Saturday College Basketball Selections Today

[Allstar]

Here are todays selections:

5 Units Texas +4 +100

Big Offense (Texas) versus Big Defense (Duke) is the name of the game in this one. Texas (5-1 SU, 3-1 ATS) dominates every offensive category, except free throw percentage, in comparison to Duke (7-1 SU, 2-5 ATS). Defensively, it is the Blue Devils who dominate these statistics, except rebounding. Texas is picking up about 17 more boards a game than Duke, and twenty of those rebounds are offensive. This will be a major factor considering that this game will be Madison Square Garden, a gym foreign to both teams. Texas is also putting up 97 points per game so far this year. Duke is led by Freshman Loul Deng (15 ppg), who had an off night shooting the last time out against Princeton. Texas is also led by a Freshman, P.J. Tucker (15 ppg, 9 rpg). Duke is going to have a hard time matching Texas’ intensity on the glass, especially on the offensive end. Plus, Duke will not have the advantage of Cameron Indoor Arena. Look for Texas to make an early statement.

5 Unitis Kentucky -6.5 -113

This game is being played in Indianapolis. The undefeated and untied Kentucky (5-0 SU, 2-2 ATS) Wildcats are knocking on the top spot in college basketball following a convincing 79-74 win over the 20th ranked Spartans. All five starters, paced by Gerald Fitch and Erik Daniels are posting double-digit scoring averages. Against Mich State, Fitch scored 25 points and Chuck Hayes scored 17 points. Kentucky came out strong and shot 60 percent (20-of-30) in the first half to take a lead they never lost. Indiana (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS) comes off a solid win over Butler 62-50 when Bracy Wright scored 23 points and A.J. Moye added 12 pts. The Hoosiers have a couple of good wins against Notre Dame and Xavier so they have been tested, but losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri raise serious questions. Center George Leach (sprained ankle) remains out of the lineup and the Hoosiers hope he can return early in the Big Ten portion of the schedule. Both of these bitter rivals have had a week off to prepare for this war. Kentucky won 70-64 a year ago in Louisville. The matchup of Fitch on Wright is worth the price of admission. Look for the two to shoot the lights out, but there can be only one winner and Fitch has more help.

Good Luck Today My Friends

ALLSTAR

 

[Allstar]

TODAY 1-1 +0.00 UNITS

I will have more games up shortly. Here are the results of the first two games:

Texas +4 LOST 61-89 -5 UNITS

Kentucky -6.5 WINNER 80-41 +5 UNITS

See you all shortly,

ALLSTAR

 

[Allstar]

7 Units Virginia Tech -9 -110

Virginia Tech (5-3) has a terrific one-two punch in the frontcourt that will give Towson some trouble. The Hokies have 6'-7" Bryant Matthews (24 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and 6'-8" freshman Coleman Collins (15 ppg, 7 rpg) tearing things up right now, and they've won two straight. In their only two road games, V-Tech lost 80-65 at Virginia and 62-57 at Ohio State. The Towson Tigers (2-5 SU, 2-1 ATS) do not have a single scorer in double digits averaging 55 points per game. Their young frontcourt doesn't match up well here with 6’-7” sophomore Lawrence Hamm (9 ppg, 5 rpg) and skinny, 6’-10” center Tony Dixon. Towson lost 76-52 at Virginia Tech last season and there's no reason to think this one will be close!!!

5 Units LSU -14 -102

Last time out LSU pasted Utah 65-51 SU, which was a bit of surprise to everyone. This was an excellent early season win for the Tigers. LSU (5-0, 1-0 ATS) now gets a lesser opponent in Bayou resident Southern Mississippi (5-2 SU, 0-3 ATS). Southern Mississippi has been plain terrible on the road this year (0-2 SU), getting outscored on the road by 18 points a game. This is not a good sign as they travel to LSU, a team who has yet to travel and plays its best defense at home (just ask Utah). For LSU, all roads lead to and through Senior Jaime Lloreda. Lloreda is averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds a game. Southern Mississippi will have NO answers for him or the rest of the Tigers in their lair.

5 Units Evansville +10 -109

The Missouri Valley Conference travels to the Sun Belt in a battle of bad teams. The Evansville Aces are working in new faces and it has showed, as this team is 0-3 on the road where it allows 68 ppg. On the other hand, they are 3-0 ATS on the road, with a decent offensive punch of 6'-6" Clint Cuffle (12 ppg) and 6’-8” sophomore Deywane Lee (14 ppg, 7 rpg). They lost 65-64 at Butler as a +12 dog in their last road game. The rebuilding Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS) don't play much defense, allowing opponents to shoot 47% (79 ppg allowed). The backcourt is decent with 6-3” senior guard Mike Wells (15 ppg) while 6’-11” 250-lb senior Nigel Dixon (14 ppg, 7 rpg) handles the low post. WK has played a tough schedule, with losses to Auburn, VCU, Miss State, and Louisville. A year ago, Evansville won 81-76 at home over WK and this shapes up as another close one.

