When I cap the UMass game I'm liking them to win by 10. BUT seems like people on here are on the other side and the line has now moved from -6 to -5. What am I missing here? Why does it appear that I'm on the wrong side? ALso Belmont opened at +6 and is now +7. I like this to be a very close game with Belmont having a chance to win. However, once again it appears I'm on the wrong side. Any insight?
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i dont think you are on the wrong side of umass at all,., i think money driving the line is wrong personally.. i guess my biggest worry for umass is they have had a long layoff and might be hearing how great they are but i think at some point they will go on a run that emu wont be able to keep pace with..i agree totally i made it closer to 10 than the number out there, i played umass-6, obviously would rather have waited but still like the bet..
think injuries the issue with belmont,, i still wouldnt lay the points but i just passed on that gm..Comment -
I dont know anything about EMU, except I watched them vs Kentucky last week at Rupp.....and they played them tough. Sure EMU lost by 18 or so, but it was inside of 10 with about 8 mins or so left. They hung without there two leading scorers doing anything.Comment -
Can anyone shed some light on the Belmont injuries? I can't find that anyone is injured and was wondering about that line as well.Comment -
Cant find anything about injuries on belmonts page..please direct meComment -
Awful spot for Belmont.
They just played shaka's press get 1 day rest and now have to play @ MTSU.
Both their guards are banged up on top of that.Comment -
Belmont Bruins | covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/ncb/injury/injuries.html#team2322 Player Status/Updated covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/ncb/players/player752245.html G Ques Tues - Head - 12/2/13 notes covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/ncb/players/player748196.html G Ques Tues - Foot - 12/2/13 notes Comment -
I think Belmont plays at UK in the coming weeks as well.
If these guys make the tournament, they will certainly be battle tested.Comment -
Thanks everyone, gonna pass on Belmont, the +7 looked pretty good with the way they have been playing but with the injuries there are better games out there.Comment -
This one is pretty accurate but never trust one site always double/triple check
Don't ask me why being based out of Chicago but I think it might be linked into Don BestComment -
e mich plays defence good and the line is kinda showing that .but they only played 1 big name team and lost bye 18 .thats just my take on it .bolComment -
Belmont travels a whole 20 miles tonight.Comment -
Kenpom ranks E Mich @183 and UMass @26. E Mich played UK on the road close to the spread covering the +20.5 w/ +18 and beat a Cleveland St squad that's ranked #119 by Kenpom by 12 pts w/ a spread of -2 at home. Those were the only 2 games that stood out for EMU IMO. Rest of the games were vs similarly ranked teams like Robert Morris, Tex Arl and 2 D2 teams that are pretty unmentionable. Looking deeper, as of Nov 25, EMU has been ranked #25 for the Mid Major Poll. They have a high blocked shots rate of 9 per game and have a +6.5 TO margin. So far they have shown to be terrible at rebounds w/ a -4.0 rebound margin (only beat Robert Morris in rebounds among the D1 schools). EMU like to play zone and will kill you defensively if you can't hit from behind the arc.
U Mass has a squad that is heavily loaded w/ experience. "Because of transfer rules, injuries, redshirts and academics, the Minutemen are loaded with players who are on track to spend five years in college. Of the six UMass players averaging 20 or more minutes per game, five are in at least their fourth year of college." However, they have yet to be tested in this young season. They have played against Clemson (#27), New Mexico (#44), and Nebraska (#115) in the Charleston Classic and came out 3-0 in wins and ATS. Earlier in the year they have also played LSU (#41), Boston College (#85) and Youngstown St (#170) and came out 3-0 in wins but 2-1 ATS. UMass has a +0.7 TO margin and +6.7 for rebounds. They ave 15.3 off rebounds/game equating to 17 pts. UMass likes to press so look for them to start separating in the 2H. They have only trailed for 5m and 46 secs in the 2H and all came vs Boston College in the opener. They have never trailed in the 2H in the L5 games.
In conclusion, I'm leaning heavily for UMass to cover the spread but look for Bryant, Lee, and Ward (career best vs Cleveland w/ 28 pts and 6 rebounds) to play a big part w/ Combs coming off the bench (scored career best vs Kentucky w/ 23pts), that can go 6 deep, in a possible cover by EMU. This is also a revenge game from last year in a home-and-home series, marking a 61-75 loss to UMass. Riley will be big in the paint averaging 4.5 blocks/game. EMU plays big at home and that will also be a huge factor in the outcome of this game (under coach Murphy 27-9 at home in wins and 13-1 in Nov) but Coach Murphy is 0-5 vs ranked teams.
UMass has seen better competition and have prevailed so far. This is UMass' first true road game that is also coming off a semi large break on a holiday weekend.
"They all came back a little sluggish," Kellogg said. "I've been trying to get them back into playing the way we're supposed to play, with the energy we're supposed to play with. We're an energy team, and if we play with energy, good things happen. We may not always make the right pass, the right shot or the right play, but if we bring energy and play with some toughness, we have a chance."
Regardless, I still see UMass covering the spread and coming out on top. Look for a decent game from EMU but eventually the quality and experience will win out w/ UMass winning by 9+. That's my take on the game.Comment
