10* Florida St +3
I've had this game circled for some time. My only previous 10* play on Ole Miss Saturday night was an easy winner. I expect tonight's winner to be just as easy. Quite simply, the wrong team is favored in this game. Iowa is only better than Penn St in the Big 10, and that isn't saying much. FSU, meanwhile, is night and day from last year's team. Leonard Hamilton brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, insight, and discipline, and has quite a bit of talent to work with. More importantly, he brought in some new talent to blend with the returnees. Forwards Michael Joiner and Anthony Richardson are two of the best players the Noles have had in a while, and Juco transfers Nate Johnson and Tim Pickett are just what the team needed at guards. 6-10, 350-pound center Nigel Dixon transferred out when he heard that the team was going to an up-tempo style, but 6-11 Trevor Harvey and 6-10 Mike Matthews hold down the fort in the middle. In short, FSU will be much improved this year, and it might take a few games for the linesmakers to catch up with them. The Noles will win this game in Tallahassee to start their (real) season on the right foot.
5* Marquette +4
I cannot figure out why everyone is jumping on Notre Dame in this spot. The only major team they have played in Creighton, and they lost that one. Of course, Marquette has only played Villanova, but at least they won in Philadelphia on a hostile court. Notre Dame has an astonishing point guard in Chris Thomas, but he is more than offset by Marquette's All-American Dwyane Wade who is just about the best shooting guard in college hoops. Notre Dame returns 2 starters, Marquette 3. Plus, the Golden Eagles have added 6-9, 255 SF Robert Jackson who was a starter and team leader at Miss St as a sophomore and junior. The game is being played at South Bend, which is why I suppose the Irish are favored, but Marquette has been around a time or two and they can handle this situation. I love getting them as a 4-point dog when I feel they are the better team with more experience.
I've had this game circled for some time. My only previous 10* play on Ole Miss Saturday night was an easy winner. I expect tonight's winner to be just as easy. Quite simply, the wrong team is favored in this game. Iowa is only better than Penn St in the Big 10, and that isn't saying much. FSU, meanwhile, is night and day from last year's team. Leonard Hamilton brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, insight, and discipline, and has quite a bit of talent to work with. More importantly, he brought in some new talent to blend with the returnees. Forwards Michael Joiner and Anthony Richardson are two of the best players the Noles have had in a while, and Juco transfers Nate Johnson and Tim Pickett are just what the team needed at guards. 6-10, 350-pound center Nigel Dixon transferred out when he heard that the team was going to an up-tempo style, but 6-11 Trevor Harvey and 6-10 Mike Matthews hold down the fort in the middle. In short, FSU will be much improved this year, and it might take a few games for the linesmakers to catch up with them. The Noles will win this game in Tallahassee to start their (real) season on the right foot.
5* Marquette +4
I cannot figure out why everyone is jumping on Notre Dame in this spot. The only major team they have played in Creighton, and they lost that one. Of course, Marquette has only played Villanova, but at least they won in Philadelphia on a hostile court. Notre Dame has an astonishing point guard in Chris Thomas, but he is more than offset by Marquette's All-American Dwyane Wade who is just about the best shooting guard in college hoops. Notre Dame returns 2 starters, Marquette 3. Plus, the Golden Eagles have added 6-9, 255 SF Robert Jackson who was a starter and team leader at Miss St as a sophomore and junior. The game is being played at South Bend, which is why I suppose the Irish are favored, but Marquette has been around a time or two and they can handle this situation. I love getting them as a 4-point dog when I feel they are the better team with more experience.
