#691 ASA TOP PLAY ON 10* Baylor -4.5 over Texas Tech, 4:00 PM ET - Baylor has been one of two dominant teams this year along with Gonzaga. The Bears are 11-0 with all 11 wins coming by double digits. That includes 4 wins vs top 100 teams and an 13 point win vs an outstanding Illinois team who ranks 8th nationally in the power rankings. Their average margin of victory on the season is +28 points. They rank in the top 5 nationally in BOTH offensive and defensive efficiency. The Bears also rank in the top 10 nationally in eFG%, 3 point %, and offensive rebounding. This is as complete a team as you’ll find in the nation. Texas Tech is solid. They are not on the same level as Baylor. The Red Raiders have already lost 2 home games vs Oklahoma State & Kansas. They have won just 2 games this season vs top 50 teams both by margins of 2 points. Tech is coming off a huge won @ Texas winning 79-77 on a last second shot by Mac McClung. The Raiders were more than fortunate as they led that game for a total of 45 seconds. Baylor won both games in this Big 12 series last year and the Bears have taken a big step forward while our ratings have Tech at about the same level as a year ago. We actually feel Tech is a bit overvalued as they’ve lost 5 straight home games to the number. Baylor is the much better team this season and we’ll lay the small number.

#646 ASA PLAY ON 8* Minnesota +6 over Michigan, Saturday at 2:00 PM ET - We think the Gophers have a great shot to pull off the upset here. Michigan steps in with an undefeated 10-0 record but they’ve played the easiest conference schedule to date. They’ve already faced Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, and Maryland, the 4 lowest power rated teams in the conference. The Wolverines have also been on the road for only 2 of their 10 games this season and those games were back in December vs Northwestern and Maryland, 2 of the 3 lowest rated teams in the Big 10. Michigan is also coming off a huge win over Wisconsin (their only top tier conference opponent they’ve faced) and they played the perfect game. They hit 52% of their shots, 56% of their 3’s. and 100% of their FT’s. Wisconsin shot and play terribly in the game and that win has now pushed Michigan into the overvalued category in our opinion. We fully expect a come back to earth, letdown game for the Wolverines. Minnesota’s home / road dichotomy is as drastic as any in the nation. They stink on the road. They are 0-4 on the road getting beat by double digits in each. That includes an 82-57 loss @ Michigan just 10 days ago. Can you say quick revenge? At home the Gophers are 10-0 with wins over top tier Big 10 teams Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, and a win over the top team in the A10 conference St Louis. Minnesota is on the opposite end of the spectrum strength of schedule wise having faced the toughest slate in the Big 10 to date including games vs Iowa (twice), Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State. This will be their 7th straight game vs a ranked opponent. They are also off 2 straight losses (both on the road) and they’ve had since last Sunday to get ready for this game. In the first meeting Minnesota was a 7.5 point dog @ Michigan and now they are getting nearly the same. Last year the Gophs were favored by 2 at home in this match up and won by 2. Value is absolutely on Minnesota and we’ll take it.

ASA PLAY ON 8* Green Bay -6.5 over LA Rams, Saturday at 4:35 PM ET - We like the Packers at home laying under a TD in this one. Historically this is a terrible spot for the Rams as teams coming off a SU win as an underdog in the Wildcard round are just 22-36 ATS as an underdog in the Divisional round (only 12-46 SU in that spot). The Rams are banged up at a number of key positions including both offensive tackles, DT Aaron Donald, and QB Jared Goff. He was already struggling throwing the ball over the final month of the season and now he had surgery on his hand a few weeks ago and struggled to grip the ball last week. Now in the cold weather, where Goff has been terrible anyway (0 TD’s and 5 interceptions in the 2 games in his career below 30 degrees) we can’t foresee him having a good game. The Rams will go heavy with the run game here, but they will still need Goff to play very well to win this game and we just don’t see it. The Packers are rested and unlike Goff, Aaron Rodgers has been great in cold weather with a passer rating of 108.7 with 10 TD’s and just 1 interception in his last 10 games in temps below 30 degrees (windchill on Saturday will be in the mid 20’s). While GB has had a week off to prepare and rest up, the Rams will be playing in their 10th consecutive week. Tough situation especially when you’re already banged up. While we respect the Rams defense and expect they will have some success against the GB offense, we still feel the Packers will put numbers on the board here. Only 3 of the Rams opponents this season in their 17 games played ranked in the top 10 in total offense to end the season. Two of those opponents (Buffalo & TB) scored 35 & 24 points respectively, far more than LA’s season average of 18.6 PPG allowed. GB will definitely be one of the top few offenses this defense has faced this season. We don’t think LA’s offense with an inaccurate and injured QB will keep up here. Lay it.