Ncaa Final Four Predictions - December 20, 2008
We got the win last night on our only pick of the evening. The win gave us a +2.7 unit bump to start us off on the right foot today! We have a stacked card of seven plays with two 4-unit picks ready to roll.
Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:
Game: Wofford at Georgia (2:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Wofford +12 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Sometimes the big-name school against the no-name makes it look easy. Georgia is coming off a big layoff here, and with a mediocre-caliber opponent, they may not be focused or sharp here. They have already suffered a 34 point loss to Illinois this season, so this isn't a team that is amongst the elite in the SEC. Wofford has a big scorer in Junior Salters that connected for 25 points in his last game while connecting on five of seven from deep in the process. He could be the key here if he can bury a few from deep. The Bulldogs have also showed to be vulnerable from the charity stripe as they connected for just 10 of 21 in their last game, and could make it difficult to cover a big number. The Bulldogs have also dropped a game by 21 to Loyola, Chicago, so they certainly have played some lackluster games. I'll ride the points in this one.
Game: North Carolina at Valparaiso (2:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 155.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Tar Heels will take their NBA-looking team on the road to face the Valparaiso Crusaders. Valpo has been a good mid-major for many years and is really in a rebuilding mode this season. I expect that this one will get out of hand early. Valpo will have to slow this one down, which is their style anyway, but offensively they are no match for the Tar Heels. They have managed just 48 points per game in their last two - a product of a methodical style and poor offense. North Carolina should have this one secure by halftime, and it should mean a lot of garbage time and sloppy play in the second half. This will be a tough total to topple especially with just one team being able to score. North Carolina has a big offense, but I don't think we will be seeing it in the last 12 minutes of this game. I'll back the UNDER here.
Game: Temple at Kansas (2:30 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on Temple +9.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Temple Owls have to be brimming with confidence after taking down a top Tennessee team with relative ease 88-72. Dionte Christmas certainly improved upon his potential All-America status by lighting up the Volunteers for 35 points. The Owls have the inside presence as well as Sergio Olmos dropped in 19 against the Vols. The Jayhawks ranking is a product of a good program getting much too much respect, and a loss to a then 2-6 UMass team in Kansas City certainly has to have their doubters on board for this one - as I am. This team is talented, but young and hasn't learned how to win yet. Sherron Collins is a big-time player, but the supporting cast isn't the same just yet as we have seen in previous additions of the Jayhawks. The Owls are feeling it, have a leader that can keep them close, or even pull the shocker, so I'm going with the points here as the Owls get the call.
Game: U C Santa Barbara at San Diego State (4:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on U C Santa Barbara +13 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Santa Barbara is off a seven-point loss to Weber State where they had a poor showing on the offensive end. They connected on just 3-15 from beyond the arc and registered just 10 first half FGs, but still managed to stay in the game. It would be expected that they improve upon those numbers in this one. The Aztecs have been reliant on a perimeter offense, and when the shots don't go down they struggle. Evidence is gathered from their last game against St. Mary's where they managed to make it to the FT line just four times the entire game, and made none of them. Ryan Amoroso connected on just one of 10 shots in the loss. This team has played low-scoring games for the most part, as the offense takes time to develop and mostly comes from outside. Giving a bundle to Santa Barbara may be more than they are capable of handling in what sets up as a low-scoring game. I'll back the Gauchos here with the points.
Game: Nevada at California (6:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on California -9 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Nevada Wolfpack has had some tough teams in the past several years, but this group isn't on that same level. Their top bench player is struggling as he has connected on just 3-22 beyond the arc with 8 assists and 22 turnovers. The Wolfpack is shooting just 39.5% and a dreadful 28.6% from beyond the arc. They are also misfiring from the FT-line, connecting on just 61%. That won't get it done against a Bears team that is out of the gate 5-0 at home on the season. Jerome Randle has been on fire for the Bears. He dropped 21 in his last game, and is shooting an unconscious 61% from three-point range. The Bears have a lot of firepower and are out-scoring teams by over 10 a game. The Bears have connected on 51.7% of their 3's, and have just too much firepower for a poor shooting Wolfpack team. I'll lay the points here.
Game: Jacksonville State at Iowa State (9:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 4 units on Jacksonville State +6 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)
Jacksonville State certainly isn't a program that gets much attention, but they are off to a good start and have shown the ability to hang tough or win on the road. Iowa State is among one of the teams picked to finish in the lower tier of the Big-12. The talent in these teams is not separated by as much as most would expect - they are about an even match. The Gamecocks advantage is that they are road tested and have depth without drop-off as they have seven players averaging 7.5 points per game or more. This is a team that has won on the road at UMass who then went to Kansas City and beat Kansas. They have a chance to pull another surprise here, and I'll back them with the points in this one.
Game: Northwestern at Stanford (10:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 4 units on Northwestern +5 (-110) (risk 4 to win 3.6)
Two teams off to fast starts square off at Maples Pavilion as the Stanford Cardinal hosts the Northwestern Wildcats. The Wildcats have a nice blend of perimeter shooting with Craig Monroe a big threat from deep connecting on 48.3% of his 3's, and Coble at 15 ppg and six rebounds per game. The Cats have been really playing well defensively, and have limited opponents to just 51 ppg while netting 68 themselves. Stanford has a good starting unit and is getting solid scoring from four spots, but the depth is lacking and the drop-off is severe past the starting unit, as they key reserves are all shooting below 38%. Northwestern has the defense and the balance to pull the surprise here, so I'll take the Cats and the points in this one.
Results: 2-3
NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:
Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-19-2008
The UL Monroe Warhawks certainly haven't gotten out of the gate as they expected at 2-7, but they have played their last five on the road. This team has been getting exploited defensively as they ...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-18-2008
The Bulldogs preparation for this one may have been reduced by the fact that head coach Rick Stansbury was out sick with a viral infection, which caused him some time in the hospital. Both of these te...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-17-2008
The Akron Zips have gotten more production out of Brett McKnight who scored 4 ppg a year ago and is now second on the team with 11 ppg. The Zips have some key holdovers and are young, deep and talente...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-16-2008
The Tennessee Volunteers had a horrible game last time out as they dropped a decision to Temple on the road. You can be sure they are going to come back with a vengeance in this one tonight. This will...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-15-2008
The Skyhawks are heading for a tough season. They have mustered just a single win (excluding Maryville), and it was over lowly Elon. Their schedule has had some winning opportunities, but the Skyhawks...
