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A few for me these two days. If you have any questions just fire away.
BYU -5 2 Units
ODU/ND Under 122 3 Units
Both of these teams usually prefer to play slow. I think even if one of them decides to speed it up the other will then try and slow it down as that is where they have seen most of their effectiveness of late.
Richmond -2 3 Units
Love the matchups for the A10 in the first games. I think Richmond and Temple were both underseeded and both got teams that they match up with very well physically so their discipline, execution and coaching advantage should help them get the W's.
Vandy -3 2 Units
Big, physical, efficient and they get to the line. Murray St also fouls a lot. I wouldn't be surprised to see 25-30 made FT's for Vandy and those easy points will be a problem.
UTEP +120 2 Units
I think these teams should have been meeting in a 7-10 matchup and I expect UTEP's size and power in the paint to create a problem foulwise with Howard and Butler. UTEP will have to do a good job on Butler's shooters but if they can keep the 3 pt % reasonable either Culpepper or Character should be able to get off enough to get a nice W. Should be a great game.
UNLV -1 2 Units
NIU has a nice team but they are a little limited on offense at times and I think that will show up against a good, athletic defensive team. NIU would have had a more favorable matchup against a team that didn't defend quite as well.
Marquette -1' 3 Units
Washington is Jekyl and Hyde on the road vs at home. They are very limited at times knocking down 3's and they don't have a ton of size inside to create matchup problems for Marquette. Marquette will likely pack it in a little and force Thomas and Overton to shoot over the top. If Thomas is scoring effectively it might be UW in a blow out but I think Marquette contains him and Pondexter(Using Hayward) and UW allows a lot of open looks on defense when their offense is struggling. I think Johnson-Odom has a big game for MU today.
Ohio +13' 2 Units
I don't usually love MAC teams as recently they haven't seemed to matchup as well with major conference teams but I think GTown has a little bit of a letdown in their play after the long weekend last weekend. I expect a tight affair with Ohio playing with a ton of passion and effort.
New Mexico -9 2 Units
Good matchup size wize for the Lobos and while Johnson was super for Montana last week they should have been finished off by Weber St when they were down 20 at the half. I expect UNM to be focused after getting upset last week and Montana doesn't create matchup problems for them. If they can contain Johnson they should be able to control the game and their isn't a matchup for Hobson on the other side.
Tennessee -3' 2 Units
No real analysis, I just think SD St is getting a little trendy and Tennessee has been hot and cold but I think they can win with either average or hot play.
X pk 3 Units
X has all the pieces necessary to win games, size (Love and Freese), shooting (Jackson, Crawford, Holloway and Redford), slasher (Crawford), go to scorer (Holloway and Crawford) and they play shoot FT's very well. But with all that I think X's biggest advantage is that they have a group of very smart players who know how to agitate the other team (see: Lowery, Rob) and they know how to win. They make plays, they know they can come back when down and they have all the same physical tools of a BCS team like Minnesota. I expect a lot of on ball pressure from Crawford and Holloway to disrupt Minny's offense and for X to make plays necessary to win a competitive game.
Temple -4 2 Units
I look for a very efficient performance out of Temple just as they have had for the last 2-3 weeks. Cornell is tough but a team in the same mold with better athletes is not the type of matchup they needed.
Purdue -4 4 Units
I think Kremer does a number on Ubiles and the Purdue pg's are solid against Moore. If that happens Purdue should be able to hold down Siena and they will hit more shots than against Minnesota. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Purdue jump out to a 10-15 pt lead in the first 8-10 minutes and coast to an easy victory.
FSU -1' 3 Units
Better defensive team, less travel, have the physical bodies to matchup with Gonzaga. Gonzaga also has been underperforming in the tourney over the course of the last few years since they made their big run.
Houston +9' 2 Units
ML +375 1 Unit
This should be an up and down game, which is the style that Houston thrives on. I think it gives them a chance to get comfortable and with a veteran coach who can steady them a few shots going down early could lead to growing confidence and a possible upset against a team that was stellar at home and shaky on the road at times.
Louisville +1 2 Units
I am not impressed with Cal and Louisville has multiple players that can get hot and carry them for stretches. Samuels will be a key in the post. It's possible UL doesn't show up as they haven't in some games but I don't think that's a real issue. Their weakness has been getting killed on the offensive glass and that shouldn't be much of an issue in this matchup either.
