Friday 11/23/2018 ... Comps / Bonus Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Requests Etc

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Houston Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

The American Athletic Conference's West Division comes down to Friday's meeting between red-hot host Memphis and injury-ravaged Houston. The winner will advance to the conference championship game against No. 9 Central Florida next weekend.

The Tigers have won three straight games behind a powerful ground game led by Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr., who have combined for 29 rushing touchdowns. Memphis, which won the West last year before losing to UCF in the championship, has a 9-1 record in November games under third-year coach Mike Norvell. The Cougars added quarterback D'Eriq King - with a knee injury ending a season that saw him set the American's single-season record with 50 touchdowns responsible for - and defensive end Payton Turner (foot) to a long list of regulars sidelined with injuries. Houston will try to balance redshirt concerns as they prepare freshman Clayton Tune and graduate transfer Quinten Dormady to start in place of King.

TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: Memphis -7

ABOUT HOUSTON (8-3, 5-2 American): Tune (309 yards, four touchdowns, one interception) has played in three games while Dormady (2-of-5 for eight yards in two appearances) has expressed an interest in preserving his redshirt and exploring transfer options for next year. "(Tune is) ready to play and help his team earn an opportunity to play for a conference championship," coach Major Applewhite said during Monday's press conference. "That's where his mindset is, not on this, that or redshirt. It's on, what do we have to do to beat Memphis." Running back Patrick Carr (733 yards, five touchdowns) and wide receiver Marquez Stevenson (61 catches, 892 yards, nine TDs) will try to guide an offense that is ranked fourth nationally in scoring offense (47.8 points) and total offense (540.8 yards).

ABOUT MEMPHIS (7-4, 4-3): Henderson is second nationally with 1,521 rushing yards and needs 108 to tie the league's single-season record (1,629 by Tulsa's James Flanders in 2016). Taylor adds rushing 766 yards and Tony Pollard (29 catches, 336 yards, three receiving touchdowns) has gotten more work in the backfield recently, in addition to his kickoff-return duties. Quarterback Brady White has thrown for 2,738 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions while Damonte Coxie leads the Tigers with 60 catches for 1,039 yards and seven scores for an offense ranked seventh in scoring (43.1 points) and total offense (523 yards).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Memphis and Houston have split the last four meetings - each of which were decided by fewer than five points. The past three games featured a winning touchdown in the final 90 seconds.

2. Houston All-American DE Ed Oliver, who made national news last week for arguing on the sidelines with Applewhite over a letterman jacket reserved for active players, is expected to play Friday after missing four games with a bruised right knee.

3. Pollard has six career kickoff returns for touchdowns, one shy of tying the NCAA record. Houston's Tyron Carrier, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny and Clemson's C.J. Spiller each had seven.

PREDICTION: Memphis 41, Houston 30

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Texas Longhorns vs. Kansas Jayhawks Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

No. 11 Texas takes to the road for its regular-season finale as it visits Kansas on Friday. And there's plenty at stake for the Longhorns, who will secure a berth in the Big 12 Championship game with a win over the last-place Jayhawks.

Texas enters Friday tied with West Virginia for second place in the Big 12 at 6-2, one game behind 7-1 Oklahoma. And since the Longhorns beat the Sooners 48-45 on Oct. 6, the loser of Friday's Oklahoma-West Virginia matchup automatically will be eliminated from title-game contention with a win by Texas in Lawrence. The Longhorns, however, may have to play without starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who left Saturday's win over Iowa State in the second quarter after aggravating the AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder. Ehlinger, who initially injured the shoulder Oct. 13 against Baylor, will attempt to throw in practice this week, and if he can't play on Friday, experienced junior backup Shane Buechele will get the call.

TV: Noon ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Texas -15

ABOUT TEXAS (8-3, 6-2 Big 12): Ehlinger has started all 11 games this season, averaging 272.6 yards of total offense while posting a Big 12-best 21-2 passing TD-to-interception ratio and rushing for 10 more scores. Buechele, however, has started 19 contests in nearly three seasons with the Longhorns and completed all 10 of his passes for 89 yards and a TD after replacing Ehlinger in the 24-10 win over the Cyclones. Senior linebacker Gary Johnson (team-high 74 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss) leads a defense that ranks third in the conference in stopping the run (136.5 yards) but eighth against the pass (264.5 yards).

ABOUT KANSAS (3-8, 1-7): The Jayhawks are locked into their fourth straight last-place finish in the Big 12, but they envision better days ahead with Sunday's announcement that former LSU coach Les Miles has been hired and inked to a five-year contract. In the meantime, David Beaty, who is 6-31 in three-plus seasons at Kansas, will finish out the season Friday with his team having lost three straight and seven of eight after a 2-1 start. Freshman tailback Pooka Williams Jr. has been the unquestioned bright spot, ranking second in the conference with 102.2 rushing yards per game after a season-high 252-yard, two-TD effort in Saturday's 55-40 loss at Oklahoma.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas has won 14 of its 15 Big 12 meetings with Kansas, but the lone loss came in its last visit to Lawrence - a 24-21 overtime defeat in 2016.

2. The Longhorns are 4-1 against ranked foes and 4-2 versus unranked teams this season.

3. Kansas has lost 31 straight games against ranked opponents, dating back to a Sept. 11, 2010 win over No. 15 Georgia Tech.

PREDICTION: Texas 36, Kansas 24

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Iowa Hawkeyes Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018

Kirk Ferentz was bound to post his 150th career victory sooner or later, but Iowa made sure his history-making win was going to be remembered for more than just his acceptance into select company. Coming off their most lopsided Big Ten victory in 37 years, the Hawkeyes hope to close their regular season out with a flurry Friday when they host Nebraska in the battle for the Heroes Trophy.

Iowa scored 28 points in the second quarter to roll to a 35-point halftime lead and continued to pour it on in the second half during last weekend's 63-0 romp over Illinois, ending a three-game slide by posting its largest conference win since a 64-0 triumph over Northwestern in 1981. As a result, Ferentz joined Woody Hayes (202), Amos Alonzo Stagg (199), Bo Schembechler (194) and Joe Paterno (162) as only the fifth coach in conference history to win 150 games as a member of the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers battled the snow and a wind chill bordering on single digits last weekend, getting three fourth-quarter field goals from freshman Barret Pickering to rally past Michigan State 9-6 for their fourth win in five games following a 0-6 start. "Every week I've been coaching them, there's a little more fight. Today's the most I've seen. That was a hard game to win. ... Our guys had to keep grinding, and the defense had to keep coming up with stops," Nebraska coach Scott Frost told reporters.

