Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Friday Plays:
1. 300,000♦ Wyoming
2. 50,000♦ Florida Atlantic
3. 50,000♦ Magic
4. 50,000♦ George Mason
1. Wyoming- While Wyoming hasn't played great basketball on the road this season, they're still head and shoulders better than Buffalo away from the firendly confines of home. The Bulls are 0-4 ATS away this season, but more importantly, have shown a complete lack of focus on both ends of the floor when they travel.
Let's examine Buffalo's last road game, a 76-63 shellacking at the hands of a very average Florida International team. A lot of the same issues that have plagued this Bulls team resurfaced in that game, as they're averaging only 57 ppg on 34% shooting, while surrendering a whopping 82 ppg on 48% shooting when they travel. Granted, you could argue those averages are high thanks to games at Pitt and at Connecticut, but there's still no excuse for their lopsided losses at Niagara and at Florida International.
Wyoming also has several very strong match up edges, including in the frontcourt, where bigmen C Nelson and F Taylor can and will dominate the painted area on both ends of the floor. The Bulls leading rebounder is a guard, which should tell you a lot about their frontline talent. The scary part for Buffalo is Nelson and Taylor aren't even the Cowboys best players, as the backcourt of Ewing and Jones should have little trouble with the Bulls guards. Along with F Dermondy, they make up a nice trio of shooters.
Bottom line, while this game is being played on a neutral court, the Bulls road-woes will resurface again tonight. Wyoming has the match ups edges necessary to control this contest from start to finish, as they're bigger down-low and much more talented in the backcourt. Cowboys get the win and grab the cash Friday night in El Paso.
Take Wyoming comfortably over Buffalo as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Florida Atlantic- Offense wins games, defense wins championships, is the age- old adage, but it couldn't be more relevant in tonight's New Orleans Bowl. We know both of these teams can put up points, but only one has the oppurtunistic defense necessary to stop the other, and that's the Owls, plain and simple.
Florida Atlantic has made a living off turnover differential, tied with Kansas for the best team in country at +19. The Owls not only take care of the rock, commiting only 1 turnover or less in 8 of their 12 games this season. But they're also an extremely oppurtunistic defense, grabbing at least one pick in 20 straight games. Besides their secondary, the Owls have the two top-tacklers in the Sun Belt conference with Joseph and Sincere.
I've heard several people in the media calling Florida Atlantic a one-dimensional team with QB Rusty Smith leading the way, but that simply isn't the case. While its true RB Charles Pierre doesn't have a 100-yard rushing game this season, he averages just as many yards per carry as the Tigers starting back Doss (4.6) and has more touchdowns (7 to 5). Owls may prefer to throw the ball, but they're far from one-dimensional!
Finally, Florida Atlantic is coming into this game peaking, with dominating road wins at Florida International and an outright upset at Troy as a 15-point underdog, you better believe their brimming with confidence. Expect more of the same tonight, as their defense once again makes the difference in this one.
Take Florida Atlantic plus the points over Memphis in tonight's New Orleans Bowl.
3. Magic- Neither one of these teams is playing well right now, as Utah has lost 8 of 9, while the Magic have lost 5 of 7. However, similar to last season, there's no question that Utah is having major issues on the road, having gone 10-26 ATS over their last 36 away games. Regardless of recent play, beating Dwight Howard and this Magic team in Orlando is too much to ask of the Jazz right now.
Clearly, the injury to Okur is hurting the Jazz, as he forces other bigmen out on the perimeter to guard his shot, taking them out of the paint. That would've been an excellent strategy against Howard, but with Okur out, Howard gets to patrol the paint guarding the sorry and foul prone Jarron Collins. Needless to say, look for Howard to have a monster game tonight.
Obviously, the more perimeter oriented Magic have no answer for Boozer, but again, with Okur out, Dwight Howard will be relatively free to rome the paint and help on Boozer. Jarron Collins averages only 2 ppg, so I don't think we need to worry about his production too much!
Finally, while its true the Magic have been a cash-machine on the road, and therefore not nearly as lucrative at home, I still expect them to respond tonight. Their last home game was a loss to the sorry Grizzlies, and you better believe they'll be looking to bounce back in front of the home fans. They took care of the Rockets in Houston two days ago, and I say they deliver the cash against a short-handed, road-weary Jazz team in this one.
Take the Magic over the Jazz in this NBA match up.
4. George Mason- Relatively easy call here, as the Patriots, even on the road, are head and shoulders better than this FIU team. With 2 of their 3 home wins coming in non-lined contest, and other win coming against Buffalo... Its safe to say the Golden Panthers are far from golden at home.
Oddsmakers have made George Mason a tough bet on the road this season, going 1-4 ATS away, but this time around, they've apparently loosened the reins, after watching them lose their last 3 away (2 on neutral courts). The Patriots got embarassed by Kent State in their last road game, and will be looking for a much more focused effort tonight.
Biggest problem for Florida International has been defense, as their allowing opponents to score 73 ppg on 46% shooting at home this year. With Will Thomas anchoring the frontline, averaging 14 ppg and 10 boards/game, and a bevy of strong and experienced guards, the Patriots will once again expose this FIU defense.
On the offensive end, the Panthers rely on their own frontline players for most of their scoring, problem is they're not a very deep team. So when Hicks (who plays only 22 minutes/game) gets tired, the production on this team drop off considerably. Having to chase around Will Thomas won't help the 7-footer either.
Bottom line, although their numbers are similar, the level of competition isn't, and it'll show tonight. The Patriots (who've beaten teams like South Carolina on a neutral court) aren't a great team, but they're sure as hell good enough to beat a struggling Panthers squad in this one, just like they did last year.
Take George Mason BIG over Florida International in this college hoops match up.
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