BYU -5 2 Units
ODU/ND Under 122 3 Units
Both of these teams usually prefer to play slow. I think even if one of them decides to speed it up the other will then try and slow it down as that is where they have seen most of their effectiveness of late.
Richmond -2 3 Units
Love the matchups for the A10 in the first games. I think Richmond and Temple were both underseeded and both got teams that they match up with very well physically so their discipline, execution and coaching advantage should help them get the W's.
Vandy -3 2 Units
Big, physical, efficient and they get to the line. Murray St also fouls a lot. I wouldn't be surprised to see 25-30 made FT's for Vandy and those easy points will be a problem.
UTEP +120 2 Units
I think these teams should have been meeting in a 7-10 matchup and I expect UTEP's size and power in the paint to create a problem foulwise with Howard and Butler. UTEP will have to do a good job on Butler's shooters but if they can keep the 3 pt % reasonable either Culpepper or Character should be able to get off enough to get a nice W. Should be a great game.
UNLV -1 2 Units
NIU has a nice team but they are a little limited on offense at times and I think that will show up against a good, athletic defensive team. NIU would have had a more favorable matchup against a team that didn't defend quite as well.
Marquette -1' 3 Units
Washington is Jekyl and Hyde on the road vs at home. They are very limited at times knocking down 3's and they don't have a ton of size inside to create matchup problems for Marquette. Marquette will likely pack it in a little and force Thomas and Overton to shoot over the top. If Thomas is scoring effectively it might be UW in a blow out but I think Marquette contains him and Pondexter(Using Hayward) and UW allows a lot of open looks on defense when their offense is struggling. I think Johnson-Odom has a big game for MU today.
Ohio +13' 2 Units
I don't usually love MAC teams as recently they haven't seemed to matchup as well with major conference teams but I think GTown has a little bit of a letdown in their play after the long weekend last weekend. I expect a tight affair with Ohio playing with a ton of passion and effort.
New Mexico -9 2 Units
Good matchup size wize for the Lobos and while Johnson was super for Montana last week they should have been finished off by Weber St when they were down 20 at the half. I expect UNM to be focused after getting upset last week and Montana doesn't create matchup problems for them. If they can contain Johnson they should be able to control the game and their isn't a matchup for Hobson on the other side.
Tennessee -3' 2 Units
No real analysis, I just think SD St is getting a little trendy and Tennessee has been hot and cold but I think they can win with either average or hot play.
X pk 3 Units
X has all the pieces necessary to win games, size (Love and Freese), shooting (Jackson, Crawford, Holloway and Redford), slasher (Crawford), go to scorer (Holloway and Crawford) and they play shoot FT's very well. But with all that I think X's biggest advantage is that they have a group of very smart players who know how to agitate the other team (see: Lowery, Rob) and they know how to win. They make plays, they know they can come back when down and they have all the same physical tools of a BCS team like Minnesota. I expect a lot of on ball pressure from Crawford and Holloway to disrupt Minny's offense and for X to make plays necessary to win a competitive game.
Temple -4 2 Units
I look for a very efficient performance out of Temple just as they have had for the last 2-3 weeks. Cornell is tough but a team in the same mold with better athletes is not the type of matchup they needed.
Purdue -4 4 Units
I think Kremer does a number on Ubiles and the Purdue pg's are solid against Moore. If that happens Purdue should be able to hold down Siena and they will hit more shots than against Minnesota. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Purdue jump out to a 10-15 pt lead in the first 8-10 minutes and coast to an easy victory.
FSU -1' 3 Units
Better defensive team, less travel, have the physical bodies to matchup with Gonzaga. Gonzaga also has been underperforming in the tourney over the course of the last few years since they made their big run.
Houston +9' 2 Units
ML +375 1 Unit
This should be an up and down game, which is the style that Houston thrives on. I think it gives them a chance to get comfortable and with a veteran coach who can steady them a few shots going down early could lead to growing confidence and a possible upset against a team that was stellar at home and shaky on the road at times.
Louisville +1 2 Units
I am not impressed with Cal and Louisville has multiple players that can get hot and carry them for stretches. Samuels will be a key in the post. It's possible UL doesn't show up as they haven't in some games but I don't think that's a real issue. Their weakness has been getting killed on the offensive glass and that shouldn't be much of an issue in this matchup either.
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