TV: Noon ET, FOX. LINE: Iowa -10.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (4-7, 3-5 Big Ten): The wintry conditions played a large role in the Cornhuskers' ability to generate only 248 total yards after amassing at least 450 in a school-record seven straight games, but it didn't keep Devine Ozigbo from rushing for 74 yards and becoming the 36th Nebraska player to run for at least 1,000 in a season. With sophomore wideout JD Spielman (66 receptions, 818 yards, eight touchdowns) sidelined due to an ankle injury, Stanley Morgan Jr. shook off a slow start to finish with four catches and become the program's all-time leader with 182. Senior safety Antonio Reed had a career day versus the Spartans, registering a season-high seven tackles - including a career-high three for loss - his first career sack, two forced fumbles and his first interception of the season.

ABOUT IOWA (7-4, 4-4): The Hawkeyes put the clamps on an Illinois offense averaging 41 points, 549.3 yards and 348.3 rushing yards over its previous three games, holding the Fighting Illini to 220 total yards and 138 rushing yards while also forcing four turnovers. Mekhi Sargent rushed for 121 yards to become the first Hawkeye to run for at least 100 yards this season, while fellow sophomore Toren Young also ran for two touchdowns and added 67 yards on the ground. Tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson caught all three of Nate Stanley's touchdown passes in the rout; Fant's 19 career receiving TDs rank third all-time in Big Ten history for a tight end and leave him two shy of a tie for second place in school history regardless of position.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa's 35-point outburst before the break against Illinois was its largest offensive output in a half since scoring 42 in the second half versus Nebraska last season en route to a 56-14 rout.

2. Last weekend's victory marked the first time the Cornhuskers won a game without scoring a touchdown since a 3-0 victory over Kansas State in 1937.

3. The Hawkeyes have held five opponents to a season-low point total and posted two shutouts - their most since 1997.

PREDICTION: Iowa 31, Nebraska 27

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Akron Zips vs. Ohio Bobcats Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 11/21/2018

There is still some hope, albeit faint hope, on the part of the Akron Zips to become eligible to go to a bowl game. But they have to go on the road, as an underdog, and get two straight-up wins. This may be a task too big for Terry Bowden's team, which truly lacks firepower.

As far as the Ohio Bobcats are concerned, they've got some hope too. They are already going to a bowl game, but they still have a chance to win the East division and go to the Mid-American Conference title game, although admittedly they may need a miracle for that to happen.

These teams get together at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio on Friday afternoon.

TV: CBS Sports Network, Noon ET. LINE: Ohio -23.5

ABOUT THE AKRON ZIPS: Current Status - Akron currently sits with a 4-6 record (3-7 ATS) after a 21-6 loss to Bowling Green last time out. And that came with Kato Nelson returning a quarterback. He was ineffective, completing just 12 of his 28 passes. The Zips had only 227 total yards in the game, and this reflects their real weakness. They could still go to a bowl game, but they will have to win this game at Ohio and then go on the road to beat South Carolina next week in a recently-made contest that made up a canceled game on both teams' schedules. The Good - Akron has been pretty strong against air attacks all season long, ranking 37th among 130 FBS teams in terms of passing efficiency defense. Oddly, they have been pretty efficient once they get into the other team's red zone, scoring points 94% of the time. Only three other teams in the country have a better percentage. And for what it's worth, they have defended punts very well, allowing just 4.3 yards per return. The Bad - They are 126th in total offense, averaging 288.5 yards per game, and they had only 227 against one of the weakest defensive units in the country. Akron has the fewest first downs in the nation, and their third-down conversion rate of 29.6% is also the worst. It should be reiterated that even with Nelson back in the lineup after an injury, they couldn't put up any numbers last week.

ABOUT THE OHIO BOBCATS: Current Status - Ohio has a 7-4 record, both straight-up and against the points, and they are currently bowl-eligible. CBS Sports has them projected to go to the Frisco Bowl against Houston, while the Sporting News has them going to the Potato Bowl against host Boise State. The Bobcats can still win the MAC East division if they win here and Bowling Green pulls an upset over Buffalo. The Good - Ohio possesses the 12th-ranked rushing offense in the country, with 251.4 yards, and they're 17th in total offense. They have done a good job converting yardage into points, as they average 40.5 on the season. Akron has forced more turnovers (29) than any other team in the country, resulting in a +13 turnover margin. They move the chains at a steady rate, with 48.5% success on third down (11th best in the nation) and 272 first downs overall. One hallmark of most Frank Solich teams is that they control the ball, and indeed this edition does, ranking ninth in time of possession. Nathan Rourke is 15th in passing yards per completion, and he is one of the most talented dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. The Bad - Well, the Bobcats have some holes in the secondary, as they have given up 255.5 passing yards per game, landing them outside the nation's top 100 in that category. And this is one of the factors that have allowed opponents to convert 44.8% on third down.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Akron is one of the few teams in the Mid-American Conference that has scored a victory over a nationally-ranked Power 5 team, with their 39-34 win over Northwestern (currently #20 in the AP poll) during the non-conference schedule.

2. Akron has covered the last three meetings against Ohio. In last year's game, despite 282 yards rushing for the Bobcats, the Zips came up with a 37-34 victory. Ohio had won nine straight meetings prior to that.

3. It will be curious to see who wins the battle of field position. For example, Akron is 125th in the nation in kickoff returns, while Ohio is fifth best in kickoff return defense.

PREDICTION: Ohio 40, Akron 13

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 11/21/2018

The Kent State Golden Flashes have had a tough season of transition to new coach Sean Lewis, who has a pretty good idea as to what he wants to accomplish but probably doesn't have the personnel to do it quite yet. They won't be going anywhere in the post-season, but they could use a victory to give them a little momentum.

The Eastern Michigan Eagles will, in all likelihood, be part of the post-season bowl picture, and they have been very tough on defense the last couple of weeks. Plus, they are going on the road, where they have felt very comfortable.

These teams will get together at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio on Friday afternoon.

