College Hoops Opening Night

I am very ready for the season to begin.

Not playing the Memphis-Wake Forest game. I played against Memphis when they beat Syracuse last year. I can't make the same mistake here, b/c Memphis is too unpredictable early in the season.

I like the second game though.

St. John's (+2)
OK. Marquette went to the Final 4 and returns 3 starters and they are only a 2-point fav against an inconsistent Red Storm club.

I know this is a "home Game" for the Johnnies, but there will be a lot of empty seats for this. At least there were last year.

St. John's got hot at the end of last year. They won 9 of their L10 games in the regular season and won the NIT. I know Hatten is gone, but they still have some good guards and play good defense (allowed 58.8 ppg LY).

They are also a good rebounding team.

Marquette will still be a good club, but they are somewhat inexperienced (only 2 seniors, one senior starter - Scott Merritt). They will plsy 4 freshmen for a lot of minutes (2 projected starters).

Marquette is usually better than most teams defensively, but they are equal here with the Johnnies.

I think this will be a tough, grind it out game and the Johnnies win late.

St Johns up to +3.5 at some places now.

St John's is very mediocre this year, and some are already calling for Jarvis' job. Marguette lost Wade, but Travis Diener is a breakout point guard and they will play a steady defensive game, which is easier to implement early in the season than an offensive flow.
Memphis is hurting with injuries, only about 8 scholarship players suiting up, Wake is having some injury troubles of there own, though.
I haven't decided if I'm going to play either tonight, but Marquette is my early lean.

Fine, I still like it and will add another unit on St. John's (+4).

I just have a funny feeling on this one and the whole world is on Marquette.

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Nothing wrong with having conflicting opinions, I'm gonna pass on the game and take my Wake win for the night.
I'm a fan of Diener, but St. John's has a soph PG who sat out last year for academic reasons, "Showtime" Hill. I'm sure 99 % of the people betting on the game have no idea about his talent. I want to see him play a game before I decide the direction the Johnnies will go.