Rating: 4 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Quadruple-revenge for last year’s 0-4. We’re going to invent a category. It’s called, “Second Half Scoring Margin, This Year Compared to 2019-20.” The Charlotte Hornets are #1 in the NBA in this category. Last season, they were -4.0 per game in second halves. This season, they are +3.1 The +7.1 points change is the largest positive second half scoring differential change in the league. It’s early, the sample is small (eight road games), but it’s a sign that they are better able to bring it in battle. Their road differential in the second half is actually greater than it’s been on their home floor (+4.2 vs. +1.7). Orlando is a losing foe with the NBA’s worst first-half scoring margin: -6.8 per game. It’s the second game back from injury for 6’11” C Cody Zeller, who’s been with the Hornets since the last year in which they were called the Bobcats (eight years ago), so he must be at least somewhat important.

Rating: 4 Unit NCAAB Total of the Day

The under is is 7-1 in Hilltoppers last 8 vs. a team with a losing straight up record and 6-2 in Hilltoppers last 8 road games. While the under is 11-3 in Blue Raiders last 14 overall, 7-2 in Blue Raiders last 9 home games, and 13-5 in Blue Raiders last 18 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.

Rating: 3 Unit Inter-Conference Play of the Day

When the Lakers hosted the Bulls recently, they treated it like a practice and won by 2 points. Tonight, they are in position to perform a home invasion as they were in town yesterday while the Bulls were in Charlotte last night, winning against an opponent that made only 7 of 32 three-point baskets (hey, don’t take it if you can’t make it!). For those who don’t already know: Lakers were the best road team in the NBA last season and are currently 8-0 SU on the road. Off the win at Milwaukee, if they’re looking for “something to play for,” then “continued road dominance” is available.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Play of the Day

‘Can you continue to win our ***BEST BETS on you so fine? Tell me, Cuonzo, Cuonzo, Cuonzo!’ After Tennessee won 73-53 at Mizzou in the SEC season opener, many will be hesitant to back the Tigers on the road in the same match-up. But something’s gone amiss with Tennessee since then, and head coach Rick Barnes is so furious lately about lack of effort, lack of little details and leadership that he promises lineup changes (they’re 10-2 but young, so…). While the Vols will no doubt come out breathing fire off the 26-point loss at Florida, Missouri has a margin for error in the line with some Cuonzo adjustments on the way – possibly getting Mr. Tillmon more involved than he was in the first meeting, after which Martin wasn’t all that disappointed with how the team played. Tennessee made a lot of the baskets Missouri asked them to make, at -2 that day. Now the Vols – with point guard Santiago Vescovi playing hurt and another ball-handler, guard Jaden Springer, still out by all accounts – have to win by much at least 9.

Rating: 4 Unit Ohio Valley Conference Play of the Day

It usually takes Murray State two seasons to lose five Ohio Valley Conference games but here they are at 2-5 after only seven have been played. All the losses have been close, to opponents that are among the top half of the conference. But the Racers blew away bottom-dweller UT-Martin by 22 points recently and Tennessee Tech is a fellow bottom-dweller. Off Thursday’s latest loss, it’s feeding time for the bottom feeder! Tech’s 72-69 loss at Austin Peay on Thursday night came as their host was short-handed off a program pause. They trailed 27-5 early. If they were a good team, we’d say that the 27-5 was an aberration. But they’re not a good team. Consider that the Racers are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Total of the Day

The under is 5-1 in Gamecocks last 6 games as an underdog, 11-4 in Gamecocks last 15 Saturday games, 5-2 in Gamecocks last 7 games as a road underdog. While the under is 16-5-1 in Governors last 22 overall, 6-2-1 in Governors last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600, and 18-7-1 in Governors last 26 games following a ATS loss.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Blowout of the Day

Look, things are tough all over the nation but look on the bright side. It’s late January, Duke is unranked, 1-8 ATS, Coach K is already on record as wanting to bail, and they’ve lost two in a row leading into this third straight road game against what is probably the best opponent of the trio. Without the home rout against Bellarmine, Duke would basically have a 73-73 PF/PA average. They’ve lost their one match-up with Louisville in each of the last two season, by 6 points at home last year. Louisville is angried up off two losses, most recently to a Florida State team that has had its number big-time the last few seasons – no big deal there.

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Suns won in Denver on the second of back-to-back nights on the road Jan. 1, off a win in Utah the night before, when Denver had no games the prior two nights and was coming off a loss. In other words, the Suns were wearing ankle weights, playing with less air in their lungs and less gas in the tank than usual, taking the worst of the “motivational” situation, yet were still able to take care of business in this match-up. Denver continues to be overrated, 5-9 ATS. At 7-7, they really don’t have an impressive win among the seven.

CBB Play of the Day

The over is 12-3 in 49ers last 15 games as a road underdog, 12-3 in 49ers last 15 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 6-2 in 49ers last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600, and 7-3 in 49ers last 10 games following a ATS win. While the over is 4-0 in Owls last 4 games as a favorite, 6-1 in Owls last 7 overall, and 5-1 in Owls last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.

Rating: 4 Unit PAC-12 Play of the Day

ASU is 1-9 ATS. There’s a reason we call them Hurley’s girlies. One of the most expectation-laden teams, every year, which can’t even win consistently in a conference that hasn’t been what it used to be for a while. The visiting Wildcats can’t play in the post-season this year, which should put an even greater emphasis on dealing with the rivalry games. Having last Saturday’s Oregon game postponed gave Sean Miller and staff extra time to get home and get ready, while ASU was stuck up in Corvallis, OR over the weekend losing another one. Although it was excusable to lose to USC and UCLA home, and even OSU on the road, remember that ASU lost by 13 points vs. UTEP in their final game before Pac 12 season began.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Providence had their shot at the Blue Jays at home recently, couldn’t get it done. Their ability to prevent Creighton from swishing three-pointers through their own friendly rims is highly questionable. When the Friars lost 67-65 at home to Creighton they shot only 33.8% from the floor. But it’s not unreasonable to expect the same or worse off an eight-day break and playing in this place, where Creighton is known for getting quick separation that throws slower-paced opponents out of whack. Starting point guard Jared Bynum has been out for Providence. Head coach Ed Cooley: “I’ve never coached a team that wasn’t tough emotionally, mentally and, more importantly, physically. This team has got to get to that point. If we don’t get to that point, we’re going to have a tough time surviving in the Big East.” Thanks for the heads-up, coach!

