Full Court Press: 2008/2009 NCAA Hoops Picks

EaglesPhan36 · 01-02-09, 01:23 PM

FRIDAY: 1.2.09
USC -2.5
Seems obvious who the better team is here, so perhaps that makes this too obvious a play. Still, the Trojans are a much better defensive team than Oregon and they're pretty solid offensively, shooting around 50% on the road. Oregon is 2-3 ATS at home. If USC defends the perimeter, they should squeak this out. I do expect this to be fairly close though.

MrMonkey · 01-02-09, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the Cuse info! Same thinking with AriST and Orange! My 2 bets today. Oh by the way, have you put something down on Eagles-3 yet? I sure have! Please don't tell you don't like them? Seattle game was only spot I liked Birds more than this one!

MrMonkey

WestsidePete · 01-02-09, 02:30 PM

GL today...also on USC to come thru

EaglesPhan36 · 01-02-09, 02:55 PM

Originally posted by MrMonkey

Thanks for the Cuse info! Same thinking with AriST and Orange! My 2 bets today. Oh by the way, have you put something down on Eagles-3 yet? I sure have! Please don't tell you don't like them? Seattle game was only spot I liked Birds more than this one!

MrMonkey

Man I cannot bet Philly games. Way too invested in them emotionally to worry about spreads and totals. I might pick a spot or two during the season, but in the playoffs man I just want to watch and seem them win!

EaglesPhan36 · 01-02-09, 03:21 PM

1.2.09
Arizona State (PICK)
Stanford has yet to play any team at the level of Arizona State. Quite frankly, I'm dumb founded by this line. Either, I am an idiot (quite possible) or the books think this Stanford team is better than they are. ASU has a superior defense and offense to Stanford. Playing on the road to open PAC-10 play won't be easy, but the Sun Devils need to set the tone for conference play here.

Arizona +4.5
Two pretty even teams with Arizona @ Cal. Historically though, this is a series where the Wildcats do very well. 11-5 ATS in the last 16 & they've covered 4 straight in the series. Arizona is also off to a strong ATS start this season, covering 6 of their last 8. Cal has also been solid ATS (5-1 at home), but this figures to be perhaps their toughest game to date. Would not surprise me if 'Zona snuck out with an outright win.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-02-09, 06:39 PM

Syracuse -7
This is just another one on a day of lines that seem particularly low and again, I shall bite. SU is 3-0 ATS on the road/neutral sites this season against much tougher competition in Florida, Kansas & Memphis. SFLA meanwhile has lost 6 of their last 8 with 5 of the 6 losses coming by at least tonight's number. The Bulls don't shoot well, so this is all about defense. SU shoots close to 50% from the field, while SFLA limits foes to about 40%. Keep in mind a lot of those #s have come against lesser teams. If the Orange are shooting well, this should be a double digit win.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-03-09, 12:58 AM

Well 2009 is right there around .500. I'm out till Thursday. Another road trip for me and I don't think I'll be around a computer before then. Only playing one thing tomorrow and it's gonna be an NFL game. Do lean on one tomorrow though in NCAAB: VCU -4.5.

See you fellas in a few days.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-09-09, 02:43 PM

FRIDAY 1.9.09
Milwaukee -1
Two pretty even teams here in Green Bay & Milwaukee. Milwaukee is 4-1 ATS at home and the home team is 11-4 ATS in this series in the last 15. Neither team shoots great, but Milwaukee has an edge in defense in the last 5 and in the home/away splits. Milwaukee also 6-1 at home this season. Avery Smith & Tony Boyle need big games again.

WestsidePete · 01-09-09, 04:16 PM

I also like this is the last game of a 5 game road trip for Wisc Green Bay...Milwaukee for me as well

EaglesPhan36 · 01-09-09, 06:49 PM

Rider/Siena UNDER 152.5
Late add here. I liked this one at 147.5, but stayed on the fence. With the rise up, I'll shoot. Rider has had some difficulties scoring on the road and Siena's home defensive numbers could continue that trend. This one seems better suited to the 140s, although hot shooting nights by either will blow this one away. I like 'em big & stupid, I like big & real dumb.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-09-09, 09:06 PM

Late add sucked. Both offenses were phenomenal. Go Milwaukee!

