**Louisville at Kentucky**
--Most sports books have installed Louisville (6-0 straight up, 1-3 against the spread) as a two-point 'chalk' with a total of 138.
--Kentucky (6-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) has won four of its five home games, but the Wildcats lost their only lined game at Rupp Arena when they dropped an 83-79 decision to North Carolina.
--The last two Saturdays have been bad news for the folks in Big Blue Country. Not only did Tubby Smith's team lose at home to a UNC squad loaded with freshmen, but it took woodshed treatment in Indianapolis last week when Indiana drilled UK by a 79-53 count.
--Louisville will be playing its first road game in this spot. In fact, the Cardinals will be playing their first opponent of any consequence after winning six straight over cupcake foes.
--Kentucky received outstanding news Thursday when the NCAA relented in its suspension of sophomore center Randolph Morris. The raw talent out of Atlanta initially had his eligibility stripped for the season, but the NCAA will allow his reinstatement in mid-January following Thursday's ruling. Morris scored 20 points in an Elite Eight loss to Michigan State last year, prompting him to think he would be drafted if he turned pro. But just like several other players (Matt Walsh, Anthony Roberson and Kennedy Winston) from SEC schools who turned pro early, Morris went undrafted. His alleged interaction with an agent prior to the draft was the reasoning behind his suspension.
--The 'under' has cashed in six straight head-to-head meetings between these schools.
--The 'under' is 3-1 for the Cards, 3-2 for the 'Cats. However, the 'over' cashed in UK's lone home game with a total.
--CBS will provide the telecast at 2 p.m. Eastern.
**Princeton at Wake Forest**
--Most books have marked Wake Forest (7-2 SU, 2-6 ATS) as a 20-point favorite.
--Princeton (2-5 SU, 1-2 ATS) continues to struggle mightily in Joe Scott's second season at the Ivy League school since arriving from Air Force. Did the Tigers hit rock bottom Tuesday? That's a fair assessment when you consider that they were held to their lowest scoring total since 1936 in a 41-21 home loss at Monmouth. The 21-points was the fewest scored by any Division-I team since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1986-87.
--Wake Forest comes into this game in a sour mood as well. The Demon Deacons are off an 84-81 loss to Depaul as 11-point home favorites.
--Princeton's Noah Savage is the team's only player scoring in double figures with a 12.9 points per game average.
--Wake Forest senior guard Justin Gray is averaging a team-high 18.9 PPG, but he has struggled with his shift to point guard following the early departure of Chris Paul. Gray has an atrocious assists-turnover ratio of 19/37. In fact, he committed 27 turnovers in the team's first three games. Nevertheless, Gray maintains one of the sweetest perimeter jumpers in the ACC.
--Wake senior forward Eric Williams is averaging 16.8 PPG and 7.8 RPG, but that was expected. The pleasant surprise for Skip Prosser has been the improved play of senior slasher Trent Strickland, who is third on the team in scoring (15.3 PPG) and leads in rebounding (8.8 RPG).
--The 'over' is 4-0 for Wake at home.
--Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
**Texas Tech at UNLV**
--Most gambling oulets have tabbed UNLV (2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS) as a two-point favorite with the total bouncing around in the mid-140s.
--UNLV has lost five in a row but in its defense, there haven't been many cupcakes. The Runnin' Rebels have been on the road for their last four games, losing to Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Hawaii and Minnesota. The loss to the Cowboys (by 18) was the only game that was out of reach.
--Texas Tech (6-4 SU, 3-6 ATS) lost its only true road game to date, a 90-72 defeat at San Francisco.
--Lon Kruger's squad has won two of its three home games both SU and ATS, beating Long Beach State (108-73) and Hawaii (67-61). Nevada handed the Runnin' Rebels their lone home setback, 68-61.
--The 'under' is 6-3 overall for Texas Tech, 4-3 for UNLV.
--ESPN2 will provide television coverage at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Gonzaga's Errol Knight remains "out" but according to VI sources, Mark Few expects him to return by mid-January. On the bright side, junior guard Derek Raivio will return to action today against Virginia. He has missed the last two games with a sore back from a hard fall in a loss at Washington 13 days ago.
--If you're looking for late-night action, Virginia Tech and Stanford will square off at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Texas-Tech-UNLV. Assuming the Red Raiders and Runnin' Rebels don't go to overtime, that tip-off should be around 12:30 a.m. on ESPN.
