- Nov 28, 2005
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Dr. Bob
Opinion
Penn State (+17 1/2) over INDIANA
11:00 AM Pacific - Rotation 807
Indiana applies to a very negative 6-32-1 ATS subset of a 40-115-3 ATS big home favorite letdown situation today and that angle is certainly worthy of a play if the line is fair. Calculating a fair line in this game isn?t an easy task given that Penn State will be without star Gary Claxton for the rest of the season after he injured his knee early in the Lions? 55-80 loss to Wisconsin. The Lions were 2.4 points worse in 4 games that Claxton missed last season than they were with him, but Claxton?s scoring efficiency is better this season by 1.5 points per game, so he could be valued as high as 3.9 points per game. That would result in a fair line of Indiana by 18.8 points in this game. The line opened at 18 ? points, so the oddsmakers came to a similar conclusion on Claxton?s value. I?m still a bit hesitant given how poorly Penn State played without Claxton for the 33 minutes he was out on Tuesday, but it should be easier in this game now that they?ve prepared themselves to play without him. I?ll lean with the Nittany Lions at +17 points or more based on the strong letdown situation applying to Indiana (in fact, Claxton being out given the Hoosiers more of a reason to relax) and I?ll take Penn State in a 2-Star Best Bet at +19 points or more.
Opinion
Penn State (+17 1/2) over INDIANA
11:00 AM Pacific - Rotation 807
Indiana applies to a very negative 6-32-1 ATS subset of a 40-115-3 ATS big home favorite letdown situation today and that angle is certainly worthy of a play if the line is fair. Calculating a fair line in this game isn?t an easy task given that Penn State will be without star Gary Claxton for the rest of the season after he injured his knee early in the Lions? 55-80 loss to Wisconsin. The Lions were 2.4 points worse in 4 games that Claxton missed last season than they were with him, but Claxton?s scoring efficiency is better this season by 1.5 points per game, so he could be valued as high as 3.9 points per game. That would result in a fair line of Indiana by 18.8 points in this game. The line opened at 18 ? points, so the oddsmakers came to a similar conclusion on Claxton?s value. I?m still a bit hesitant given how poorly Penn State played without Claxton for the 33 minutes he was out on Tuesday, but it should be easier in this game now that they?ve prepared themselves to play without him. I?ll lean with the Nittany Lions at +17 points or more based on the strong letdown situation applying to Indiana (in fact, Claxton being out given the Hoosiers more of a reason to relax) and I?ll take Penn State in a 2-Star Best Bet at +19 points or more.