EaglesPhan36 · 01-09-09, 10:52 PM

1.9.09
1st Half: Santa Clara/St.Mary's OVER 63 (2 unit play)
Sometimes you just gotta do something incredibly stupid to make up for a shit night. This is it.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-10-09, 11:49 AM

Rough start back into this for me. Turning it around today.

SATURDAY 1.10.09
NC STATE +11.5
I understand we have a ranked team here that is unbeaten. Still, double digits for Clemson to be favored here seems off. The Wolfpack have proven they can play with the big boys with losses by five or less to Florida, Marquette & Davidson. Clemson meanwhile has been cleaning up on cupcakes and could find this ACC test much tougher. NC State's D must control the tempo.

OKLAHOMA -1
Any time you want to give me a top 5 team as a one point favorite over a team that built its 11-3 record on teams like Chicago State, Idaho State, Florida A&M and Centenary. Count me in as an all-day sucker. Both K-State and OU play solid defense, but the Sooners should prove too tough here as they've looked very focused in the two games since Arkansas upset them on the road.

WestsidePete · 01-10-09, 11:54 AM

Also Oklahoma has lost two in a row to Kansas St...so it's not like they'll overlook them today....

EaglesPhan36 · 01-10-09, 12:57 PM

Right with you Pete. I actually got those two picks at NC STATE +12 and OU ML at +110. Seriously. Either gonna be looking real good or real dumb after the OU game.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-10-09, 02:49 PM

SAMFORD -1
Taking the better defensive team in Samford over Wofford. Wofford's leading scorer is also gimpy and questionable to play in this one. Throw in Samford's slow down style and I dig 'em at home.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-10-09, 06:12 PM

Dead even on the day. This one puts me up.

RICHMOND ML (EVEN)
The Spiders are a better club than GW. They shoot close to 50% and put up 74 ppg. GW usually tough sledding getting into the mid 60s. Colonials carry a four game losing streak, including bad losses to Coppin State & Longwood. Richmond has played tough on the road against Syracuse, ODU, VMI & UNC-Wilmington. If they shoot well, they should win easy.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 11:22 AM

SUNDAY 1.10.09
IOWA/MICHIGAN OVER 121
Early to bed, early to rise. You never know if the snooze alarm stays on offensively in these early starts. For Iowa, it shouldn't matter. They're not going to get more than 60. Michigan though is scoring 76 ppg at home and is 5-0 in OVERs at home so far. Squeak me.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 11:44 AM

PENN STATE +6.5
Both the Nittany Lions & Minnesota have been early surprises in the Big 10. PSU has already proven its mettle on the road, going 4-1 ATS with a close loss to Wisconsin & a win at Georgia Tech. PSU is also fresh off a 3 pt. win against Purdue. The Golden Gophers are nearly flawless at home, but still are just 4-3 ATS there despite an 11-1 home record. PSU's 3 Big 10 contests this season have all been decided by 4 pts. or less.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 01:24 PM

WISCONSIN +6
Have this one close to even, so I always go with the points. Hummel may be out for Purdue, which would only help the Badgers cause here.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 01:52 PM

RIDER -4
Rider beat Iona by 14 on the road earlier this season. No reason to think they can't win at home by at least 4.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 04:06 PM

I suck kawk today, but the EAGLES are gonna win baby! It's a great day!

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 05:17 PM

UNC/Wake Forest UNDER 173
I'm a glutton for punishment. Testing the 0-5 waters for the day. Just have a feeling in this one that the total is a tad too high. Then again, my record stands for itself. Fade away.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-11-09, 09:35 PM

You should fade me hard this week.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-12-09, 06:25 PM

We're moving to Defcon 2 people. Time to get serious.

