Saturday picks:
UWM -8.5 over UWGB: Agree with GMan on this one. UWM is the class of the league with only that stunning loss to Detroit keeping them from running away with it. Better grab the 8.5 quickly because it won't be there in an hour.
WMU +4.5 over BGSU: Western is playing well and is very talented. Levi Rost and Ben Reed are a great duo. This is BG's first real test in the league. Buffalo came to town but they are not panning out like expected and EMU lost Bowler so BG may get a dose of reality today. Look for the Broncos to get out to a fast start (are the rims at Anderson Arena the softest in the nation?) and Dakich to do something stupid. I think Western is a little too athletic to be getting 4.5 points in a game like this. Would not be surprised by a straightup win. You might want to wait until gametime to see if the line creeps up a little more. 4.5s are available now, but we might see a 5 in a little while.
Butler +6 over Detroit: Again, I agree with GMan that this game will be low-scoring so I like the points. This is a key game for Butler because it can get them to .500 in the conference with YSU (You'll Slaughter Us?) up next. Detroit is good at home but I think Butler shoots the 3 well enough and is scrappy enough to keep this close.
Akron -6.5 over EMU: Akron has discovered that they are pretty good even without Wood. Dambrot has won everywhere he's been and gets alot out of his players. (Granted, his recruting budget isn't as large as when he was at ASVSM but he's doing OK.) Bowler may not play and even if he does, he won't be 100%. Eastern is too soft to compete with the top teams in the MAC which surprises me. When Coach Jim Boone was at California University (PA), his teams were as tough as anyone. I don't see that toughness in the Eagles. I like Akron to cover the 6.5.
Penn -4.5 over Siena: Carl Spackler will lecture me for expecting a bad team to cover for me on the road. But, Siena isn't any good either. They don't guard you and that will be refreshing for Penn. They will be able to play a little more relaxed on the offensive end which should enable them to shoot better than they have recently. Penn has this game and their next game (at Lafayette) to get them going before they play at St. Joe's and then begin league play. I see them coming out strong and winning by 7 or 8.
I also am looking at Michigan -6, Miami (OH) +3 and Ohio St. +3 but don't know if I will pull the trigger on any of them.
WAR The Brathaus
