Wunderdog
cbb picks
Game: Georgetown at Saint Johns (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Georgetown -10 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
This Saint John's team is young and simply not coming together as a unit. They have now dropped seven of eight, and the offense is sluggish at best. The Red Storm shoots just 42%, and a lack of ball movement leads to bad shots and turnovers. They have committed 279 turnovers to just 219 assists. Georgetown came in here last season and won by 24. The Hoyas have escaped with three of their last four wins coming by three points or less, but teams that have trouble scoring are in trouble against the Hoyas. They lead the nation in FG defense, allowing just 35.8%, while the offense is ranked No. 4, at over 50%. The Hoyas are better at every position on both sides of the ball and have better depth and team speed. Hoyas in a rout!
Game: Alabama Birmingham at Central Florida (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Central Florida -3 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Golden Knights have only lost at home to Connecticut and Mississippi. They have covered each home game as a favorite, and are 11-1 in conference in their last 12. Their only home loss was to Memphis. Taylor and Noel are both hitting over 40% of their three-point shots, and the Golden Knights defend very well, allowing just 40.3% against them. UAB has been playing well, as they have won five of their last six, but four of the five wins were at home, and the road win was by a single point. They lost Paul Delaney early with a knee injury and have now lost Walter Sharpe. Sharpe was averaging 14.4 points per game, as well as being their leading rebounder at 6.8 per game. The Blazers defend very well, but when they have played good shooting teams on the road they have struggled, as Kentucky shot 57%, and Florida State shot 55.8%. We like Central Florida in this spot who is an under-the-radar team, especially at home.
Game: North Carolina-wilmington at Old Dominion (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on North Carolina-wilmington +8.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Old Dominion is in a rebuilding year. This team lost a lot from a 24-win team a year ago. They just don't have a go-to scorer, and just one player is averaging double figures. They are playing a lot of people, but it has been disruptive to their offensive flow, as they are shooting under 42%, and have more turnovers than assists. NC Wilmington is playing with confidence right now, notching four-straight wins. They are also taking care of the ball, as three of those wins they committed a combined 29 turnovers - which will be the difference in this game. This is a good shooting team at 47%, but in their four wins they have shot 52.6%, and are playing very well. We like Wilmington to make this a tight game on the road.
Game: Toledo at Akron (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Akron -14.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Rockets are off a nice 13-point win over Buffalo snapping a two game skid. But, that was at home and this is not. Toledo is 0-11 on the road this season, scoring 56 ppg on 37% shooting. They have lost their road games by an average of 15.8 ppg. Akron is the exact opposite - they are a perfect 11-0 at home, winning by 17.4 ppg. Their defense allows just 58.8 ppg at home. The Zips are 21-9 ATS the past three seasons against losing teams and should notch another win tonight in a blowout.
Game: Drexel at Georgia State (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Georgia State -3 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)
Drexel has dropped four of five games and three straight. They are just 2-7 in the Colonial and 4-8 on the road. Both of these offenses are terrible but the Dragons' is worse. Drexel averages just 39.6% from the field on the road on their way to 56.7 ppg. Georgia State can't hit the side of a barn on the road but at home they hit 44% and score 67.6 ppg. Since conference play has started their defense has been stellar (60.7 ppg allowed). Drexel is 0-6 ATS this season against losing teams. Georgia State is 9-1 ATS the past two seasons vs. poor shooting teams (those making 42% or less). The Dragons haven't covered a spread in eight tries this season as an underdog and they will make it nine-straight losses tonight.
Game: Kansas at Kansas State (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Kansas -7 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The last two unbeaten teams in the Big 12 clash tonight when No. 2 Kansas heads to Manhattan to face off against No. 22 Kansas State. The Jayhawks ARE as good as they appear. They have won 34 of 35, dating back to last season. They have four players averaging double-digit scoring and are extremely balanced with seven different players laying claim to a game in which they led the team in scoring. The Jayhawks have some added motivation tonight. Prior to the season, K-State's Michael Beasley said, "We're going to beat Kansas at home. We're going to beat them in their house. We're going to beat them in Africa. Wherever we play, we're going to beat them." Think the Jayhawks will be pumped to lay one on the Wildcats tonight? We do. The Jayhawks haven?t lost in Manhattan for 24 years and they have lost just once to Kansas State in the past 36 meetings. The Jayhawks are 8-2 ATS this season against winning teams and with the motivation provided by Beasley, and a perfect record on the line, we like them to win and cover here.
