with the break from football, time for some hoops. i had to put my 2-0 record on the line at some point.
butler (-3.5) 1 unit. i really liked butler before i realized turner was out. now... only 1 unit. i hate playing against a team because of an injury. the line is already adjusted, and people tend to overreact to the injury. plus, teams tend to rise up in the first game without the injured player. all that said, the one notable exception i can think of is ohio state last year, when lighty went down. they struggled for a while. butler has lost to one good team after another this year. if they're going to justify their ranking, it has to be today. these two teams have played 3 of the last 4 years, with butler covering all 3.
washingon (+2) 1 unit. this is the first good offensive team georgetown has played this year.
minnesota (+16.5) 2 units. wow, st joe's just played 'nova pretty tough, and now they're catching 16 points from minnesota? hmmm... seems high, doesn't it? there simply has to be a letdown for st joe's today.
st marys (-1.5) 1 unit. even without hunter, the gaels should have enough to handle oregon. st marys has covered against oregon the last 2 years.
alabama (+4.5) 1 unit. first road game of the year for the boilermakers. shouldn't affect this veteran team, but the line seems a bit low for the #5 team in the country.
northern iowa (-3.5) 1 unit. the panthers needed a huge second half comeback to cover against siena last year in their bracket-buster game. this year, the saints have struggled on the road without kenny hasbrouck, with their only road wins coming at iona and tennessee state. they have lost at temple and georgia tech. in fact, their most impressive win is over northeastern. i like the panthers to get it done today.
butler (-3.5) 1 unit. i really liked butler before i realized turner was out. now... only 1 unit. i hate playing against a team because of an injury. the line is already adjusted, and people tend to overreact to the injury. plus, teams tend to rise up in the first game without the injured player. all that said, the one notable exception i can think of is ohio state last year, when lighty went down. they struggled for a while. butler has lost to one good team after another this year. if they're going to justify their ranking, it has to be today. these two teams have played 3 of the last 4 years, with butler covering all 3.
washingon (+2) 1 unit. this is the first good offensive team georgetown has played this year.
minnesota (+16.5) 2 units. wow, st joe's just played 'nova pretty tough, and now they're catching 16 points from minnesota? hmmm... seems high, doesn't it? there simply has to be a letdown for st joe's today.
st marys (-1.5) 1 unit. even without hunter, the gaels should have enough to handle oregon. st marys has covered against oregon the last 2 years.
alabama (+4.5) 1 unit. first road game of the year for the boilermakers. shouldn't affect this veteran team, but the line seems a bit low for the #5 team in the country.
northern iowa (-3.5) 1 unit. the panthers needed a huge second half comeback to cover against siena last year in their bracket-buster game. this year, the saints have struggled on the road without kenny hasbrouck, with their only road wins coming at iona and tennessee state. they have lost at temple and georgia tech. in fact, their most impressive win is over northeastern. i like the panthers to get it done today.
