Sports Picks & Predictions

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The UAB Blazers have completely reinvented themselves under new coach Jared Haase. The Blazers went from slowing the tempo down and using up the shot clock last season to pushing the tempo and running at every opportunity this year. UCF has shown lately that they are fully capable of putting up a big number on offense. I had this game projected at 149 points. Look for both teams to get plenty of shots up, and the pace here should push this one over the posted total. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play Total* Here's a game between two teams who play the same style of basketball. They both use a full court press to push the tempo of the game, and they don't like setting up an offense. It is all about transition looks for these teams. When they get together, it is usually a very high scoring game. In fact, the over is 5-0 in their last 5 meetings with each other. Two years ago they played to a final score of 111-100. I projected this game at 154 points. The over is 7-0 in Duquesne's last 7 against teams with a losing record. The over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings at Fordham. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Creighton Blue Jays are one of the most efficient offenses in the country. It helps a lot to have Doug McDermott (one of the best scorers in the nation) and Gregory Echinique down low. Creighton hasn't been slowed down by many teams this year, and Drake's defense is very subpar. Drake just allowed 77 points to a Missouri State team that has struggled to get out of 50's most games this year. Creighton should put up a big number here. The over is 9-3 in Creighton's last 12 home games. The over is 4-1 in Drake's last 5 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Here's a matchup between two teams who try to push the pace at every opportunity. Neither one of these teams will slow things down a bit. There should be open looks in transition for both teams throughout this game. I had this line projected at 154 points. The over is 6-1 in Eastern Washington's last 7 road games. The over is 10-1 in Montana State's last 11 home games against a team with a losing record. The over is 5-1 in Eastern Washington's last 6 following an ATS loss. The over is 4-1 in the last 5 matchups between these two. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play Total* A total set this low on Louisiana Tech is almost an automatic over play for me. Louisiana Tech pushes the tempo and uses a full court press about as much as anyone in basketball. When there are so many possessions in a game, it is hard to keep it extremely low scoring. The great thing about this matchup is UT Arlington actually prefers to get out and run as well. My numbers had this one set at 139 points. Look for easy run out layups for both teams. The over is 7-1 in LA Tech's last 8 WAC games. The over is 6-1 in their last 7 following a win. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* Both of these teams love to press and push the tempo. Neither one of these teams plays very much defense. There will be a lot of athleticism and speed on full display here. The over is 7-1 in Lafayette's last 8 against a team with a losing record. The over is 7-1 in FIU's last 8 against a team with a losing record. The over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these teams. I like this one to top 150. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* Austin Peay is in the top five in the nation in three-point shooting and Tennessee Martin's defense is horrible. Both teams push the pace and there should be a lot shots here. The over is 4-0 in Austin Peay's last 4 road games. The over is 4-0 in Austin Peay's last 4 games against a team with a winning percentage of less than 40%. The over is also 11-3-1 in the last 15 games between these two teams. I this one projected at 150 points. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Play of Day* The Mississippi Rebels are a better team than they were last year. The biggest reason they are improved is they are playing to their strengths. The Rebels have an extremely athletic team and now they are getting out in transition and running. Murphy Holloway is one of the most versatile players in the country. Fordham isn't a good team, and the Rebels should be able to turn them over with their full court pressure. Fordham gives up a lot of points to good teams. Don't be surprised if Mississippi puts up a big number here. The over is 4-1-1 in the Rebels last 6 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Houston Rockets push the pace way more than any other team in the NBA. Milwaukee isn't playing quite as quick as they were at the end of last year, but they are still one of the top ten teams in the league in terms of pace. With Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis in the backcourt, the Bucks should get plenty of fastbreak opportunities against a very poor Rockets defense. At the same time, Houston's tempo should allow them to put up a big number on a questionable Bucks defense. The over is 6-0 in the Bucks last 6 following a loss. The over is 4-0 in the Rockets last 4 when their opponent scores 100 or more in the previous game. The over is 4-0 in the Bucks last 4 against teams with a winning record. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB West Coast Total* The Idaho Vandals have been consistently one of the slowest paced teams in their conference for several years now. They don't play particularly strong defense, but they do really slow the game down by using up the shot clock and taking care of the ball on offense. San Jose State is a middle of the road pace team, and they do play solid defense. I had this game projected at 132 points. The under is 7-0 in San Jose State's last 7 games overall. The under is 6-0 in their last 6 against the WAC. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Total* The Chicago State Cougars are a very bad basketball team. They will be completely outmanned in this game. UNLV loves to push the tempo, and they are as good as anyone in the country when pushing in transition. Chicago State is a poor team that doesn't slow the game down at all, which usually means good opponents can really put up the points against them. UNLV is averaging 82 points per game at home this year, and I think they'll top that in this game. I projected this one at 143. