Free Ncaa Picks - January 05, 2008

We've hit 67% over the past two weeks in college hoops, good for +23.7 units. NBA has also heated up as we have hit 80% this month on the pro hardwood. NHL is also rocking as we have hit 68% over the past week for +23.3 units. NFL and CFB are also winning.

We have a big NCAAB Saturday card with nine plays.

WUNDERDOG 2008 RESULTS ($100/bet)
SPORT	WINS-LOSSES	%	NET
NFL	15-11 last 26 picks	58%	+$1940
CBB	26-13 last 39 picks	67%	+$2370
NBA	8-2 last 10 picks	80%	+$1480
NHL	13-6 last 19 picks	68%	+$2330
TOTAL			+$8120

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: South Florida at Syracuse (12:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Syracuse -425 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 0.7)

Syracuse is rolling right now having won five straight by an average score of 92.6 to 68.4. On the season they are 9-2 at home. To beat the Orange, you must keep up with their prolific scoring and S. Florida won't be able to do that today. The Bulls are just 13-54 straight-up in their last 67 road games as an underdog. Syracuse has won 21 of their last 24 games following a three-game home stand in which they were favored in each game. In other words, this team can get, and stay, on a roll. S. Florida is off a 68-45 win over Rutgers but under Stan Heath, this team is 4-11 in games following a 20+ point home win. The Orange roll here.

The Pride won 24 games each of the last two seasons and never got an invitation to the big dance. The dance card is empty this season, as the Pride stands at 2-9. The pride just has one scorer and that is Antoine Agudio who scores nearly 27 per game. The problem is he sat out last game with a bad ankle and if he plays today, he certainly won't be 100%. The Pride shoots under 40% and if Agudio is out, even less. The offense is so stagnant they have commited 186 turnovers to just 107 assists. The Dukes meanwhile, can shoot and score, as they are connecting on 48% and scoring over 80 per game. The points are coming from all over the floor, as they have four players averaging 12.5 ppg or more. The Dukes also have four of their top seven players connecting on 81% or higher from the line while Hofstra hits a woeful 66% from the line. We like the Dukes who are 9-3 and confident, to take one on the road vs a Hofstra team that is down this year. With Hofstra getting just 63.8 ppg their last five, we see this one staying UNDER the total as well.

The Longhorns beat TCU without AJ Abrams (18.8 ppg) and he is back for this one. St. Mary's is 12-1 on the season but they are running into the den of the #14 team in the nation here. Texas is 8-1 at home this season, getting nearly 80 ppg. They are holdin gopponents here to just 58.6 ppg. St. Mary's has never fared well on the road vs. top-level balanced teams. In fact, they have lost 25 of their last 30 games vs. teams that shoot 45% while allowing opponents 42% or less. Texas will be looking to enter conference play with momentum and St. Mary's record won't allow them to let down here.

The Hilltoppers have long dominated the Sun Belt Conference but S. Alabama may have something to say about all that this season. The Jags have it all. A go-to scorer in Demetric Bennett (20.0 ppg), a competent experienced PG in Daon Bennett (5.2 apg), a glass eater in DeAndre Coleman (8.3 rpg in just 25 min. per game), and 3pt shooters in Domonic Tilford (42.5%) and B.J. Ford (41.25). The defense allows just 40% shooting, and 32% from three. There is certainly no intimidation factor here as S. Alabama has ruled W. Kentucky at home, winning six of seven this decade. The lone loss was by a single point, so this truly has been a house of horrors for the Hilltoppers. S. Alabama established they can play with anyone, even on the road, as they lost to 14-0 Vandy by 3 in OT, and 13-0 Mississippi by 3. W. Kentucky has done well but numbers are down. All five starters return, with most going backward, not forward, and they don't have a single player averaging even 5rpg. They also bring in a negative assist to turnover ratio, and from an experienced team, they aren't sharing and moving the bal well, and the commitment on the defensive end is lacking, allowing 45%, and 37% from three. S. Alabama at this point in the season, is the better team, and has a statement to make here. We like them to top the Toppers at home.

