aggies won seven of their last nine games.
Davis is 2-1 SU/3-0 ATS in Big West road games.
Davis is 2-6 vs teams ranked in top 150.
Aggies are 4-3 in games decided by 6 or less points.


Cal-Santa Barbara (12-7, 5-4)
KenPom rating: 145
Tempo: 154
Experience: 240
Continuity: 159
UCSB won five of its last six games.
Gauchos are 3-1 SU/1-3 ATS as Big West home favorites.
UCSB has #22 eFG% in country.
Gauchos are 4-3 vs teams ranked in top 200.


Davis (+3.5) upset UCSB 76-62 at home December 28.
Gauchos have still won seven of last eight meetings.
Aggies lost last two visits to Santa Barbara, by 14-10 points.
Big West home favorites of 6 or less points are 8-7 ATS.

 

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NCAAB

Thursday, February 1

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Trend Report
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[Udog]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Thursday, February 1

 

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NCAAB
Long Sheet

Thursday, February 1

 

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[Cnotes53]

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
NJIT at BING	06:07 PM	BING -6.0 U 143.0	+500 +500
ME at UMASS	06:30 PM	UMASS -8.5 U 139.5	+500 +500
STON at HOF	07:00 PM	STON +7.5 O 142.0	+500 +500
CCU at JMU	07:00 PM	CCU +19.0 O 155.0	+500 +500
NE at TOWS	07:00 PM	TOWS -7.0 U 127.5	+500 +500
ODU at MRSH	07:00 PM	ODU +9.5 O 155.0	+500 +500
STONE at SH	07:00 PM	SH -10.0 U 141.5	+500 +500
APP at GSU	07:00 PM	APP -5.5 O 144.5	+500 +500
UNCW at COFC	07:00 PM	COFC -4.5 O 154.5	+500 +500
SFPA at CCSU	07:00 PM	SFPA +13.5 O 140.0	+500 +500
HAMP at NCAT	07:00 PM	NCAT -4.0 U 156.0	+500 +500
DEL at CWM	07:00 PM	DEL -5.5 U 144.5	+500 +500
RMU at OAK	07:00 PM	RMU +9.0 O 145.0	+500 +500
DREX at MONM	07:00 PM	MONM +4.0 U 137.0	+500 +500
LONG at HP	07:00 PM	HP -7.0 U 146.5	+500 +500
LT at FIU	07:00 PM	FIU +7.5 O 142.5	+500 +500
CLEVST at DETU	07:00 PM	CLEVST -7.5 O 145.0	+500 +500
TULN at SMU	07:00 PM	TULN +8.5 U 160.5	+500 +500
LIU at FDU	07:00 PM	FDU -9.5 O 156.0	+500 +500
TROY at GASO	07:00 PM	TROY -5.0 U 150.0	+500 +500
MILW at PFW	07:00 PM	PFW -4.0 O 165.5	+500 +500
CAMP at ELON	07:00 PM	ELON -2.5 U 145.0	+500 +500
UMBC at BRY	07:00 PM	UMBC +12.5 O 166.5	+500 +500
ALBY at UVM	07:00 PM	UVM -13.0 U 147.5	+500 +500
BELL at KENN	07:30 PM	BELL +9.0 O 152.5	+500 +500
UVU at SFA	07:30 PM	SFA -7.5 U 139.5	+500 +500
EKY at QNC	08:00 PM	EKY -5.5 O 162.5	+500 +500
WEB at NAU	08:00 PM	NAU +6.5 O 142.0	+500 +500
DEN at KC	08:00 PM	KC -2.0 U 153.0	+500 +500
UND at SDAK	08:00 PM	SDAK +2.5 U 148.5	+500 +500
STT at NEOM	08:00 PM	NEOM +2.0 O 141.5	+500 +500
MORE at TNST	08:00 PM	MORE -4.0 U 137.5	+500 +500
IDST at UNCO	08:00 PM	UNCO -9.0 U 147.5	+500 +500
TST at ACU	08:00 PM	TST +1.5 U 141.0	+500 +500
USA at TXST	08:00 PM	TXST -3.0 U 143.0	+500 +500
NDSU at SDST	08:00 PM	NDSU +9.5 O 149.5	+500 +500
WIS at NEB	08:30 PM	NEB +1.0 U 145.0	+500 +500
WIU at LNDNWD	08:30 PM	WIU -4.5 U 128.5	+500 +500
UTM at EIU	08:30 PM	EIU +1.0 U 148.0	+500 +500
USI at TNTC	08:30 PM	TNTC -1.5 U 136.5	+500 +500
UALR at SIUE	08:30 PM	SIUE -2.5 U 148.5	+500 +500
CAL at ARIZ	08:30 PM	CAL +19.0 O 160.5	+500 +500
FGCU at CARK	08:30 PM	FGCU -4.0 U 147.0	+500 +500
UTA at SUU	08:30 PM	UTA +1.0 O 156.5	+500 +500
STET at NORAL	08:45 PM	NORAL -2.0 U 151.0	+500 +500
EWU at MTST	09:00 PM	EWU -4.0 U 149.0	+500 +500
SHSU at WKU	09:00 PM	WKU -4.5 U 156.5	+500 +500
JVST at UTEP	09:00 PM	UTEP -4.0 U 130.0	+500 +500
YSU at WRST	09:00 PM	YSU +3.5 O 165.5	+500 +500
LIB at NMSU	09:00 PM	LIB -5.0 O 137.0	+500 +500
SEA at GRC	09:00 PM	GRC -9.5 U 141.0	+500 +500
STAN at ASU	09:00 PM	STAN +1.0 O 153.0	+500 +500
IDHO at MONT	09:00 PM	IDHO +15.0 O 141.0	+500 +500
UTRGV at UTECH	09:00 PM	UTECH -5.0 U 152.5	+500 +500
LBSU at CSB	10:00 PM	CSB +3.0 U 144.0	+500 +500
PORT at PAC	10:00 PM	PORT -2.0 U 151.0	+500 +500
HAW at CSF	10:00 PM	HAW +1.5 O 129.5	+500 +500
UCI at CP	10:00 PM	CP +13.5 O 131.0	+500 +500
CSN at UCSD	10:00 PM	CSN +11.0 O 150.5	+500 +500
ORE at USC	10:30 PM	ORE -2.5 O 148.5	+500 +500
ORST at UCLA	10:30 PM	UCLA -10.0 U 124.0	+500 +500
USD at SF	11:00 PM	USD +18.0 O 148.5	+500 +500
UCD at UCSB	11:00 PM	UCSB -4.0 U 144.0	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