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Texas San Antonio Roadrunners like to run (as you might expect from a team named the Roadrunners). They aren't very good on the defensive end, and they put opponents on the line too often. New Mexico State isn't as good offensively as they have been the last couple years, but this Aggies team does know how to get to the charity stripe. Look for a lot of free throws in this game, and the pace should be quick enough for both teams to get up plenty of shots. The over is 5-0 in UTSA's last 5 road games. The over is 4-0 in UTSA's last 4 following a loss. The over is 4-0 in UTSA's last 4 road games against a team with a winning record. The over is 14-3 in UTSA's last 17 games overall. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Weber State Wildcats lost a once in a lifetime talent in Damian Lillard after last year. Lillard is now starring in the NBA for the Portland Blazers. What has the team decided to do in order to keep winning games? Weber State has slowed the pace down and focused on the defensive end of the floor. The Wildcats have been holding very good teams to somewhere around 60 points consistently. Northern Colorado isn't efficient on offense, and Weber State will make them work hard for their shots. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Montana State Bobcats have a way of turning games into a high scoring affairs. They love to push the tempo, and they also don't play hardly any defense. Portland State plays a little slower this year than they have in the past, but I think they'll run with Montana State in this matchup. The over is 12-2 in Montana State's last 14 home games. The over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings between these two teams. The over is 10-1 in their last 11 home games against a team with a losing road record. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Defensive Battle* The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders are one of the best mid-major teams in the nation this year. They are that good largely because of their very strong defense. Opponents simply don't get good looks at the basket against the Blue Raiders. Arkansas State likes to slow the game down and use up the shot clock. The Red Wolves are good on the defensive end as well, especially at home. Look for the slow tempo and strong defense to keep this one under the posted total. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* Southeast Missouri State has really turned into a much better defensive team this year. The Redhawks used to be a run and gun team, but now they are a pretty good team thanks to their terrific half court defense. Austin Peay likes to push the tempo, but they are aren't efficient on the offensive end. Southeast Missouri State should slow things down some on their home floor, and I expect poor shooting percentages from both teams. The last six games between these teams have all finished below this total. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB TOP Play of the Week* The Morehead State Eagles are a brand new team this year. Sean Woods is now the coach, and the team is no longer slowing the game down. Woods has instilled his style into the team's philosophy. He likes to press and push the tempo all game long. The oddsmakers have been slow to react to this change of pace from Morehead State. SIU Edwardsville isn't a good team, but they really like to run. Both of these teams rank in the top 75 (out of 347 in the country) in terms of pace. I had this number a full 10 points higher than this posted total! The over is 4-1 in Morehead State's last 5. The over is 8-2 in Edwardsville's last 10 against the OVC. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Total* The Miami Hurricanes are a pretty solid team this year. It all starts on the defensive end of the floor. Miami has been making their opponents work for shots this year. LaSalle is a much improved team this year as well, and that is thanks to their improvement on the defensive end. We have two teams here who are much improved on the defensive end, and they both play at a slower pace than they played at last season. I had this one projected at 128 points. The under is 6-0 in Miami's last 6 games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Indiana State Sycamores have been playing surprisingly well over the last few weeks. The team has changed their style of play quite a bit over the course of the season. Their new slower pace with better half court defense has really helped them be successful. Indiana State won't try to speed it up here, and Northern Iowa has been one of the slowest paced teams in the MVC for many years. I projected this one at 120. The under is 6-0 in Indiana State's last 6 Wednesday games. The under is 5-0 in Northern Iowa's last 5 against the MVC. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* The Bradley Braves are one of the fastest paced teams in the Missouri Valley Conference. Southern Illinois' defense isn't even close to as good as they were the past few years. The Salukis have given up quite a few points on several occasions this season. This posted total is so low that you would think both of these teams play slow and play great defense. I don't believe that is the case at all. I had this one pegged at 129 points. Look for this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Vanderbilt has been an up and down team this year. The Commodores were beaten 50-33 on a neutral floor by Marist. On the other end of the spectrum, Vanderbilt also beat Xavier on the road this season. Vanderbilt doesn't have the offensive firepower they have had in recent years, but they can still play defense. Vanderbilt is slowing games down of late and winning with their half court defense. William & Mary definitely isn't the type of team to push the tempo. I projected this one at 119 points. The under is 7-1 in Vandy's last 8. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 home games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* Missouri State has been a competitive team in the MVC over the past few years. They aren't competitive this year. Missouri State lost all their offensive stars, and this team simply can't put up points this year. Missouri State has scored 54 points or less in 5 of their last 6 games. Evansville's defense is better this year than it has been in past years. The pace here should be slowed down by Missouri State, as that really is their only shot to stay in the game. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The UMass Minutemen push the tempo in a big way. UMass likes to press and try to force the issue. The Minutemen force a lot of turnovers, and Miami (Ohio) isn't very good at taking care of the basketball. That should equal a lot of easy layups for UMass in this one. Miami is changing the way they play under first-year coach John Cooper. The Redhawks want t run and push the pace, and this is a perfect opportunity for them to do that. Miami has been scoring and giving up a lot of points of late, and I think they will again here. