NCAA BBALL (2-6-1) (-6.8 UNITS)
SO MUCH FOR MY LOGIC SO FAR
****CORNELL +13.5
Syracuse is coming off a big week last week with wins against UNC and Cal. Cornell on the other hand, suffered a 10pt loss to Seton Hall after beating Alabama and UMass. Cornell is very capable of keeping this game in single digits. They managed to lose by only 10pts last year against Syracuse and they also return their top 6 players from that team. Although Cuse has a 2-3 matchup zone that makes it hard for their opponents to shoot well, I think Cornell will find a way to do so. They rely heavily on the 3pt shot and shoot it very well. Cornell also has a great amount of experience and they play hard and don’t give up. Their balanced scoring will also be a huge plus against a team like Syracuse. The 2-3 zone is able to shut down teams that have limited options and poor shooters. There are plenty of great things to say about Syracuse and they without a doubt have the talent advantage in this game. In the end though, I feel that Cornell’s ability to shoot the 3 coupled with their experience will keep this within 13.
**WISCONSIN -1.5
I give Wisconsin the edge due to their ability to play defense. They really make it difficult for opposing teams to score. The Zags are mixing a lot of new players together after the departure of 4 starters. Bouldin, Goodson, and Grey have been around the block, but outside of Sacre this team is still meshing. Both teams are very good rebounding teams and the battle of the boards should be fun to watch. I love the experience of Wisconsin’s backcourt with Bohannon and Hughes, both of which take smart shots and shoot well. Wisconsin isn’t as talented on the offensive end as in year’s past, but their defense makes up for it. Give me two similarly talented teams (Gonzaga may have a slight edge) with two great coaches and I will take the team that is the better defensive team anyday on a neutral court.