RAS
Idaho at UC Riverside (-3) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #767-768
For the first time in at least four years Riverside has a real head coach and enough quality players to be competitive in the Big West. The Highlanders are adjusting to Jim Woolridge's new system and started the season with four tough road games but now have had a week off and will play their home opener tonight. They showed some positive signs on the road trip as they stayed close for a while at Texas Tech, and led most of the way at Eastern Washington. Athletic senior guard Larry Cunningham (16.5ppg) will be the best player on the floor tonight. UCR can easily go 10 deep without much dropoff. Three players who redshirted last year, G/F Sean Cunningham, F Severin Gates, and F BJ Visman have returned and are making an impact. Freshman point guard Jalonni Diggs has played very well and along with the rest of the team will benefit greatly from playing first home game. Idaho was awfully bad last year winning just four games, two vs South Dakota State, and two more by just 1 point. They have brought in some newcomers and are likely to be a bit improved in most areas this year but replacing their leading scorer and do everything guard Keoni Watson will hinder their progress. They were blown out by 30+ vs Washington State and Gonzaga early on and all indications are that it will take some time for new players to get used to each other. The Vandals are just 1-31 on the road over the past 2+ seasons. UCR is the better team here and playing at home should give them a significant advantage. Give the points.
Play: UC Riverside -3 1.5 UNITS
Richmond (+8.5) at Marist - 4:30pm Pacific - Game #827-828
Richmond struggled last year as five of their top six players were freshman but they played better down the stretch winning 3 of their final 6 conference games after starting 1-11. A year of experience and the return of inside presence Gaston Moliva (expected to make season debut today) has them poised to move up the A-10 standings. Top post player and leading scorer Dan Geriot played through bruised ribs early on but is now 100% and has topped the 20 point mark in 3 of last 4 starts. Explosive G David Gonzalvez is having a breakout year increasing both his scoring average and shooting percentage. Quick freshman PG Kevin Anderson has come on as of late scoring in double figures in last two. In three road games so far the Spiders have won at ECU and Rice and trailed highly ranked Memphis by 3 with under seven minutes to play in the second half before fading. Richmond has blown 11 and 7 point leads late in two home losses which allows us to get nice value in this spot. Marist not only lost the best backcourt in school history but also two other key regulars meaning 64.6% of their scoring, 47.0% of their rebounding, 74.7% of their assists and 81.7% of their made three-pointers from last season must be replaced. They are 2-3 so far and escaped by just a point vs Colgate in last game. Even with last years talented team Marist needed OT to win at Richmond with now departed senior guards playing 89 of 90 possible minutes and scoring 60 of 80 points. Students away on Thanksgiving break will lessen home court advantage. Expect a more seasoned Spiders team to keep this one close till the end.
Play: Richmond +8.5 1 UNIT
Nevada (+3) at UNLV - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #765-766
I remain very high on the Wolfpack. Since losing at Central Florida for the opening of their new arena, Nevada has put together solid back to back wins. The Santa Clara team they beat handily last time out won big on the road at Utah in their next start. Nevada is very much under the national radar due to losing four starters including two taken in the NBA draft, but as I wrote in previous write-up they have two more probable NBA prospects still on the roster in scoring guard Kemp and long athletic 6-11 F/C McGee. 6-9 senior Johnson sat all all of last year but is filling well at power forward. Sophomore off guard Fields is blossoming with extended playing time and freshman Armon Johnson has been solid running the point. Nevada is well coached, is still improving, and has always been a good road team. UNLV is also replacing four starters but do not have nearly the same talent to fill in. The Rebels kicked their starting center off the team after first game and do not have a true replacement. There was some optimism after a road win at San Diego but the team was then exposed in blowout home loss to a shorthanded Louisville team in last game losing by 20 and shooting just 25% from the field. This should be a low scoring game where the +3 points may become valuable late but I expect Nevada to win outright. Take the points.
Play: Nevada +3 1/2 UNIT