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* A posted total this high is almost never seen, but it makes a lot of sense for these two teams. In fact, my numbers have this game at 170 points. UNC Greensboro isn't a very good team, but they play as fast as anyone in the nation. Greensboro also does a ton of fouling. They put opponents at the line as much as any team in the country. NC State's offense is extremely good. They have the top two-point shooting percentage in the country. NC State should put up a very big number here. The over is 6-0 in NC State's last 6 home games against a team with a losing record. The over is 4-0 in NC State's last 4 home games against teams with a winning percentage under 40%. The over is 7-1 in NC State's last 8 home games. Expect a very high scoring game. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Rivalry Total* The St. Joe's Hawks and Drexel Dragons are very familiar with each other. These two teams from the same city play every single year. One thing that has been a common theme with these teams is that they play a very defensive-minded game against each other. Every single game since 2004 has gone under this posted total except one game that went into overtime (it was under at the end of regulation). Both these teams are playing at a very slow pace this year. The under is 5-0 in Drexel's last 5 Monday games. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Total* The Princeton Tigers slow the game down in a big way, and Akron isn't the type of team that can dictate the tempo. The only way Princeton stays in this game is by slowing it down and using up the shot clock every time down the floor. I had this game projected at 124 points. It's hard to imagine these teams getting to this number without some really high shooting percentages. When a total is off by this many points from my projected total, it qualifies as a 5 star top play. Take the under big here!

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play Total* The UC Irvine Anteaters have been a team that really likes to push the tempo for several years now. UC Davis is pushing the pace a lot this year, because the Aggies have a couple great scorers. UC Davis has two guys averaging 16 and 17 points per game respectively. The Aggies have put up more than 80 points several times already this season. Both teams are playing quicker than they did a year ago, but the posted total is set slightly lower than it was last year. I had this one projected at 142 points. The over is 20-7-2 in UC Irvine's last 29 home games. Take the over big in this one!

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Northern Colorado Bears and Southern Utah Thunderbirds are similar teams. Southern Utah has a new coach this year, and that has meant big changes in the way the team plays. Southern Utah is looking to get out and run much more often this year. Northern Colorado has been a team that likes to get out in transition for several years, and I don't expect that to change. My numbers had this one set at 141 points. I see a lot of made three-point jumpers in this one pushing it over the total. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* This is a game that most won't be keeping an eye on, but I think this total is set too low. Both of these teams are no better than mediocre on the defensive end, and both teams like to push the tempo on the offensive end. A total of 125 points is usually reserved for games between teams that either play very good defense or slow the game down. I don't think that is the case in this game. I had this one projected at 130 points. This one stays under the radar, but I think it goes over the total.

*3 Star Sun Belt Total* The Arkansas State Red Wolves are one of the few teams in the Sun Belt that really doesn't like to push the tempo. The Red Wolves play solid defense and try to work it around for a good look on the offensive end. South Alabama is better defensively than most teams in the conference. The Jaguars do push the tempo more, but they still aren't a terrific transition team. My numbers had this game at 136 points. Look for the tempo to be slow enough to keep this one under the total. Take the under.

*3 Star MVC Total* Drake and Bradley both love to push the pace. There won't be anyone trying to slow things down in this matchup, which makes me like the over at such a reasonable level. These are two teams that can put up points in a hurry. Neither team is particularly strong on the defensive end. Drake is pushing the pace much more than they were a year ago, and they have been having a lot of very high scoring games. My numbers had this game projected at 143 points. Look for this one to go over the posted total.

*3 Star Xavier/Tennessee Total* The Xavier Musketeers played at a quick tempo last year. Last season they had Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons, which gave them one of the best backcourts in the country. Without either of those guys int he backcourt this year, Xavier has changed the way they play bigtime this year. Xavier is slowing the game down and utilizing their strong defense to win low scoring games. Tennessee scored in the 30's two different times early this year, and they won't push the tempo here. The under is 20-7 in Tennessee's last 27 Saturday games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks have one of the worst offenses in the country. They don't move very quickly, and they are extremely inefficient. It doesn't help at all that they only shoot 56% from the free throw line. Florida Atlantic is missing some key players right now, and that should hurt their offense more than the defense. I had this game projected at 120 points. Look for both teams to shoot a low percentage from the floor since that is common for both of them. I like the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Total* Texas State plays at an extremely quick tempo. In fact, no one in the nation plays faster than Texas State. Even in games where their opponent slows down the tempo, the final total generally gets into the 140's. San Jose State isn't the type of team that will slow the game down. The Spartans will put up plenty of points against a Texas State defense that simply isn't very good. Both of these teams will get up a lot of shots, so unless they shoot a very low % from the floor, then this one should go over. Take the over.

