#743 UTEP +20 -110 over ARIZONA
8:00 PM EST. Coach Rodney Terry comes to the Miners after a seven-year run at Fresno State and many have wondered why he took what appears to be a step back program wise. However, Fresno State had no dedicated practice facility for basketball, while UTEP does and it offered Terry the ability to sell recruits on conditioning and medical centers as well. The Miners new coach returns three players from last season, but that will allow him to institute his philosophies much quicker and Terry was able to snag Jordan Lathon, who is a four-star recruit out of Missouri. The Miners run a seven-man rotation that is led by Paul Thomas, but they also have some nice shooters including Evan Gilyard, who is averaging 24.5 points to start the season. The Miners got whacked 96-69 by New Mexico State, but Terry and his team were undone by a second half where they were outscored 50-28. Much has been made of the collapse, but that most recent result will just influence the market to look at UTEP as an easy target tonight. Like Terry's teams at Fresno, these Miners are not going to down without a fight. He also gets all the credit in the world for having the stones to take a step up in competition here in the early going, which is more than we can say for his Miners opposition tonight.
The Wildcats are 2-0 to start the season with a pair of lopsided victories, but forgive us if we can't get excited about them pounding on Houston Baptist and Cal Poly. Arizona is one of those blue blood programs we talk about in college hoops especially out west in the Pac-12, where they are once again expected to contend for a conference championship, but these Wildcats do not have the sharp claws of years past. Last season was a disaster for Sean Miller and his team off the floor, as a major FBI investigation dominated the headlines. Despite the drama, the Wildcats still won the Pac 12, but they flamed out in the first round of the NCAA's against Buffalo. The biggest reason Arizona was able to still make a run in their conference was because of Deandre Ayton, who dragged his team through the mud to a 27 win season, but he was the number one pick in the NBA Draft and is now balling with the Suns. Not only is Ayton gone, but so too are the rest of the Arizona starters from last season. These young Wildcats do not have the star power to replace the massive amount of scoring they lost and spotting a number this big with a team that is just not that good is a dangerous proposition. There is also a great chance the Wildcats treat this game as a glorified practice, as they've already been feasting at the cupcake buffet. This is a ton of points to leave on the table so we'll scoop them up.
#727 Eastern Michigan +26 -107 over DUKE
7:00 PM EST. The Eagles of Eastern Michigan are 3-0 to start the season, but they take a big step up in competition here after downing a pair of Division II schools and Drexel. In that game against the Dragons, EMU was a 13-point favorite but failed to cover in a narrow 66-62 win. Expectations are high for this Eagles team, as many predicted them to finish first in the MAC's West Division and contend for a conference championship. Coach Rob Murphy returns his top three scorers from last season and that was a team that showed some flashes of brilliance especially during a seven-game winning streak last February. The Eagles fell to Toledo in Semifinals of the MAC tourney, but despite the setback, they appear primed to make a run here in 2018-19.
The names and faces change every year, but Duke is Duke and the Blue Devils need no introduction here. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski threw his team right into the fire, as Duke opened the season in a very high profile game at Kentucky, which it won rather easily 118-84. The Blue Devils feature a triple-threat of star freshmen with RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish already making a statement, as the group has averaged 79 points in their first two games. The Dukies bested Army 94-72 in their home opener at Cameron Indoor Stadium and while there is no doubt they are going to be a national championship contender, you are going to pay a premium to back them just about every night. However, it's important to remember that while talented, the Blue Devils are a very young side after losing all five starters from last season's Elite Eight outfit. There will be ups and downs and while it's going to win its fair share of games, there will be opportunities to take back more points against Duke than we should be, as playing on Tobacco Road is often one of the biggest games on the schedule for these smaller schools. Your going to read today that Duke has won 140 straight non-conference games, but winning and covering are two very different things and there is very little room for error when spotting this many points to a plucky pooch like EMU.
#733 La Salle +17 -107 over FLORIDA
7:00 PM EST. The theme of the day is plucky pooches taking back big numbers against the NCAA's elite, which brings us to the Explorers, who are in search of their first win after a 0-2 start to the season. While its unlikely to come in Gainsville tonight, La Salle is a disciplined team, which they have proved early on with just nine turnovers per game to start the season. The Explorers are a +7 in turnover differential, which makes taking back inflated prices with them so appealing. If you don't cough the rock up, it's hard to get blown out. La Salle also has some quality players including graduate student Pookie Powell, who is averaging 20 points per game to start the season. He posted 26 in a 77-76 loss to Lafayette, but the Explorers disappointed as 10½ point chalk. However, now La Salle does a complete 180, as it is a double-digit dog with a chance to take a shot at one of the big boys. That is a role that suits the Explorers much better.
The Gators are expected to do big things here in 2018-19 after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under coach Mike White, but their big dogs were dead silent in a season-opening loss to rival Florida State. Senior guard KeVaughn Allen posted a goose egg in that 81-60 beatdown, which did nothing to help return the shine he lost after a disappointing junior year. Allen led the Gators in scoring and was All-SEC first team as a sophomore and he was lights out against Charleston Southern in a game the Gators easily covered as a 20½ point favorite, but showing up against lackluster competition is not what championship players are made of. Florida will live and die with Allen this season, but asking him to carry the load night after night is unfair, which is going to make the Gators a vulnerable favorite especially when spotting a significantly inflated number. Tonight is our first chance to test that theory.