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Play of the Day

The Vol1s have won four straight against the Gators. Can’t see how this Mike White-coached Florida group – weakened on the inside by injury absences – can score much against a Tennessee bunch that defends equally well inside and out. Florida prefers a quick pace; Tennessee probably won’t allow that to happen. Florida shot in the mid-30s percent range on two-point shots in their last two games. They are shooting a decent 37% from three-point range in SEC play. But – ah, always a but – they haven’t faced Tennessee yet. Clang-clang, rebound Vols.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

‘Tell me why should we make a ***BEST BET on you again when South Carolina can score like Texas A&M can’t? Tell me Cuonzo, Cuonzo, Cuonzo!’ Could it be because Jeremiah Tillmon once again has nobody to go out and chase on the perimeter? This seems to be the case, given the tendencies of the South Carolina bigs, who also aren’t that big. Tilmon is averaging 18.5 pg and 9 rebounds in his last three games. “There’s not many in America that’s better,” Martin says. “There might be some that’s just as good. But high level of player on both sides of the ball, and then doing it efficiently without fouling. Really impressive.” Consider that Missouri is 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400 while the home team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

NBA Game of the Week

It’s a great “situation” for the T’Wolves, although they are the type of team that tends to not take advantage. The Hawks were out West last week, return home with only one day in between their 6-point loss at Portland (taking +5) and this assignment, for which they don’t even get a break with a night-time tip. It’s 2:35 pm, ET! Are we feeling a bit sluggish today? The T’Wolves haven’t played since Thursday night at home against Memphis. They figure to be the fresher and more in sync side, because if recently injured and absent Hawks come back for this, they may need a game under their belts before re-jelling with their mates (actually, with so many new players, they haven’t originally jelled yet). Atlanta is a mere 13-15 SU – that’s straightup -- when favored the last two-plus seasons. T’Wolves have a built-in excuse for blowing this, with Towns out again, and probably Juancho Hermangomez and Ricky Rubio, too. But their 0-5 SU road record has been compiled vs. Utah, LA Clippers and Lakers, Denver and Portland. All winners. So, if they don’t come through for us, then we can just hate on them and insult them and win some other games starting tomorrow.

NBA Play of the Day

With a 42.9% rate on three-pointers, you’d think the Clippers should be undefeated, right? Utah led the NBA in that department with 38.0% last season, so expect that percentage to be dropping. The Pacers enter in what was supposed to be a second of back-to-backs, but their game at Phoenix was postponed last night. That’s a fortunate break that eliminates what would have been a fifth road game in seven nights, and instead makes it a Jan. 14 to Jan. 17 gap with time to practice on the road for what has been an undervalued team (8-4 ATS). Indiana’s response to trading Victor Oladipo was a 111-87 win at Portland, accomplished without yet-to-arrive Caris Le-Vert.

ACC Play of the Day

Head coaches Mike Young and Steve Forbes squared off in the Southern Conference when Wofford and East Tennessee State matched up. Young beat Forbes five of the last eight times and his Virginia Tech team has a one-season head start in his systems vs. the first-season Forbes, whose Demon Deacons endured a long pause recently that should continue to be an obstacle as he attempts to make something of the mess that Danny Manning left behind. Nowhere to go but up, but hopefully not yet, as one of their guards suggests: "It’s just going to take a little time. Hopefully it happens sooner or later, and we can maybe flip the switch, but it’s just a matter of time before we get to it." Another guard, Carter Whitt missed the Louisville game and should still be out. Va. Tech’s Jalen Cone has been giving them a starter’s production coming off the bench.

Rating: 4 Unit CAA Play of the Day

Hofstra is now 0-5 ATS in the Colonial following Friday’s outright loss as the road favorite. We had that happy-happy back-to-back against them last weekend with Northeastern, and they followed up on that SU/ATS L-L with an outright loss here by 18 points. People are looking at them as if they already won the CAA, like they did last year, and as if their head coach is still there, which he hasn’t been. They have a short roster, play mostly 40 minutes of zone, are easy to prepare for, have a target on their backs and aren’t shooting as accurately as they did last season.

Rating: 4 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Orlando won the first three meetings with Brooklyn last season until the very meaningless fourth, when Brooklyn won 108-96 led by Jeremiah Martin,  Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Dzanan Musa and Tyler Johnson. The Nets are in much better shape physically and scoring-potential now, and they’ll have had two days off since beating the Knicks. Orlando is not in better shape physically or in scoring potential. In fact, they’re worse off. They’ve scored 90, 98, 99, 97 points in their current four-game losing streak. Plus, they’re in a second of road back-to-backs (Nets are rested) coming out of Boston Friday last night, where they were without Mo Bamba, Michael Cater-Williams, Evan Fournier, Al-Farouq Aminu, and the three guys who were already out long-term, Chuma Okeke, Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac.

Rating: 4 Unit PAC-12 Play of the Day

Undefeated in conference play and looking to move back into the national rankings, UCLA is set to put its much-improved offense up against visiting Washington today. The Bruins (10-2, 6-0 Pac-12) will enter off an impressive 91-61 victory Thursday over Washington State when the leaders of the conference shook off their tendency to play to the level of their opponent. UCLA has not gone 7-0 to open conference play since 1993-94. Washington (1-10, 0-6) will enter the game off a brutal 95-68 loss Thursday at Southern California. UCLA is 4-0 since the start of the new year, but Thursday was the first time the Bruins defeated an opponent by double digits in that time. Consider that Washington is 6-20 ATS in their last 26 games as an underdog.

CBB Mismatch of the Day

And, like we said before picking them at LSU (d-oh!), Arkansas is known for SEC road losses and losing a lot of games after recording 0- and 1-loss non-conference seasons. Alabama has a couple of injuries (Jordan Bruner, Herb Jones) that will no doubt draw Arkansas money but those folks can have ’em ‘cuz we don’t want ’em. Look at those injury chasers, driving the number down.

Rating: 4 Unit MAC Play of the Day

We could have a little zig-zaggy action here with Akron coming home off a road loss at 2-9 Northern Illinois (after a seven-hour bus ride), and Toledo coming in just a little too hot for us to sincerely believe it can continue, off 95-78 and 96-63 home wins vs. Ohio and Eastern Michigan. And, of course, there were the six straight wins before that. And the 99-89 win by Toledo on this floor last season. And yet, we go with the home dog coming off two road losses. It’s their only MAC home game in a five-game stretch.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Play of the Day

Tell me how will the virus pause affect the Tigers? Tell me Cuonzo, Cuonzo, Cuonzo!’ “I’ve been in leagues where you’ve had a week off. It’s not a bad thing in my opinion. I assume we’ll be fine.” Martin likes it when his 6’10”, 260 Jeremiah Tillman plays against opponents with traditional bigs who don’t step out and shoot three pointers. A&M’s Emanuel Miller and Kevin Marfo have combined to shoot 0-for-5 on three-pointers this season. There you go, coach. A&M has chances to win when they hold opponents to 50-something. Get to 60!

