Valpo at Youngstown State (+3)
Both of these teams are terrible. I'm leaning Y-State ML to be honest. Valpo hasnt won away from home, but Y-State has only beat a D-? school. Their last 2 games were very close however. A 2 point loss to Robert Morris on the road and a 1 point loss to St Francis (PA) at home. Not totally sure on this game though.
UConn (-14.5) at Buffalo
This seems like a game you would pound UConn, but Buffalo has been pretty impressive so far. UConn has beat everybody by double digits outside of an early game against La Salle. Buffalo nearly beat Niagara and did beat Temple by double digits in their last 2 games. The 14.5 points seems generous, but Buffalo has played pretty good this year at home and you never know when UConn will not show up. I would lean towards UConn but no play as of now
USC at Oklahoma (-8)
Line seems pretty solid from what I first thought, but USC might be a tad overrated right now. They were 1-2 in the preseason tournament they played in, which was their only games away from home so far this season. These losses came against Seton Hall and Missouri. If Missouri can beat them by double digits on a neutral court, I believe Oklahoma can do that at home. I've got Oklahoma as a solid play right now.
Saint Mary's (-3) at Kent State
At first glance, Saint Mary's seems to be the play. Kent State beat Saint Mary's 65-57 last February. Kent State has played quality competition thus far and have beaten UNC Wilmington and Saint Louis at home. Saint Mary's lost its only road game to UTEP by 13 points. They came back and defeated Cal State Fullerton and Providence on a neutral site. Really torn on this game right now. Kent State isn't a bad team, but can Saint Mary's win on the road?
Western Michigan at VCU (-12)
Initially I think that VCU couldn't be made much higher of a favorite because maybe nobody would bet them. VCU has already lost 3 games but they were all away from home. Losses to Rhode Island, East Carolina, and Vandy doesn't make VCU any worse than what they were thought to be. Western Michigan is 1-4 away from home this season. One loss was an 11 point loss to SIU-Edwardsville!! The only win was a 3 point win at Sam Houston State. I really like VCU here, maybe just a small play though.
Butler at Cleveland State (-3)
As I type this, Cleveland State has moved from -2.5 to -3. I am absolutely stunned by this, but I do see that Clev. State has played very well this year. Butler has played good as well though. Butler beat Drake by 10 points on the road already this season. Butler has played great defense all year and I'm not sure Cleveland State is better than Butler. Seems a little square of me, but I like Butler plus the points.
Wright State at Wisconsin-Green Bay (-9.5)
First glance I havent seen anything that looks good. Wright State is pretty bad, but UWGB isn't a team that should be blowing teams out of the water. The teams have met 10 times since 2004 and I see that Wright State has won EVERY game at UWGB. I like how UWGB has been playing lately though. They beat UMass and Morgan State by 15+ points and beat Marshall by 6 points. They were beaten by Valpo and Utah in their only road games. I'm going to say that I have NO CLUE.
Detroit at Wisconsin Milwaukee (-5)
UW-Milwaukee looks like the play because IMO Detroit is god awful. They're what come to me when I think of awful NCAA teams. Detroit isn't as bad as I thought, but they are awful on the road. Losses to Depaul, Purude, and Western Michigan aren't terrible, but the WM loss sticks out. UWM has struggled scoring in it's last 2 games and Detroit has played good defense all year. I would want to tease this game if I played it either way. I would still slightly lean towards UWM because of how bad Detroit has been blown out on the road by a team like Western Michigan.
UCLA at Texas (-5)
Are you kidding me? UCLA hasn't proved anything to me this year. Texas should be able to at least win this game by 5. UCLA has been put to the test by EVERY decent team they've played. They only won by 5 against Miami Ohio, lost to Michigan by 3, and they haven't played a road game yet. Only solid win was a 17 point win over Southern Illinois, who is also overrated (at least now). Texas has already beat Oregon and St Josephs by double digits and played Notre Dame to a 1 point game. I'm locking in Texas right now, well I'm waiting until I see the first line movement to make sure I can't get a better line.
Oklahoma State at Washington (-5)
Tough game to predict here. Oklahoma State got embarassed by Gonzaga and Michigan State, but did beat Siena and a few other teams including Tulsa and North Texas. Washington lost early at Portland and then lost big to Kansas, but came back and played Florida close in a preseason tournament. Washington is usually pretty solid at home and Oklahoma State isn't the best road team ever. I think Washington will own the boards against OK State and I think Washington is the play, but I dont like giving 5 points.
