NCAAB Hoops

YTD - 1-0

I hit a few weeks back with Belmont and today I will go back to the well and take Belmont again -4.5 over Evansville.
Belmont is a tough out at home. they play tough "D" and it's just a tough place for a team to pick up a win.
Good coaching and disciplined players who are always super competitive against equal or greater talented team and Evansville is just a notch below Belmont in the talent level here.. I like my chances.

All plays 1 unit unless noted

Belmont -4.5 over Evansville
Villanova -4.5 over Illinois
UCD - 7.5 over Eastern Illinois

Note * UCD beat Eastern Illinois on Nov. 20 at eastern by 2 points and now they catch them at home. then Eastern travels back across country to take on an arch enemy in Northern Illinois on Dec. 13th. I think UCD will catch them not at their focused best and jump out to an early lead and coast the rest of the night.

GLTA

YTD 3-1 +2 units

I picked up two units last night as Villanova and UCD came through for me.
Today I have one play.

Colorado State +6.5 over Colorado for 2 units


GLTA

Great start , good luck tonight

YTD 4-1 +4 units

Last night I hit with CSU as a +6.5 dog winning out right over arch rival Colorado.
I hope to keep it rolling with Belmont tonight.

I lost the other day taking Belmont over Evansville as a favorite and tonight they take on Wright State.
I feel that they will come out with fire and re-energized and play with passion. Note * Wright State takes on arch rival Miami, Ohio back home in a few days and I expect them to get caught looking ahead in the first half of this game with Belmont.

1st half play
Belmont -4 (at 5 dimes) 1 unit

GLTA

YTD 4-1-1 +4 units

Last night I got a push with Belmont on the 1st half.

Tonight I'm going with Iowa State +5 over instate arch rival Iowa.
Iowa States Note * I live here in Vegas and "BDJ" as he was called here has always had problems. He originally came to UNLV after being kicked off USC' s team for violations and fighting. The final straw at UNLV was his walking off the court at a game at the end of last season before the game was over and he would not return courtside. He was forced to leave UNLV after this incident and previously e had several infractions and problems with team mate's (including fighting also)used his early graduation exemption to transfer to Iowa State and no he's at it again. He is Talented player who can get his own shot off at will , but selfish to a fault, jealous of other teammates success and not a team player or team leader. Enough about him.

Anyway, I feel that without his 17.1 points and 6 rebound per game Iowa State will keep it close and with Georges Naing and Aaron Whites they will have a chance for the upset. Iowa State has played decent competition so far this year and as we have all seen numerous times where a team loses it's star player and everyone thinks that they can't compete, they find a way to compete and sometimes win outright. I look for spirited effort from Iowa State tonight.

My Pick
Iowa State +5 3 units

GLTA

great job!

Great stuff hilltop! We recognize!

Very well done HT

YTD 5-1-1 +7 units

Iowa State played a fabulous game to get me a win and to pick up a few units.
Here's a game that I really like for Saturday. I may add a few others later on.

Oklahoma -1.5 at Tulsa

A day game at 2:30 PM EST. Note * I am happy to catch Tulsa in a day game rather than at night when the Donald Reynolds Center can get rowdy and loud. This works in my favor in this spot.
Lon Kruger is a really a good coach and he was here at UNLV for 7 years and was able to take 3 star recruits, juco’s and average D-1 players and get the most out of their ability and to take and make over achievers out of above average teams and players. He has had 8 days off for exam’s and his team is rested, prepared and ready to compete in Tulsa.

Oklahoma (5-2) has played some quality teams so far and had decent results. They are coming off an impressive 82-63 home win over Missouri on Dec. 5. They are ranked # 15 in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll, the school's highest ranking since 2009. Oklahoma has won four of its last five games with the only loss to No. 6 Wisconsin, 69-56, in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game.


Oklahoma has a 7-0 all time record against Tulsa. Tulsa got caught looking ahead at this big game by Southeastern Oklahoma ( a non division 1 team) on wed. and the aftershocks has diminished their confidence. They definitely will put forth a big effort but Power forward Spangler who is the key to Oklahoma’s victory and cover (Spangler is shooting 65 percent from the floor including 6-of-9 from 3-point range (66.7)………and Big body TaShawn Thomas and (PG) Buddy Hield will be too much for Tulsa.

Note * Oklahoma is shooting 74.3 percent from the free throw line with three starters shooting 80 percent or better.

Tulsa (5-4) is led by Guard James Woodard in scoring (14.4) and he posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-73 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock on Sunday. Another guard, Shaquille Harrison, also is averaging in double figures (11.4) and scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State. Swingman Rashad Smith leads the team in rebounding (6.3).
Note * Woodard has scored in double figures in 37 of his last 43 games but finished with just six points in the loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State.


I see the game being close but Oklahoma has a bit more talent on the floor and much better coaching to lose this game against little brother.
My play
Oklahoma -1.5 3 units

GLTA

Sorry Guys.... My play is Oklahoma -5.5 over Tulsa for 3 units (at 5dimes). Sorry for the error.

