Ferrigno
6-Unit Play. Take #705 Massachusetts (+7.5) over Miami, OH (11 a.m., Thursday, March 12)
1-Unit Play. Take #705 Massachusetts (+250) over Miami, OH (11 a.m., Thursday, March 12)
I think that Miami is going to lose this game. I think that this is a terrible spot for them. I will never understand why conferences make the No. 1 seeds in their leagues play these early games. It is a severe disadvantage. The last time Miami took the court, they won a classic 110-108 game on the road against rival Ohio to cap a perfect 31-0 regular season. Now they are playing at 11 a.m. in a half-empty gym. And they have to take on a Frank Martin-coached Massachusetts team that is absolutely going to be ready to go. UMass only lost by two points at Miami during the regular season. They are just 1-6 in their last seven games, but three of those losses were in OT and only two of them was by more than eight points. In fact, only three of UMass’s losses this season have come by more than eight points. Miami’s last seven wins away from home have come by 6, 2, 16, 9, 10, 2, and 2 points. That’s an average of 6.7 points per game. UMass lost by 19 at Bowling Green on Feb. 28. Throw that one game out, and their road losses this season have come by 1, 7, 3, 2, 2, 3, 6, 4 and 4 points. That’s an average of 3.6 points per game. Hell, even with the BG blowout their average road loss was still just by 4.8 points per game. I think Miami takes its first loss of the season and are left to sweat out Selection Sunday.