3-1 last night
Sunday
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1)Ohio State(+11.5)
OSU has covered the # vs Illinois 5 of the last 6 times, and 7 of the last 9 times, including 4 of the last 5 here in Illinois, so they won't be intimidated at all.
In the last 5 games for Ohio State (3 of which were on the road), they have really stepped it up at the defensive end, posting a sparkling 37.9% defensive FG%, and giving up an average of just 66.2 pts/gm.
I just don't think there is a 11.5 point gap between these teams today.
2)Notre Dame(-1.5)
All the pertinent stats in this game are close except for one big one.......Free throws and that's where the difference in this game will be.
Notre Dame is an excellent free throw shooting team checking in at 77.0% YTD and 80.8% in their last 5.
Pittsburgh is a very poor free throw shooting team at just 61.1% YTD and 59.2% in their last 5 games.
In this highly emotional National TV game, where the home side is quite likely to get some calls in their favour, look for this difference from the charity stripe to be the key in the Irish covering this small number on their home court.
3)North Carolina State(+5)
Again, the key stats in this game are pretty much a saw-off............State is better from the free throw line, but Virginia holds the edge on the boards, so I find no advantage one way or the other there.
One key angle is that NC State is 7-0 ATS the last 7 vs the Cavaliers. Hmmmmmm.
But, the biggest reason I am on the Pack today is because neither team is as good (Virginia beating Maryland) or as bad (NC State getting blown out in 2nd half vs Wake Forest) as their last game, and I think the number here has over-compensated for those outings. In other words, I don't think Virginia is as good as they seemed last time out, and I don't think the Wolfpack are as bad as they seemed last time out and I'll grab the generous 5 points here.
Good luck out there today,
Tiger
Sunday
------------------------
1)Ohio State(+11.5)
OSU has covered the # vs Illinois 5 of the last 6 times, and 7 of the last 9 times, including 4 of the last 5 here in Illinois, so they won't be intimidated at all.
In the last 5 games for Ohio State (3 of which were on the road), they have really stepped it up at the defensive end, posting a sparkling 37.9% defensive FG%, and giving up an average of just 66.2 pts/gm.
I just don't think there is a 11.5 point gap between these teams today.
2)Notre Dame(-1.5)
All the pertinent stats in this game are close except for one big one.......Free throws and that's where the difference in this game will be.
Notre Dame is an excellent free throw shooting team checking in at 77.0% YTD and 80.8% in their last 5.
Pittsburgh is a very poor free throw shooting team at just 61.1% YTD and 59.2% in their last 5 games.
In this highly emotional National TV game, where the home side is quite likely to get some calls in their favour, look for this difference from the charity stripe to be the key in the Irish covering this small number on their home court.
3)North Carolina State(+5)
Again, the key stats in this game are pretty much a saw-off............State is better from the free throw line, but Virginia holds the edge on the boards, so I find no advantage one way or the other there.
One key angle is that NC State is 7-0 ATS the last 7 vs the Cavaliers. Hmmmmmm.
But, the biggest reason I am on the Pack today is because neither team is as good (Virginia beating Maryland) or as bad (NC State getting blown out in 2nd half vs Wake Forest) as their last game, and I think the number here has over-compensated for those outings. In other words, I don't think Virginia is as good as they seemed last time out, and I don't think the Wolfpack are as bad as they seemed last time out and I'll grab the generous 5 points here.
Good luck out there today,
Tiger