*3 Star Missouri/UCLA Total Domination* The UCLA Bruins are a brand new basketball team this year. With guys like Shabazz Muhammad and Jordan Adams on the roster, the Bruins are pushing the tempo more than they have in years. UCLA has a lot of guys who are capable of scoring 15 or 20 points per game. Missouri isn't the type of team to slow down the pace. Flip Pressey is one of the best point guards in the nation, and he can really start a fast break. Both of these teams have put up some big numbers already this year, and when they meet I expect offensive fireworks. The over is 6-0 in Missouri's last 6 Friday games. The over is 7-1 in Missouri's last 8 against the PAC 12. The over is 17-4 in their last 21 following an ATS win. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* Southern Miss and Morehead State meet in a very interesting matchup tonight. Coach Tyndall at Southern Miss was the Morehead State coach last year, so he'll face his old team in this one. Morehead State is running and gunning under new coach Sean Woods. Both of these teams force a lot of turnovers and both teams do a ton of fouling. In fact, Morehead State commits more fouls than any other team in the country. Southern Miss shoots 73% at the line, so I expect a lot of free points at the charity stripe. The over is 10-3-1 in Southern Miss' last 14 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Brown Bears have a new coach this season. In the past couple years, Brown pushed the tempo, but this season they are slowing down the pace. The Bears aren't very good offensively, and the only way they can stay in the game is by keeping it low-scoring. Providence isn't the fast-paced team they were a couple years ago. The Friars are slowing down the pace quite a bit this season. Providence has a couple key injuries and their offensive output has been diminished as of late. I had this one projected at 125. The under is 7-1 in Brown's last 8 against teams with a winning percentage above 60%. The under is 4-0 in Providence's last 4 following a loss. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Arkansas State Red Wolves have a system they stick to pretty well under Coach John Brady. Brady never wants his team to push the tempo much at all. They like to set up their defense and get into a half court style of game. The Red Wolves are particularly adept at doing this on their home floor, where this game will be played. Lafayette does push the pace, but their offense isn't very efficient. Lafayette has struggled to score on the road. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 road games against teams with a winning record. The under is 6-1 in Arkansas State's last 7 against teams with a losing record. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Florida Atlantic Owls will be playing this game short-handed. Florida Atlantic has two guys suspended for this one. One of them is the second leading scorer on the team at 15 points per game. Combined, the two guys account for 19 points per game for the team. Even before these two were out, the Owls offense was struggling. This is a team that averages only 65 points per game. Troy is slowing the pace down a lot this year under a new coach, and the Trojans average just 62.5 points per game. I had this one projected at 126. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* These teams are very familiar with each other, and both of them like to push the pace. Last year these teams met twice and the posted totals for those games were 145.5 and 158.5. This total is several points lower despite the fact that these two teams are actually playing slightly faster this year. My projections had this one pegged at 144 points. Look for both teams to get up a lot of shots in this game. The over is 6-1 in Fort Wayne's last 7 games. The over is 11-5 in IUPUI's last 16 home games. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Christmas Day CASH* The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets meet in the first of five NBA games on Christmas Day. Brooklyn plays at the slowest tempo of any team in the NBA. While Boston has sped up their tempo a bit, they are still slower than most teams in the NBA. Both of these teams have had several overtime games recently that have gone over the posted total solely because of overtime. In general, these are two teams that play good defense and take their time on the offensive end. The under is 4-0 in the Nets last 4. The under is 7-1-1 in the Nets last 9 following a win. The under is 5-1 in the Nets last 6 against the Atlantic Division. The under is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings between these two teams. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Arizona Wildcats and the Miami Hurricanes will do battle late tonight in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii. A neutral floor like this generally leads to slightly lower scoring, and both of these teams play very good defense. Miami shut down a prolific Hawaii offense last night. The Hurricanes are slowing the pace down a lot, and they are winning by controlling the ball and playing great defense. Arizona has played in several low scoring games this year (including their win over Florida). Look for open shots to be tough to find in this one. The under is 7-0 in Arizona's last 7 neutral site games. The under is 6-0 in Arizona's lats 6 non-conference games. The under is 6-0 in Arizona's last 6 against teams with a winning percentage above 60%. The under is 4-0 in Miami's last 4 games. