College Basketball Picks - December 14, 2008

Today we roll with six plays...

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: U T E P at New Mexico State (4:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Game Total UNDER 157 -110 (risk 4 to win 3.6)

UTEP is 3-1 at home, shooting very well there. On the road it's a different story as they are 1-2, hitting just 36.1% from the field. They have no one in the front court averaging double-digits. On the road vs. Wake Forest, they shot 34% from the field. They followed that game up with another road game vs. Arizona State in which they managed just 58 points, shooting 30% from the field. New Mexico State scores in bunches, but their defense has been superb. At home they are 3-0 thanks to holding foes to an average of just 61 ppg. I like this one to go UNDER the lofty total.

The 11th ranked Demon Deacons host Wright State after an eight-day layoff. Wake is a perfect 8-0 thus far and thanks to the layoff, should be focused and excited to play this game, despite their lowly opponent. They have scored 80+ in four straight games and are averaging 85.5 per game while holding opponents to 62.4 per game on 34.5% shooting. At home they have held opponents to just 55 ppg. Wright is 1-4 on the road, averaging just 56 ppg so this one should get ugly early and stay that way. 

Here we have one ugly offense vs. a decent one. Detroit has averaged just 57.4 ppg on the season while playing average defense. Bowling Green has put up 68 per game, but 80 in their lone home game. The Falcons have several scoring threats in Nate Miler, Brian Moten and Darryle Clements - all of which can make shots and dish it. I expect the BG offense to have success here and for Detroit's to continue their slow, but steady improvement. This line is low and I like the OVER.

Western Michigan is playing their fourth road game out of the last five and third in a row. They have covered the number just once all season, and that was at home vs. a lowly Detroit team. They have allowed opponents to hit 50%+ from the field three times already and they are just 1-5 SU and 0-3 ATS on the road. UNLV should be able to get their's fairly easily tonight. And, the Rebels defense is quite good, holding opponents to 64.1 ppg on the season. At home the Rebs are 4-1, holding opponents to 62 ppg. The Broncos are jsut 13-26 ATS in their last 39 games as a double-digit dog and I just don't think they can hang in this one.

Stanford has had over two weeks off and, on the road for just the second time all season, that often spells a bit of offensive rustiness. In their first road game, they scored 75, but against Yale. Colorado State certainly isn't a good team this season, but they should put up more of a fight than the Bulldogs. This is the highest total either of these two teams has seen all season and I like the game to go UNDER the high total.

Washington has looked good this season but the main reason is defense, not offense. They are 5-0 at home giving up just 57 ppg in the process. The are outrebounding opponents by a ridiculous 14.5 boards per game. Portland State is averaging 77 per game, but they won't sniff that tonight against the Huskies as the Vikings have gotten their points thus far vs. the likes of Hampton, Seattle and Lewis & Clark State. I like this game to go UNDER.

Results: 1-5

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Check out our updated 2008 NCAA basketball handicapping preview.
• Don't forget to visit our college basketball sportsbook.
• Here we show our 2008 NCAA basketball picks season results.
• Don't forget to read our betting NCAA basketball here.
• View our updated college basketball Game-of-Day-Preview.
• View our college basketball blog here.
• Check out our updated NCAA basketball handicapping.
• Check out NCAA basketball odds and lines here.
• Take a look at our ncaa bracket picks here.
• View our updated college basketball against-the-spread records.
• Check out our updated ncaa march madness pick.
• Don't forget to read our NCAA basketball previous picks here.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-13-2008
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NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-12-2008
Drake was the surprise of not only of the MVC last year, but in the country by taking a team projected to finish at or near the basement in the MVC to 28 wins and the NCAA Tournament. This is not the ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-11-2008
Wisconsin Milwaukee made a lot of noise in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago, but those players and those days are gone. The Panthers have been competitive this season as three of their four losses ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-10-2008
The Dayton Flyers are still hidden under the radar. A team that was off to a 12-1 start last season, lost a key player and finished poorly is at it again, as the Flyers are a spotless 8-0 coming into ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-09-2008
The Purdue Boilermakers are one of 10-15 teams that have a chance to cut down the nets at the end of March Madness. They dropped their two games to the better teams in the nation, but have otherwise b...