St Louis +3.5
Buffalo -8
Illinois -2
St Louis- I don't think Louisville has righted the ship just yet. Nice win over Memphis to snap their losing streak, but looking over that game, it still wasn't that impressive. Memphis shot 14-25 from the foul-line, committed 21 turnovers, didn't have Carney for the second-half, yet they were still down only 4 with under a minute to play. Billikens have lost only 2 games at home by a combined 3pts (lost by 1 to Zona, by 2 to DePaul). Cards have lost their last 6 trips to St Louis. An experienced backcourt of Bryant and Fisher helps negate the Cards pressure defense. Should be a matter of which team can impose their will and style of play..I think St Louis at home with their guard combo has the better chance to do so.
Buffalo- Hottest team in the MAC right now. 9-2 their last 11 games and have turned around what was looking to be a typical Buffalo season. And there aren't just squeaking out wins, there are beating teams in convincing fashion. Might not seem like it, but I think this is a big revenge game for them. Their earlier meeting in Ohio, Buffalo controlled the game for the first 30 minutes before Ohio went on a huge run to win going away. Since then Ohio's season has gone down the tubes. Have lost four straight, and four of their last five in conference...they now reside in the MAC East basement. Bulls have tons of momentum and motivation for this game..and looking over their schedule they are undefeated in 'revenge' type situations thus far. Earlier losses to Kent, Marshall, Miami OH, Eastern Michigan were all 'avenged' with absolute thumpings by Buffalo the second time around.
Illinois- I don't like giving points to Purdue on their homecourt. Especially since Keady will have them breathing fire after getting thrashed at Wisky. But Illinois has finally turned into the team I thought there were going to be at the start of the season. Boilers upset them at Illinois in January. That was followed by a loss at Northwestern. Since then though, the Illini have been the best team in the Big Ten, having 10 of 11 with the only loss at Wisky, who never loses at home anyway. I think Purdue greatly overachieved the first half of the season. Now their talent level has started to play catch-up and they've struggled..losing 6 of their last 9, including losses to Northwestern and Ohio St at home. Should be an extremely hard fought game, but I just don't see Illinois losing this one as they play for the Big Ten regular season title and with revenge from their loss at home to Purdue.
Buffalo -8
Illinois -2
St Louis- I don't think Louisville has righted the ship just yet. Nice win over Memphis to snap their losing streak, but looking over that game, it still wasn't that impressive. Memphis shot 14-25 from the foul-line, committed 21 turnovers, didn't have Carney for the second-half, yet they were still down only 4 with under a minute to play. Billikens have lost only 2 games at home by a combined 3pts (lost by 1 to Zona, by 2 to DePaul). Cards have lost their last 6 trips to St Louis. An experienced backcourt of Bryant and Fisher helps negate the Cards pressure defense. Should be a matter of which team can impose their will and style of play..I think St Louis at home with their guard combo has the better chance to do so.
Buffalo- Hottest team in the MAC right now. 9-2 their last 11 games and have turned around what was looking to be a typical Buffalo season. And there aren't just squeaking out wins, there are beating teams in convincing fashion. Might not seem like it, but I think this is a big revenge game for them. Their earlier meeting in Ohio, Buffalo controlled the game for the first 30 minutes before Ohio went on a huge run to win going away. Since then Ohio's season has gone down the tubes. Have lost four straight, and four of their last five in conference...they now reside in the MAC East basement. Bulls have tons of momentum and motivation for this game..and looking over their schedule they are undefeated in 'revenge' type situations thus far. Earlier losses to Kent, Marshall, Miami OH, Eastern Michigan were all 'avenged' with absolute thumpings by Buffalo the second time around.
Illinois- I don't like giving points to Purdue on their homecourt. Especially since Keady will have them breathing fire after getting thrashed at Wisky. But Illinois has finally turned into the team I thought there were going to be at the start of the season. Boilers upset them at Illinois in January. That was followed by a loss at Northwestern. Since then though, the Illini have been the best team in the Big Ten, having 10 of 11 with the only loss at Wisky, who never loses at home anyway. I think Purdue greatly overachieved the first half of the season. Now their talent level has started to play catch-up and they've struggled..losing 6 of their last 9, including losses to Northwestern and Ohio St at home. Should be an extremely hard fought game, but I just don't see Illinois losing this one as they play for the Big Ten regular season title and with revenge from their loss at home to Purdue.