Game: Wyoming at Utah (10:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Utah -14 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Both of these teams started off well enough. Wyoming posted five wins in their first nine games but they have lost eight of their last ten. Utah has done much better but they had lost three in a row before beating TCU last game. Two of those loses came against good teams on the road so we are not concerned. The fact remains that the Cowboys are 2-8 on the road, giving up 77 ppg while the Utes are 8-2 at home, holding foes to 55.6 per game. That's a 21.4 ppg difference on defense! Wyoming is also off a big win, but they are 0-7 ATS the past three seasons when coming off a 15+ point win and 2-10 ATS on the road off a home win. Utah rolls here.
cbb picks
Game: Georgetown at Saint Johns (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Georgetown -10 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
This Saint John's team is young and simply not coming together as a unit. They have now dropped seven of eight, and the offense is sluggish at best. The Red Storm shoots just 42%, and a lack of ball movement leads to bad shots and turnovers. They have committed 279 turnovers to just 219 assists. Georgetown came in here last season and won by 24. The Hoyas have escaped with three of their last four wins coming by three points or less, but teams that have trouble scoring are in trouble against the Hoyas. They lead the nation in FG defense, allowing just 35.8%, while the offense is ranked No. 4, at over 50%. The Hoyas are better at every position on both sides of the ball and have better depth and team speed. Hoyas in a rout!
Game: Alabama Birmingham at Central Florida (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Central Florida -3 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Golden Knights have only lost at home to Connecticut and Mississippi. They have covered each home game as a favorite, and are 11-1 in conference in their last 12. Their only home loss was to Memphis. Taylor and Noel are both hitting over 40% of their three-point shots, and the Golden Knights defend very well, allowing just 40.3% against them. UAB has been playing well, as they have won five of their last six, but four of the five wins were at home, and the road win was by a single point. They lost Paul Delaney early with a knee injury and have now lost Walter Sharpe. Sharpe was averaging 14.4 points per game, as well as being their leading rebounder at 6.8 per game. The Blazers defend very well, but when they have played good shooting teams on the road they have struggled, as Kentucky shot 57%, and Florida State shot 55.8%. We like Central Florida in this spot who is an under-the-radar team, especially at home.
Game: North Carolina-wilmington at Old Dominion (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on North Carolina-wilmington +8.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Old Dominion is in a rebuilding year. This team lost a lot from a 24-win team a year ago. They just don't have a go-to scorer, and just one player is averaging double figures. They are playing a lot of people, but it has been disruptive to their offensive flow, as they are shooting under 42%, and have more turnovers than assists. NC Wilmington is playing with confidence right now, notching four-straight wins. They are also taking care of the ball, as three of those wins they committed a combined 29 turnovers - which will be the difference in this game. This is a good shooting team at 47%, but in their four wins they have shot 52.6%, and are playing very well. We like Wilmington to make this a tight game on the road.
Game: Toledo at Akron (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Akron -14.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Rockets are off a nice 13-point win over Buffalo snapping a two game skid. But, that was at home and this is not. Toledo is 0-11 on the road this season, scoring 56 ppg on 37% shooting. They have lost their road games by an average of 15.8 ppg. Akron is the exact opposite - they are a perfect 11-0 at home, winning by 17.4 ppg. Their defense allows just 58.8 ppg at home. The Zips are 21-9 ATS the past three seasons against losing teams and should notch another win tonight in a blowout.
Game: Drexel at Georgia State (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Georgia State -3 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)
Drexel has dropped four of five games and three straight. They are just 2-7 in the Colonial and 4-8 on the road. Both of these offenses are terrible but the Dragons' is worse. Drexel averages just 39.6% from the field on the road on their way to 56.7 ppg. Georgia State can't hit the side of a barn on the road but at home they hit 44% and score 67.6 ppg. Since conference play has started their defense has been stellar (60.7 ppg allowed). Drexel is 0-6 ATS this season against losing teams. Georgia State is 9-1 ATS the past two seasons vs. poor shooting teams (those making 42% or less). The Dragons haven't covered a spread in eight tries this season as an underdog and they will make it nine-straight losses tonight.
Game: Kansas at Kansas State (8:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Kansas -7 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The last two unbeaten teams in the Big 12 clash tonight when No. 2 Kansas heads to Manhattan to face off against No. 22 Kansas State. The Jayhawks ARE as good as they appear. They have won 34 of 35, dating back to last season. They have four players averaging double-digit scoring and are extremely balanced with seven different players laying claim to a game in which they led the team in scoring. The Jayhawks have some added motivation tonight. Prior to the season, K-State's Michael Beasley said, "We're going to beat Kansas at home. We're going to beat them in their house. We're going to beat them in Africa. Wherever we play, we're going to beat them." Think the Jayhawks will be pumped to lay one on the Wildcats tonight? We do. The Jayhawks haven?t lost in Manhattan for 24 years and they have lost just once to Kansas State in the past 36 meetings. The Jayhawks are 8-2 ATS this season against winning teams and with the motivation provided by Beasley, and a perfect record on the line, we like them to win and cover here.
Game: Wyoming at Utah (10:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Utah -14 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Both of these teams started off well enough. Wyoming posted five wins in their first nine games but they have lost eight of their last ten. Utah has done much better but they had lost three in a row before beating TCU last game. Two of those loses came against good teams on the road so we are not concerned. The fact remains that the Cowboys are 2-8 on the road, giving up 77 ppg while the Utes are 8-2 at home, holding foes to 55.6 per game. That's a 21.4 ppg difference on defense! Wyoming is also off a big win, but they are 0-7 ATS the past three seasons when coming off a 15+ point win and 2-10 ATS on the road off a home win. Utah rolls here.
