Drake @ Creighton
There is a reason Creighton is on and off this year. It is their rebounding. Creighton has been outrebounded by double-digit margins just twice in league play, but both were by whopping margins minus-18 against Illinois State on Jan. 3 and minus-25 against Wichita State on Jan. 17. Every time Creighton has outrebounded one of its league foes, it has done so by a margin of no less than seven boards, including a 12-rebound advantage over Evansville on Jan. 20.
Drake has one big man in Jonathon Cox at 6'8". They have no other inside presence that can rebound or score. This will be a domination no the glass and look for the Jays to pull away early and stay there.
Creighton -9.5 (4 Units -101)
Horizon League (2-1)
UWM @ Butler
UWM is coming off a terrible performance against an undermanned Valpo team where they allowed Valpo to go on a 26-0 run late first half and into the second half. Butler is 9-0 at home this year and has won 13 straight at Hinkle. They’ve also won their last three home matchups against Milwaukee. I think Vegas is dying for the UWM money here.
Butler covered in both games against UWM last year. They covered the 15 at home and 6 on the road. The year before that they covered 16.5 at home against UWM.
UWM doesnt guard the 3 ball well and at Hinkle, Butler will kill you behind the arc. Both these teams shoot free throws very well and both protect the ball.
Butler is a great second-half team at home. If they have a 4-7 point at lead at half, start counting your money.
Butler -13 (2 Units +100)
DePaul @ Marquette
Marquette is rolling, winning 8 in a row and 7 in a row at home. They blew out Cincy by 34 at home and beat WV on Jan 10 at home by 22. This is a very physical team, unlike some Marquette teams in the past. They outrebounded WV by 2 and Cincinnati by 3. Marquette is12-0 at the Bradley Center in 2008-09, have won seven straight home games over the Blue Demons, and 13 of the last 14 in Milwaukee.
Marquette shoots the 3ball well at home, while DePaul doesnt have much a threat from behind the arc.
DePaul is a young team (8 players wither Fresh or Soph). If Dar Tucker(18.6PPG) or Will Walker (11 PPG) can get hot maybe DePaul can cover this big number. They wont be able to carry this team on the road and shouldnt get much help from their bench.
Look for this to be a 20-25 point game
Marquette (-16.5 3 Units -109)
Wisconsin @ Illinois
Im not sure what else Illinois needs to be to get some recognition for maybe the best team in the big ten. The Illini’s three Big Ten home victories over Indiana, then-No. 25 Michigan and Ohio State have come by an average of 21.4 points. With most of last season’s roster back, balance has paced the Illini. Four players are averaging at least 11.1 points with sophomore’s Demetri McCamey and Mike Tisdale leading the way at 11.8 each.
Wisconsin is only 3-4 on the road, losing to Iowa on Wednesday. I dont think Wisconsin has the athletism to guard all of Illinois offensive threats while Illinois should be able to hang with them on the glass. Assembly Hall should be rocking and once again im taking a home favorite to cover here.
Illinois -6 (3 Units-110)
Others
Wright ST -4.5 (2 Units -105)
Kentucky U140 (4 Units -111)
Temple -10 (3 Units -106)
USC +1.5 (3 Units -103)
BOL everyone