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers both play at a very slow pace. In fact, the Nets at the slowest pace of any NBA team and the 76ers play at the third slowest pace in the league. Brook Lopez is a defensive force for the Nets. With him in the lineup, it's tough for opposing teams to get much penetration against the Nets interior defense. Neither one of these teams is shooting the ball particularly well this year. The under is 20-7-1 in the Nets last 28 Sunday games. The under is 4-1 in the Nets last 5 overall. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB TOP Total* The Canisius Golden Griffins are one of the most improved teams in the nation. Jim Baron is doing a great job in his first year with the team, and it helps to have his son on the team now as well. Jimmy Baron is the team's best scorer, and he can really shoot it from beyond the arc. UNLV plays at a very quick pace, and they only know how to play one way. Canisius has picked up the pace this year as well. I'm not sure Canisius can keep up with UNLV, but they'll give it a good try and keep pushing the tempo themselves. The over is 12-1 in Canisius' last 13 road games against teams with a winning record. Take the over big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden Gem Total* The TCU Horned Frogs and Rice Owls are very similar teams this year. Both of them play at a slow pace and shoot a terrible percentage from the floor. In addition, both of these teams are very good in half court defensive situations. Both of these teams have had multiple games that have struggled to get above 100 points, so such a low total is no surprise when these two meet. I had this one projected at 113 points. Look for poor shooting numbers from both teams. Take the under in this contest.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Bradley Braves and Virginia Tech Hokies both love to push the tempo. These teams should push each other here, and I think an all out track meet is pretty likely. Virginia Tech has been scoring over 80 points nearly every game, while Bradley has put up big numbers on several occasions. This was a game that I had circled before the lines came out as an 'over' play and the number was right. I have this projected at 146 points. Look for a fast pace and lots of points. Take the over.

*3 Star Missouri/Illinois Total* The Missouri Tigers and Illinois Fighting Illini are bitter rivals. These two teams are both having terrific seasons thus far. Illinois is unbeaten while Missouri has only lost once. This game will be played on a neutral floor, which tends to lower the scoring a bit. Missouri is playing at quite a bit slower pace than they did last year. The Tigers are much better defensively than most people realize. This won't be the up and down game it was a couple years ago. Look for this to stay under the total.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* The Virginia Cavaliers control the tempo as well as anyone in college basketball. Tony Bennett's team takes good care of the basketball, and they absolutely use up the shot clock every opportunity they get. Old Dominion isn't a very good team this year, but I think they'll bring their "A Effort" against a team from nearby. The Monarchs defense has been better the last couple games. The under is 15-2 in Virginia's last 17 non-conference games. This game is being played on a neutral floor, which helps the under as well. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play Total* The Idaho State Bengals are one of the worst teams in college basketball. They may actually have the absolute worst offense in the country. How bad is Idaho State's offense? In 8 games against Division I schools this year, Idaho State hasn't scored more than 53 points in a single game. They have been held to 49 points or less in 6 of those 8 games. Idaho State stalls and uses up the entire shot clock. Eastern Washington isn't efficient on offense, and I don't think they'll shoot a high enough percentage for this to go over. I this one projected at 126. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* Columbia is one of those teams that dictates the style of play very well. Columbia doesn't want to run, and I don't think they'll let Elon get out in transition, especially on their home floor. Columbia has already played some very low scoring games this year, and I think this will be another. My numbers had this game projected at 121 points. Look for the tempo to be slow and both teams to play pretty good defense here. The under is the value play in this one. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Mississippi Rebels have looked great this year, but it has been against horrible competition. Ole Miss is a little better than they were last year, but I'm not buying the fact that they are much better all at once. Indiana State plays good defense, especially on their home court. The Sycamores aren't likely to let Mississippi turn this into a track meet. I think this game will be much tighter than the line suggests, and I think the defenses will both play well. I had this one at 135. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Total* The NC State Wolfpack have an abundance of talent. Over the past few games, they are starting to look like they have much better chemistry on the offensive end. This is a team that is absolutely capable of putting up 80 points or more almost every game. They'll push the pace here and put up quite a few points against a mediocre St. Bonnie team. St. Bonaventure has some solid guards who should put up several points as well. I projected this one at 148. Take the over in this one.