Friday’s 6-pack:
NHL scoring leaders:
85— Nikita Kucherov, TB
84— Nathan MacKinnon, Colo
72— David Pastrnak, Bos
67— Connor McDavid, Edm/JT Miller, Van
66— Artemi Panarin, NYR/Mikkp Rantanen, Colo
64— Elias Pettersson, Van

Quote of the Day
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more of it I have.”
Thomas Jefferson

Friday’s quiz
Which four NBA teams used to play in the ABA?

Thursday’s quiz
Drew Bledsoe was New England’s quarterback before Tom Brady.

Wednesday’s quiz
Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau was once an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs when Jerry Tarkanian was their head coach.

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Friday’s Den: Random stuff with the weekend here…….​

— Random knowledge; Brock Purdy will be the 67th different QB to start a Super Bowl.

— Washington Commanders filled the NFL’s last head coaching opening and hired Dallas Cowboys’ DC Dan Quinn; Quinn went 46-44 in 5+ years coaching the Falcons, going 3-2 in playoff games. His 2016 Atlanta team lost Super Bowl LI 34-28, after leading 28-3 in the third quarter. He’s been the defensive coordinator in Dallas the last three seasons.
Five of the eight coaches who’ve been hired come from the defensive side of the ball.

— New England Patriots hired former Browns’ OC Alex Van Pelt as their new OC.
Las Vegas Raiders are hiring former Cardinals’ coach Kliff Kingsbury as their new OC.
Rams are promoting LB coach Chris Shula to defensive coordinator; he is the grandson of the Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, and also played football at Miami OH with Sean McVay.

— AFC teams won six of the last nine Super Bowls.

— 14 of the first 57 Super Bowls were 0-0 after the first quarter.

— NHL teams with best records in overtime/shootouts:
7-2- St Louis
6-2- Anaheim, Washington
5-1- Edmonton

— NHL teams with worst records in overtime/shootouts:
2-10- Los Angeles
6-12- NY Islanders
5-10- Columbus
4-9- Seattle

— Active leaders in career home runs:
402- Giancarlo Stanton
368- Mike Trout
356- Joey Votto
342- Evan Longoria
340- Paul Goldschmidt

— Word of the Day: Cohesive- describing a group of people that is united and working together effectively.

