Doc?s Sports
3 Unit Play. #728 Take Virginia -10 over Drexel (8:00 pm CN8) The Cavaliers are for real and are coming off an impressive victory at Arizona over the weekend. Now they take on a mid-major that has made some noise in the NCAA tournament previously, but is not at that level in 2007. The number may scare some but it should not, as Virginia is averaging over 85 points per game and thus can cover double-digit spreads. They are also strong on the boards, getting 15 more per game and that bode well when facing a mid-major. Virginia gets it done at home.
3 Unit Play. #729 Take Valparaiso +14 over Vanderbilt (8:00 pm) As mid-majors go, Valpo has consistently been on the best and now took a major step up by joining the Horizon League. They are off to a 2-0 start this season including a victory on the road against IPFW. Vanderbilt struggled to put away a Toledo team last week despite having a huge lead early in that affair. This will be a very competitive game that the Crusaders stay involved from start to finish and thus give us a comfortable pointspread victory. Valpo is holding opponents to just 61 point per game and thus Vandy will not be able to cover this double-digit spread.
5 Unit Play. #754 Take UCLA -4 ? over Michigan State (10:00 pm ESPN) The Spartans were able to dominate Missou on the boards last night and still had trouble putting away Missouri. All the edges favor the Bruins on Tuesday, they played the early game last night giving them three extra hours of rest over Michigan State. The difference in this game will be Kevin Love, as he will exert his will and not allow the Bruins to lose. This will be a low scoring game and the Bruins will pull away late.
Strike Point Sports
2-Unit Play. #718 Take Florida State -20 over Georgia State (7 pm)
The Seminoles had a some major issues this past weekend shooting the ball in tournament play, but look for that to change now back at home, and they'll take some much need frustration out on the Panthers. Florida State has the scorers to make this game one-sided. The four headed monster that is Tony Douglas, Isaiah Swann, Jason Rich and Uche Echefu are quite the bunch, and saying they'll be too much for Georgia State is an understatement. FSU beat UAB this past week, and the Blazers routed the Panthers in their opener. Florida State will be able to do the same. If the Panthers lost to Elon College by 22, then a very athletic and talented Seminoles team will drop the hammer in Tallahassee tonight. They win big and cover in the process.
3-Unit Play. #731 Take Minnesota +1 over Iowa State (8 pm)
With Tubby Smith taking over the reins at Minnesota, things appear on the up and up with the Gophers. Smith has the top three scorers back from last season and eight returnees overall come into '07 after averaging double digit minutes in 2006. The trio of Dan Coleman, Spencer Tollackson and Lawrence McKenzie will be able to take their games to the next level under the guidance of Smith, especially McKenzie running the show at the one. Iowa State lost its top scorer and there is a reason they were picked to finish at or near the bottom of the Big 12. A lot more upside resides with the team from the Big Ten in this match-up, and they will get the better of this meeting. Play Minnesota here.
Ferringo
3-Unit Play. Take #731 Minnesota (+1) over Iowa State (8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
This is the first road test for Tubby Smith and his boys but I think they have enough here to get a W. Minnesota can matchup with Iowa State?s only semi-strength, size, but I don?t think the Cyclones can matchup with the experience and skill in the Gophers backcourt.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #768 SE Missouri State (-1) over Evansville (8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
There is a solid 79-percent system at work here that suggests a big SEMO victory over a rebuilding Evansville squad. I think the Redhawks? size and experience underneath, along with the home court edge, will be enough to hold off Evansville.
2-Unit Play. Take #748 Marquette (-2.5) over Oklahoma State (7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
Don?t get sucked into Oklahoma State. This team is still incredibly shaky and proved it by almost blowing a 20-point lead against LSU last night. I don?t think that Marquette will shoot as poorly today and I don?t think that OSU will shoot as well. The Eagles win this one by six or seven and advance to the finals.
2-Unit Play. Take #728 Virginia (-10) over Drexel (8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
There is the potential for a letdown here for the Cavaliers, but they are so tough at home that I don't see it happening. This is not the same Drexel team of the past two years and this line is short because of their past accomplishments on the road. Virginia has the best player on the floor, and a pair of wings (Joseph, Diane) that Drexel simply can't mathcup with.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #754 UCLA (-4.5) over Michigan State (10 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
Kind of odd that this number is so short. Yes, UCLA doesn?t have two of its top guards. However, they do still have a better interior presence and enough on the outside to get the best of the Spartans. Michigan State has the advantage of the best player on the floor but I think that they are going to find it a lot harder to score against a team that actually plays defense.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #750 Duke (-6.5) over Illinois (9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
Think of it like this: the ACC always tears up the Big 10 in the ACC-Big 10 challenge, so why wouldn?t the Dukies tear up the Illini here? Illinois looked great last night, but they did it against a completely overwhelmed Arizona State team playing its first game. Something tells me that the Blue Devils won?t be scared of Illinois? athleticism or their offense.
1-Unit Play. Take #733 Richmond (-1.5) over Rice (8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20)
We have to keep fading Rice. They look like one of the worst teams in the country after two games and they don?t even have a true home court advantage because their facilities are being remodeled. Richmond is no prize, but I?ll take their athleticism and that fact that they?ve already played five games against decent competition, over Rice.
Allen Eastman
1-Unit Play Take #728 Virginia Cavaliers -10 over Drexel Dragons. (Tuesday, November 20, 8:00 pm EST).
Virginia comes in to tonight?s game fresh off an upset of then #17 Arizona in Tuscon. ACC player of the week Sean Singletary will try to help the Cavs avoid the upset bug when they Drexel. The 6-0 senior guard from Philadelphia averaged 23.5 points, eight assists and four rebounds a game in Virginia?s two victories last week en route to earning player of the week honors for the fourth time in his career.Through the first three games of the season, Virginia is out rebounding their opponents 121-74 and shooting 51.4 percent. The Cavaliers have never faced Drexel, but has won 17 straight games against teams from the Colonial Athletic Association since a loss in 1993. Both teams are 3-0 on the season and 1-0 ATS. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 23 in this week?s Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and the victory over Arizona marked their fourth consecutive victory over a team ranked in the AP Top 25. There will be no letdown tonight as the Cavs cruise on their home floor to a fourth straight win.
Vegas Informer
4 Unit Play. #749 Take Over 131 Illinois vs. Duke (Tuesday 11/20 9:30 PM ESPN)
4 Unit Play. #754 Take UCLA ?4 ? over Michigan St (Tuesday 11/20 9:20 PM)
3 Unit Play. #770 Take Utah St ?2 ? over Austin Peay (Tuesday 11/20 9:00 PM)
