My CBB season began two weeks ago, and this forum has been helpful and fun, so it's only right to begin adding to the discussion. Believe it or not, my record for the year is 32-32, although I needed a 7-2 Saturday just to climb to the .500 mark. Within the record is a 3-2 mark in 2-unit plays. I'll get more adventuresome with higher units deeper into the season. Onto tonight's picks:
Syracuse +12.5 at UCONN: The Huskies could not cover -11 at home against Pitt or Prov, so I'll take these points with the defending champs. Even without Edelin, I always like Syracuse on a big stage as an underdog. All the experts have UCONN in the Final Four, but they have yet to show they can even separate themsleves from a jumbled pack atop the Big-East.
Missouri +9 at Kansas: Regardless of the state of the Missouri Tiger ship, they've always played Kansas tougher than the "experts" think, going 7-2-1 ATS against the Jayhawks in the last 10 games. Missouri has been a big disappointment this year, but KU burned as much money as anyone in January. They have proven that they can cover against Colorado, so I'll try to remember that for next year.
Air Force -1.5 at UNLV: Air Force has been the best moneymaker on the board since Christmas Day and are threatening to run away with the MWC regular season. I have been on them in their last three games, they've been fairly easy covers, so there's no reason to parachute off the plane just yet. The fact is nobody in the league really knows how to play these guys and Air Force stands out better statistically on the road than they do at home in many ways. That defense travels and they've hit the deep shots in every gym they've played in. In a game where very few baskets will be scored, Air Force will benefit from getting an extra point on one-third of their makes. With three straight home games up next, including two against previously beaten opponents, this could be the last time we'll see one of CBB's secrets at such a cheap price.
Georgia Southern -4 at App. St: For a team that will be in the mix for the league's automatic bid, the bar seems really low for Georgia Southern here against one of the league's bottom dwellers. Upper division teams will win half their road games, and the expectations for GS aren't much higher at -4.
Syracuse, Missouri, Air Force, Georgia Southern, all for one unit. Four road teams! Yikes! GLA!
Syracuse +12.5 at UCONN: The Huskies could not cover -11 at home against Pitt or Prov, so I'll take these points with the defending champs. Even without Edelin, I always like Syracuse on a big stage as an underdog. All the experts have UCONN in the Final Four, but they have yet to show they can even separate themsleves from a jumbled pack atop the Big-East.
Missouri +9 at Kansas: Regardless of the state of the Missouri Tiger ship, they've always played Kansas tougher than the "experts" think, going 7-2-1 ATS against the Jayhawks in the last 10 games. Missouri has been a big disappointment this year, but KU burned as much money as anyone in January. They have proven that they can cover against Colorado, so I'll try to remember that for next year.
Air Force -1.5 at UNLV: Air Force has been the best moneymaker on the board since Christmas Day and are threatening to run away with the MWC regular season. I have been on them in their last three games, they've been fairly easy covers, so there's no reason to parachute off the plane just yet. The fact is nobody in the league really knows how to play these guys and Air Force stands out better statistically on the road than they do at home in many ways. That defense travels and they've hit the deep shots in every gym they've played in. In a game where very few baskets will be scored, Air Force will benefit from getting an extra point on one-third of their makes. With three straight home games up next, including two against previously beaten opponents, this could be the last time we'll see one of CBB's secrets at such a cheap price.
Georgia Southern -4 at App. St: For a team that will be in the mix for the league's automatic bid, the bar seems really low for Georgia Southern here against one of the league's bottom dwellers. Upper division teams will win half their road games, and the expectations for GS aren't much higher at -4.
Syracuse, Missouri, Air Force, Georgia Southern, all for one unit. Four road teams! Yikes! GLA!
