Michigan St -12 -110
This is probably one of the more favorable match ups year in and year out in college basketball. Evidence of this is the record in this series, which is dominated by Michigan St. The last 2 years alone Michigan St has won by 15, and 21. No matter how good Northwestern plays defensively, and even if Michigan St has a bad shooting game they are able to make up for it by their rebounding. Michigan St has long been known for their rebounding under Izzo, and the ability to dominate the glass is something Northwestern just doesn't have. They don't recruit the big, physical, athletic players because that is not what their style of play requires. Not saying the top athletes would go their even if that is what Carmody tries to bring in, but you get my picture. Northwestern can't even able to play their 1-3-1 defense that was very effective in beating Minnesota on Sunday. Michigan St has shot the ball too well in the past and is no good on the glass that Northwestern just isn't able to rebound out of the zone. The Spartans basically just shoot until they miss. Northwestern will likely play a 2-3 zone instead of the 1-3-1, but they will still have all sorts of problems rebounding out of it. Mich St is +10 on the glass for the season, while Northwestern had been out rebounded by an amazing 71 boards through their first 4 Big 10 games until sunday when they were only out rebounded by Minnesota by 2. Northwestern got off to such a promising start this season because of the play of power forward Jon Shurna, and 7 foot center Kyle Rowley. The 2 freshman gave something the Cats haven't had in years...size. However the 2 have seem to hit a wall, and just aren't ready for the pyshical play the Big 10 brings. Both have struggled mightily since big 10 play has started. Shurna has only 8 points in the last 4 games, and has been scoreless in the past 2. Rowley has only managed 12 points and 5 rebounds in ALL BIG 10 GAMES COMBINED! Their minutes have decreased, and so has their confidence. With that type of production, or should i say lack there of, Michigan St center Goron Suton should have a field day in the paint. Mich St is too athletic, and too physical for the Cats to give the Spartans a batter in East Lansing. NW has allowed their last 4 opponents to shoot 47.2%, 45.7%, 50%, and 46.8% respectively in their last 4 big 10 games. Through in the stat that they are shooting only 60% from the foul line and all signs point to a blow out tonight. I would grab 12 when it is still available
This is probably one of the more favorable match ups year in and year out in college basketball. Evidence of this is the record in this series, which is dominated by Michigan St. The last 2 years alone Michigan St has won by 15, and 21. No matter how good Northwestern plays defensively, and even if Michigan St has a bad shooting game they are able to make up for it by their rebounding. Michigan St has long been known for their rebounding under Izzo, and the ability to dominate the glass is something Northwestern just doesn't have. They don't recruit the big, physical, athletic players because that is not what their style of play requires. Not saying the top athletes would go their even if that is what Carmody tries to bring in, but you get my picture. Northwestern can't even able to play their 1-3-1 defense that was very effective in beating Minnesota on Sunday. Michigan St has shot the ball too well in the past and is no good on the glass that Northwestern just isn't able to rebound out of the zone. The Spartans basically just shoot until they miss. Northwestern will likely play a 2-3 zone instead of the 1-3-1, but they will still have all sorts of problems rebounding out of it. Mich St is +10 on the glass for the season, while Northwestern had been out rebounded by an amazing 71 boards through their first 4 Big 10 games until sunday when they were only out rebounded by Minnesota by 2. Northwestern got off to such a promising start this season because of the play of power forward Jon Shurna, and 7 foot center Kyle Rowley. The 2 freshman gave something the Cats haven't had in years...size. However the 2 have seem to hit a wall, and just aren't ready for the pyshical play the Big 10 brings. Both have struggled mightily since big 10 play has started. Shurna has only 8 points in the last 4 games, and has been scoreless in the past 2. Rowley has only managed 12 points and 5 rebounds in ALL BIG 10 GAMES COMBINED! Their minutes have decreased, and so has their confidence. With that type of production, or should i say lack there of, Michigan St center Goron Suton should have a field day in the paint. Mich St is too athletic, and too physical for the Cats to give the Spartans a batter in East Lansing. NW has allowed their last 4 opponents to shoot 47.2%, 45.7%, 50%, and 46.8% respectively in their last 4 big 10 games. Through in the stat that they are shooting only 60% from the foul line and all signs point to a blow out tonight. I would grab 12 when it is still available
i really wanted to play Indiana St, but I can't until I get word on Henry Marshall. It really is too bad that he had to get injured. Indiana St was making good strides and had just beat Illinois St when he got injured. In his absence the team has played well, but they just don't have enough firepower to come out on top. Even Saluki coach Chris Lowery said that Marshall will be the difference on how this game is decided tonight. Hopefully he plays, but until I get a confirmation I am going to have to lay off.