TV: ESPN 3. LINE: Eastern Michigan -13.5

ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN: Current Status - Eastern Michigan is 6-5 straight-up and 7-4 against the spread. They come into this game having won four of their last five, including back-to-back victories over Central Michigan and Akron in which they gave up just seven points apiece. They are also coming off a bye week. CBS Sports projects them going to the Camellia Bowl against Troy, while the Sporting News has them pointed toward the Boca Raton Bowl against Florida Atlantic. The Good - Eastern Michigan is 15th in the nation in passing efficiency defense, and only four teams in the country have allowed fewer passing yards. In the red zone, they have been especially tough, as opponents have failed to score any points 28.6% of the time. The Eagles have a +9 turnover margin as well. Quarterback Tyler Wiegers has been very efficient, completing 66% of his passes, and only one team in the country has had fewer passes intercepted then Eastern Michigan (3). The Bad - This offensive line has underperformed, allowing 33 sacks, which ranks them among the ten worst in the nation. They have also surrendered 7.2 tackles for loss per game, which is poor.

ABOUT KENT STATE: Current Status – Kent State is 2-9 straight-up but 6-5 ATS, as they have often been underpriced. They are coming off a 56-34 loss to Toledo, in which they allowed 384 rushing yards. The Good – It's hard to find a lot of positives, but the Flashes have statistically been very good in the red zone. They have scored points on 91.7% of their trips, which is 12th best in the country, and they have prevented the opposition from scoring on 25.5% of their attempts, which is 15th best. The Bad – On an overall basis, the defense has been a problem, as they allowed 475.5 yards per game, 218.7 of those yards on the ground. As a result, they have given up more points per game than any other Mid-American Conference team (37.5). Their offensive line has been, well, offensive. They allow 39 sacks, and only two teams in the country have yielded more. And they are dead last in defending against tackles for loss, as they give up 9.9 per game. They are also flagged for more penalties per contest than anyone in the country (9.45). With the fast-paced style Lewis brought over from Syracuse, it's probably not a surprise that Kent State ranks 113th in time of possession. None of this is good if you can't move the chains, and the third down conversion rate is well below mediocre (just 34.6%).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Sports bettors who are looking for the definition of the term "road warrior" will want to look to Eastern Michigan, which has covered 15 of its last 17 games as the visitor.

2. Kent State is often in a struggle for field position; they rank 127th in net punting, which means that only two teams in the country have averaged fewer yards per punt.

3. Eastern Michigan has been less penalized than Kent State, but only slightly so – they have been flagged for eight penalties and an average of 74.45 yards per game.

PREDICTION: Eastern Michigan 35, Kent State 17

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Toledo Rockets Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 22nd November 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 11/22/2018

The Toledo Rockets have been able to maintain a high level of offensive efficiency, even with a change in quarterbacks. And they have headed toward post-season play once again.

It would seem inconceivable that a squad like the Central Michigan Chippewas, who have had difficulty on offense all season long, would be able to trade points with them. And if that is strictly what they wanted to do, it would be true. But CMU's defense has managed to do a pretty good job, even though they've been handicapped by not getting a lot of support or beneficial field position.

It is a tall task for John Bonamego's team, as he seeks to take CMU out on a winning note on Friday at the Glass Bowl.

TV: ESPN3, Noon ET. LINE: Toledo -18.5

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN: Current Status - The Chippewas are 1-10 straight-up and 5-6 against the pointspread. They have no wins against FBS teams, only managing to defeat FCS entry Maine. They're coming off a bye week, and lost 24-13 to Bowling Green a couple of weeks ago. The Good - CMU actually ranks 30th in the nation in total defense, and there are only two teams in the nation that have allowed fewer passing yards than they have (148 per game). The Bad - The Chips are next to last in total offense, gaining just 261.4 yards per game. They are 114th in rushing and 124th in passing, and they have turned the ball over 28 times; only one team has coughed it up more. They are among the nation's worst in converting third downs (just 30.8%), and there are only two teams who have scored less than they have. And they have scored only 40 total points in the last four games. Because they cannot make first downs, they put a lot of pressure on the defense, which gives you an even better idea about how good a job the stop unit has done, allowing 25.2 ppg.

ABOUT TOLEDO: Current Status - The Rockets are 6-5 straight-up and 5-6 against the spread. In their last game, they rolled up 384 rushing yards in a 56-34 victory over Kent State. Toledo used that victory to get bowl-eligible. And they are projected by both CBS Sports and Sporting News to go to the Bahamas Bowl against Middle Tennessee. The Good - Toledo has been known as a program that can move the ball, and this year's it has been no exception, whether they have had Mitchell Guadagni or Eli Peters at quarterback. They are 33rd in the nation in total offense, with 446 yards a game. Eli Peters, the Illinois transfer, has been more than serviceable when Guadagni's been injured, with 14 touchdown passes and only six INT's. And the school that sent Kareem Hunt to the pros last season continues to run the ball, averaging 217.3 yards per contest, which puts them among the top 25 in the country. Toledo averages 40.2 points a game, with a +6 turnover margin, and they have has their moments on defense as well, holding opponents to 34.4% on third down. The Bad - Despite those third-down statistics, they have been permissive, yielding 452.7 ypg, which means they have been outgained by their opponents. They have hurt themselves with penalties, getting flagged almost eight times a game for an average of 73.27 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Last year Toledo had 310 rushing yards on the way to a 30-10 victory over Central Michigan.

2. Toledo is likely to get some penetration out of its defensive line. The Rockets are among the nation's top 40 in both sacks (28) and tackles for loss (6.7 per game).

3. Central Michigan has covered just one of its last six games, and have played eight of their eleven games under the total.

PREDICTION: Toledo 34, Central Michigan 10

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Buffalo Bulls vs. Bowling Green Falcons Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 22nd November 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 11/22/2018

It has indeed been a great season for Lance Leipold and the Buffalo Bulls, who are on the brink of an appearance in the Mid-American Conference title game. Of course, if they hadn't slipped up with a loss to Ohio in their last game, they may have been in a position to get into the national rankings.

But they are in a "win and in" situation as far as meeting Northern Illinois for all the MAC marbles, and what they have to do is win here against the Bowling Green Falcons, who are coming off an uplifting win over Akron and have been playing some better defense of late.

This game is slated for Noon ET at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.