*3 Star NCAA BB Instate Battle Total* The George Mason Patriots and Richmond Spiders will play a spirited game today in Richmond (on what is technically a neutral floor). These two teams haven't played in more than ten years, but I fully expect both teams to battle hard in this one. Richmond likes to slow the pace down, and both of these teams are good on the defensive end. I think open shots will be tough to come by for both teams here. I think this one stays in the upper 120's. Take the under in this matchup.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Montana Grizzlies are the class of the Big Sky Conference. What's the main reason that Montana has been at the top of this conference for the past couple years? Montana actually plays some pretty solid defense and takes care of the ball. The Grizzlies have lower scoring games than just about anyone else in the conference because of their style of play. They tend to be the team that dictates the tempo of the game. Sacramento State is playing slightly slower this year, and I think this line is several points too high. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Vanderbilt Commodores and Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders are in-state rivals. In fact, these two schools are quick bus ride down the interstate apart. Both of these teams are slowing the tempo down this year, and both of them play above average defense. These rivalry games tend to be won with defense (as we saw with the Xavier/Cincinnati game earlier this week). Look for both teams to clamp down and force a lot of tough shots here. I just don't see enough uptempo action for this one to get over 125. The under is 7-1 in Vandy's last 8 neutral site games. The under is 11-2 in MTSU's last 13 against the SEC. The under is 4-0 in Vandy's last 4 Friday games. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* Here we have two teams who play very little defense. In last year's meeting, the final score was 87-69. Both teams will get up plenty of shots, and because so many of them will likely be uncontested, the score should be higher than oddsmakers are expecting. Both of these teams like to speed up the tempo of the game, so I don't see any reason why this one would be played at a slow pace. I had this one projected at 142 points. The over is 5-2 in Northern Colorado's last 7 games overall. Take the over here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* The Southern Illinois Salukis are known for their quality defense. Southern Illinois plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, where it takes solid defense to win games. Nicholls State is a very poor team who struggles to get points up on the board normally. Nicholls State managed to put up 72 points on Utah State yesterday, but I don't think that happens again here. I had this game projected at 131 points. Look for Southern Illinois to jump out to a lead and clamp down on the defensive end. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Fordham Rams got a big piece of their offense back this week. Chris Gaston is the team's most talented player, and he should be their leading scorer by the end of the season. He is back now, and he should be able to put up quite a few points here. UConn will have a major advantage in the backcourt, and I look for Napier and Boatright to both have big games. The posted total is set so low that the pace here doesn't even have to be very quick for this one to get over. The over is 10-4 in UConn's last 14 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Idaho State Bengals are definitely one of the worst teams in college basketball this year. Idaho State hasn't beaten a Division I team yet this year. All of Idaho State's games against DI teams have finished below this posted total. Their single highest game was 122 against Oregon (Oregon won 87-35). Idaho State hasn't scored more than 53 points in a game all year. Portland State isn't very good offensively either. The under is 4-0 in Portland State's last 4 games overall. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Utah State Aggies are always one of the best teams in the nation at controlling the tempo. Utah State plays at the pace they want to play, and they have for years. The Aggies are a team that clamps down on defense and walks it up the floor. Nicholls State isn't a good team at all, and I just don't think they can dictate the tempo in this one. Nicholls State has scored 54 points or less in 3 of their games already this year. Don't be surprised if they are held under that mark again. I had this one projected at 130. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Oakland lost a lot of scoring from last year's team, and the Golden Grizzlies can't quite push the tempo like they did the past few years. Oakland will run into a West Virginia team that plays very physically. The Mountaineers aren't likely to let Oakland get their wish of turning this into a finesse game that is all about speed and quick shots. Bob Huggins' team will be physical and slow the tempo down to help their chances of winning. West Virginia had very poor defense last time out against Michigan, but I think we'll see a committed effort on the defensive end here. The under is 7-2 in the Mountaineers last 9. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Creighton Blue Jays are one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country. Creighton is averaging 79.6 points per game, and it is hard to imagine them not getting to 75 points in this one. Tulsa has picked up their tempo under new coach Danny Manning this year. Tulsa should get enough shots up to push this total over. I had this one projected at 138 points. Look for Doug McDermott to pile up the points both inside and outside in this one. The over is 4-0 in Tulsa's last 4 against the MVC. The over is 8-2-1 in Creighton's last 11 non-conference games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The NC Greensboro Spartans are one of my favorite over teams. Greensboro pushes the tempo in a big way, and they foul more than any other team in the country so far this year. NC Wilmington will likely be forced into the quicker paced game here, and Wilmington should benefit from getting a bunch of free throw attempts. Neither team is any good on the defensive end, so I expect a lot of easy layups on both ends of the floor. I had this one projected at 149 points. Look for this to go over the posted total.

