HOME TEAM IN CAPS
Providence +1.56 over CINCINNATI
After hitting the skids big time late last season nobody wants to believe that the Friars are as good as their record indicates. Maybe they’re not but with each passing game the Friars are looking sharper. Keno Davis is making a huge impact, as he’s proving that his short stay at Drake was no fluke. This guy gets the best out of every player. The Friars are getting solid production from as many as seven players and when one guy is cold, three others are warm. The bench looks good, the players are loose and confident and the team is gaining steam. The Friars are coming off two nice wins over St. Johns by 21 and over DePaul by 12 and this might not be a step up in class. The Bearcats are a team that can go so cold for long stretches at a time and that usually will lead to big runs by the opposition. In its last two games the Bearcats put up 45 and 50 points against Memphis and Marquette. The Bearcats wins have come against a bunch of tomato cans, as they’ve beaten the likes of South Dakota, Texas Southern, Western Illinois, Coastal Carolina, UNLV, UAB, Charleston Southern, Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Any quality team they’ve faced they never stood a chance, as all four losses have been by double digits including an ugly 60-45 loss to Memphis. Cincinnati has nothing over the Friars and thus, you can keep the points. I’m calling the Friars outright. Play: Providence +1.56 (Risking 2 units).
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Tulsa +5½ over SOUTHERN MISS
SMU is coming off a blowout win over the Rebels and that big win has had influence on this number. Thing is, Mississippi is garbage and so is every other team the Golden Eagles have beaten. In fact, they recently played three games in a row against Spring Hill, McNeese St and William Carey in which there was no line posted because that trio is not worthy of a line. Wins over Weber St and Ole Miss do nothing to convince me that this team warrants being a 5½-point choice over the Golden Hurricanes. Tulsa has already played the top two teams in the Big-12, losing big to Oklahoma but beating the 14-1 Aggies. They also played and lost to Oklahoma St but those losses are good lessons and the Golden Hurricanes outscored the Cowboys 45-37 in the second half after a rough first half. You might also remember last year in which Tulsa went into Southern Miss and had a nine-point lead with seven minutes to go and ended up losing 70-65. Ben Uzoh, Tulsa’s top player, remembers it well and has been waiting for this one after that blown opportunity. Tulsa is deeper, they play solid defense and they’re much more battle tested then SMU. Not only can they keep this one very close, but they can win it outright. Play: Tulsa +5½ (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
Providence +1.56 over CINCINNATI
After hitting the skids big time late last season nobody wants to believe that the Friars are as good as their record indicates. Maybe they’re not but with each passing game the Friars are looking sharper. Keno Davis is making a huge impact, as he’s proving that his short stay at Drake was no fluke. This guy gets the best out of every player. The Friars are getting solid production from as many as seven players and when one guy is cold, three others are warm. The bench looks good, the players are loose and confident and the team is gaining steam. The Friars are coming off two nice wins over St. Johns by 21 and over DePaul by 12 and this might not be a step up in class. The Bearcats are a team that can go so cold for long stretches at a time and that usually will lead to big runs by the opposition. In its last two games the Bearcats put up 45 and 50 points against Memphis and Marquette. The Bearcats wins have come against a bunch of tomato cans, as they’ve beaten the likes of South Dakota, Texas Southern, Western Illinois, Coastal Carolina, UNLV, UAB, Charleston Southern, Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Any quality team they’ve faced they never stood a chance, as all four losses have been by double digits including an ugly 60-45 loss to Memphis. Cincinnati has nothing over the Friars and thus, you can keep the points. I’m calling the Friars outright. Play: Providence +1.56 (Risking 2 units).
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Tulsa +5½ over SOUTHERN MISS
SMU is coming off a blowout win over the Rebels and that big win has had influence on this number. Thing is, Mississippi is garbage and so is every other team the Golden Eagles have beaten. In fact, they recently played three games in a row against Spring Hill, McNeese St and William Carey in which there was no line posted because that trio is not worthy of a line. Wins over Weber St and Ole Miss do nothing to convince me that this team warrants being a 5½-point choice over the Golden Hurricanes. Tulsa has already played the top two teams in the Big-12, losing big to Oklahoma but beating the 14-1 Aggies. They also played and lost to Oklahoma St but those losses are good lessons and the Golden Hurricanes outscored the Cowboys 45-37 in the second half after a rough first half. You might also remember last year in which Tulsa went into Southern Miss and had a nine-point lead with seven minutes to go and ended up losing 70-65. Ben Uzoh, Tulsa’s top player, remembers it well and has been waiting for this one after that blown opportunity. Tulsa is deeper, they play solid defense and they’re much more battle tested then SMU. Not only can they keep this one very close, but they can win it outright. Play: Tulsa +5½ (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).