TV: ESPNU, Noon ET. LINE: Buffalo -14.5

ABOUT BUFFALO: Current Status – Buffalo was beaten 52-17 by Ohio last time out, dropping their record to 9-2 straight-up and 8-3 against the points. If they defeat Bowling Green they will automatically go into the Mid-American Conference title game against Northern Illinois. CBS Sports has them projected to face Georgia Southern in the Dollar General Bowl, and Sporting News projects the same. The Good – behind 6-7 quarterback Tyree Jackson, who leads the MAC in passing yards, Buffalo averages 413.6 yards per game. There is no other way to describe their offensive line play than "outstanding." And Buffalo has given up just eight sacks in 11 games, fourth the best in the nation, and it's been extremely difficult for opposing defensive fronts to penetrate them, as they have yielded just 4.36 tackles for loss per contest. And when you have averaged 34.5 points per game, like they have, it's difficult to get beaten, especially with a defense that is ranked higher than the offense. The Bulls' passing efficiency defense is actually 17th in the country, and they have done a respectable job of pressuring the passer, with 26 sacks. The Bad – for whatever reason, Buffalo has had its problems in the red zone, scoring points just 73.6% of the time. There are only six teams among the FBS ranks with a lower percentage. And generally, Buffalo is not a threat to bring a kickoff back; they average only 17.45 yards a return.

ABOUT BOWLING GREEN: Current Status – after a 21-6 victory over Akron, Bowling Green is 3-8 straight-up and 4-6-1 against the pointspread. In that last victory, they held the Zips to 227 yards. And together with their victory over Central Michigan previous to that, they have allowed just 19 points in the last two games. Remember that Carl Pelini, who was the defensive coordinator, took over as interim head coach after Mike Jinks was fired. The Good – Bowling Green has done an excellent job covering kicks. Their punt return defense is fourth best in the nation, averaging a microscopic 1.36 yards per return, and they are 30th in kickoff return defense. The Falcons are in the top 10 nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (only 169 per game), which is strange because they are just 92nd in passing efficiency defense. The Bad – Well, this has consistently been one of the least effective defenses all season long, giving up 445 yards per game, and 276 of those yards have come on the ground. They have only 15 sacks and are right down near the bottom in tackles for loss, with only 3.5 per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ohio has run roughshod over both of these teams, with 646 yards against Buffalo and 597 against Bowling Green.

2. In last year's meeting, Buffalo had 582 yards of offense in a 38-28 win, which broke the Bulls' six-game losing streak to Bowling Green.

3. Bowling Green has mounted 17 different drives of ten plays or more, and only 13 of the 130 FBS teams have more than that.

PREDICTION: Buffalo 41, Bowling Green 27

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Missouri Tigers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

Missouri coach Barry Odom opened up his wallet this week to ensure fans built his team into their holiday plans. Odom offered to buy tickets for any fans who wanted to attend the Tigers' regular-season finale against Arkansas on Friday, and more than 1,000 reportedly took him up on it.

Odom wants a packed house as Missouri tries to wrap up a perfect month of November for the second consecutive season. Missouri has won three straight and is trying to salvage a 4-4 SEC record following an 0-4 start in league play for the second year in a row. The Tigers have won eight straight November games dating to 2016, when they salvaged the finale of Odom's first season at the helm with a 28-24 win over the Razorbacks. Arkansas would like to do the same for first-year coach Chad Morris on Friday to avoid limping into the offseason with a four-game losing streak and a winless SEC campaign.

TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Missouri -23.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (2-9, 0-7 SEC): The Razorbacks are coming off a 52-6 drubbing at Mississippi State last week, but three of their SEC losses have come by a touchdown or less - including a 24-17 setback to LSU two weeks ago. Morris' up-tempo offense hasn't yet taken off in Fayetteville, as Arkansas ranks 13th in the SEC in scoring and 12th in total offense as it totaled only 219 yards on 69 plays last week. Things haven't been any better on defense - the Razorbacks are 13th in the league in scoring defense and 12th in total defense.

ABOUT MISSOURI (7-4, 3-4): The Tigers' offense kept clicking along in last week's 50-17 romp at Tennessee, as Drew Lock was 21-of-30 for 257 yards and two touchdowns as he moved past former Georgia star David Greene for second on the SEC's career passing list. While Lock gets much of the spotlight, Missouri's ground game has excelled this month, rolling up 701 yards in the last three games. The defense that struggled early in the season held Tennessee to 255 total yards and continued its excellent play against the run, limiting the Volunteers to 82 yards on 28 carries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Missouri leads the all-time series 6-3 and has won four of the last five in the Battle Line Rivalry, including a 48-45 win a year ago.

2. Arkansas K Connor Limpert has made 19 field goals, tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history.

3. Missouri ranks 21st in the nation in third-down efficiency on offense, converting 45.9 percent, and 24th on defense (33.1 percent) - making it one of 10 teams in the top 25 on both sides of the ball.

PREDICTION: Missouri 37, Arkansas 24

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Virginia Cavaliers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018

Virginia Tech looks to end an ugly four-game losing streak when it hosts Virginia as a home underdog on Friday afternoon. The Cavaliers also are looking to get back into the win column after Georgia Tech handed them a 30-27 overtime loss last weekend.

Wesley Wells kicked a 40-yard field goal in the first overtime and Virginia's Brian Delaney missed his game-tying attempt from 35 yards as the Yellow Jackets rallied for the win. "The storyline is special teams' miscues," Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters after the game as his team also gave up a special-teams touchdown and botched a punt return. A season that started with such promise has been completely derailed as Virginia Tech has lost each game on the losing streak by an average of 21.3 points. The latest setback came on Saturday as Miami scored 28 unanswered points to close out the game, cruising to a 38-14 win over the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC LINE: Virginia -3.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA (7-4, 4-3 ACC): The Cavaliers' day can be summed up in an 11-second span as quarterback Bryce Perkins got pulled down in his own end zone for a safety before Georgia Tech's Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing kick 77 yards for a touchdown. Perkins was otherwise solid on the day, throwing for 217 yards and a score on 21-of-26 passing and running for another 73 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. The defense also managed to hold the vaunted triple-option attack of the Yellow Jackets to only 268 rushing yards on 52 attempts, which is nearly 100 fewer than their season average.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (4-6, 3-4): The Hokies were able to drive for touchdowns in each of the first two quarters against the Hurricanes but a missed field-goal attempt and committed a turnover in the third that seemed to kill any momentum the offense had. Virginia Tech is struggling after halftime at home, as each of its last three opponents has outscored the team by 14 or more points in the third quarter. The run defense also is having its issues as Miami was able to pile up 168 rushing yards a week after Pittsburgh rumbled for 492.

EXTRA POINTS

1. In addition to its four-game losing streak, Virginia Tech has lost four straight at home - last winning there on Sept. 8 against William & Mary.

