Line currently Maryland -12.5, total of 141.5
Here we have the classic power conference versus mid-major matchup to wind up the non-conference slate before we hit the avalanche of conference games in January. Maryland, basically mired in ACC mediocrity since their championship game visit a few years back, sports an 8-3 record feasting on cupcakes and losing to better opposition. William and Mary is off to their best start in history, losing their opening two to UConn and Harvard then reeling off eight straight wins.
The Tribe is the epitome of the old saying the sum is greater than the parts. Certainly less athletic than their opposition almost all nights they play a team game reminiscent of a European squad. The whirlingdervish of passes and screens helps the Tribe get open three-point looks where they rank among the nation's leaders. Valuing the ball is another key element for Coach Tony Shaver's troops as their rock-steady backcourt play of David Schneider and Sean McCurdy limits turnovers. Marcus Kitts has been a revelation inside during his sophomore year and nicely balances out the Tribe's outside finesse with some brusing banging on the blocks.
Maryland is still largely Greivis Vasquez's team. The all-everything Venezuelan must have a sore back from carrying the Terps hopes and dreams the past few years. Running-mate Sean Mosley is expected to be back tonight after an ankle injury has sidelined him. Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne are the Terps other scoring threats with Hayes being the key shooter from downtown. Freshman Jordan Williams gives Maryland an inside presence that they have sorely lacked.
This game comes down to who will impose their will. Maryland likes to press the pace and force turnovers as evidenced by their opponents 19 giveaways a game. William and Mary likes to control the pace and their scoring output is more a reflection of their efficiency than their speed of play. When the Tribe has trouble it is against teams that are patient and can bang the ball inside. Those two traits are not earmarks of a Gary Williams team of late. The experience is the backcourt for W&M should be able to negate the Terrapin press and turn it into more of a halfcourt game. Likely this game comes down to a three-point horse contest and the hotter team will win.
At this time of the calendar year it is hard to figure out which team will come out motivated and which team will have the Saint Nick hangover or be looking ahead to the conference season. Both teams sport similar records but closer inspection reveals W&M has much more quality in their victories. Their number seven ranked RPI attests to this fact as well.
I expect a close game, if not and outright upset here. Maryland certainly could blow out William and Mary should their threes fall and the Tribes fail to in a worst case scenario, but one has to side with the likelihood that statistics will not vary to that degree.
The sum is greater than the parts here and a true team is greater than five individuals. Here's thinking the Tribe will be the team to impose their will.
Taking:
W&M +12.5 3 units
W&M ML +700 .5 unit
Under 141.5 1 unit
Here we have the classic power conference versus mid-major matchup to wind up the non-conference slate before we hit the avalanche of conference games in January. Maryland, basically mired in ACC mediocrity since their championship game visit a few years back, sports an 8-3 record feasting on cupcakes and losing to better opposition. William and Mary is off to their best start in history, losing their opening two to UConn and Harvard then reeling off eight straight wins.
The Tribe is the epitome of the old saying the sum is greater than the parts. Certainly less athletic than their opposition almost all nights they play a team game reminiscent of a European squad. The whirlingdervish of passes and screens helps the Tribe get open three-point looks where they rank among the nation's leaders. Valuing the ball is another key element for Coach Tony Shaver's troops as their rock-steady backcourt play of David Schneider and Sean McCurdy limits turnovers. Marcus Kitts has been a revelation inside during his sophomore year and nicely balances out the Tribe's outside finesse with some brusing banging on the blocks.
Maryland is still largely Greivis Vasquez's team. The all-everything Venezuelan must have a sore back from carrying the Terps hopes and dreams the past few years. Running-mate Sean Mosley is expected to be back tonight after an ankle injury has sidelined him. Eric Hayes and Landon Milbourne are the Terps other scoring threats with Hayes being the key shooter from downtown. Freshman Jordan Williams gives Maryland an inside presence that they have sorely lacked.
This game comes down to who will impose their will. Maryland likes to press the pace and force turnovers as evidenced by their opponents 19 giveaways a game. William and Mary likes to control the pace and their scoring output is more a reflection of their efficiency than their speed of play. When the Tribe has trouble it is against teams that are patient and can bang the ball inside. Those two traits are not earmarks of a Gary Williams team of late. The experience is the backcourt for W&M should be able to negate the Terrapin press and turn it into more of a halfcourt game. Likely this game comes down to a three-point horse contest and the hotter team will win.
At this time of the calendar year it is hard to figure out which team will come out motivated and which team will have the Saint Nick hangover or be looking ahead to the conference season. Both teams sport similar records but closer inspection reveals W&M has much more quality in their victories. Their number seven ranked RPI attests to this fact as well.
I expect a close game, if not and outright upset here. Maryland certainly could blow out William and Mary should their threes fall and the Tribes fail to in a worst case scenario, but one has to side with the likelihood that statistics will not vary to that degree.
The sum is greater than the parts here and a true team is greater than five individuals. Here's thinking the Tribe will be the team to impose their will.
Taking:
W&M +12.5 3 units
W&M ML +700 .5 unit
Under 141.5 1 unit
