Georgia -11 (-105) vs Wofford
- Wofford travels to Georgia to open their season returning only 2/8 leading scorers from a year ago in a team that won their conference and made the NCAA tournament for a second straight year. In all the team is missing 66 PPG of production and 23 RPG. The biggest loss was losing last years starter than won the conference player of the year. Georgia also did lose some key starters and only has three players on their roster that have started a collegiate game but they are going to be led by a senior back court and expecting production out of some of their past highly touted recruits in SO Marcus Thornton and FR Ken Caldwell Pope. I like Georgia here at home that may start slow but should eventually roll over such an inexperienced roster that should face match up and athleticism problems. Depth should play an issue favoring Georgia and leading to a comfortable victory in the end. (I think number is at -11 because of Wofford's recent success and is a chance to fade here against SEC team.)
Buffalo -10 1/2 (-110) vs St. Peters
- This also looks to be another opportunity where I'm looking to fade St. Peters recent success making the NCAA tournament last year that may have inflated this line. St. Peters returns only one starter and loses their top five scorers (78% of their points, 67% of minutes played) coming from a team that only averaged 60.9 PPG. Buffalo at home is returning talent (two most notable starters) - senior guard Zach Filzen who made 110 pointers a year ago and one of the most explosive threats from long range; sophomore guard Javon McCrea who was Freshmen of the year in the MAAC and shot 63% from the field. Recently McCrea was just ranked 91st best player in the nation by a CBS poll; highest ranked player out of MAAC. I like Buffalo who averaged 70 PPG a year ago and should look to press St. Peters into a fast tempo style of game that the Peacocks won't like. A quick tempo may be able to jump on the inexperience of the Peacocks early and provide comfortable room while taking this double digit spread.
Loyola Maryland -2 (-110) @ Wake Forest
- Loyola started slow a year ago but finished strong and brings back two forwards in Walker (6'10) and Ehterly (6'7) that averaged double digits in PPG and received MAAC awards. Senior J'hared Hall provides stability in the back court. Wake Forest has 4 walk ons and five scholarship players. This program is under major distress after last seasons 8-24 The team is really only returning two starters (Harris and McKie). Harris is a decent shooter but not very athletic. McKie at 6'7 is the best player on the team but does not have much help here with such a depleted roster. (Mckie 13 PPG and 7 RPG as FR) Height is a serious issue and the russian center Nikita (something!) is garbage and should have matchup issues all night. This will bring in the depth issue which should be majorly mismatched with too much athleticism. For Wake Forest to compete tonight its going to need something like Fr. Chase Fischer to come up big who averaged 30+ PPG in his senior season... worth noting is he is from West Virginia!! I like Loyola to win here tonight but as of now I'll just play -2 because ML is only at +110 which may get moved up by squares!
Thoughts, Opinions?!?!
- Wofford travels to Georgia to open their season returning only 2/8 leading scorers from a year ago in a team that won their conference and made the NCAA tournament for a second straight year. In all the team is missing 66 PPG of production and 23 RPG. The biggest loss was losing last years starter than won the conference player of the year. Georgia also did lose some key starters and only has three players on their roster that have started a collegiate game but they are going to be led by a senior back court and expecting production out of some of their past highly touted recruits in SO Marcus Thornton and FR Ken Caldwell Pope. I like Georgia here at home that may start slow but should eventually roll over such an inexperienced roster that should face match up and athleticism problems. Depth should play an issue favoring Georgia and leading to a comfortable victory in the end. (I think number is at -11 because of Wofford's recent success and is a chance to fade here against SEC team.)
Buffalo -10 1/2 (-110) vs St. Peters
- This also looks to be another opportunity where I'm looking to fade St. Peters recent success making the NCAA tournament last year that may have inflated this line. St. Peters returns only one starter and loses their top five scorers (78% of their points, 67% of minutes played) coming from a team that only averaged 60.9 PPG. Buffalo at home is returning talent (two most notable starters) - senior guard Zach Filzen who made 110 pointers a year ago and one of the most explosive threats from long range; sophomore guard Javon McCrea who was Freshmen of the year in the MAAC and shot 63% from the field. Recently McCrea was just ranked 91st best player in the nation by a CBS poll; highest ranked player out of MAAC. I like Buffalo who averaged 70 PPG a year ago and should look to press St. Peters into a fast tempo style of game that the Peacocks won't like. A quick tempo may be able to jump on the inexperience of the Peacocks early and provide comfortable room while taking this double digit spread.
Loyola Maryland -2 (-110) @ Wake Forest
- Loyola started slow a year ago but finished strong and brings back two forwards in Walker (6'10) and Ehterly (6'7) that averaged double digits in PPG and received MAAC awards. Senior J'hared Hall provides stability in the back court. Wake Forest has 4 walk ons and five scholarship players. This program is under major distress after last seasons 8-24 The team is really only returning two starters (Harris and McKie). Harris is a decent shooter but not very athletic. McKie at 6'7 is the best player on the team but does not have much help here with such a depleted roster. (Mckie 13 PPG and 7 RPG as FR) Height is a serious issue and the russian center Nikita (something!) is garbage and should have matchup issues all night. This will bring in the depth issue which should be majorly mismatched with too much athleticism. For Wake Forest to compete tonight its going to need something like Fr. Chase Fischer to come up big who averaged 30+ PPG in his senior season... worth noting is he is from West Virginia!! I like Loyola to win here tonight but as of now I'll just play -2 because ML is only at +110 which may get moved up by squares!
Thoughts, Opinions?!?!