2. The Hokies have beaten the Cavaliers 14 straight times.

3. Virginia Tech has scheduled a conditional game against Marshall next week that only will be played should it beat the Cavaliers. The Hokies were forced to cancel a contest in September and need two wins to become bowl-eligible.

PREDICTION: Virginia 35, Virginia Tech 31

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

East Carolina Pirates vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

With nine wins in its first 10 games, Cincinnati had to be feeling good entering last weekend's action. However, after a sound beating at the hands of Central Florida, the Bearcats need to regroup in time to handle visiting East Carolina on Saturday.

The Bearcats were thumped 38-13 by unbeaten UCF as they fumbled three times and had no answers for the Knights' passing attack, allowing three touchdowns through the air. "We've still got a ways to go. I felt it tonight," Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell told reporters. "I'm not saying we couldn't win, but I still believe we've got a ways to go. I'm not going to lie to my guys. I want them to know that this is what we're going to shoot for." East Carolina, meanwhile, is aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since opening the 2016 campaign with a 2-0 record. The Pirates topped Connecticut 55-21 their last time out to snap a five-game slide in resounding fashion.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Cincinnati -19.5

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (3-7, 1-6 American): The Pirates struggled offensively during their five-game losing streak, scoring 20 points or fewer four times over that stretch, but they endured no such problems against UConn. Holton Ahlers threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score for East Carolina, which had 415 rushing yards and 657 total yards in a rare dominant performance. Tyler Snead made three touchdown catches and, despite playing only three games this season, already has 15 receptions for 236 yards and four scores.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (9-2, 5-2): The Bearcats set a season low for points scored and allowed a season-high amount in the ugly effort against UCF. Desmond Ridder threw 26 times, completing just 11 passes and totaling 127 yards without a touchdown. Michael Warren II, who recorded five rushing touchdowns over his previous two games, was limited to 81 yards on 18 attempts - and no carries longer than 14 yards - as he failed to reach the end zone for just the second time all season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cincinnati has won six of the last seven meetings.

2. Bearcats senior WR Khalil Lewis (46 catches, 565 yards) needs 15 catches and 111 yards to match the career highs he set last season.

3. East Carolina is 21-3 over the last 24 games in which the team has gained 200 rushing yards.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 49, East Carolina 22

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

Oregon will try to continue its recent dominance of host Oregon State when the in-state rivals meet for the 75th consecutive season on Friday afternoon in a Pac-12 regular-season finale. The Ducks have won nine of the last 10 games in the series and own a 64-47-10 all-time record against the Beavers.

Oregon will be trying to win for the eighth time this season, a mark it hasn't reached since 2015. The Ducks are three games behind Washington State for first place in the North Division, leaving them out of the hunt for a berth in the conference championship game, but they can better their bowl possibilities with a win against Oregon State. The Beavers won't appear in a bowl game for the fifth straight season but will look to finish their campaign on a winning note after dropping their previous three games. That didn't happen last year, when the Ducks routed Oregon State 69-10 in the most one-sided contest in the 121-game history of the series.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Oregon -16.5

ABOUT OREGON (7-4, 4-4 Pac-12): Dillon Mitchell continues to dominate opposing secondaries during Pac-12 play. Mitchell is one of two wide receivers in the FBS who has accumulated more than 1,000 receiving yards in conference play. The 6-2 junior from Memphis, Tenn. leads the Pac-12 in several receiving categories, including yards (1,105), first-down catches (47), receptions of 50 yards or more (four) and 100-yard games (six).

ABOUT OREGON STATE (2-9, 1-7): The Beavers will do their best to keep Oregon's offense off the field, and running back Jermar Jefferson has done a good job of that this season. He has rushed for 1,316 yards, the most by an Oregon State true freshman, and can become the third newcomer in program history with eight 100-yard rushing efforts in a season. The Beavers have shown balance with their passing game, as three receivers have at least 50 receptions for the first time since 2009.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oregon QB Justin Herbert has 22 touchdown passes and two interceptions in nine career Pac-12 road games.

2. Herbert has thrown touchdown passes to 10 different receivers this season, which is tied for second in the Pac-12.

3. Oregon State needs 411 total yards against Oregon to rank 10th in school history in total yardage for a season.

PREDICTION: Oregon 48, Oregon State 31

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Central Florida Knights vs. South Florida Bulls Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

Ninth-ranked Central Florida passed one big test last weekend and has another tough hurdle ahead in order to complete a second straight perfect regular season as it visits rival South Florida on Friday for the 10th edition of the War on I-4. UCF clinched its spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game with a 38-13 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday, extending its nation-best winning streak to 23, and hopes to hand the Bulls their fifth straight loss.

"USF always plays tough," Knights linebacker Pat Jasinski told the Orlando Sentinel as his team moved to ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings. "Their guys want to knock our heads off. We want to knock theirs off. It's just what it is. You know you're going to get a hard-fought game and, as a player, that's everything you kind of want." Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 373 yards and four scores in the 49-42 win over USF last year and has been responsible for 33 touchdowns this season, but the defense must step up for a second straight week against a dangerous Bulls offense. South Florida raced to a 7-0 start, then gave up 133 points in the next three games before coughing up a 17-point halftime lead in a 27-17 setback at Temple on Saturday, but a win over UCF would soothe the pain. "This game means everything," USF cornerback Mazzi Wilkins told the Tampa Bay Times. "We have very high expectations for ourselves, so I don't know if it can completely (save the year), but it would definitely heal a lot of wounds that happened."

TV: 4:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: UCF -14

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (10-0, 7-0 American): The Knights produced one of their best defensive efforts last week, allowing one offensive touchdown, and coach Josh Heupel told reporters: "A dominating performance. They kept us in the ball game early while offensively, we got our footing." Senior lineman Titus Davis recorded three of his six sacks on the season against Cincinnati and sophomore defensive back Richie Grant registered 12 of his team-high 93 tackles last week. Milton boasts 24 touchdown passes and has spread the ball around well as sophomores Gabriel Davis (39 catches, five touchdowns) and Tre Nixon (37, four), along with junior Dredrick Snelson (35, five), get the most work.

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (7-4, 3-4): Coach Charlie Strong lamented the third quarter, when the Bulls had the ball on Temple's side of the field three times before turning it over twice and failing on a 4th-and-1. USF finished with a season-low 266 yards of offense last week and junior quarterback Blake Barnett had just 82 of those with two interceptions, but the Owls were limited to 76 yards on the ground - the Bulls' best effort in that category this year. A big performance will be needed from junior running back Jordan Cronkrite, who became the fifth USF player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,065) last week, and senior Tyre McCants leads the receiving corps with 56 catches for 604 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USF junior TE Mitchell Wilcox, who has made 35 catches for 465 yards, re-injured his ankle last week but is expected to try to play.

