In another thread, Gman was wondering who would be the guy with the big nads to lay down a bet on the Golden Hurricane tonight. Well, I guess I'm gonna step up to the plate and be that guy. It might prove to be an exercise in futility, but hell, it's the right call in my eyes.
I'm not really gonna delve too deep into stats and numbers here like I usually do (don't have the time). But, I will give some of my general observations and feelings about this game for fellow MadJacker perusal.
Anyway, in my last write-up over the TU-Nevada game, I was very critical about how poor this Tulsa club is, especially statistically. While they haven't turned great overnight or anything, they aren't as bad as I once thought and actually seem to be carrying some momentum into this game.
Prior to the TU-UNR game, I felt that this was clearly a team that had already quit on their season, just looking forward to a fresh start next year under a new coach. Looking at the stats I like to look at, and comparing them to the Wolfpack stats, it was just too damn difficult to not take the 'Pack at -4. I did and it cashed, but by no means was it a blow-out like I had envisioned, in fact, I listened to that game and while Nevada did bring home the money, it was a tenuous cover at best. 'Canes hung around for much of the game and had it not been for Fazekas' herculean effort, TU probably would have picked up the SU win. The local announcers made some interesting comments that night about how hard TU was playing, giving great effort. Clearly something they hadn't been showing in most nights prior. Ever since that game, I feel that TU has shown some signs of improvement and continue to give great effort. They've recently notched a win at home against Fresno St., who is one of the better three or four teams in the WAC and are coming off a game at Hawaii (no easy place to play) in which they led much of the way, then ended a see-saw battle in a 3 point loss. Tulsa is shooting the ball very well right now, something they have to do to win because they don't get to the line all that often. On the other hand, I feel UTEP is in a bit of a funk offensively. Over the last two games their PPG and FG% are down. They barely hung on to beat an SMU team that was playing without their PG and leading scorer, then got beat handily at LaTech. Third game in a row on the road is not a time I expect them to come out of what I perceive as a mini-funk, even against the dregs of the league. Pretty nice spot for Tulsa here, IMO.
Tulsa +6 and ML +220
Good Luck to All,
-JC
I'm not really gonna delve too deep into stats and numbers here like I usually do (don't have the time). But, I will give some of my general observations and feelings about this game for fellow MadJacker perusal.
Anyway, in my last write-up over the TU-Nevada game, I was very critical about how poor this Tulsa club is, especially statistically. While they haven't turned great overnight or anything, they aren't as bad as I once thought and actually seem to be carrying some momentum into this game.
Prior to the TU-UNR game, I felt that this was clearly a team that had already quit on their season, just looking forward to a fresh start next year under a new coach. Looking at the stats I like to look at, and comparing them to the Wolfpack stats, it was just too damn difficult to not take the 'Pack at -4. I did and it cashed, but by no means was it a blow-out like I had envisioned, in fact, I listened to that game and while Nevada did bring home the money, it was a tenuous cover at best. 'Canes hung around for much of the game and had it not been for Fazekas' herculean effort, TU probably would have picked up the SU win. The local announcers made some interesting comments that night about how hard TU was playing, giving great effort. Clearly something they hadn't been showing in most nights prior. Ever since that game, I feel that TU has shown some signs of improvement and continue to give great effort. They've recently notched a win at home against Fresno St., who is one of the better three or four teams in the WAC and are coming off a game at Hawaii (no easy place to play) in which they led much of the way, then ended a see-saw battle in a 3 point loss. Tulsa is shooting the ball very well right now, something they have to do to win because they don't get to the line all that often. On the other hand, I feel UTEP is in a bit of a funk offensively. Over the last two games their PPG and FG% are down. They barely hung on to beat an SMU team that was playing without their PG and leading scorer, then got beat handily at LaTech. Third game in a row on the road is not a time I expect them to come out of what I perceive as a mini-funk, even against the dregs of the league. Pretty nice spot for Tulsa here, IMO.
Tulsa +6 and ML +220
Good Luck to All,
-JC
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