Here are tonights selections:
5 Units Villanova pk -104
Another matchup in the Battle of Philadelphia. Villanova is 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS to start the season, however, it has only played four Division I teams. The Wildcats have a better winning percentage against D-I schools, after beating Redlands and losing to Chaminade. Allen Ray and Randy Foye are averaging 21.4 and 18.4 points per game, respectively. Foye is also pulling down 7 rebounds and dishing out more than five assists. They had a 1-point loss to Ohio State 67-66 last week and on Saturday they defeated a rebuilding LaSalle team 74-61. The Penn Quakers (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) have losses to Wisconsin and Mich State. They are led by 6’-6” senior wing player Jeff Schiffner (18 ppg), a very good long-range threat who led the nation in three-point percentage last season, while 6’-5” starting guard Tim Begley (9 ppg) is a versatile player. The Quakers were 11-1 SU at home last season (4-5-2 ATS), but 'Nova has no shortage of scoring power and they beat Penn 72-58 LY. Penn's disciplined offense is from downtown outside the arc but they can't match what their rivals have athletically. Nova has plenty of punch for this crosstown rival!!!
5 Units Iowa -5 -106
The Big 10 meets the Missouri Valley Conference. Iowa (6-0 SU, 3-2 ATS) is fresh off winning their own tournament after shutting down Northern Illinois, 65-57. They have a strong frontcourt player in 6'-11", 255-lb Jared Reiner (8.5 rpg) who will give Northern Iowa trouble. The Northern Iowa Panthers (2-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) have been playing good ball, losing 79-76 at Iowa State (covering as a +10 dog) and losing to a good Butler team, 56-54. The frontcourt is solid with 6’-6” senior C David Gruber (11 ppg, 7 rpg) and 6’-7”, 240-lb senior Matt Schneiderman (15 ppg, 8 rpg) and they have good balance with 6’-3” sophomore Ben Jacobson (15 ppg) in the backcourt. Both teams can bang the boards and play 'D', so don't look for a shootout!!!
5 Units Wyoming +6.5 -103
Wyoming (3-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) comes off an impressive win over Washington 92-76 Saturday after leading by 30 at the half 49-19. Jason Straight with 18 points and Dion Sherrell with 16 paced the Cowboys. Wyoming can run and score, with a veteran backcourt led by 5’-11” junior Straight and 6’-2” senior David Adams. They shoot 45% from the field and hold opponents to 39%. Cal (2-3 SU & 0-5 ATS) comes off a disheartening 78-60 loss to Colorado Saturday. They've been outshot from the field 38 to 48% to start the season, including only 18% from behind the arc. Don't be surprised if the 'Boys put a scare into the Bears, but Wyoming has played only one road game and lost 80-67 at Kansas State as a +6 dog. The Bears frontcourt with Amit Tamir and Leon Powe will control the boards!!!
5 Units Arizona State -7 -109
From America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, so it's a long road trip for Temple. The Temple (1-3 SU, ATS) offense has had problems shooting straight — both guarded and unguarded — in lopsided losses to Villanova (73-48 on Nov. 21) and Illinois (75-60 on Nov. 29). Through their first two games, the Owls were making just .322 of their field attempts, .241 of their three-pointers, and .615 of their free throws!!! The Owls continued to struggle with their three-ball aim against Rutgers on Dec. 3, making just 6 of 23 trifectas, a lone bright spot was David Hawkins (28 points) who shot 10 for 18 from the field in a 75-60 loss to Illinois. For Arizona State Wilfried Fameni, a 6-7, 231-pound freshman forward is an up and coming contributor, alongside sophomore star Ike Diogu. Fameni had 16 points and 13 rebounds in his first start. Temple heads West following a 57-47 win over Drexel last Saturday but their shooting problems are expected to continue against the deep and tall Sun Devils!!!
5 Units CS Fullerton +13 -106
Cal State Fullerton (2-3) has won 2 in a row led by one big guy in the middle. 6'-10" senior C Pape Sow (18 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 62%) clogs the low post and one of their victories was a stunning 78-74 win at Pepperdine as a +15 dog!!! 6’-0" point guard Bobby Brown had 22 points in the 78-74 upset of Pepperdine, while Sow had 18 points, 8 boards. Fullerton was just 4-12 SU on the road last season, however, they went 9-4-2 ATS. The Southern (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) Cal Trojans return all of the starters from a year ago when they went 13-17 SU & 12-17 ATS. Guard-forward 6'5" Desmon Farmer (18 ppg) and guard Erick Cravens generate most of the offense, while 6'-8" Jeff McMillan had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Trojans' overtime loss to UNLV, 92-83. The Trojans haven't been particularly impressive and they beat Fullerton 78-63 as a 16-point favorite on this court last year. The visitors have the big man to keep this one closer!!!