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Play of the Day

The visitor – who won the MAAC last year and is the favorite to win it again -- has won 15 straight in MAAC play. The host – picked to finish last in the MAAC -- has lost three straight conference home games. Siena had every right to be behind the curve after a very long pause before they could play a single game. They had no non-conference tune-ups. But they’ve zipped past Monmouth and Fairfield for 4-0. Rider is 17-28 ATS in MAAC games the last two-plus seasons, which includes 0-3 ATS as a home underdog.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

With only one day between the loss/no-cover at Dayton and this schlep from there up to Olean, NY, struggling Duquesne seems to be in a tough spot. Starting point guard Sincere Carry said ‘no mas’ earlier in the week and joined guard Lamar Norman, Jr. in the transfer portal. Another guard, Maceo Austin, is on leave for personal reasons. Carry did not leave for playing time reasons, which would seem to be a problem because it’s not like Dambrot was happier with somebody else when Carry – a junior playing a lot since his freshman season -- was getting 30.2 minutes per game. Consider that St. Bonaventure is 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games as a favorite.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

The Wildcats’ Saturday game at Oregon has been postponed, so Sean Miller doesn’t have to play with an eye to Saturday. That wasn’t going to happen anyway, because Arizona is off two home losses and shooting guard Jemarl Baker, Jr. was lost for the season to injury in the most recent. Miller will shuffle the rotation some and Oregon State, forced to pause for seven days with seven players in isolation and back to practice only this Tuesday, can’t scout the shuffle. The Beavers have their own problems to worry about coming off the pause.

PAC-12 Play of the Day

Washington State’s bigs have length, size and rebound well but they are butchers with the basketball. Head coach Kyle Smith is advertising starting four freshmen here. The loss of guard Chris Smith was supposed to hamper UCLA – according to others. Guess what? They’re 5-0 in the Pac 12, and have won all three games he hasn’t played. The last four wins by the Bruins have been close – by 2, 3, 6 in OT, 5 points. This doesn’t have to be

Rating: 4 Unit NBA Play of the Day

The T’Wolves are 1-6 SU and ATS when Karl-Anthony Towns hasn’t played, 2-1 SU, 3-0 ATS when he has played. Well, that makes it easy-peasy Great Lakes breezy, doesn’t it? Sunday’s instant-revenge vs. the Spurs was their first straight-up win without him, when they intentionally rested him after his first game back from his injury. With that non-injury absence in the books, he would figure to be a go in this match-up. Minnesota is geeked up about allowing only 88 points to the Spurs in victory and jazzed about playing defense for a change. They’re not good defensively. But Memphis is #27 in points per game (105.9), Morant, Jackson and Winslow aren’t walking through the locker room door and onto the floor for this, and now C Jonas Valanciunas has ‘hit the list!’ The contact police actually pulled him off the floor in-game on Sunday. Second-line guards around Gorgui Dieng – probably not a winning formula.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Play of the Day

He’s still flying a little under the radar so may as well try to leverage him, him being Auburn freshman guard Sharife Cooper, who became eligible late last week and played his first game for the Tigers in the 94-90 loss vs. Alabama. How’d he do? In 36 minutes, Cooper scored 26 points, 9 assists, 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, against a pressure-oriented Alabama group. Yes, the Tigers are still looking for their first SEC win (0-4). But given that Georgia is 0-3 in the SEC, turning it over 18 times per game, and not suddenly introducing a high-scoring freshman guard of their own, it’s not unreasonable for them to be Auburn’s first victim.

Rating: 4 Unit CBB Play of the Day

6’9” and 6’10” scorers on TCU, Texas and West Virginia did damage against OSU in the Cowboys’ three Big 12 losses so far. Although KU’s 6’10”, 265 David McCormack is coming off 20- and 17-point games he’s averaging 11 ppg. Need to see more. The worst OSU has done so far after 40 minutes in a Big 12 game is trail by 3 points. NBA-bound Cade Cunningham gets only one chance in his life to play against Kansas in a home game.

Rating: 4 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Jazz are 3-2 on their seven-game trip. A win here would guarantee a winning trip and allow them to take a vacation day in their next spot, at Washington tomorrow night, which will be the Jazz’ ninth game in 13 days. A headline about last night’s Cleveland loss to Memphis doesn’t really understand them: ‘Growing pains emerge as Cavs lose without Garland, Sexton.” They lost a lot with them! The story proceeded to further indicate that the writers don’t get it: “Andre Drummond extended his Cavaliers record for most consecutive double-doubles to start the season with his 11th straight.” His team lost! By 10 points! To an opponent with four key players missing!

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

In the first of a four-game Eastern trip last season, the Nuggets won here 129- 92. The Knicks had two days off before the game, coming off a 44-point loss at Milwaukee. It was the last game that David Fizdale coached for them. He was fired the next day. Off the home loss to OKC – no surprise, and OKC assistant Mike Miller was the Knicks’ interim head coach last season and their former assistant -- this would be a good spot for first-season head coach Tom Thibodeaux to point to and say, ‘Hey, bosses and fans, looky what we can really do against this Western Conference contender who buried us here last time.’ It’s a good player rally-around-each-other game, as well. It doesn’t hurt that it’s the second of back-to-backs for Denver coming out of Philly yesterday, with the Knicks rested and off that loss.

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

The Blazers are rested while the Kings are on second of back-to-backs after fighting the Raptors last night. Fighting is not really the right word because they rolled over and played dead in the second half, allowing an opponent struggling to score to get to 144. Portland may have payback on their minds given that the most recent meeting was a 123-111 Kings victory in Portland in March, just before all the stuff hit the fan and prior to the eventual return of long-absent C Jusuf Nurkic (who showed in the summer re-launch for Portland). Kings were unconscious from three-point range in that game, 21 for 39 (53.8%). Said head coach Luke Walton afterwards, “We knew they were on a back-to-back, so we wanted to make a point to push and push and push.” Uh-oh. Turnabout is fair play. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. The shoe is on the other foot. Are there any other appropriate clichés?

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers began putting the new plan in place during their road trip to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State over the weekend. It took a while for them to get going with a four-guard lineup but they eventually got the hang of it with huge second halves each time in their 1-1 split. Their centerpiece Derek Culver had a horrible time of it vs. Oklahoma but rebounded with 22 points, 19 rebounds at Oklahoma State. Texas hits Morgantown, WV ranked #4 to West Virginia’s #14 and the Mountaineers are thinking, ‘Those ranks should be reversed!’ 6’9” senior Royce Hamm should still be in virus protocol for the Longhorns.