HD, I also found this on another post. I am looking into it for veracity:
According to this mornings local paper, Harry Marshall, Indiana States best player is still questionable for tonights game. He has missed the last 2 games with a strained hamstring. But the news some may not know about is starting center Brant Leitnaker has been down with the flu and not taken part in any team activities since Saturday nights game and is questionable tonight. This quote from coach McKenna was in the paper..." We've had three or four guys slowed down by it. The bug is going around campus"
Buffalo -2.5
This is a big game for Buffalo. They are emerging as the league favorite, but in order to be king you need to de-throne him first, and that is Kent St. Plus Kent St could be looking ahead to a rivalry game this weekend against Akron, as Roxy pointed out earlier in the thread. Buffalo is coming in hot after 2 big wins. 1 was on the road against Akron, and the other a home win over Ohio, 2 of the better teams in the MAC. UB has been tough at home all season. They beat Temple pretty easily, and fought Uconn to the very end, and they beat Ohio like I already said. A big advantage UB will have is on the glass. They lead the league in rebounding with a +6 rebounding margin for the season. Kent St is more guard oriented, and are likely to use a 4 guard offense at some points so they will really be exposed on the glass at times. Also while Kent has been struggling on offense Buffalo has been shooting the 3 ball exceptionally well. They are shooting 44.7% from 3 at home on the season. They also don't give points away from the foul line at home where they shoot 73.6%. Mean while Kent St is 2-6 on the road for the season and have the tendency to give points away on the foul line where they only shoot 55.8%. There are just too many things in UB's favor today. They should be focused to take control of the league while Kent could be caught looking ahead to this weekends game against Akron. UB by 10
This is a big game for Buffalo. They are emerging as the league favorite, but in order to be king you need to de-throne him first, and that is Kent St. Plus Kent St could be looking ahead to a rivalry game this weekend against Akron, as Roxy pointed out earlier in the thread. Buffalo is coming in hot after 2 big wins. 1 was on the road against Akron, and the other a home win over Ohio, 2 of the better teams in the MAC. UB has been tough at home all season. They beat Temple pretty easily, and fought Uconn to the very end, and they beat Ohio like I already said. A big advantage UB will have is on the glass. They lead the league in rebounding with a +6 rebounding margin for the season. Kent St is more guard oriented, and are likely to use a 4 guard offense at some points so they will really be exposed on the glass at times. Also while Kent has been struggling on offense Buffalo has been shooting the 3 ball exceptionally well. They are shooting 44.7% from 3 at home on the season. They also don't give points away from the foul line at home where they shoot 73.6%. Mean while Kent St is 2-6 on the road for the season and have the tendency to give points away on the foul line where they only shoot 55.8%. There are just too many things in UB's favor today. They should be focused to take control of the league while Kent could be caught looking ahead to this weekends game against Akron. UB by 10
HD, always enjoy reading your thread.
Take a look at Oklahoma, they will dominate the game vs Nebr.
Nu has no big men at all and OU will own the boards. Doc Sadler's team is scrappy and plays hard especially at home but way overmatched here. Nu doesnt play well vs OU usually anyway (3-7 ats L10). I don't like laying a lot of points ( 13) but OU will win by 20 imo.
Take a look at Oklahoma, they will dominate the game vs Nebr.
Nu has no big men at all and OU will own the boards. Doc Sadler's team is scrappy and plays hard especially at home but way overmatched here. Nu doesnt play well vs OU usually anyway (3-7 ats L10). I don't like laying a lot of points ( 13) but OU will win by 20 imo.
Homedawg, just curious why you like Baylor? Yes, they have good quick guards, but K-State has a solid defense and I think they can neutralize them. Additionally, the biggest reason I bet on K-State is that they can abuse Baylor on the boards. They are the #4 offensive rebounding team in the nation, and they should be able to get a ton of 2nd chance points against a very weak Baylor front line. Additionally, I think the line is inflated with K-State's 3-game losing streak.
I am looking forward to your analysis.
I am looking forward to your analysis.
