Looking to finish 2007 on a strong note, here is what I'm playing today. 7 games on the card today with brief write-ups for each. BOL to everyone and let's make some money before Christmas.
YTD 15-8
UC Santa Barbara +22
Reason why: UC Santa Barbara can flat out shoot the ball as the team is shooting 46% from the field for the year to include an outstanding 44% from behind the arc. North Carolina isn't known as a great defensive team so I don't see them being able to put the defensive clamps down on UC Santa Barbara's star Alex Harris who has been on fire from behind the arc recently. The last 3 games, he has made 13-16 3 pointers and on the year he is shooting 53% from behind the arc. In their last 5 games, Santa Barbara is shooting an unbelievable 54% from behind the arc as a team. North Carolina will win this game but it won't be a walk in the park.
Bowling Green +8.5
Reason why: I'm not sure what Indiana St has done this year to be laying 8.5 points against a decent Bowling Green team. Bowling Green is the better shooting and defensive team. Bowling Green is shooting 46% for the year compared to just 41% for Indiana St. Bowling Green is allowing their opponents to shoot 40% compared to 45% for Indiana St. This number was just to good to pass up for me as I wouldn't have any confidence laying 8.5 with Indiana St. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Bowling Green win this game outright.
San Diego St +11.5
Reason why: Talk about 2 teams that mirror each other, there aren't a whole lot of differences between these 2 teams. Both shoot the ball well and rebound well. I could go on and break down this game but you would find out that all the stats are eerily similar. Don't be surprised to see this game come down the very end.
Texas +5
Reason why: Texas is flat-out the better team as they have already proven to beat UCLA on the road so playing at Michigan St won't phase them any. This game will be close throughout the entire game and if Michigan St does win, it won't be by more than 5 points.
Santa Clara +12.5
Reason why: Playing at Stanford is a whole lot more difficult than playing at Minnesota. You have to admire what Tubby Smith has done with this Gopher team that has been just bad the past couple of years. Let's be real though, Minnesota has played 1 decent team all year and they lost at Florida St by 14. To me, they are still very unproven against good teams. Santa Clara will surely test them as they shoot the ball well and don't turn it over much. Santa Clara will rebound off of their worst game of the season and play much better in this one.
Bradley -4.5
Reason why: Bradley is returning home after getting the crap beat out of them against Butler. Bradley has proven to be tough to beat at home as they went toe-to-toe with Michigan St before eventually losing in a very close game. VCU isn't as talented as Michigan St and have only played 1 true road game this year, losing by 9 at Hampton. Bradley will look to come out and play much more inspired in front of their fans and put behind them the beating that Butler game them.
SE Missouri St +13
Reason why: I had the line pegged at -7 so to be getting 13 is definitely a big bonus as SEMO has been playing some great ball having won their last 2 road games in nail-biting fashion. That is huge to a team's confidence as they know they have what it takes to win on the road. I'll take the hot road team to cover against an average Tulsa club.
YTD 15-8
UC Santa Barbara +22
Reason why: UC Santa Barbara can flat out shoot the ball as the team is shooting 46% from the field for the year to include an outstanding 44% from behind the arc. North Carolina isn't known as a great defensive team so I don't see them being able to put the defensive clamps down on UC Santa Barbara's star Alex Harris who has been on fire from behind the arc recently. The last 3 games, he has made 13-16 3 pointers and on the year he is shooting 53% from behind the arc. In their last 5 games, Santa Barbara is shooting an unbelievable 54% from behind the arc as a team. North Carolina will win this game but it won't be a walk in the park.
Bowling Green +8.5
Reason why: I'm not sure what Indiana St has done this year to be laying 8.5 points against a decent Bowling Green team. Bowling Green is the better shooting and defensive team. Bowling Green is shooting 46% for the year compared to just 41% for Indiana St. Bowling Green is allowing their opponents to shoot 40% compared to 45% for Indiana St. This number was just to good to pass up for me as I wouldn't have any confidence laying 8.5 with Indiana St. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Bowling Green win this game outright.
San Diego St +11.5
Reason why: Talk about 2 teams that mirror each other, there aren't a whole lot of differences between these 2 teams. Both shoot the ball well and rebound well. I could go on and break down this game but you would find out that all the stats are eerily similar. Don't be surprised to see this game come down the very end.
Texas +5
Reason why: Texas is flat-out the better team as they have already proven to beat UCLA on the road so playing at Michigan St won't phase them any. This game will be close throughout the entire game and if Michigan St does win, it won't be by more than 5 points.
Santa Clara +12.5
Reason why: Playing at Stanford is a whole lot more difficult than playing at Minnesota. You have to admire what Tubby Smith has done with this Gopher team that has been just bad the past couple of years. Let's be real though, Minnesota has played 1 decent team all year and they lost at Florida St by 14. To me, they are still very unproven against good teams. Santa Clara will surely test them as they shoot the ball well and don't turn it over much. Santa Clara will rebound off of their worst game of the season and play much better in this one.
Bradley -4.5
Reason why: Bradley is returning home after getting the crap beat out of them against Butler. Bradley has proven to be tough to beat at home as they went toe-to-toe with Michigan St before eventually losing in a very close game. VCU isn't as talented as Michigan St and have only played 1 true road game this year, losing by 9 at Hampton. Bradley will look to come out and play much more inspired in front of their fans and put behind them the beating that Butler game them.
SE Missouri St +13
Reason why: I had the line pegged at -7 so to be getting 13 is definitely a big bonus as SEMO has been playing some great ball having won their last 2 road games in nail-biting fashion. That is huge to a team's confidence as they know they have what it takes to win on the road. I'll take the hot road team to cover against an average Tulsa club.