Both of these teams are terrible. I'm leaning Y-State ML to be honest. Valpo hasnt won away from home, but Y-State has only beat a D-? school. Their last 2 games were very close however. A 2 point loss to Robert Morris on the road and a 1 point loss to St Francis (PA) at home. Not totally sure on this game though.
UConn (-14.5) at Buffalo
This seems like a game you would pound UConn, but Buffalo has been pretty impressive so far. UConn has beat everybody by double digits outside of an early game against La Salle. Buffalo nearly beat Niagara and did beat Temple by double digits in their last 2 games. The 14.5 points seems generous, but Buffalo has played pretty good this year at home and you never know when UConn will not show up. I would lean towards UConn but no play as of now
USC at Oklahoma (-8)
Line seems pretty solid from what I first thought, but USC might be a tad overrated right now. They were 1-2 in the preseason tournament they played in, which was their only games away from home so far this season. These losses came against Seton Hall and Missouri. If Missouri can beat them by double digits on a neutral court, I believe Oklahoma can do that at home. I've got Oklahoma as a solid play right now.
Saint Mary's (-3) at Kent State
At first glance, Saint Mary's seems to be the play. Kent State beat Saint Mary's 65-57 last February. Kent State has played quality competition thus far and have beaten UNC Wilmington and Saint Louis at home. Saint Mary's lost its only road game to UTEP by 13 points. They came back and defeated Cal State Fullerton and Providence on a neutral site. Really torn on this game right now. Kent State isn't a bad team, but can Saint Mary's win on the road?
Western Michigan at VCU (-12)
Initially I think that VCU couldn't be made much higher of a favorite because maybe nobody would bet them. VCU has already lost 3 games but they were all away from home. Losses to Rhode Island, East Carolina, and Vandy doesn't make VCU any worse than what they were thought to be. Western Michigan is 1-4 away from home this season. One loss was an 11 point loss to SIU-Edwardsville!! The only win was a 3 point win at Sam Houston State. I really like VCU here, maybe just a small play though.
Butler at Cleveland State (-3)
As I type this, Cleveland State has moved from -2.5 to -3. I am absolutely stunned by this, but I do see that Clev. State has played very well this year. Butler has played good as well though. Butler beat Drake by 10 points on the road already this season. Butler has played great defense all year and I'm not sure Cleveland State is better than Butler. Seems a little square of me, but I like Butler plus the points.
Wright State at Wisconsin-Green Bay (-9.5)
First glance I havent seen anything that looks good. Wright State is pretty bad, but UWGB isn't a team that should be blowing teams out of the water. The teams have met 10 times since 2004 and I see that Wright State has won EVERY game at UWGB. I like how UWGB has been playing lately though. They beat UMass and Morgan State by 15+ points and beat Marshall by 6 points. They were beaten by Valpo and Utah in their only road games. I'm going to say that I have NO CLUE.
Detroit at Wisconsin Milwaukee (-5)
UW-Milwaukee looks like the play because IMO Detroit is god awful. They're what come to me when I think of awful NCAA teams. Detroit isn't as bad as I thought, but they are awful on the road. Losses to Depaul, Purude, and Western Michigan aren't terrible, but the WM loss sticks out. UWM has struggled scoring in it's last 2 games and Detroit has played good defense all year. I would want to tease this game if I played it either way. I would still slightly lean towards UWM because of how bad Detroit has been blown out on the road by a team like Western Michigan.
UCLA at Texas (-5)
Are you kidding me? UCLA hasn't proved anything to me this year. Texas should be able to at least win this game by 5. UCLA has been put to the test by EVERY decent team they've played. They only won by 5 against Miami Ohio, lost to Michigan by 3, and they haven't played a road game yet. Only solid win was a 17 point win over Southern Illinois, who is also overrated (at least now). Texas has already beat Oregon and St Josephs by double digits and played Notre Dame to a 1 point game. I'm locking in Texas right now, well I'm waiting until I see the first line movement to make sure I can't get a better line.
Oklahoma State at Washington (-5)
Tough game to predict here. Oklahoma State got embarassed by Gonzaga and Michigan State, but did beat Siena and a few other teams including Tulsa and North Texas. Washington lost early at Portland and then lost big to Kansas, but came back and played Florida close in a preseason tournament. Washington is usually pretty solid at home and Oklahoma State isn't the best road team ever. I think Washington will own the boards against OK State and I think Washington is the play, but I dont like giving 5 points.