--Most sports books have installed Louisville (6-0 straight up, 1-3 against the spread) as a two-point 'chalk' with a total of 138.
--Kentucky (6-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) has won four of its five home games, but the Wildcats lost their only lined game at Rupp Arena when they dropped an 83-79 decision to North Carolina.
--The last two Saturdays have been bad news for the folks in Big Blue Country. Not only did Tubby Smith's team lose at home to a UNC squad loaded with freshmen, but it took woodshed treatment in Indianapolis last week when Indiana drilled UK by a 79-53 count.
--Louisville will be playing its first road game in this spot. In fact, the Cardinals will be playing their first opponent of any consequence after winning six straight over cupcake foes.
--Kentucky received outstanding news Thursday when the NCAA relented in its suspension of sophomore center Randolph Morris. The raw talent out of Atlanta initially had his eligibility stripped for the season, but the NCAA will allow his reinstatement in mid-January following Thursday's ruling. Morris scored 20 points in an Elite Eight loss to Michigan State last year, prompting him to think he would be drafted if he turned pro. But just like several other players (Matt Walsh, Anthony Roberson and Kennedy Winston) from SEC schools who turned pro early, Morris went undrafted. His alleged interaction with an agent prior to the draft was the reasoning behind his suspension.
--The 'under' has cashed in six straight head-to-head meetings between these schools.
--The 'under' is 3-1 for the Cards, 3-2 for the 'Cats. However, the 'over' cashed in UK's lone home game with a total.
--CBS will provide the telecast at 2 p.m. Eastern.
**Princeton at Wake Forest**
--Most books have marked Wake Forest (7-2 SU, 2-6 ATS) as a 20-point favorite.
--Princeton (2-5 SU, 1-2 ATS) continues to struggle mightily in Joe Scott's second season at the Ivy League school since arriving from Air Force. Did the Tigers hit rock bottom Tuesday? That's a fair assessment when you consider that they were held to their lowest scoring total since 1936 in a 41-21 home loss at Monmouth. The 21-points was the fewest scored by any Division-I team since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1986-87.
--Wake Forest comes into this game in a sour mood as well. The Demon Deacons are off an 84-81 loss to Depaul as 11-point home favorites.
--Princeton's Noah Savage is the team's only player scoring in double figures with a 12.9 points per game average.
--Wake Forest senior guard Justin Gray is averaging a team-high 18.9 PPG, but he has struggled with his shift to point guard following the early departure of Chris Paul. Gray has an atrocious assists-turnover ratio of 19/37. In fact, he committed 27 turnovers in the team's first three games. Nevertheless, Gray maintains one of the sweetest perimeter jumpers in the ACC.
--Wake senior forward Eric Williams is averaging 16.8 PPG and 7.8 RPG, but that was expected. The pleasant surprise for Skip Prosser has been the improved play of senior slasher Trent Strickland, who is third on the team in scoring (15.3 PPG) and leads in rebounding (8.8 RPG).
--The 'over' is 4-0 for Wake at home.
--Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
**Texas Tech at UNLV**
--Most gambling oulets have tabbed UNLV (2-5 SU, 4-3 ATS) as a two-point favorite with the total bouncing around in the mid-140s.
--UNLV has lost five in a row but in its defense, there haven't been many cupcakes. The Runnin' Rebels have been on the road for their last four games, losing to Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Hawaii and Minnesota. The loss to the Cowboys (by 18) was the only game that was out of reach.
--Texas Tech (6-4 SU, 3-6 ATS) lost its only true road game to date, a 90-72 defeat at San Francisco.
--Lon Kruger's squad has won two of its three home games both SU and ATS, beating Long Beach State (108-73) and Hawaii (67-61). Nevada handed the Runnin' Rebels their lone home setback, 68-61.
--The 'under' is 6-3 overall for Texas Tech, 4-3 for UNLV.
--ESPN2 will provide television coverage at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Gonzaga's Errol Knight remains "out" but according to VI sources, Mark Few expects him to return by mid-January. On the bright side, junior guard Derek Raivio will return to action today against Virginia. He has missed the last two games with a sore back from a hard fall in a loss at Washington 13 days ago.
--If you're looking for late-night action, Virginia Tech and Stanford will square off at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Texas-Tech-UNLV. Assuming the Red Raiders and Runnin' Rebels don't go to overtime, that tip-off should be around 12:30 a.m. on ESPN.