H/top..........good luck with your play Sat..........indy

Thanks Indy.

You looking at anything else today hilltop? BOL today

Thanks and good luck today my friend!!!!

line is -4 now

Nice call Hilltop...thank you...BOL...

Another baby seal clubbed to death

YTD 7-1-1 +9.9 units

I hit yesterday with Oklahoma in control all the way against Tulsa even though Power forward Spangler did not perform well and was in foul trouble. Tayshaun Thomas and PG Buddy Heild had great days.

Today I have two plays.

Wyoming -21 over Montana State Bobcats 1 unit
Boise State -21 over Southern Utah 1 unit


I think today the worse case scenario is that I split and with luck I will pull off the sweep.
Wyoming (8-2)

• The Wyoming Cowboys are 8-0 at home this season

• The Wyoming Cowboys are ranked 11 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 50.1% while attempting 44.6 shots per game. The Cowboys shooting percentages include 73.7% for free throw percentage and 35.0% for three point percentage so far this season.
• The Montana St. Bobcats (3-5) are ranked 310 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 38.0% while attempting 54.9 shots per game. The Bobcats shooting percentages include 77.8% for free throw percentage and 35.4% for three point percentage so far this season.
• The Montana St. Bobcats are 0-4 while on the road this season

Wyoming forward Nance will have a big day on the boards and shooting the rock. I like this match up.



Boise State (7-2) has Guard's A. Drmic and D. Marks who Southern Utah will have no answer for. Boise will contend all year for the MWC title. They will be right min the mix of things.

Intangible's that factor into both of my plays are coaching, playing at home, history against opponent's and overall team chemistry at this point in the season.

My Plays

Wyoming -21 1 unit
Boise State -21 1 unit

GLTA

Do you no if guard Anthony Drmic is a go? Listed as ? 15 ppg. Great start to the year BOL with
your plays today..............

YTD 7-3-1 +7.9 units

I lost both of my games on Sunday on Boise State and Wyoming as they both played soft and their attitudes was let's just get a "W" and move on. That's the way it goes.
Tonight I have did my due diligence again and I am making a play on Vanderbilt -11 over Western Carolina for 3 units.
Vanderbilt is coming off of an excellent performance in their last time out in the win over Purdue, a game that saw the Commodores shoot 58.3% from the floor and 64.3% from three.

Western Carolina enters the game with a 3-6 overall record after dropping their last game at Minnesota, 84-64, on December 5. James Sinclair leads the Catamounts in scoring (18.2), rebounding (5.7), and assists (3.7). Rhett Harrelson (16.6), Mike Brown (13.3), and Torrion Brummitt (10.4) also average double digits.

Vanderbilt is among SEC leaders
The Commodores lead the SEC in FG% with 50.4%. VU is 2nd in assists (17.3) 3-Pt FG% (.401), and 3-Pt FG% defense (.292), and 3rd in assist/turnover margin (1.4). VU is 16th in the country in FG%.
Frontcourt Height
Vanderbilt’s starting frontline of 7-0, 6-10 & 6-6 is the second tallest in the SEC in terms of average height. Kentucky – 82.3 inches; Vanderbilt – 81.3 inches; LSU – 81.3 inches

Coach Stallings in 16th Year
Head Coach Kevin Stallings, the school’s all-time winningest coach, is in his 16th season with the Commodores and 21st overall as a head coach. Stallings has 298 career wins at Vanderbilt and 421 overall as a head coach. He has seven 20-win seasons in the last 10 seasons, with six NCAA tournament appearances and two Sweet 16’s (2004 and 2007). Against Tennessee State earlier this year, he won his 200th career game at Memorial Gym.

My take..... playing in Vandy's gym is a bit tougher than normal gyms for teams outside the SEC because the players sit at the ends of the court rather than on the sidelines. the court is raised and sits about 12 inches above the playing floor which mans the players and coaches on the bench are seated lower than the playing floor which is change and somewhat uncomfortable.

Vandy has a really good Freshman Guard Riley LaChance who poured in a career-high 26 points in Vanderbilt’s win over Purdue on Saturday and claimed SEC Freshman of the Week honors for his performance. they start 3 freshman Guards and this does not worry me as they have a senior coming off the bench who brings fire power and energy (Senior forward James Siakam has started to come on as of late, averaging 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in the last five games).

Final exams are over and the young men have no distractions, Xmas time is around teh corner and the team is relaxed, well coached, coming off a huge win against a Big Ten opponent and is shooting very well from all over. This game has all the elements for a 14 to 20 point win.

This is the kind of spot that I like............... now having said that we all know that sports betting, handicapping and all does not always translate into covering the spread but there are games that after you have done all your capping and feel good about your play that even if you lose you are not angry about your play.

My pick
Vanderbilt -11 3 units

GLTA