Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Drew Gordon
Today's Games...
1. 200,000♦ Arizona
2. 50,000♦ Richmond
1. Arizona- Talk about two teams headed in opposite directions, as the Sun Devils have fallen off the face of the Earth, losers of 5 in a row SU, going 1-4 ATS over that span. Word is the losses have started to create issues in the locker room, and a trip to Tucson isn't going to help, especially with a little payback in order, as the Wildcats lost in Tempe 64-59 in OT on January 9th.
Arizona meanwhile, comes into this game in the perfect situation for a bounce back. Off a tough road loss at UCLA, the Wildcats will be extremely focused in this afternoon's match up, and we know what happens when the Wildcats are focused! Do lopsided home wins and covers over PAC-10 foes Washington State and Washington ring a bell?! The fact they lost in Tempe in early January only amps up the motivation, as the Wildcats lost that game without star G Jerryd Bayless, but that won't be the case in this one.
Match ups have become a major problem for the Sun Devils, as its James Hardin against the world right now. Second-leading scorer F Pendergraph is struggling, while guards Abott and Shipp (# 3 & # 4 scorers) have been absolutely non-existent over the Devils 5-game losing streak. With Bayless in there today, the Sun Devils cannot key on forwards Budinger or Hill, which opens up the game for the high-octane Arizona offense.
Finally, let's examine the Sun Devils a little deeper. First of all, their offense was never good, but right now, its garbage, averaging 54 ppg on 38% shooting over their last 5 games... Just how in the hell do you expect the Sun Devils to run with the Wildcats playing offense like high schoolers? While defensively, they've been rock-solid at home, but abandoned all intensity on the road, where they're allowing 74 ppg on a ridiculous 48% shooting this season.
Bottom line, Arizona adds to the Sun Devils woes, by taking them behind the woodshed in Tucson this afternoon. No mercy for Arizona State after the Wildcats lost badly to UCLA, and add in a little payback and you've got all the making of a lopsided home win and cover here. Arizona rolls!
Take Arizona at home BIG over Arizona State as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Richmond- I simply cannot trust this Billikens team on the road, where they're 1-6 SU & 3-4 ATS this season. Clearly the biggest issue for them is scoring points when they travel, which has been a joke this season, averaging 47 ppg on 39% shooting on the highway this season! Guys, I can't stress how pathetically bad those numbers are, and it won't get any easier against a Spiders squad that plays solid basketball at home.
I know what you're saying: "but Richmond is only 7-4 SU at home," which is true, but they're also 5-2-1 ATS there this season. Rock-solid wins and covers over Dayton and Temple in their last two home games have me thoroughly convinced they can and will deliver another strong effort (and the cash) in this afternoon A-10 match up.
Make no mistake, you'd think things couldn't get worse for this Saint Louis team, but this is a bad bad situation for them. Coming off a very tough home loss to Xavier Thursday, the Billikens could easily get caught coming out flat in this match up. A nice home win over UMASS was a confidence-booster, but the loss to Xavier erases any goodwill this Billikens team had, plain and simple.
Finally, as match ups go, the Billikens have no answer for Dan Geriot, who's struggling a bit, but should find his rhythm in this match up. Don't be fooled by the Billikens 7-footer Husak, as he's a stiff, while freshman F Eberhart will get eaten alive by Geriot. The backcourts are evenly matched, but sharpshooter Gonzalvez is coming off a 20-point effort against Temple and could be the difference-maker once again today.
Bottom line, the Billikens on their best day would have trouble at Richmond, but in this case, off a tough loss to Xavier, coupled with the Spiders recent excellent home play, I see only one outcome - a solid home win and cover for Richmond.
Take Richmond comfortably over Saint Louis in this A-10 match up.
Tonight's Games...
1. 50,000♦ Timberwolves
2. 50,000♦ Creighton