2. Central Florida K Matthew Wright had 53 career field goals and needs one to pass for Shawn Moffitt for the school record.

3. The Knights are ninth in the nation in rushing yards per game (257.7) and the Bulls have allowed 231.5 - 119th in the country.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 45, South Florida 24

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Oklahoma Sooners vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 20th November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/20/2018

Less than one week after losing whatever chance it had to make the College Football Playoff, West Virginia can strike a similar blow to Oklahoma by beating the Sooners for the first time since becoming conference rivals in 2012. The 12th-ranked Mountaineers will attempt to end their recent struggles against No. 6 Oklahoma when the two meet in Morgantown, W. Va. on Friday in what likely amounts to a Big 12 Championship play-in game.

West Virginia surrendered a go-ahead touchdown with 42 seconds remaining last weekend to drop a 45-41 decision at Oklahoma State, falling into a second-place tie with Texas in the conference standings. The Mountaineers and Longhorns still control their destiny in regards to the conference title game, however, as a West Virginia victory against the Sooners would forge a three-way tie for first - in the likely event Texas beats Kansas earlier in the day - and send them to Arlington, Tex. due to head-to-head wins over Oklahoma. The Sooners only need to post their seventh consecutive win over the Mountaineers to assure themselves of a spot in the Big 12 Championship and keep their hopes of receiving a second straight College Football Playoff invitation alive. Oklahoma is coming off an uninspiring 55-40 home victory over the three-win Jayhawks, allowing 524 yards to an offense that had not gained more than 368 during conference play.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Oklahoma -1.5.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (10-1, 7-1 Big 12): Heisman Trophy hopeful Kyler Murray is still on pace to become the first FBS player ever to average at least 300 passing yards and 60 rushing yards for an entire season, despite throwing for 272 and rushing for 99 while also accounting for five touchdowns versus the Jayhawks. After leading rusher Trey Sirmon (851 rushing yards) was injured on his first carry of the game, freshman Kennedy Brooks (811) took over for a second straight outing, running for a season-high 171 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Marquise Brown recorded 65 receiving yards against Kansas to push him over 1,000 for the second straight season; his 2,116 receiving yards are the most ever for a Sooner through his first 24 career games.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (8-2, 6-2): Heisman Trophy candidate Will Grier threw for 364 yards versus the Cowboys to post his school-record 18th career 300-yard passing game and boosted his career completion total to 484, passing Oliver Luck (1978-81) for fifth place in program history. Kennedy McKoy ran for a career-high 148 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, scoring two touchdowns in the second straight game and becoming the third Mountaineer to run for at least 100 yards in a game this season. Senior receiver David Sills V caught at least one touchdown pass for a sixth straight contest and is tied for second in FBS with a Big-12 best 13 receiving scores; his 33 career TD receptions rank as the third most in school history.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma has won 19 consecutive true road games - 11 more than the next-longest active streak in FBS.

2. Sills (13) and Gary Jennings Jr. (11) are the only pair of teammates in FBS with at least 10 receiving touchdowns.

3. The Sooners are the only team the Mountaineers have not beaten since joining the Big 12.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 51, Oklahoma 45

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Washington Huskies vs. Washington State Cougars Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NCAAF Predictions 21st November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/21/2018

There is more than Apple Cup bragging rights on the line when seventh-ranked Washington State hosts No. 16 Washington in Friday's Pac-12 showdown. The Cougars are ranked No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings and need two more victories, some help from opponents and some help from the selection panel to crack the final four.

The winner advances to play Utah in the Pac-12 title game, and Huskies coach Chris Petersen knows his defense faces a challenge in Washington State senior quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who leads the nation with 36 touchdown passes. "In terms of his pocket poise and presence, he's got a great feel," Petersen said of the Heisman Trophy candidate in a press conference. "You're going after him, the ball is out. You're not coming after him? He's going to stand in there. You get to him? He's going to get out of the pocket. Really decisive." This is Minshew's one and only taste of the fierce rivalry, and he didn't disappoint when he was asked about his view of the Huskies. "I kind of hate everybody we play," Minshew told reporters. "So I guess I hate them equally - as much as I hate everybody else."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Washington State -3

ABOUT WASHINGTON (8-3, 6-2 Pac-12): The Huskies will try to avoid a shootout with the Cougars behind a stingy defense that allows an average of 16.6 points and has held five opponents to 13 or fewer points. Senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven has been superb with 145 tackles - which ranks second nationally - as the only Washington player to record more since 1989 is Mason Foster with 163 in 2010. Senior quarterback Jake Browning has thrown just of 16 of his 94 career touchdowns this season while senior running back Myles Gaskin is just 94 yards away from becoming the 10th FBS player to record four straight 1,000-yard campaigns.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (10-1, 7-1): The Cougars have won seven consecutive games behind the stellar play of Minshew, the East Carolina transfer who has topped 300 yards a school-record 11 times while passing for 4,325, fourth-most in school history. Minshew fired a school-record seven touchdown passes in last weekend's 69-28 blistering of Arizona as 11 different players caught passes and six had scoring receptions. The defense allows an average of 22.6 points per game and features a force in senior linebacker Peyton Pelluer (team-high 76 tackles) and also is receiving strong play from sophomore linebacker Jahad Woods (68 tackles, four forced fumbles).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington has won 15 of the last 20 meetings, including a 41-14 romp last season.

2. Browning passed for 242 yards in last weekend's 42-23 win over Oregon State after failing to reach 200 in three straight games.

3. Cougars sophomore WR Tay Martin has recorded four career multi-touchdown performances (two this season, two in 2017).

PREDICTION: Washington State 48, Washington 41

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

When the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets played less than two weeks ago, the only takeaway was the gruesome injury to Nets guard Caris LeVert. Brooklyn continues to try to come together without one of its top players and gets another crack at the Timberwolves when the teams meet in New York on Friday.

LeVert suffered a dislocated right foot in the 120-113 loss at Minnesota on Nov. 12, and even though the diagnosis was more positive than the injury appeared to be at the time, it transformed the Nets' outlook. They've gone 2-3 since that defeat after falling 119-113 at Dallas on Wednesday to finish a two-game road trip. Brooklyn now has a stretch in which it plays 13 of 17 at home and it begins with the Timberwolves, who completed a 3-2 homestand -- starting with the win over the Nets -- with Wednesday's 103-101 defeat to the Denver Nuggets. That setback left Minnesota with a solid 7-3 record at home but they are one of three NBA teams without a win on the road (0-8).