Good luck tonight my friends,
ALLSTAR
5 Units Villanova pk -104
Another matchup in the Battle of Philadelphia. Villanova is 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS to start the season, however, it has only played four Division I teams. The Wildcats have a better winning percentage against D-I schools, after beating Redlands and losing to Chaminade. Allen Ray and Randy Foye are averaging 21.4 and 18.4 points per game, respectively. Foye is also pulling down 7 rebounds and dishing out more than five assists. They had a 1-point loss to Ohio State 67-66 last week and on Saturday they defeated a rebuilding LaSalle team 74-61. The Penn Quakers (2-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) have losses to Wisconsin and Mich State. They are led by 6’-6” senior wing player Jeff Schiffner (18 ppg), a very good long-range threat who led the nation in three-point percentage last season, while 6’-5” starting guard Tim Begley (9 ppg) is a versatile player. The Quakers were 11-1 SU at home last season (4-5-2 ATS), but 'Nova has no shortage of scoring power and they beat Penn 72-58 LY. Penn's disciplined offense is from downtown outside the arc but they can't match what their rivals have athletically. Nova has plenty of punch for this crosstown rival!!!
5 Units Iowa -5 -106
The Big 10 meets the Missouri Valley Conference. Iowa (6-0 SU, 3-2 ATS) is fresh off winning their own tournament after shutting down Northern Illinois, 65-57. They have a strong frontcourt player in 6'-11", 255-lb Jared Reiner (8.5 rpg) who will give Northern Iowa trouble. The Northern Iowa Panthers (2-3 SU, 1-3 ATS) have been playing good ball, losing 79-76 at Iowa State (covering as a +10 dog) and losing to a good Butler team, 56-54. The frontcourt is solid with 6’-6” senior C David Gruber (11 ppg, 7 rpg) and 6’-7”, 240-lb senior Matt Schneiderman (15 ppg, 8 rpg) and they have good balance with 6’-3” sophomore Ben Jacobson (15 ppg) in the backcourt. Both teams can bang the boards and play 'D', so don't look for a shootout!!!
5 Units Wyoming +6.5 -103
Wyoming (3-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) comes off an impressive win over Washington 92-76 Saturday after leading by 30 at the half 49-19. Jason Straight with 18 points and Dion Sherrell with 16 paced the Cowboys. Wyoming can run and score, with a veteran backcourt led by 5’-11” junior Straight and 6’-2” senior David Adams. They shoot 45% from the field and hold opponents to 39%. Cal (2-3 SU & 0-5 ATS) comes off a disheartening 78-60 loss to Colorado Saturday. They've been outshot from the field 38 to 48% to start the season, including only 18% from behind the arc. Don't be surprised if the 'Boys put a scare into the Bears, but Wyoming has played only one road game and lost 80-67 at Kansas State as a +6 dog. The Bears frontcourt with Amit Tamir and Leon Powe will control the boards!!!
5 Units Arizona State -7 -109
From America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, so it's a long road trip for Temple. The Temple (1-3 SU, ATS) offense has had problems shooting straight — both guarded and unguarded — in lopsided losses to Villanova (73-48 on Nov. 21) and Illinois (75-60 on Nov. 29). Through their first two games, the Owls were making just .322 of their field attempts, .241 of their three-pointers, and .615 of their free throws!!! The Owls continued to struggle with their three-ball aim against Rutgers on Dec. 3, making just 6 of 23 trifectas, a lone bright spot was David Hawkins (28 points) who shot 10 for 18 from the field in a 75-60 loss to Illinois. For Arizona State Wilfried Fameni, a 6-7, 231-pound freshman forward is an up and coming contributor, alongside sophomore star Ike Diogu. Fameni had 16 points and 13 rebounds in his first start. Temple heads West following a 57-47 win over Drexel last Saturday but their shooting problems are expected to continue against the deep and tall Sun Devils!!!
5 Units CS Fullerton +13 -106
Cal State Fullerton (2-3) has won 2 in a row led by one big guy in the middle. 6'-10" senior C Pape Sow (18 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 62%) clogs the low post and one of their victories was a stunning 78-74 win at Pepperdine as a +15 dog!!! 6’-0" point guard Bobby Brown had 22 points in the 78-74 upset of Pepperdine, while Sow had 18 points, 8 boards. Fullerton was just 4-12 SU on the road last season, however, they went 9-4-2 ATS. The Southern (2-2 SU, 1-3 ATS) Cal Trojans return all of the starters from a year ago when they went 13-17 SU & 12-17 ATS. Guard-forward 6'5" Desmon Farmer (18 ppg) and guard Erick Cravens generate most of the offense, while 6'-8" Jeff McMillan had 20 points and 11 rebounds in the Trojans' overtime loss to UNLV, 92-83. The Trojans haven't been particularly impressive and they beat Fullerton 78-63 as a 16-point favorite on this court last year. The visitors have the big man to keep this one closer!!!
Good luck tonight my friends,
ALLSTAR