Rating: 3 Unit Big-10 Play of the Day

The Scarlet Knights have revenge for a 80-68 road loss on Dec. 23. This is a program that was 2-16, 1-17, 3-15 in its first three Big Ten seasons, which beat the Buckeyes here in their fourth during a 7-13 conference season, went 11-9 in conference last year when they lost only 72-66 at Ohio State. Guess what we’re saying is that Rutgers belong now. Rutgers led the earlier meeting 38-28 at halftime, got out-scored 52-30 in the second half. “I needed to do a better job of getting this team ready for the two things this team (OSU) does well — rebounding and shooting free throws,” said Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell. And, if you’re thinking he was being sarcastic about the second thing, you’re right. “I just have to do a better job with the officials. They’re great. They do a great job.” Senior guard C.J. Walker – leader on the Buckeyes in minutes per game – suddenly out with an injury

Rating: 3 Unit CAA Play of the Day

A match-up so nice, they’re doing it twice. Hofstra is now 0-3 ATS in CAA play while their head coach Joe Mihalic is out on medical leave. There isn’t much of an adjustment they can make, as a team that plays 40 minutes of zone defense. They play a short rotation that can’t press for long stretches for fear of foul and fatigue. They’re not shooting the rock as well as they did last season. Northeastern head coach Bill Coen can tell his team, “Listen, if you slackers hadn’t come out and trailed 46-29 at halftime at their place on Thursday, you wouldn’t have had to make those fine Winning Points people worry and you wouldn’t have had to sweat overtime just to get out of there with a win. Now, let’s go! From the get-go! Those guys beat us three times last year and we still owe them!

NBA Play of the Day

Tough luck for the Magic. Markelle Fultz, somebody else’s #1 overall draft pick, who they coached up and made into a real player for a short while, tore an ACL in the win vs. Cleveland the other night and is out for the season. Rookie from North Carolina, Cole Anthony, will begin seeing more minutes as the point guard than the 20 he’s been getting. He’s been shooting it worse than Fultz (29.7% from the field vs. Fultz’s 39.6%). Guards Michael Carter-Williams and Evan Fournier didn’t play against Cleveland the other night. Rockets’ head coach Steven Silas bemoaned how Indiana drove the ball into the paint repeatedly against the Rockets on Wednesday night but the Magic aren’t as good at doing that.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Tarleton State – located in the south of Utah -- moved up into Division 1 this season, has played only four games – none since Dec. 9 after eight straight postponements – and lost to Abilene Christian by 21 points in their most recent game against a D-1 foe. Off three straight losses to legit post-season tournament sides San Francisco, Colorado and Arizona State, in which they were undervalued going 3-0 ATS and out-rebounded all three, Bryce Drew seems to be in a Grand spot to right the ship and start WAC play A-OK. Since they last played, TSU assistant coach Steve Shields has resigned to become a parks department director in Arkansas

NBA Play of the Day

Cleveland couldn’t get a reversal against Orlando last night despite one day in between games (which was very much expected by all of us, hence the Play of the Day on Orlando against Cleveland last night). They travel to Memphis to play the second of back-to-backs on the road against a host that’s had one day of rest since taking the Lakers to the wire in their “second chance.” There aren’t many teams with more key guys missing than Memphis, but Cleveland, as we noted yesterday, is one of them! Stat geeks keep reporting that Andre Drummond has eight straight double-doubles and Collin Sexton’s eight straight games of at least 20 points to start a season has broken Lebron James’ franchise record (for what?), which is a good “distraction” that masks the fact that Cleveland has topped out at 99 points in its last five games, failing to cover four of them by -12.5, -8, -14 and -5 points.

CBB Mismatch of the Day

The host Rams were sharpening the saw at San Diego State earlier this week, “finishing” strongly in each second half of their two-game, back-to-back series (37-27 the first night in victory, 41-28 the second night in defeat.) Given that UNLV hasn’t played since Dec. 5 after a program pause, and is kind of a ratty team, anyway, for the Runnin’ Rebels to take the court after such a long break, to play at high altitude against an opponent that just finished strongly two nights in a row against a quality foe…

Rating: 3 Unit Big-12 Play of the Day

The Sooners caught West Virginia in the Mountaineers’ first go-round without power forward Oscar Tshiebwe, working four guards around Derek Culver, who got them a big 2 points in 22 minutes, with 7 turnovers. D-oh! Wrapped up in working their new arrangement, WVU missed a lot of shots early, which messed up their transition defense, and they fell behind the Sooners by a considerable amount (38-20) at halftime. Oklahoma was able to weather a late charge by West Virginia to get the win. They travel to Waco, TX to face an opponent with no such transitional learning curve in their game on either end of the floor. The Bears have won five straight over the Sooners over the course of the prior three seasons, when they weren’t unbeaten and ranked #1. For all the bitcoins.

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Much of the world awaits to see how the Cavaliers react after the 103-83 defeat here on Monday night, their fifth straight loss against the Magic. Why wait? Anticipate. Already without starters Kevin Love, Darius Garland, and Isaac Okoro, Cleveland lost guard Dante Exum to a leg injury 47 seconds into the Monday night loss. The Cavs are down seven players. “It is what it is and we’ve just got to figure it out,” first-season Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We are down bodies and we talked about adversity a few games back and this is the epitome of it. We’ve just got to figure it out.” Take a little more time with that, coach, if you don’t mind.

Big East Play of the Day

Welcome back to the Big East, UConn, Love, Marquette. This Huskies bunch was one of the nation’s worst long-trip travelers when it was in the American Athletic. They’ve been cuddled in their home-state bubble, and the confines of their friendly home floor, since the beginning of this season and have left the area for the first time. They shot only 35.8% when they lost by 2 points to an off-kilter Creighton team, then had the pleasure of facing pause-problem Depaul after that. Off a difficult stretch to open Big East season (at Creighton, Seton Hall, at Xavier, Villanova), Marquette got a reprieve at Georgetown and comes back home for what appears to be another.

Rating: 2 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Raptors: ‘You beat us in a seven-game playoff series last season. We want revenge!’ Celtics: ‘You’re not as good as you were then. We have several guys who can take over a game, like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Your home floor is in Florida, but your fan base is in Canada. You have no real support here. You’re scoring 11.5 fewer points per game than last season and we’re not about to allow you to suddenly get better offensively

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Ja Morant could have been a pesky penetrator against the Lakers’ interior D but he’s out 3-5 weeks for the host Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson and Justice Winslow have yet to play and Grayson Allen (day-to-day) was hurt earlier in the week. (Really, you wouldn’t mind Allen being back out there to miss jumpers.) Actually, seven guys were out when Memphis managed to beat Charlotte the other night. But Memphis won only the last of four games vs. the Lakers last season, when the Lakers got a season-low 88 points on this floor with Lebron playing with a sore groin – just one of those nights.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Wake played down in class on Nov. 25 and 27 vs. Delaware State and Longwood. Then, they paused for a while. They came back on Thursday to beat Division 2 Catawba, 70-62, without Ian Dubose (senior grad transfer guard) and Tariq Ingraham (6’9”, 255 freshman), each of whom led the team in scoring the first two games. Both will miss the rest of the season. “We had to find a game, at least one. It would have been nice to play four or five of those,” said first-season head coach Steve Forbes. How many times in the history of college basketball has a team played a couple games around Thanksgiving then not being to play or practice again until New Year’s Eve? That’s difficult. I don’t know the right answer for that one, but I know for us it’s been a tough and difficult path… We’re so far behind, it’s scary.”