All bet are to win 2 units
8:00 PM EST. Coach Rodney Terry comes to the Miners after a seven-year run at Fresno State and many have wondered why he took what appears to be a step back program wise. However, Fresno State had no dedicated practice facility for basketball, while UTEP does and it offered Terry the ability to sell recruits on conditioning and medical centers as well. The Miners new coach returns three players from last season, but that will allow him to institute his philosophies much quicker and Terry was able to snag Jordan Lathon, who is a four-star recruit out of Missouri. The Miners run a seven-man rotation that is led by Paul Thomas, but they also have some nice shooters including Evan Gilyard, who is averaging 24.5 points to start the season. The Miners got whacked 96-69 by New Mexico State, but Terry and his team were undone by a second half where they were outscored 50-28. Much has been made of the collapse, but that most recent result will just influence the market to look at UTEP as an easy target tonight. Like Terry's teams at Fresno, these Miners are not going to down without a fight. He also gets all the credit in the world for having the stones to take a step up in competition here in the early going, which is more than we can say for his Miners opposition tonight.
The Wildcats are 2-0 to start the season with a pair of lopsided victories, but forgive us if we can't get excited about them pounding on Houston Baptist and Cal Poly. Arizona is one of those blue blood programs we talk about in college hoops especially out west in the Pac-12, where they are once again expected to contend for a conference championship, but these Wildcats do not have the sharp claws of years past. Last season was a disaster for Sean Miller and his team off the floor, as a major FBI investigation dominated the headlines. Despite the drama, the Wildcats still won the Pac 12, but they flamed out in the first round of the NCAA's against Buffalo. The biggest reason Arizona was able to still make a run in their conference was because of Deandre Ayton, who dragged his team through the mud to a 27 win season, but he was the number one pick in the NBA Draft and is now balling with the Suns. Not only is Ayton gone, but so too are the rest of the Arizona starters from last season. These young Wildcats do not have the star power to replace the massive amount of scoring they lost and spotting a number this big with a team that is just not that good is a dangerous proposition. There is also a great chance the Wildcats treat this game as a glorified practice, as they've already been feasting at the cupcake buffet. This is a ton of points to leave on the table so we'll scoop them up.
#727 Eastern Michigan +26 -107 over DUKE
7:00 PM EST. The Eagles of Eastern Michigan are 3-0 to start the season, but they take a big step up in competition here after downing a pair of Division II schools and Drexel. In that game against the Dragons, EMU was a 13-point favorite but failed to cover in a narrow 66-62 win. Expectations are high for this Eagles team, as many predicted them to finish first in the MAC's West Division and contend for a conference championship. Coach Rob Murphy returns his top three scorers from last season and that was a team that showed some flashes of brilliance especially during a seven-game winning streak last February. The Eagles fell to Toledo in Semifinals of the MAC tourney, but despite the setback, they appear primed to make a run here in 2018-19.
The names and faces change every year, but Duke is Duke and the Blue Devils need no introduction here. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski threw his team right into the fire, as Duke opened the season in a very high profile game at Kentucky, which it won rather easily 118-84. The Blue Devils feature a triple-threat of star freshmen with RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish already making a statement, as the group has averaged 79 points in their first two games. The Dukies bested Army 94-72 in their home opener at Cameron Indoor Stadium and while there is no doubt they are going to be a national championship contender, you are going to pay a premium to back them just about every night. However, it's important to remember that while talented, the Blue Devils are a very young side after losing all five starters from last season's Elite Eight outfit. There will be ups and downs and while it's going to win its fair share of games, there will be opportunities to take back more points against Duke than we should be, as playing on Tobacco Road is often one of the biggest games on the schedule for these smaller schools. Your going to read today that Duke has won 140 straight non-conference games, but winning and covering are two very different things and there is very little room for error when spotting this many points to a plucky pooch like EMU.
#733 La Salle +17 -107 over FLORIDA
7:00 PM EST. The theme of the day is plucky pooches taking back big numbers against the NCAA's elite, which brings us to the Explorers, who are in search of their first win after a 0-2 start to the season. While its unlikely to come in Gainsville tonight, La Salle is a disciplined team, which they have proved early on with just nine turnovers per game to start the season. The Explorers are a +7 in turnover differential, which makes taking back inflated prices with them so appealing. If you don't cough the rock up, it's hard to get blown out. La Salle also has some quality players including graduate student Pookie Powell, who is averaging 20 points per game to start the season. He posted 26 in a 77-76 loss to Lafayette, but the Explorers disappointed as 10½ point chalk. However, now La Salle does a complete 180, as it is a double-digit dog with a chance to take a shot at one of the big boys. That is a role that suits the Explorers much better.
The Gators are expected to do big things here in 2018-19 after back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under coach Mike White, but their big dogs were dead silent in a season-opening loss to rival Florida State. Senior guard KeVaughn Allen posted a goose egg in that 81-60 beatdown, which did nothing to help return the shine he lost after a disappointing junior year. Allen led the Gators in scoring and was All-SEC first team as a sophomore and he was lights out against Charleston Southern in a game the Gators easily covered as a 20½ point favorite, but showing up against lackluster competition is not what championship players are made of. Florida will live and die with Allen this season, but asking him to carry the load night after night is unfair, which is going to make the Gators a vulnerable favorite especially when spotting a significantly inflated number. Tonight is our first chance to test that theory.
All bet are to win 2 units