*3 Star Xavier/Cincinnati Total* The battle for Cincinnati is on tonight. This one is played on a neutral floor. Most people remember the brawl that occurred last year when these two met. These teams absolutely hate each other. A game like this usually is won with defense. The last two meetings between these teams have gone well under this total, and three years ago it would have too if it hadn't gone into multiple overtimes. Cincinnati is playing quicker this year, but they still have a great defense. Xavier has slowed the tempo down a lot since they don't have much strength at the guard spot. The under is 6-2 in Cincy's last 8 games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Appalachian State Mountaineers might have the worst defense in the nation so far this year. Appalachian State is giving up 77.3 points per game, despite not really playing a very tough schedule thus far. South Carolina has scored 82 points or more on four occasions this year, so they are certainly capable of putting up a big number, especially against a terrible defense like this one. Appalachian State can't play defense, but they can shoot three's and score in bunches. The over is 4-0 in App State's last 4 against the SEC. The over is 4-0 in SC's last 4 following an ATS win. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Bailout* The LSU Tigers are adapting to a new offense under coach Johnny Jones this year. Under Jones this team is getting out and running in transition. Jones had a lot of success at North Texas getting his team out in transition, and LSU is putting up a lot of points so far this year as well. UC Irvine plays in the Big West where nearly everyone tries to push the tempo. Irvine isn't likely to slow the game down, and this could end up being a very fast-paced game. The over is 20-7-2 in Irvine's last 29 home games. The over is 6-2 in Irvine's last 8 non-conference games. Take the over.

*5 Star NBA Top Play Total* The Brooklyn Nets are one of the slowest paced teams in the NBA. They also play very good half court defense. Brook Lopez makes this team a very tough defense. When he was out of the lineup for several games, the Nets saw same high final totals. Now that Lopez is back, they have been back to slower paced games and cashing in on the under. The Utah Jazz's biggest strength is their frontcourt, but that will be neutralized by the Nets strong interior defense. Neither team pushes the tempo, and unless they shoot a very high percentage I don't see this one getting over 190. The under is 5-0 in the Jazz's last 5 games on 2 days of rest. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 Tuesday games. The under is 5-0-1 in the Nets last 6 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Furman Paladins have changed their style of play a bit in the past year. Previously, this was a team that slowed it down and walked it up the floor. Now, they look for opportunities to run when they can. Wake Forest always pushes the tempo under coach Jeff Bzdelik. The Demon Deacons should jump out to a lead, which will force Furman to keep their tempo up to try to catch up in this one. I pegged this total at 138. The over is 6-0 in Wake Forest's last 6 games. The over is 5-1 in Furman's last 6 following an ATS loss. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Southern Miss and Georgia State both have new coaches running their program. Both coaches are defensive-minded guys who have their teams playing very good halfcourt defense. Southern Miss has slowed their tempo down quite a bit from last year, while Georgia State has stayed at a slow pace. The oddsmakers seem to be a little too high here. I had this one projected at 120 points. Look for both teams to shoot the ball poorly because of contested shots all the way through. The under is 4-0 in Georgia State's last 4. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Michigan State Spartans don't have the most talent they have had in recent years, but they are playing very well on the defensive end of the floor. Tom Izzo's team is only giving up 56.4 points per game. They have allowed 44 points or less three times in their last nine games. Bowling Green plays at a very slow pace, and the Falcons have a solid defense (especially at home). Look for Bowling Green to slow this game down in a big way. The under is 6-0 in Bowling Green's last 6 against teams with a losing road record. The under is 9-1 in the Falcons last 10 home games. The under is 8-1 in BG's lats 9 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Eastern Washington Eagles and the UC Davis Aggies both play basketball the same way. Both of them push the tempo and get up a ton of shots. This game should be played at a very quick pace. Eastern Washington has given up 80 points or more in 6 of their 9 games this year. UC Davis and Eastern Washington both shoot the three-ball very well, and I expect that to help the points pile up quickly here. The over is 6-0 in UC Davis' last 6 home games. It is also 6-0 in Davis' last 6 Monday games. The over is 8-2 in Eastern Washington's last 10 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds are both pretty bad teams. Still, they are both teams that should be able to put up points against each other. These are two very bad defenses. This game should see plenty of easy layups and wide open three-point shots for both teams. The pace here should be quicker than this total would indicate. Southern Utah has a new coach this year who has the team pushing the tempo much more than they have in the past. Take the over.

