Expert Ncaa March Madness Picks - January 06, 2008
After yesterday's 6-2-1 day, we are now 32-15 (68%) for +30.5 units over the past two weeks. We have five picks today.
Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:
Game: Pittsburgh at Villanova (12:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Pittsburgh +4 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Pittsburgh sustained a pair of severe blows as Lavance Fields and Mike Cook have gone down with injuries. It's tough to go on the road in the Big East missing your playmaker and another guard. These two combined for 22.5 points per game, and 8.5 assists per game as well as leadership. The Panthers are suddenly young and thin in the backcourt. It showed in a big way as they dropped a decision on the road at Dayton by 25. The difference? The one-point win over Duke, the rest of the team shot 15-46 32.6%, and was 0-12 from the arc, and only only six assists. Villanova lost their top rebounder in Drummond to an injury as well, but their top two scorers are both guards in Reynolds and Fisher, and will present significant problems for the Pitt secondary backcourt. It just means Nova can collapse on the interior, and make life difficult for Pitt to find scoring opportunities. Riding the Cats at home.
Game: Ball State at Toledo (2:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 114.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Ball State comes in off a win, pushing their total number of wins to... one. They lost their first eleven before finally beating someone (IUPU Ft Wayne). Toledo is much better - they are 3-9. Wow, what a game! Ball State has a bit of hope. They finally won a game thanks in part to getting back Anthony Newell. He has only played in three games but is averaging 21 ppg. So, expect a boost to the Cardinal's scoring. Toledo is a decent home team going 3-1 here and scoring 64 ppg. Ball State is 11-3 OVER hte past three seasons as a road underdog in this range. They are also a perfect 6-0 OVER on the road after failing to cover the spread in three straight games. We think this total is depressed too much and like it the game to go OVER.
Game: Xavier at Auburn (3:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on Xavier -9.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Tigers appear to be off to a solid start at 9-2, but the nine wins are all of the "cupcake" variety. The only two real games they have played were vs. Tulane and W. Virginia. They were both losses by a combined 44 points. Xavier is hitting their stride as they have posted back-to-back 100 point games against competent opponents in Virginia and Kansas State, winning by 26 and 38 points. Xavier is putting up big numbers vs top competition, trumping Auburn's good numbers vs a weak schedule. Xavier defends well and shoots nearly 50%. That spells trouble for Auburn who allowed 55% combined to the only two opponents on their schedule worth mentioning. Xavier becoming explosive and has too much firepower and a better commitment on defensive end.
Game: Xavier at Auburn (3:05 PM Eastern)Pick: 4 units on Xavier -550 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 0.7)
We are also going with Xavier on the moneyline here.
Game: Drake at Evansville (3:05 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on Drake -6.5 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)
Drake continues to steamroll through the competition, as they have run off 10 straight and now stand at 11-1. They are taking on the look of the premier team in the MVC. The top three scorers (Young, Houston and Cox) are all hitting over 46% on three and the defense is turning in over 10 steals a game while holding opponnets to 40% shooting. The Purple Aces aren't coming up aces on the season, and have opened MVC play with a pair of double-digit losses, including a home set-back by 14 to Indiana State. The Aces have just 35 steals on the season, commit more turnovers than they make assists, and shoot under 43% as a team. They have shot just 35-111 in their 2 MVC games (31.5%) and converted just 25.9% of their threes. Defensively quick Drake should be able to convert on the other end on their way to handing the Purple Aces their 3rd straight double-digit conference loss.
Results: 3-2
NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:
Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-January-05-2008
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. ...
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...
