STRIKE POINT SPORTS
Saturday's College Basketball Plays
3-Unit Play. #521 Take Louisville +3.5 over Georgetown (12 pm)
Because the 'Ville is just that on point. Yes, the Hoyas are a tough squad, but you could make the case that Louisville is playing as good as anyone in the country. The points give this play extra value, but I like the Cardinals to take this one outright. The inside-outside balance from Rick Patino's team is not easy to defend. Louisville gets it done here to lock up the Big East regular season crown.
2-Unit Play. #529 Take N.C. State +6.5 over Wake Forest (12 pm)
Both teams are really not playing well, but I don't think the Deacons should be this high a favorite, especially considering the Wolfpack have more talent and when they show up they are a good bet. I'm willing to ride with the points, thinking the Pack are going to look to finish the conference schedule on a good note, looking for momentum for another possible ACC tourney run.
2-Unit Play. #554 Take Boston College -2 over Georgia Tech (3:30 pm)
Tech may have beaten Clemson, but this team is still under .500 on the season and not good on the road. The Eagles at this low number are the play here, and Tyrece Rice could easily go off in a Senior Day performance, like we have seen him do on multiple occasions this year. I'll ride with him, the best player on the floor, and his team to score the home win.
2-Unit Play. Take California/UCLA Under 145.4 (3:30 pm)
At home in Westwood, look for the Bruins to establish a settled, half cout game and mull Cal to sleep. Not many do it better than Ben Howland and UCLA, and they are best at keeping the temp better suited for them. In the 17 conference games involving the Bruins this season, the loser is averaging just around 60 points per game. I expect the Bruins to get the job done at home and control game from the tip. Low scoring here, so the under is the way to go.
2-Unit Play #563 Take Mississippi +1 over Georgia (4 pm)
These Rebels sure started the year hot, and it looks like they are wrapping up the season that way too. Ole Miss has won its last two, and they'll make it three consecutive winners as they head into the SEC tourney. A very balanced team that does not rely on any one scorer, I like the way this Rebels team gets after it on the offensive end. Almost like a poor man's Tennessee, look for the same underdog to score a win in Athens.
5-Unit Play (ACC Game of the Year). #611 Take North Carolina +1.5 over Duke (9 pm)
This number is really saying that UNC is basically the stronger team, and that's exactly the case. Considering that Duke usually has a strong home court advantage, this spread also indicates it doesn't count for as much this time around. I'll ride with the road Tar Heels, as there is no way they let the perimeter game and threes of the Dukies claim victory again. Duke shot lights out in Chapel Hill, but that won't be the case in the second meeting. With Ty Lawson back, North Carolina is that much stronger on offense, and a good offensive performance helps them to fall back into a good defensive team effort. The winner will likely get the East's number one seed in the Big Dance, but even more so, UNC won't want to get swept in the regular season by their arch rivals. 8-0 ATS in North Carolina's last eight as a road underdog, they prevail in Durham.
2-Unit Play. Take North Carolina/Duke Under 169.5 (9 pm)
Way too many points. This game is always exciting, but there aren't as many point scored as people think, and that's because they two teams know how to play team defense. Just once in the last ten meetings has the game's total score gone over this high number, resulting in at least one of the two scoring in the 70s. That will be the case in thise one as well. Play the under.
3-Unit Play. #613 Take Houston -2 over UTEP (9 pm)
The Cougars will close the regular season with a nice victory here. The Miners have slipped to conclude conference play, losing three straight and five of their last seven. Houston boasts a strong offense that can get up and down the court in a hurry. Led by Rob McKiver, the road favorite gets the check mark.
2-Unit Play. #668 Take Niagara -1 over Marist (10 pm)
A nice clash here in the opening round of the MAAC tournament, however with Charron Fisher, one of the nation's best scorers and overall offensive players, I like the Purple Eagles to come through and advance. He has a knack for carrying his team and with a possible tourny birth on the line, he'll come through big and keep his team moving forward.