TV: Noon ET, FS North (Minnesota), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (7-11): Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points and Derrick Rose added 20 off the bench on Wednesday for Minnesota, which was done in by a 35-18 third quarter in favor of the Nuggets. "We just didn't play as hard, we didn't execute," Towns told reporters. "We didn't come out ready in the third quarter. They were ready, and that's what led to our demise." Towns had 25 points and 21 rebounds in the win over the Nets and averaged 20.2 points and 14.6 boards on the homestand while shooting 55.2 percent -- including 8-of-16 3-pointers.

ABOUT THE NETS (8-11): Allen Crabbe replaced LeVert in the starting lineup five games ago but hadn't provided much of an impact on the offensive end until Wednesday, when he hit seven 3-pointers en route to a season-high 27 points. "This has been a struggle," Crabbe -- who entered the game shooting 27.1 percent from the floor before hitting 10-of-16 shots -- told reporters. "The first 18 games, and in those 18 I think I was solid in two of those like tonight. So it feels good man. Like I told you guys the other night, shooter's gotta shoot. It'll click." Reserve forward Ed Davis helped out with 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench and the veteran is 12-for-12 from the field over the last two games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Nets PG D'Angelo Russell had 31 points in the loss at Minnesota earlier this month.

2. Timberwolves SF Robert Covington is 15-for-30 from 3-point range in four games since coming over from Philadelphia in the Jimmy Butler trade.

3. Brooklyn won the only meeting at home last season 98-97 on a late basket by Spencer Dinwiddie.

PREDICTION: Nets 113, Timberwolves 110

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Memphis Grizzlies vs. LA Clippers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the surprise teams in the NBA and they look to continue their impressive rise when they visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Memphis owns the best record in the Western Conference after stretching its winning streak to five games with Wednesday's 104-103 road win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Center Marc Gasol hit two free throws with 0.7 seconds left to provide the winning margin against the Spurs and coach J.B. Bickerstaff is impressed with the attitudes of his players. "Personally, I haven't been around a group in the 15-some years that I've been coaching that has been this together and has been this supportive of one another," Bickerstaff told reporters. "Like this group is all in and it's fun to be a part of it and just watch it blossom." The Clippers had a five-game winning streak snapped by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday but also are faring well and are tied for the third best mark in the conference. Los Angeles blew a 24-point lead in Tuesday's 125-118 loss to the Wizards.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Memphis), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (12-5): Memphis had dropped seven straight games in San Antonio, which added to the euphoria of the dramatic late-game victory. "This is what it's like in the NBA," Gasol told reporters after contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds. "This game is over, we should be happy with this game but there's another one coming in a couple of days so we've got to get ready." Point guard Mike Conley recorded 30 points and nine assists and is averaging 25.3 points over the past seven outings.

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (11-6): Forward Tobias Harris continues to show why the franchise didn't want to deal him to the Minnesota Timberwolves to pry away Jimmy Butler as he is averaging 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds. Harris scored a season-best 29 points in the loss to the Wizards and is averaging 26.7 points over the past three games while scoring 20 or more on 11 occasions. Backup power forward Montrezl Harrell scored 20 points against the Wizards for his fourth 20-point outing in six games and he is averaging 20.4 points over the past seven outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Clippers won nine of the past 13 meetings.

2. Gasol recorded four straight double-doubles and is averaging 20.5 points and 13 rebounds during the stretch.

3. Los Angeles F Danilo Gallinari missed all eight of his field-goal attempts against Washington.

PREDICTION: Clippers 108, Grizzlies 105

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Houston Rockets vs. Detroit Pistons Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

The Houston Rockets will be aiming to stretch their winning streak to six games when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday in the second game of a home-and-home set between the two teams. Houston posted a 126-124 victory on Wednesday when star guard James Harden scored a season-best 43 points.

The Rockets won eight of their past 10 games but the home win over the Pistons wasn't easy as Detroit splurged for 41 fourth-quarter points. "But we found a way to win," Harden told reporters. "There's going to be games like that where you've got to figure it out." The Pistons were rolling down the stretch as Blake Griffin made five 3-pointers in a span of 3 1/2 minutes but the power forward committed two costly late-game turnovers - and nine overall - to help prevent his club from notching a comeback victory. "Two turnovers down the stretch killed us," Griffin told reporters. "Doesn't matter how many points you score. The big moments - that's where I've got to be better."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (9-7): Harden also registered nine assists, seven rebounds, four steals and drained all 19 of his free throws in his stellar effort on Wednesday. "James had some big steals, especially guarding the post, having to guard Blake and having to guard (Andre) Drummond," Houston point guard Chris Paul told reporters. "James is a really good post defender. That's why at times we put him on bigs. James' all-around game was unbelievable." Paul contributed 20 points for his fourth 20-point effort in the past five games.

ABOUT THE PISTONS (8-7): The loss to the Rockets was only Detroit's second in the past six games but coach Dwane Casey saw some concerning things that he wants to correct prior to the rematch. "What hurt us was our lack of discipline," Casey told reporters afterward. "Not staying at home, getting sucked in. Unnecessary help was what we call it. There are certain shots we want them to take and some we don't and we got undisciplined a few times, got sucked in. We'll clean that up come Friday night." Drummond recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds for his seventh consecutive double-double and 13th of the season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Houston C Clint Capela scored a season-best 27 points to go with 15 rebounds and four blocked shots to become the first Houston player with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in consecutive games since Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon in Nov. 1993.

2. Detroit reserve G Langston Galloway was 4-of-5 from 3-point range Wednesday and made four or more in four of the past seven games.

3. Harden moved into third place on the Rockets' all-time scoring list with 13,391 points, passing Rudy Tomjanovich (13,383).

PREDICTION: Pistons 118, Rockets 111

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

This is not how the Boston Celtics figured their season would unfold, not after tons of preseason hype and certainly not after starting the season with six wins in their first eight games. The Celtics visit the Atlanta Hawks on Friday looking to snap out of a 3-7 stretch that has been marked with inconsistent play, and needed a 40-point fourth quarter Wednesday to make a 117-109 loss to the New York Knicks appear more respectable - after trailing by 26 points in the first half.

