INDIAN COWBOY
Ohio +7.5 (POD)
Winning 9 of 11 days (81%), 12 of 16 days in January (75%) and 14 of 18 days (77%) and still above 60% on the season in basketball for 2007 season to date (pro and college). My power rankings show that Ohio could win this game outright and I will gladly take the points to come. Keep in mind that this is a huge rivalry between these 2 teams and Ohio got spanked last year by a score of 79-48 - essentially 30 points. Ohio has had this game circled for some time and I told myself that if Ohio was getting 5 or more points on the road at Akron last year when this game was played, I was going to take it simply because Ohio was a young team then as compared to now. That Ohio team has grown up. They are 10-5 this year and a top 75 ballclub as is Akron. Why is this line so high? Well, Akron is still a very well respected college basketball program and they too are top 75 in the nation. Ohio has lost 3 games on the road but give them some credit, they lost to Holy Cross, an incredibly tough team by a bucket and a very tough place to play, they lost to Temple by a bucket who is a top 100 team and beat the University of Maryland on the road. Akron is a tough team to play at home, but given the revenge, given how Ohio plays close games on the road, I think they fall within the spread and I have them at a 30% chance of winning outright and I'll take my chances.
Eastern Illinois +12.5
I typically try not to bet on teams that are 2-15 and 0-8 on the road as this is a very ballsy call, but I like it for several reasons. For one, Eastern Illinois is out for revenge. Sure, they have revenge on a lot of ballclubs with a 15 loss record, but at the same time, this team has begun to play better since the last time they met Tennessee Tech. They lost to Eastern Kentucky by 3, Morehead State by 3 and Bowling Green a top 175 team by 4. Remember, Eastern Kentucky and Morehead state are similarly ranked to Tennessee Tech. This team also beat top 225 team the Murray State Racers at home as well. Eastern Illinois has been on the cusp so many times of winning but they are falling short by 6 to 8 points on the road and that is a decent enough cushion for me to take them here as they look for revenge and desperately look for a win that they are getting closer and closer to. The Panthers are 0-5 ATS as road underdogs and the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech are 2-10 ATS following a straight up win.
SE Missouri State +6.5
Today, is an ugly card for certain yet I think the road dogs will bite. With that notion, I am also taking SE Missouri State on the road at Tennessee State. Keep in mind that these 2 teams have already played in a very high scoring ballgame in which SE Missouri State put up over a 100 points at home in defeating Tennessee State by 6 to 7 points. Consequently, the same spread is placed for Tennessee State to cover at home. If SE Missouri State had not lost their previous ballgame against Austin Peay, I would not be on this play. But, this team has lost 2 ballgames in a row and Austin Peay is a very good team in the top 150 in the power rankings and yet SE Missouri State hung tough. They lost by just 3 points and now they face a Tennessee State team in a time where they desperately need a conference win. Tennessee State is a decent team but they only beat Morehead State by a few points who is a top 260 team and lost to Tennessee Martin who is a top 280 team and now face a SE Missouri State desperate for a win as they are a top 250 team. I think SE Missouri State has a sound chance of winning this game outright as well and considering that it fits into my philosophy of taking underdogs that can win outright, I will take the Redhawks as they are 6-0 ATS against teams with a losing straight up record and the Tennessee State Tigers are 1-5 ATS as a home favorite