1.12.09
Samford/Charleston OVER 132
This is a complete contrast in styles. Samford wants to play its slow awkward pace, while Charleston only knows one speed - fast. Charleston has played to exactly one total under tonight's number in all 14 of their games. Samford meanwhile has played over tonight's number in exactly one of their 13 games. Something has to give. At home, I think Charleston gets more of their pace and although Samford couldn't score against a wheelchair donkey league team. Charleston gives it up to the tune of 76.1 ppg on 46% shooting. Samford averages just 54.6. Charleston averages 82+ at home. No one has been able to slow the Coogs pace this season. I think Samford tries, but if Charleston comes out hot - they should take Samford out of their game plan in the 1st half.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-12-09, 06:36 PM

Notre Dame +6.5
The Irsh & Louisiville have met three times. Louisville has won 2 of 3, but won by less than tonight's number in both wins. Notre Dame is 3-0 ATS in this series. The offensive advantage here is clearly with Notre Dame. The Irish can flat out score against anyone. Louisville's offense still seems a bit lost, despite a 74.6 ppg average. They seem stagnant and that could help a mediocre ND defense. Look to the rebounding numbers to be big here. ND needs the advantage, while Louisville doesn't seem to have trouble winning despite being outrebounded on occassion. If ND locks up the boards and shoots well, they should keep this close and have a shot at a Big Monday upset.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-13-09, 03:27 PM

1.13.09
N.Iowa/Evansville OVER 127.5
Northern Iowa games have hit the OVER in 4 of the last 5. They've shot about 50% from the floor in that same period. Evansville games are 5-1 in favor of the OVER at home so far this season. Evansville is averaging over 71 ppg at home. Last four in this series on Evansville's home court have gone OVER.

WestsidePete · 01-13-09, 03:51 PM

I took your Samford/Charleston over from yesterday...good call on that one

EaglesPhan36 · 01-14-09, 03:04 PM

If I was a liquid, you could call me FADE-erade.

1.14.09
S.Florida/Pitt OVER 130.5
There used to be times when you'd never use Pitt and over in the same sentence. Not this season. This Panthers team is prolific on both ends of the floor. At home, the OVER has hit in 4/5 posted games. S.Florida road games have hit the over in 6/8 posted games. This one has Pitt route written on it and that should allow for more free flowing garbage ball at the end, just in case the points are needed.

Bowling Green +7
One of the better ATS teams early on, the Falcons slide underneath the radar here on the road @ Kent State. This isn't the same mid-major power in Kent State that we've been used to. Their defense is not as tight and their offense fairly mundane. BG is 8-3 ATS while Kent is just 2-9 ATS. The points seem like the way to go in a potential see-saw battle in the MAC.

Baylor -1.5
A&M has a lofty record at 14-2, but that seems a bit cupcake friendly to me. Sure, the Aggies zapped Arizona & Alabama at home - both decent wins, but outside of those two, it's been a festival of frauds visiting College Station. This Aggie squad must win with defense and in Baylor, they'll face the best offense they've seen all season. The Bears are still shooting almost 50% from the floor and average 82+ ppg. They're battle tested on the road against Washington State & a neutral site win over Arizona State. They won the super thriller here last year in 5 OTs. A monumental win for the program at the time. This year, they expect to win here. With just a slip up to South Carolina and a loss to top 5 Wake Forest, this Baylor team should prove too much offense & defense for A&M if they come to play.

MrMonkey · 01-14-09, 03:10 PM

Baylor and IowaSt. are my best plays today. Don't worry, if the Birds win Sunday the money lost won't feel as bad! With inconsistent offense can't take them -3 let alone -4. Putting my $ on Balt. +6. Good luck!

MrMonkey

Rixsaw · 01-14-09, 04:29 PM

What did you do over the holiday bro? You were red hot before you took a vacation. You didn't go to Bolsa an visit the Lu' girls did you? They bring bad luck. You might want to take it easy until after Te^'t.

BOL today.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-14-09, 05:29 PM

I have these shit streaks all the time unfortunately.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-14-09, 06:33 PM

5.5 pt. Teaser [1.5 units to win 2.4 units]
S.Florida/Pitt OVER 125
Bowling Green +12.5
Michigan/Illinois OVER 122

I expect to be the punching bag.

EaglesPhan36 · 01-15-09, 01:03 AM

See you boys in a few weeks. I need a sabbatical. I had two horrid beats on 2nd half bets in the past two days that broke my soul. UNDERs ruined by OT + not picking anything correctly otherwise in most sports. Bad spell. Good time to step away and refresh and recharge. Peace out.