5 Units Cleveland State +3 -105

Both teams average 73 ppg, so the offenses can roll and put the ball in the hoop. Akron is 3-2 on the road with an uptempo approach led by 6’-4” senior Derrick Tarver (21 ppg) and 6’-1” senior guard Jonathon Hollingsworth. New coach Mike Garland has Cleveland State playing well at 2-1 SU/1-0 ATS at home. The backcourt is good with 6’-2” senior guard Jermaine Robinson (20 ppg) while 6’-7” junior Omari Westley (14 ppg, 8 rpg) works the glass. This team lost 82-76 on this court to North Carolina on Nov. 29 as a +15 dog. A year ago, Cleveland State won 68-65 at Akron as a road dog and they can do it again, this time at home.

5 Units UCLA +3.5 -110

The Big 10 versus the PAC-10. The Spartans have played a killer schedule and they've been paying the price. Losses to Duke, Kansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky are great training now, but they do nothing for your W-L record. Not surprisingly, the Spartans rank last in the Big Ten in FG defense. Michigan State is allowing opponents to connect on 46.8 percent of their shots. Center Paul Davis is averaging 14.0 ppg to lead the team. Guard Kelvin Torbert (12 ppg-52%) is one of the few pleasant developments for the Spartans this season. UCLA had a 61-60 loss to Cal- Santa Barbara at home. The Bruins sat atop the conference in field goal percentage before losing to UC Santa Barbara. A year ago, when they allowed opponents to convert 44.0 percent of their shots, the Bruins were limiting foes to just 37%. T.J. Cummings, sidelined the first four games due to academic suspension, was back for the UCSB game, and he led UCLA with 14 points. Heralded freshman forward Trevor Ariza, who sat out the first three games due to a collapsed lung, made his debut a game earlier against Loyola Marymount and scored 14 points. State needs better defense and better rebounding so the long trip west to face UCLA might be just another learning experience.

5 Units South Florida -11 -113

In the battle for the pride of Florida, South Florida has the home court and the better frontcourt. South Florida (3-4) plays good defense (43% shooting allowed, 65 ppg allowed at home) behind 6'-9" junior Terrance Leather (12 ppg, 8 rpg). South Florida is 2-1 at home, while the Florida International Golden Panthers (2-6) allow opponents to shoot 47% and give up 75 ppg. Florida Int has a good backcourt of 6’-2” junior Carlos Morban (20 ppg) and 6’-2” senior Junior Matias (14 ppg, 6 rpg), as well as 6’-9” junior Taurance Johnson (13 ppg and 6.5 rpg) up front, but the defense hasn't been sharp. Florida International is 0-4 on the road where the 'D' gives up 82 ppg! The Bulls of So. Fla. fell 73-60 to Michigan State this week, their fourth consecutive loss by double figures. Senior guard Jimmy Baxter, USF's leading returning scorer last season, finished without a point for the second time this year. Forward Terrence Leather led USF in scoring and rebounding for the second consecutive game, only this time he came through with a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds at Michigan State. South Florida has an easy home opportunity.

5 Units Florida -12 -110

This match-up would be a much better bowl game than a round-ball clash as the Florida Gators stay in Florida but travel to Miami to play West Virginia. The Gators (5-2 SU, 2-2 ATS), are coming two big losses to top teams and are looking to right the ship. This will make them very dangerous. West Virginia (5-2 SU, 3-2 ATS) has struggled on defense, allowing 73 points a game. Florida is getting strong play out of Junior David Lee (14 ppg, 8 rpg) and he is a nice presence inside for the Gators. The Gators’ inside play will be way too much for the Mountaineers as they are out-rebounding WVU by 13 rebounds a game. Too tall, too big, too tough for the angry, fired up Gators!!!!

Good Luck Today My Friends,

ALLSTAR

 

[Kojak]

Like Florida and LSU picks but I would be careful on VA Tech who is one of those teams that play poorly on road. I see Towson here as a live dog. Best of luck.

 

[Allstar]

Kojak

Thanks and good luck to you as well my friend.

ALLSTAR

 

[Allstar]

TODAYS POSTS 6-2-1 +17.30 UNITS

Texas +4 LOST 61-89

LSU -14 WINNER 65-50

Florida -12 WINNER 70-57

UCLA +3.5 SU WINNER 64-58

Kentucky -6.5 WINNER 80-41

Evansville +10 PUSH 82-92

South Florida -11 WINNER 73-56

Cleveland State +3 WINNER 59-61

Virginia Tech -9 LOST 74-67

I hope that you are all having a great night as well!!!

ALLSTAR

[This message was edited by Allstar on December 20, 2003 at 10:56 PM.]

 

[Co-Captain]

 

[Allstar]

Co-Captain

Thanks

ALLSTAR

 

[genosays]

Nice day All-Star and thanks for posting your selections.

 

[Allstar]

Genosays,

Thanks, big day in the NFL tommarrow and hope to have another great day. Talk to you later my friend.

ALLSTAR