— Milwaukee Brewers are trading P Corbin Burnes to the Orioles for Baltimore’s #5/#6 prospects, one a pitcher, one a shortstop. Last year, Burnes was 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA; he won the 2021 Cy Young Award and is a free agent after the 2024 season.

— Cal Ripken Jr/Grant Hill are part of the new ownership group of the Baltimore Orioles.

— Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I couldn’t sleep and got an idea for something to do for this blog, so I got up, flipped on the TV and got to work at 6am. Put Morning Joe on; I hadn’t watched it in years, and for whatever reason, they start rattling on about the 70’s Atlanta Braves and they flash a picture on the screen of a baseball card of Biff Pocoroba. Go figure.
If you don’t know, my first name is Biff and back in 1975, it was very cool for 15-year old me to watch a major leaguer named Biff- I followed his career pretty closely and have an autographed picture on the shelf here in my living room, plus the same baseball card they showed on TV.
By the way, Biff Pocoroba was a switch-hitting catcher who was an All-Star in 1978; he was a good knuckleball catcher for Phil Niekro back in the day.

— NCAA Tournament Stat: Last four NCAA Tournaments, teams from the WAC are 5-0 against the spread, including New Mexico State’s upset of UConn two years ago.
Last year, UConn won the national title; they were a #4-seed, the highest seed that made the Final 4. None of the top 12 seeds made the Final 4, which is unusual.

— Nebraska 80, Wisconsin 72 OT
Badgers led 43-27 at halftime.
CJ Wilcher scored 22 points in 27:00; he didn’t start.
Before tonight, AP Top 10 teams had won 1,458 consecutive games when leading by 16+ points at halftime; the last loss was January 5, 2002 (Kentucky @ Mississippi State).

— Grand Canyon 95, Seattle 88 OT
Antelopes won despite blowing a 14-point 2nd half lead.
Grand Canyon has won 17 of its last 18 games.

— NC-Wilmington 80, Charleston 74
Charleston led by 6 with 12:24 left.
Trazarien White scored 27 points, had 9 rebounds.
These teams are now tied for 3rd in the CAA, both are 6-3.

— Youngstown State 88, Wright State 77
All five Penguin starters scored in double figures.
Youngstown shot 55.6% inside arc, had 13 offensive boards.
Penguins have never been in D-I NCAA Tournament; they’re 17-6 this year.

— Cleveland State 77, Detroit 65
Detroit starts four seniors and they’re 0-23. Yikes.
Titans are 3-9 ATS in Horizon games.
From 1973-77, Detroit was 79-29; their coach was Dick Vitale.

— Sam Houston 79, Western Kentucky 77
Hilltoppers led by 8 with 7:58 left in game.
Sam Houston is 6-1 in C-USA; this is their 11th winning season in a row.

— Lakers 114, Celtics 105
Boston was favored by 15.5 points; this is first time in at least 30 years that the Celtics lost when favored by 15+ points.

— Knicks 109, Pacers 105
Knicks have won nine games in a row, and 15 of 17.
All-Star Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for New York.

 

[Udog]

DAYTON is 8-1 ATS (6.9 Units) after 4 straight games forcing opponent to commit 11 or less turnovers over the last 2 seasons.

BUTLER is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins in the last 3 seasons.

BUFFALO is 9-0 ATS (9 Units) after trailing in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half over the last 2 seasons.

DARTMOUTH is 6-0 ATS (6 Units) after playing 5 consecutive games as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.

MANHATTAN is 10-1 Over (8.9 Units) after playing 2 consecutive games as a road underdog over the last 2 seasons.

SIENA is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) in road games after playing 4 consecutive games as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.

NIAGARA is 7-0 ATS (7 Units) as a road dog of 3.5 to 6 over the last 2 seasons.

IOWA is 10-1 Over (8.9 Units) in home games after a game where they made 78% of their free throws or better over the last 2 season...

MOUNT ST MARYS are 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) off a home loss against a conference rival in the last 3 seasons.

COLUMBIA is 40-63 ATS (-29.3 Units) after successfully covering the spread in 2 or more consecutive games since 1997.

FAIRFIELD is 9-1 Over (7.9 Units) revenging a loss vs opponent in the current season.

PENNSYLVANIA is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) in road games as a dog in the last 3 seasons.

PRINCETON is 6-0 ATS (6 Units) after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games over the last 2 seasons.

AKRON is 7-0 Over (7 Units) in home games after allowing 55 points or less over the last 2 seasons.

SAN JOSE ST is 9-1 Over (7.9 Units) after 2 straight games committing 11 or less turnovers in the current season.