L. Ness' Las Vegas Insider-CBB (4-1 last 10 days with CBB Insiders!)-Day
My Las Vegas Insider is on Cleveland St at 1:00 ET. Gary Waters has the CSU program heading in the right direction, although the team was in over its head Monday night against the Buckeyes in Cleveland., losing 80-63. However, this afternoon's home game vs Central Michigan, is right up the Vikings' alley. CSU's scoring average is up about 10 PPG from last year as three transfers have made a HUGE difference. PG Jackson (16.9-3.5-5.2) has given CSU another go-to scorer, joining returning swingman Bullock (14.6-6.1). Up front, the 6-9 Moore (7.4-5.1) and the 6-8 Tandy (5.4-5.2) have fit nicely into the starting lineup. Guard Davis (9.9) and 6-8 forward Francis (4.8-5.0) provide depth on a team that goes about eight-deep. Central Michigan plays a lot of people but only guard Watson (17.8) and swingman Minnoy (1.4-4.9), who comes off the bench, average in double figures. Spica and Kellerman are both 6-9 and own similar stats, scoring a modest 6.4 PPG and garnering just 2.6 RPG. CMU opened 0-5, then won four straight but lost at Wisc-Milwaukee in its last game. This will be the team's third straight away from home, which the Chippewas are used to now, having played seven of their first 10 this year, on the road. These teams met last year, with CMU prevailing at home in double-OT 78-76, as the Vikings were coming off an eight-day layoff. However, the scheduling dynamics are much different this year. Except for a Dec 4 game at Chicago St, CSU has been in Cleveland since returning from a three-day tourney in Daytona, before Thanksgiving. Las Vegas Insider on Cleveland St. Good Luck...L.
Oddsmaker's Error-CBB (7-2 in CBB this year!)
My Oddsmaker's Error Play is on Missouri at 8:30 ET. The matchups really favor the Tigers over the Illini in this one. Illinois can be had this year, as we've already seen. The team really misses Smith in the backcourt (will sit out entire year after his DUI), as the Illini have let leads slip away twice in the last week, losing in OT to both Arizona and Mia-O. The 6-10 Pruitt (13.1-8.4) and the 6-8 Randle (10.2-4.5) are both seniors (so they've seen the good days) but Illinois's perimeter game is just so-so. Meachem (10.6), Brock (8.6) and Frazier (5.5-5.8-3.9) will have their hands full with their Missouri counterparts. PG Hannah (14.6-5.1 APG) teams with both Keon (11.0-4.5-3.0) and Matt (9.1) Lawrence on the perimeter, while four other regular contributors chip in a total of about 20 PPG. That depth will be big down the stretch and as mentioned already, Illinois has had trouble closing out games. Vandy transfer, the 6-8 Carroll (15.2-6.6) joins the 6-9 Lyons (12.1-4.9) inside, more than matching Pruitt and Randle. Missouri has lost two three-point games against Michigan St (at this site) and at Arkansas, plus beat Maryland 84-70 at home, a team Illinois lost to (although the Illini played at Maryland). The Tigers have too mush depth and firepower for the Illini, as Missouri averages 84.5 PPG, while Illinois averages just 67.7. Illinois won for the seventh straight time LY (73-70) in this annual "Braggin' Rights" game but the "worm is about to turn!" Missouri has the talent edge and the depth, to impose head coach Mike Anderson's "40 minutes of hell!" Oddsmaker's Error on Missouri. Good Luck...L