Rating: 5 Unit Bowl Game of the Month

What a way for the bowl season to wind up! Of course, the main sidebar to this one is the Texas A&M Aggies' snub from the playoff committee, denying them a shot at all the marbles. A&M not only has a superb QB/RB combo in Mond (2,050 yards, 19/3) & Spiller (986 yards & 7 TDs in just 8 games), but rank 14th & 3rd in total & rushing "D". However, that unit had better be at its best if it is to slow down the Tar Heels of North Carolina, who field RBs Carter & Williams (combined 2,385 yards & 28 TDs, & NCAA record 544 rushing yards in season-ending rout of Miami), as well as QB Howell: 6,993 passing yards, & 65 TDs with 13 INTs the last 2 years. Barnburner, despite Ag "D".

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

A match-up so nice, they’ll give it to us twice! UCSB didn’t even play with its real rotation last night, managed to win by 18 points. Head coach Joe Pasternack will probably take this second of back-to-backs more seriously, to  complete a sweep and reverse what happened to them last weekend at Irvine.

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Rested home favorite 76ers, allowing only 99.8 points per game after five, vs. road dog Hornets, who travel for second of back-to-backs after managing to lose outright to Memphis as home chalk when Memphis didn’t have Ja Morant, Justice Winslow, Jaren Jackson, DeAnthony Melton or Grayson Allen. Okay, so a Grayson Allen absence was probably a good thing for the other side but you get the idea, the idea. “We can’t find a rhythm offensively. We can’t get good looks or we’re turning it over… There’s not a lot of practice time here. So, we’re just going to have to do it through game reps.” So says head coach James Borrego. C Cody Zeller hasn’t suited up yet (24 points in last season’s only meeting), so Joel Embiid won’t break a sweat against Bismack Biyombo.

Rating: 3 Unit Big-10 Play of the Day

Not sure how sustainable Illinois’ 42.6% three-point shooting is. But this should be a good day to be Kofi Cockburn, with Purdue opponents hitting 71.7% of their shots at the rim. Purdue is 0-2 ATS on the Big Ten road so far and lost both meetings vs. Illinois last season, by 26 and 17 points. “Purdue basketball still looking to build defensive foundation,” said a local headline yesterday. Look to Salt Lake City, where Haarms transferred.

Rating: 3 Unit SEC Play of the Day

Tell me can you, off a 20-point home loss vs. undefeated Tennessee, win a road game against a 9-0 Arkansas team that just scored 97 points on the road at Auburn? Tell me, Cuonzo, Cuonzo, Cuonzo!’ He didn’t seem too concerned about the Tennessee game, giving all the credit to the highly ranked Vols, who are probably the best defensive squad in the nation. Telling talk, perhaps, from Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman after the 97-85 win vs. Auburn, a team still being molded by Bruce Pearl (compared to a pretty set Missouri squad): “To be honest with you, this game tonight, knowing that we had two ranked teams in the top 15 in our next two games, since I’ve been at Arkansas, for a regular season game, this was by far the most important game that I have been a part of with this team.”

Rating: 3 Unit NBA Play of the Day

Well, the expected-to-be-bad Warriors are 2-2 after four straight road games to start the season. However, they beat the Bulls and Pistons. Chicago had just gotten some guys back in only their third game for a new coach, and the Pistons – a bad team -- shot 15-for-50 from the field in the first half (30%) but nevertheless led Golden State at that juncture. They’re not returning home to a raucous, welcoming arena. They might hear more noise coming from Damian Lillard, who shot 0-for-8 on three-pointers, 3-for-14 overall, in Portland’s loss at the Clippers the other night. Alleged superstars often bounce back big from nights like that.

Rating: 8 Unit College Bowl Game of the Year

They meet again. For the 3rd time in the last 4 years, the Tigers of Clemson take on the Buckeyes of Ohio State in a National Playoff game, with CU winning & covering the first 2 such encounters: 31-0 (+1½) in the '16 Fiesta, & 29-23 (-2) in last year's Fiesta. As a matter of fact they also met in the '13 Orange Bowl, also won by the Tigers (+2), 40-35. As can be seen above, the Buckeyes have played only six games, due to Covid, but have been rightly included in this powerhouse quartet. They are led, of course, by QB Fields, who is a superb 56 TDs with only 8 INTs the past 2 years, although that may be a bit misleading, as he was 41 TDs with 3 INTs last season (2 interceptions in loss to these Tigers). So 5 picks this year, compared to last year's 40 TD and 1 INT regular season log. The not so hidden gem on OSU's team has to be running back Sermon, who set a school record with 331 rushing yards (11.4 yards per rush) in their 22-10 Big Ten Title win over Northwestern. Shades of Ezekiel Elliott in Ohio State's '14 Championship run? Well, maybe, but note that the Bucks took Wisconsin, 59-0, in that Big Ten Title game. A quick peek at the above stats shows OSU with a +8 turn over edge in just its half-dozen contests. If there were any doubts as to this year's Tiger edition, they were erased with their complete throttling of Notre Dame in the ACC title match, with a 541-263 yard edge behind 322 passing yards from Lawrence, & 124 rushing yards from Etienne (12.4 yards per rush), who was held to 1.6 yards per rush in their first meeting. Lawrence is at his best in the big game, while Fields not necessarily so in such important contests: two 2nd half picks in last year's tilt with Clemson; three INTs in this year's 42-35 win over Indiana, & just 12-of-27 & 2 more picks in Big Ten title win over Northwestern. CU didn't have the answers to LSU last year (who did?), but have otherwise been simply superb plays. Again!

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Off losses on back-to-back nights at Cal-Irvine, the Barbarians – who’ve beaten Loyola Marymount by 11 points and Pepperdine by 12, on the road -- return home ready to take it to whomever they’ve had all week to prepare against. It happens to be the Fullertons, who have a grand total of one game under their belt so far, played against San Diego Christian of D-2 on Dec. 13, in which ten players got 11-24 minutes of court time. You know how to proceed.

PAC-12 Play of the Day

The Trojans four games postponed or canceled, hadn’t played since Dec. 8 before beating Santa Clara 86-63 Tuesday night. The tall Mobley brothers are combining to average 27.5 ppg, 17.6 rebounds, 4 blocks per game. The team has the best field goal percentage among Pac 12 squads (49.2%). Tad Boyle doesn’t coach his Buffs to experience lop-sided halves against themselves on the road, but he has yet to prove that he can coach them to avoid having lots of them. Let’s have another, bud.