*3 Star Spurs/Thunder Total Domination* Manu Ginobili is expected to miss this game, and that will hurt the Spurs offense. Ginobili has been one of the best at breaking down the Oklahoma City defense in the past few years, and without him the Spurs will likely be less efficient. The posted total was 204 the first time these two met this year, so I see value getting three points higher on the 'under' here. In fact, in the last ten meetings between these teams there has never been a posted total higher than 206. Take the value with the under.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Houston Rockets and New York Knicks meet in an interesting game at Madison Square Garden today. Houston trampled the Knicks 131-103 last month in Houston. The Knicks will obviously be looking for revenge, and they have been red hot of late. Houston is pushing the tempo far more than anyone else in the NBA. New York has the NBA's most efficient offense right now, and it won't surprise me if they put up 115 points or more here. Houston will get plenty of shots up too. The over is 6-0 in the Knicks last 6 home games. The over is 5-0 in the Knicks last 5 against the Western Conference. The over is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Pepperdine Waves control the tempo very well. Pepperdine plays at a snail's pace, and they force the opponent to do the same. Central Michigan is an extremely weak team this season. Keno Davis will likely do a good job with them in the future, but they just don't have many scoring options now. Central Michigan has been held to less than 60 points three times this year. Pepperdine has allowed less than 60 points in three different games. Two of those games also went into overtime. The under is 7-1 in Central Michigan's last 8 Sunday games. The under is 37-18 in Central Michigan's last 55 road games. Take the under.

*3 Star Florida/Arizona Total Domination* The Florida Gators have been one of the most impressive teams in the country this year. The thing I've been most impressed with is their defense. These guys are contesting every shot very well right now. The Gators aren't pushing the tempo much at all of late. Arizona is a solid team as well, and they are much better this year on the defensive end than they were last season. The under is 7-0 in Arizona's last 7 games. The under is 6-0 in the Wildcats last 6 home games. The under is 4-0 in Arizona's last 4 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* South Dakota State has one of the best guards in the nation in Nate Wolters. A couple years ago the Jackrabbits were pushing the tempo in a big way, but now that Wolters doesn't have much help they have slowed things down a lot. Montana has been a team that slows it down the past few years, and they play better defense on their home floor. My numbers had this one at 137 points. Look for the slower than expected pace to keep the shots to a minimum here. This one should be close to the end. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Milwaukee Bucks seemed to have change their tempo of late. Milwaukee was running and gunning late last year and earlier this year, but they have changed back to a team that uses up the clock over the past few weeks. The under has been on a big roll with this team of late. The under is 9-2 in their last 11 games. I think the oddsmakers are being a little slow to react to this change in tempo from the Bucks. Both of these teams are above average defensively. I think this stays well under. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls are two of the slowest paced teams in the NBA. Both of these teams walk the ball up the floor and use up the shot clock almost every time. They are also two of the best defensive teams in the league. Brooklyn is a much better defensive squad with Brook Lopez in the lineup, and with him back I think we'll see some nice values on the under for a little bit. Look for a defensive battle between two teams who like to slug it out in a low scoring type of game. The under is 6-0 in the Bulls last 6 Saturday games. The under is also 6-0 in the Bulls last 6 games following 2 days of rest. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Throwdown* The West Virginia Mountaineers and Michigan Wolverines meet in an interesting battle here Saturday. John Beilein will be matched against his old team. Michigan is a very good team this year, and Bob Huggins' Mountaineers aren't particularly strong. Both of these teams like to keep the tempo very slow, so I expect a lot of the shot clock getting used up in this one. My projections had this game at 124 points. Look for both defenses to step up and hold this one down quite a bit. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* Loyola Chicago has proven to be a much improved team this year. Loyola likes to slow the game down and play at their pace, which they should be able to do even better on their home floor. Mississippi State will probably be right at the bottom of the SEC this year, because they simply aren't very good. The Bulldogs don't have many scoring threats at all, and their shooting numbers have been awful. I think Loyola controls the pace in this game, and I think this likely stays under 120. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Texas Total* The Texas Longhorns offense has been horrific this year. Texas State is the perfect opponent for the Longhorns to face right now. Texas is a very athletic team that can score when pushing it in transition. I actually think the Longhorns would benefit from pushing the tempo more often than they currently do. They'll get plenty of chances in this one against a Texas State team that runs and guns and doesn't play much defense at all. This is a great game for the Texas offense to come alive. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* Let me start by saying I'm no fan of taking an over between these two teams, but it is all about value. My projected line for this game was 115 points. USC is definitely a better team than they were last year, and most of their improvements are on the offensive end. UC Riverside isn't a good team, but if they get behind they won't be able to keep stalling like they normally would. With a number this low, a 65-45 game would be over the posted total. I can't overlook the value on this one. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA Instate Battle Total* It's a battle between two teams from the state of Iowa. These teams don't like each other very much, and I think that will make both teams play hard and pick it up a little on the defensive end. Both of these teams do like to run, but this number is set very high for that reason. I had this one set at 146 points. Look for both teams to shoot lower percentages than their season average today. I think this will end up being a sloppy game that stays close all the way. Take the under.