Basketball Gambling Ncaa Pick - January 01, 2009

We grabbed +7.5 units yesterday en route to a 3-1 finish. Today we are back with three premium picks.

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: Troy State at Western Kentucky (2:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Western Kentucky -11.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)

Western Kentucky is simply on a different level than Troy State. The Hilltoppers have been impressive with wins over Georgia, Louisville, and Southern Illinois. They also have yet to lose at home where they are always tough. Troy has taken to the road five times against competition that isn't the best, but have yet to record a win at 0-5. They have not only failed to record a win, but have yet to come within 12 points with the latest setback a 13 point loss to Jacksonville. The offense has one player in Delk that shows consistency putting the ball in the hoop, but the next four leading scorers are all shooting a dismal 41% or less. That won't keep them in the game against the Hilltoppers, so Western Kentucky gets the nod here.

South Alabama has been more impressive than their 8-5 start might indicate with all the losses coming to teams up in class. Those losses were at the hands of Western Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Mississippi State. Two of which should be noted were by two and three points respectively. They have taken out all comers within their class and at 8-0 are certainly undervalued on the road here. Florida Atlantic has been unimpressive on a schedule that has been equally unimpressive. The problem has been an inconsistent offense that finds droughts during the game and a good Jaguar team will take the opening. South Alabama gets the call here.

This is a tough spot for the upstart Wildcats that will play their first true road game of the season. The Wildcats were more like Mildcats on the Big East highway a year ago where they logged just a 3-6 mark. Marquette features quick, experienced, athletic guards in the trio of Matthews, McNeal, and James, which now have inside presence of Lazar Hayward and his 17 points per game and 9.5 boards. The Golden Eagles one of the best at home with a 31-3 mark in their last 34 games with two of the losses coming by just two points. The trio of guards has produced a 1.4 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and Hayward keeps the defense honest opening space on the perimeter. This is a tough place for first big road test, so I like Marquette in this one.

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Don't forget to read our 2008 season NCAA basketball handicapping preview here.
• Don't forget to visit our college basketball sportsbook reviews.
• Don't forget to visit our 2008 NCAA basketball picks season results.
• Here we show our college basketball handicapping philosophy.
• Hop over to our NCAA basketball Game Analysis here.
• Hop over to our blog college basketball here.
• Take a look at our NCAA basketball picks here.
• Take a look at our NCAA basketball lines here.
• Don't forget to visit our march madness bracket.
• Read our NCAA basketball ATS standings here.
• Updated today: ncaa march madness pick.
• Take a look at our college basketball prior predictions here.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-31-2008
The fifth-ranked Blue Devils have won 65 straight here at home vs. non-conference foes. They are 10-1 this season and at home they are playing stifling defense holding foes to just 61.3 points per gam...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-30-2008
UMass is just 2-4 on the road this season where they have been outscored by 4.5 points per game. They are 1-4 ATS in those games. Houston is 4-1 at home, winning by 25 points per game. They have cover...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-29-2008
Both of these teams are anemic offensively, leading to a low total. But, I like the OVER here thanks to the fact that Fordham can't stop anyone on the road. While scoring just 62.6 per game, they ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-28-2008
Indiana State limps into conference play with a 2-9 record. The Sycamores are averaging just 60 ppg on 40% shooting. The offense has actuall been declining as the season progresses. They must face a t...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-27-2008
The Cougars have had the reputation to slow games down to a screeching halt, but when they have played teams that are athletic and like to get up-and-down, like Gonzaga (74 points against the Cougars)...