@Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
Temple –4½ over Duquesne (6:00 PM)
The Dukes have made a very nice run to the conference title game but I’m suggesting that the run ends right here, as they’re a poor defensive team and when you’re playing four games in four days the importance of defense becomes even more significant. The Dukes can score but again, playing its fourth game in four days takes its toll on the shooters as well and the Dukes just don’t have the depth to compensate. They’ve put up 91, 78 and 77 points respectively over the past three days but things are going to get a lot tougher against these Owls. Temple cut up St. Joseph’s on Thursday, allowing just 65 points against but a lot of those points were garbage points when the Owls had a 20-point lead. They held the Hawks to 28 in the first half. Temple followed that up by knocking off Xavier yesterday and holding the Musketeers to a mere 53 points. The Owls have now won nine of 11 games and they’re not taking a step up in class when they play this soft defense that’s running strictly on fumes. Play: Temple –4½ (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).
<o></o>
@St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL<o></o>
Mississippi St +3½ over LSU (1:00 PM)
You always have to be a bit suspicious of these seemingly small lines when a ranked team plays an unranked opponent. The Tigers come in as the 20th ranked team in the land and they come in with an impressive 26-6 overall record and a 13-3 conference record. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, finished with a mediocre 9-7-conference record and a 21-12 overall record. Also note that LSU beat the Bulldogs both times this season and one of those wins was by 24 points. Then we have the Bulldogs playing its third game in three days while the Tigers will only be playing its second game of the conference tourney. Everyone and their brother is on the Tigers today and the books were very aware that would be the case. They could have easily made this line -5½ and not sway a single bet. And it’s not like this is a Thursday or Friday afternoon game either. This game was one of the early lines of the day when only about six games had early lines posted, thus it got a lot of attention. You can break down all the stats you want and try and figure out how the game will play out. I’ll leave that to the stat geeks out there. My angle is playing against the side that the books want you on and that’s all there is to it. So yeah, MSU is tired, MSU lost twice to the Tigers this year and MSU is the inferior team. So why isn’t this line higher and wasn’t Syracuse supposed to be exhausted too yesterday? Play: Mississippi St +3½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
<o></o>
@ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis<o></o>
Ohio St +8 over Michigan St (1:40 PM)
Is there really that much difference between these two squads? I don’t think there is. The Buckeyes have been getting better with each passing game and in fact, over its last 12 games they only lost once by the more than the margin here. You’re paying too high a premium to wager on the #7 ranked team in the nation here, especially when you consider the low posted total of 126. Furthermore, the Buckeyes arguably have the best player on the court in Evan Turner and when this guy is going good he’s virtually a monster out there. He’s just so tough to contain and does everything well. The Spartans are tough, no doubt and they play tremendous team defense but they had their hands full with the Gophers yesterday and they’ve been beating up on middle of the pack teams for the past six weeks. They’ll take a step up in class today over yesterday’s opponent, as the Buckeyes defense has also been playing some pretty tough defense too. This game is a lot more even than most think and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Buckeyes win outright but will gladly accept the generous points. Play: Ohio St +8 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
fficeffice" /><o></o>Temple –4½ over Duquesne (6:00 PM)
The Dukes have made a very nice run to the conference title game but I’m suggesting that the run ends right here, as they’re a poor defensive team and when you’re playing four games in four days the importance of defense becomes even more significant. The Dukes can score but again, playing its fourth game in four days takes its toll on the shooters as well and the Dukes just don’t have the depth to compensate. They’ve put up 91, 78 and 77 points respectively over the past three days but things are going to get a lot tougher against these Owls. Temple cut up St. Joseph’s on Thursday, allowing just 65 points against but a lot of those points were garbage points when the Owls had a 20-point lead. They held the Hawks to 28 in the first half. Temple followed that up by knocking off Xavier yesterday and holding the Musketeers to a mere 53 points. The Owls have now won nine of 11 games and they’re not taking a step up in class when they play this soft defense that’s running strictly on fumes. Play: Temple –4½ (Risking 2.14 units to win 2).
<o
></o>@St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL<o
></o>Mississippi St +3½ over LSU (1:00 PM)
You always have to be a bit suspicious of these seemingly small lines when a ranked team plays an unranked opponent. The Tigers come in as the 20th ranked team in the land and they come in with an impressive 26-6 overall record and a 13-3 conference record. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, finished with a mediocre 9-7-conference record and a 21-12 overall record. Also note that LSU beat the Bulldogs both times this season and one of those wins was by 24 points. Then we have the Bulldogs playing its third game in three days while the Tigers will only be playing its second game of the conference tourney. Everyone and their brother is on the Tigers today and the books were very aware that would be the case. They could have easily made this line -5½ and not sway a single bet. And it’s not like this is a Thursday or Friday afternoon game either. This game was one of the early lines of the day when only about six games had early lines posted, thus it got a lot of attention. You can break down all the stats you want and try and figure out how the game will play out. I’ll leave that to the stat geeks out there. My angle is playing against the side that the books want you on and that’s all there is to it. So yeah, MSU is tired, MSU lost twice to the Tigers this year and MSU is the inferior team. So why isn’t this line higher and wasn’t Syracuse supposed to be exhausted too yesterday? Play: Mississippi St +3½ (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
<o
></o>@ Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis<o
></o>Ohio St +8 over Michigan St (1:40 PM)
Is there really that much difference between these two squads? I don’t think there is. The Buckeyes have been getting better with each passing game and in fact, over its last 12 games they only lost once by the more than the margin here. You’re paying too high a premium to wager on the #7 ranked team in the nation here, especially when you consider the low posted total of 126. Furthermore, the Buckeyes arguably have the best player on the court in Evan Turner and when this guy is going good he’s virtually a monster out there. He’s just so tough to contain and does everything well. The Spartans are tough, no doubt and they play tremendous team defense but they had their hands full with the Gophers yesterday and they’ve been beating up on middle of the pack teams for the past six weeks. They’ll take a step up in class today over yesterday’s opponent, as the Buckeyes defense has also been playing some pretty tough defense too. This game is a lot more even than most think and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Buckeyes win outright but will gladly accept the generous points. Play: Ohio St +8 (Risking 2.1 units to win 2).
I hit miss st 2 days in a row now, very good call on Temple!!
