Yesterday 2-0
(Y-T-D on this site) 11-4
DePaul +11½ over CINCINNATI<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Bearcats are ranked number 20 in the nation and right off the bat, when you play a ranked team against a non-ranked team you’re going to pay a bit more to do so. That’s precisely the case here, as the Bearcats will spot the Blue Demons plenty of wood to get our attention. DePaul comes into this contest with an 8-3 record and they also possess perhaps the best player in the nation in 6-foot-7 senior forward Quemont Greer, who leads the league in scoring at 22.4 points per game. He has scored over 20 points in his last eight games, which is a school record, and averages 8.3 rebounds to boot. Furthermore, the Bearcats have been erratic at best offensively this year and that poses a problem when you’re spotting double digits. Defensively, Cincinnati is extremely sound, however, they really haven’t played anyone noteworthy with the exception of Illinois in a game that the Bearcats got absolutely smoked in. Cincinnati has not been challenged all year and at this point we really don’t know if that 20th ranking is warranted or not. The only challenge was the aforementioned Illinois game in which the Bearcats failed miserably. We’re not comparing DePaul to Illinois, which would be ludicrous, however, we’re also not conceding that the Bearcats are as good as advertised. Blue Demons have reeled off three straight and come into this huge game in a very good state of mind. We trust they’ll keep this one very close. Play: DePaul +11½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o></o>
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Wisc Milwaukee +1.15 over BUTLER<o></o>
The Panthers (Wisc Milwaukee) are receiving something here because of a rather disheartening loss to Detroit on their home court last game out. However, we’ll excuse them for that. You see, the Panthers returned home from a long six game road trip and took Detroit lightly. They were actually down by 23 points in that game, eventually cut the margin to just four and simply ran out of gas. The focus was just not there. Fact is, this Panther squad is simply superior to the Bulldogs in every way. They played at No. 2, Kansas on Dec.22 and lost by just nine points. They followed that up with a win over Manhattan on the road before that stinker at home against Detroit. Wisc. Milwaukee opened the year 6-0 and now sits at 7-4 after a tough run of games against some quality opposition. The same can’t be said for Butler, who has had a rather undistinguished schedule. They’re just 5-5 on the year and after opening the season with three straight wins over South Dakota, Greenville and Miami (Ohio), the Bulldogs have gone 2-5. They’ve beaten nobody, they’ve played nobody and are, without question, the second best team one the court tonight. The Bulldogs love to shoot threes and if they’re not on target, which is usually the case, they have very little chance of winning, especially against a good team like the one they’ll face here. Play: Wisc Milwaukee +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Gonzaga –8 over SANTA CLARA
Not customary for us to lay big road points, however, we see this one as the mismatch of the night. Santa Clara has lost four in a row and six of its past seven, including humbling losses to sub .500 teams Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Yale and Central Connecticut State while Gonzaga remains the WCC's signature team and clear-cut favorite by a wide margin. The Broncos problems start at the defensive end where this team may be the worst rebounding team in the whole country. The team’s top rebounder is Doron Perkins, a 6-foot-2 guard and that’s almost laughable. Gonzaga will get plenty of second chance opportunities here and the Broncos simply can’t answer. The Zags are one of the best teams in the nation and even playing at half speed should ruin this enemy. Furthermore, league play starts tonight and that should have the Zags plenty focused as they dropped their last game to Missouri. Gonzaga has already beaten three ranked teams (Washington, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma St) and the only thing that will prevent them from winning big here is themselves. Game is a total mismatch. Play: Gonzaga –8 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
(Y-T-D on this site) 11-4
DePaul +11½ over CINCINNATI<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Bearcats are ranked number 20 in the nation and right off the bat, when you play a ranked team against a non-ranked team you’re going to pay a bit more to do so. That’s precisely the case here, as the Bearcats will spot the Blue Demons plenty of wood to get our attention. DePaul comes into this contest with an 8-3 record and they also possess perhaps the best player in the nation in 6-foot-7 senior forward Quemont Greer, who leads the league in scoring at 22.4 points per game. He has scored over 20 points in his last eight games, which is a school record, and averages 8.3 rebounds to boot. Furthermore, the Bearcats have been erratic at best offensively this year and that poses a problem when you’re spotting double digits. Defensively, Cincinnati is extremely sound, however, they really haven’t played anyone noteworthy with the exception of Illinois in a game that the Bearcats got absolutely smoked in. Cincinnati has not been challenged all year and at this point we really don’t know if that 20th ranking is warranted or not. The only challenge was the aforementioned Illinois game in which the Bearcats failed miserably. We’re not comparing DePaul to Illinois, which would be ludicrous, however, we’re also not conceding that the Bearcats are as good as advertised. Blue Demons have reeled off three straight and come into this huge game in a very good state of mind. We trust they’ll keep this one very close. Play: DePaul +11½ (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).<o
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></o>Wisc Milwaukee +1.15 over BUTLER<o
></o>The Panthers (Wisc Milwaukee) are receiving something here because of a rather disheartening loss to Detroit on their home court last game out. However, we’ll excuse them for that. You see, the Panthers returned home from a long six game road trip and took Detroit lightly. They were actually down by 23 points in that game, eventually cut the margin to just four and simply ran out of gas. The focus was just not there. Fact is, this Panther squad is simply superior to the Bulldogs in every way. They played at No. 2, Kansas on Dec.22 and lost by just nine points. They followed that up with a win over Manhattan on the road before that stinker at home against Detroit. Wisc. Milwaukee opened the year 6-0 and now sits at 7-4 after a tough run of games against some quality opposition. The same can’t be said for Butler, who has had a rather undistinguished schedule. They’re just 5-5 on the year and after opening the season with three straight wins over South Dakota, Greenville and Miami (Ohio), the Bulldogs have gone 2-5. They’ve beaten nobody, they’ve played nobody and are, without question, the second best team one the court tonight. The Bulldogs love to shoot threes and if they’re not on target, which is usually the case, they have very little chance of winning, especially against a good team like the one they’ll face here. Play: Wisc Milwaukee +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Gonzaga –8 over SANTA CLARA
Not customary for us to lay big road points, however, we see this one as the mismatch of the night. Santa Clara has lost four in a row and six of its past seven, including humbling losses to sub .500 teams Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Yale and Central Connecticut State while Gonzaga remains the WCC's signature team and clear-cut favorite by a wide margin. The Broncos problems start at the defensive end where this team may be the worst rebounding team in the whole country. The team’s top rebounder is Doron Perkins, a 6-foot-2 guard and that’s almost laughable. Gonzaga will get plenty of second chance opportunities here and the Broncos simply can’t answer. The Zags are one of the best teams in the nation and even playing at half speed should ruin this enemy. Furthermore, league play starts tonight and that should have the Zags plenty focused as they dropped their last game to Missouri. Gonzaga has already beaten three ranked teams (Washington, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma St) and the only thing that will prevent them from winning big here is themselves. Game is a total mismatch. Play: Gonzaga –8 (Risking 1.65 units to win 1.5).