NBA Play of the Day

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins returned to practice yesterday after their seven-day absences and will make their Houston debuts. Cousins: “Sitting at home for seven days straight, then jumping back into a full-speed practice or game… there’s not a lot of positive things on that side. Maneuver through the BS, and make the best of what you can.” Alrighty, then. We know the Kings can beat Denver. And Phoenix. We also know that they won 119-118 in this building last season, playing only eight guys, none of them named Fox or Bagley

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

UMass has beaten A-10 foe Lasalle by 19 points. George Mason is off a class-drop loss at home vs. Norfolk State, and had beaten Towson – who hadn’t played in a month – by only 5 points before that. Five double-digit scorers – four of them around 6’9”, 245 Tre Mitchell (21.5 ppg) is probably too much for GMU to guard and then match on the other end.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

Temple has played two games. You’ll remember that we had Houston as a BEST BET against them in the second, laying a lot and winning by more (76-50). The Temple program seems like it’s been on the way down and still has a ways to go. As we noted Dec. 22, they haven’t had consistently accurate shooters for several seasons. One 50-point game at Houston doesn’t mean they can’t bounce back with many more in the next, but the capabilities haven’t shown, they haven’t played since, the Houston game was their seventh straight AAC defeat, SMU is 5-0 and allowing only 63 ppg

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

John Petty and James Rojas return for Alabama after being suspended for their win vs. ETSU a week ago. The Tide hasn’t looked as sharp as they did last season but they beat Ole Miss 103-78 on the road and it’s not like Ole Miss, en route to being 5-1, has beaten anybody that gives you the shivers. The number is just too short to pass up.

Rating: 5 Unit Bowl Game of the Month

No, not the 1st time that the Cowboys of Oklahoma State have faced off against the Hurricanes of Miami, but the 2nd, as UM (-36) nosed out Ohio State, 40-3, in 1991. By the way, UM went 12-0 that year (National Champion). From '86 thru '92, Miami finished 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, & 3rd in the nation. Wow!! Fifteen straight bowls for Oklahoma State, under Gundy (9-5 SU & ATS). Have had to replace last year's top rusher (Hubbard, who opted out), although Jackson a decent 5.7 yards per rush, while QB Sanders an anemic 10 TDs with 8 INTs, but WR Wallace 16.5 yards per catch. 'Canes brought in QB King from Houston, & he delivered: 2,573 passing yards (22 TDs with  only 5 INTs), with 520 rushing yards. But UM was mauled, 62-26, by North Carolina, in finale, allowing school-record 778 yards & 554 rushing yards!

Rating: 2 Units

At Portland, the currently depleted Rockets scored 68 points in the first half, then 45 in the second half. They don’t know how to pace themselves. They just go out and run around quickly and shoot the ball, still. In the thin air of Denver, with only nine available, and four of them named Christian Wood, Brodric Thomas, Sterling Brown and Bruno Caboclo, they’ll be sucking wind by mid-third quarter against the angry, desperate, 0-2 home team

Rating: 3 Unit Big-10 Play of the Day

The Hoosiers have failed two serious tests already. Losing by 22 to Texas, falling behind badly at home vs. Northwestern. Illinois is the best foe they’ll have faced in nine games, and the reverse is not true for Illinois, who has played four of their last five games away from home vs. Duke, Missouri, Minnesota, Rutgers and Penn State.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

What happens to Northwestern one game after they destroyed Michigan State in the Big Ten opener? How about a crash at Indiana? Izzo is infamous for failing to prepare Michigan State early in conference season, which then gives him an opportunity to remind his players that they are terrible and need to listen to him in order to improve. It’s all part of the master plan of peaking later on, because he is Mr. March, not Mr. December. Northwestern is mostly a five-out offense, the type that in the Big Ten, would figure to be the most volatile night in and night out, meaning much variance in performance.

Rating: 3 Units

CBB Play of the Day

Temple has played one game, three days ago, against NJIT. They won it 72-60, shooting 40% from the field on their home floor, with a 30-12 disparity in free throw attempts. They haven’t shot well for four years and should shoot it worse on this long road trip with a class rise into conference play against a ranked, unbeaten opponent that allows 55.6 points per game, had some virus issues, didn’t play for 15 days, but got players cleared recently and returned for a good tune-up win vs. Alcorn State on Sunday

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

The Lobos have some catching up to do after playing only three games so far, two of them way down in class against Our Lady of the Lake (NAIA) and Le Tourneau (Division III), we kid you not. They lost 11 of their last 15 Mountain West games last season. Boise has looked quite good against real opposition – Houston and BYU, to name a few. East Tennessee State transfer Mladen Armus gives them a 6’10”, 232 rebounding stabilizer they’ve lacked.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

The visitor is 6-0 SU and 6-0 ATS, but playing its first true road game. “True road” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing this year as in the past, given the lack of crowd enthusiasm for home teams. There are still Big Ten referees for the A-10 squad to overcome but otherwise, they have the scoring, the rebounding, the experienced depth, and the coaching to pull this off. Illinois helped expose Minnesota earlier in the week.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Championship Game of the Week

No doubt, some of the glitter has come off this one, with last week's incredible Gator loss to Lsu (57-yard field goal off penalty in L0:23), but still another 609 yards. Trask now 3,717 yards & 40 TDs with only 5 INTs, but Florida 100th in rushing. 'Tide: 41+ points in L10 games. Jones 27 TDs with 3 INTs, 3,321 yards, 76%. We don't jump this ship.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

Off 24- and 28-point losses to Wright State and Buffalo, teams that contended for Mid-Major conference championships last season, Miami-OH doesn’t appear to be in a good spot on the road against the Missouri Valley’s back-to-back post-season tournament winner. Bradley had a 10-day break end on Thursday night with a cushy, 23-point win here vs. Jackson State in which everybody got to play, a nice tune-up for this, in which a better effort is needed before they go to Missouri on Tuesday for a class test.

Rating: 3 Unit ACC Mismatch of the Day

Rematch Tigers, losing in 2 OTs 6 weeks ago, with a 205-32 rushing yard deficit. No Lawrence, though Ugalaleilei threw for 439 yards (2 TDs with 0 INTs). Etienne: 1.6 yards per rush. Three Clemson turn overs were key. ND: 511-262 point edge L14 games, & a 254-125 point edge L6 outings. Tigers post-season kings, but tight.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Seton Hall transfer Anthony Nelson, a 6’4” junior guard and New York, NY-er, stepped into the MAAC with 19 and 23 points for Manhattan in his first two games last week, which were also the team’s first two games. Marist has somebody top 20 points for them about once every three weeks. Actually, it hasn’t happened yet in four games this season.