Connecticut comes into this big game at 10-2 and on a hot streak. But, the Huskies have had just two road games. Notre Dame has won nine in a row and are perfect at home. They haven't lost at home in 28 games. The Irish have the size inside to neutralize the Huskies. ND is outrebounding opponents by 10 boards per game. Connecticut isn't the team they used to be. Over the past two seasons they are just 8-17 ATS vs. winning teams. They are also 2-9 ATS over that span vs. teams that make 37%+ of their three-pointers, 2-10 ATS vs. teams hitting 45%+ from the field, and 0-6 ATS vs. good passing teams (averaging 16+ assists per game). This team is also a perfect 0-10ATS as an underdog the past two seasons. The bottom line: UConn can beat bad and average teams but against the best teams, they fall flat.

TCU hasn't won a road game this year while San Diego State is undefeated here at home. The Aztecs have won 12 straight on this court. Add to that the fact that the Horned Frogs are 3-20 the past three seasons vs. teams with a win % of .600 or higher and this is a very tall order for them. Over the past three seasons, TCU is 2-11 following a stretch where they lost 2+ of their last three games and 1-8 in the second of back-to-back road games. Richie Williams is out for a month with a broken wrist but the Aztecs won't need him here.

The Vikings have some injury issues with key players as Tyrell Mara likely sitting again, and leading scorer Deonte Huff is hobbled and may miss. But even if he is a go, he will not be 100%. The two combine for 55 minutes and 19 ppg, as well as 9.5 boards. Those 19 ppg are crucial as the Vikings only produce 68 per night, and replacing them is going to be an issue. Beyond that they produce 56 turnovers and 30 steals. The Lumberjacks are under the radar, with four of five losses coming to Arizona, Kansas, UNLV and Utah State. They have handled everyone else on the schedule. The loss of fire-power for Vikings is critical here, as the Jacks hit 48%, and drain 40% of their three-pointers, and no starter shooting under 45%. We think the Jacks have a shot at stealing one here vs an under-manned Viking team.

Washington State was an excellent team last season, and they look to be even better this season. Aron Baynes has made a leap forward after an injury plagued last season, is now a double-digit scorer, and pulling down 7 rpg, while shooting 66%. Washington State has the best defense in the nation, and perhaps the top back-court in the nation in Low and Weaver. They commit just 11 turnovers per game. The offense is equally efficient, as they are connecting on 51% of their shots, which puts a lot of pressure on opposing offenses to score against the nation's leading defense. Washington can score, but they don't defend at all. They allow 47% shooting as well as 40% from three. While the guards for Washington State connect on well over 80% of their FTs each, Washington loses points at the line with stunning regularity, hitting on just 60%. We can't see Washington hanging in this one as the Washington State offense is better, the guards are better, the shooting is better, the FT shooting is better, and they take care of the ball better.

Results: 6-2

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Read our college basketball sports book here.
• Here we show our NCAA basketball betting approach.
• Updated today: ncaa basketball tournament picks.
• Read our 2007 college basketball season preivew here.
• Take a look at our NCAA basketball Game Preview here.
• View 2007 college basketball pick season results here.
• Don't forget to read our march madness brackets here.
• Check out college basketball against-the-spread standings here.
• Take a look at our blog NCAA basketball picks here.
• View our college basketball picks here.
• View NCAA basketball record here.
• Don't forget to visit our college basketball lines.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-03-2008
The Irish will open Big East play against West Virginia. Notre Dame has been one of the most difficult teams to play at home as they swept the schedule last year, and stand at 8-0 so far this season. ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-02-2008
Georgia State owns three wins. They beat Texas-San Antonio at home in OT, a team which owns a 0-4 road record. They beat Jacksonville at home, a team that is 1-7 on the road, the lone win over South C...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-01-2008
The Bearcats are 0-4 on the road where they manage just over 60 points per game. Louisville is taking no prisoners. They are 7-1 at home and are coming off a game in which they held their opponent, Io...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-31-2007
Vandy can secure the best start in school history with a win here. They have the two best scorers in the SEC in Shan Foster and AJ Ogilvy who is just a freshman. Between them they are averaging 40 poi...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-December-30-2007
Air Force travels cross-country here to face a Wake team that is a perfect 7-0 at home and coming off three straight wins. The Demon Deacons have won 11 in a row at home dating back to last season. Ai...