"We've got to try and turn this ship around and get it going in the right direction," Boston forward Gordon Hayward told reporters afterward. "I don't think it's smart to get too down on ourselves, but we've got to improve." The Celtics missed their first 10 3-point attempts against New York in losing for the third consecutive contest, and open a three-game road trip that also includes visits to Dallas and New Orleans. The swing begins in Atlanta, where the Hawks have dropped nine games in a row and 15-of-18 so far this season after Wednesday's 124-108 home defeat to Toronto. "We just struggled," Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce told the media after his bench outscored the starting five 16-8 in the first quarter. "We just needed to get some new life, new energy."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, FS Southeast (Atlanta)

ABOUT THE CELTICS (9-9): Kyrie Irving finished with 13 assists to go along with his team-high 22 points Wednesday, and is averaging 22.4 points and 6.4 assists on the season. Center Al Horford scored 19 points in 35 minutes despite a sore left knee. The Celtics are scoring 106 points per game, ranking 25th in the NBA, and are third in points allowed per contest (103.4) despite surrendering 117 points in back-to-back losses to the Knicks and Charlotte.

ABOUT THE HAWKS (3-15): There was very little for Atlanta to feel good about Wednesday, other than veteran guard Vince Carter scoring his 25,000th career point just before the final buzzer. Forward Taurean Prince was the only starter to reach double figures in scoring (12 points) as Atlanta's starting five combined to shoot 13-for-40 from the field. Guard Jeremy Lin came off the bench to score a team-best 26 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range, and is 12-for-23 from long range in his past five games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Atlanta rookie G Trae Young ranks third in the NBA in assists at 8.1 per contest.

2. Boston is shooting 24-for-98 from 3-point range during the three-game skid.

3. The Hawks played Wednesday without C Alex Len (sore back) and F Omari Spellman (right hip adductor).

PREDICTION: Celtics 108, Hawks 94

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

New Orleans Pelicans vs. New York Knicks Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

The New York Knicks snapped a six-game losing streak with their best win of the season, a wire-to-wire victory at Boston on Wednesday. They will now try to get revenge for one of those six straight losses when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

The Pelicans used a 41-point fourth quarter to storm to a 129-124 win over the Knicks at home earlier this month, one of New York's many woeful defensive efforts during the slide, which came to an abrupt halt with a more complete effort at TD Garden. "We're 5-14. We've still got a lot of learning to do," Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. told reporters after Wednesday's win. "We'll go and look at film on Friday. But everybody should go home with a smile on their face and eat good (Thursday), you know, because we got a win." The victory over New York ignited a three-game winning streak for New Orleans but a missed free throw by superstar forward Anthony Davis was the difference in Wednesday's 121-120 loss at Philadelphia. Davis, who had 43 points against the Knicks, was held to 12 points by the 76ers, nearly 16 below his average entering the night.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS New Orleans, MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE PELICANS (10-8): Jrue Holiday and E'Twaun Moore picked up the slack for Davis on Wednesday by scoring 30 points apiece and backup forward Julius Randle continued his solid play with 22 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. That marked Randle's fourth straight game with either a double-double or a triple-double and he is averaging 20.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in 27.5 minutes during that span. Moore has scored 54 points on 58.5 percent shooting over the last two games for the league's second-ranked offense (119.6 points per game).

ABOUT THE KNICKS (5-14): The fact that Wednesday's win came on the road against a somewhat desperate team and just 24 hours after a loss at home signaled, perhaps, a sign of growth for New York's growing roster. "Effort. They stuck with it. Young fellas on a back-to-back, in a hostile environment," Knicks coach David Fizdale told the media. "Just played extremely hard and played through a lot of adversity. Thank goodness that clock ran out." Trey Burke led the way with 29 points and Hardaway added 21 for New York, which is looking to produce its first winning streak of the season Friday night.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Burke is averaging 25.8 points on 58.8 percent shooting during a four-game hot stretch.

2. Pelicans PF Nikola Mirotic has nine double-doubles in his last 11 games.

3. Davis, who reached the 10,000-point milestone Wednesday, is averaging 27.3 points on 53.7 percent from the floor in 10 career games against the Knicks.

PREDICTION: Pelicans 119, Knicks 115

bmd1803 · Nov 23, 2018

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers Preview and Predictions 11-23-2018

NBA Predictions 22nd November 2018 by Gracenote
Cavaliers vs. 76ers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 11/22/2018

The arrival of Jimmy Butler dominated headlines of late but the Philadelphia 76ers are aware of who the MVP of the team - and maybe the league - is through the first 20 games. Star center Joel Embiid will try to continue boosting his MVP credentials by leading the 76ers to a fifth straight win when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Embiid recorded his 12th outing of at least 30 points and 10 rebounds with 31 and 19 on Wednesday as Philadelphia slipped past the New Orleans Pelicans 121-120. "I was getting the ball a lot and I was doing my job, and that's dominating," Embiid, who was showered with M-V-P chants by the home crowd, told reporters. The Cavaliers no longer have a dominating player on which to anchor their playoff hopes and had to watch former hometown hero LeBron James score 32 points for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 109-105 loss on Wednesday that dropped their league-worst record to 2-14. The lone starter remaining from the team that James led to the NBA Finals in each of the previous four seasons, center Tristan Thompson, collected 14 points and 15 rebounds in the setback.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Philadelphia

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (2-14): Cleveland is firmly in rebuilding mode and at least is getting some encouraging performances from younger players. Small forward Cedi Osman, 23, scored a team-high 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 42 minutes on Wednesday and was happy with his team's effort. "It was a great game," Osman told reporters. "It was a great game for everybody. We competed really hard. We just have to go out every game and do the same thing we did tonight. There were, of course, some bad moments that we had, but mostly it was good. Everybody competed hard and we did our best to win tonight."

ABOUT THE 76ERS (13-7): Philadelphia is an NBA-best 10-0 in its own arena and can feel the momentum when competing in front of the home fans. "I think just knowing we've played well here, and giving home fans what they want, for us to play hard every game coming in here and competing," point guard Ben Simmons told reporters. "There's a priority to that where we want to win. We don't want to let anybody down here." Embiid averages 30.8 points at home while posting 25.4 on the road.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers SG JR Smith is away from the team as it tries to work out a trade for the disgruntled veteran.

2. 76ers PG Markelle Fultz (shoulder) is not expected to play this weekend.

3. The teams split four meetings last season, with Philadelphia taking the last two.

PREDICTION: 76ers 130, Cavaliers 109