Rating: 4 Unit Big-12 Championship Game of the Week

What a thorn in the side of the Sooners, have these Cyclones been (5-0 ATS, +85 points). On a 7-1 ATS run, behind QB Purdy (5 TDs last year), & RB Hall (#1 in land). Sooners always get this one (8-0 SU in Big12 title games), & a 48-16 points per game edge in their L4 games. Could be an epic.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

“Iowa State searches for answers after a sloppy start to Big 12 play,” said Wednesday morning’s headline. Normally, you look in the last place you left something. Instead, the skidding Cyclones are forced to travel all the way to Morgantown, WV to face a 6-1, #8-ranked opponent after losing the rivalry game 105-77 to Iowa, following up with a 75-65 home loss to fellow flounderer Kansas State – who shot only 17.4% from three-point range but never trailed after the 10:00 mark of the first half. Keep searchin’ fellas. Jackson State and Chicago State await, in your place, after this. Ya’ might find some some answers then and there. Here and now, rebounding and shooting issues are magnified in this match-up.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

Georgetown transfer Mac McClung is leading Texas Tech in scoring at 14.1 ppg and his longer-than-average range helps the Red Raiders’ offense space the floor for dribble penetration by #2 and #2 scorers Terrence Shannon and Kyler Edwards. VCU transfer Marcos Santos-Silva, at 6’7”, needs to prove he can finish as strongly at the rim in the Big 12 as he did in the A-10. But Kansas lacks rim protection this season. So, in this match-up, Santos-Silva may very well get it done. Gonzaga and Creighton both exposed some interior defense weaknesses that Kansas will either live with, or improve upon. But the personnel isn’t really there to improve upon it

CBB Play of the Day

Butler is in a bad spot. They’ve played only one game, on November 25. They were life and death to get past Western Michigan at home, scoring only 66 points. WMU hasn’t beaten a Division I team in three tries since, averaging 61 ppg. Butler was/is replacing 90% of its three-point production from last season and their 5-for-20 performance on threes in the lone game makes it seem like they won’t be getting 50% of it back. Jay Wright and the Wildcats, highly ranked, will fiddle a sad tune for the Bulldogs while maintaining that ranking.

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Mismatch of the Day

The Shockers of Wichita played nice defense in the 3-point home loss to Oklahoma State, covering by 1 as a home dog. But they still have yet to shoot better than 37.5% overall for a game. That’s not a good sign as they head out on the road to face a good conference foe that plays good defense with the added benefit of knowing them pretty well. Senior guards Brandon Rachal and Elijah Joiner should be chomping at the bit to get after the Shockers, who ended Tulsa’s 2019-20 by beating them by 22 points in Wichita.

Rating: 5 Unit ACC Game of the Month

We're well aware of the fact that the Hokies are 15-1 SU in this series. But 4 straight losses for Tech (-52 points ATS) who've allowed 30+ points in 16-of-21 games. Cavs are just the opposite: 4-0 lately, & at 39.3 points per game in L3 lined games. Armstrong: 287 passing yards & 130 rushing yards in last week's rout of BC.

Rating: 4 Unit  CBB Game of the Week

ETSU is down 20 points from last season’s per game scoring average of 76. Their Assist/Turnover Ratio is 8.7 to 19.3. This is not good. But this is what happens when the head coach of a 30-4 team times his move for greener pastures off a season like that, takes assistants with him, and his move is followed by transfers, graduations, and the new coach must mold freshmen and transfers in an immediate rebuild. UAB’s Andy Kennedy – not one of our favorite coaches but he managed to snag an experienced scoring guard from Georgia Southern (Quan Jackson), another experienced scoring guard from UL-Monroe (Michael Ertel) and a 7’, 260 center from Clemson. So far, nobody’s beaten them and nobody’s come close. It’ll all come crashing down, of course, but not just yet.

Rating: 3 Unit Conference Play of the Day

The respective records of these two, are hardly indicative as to their true worth. For the Deacons, only slips have come vs the likes of Clemson, North Carolina State, & North Carolina, the latter 2 by scores of 45-42 & 59-53, both on the road, with Wake posting 32 & 30 first downs vs those powers, who've accumulated a combined record of 15-6. Cardinals' 7 losses have also come vs upper tier squads, succeeding only vs the likes of Western Kentucky, 2-6 Florida State, 1-10 Syracuse. Revenge for last year's 62-59 wrenching loss.

Rating: 3 Unit  CBB Mismatch of the Day

The Irish have been straddling spreads in losses against quality Big Ten opponents Michigan State and Ohio State. Kentucky hasn’t shown that they can score like those other two, with 64, 62, 62 points in three straight losses to Richmond, Kansas and Georgia Tech. Unfriendly road whistle against short-rotation visitor notwithstanding, because ya’ gotta get ’em while they’re down

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

The kid we told you about on Iowa – 6’10" Jack Nunge – wasted their time with 0-for-5 three-point shooting and only 3 rebounds, 0 blocks in 22 minutes vs. North Carolina. But the Hawkeyes still won the game by 13 points! Iowa State’s low rebounding numbers (only 30 per game) and low-percentage three-point shooting (29.1%) do not bode well for a match-up with the nation’s #3, which has too good an inside-outside game

Rating: 3 Unit CBB Play of the Day

The Montana coaching staff gets to split the guaranteed money generated from most of their games against power-conference opposition. It’s in DeCuir’s contract to schedule some of these games, and for the money to go among the coaches. It’s true. You could look it up. The message being, ‘If we schedule these games and show up, we make more money and the team gets a good scrimmage vs. better athletes.’ The score is not important. Showing up in SEC country averaging only 29.7 rebounds per game also bodes poorly.

Rating: 4 Unit ACC Game of the Week

All is right in Tiger world with the return of Lawrence (403 passing yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs), with 581-246 yard edge vs Pittsburgh, which had held 380-312 yards per game edge. Hokies fading fast: 3 straight losses (-52 points ATS), allowing 29, 26, & 30 first downs. And they've ceded 30+ points in 15 of their last 20 contests. No other way to go.

Big-10 Game of the Week

Illini overland game seems a hidden gem, as only Wisconsin has contained it: 472, 181, 338, & 285 in their 4 games since that opener (319 rushing yards per game). Four straight wins for Hawkeyes, but just 34 & 19 yard edges & a 16-yard deficit in their last 3 games. And a 192-79 Illini rushing yard edge last year.

Rating: 3 Unit Big-12 Play of the Day

Dog continues to come through in Texas games, now standing at 29-12-1 ATS. Texas never trailed Iowa State until L1:24 in 23-20 loss. Ehlinger just 1 TD with 0 INTs, but he's 23 TDs with only 5 INTs for the season. Home team is 4-1 ATS in Wildcat games (+81 points). Kansas State needs it for .500 campaign, & is 12-5 ATS lately.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Game of the Week

What an offense! 'Tide now at 49.5 points per game & Jones at 347 passing yard per game (18 TDs with only 3 INTs). So 35+ points in every game since start of '19, & that "D" is finally coming around. "Iron Bowl" has provided innumerable shockers thru the years, but can't see pedestrian Tiger "O" keeping this one close. Lay it.

Rating: 3 Unit SEC Play of the Day

From the frying pan into the fire for Kentucky, who had held 8-of-13 foes under 18 points, before L2, in which they were stung for 49 points per game, including last week's 63 points by Alabama. Offensively, try 10, 3, & 3 points 3-of-last-4. Florida's Trask now 31 TDs with only 3 INTs, with Florida topping 35 points last 9 games. Gator call

Rating: 4 Unit Big-10 Game of the Week

Wow! Check Badgers' 343-47 rushing yard edge at Michigan, so now a 94-18 point edge this year (+50½ points ATS), & 11-1 as road favorites (37-21, 38-17, 49-11 wins L3 road games). 'Cats 5-0 ATS lately, with 3½, 4½, & 4 point covers L3, & Ramsey just 6 TDs with 4 INTs for the season. When Wisky is cookin', jump in.

Rating: 4 Unit CFB Game of the Week

What a match! Knights rank 17th, 1st, 10th, & 1st in run, pass, scoring, & total "O", behind Gabriel's 417.7 passing yard per game (21 TDs 2 INTs). Bearcats have been our "meal ticket", with 1,096-379 rushing yard edge in their L4 games: 31½, 32½, 15, 12½ point covers! Defensively, it's all Cincinnati, ranking 10th in total "D", compared to Central Florida's 110th spot. No, not off this horse.

NCAAF Play of the Day

Explosive 'Runners in sweet bounce back effort vs Utep: 600-246 yard edge in 24½ point cover. Ten points from 13-1 ATS run, while Eagles -136½ points ATS L10, allowing 35.2 points per game in L9 outings. Revenge!

CFB Game of the Week

What? Get off this horse? Never. Check 897-173 Bearcat rushing yard edge L3 games: 31½, 32½, 15 point covers. Edging up the polls, & +224 points ATS since '18. Pirates out of Tulane tilt early (31-7 in 3rd), with a 277-35 rushing yard deficit. Sure, Central Florida looms for Cincinnati, but still the play.

Rating: 4 Unit CFB Game of the Week

Bearcats were a pleasure, with their annihilation of Memphis last week, & with much to prove, following last season's late season collapse, they are hardly in a "letdown" state of mind for the rest of the year. Consecutive 31½ & 32½ covers, while climbing to the #6 spot in the polls, has their enthusiasm at an all-time high, with QB Ridder passing for 5 TDs LW, while Cincy's overland game has posted a 555-80 yard edge the past 2 weeks. Cougars have allowed 35 points per game over their last 22 lined affairs. Spot bit light.

Rating: 4 Unit Mismatch of the Week

Dog continues to bark in Steer contests. Now 27-12-1. Took Oklahoma State in OT, despite negative stat dominance, with another 3 TDs with 0 INTs from Ehlinger (now 20 TDs with 5 INTs). Mounties have outgained all six foes, ranking 10th, 5th, 17th, & 4th in rushing, passing, scoring, & total "D". We take the TD.

Rating: 4 Unit Mountain West Game of the Week

That Aztec "D" was again front-&-center in its rout of Unlv (424-186 yard edge). Giving up just 11.2 points per game in 8 outings. Should continue vs Aggies, who are in off a 203-450 yard deficit (12 first downs), & have allowed 31+ points in 5 of last 8 outings. Aggies pay for last year.

Rating: 3 Unit ACC Play of the Day

The visitor has covered 7 straight games involving North Carolina, but can't see bucking this consistent outfit. Check out UNC's last 3 games: 31, 27, & 34 first downs; 656, 558, & 585 yards. Virginia got Armstrong back last week: 2 TDs with 0 INTs. North Carolina allowed zero TD passes from Miami's King, after he burned them for 43-yard TD pass in game's first 0:28. But Virginia giving up 927 yards last 2 weeks.

Rating: 4 Unit Big-12 Game of the Week

Extremely tight series, & obviously we expect more of same. The dog is now 26-12 ATS in Steer games. Texas held a 159-64 rushing yard edge over Baylor, & another 3 TDs from Ehlinger, now 17 TD with only 5 interceptions. Oklahoma State perfect balance (236 rushing yards, 235 passing yards) in win over Iowa State. Best game of the week?

Rating: 5 Unit CFB Game of the Month

The Bearcats have been as solid play for the past decade, with six double-digit win seasons since '07, & eight years with at least 9 wins, routing BC, 38-6, in last year's Birmingham Bowl. Returning 15 starters, including QB Ridder, who is in off a brilliant display in last week's rout of previously unbeaten SMU (4 TDs with 0 interceptions, & 179 rushing yards) has elevated them to the 7th spot in this week's polls. Memphis sure can score, but field the worst defense in the land. Cincinnati has been pointing to this one all year, since losing to the Tigers twice last year.

Rating: 3 Unit CFB Play of the Day

The Falcons can run, & can stop the run, while the Spartans can't run, & can't stop the run. Thus, it's all up to whoever replaces the productive Love at QB for San Jose State (5,886 passing yards L2 years). A huge gap to fill. Air Force took Navy apart in its only other game. Again.

Rating: 4 Unit ACC Game of the Week

The addition of QB King (transfer from Houston) has done wonders for the 'Cane offense, which ranked 98th in the country a year ago. He is in off tossing 4 TDs vs stellar Pitt defense, 3 of them of the long range variety: 35, 38, & 45 yards. That only opens it up for UM's overland game, which has come from #121 in '19, to #21 in '20. Eliminating its game with Clemson, the 'Canes have averaged 35.3 ppg. That goes nicely with the fact that the Cavs have allowed at least 27 points in 10 of their last 11 games (40 pts & 483 yards vs Wake.

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Game of the Week

What an "O". Alabama 2nd in passing & scoring "O", behind Jones' 379.5 passing yards per game (12 TDs with only 2 INTs). In off posting 567 yards vs Georgia's previous 236 yards per game "D", & turning 24-20 deficit, into 41-24 win. Tennessee 7 points from 10-2 ATS, but have been outscored, 61-7 since 0-27 windup at Georgia. Romp!!

Rating: 4 Unit Big-12 Game of the Week

No Thompson at QB for Wildcats (209 passing yards per game & 4 TDs with 0 INTs), but with, or without him, this is one that Kansas State always gets, & gets impressively. Line moved more than a TD with Thompson's absence, but can't see KU competing, allowing 38, 47, 47, 38 points, & only Vanderbilt a worse "O".

Rating: 4 Unit SEC Game of the Week

Texas A&M took Florida at the gun (10 points in L4:30), behind 338 Mond passing yards (656 L2 outings). And check 174 rushing yards from Spiller vs Gators. Mississippi State's Costello has come from 623 passing yards (Lsu), to 313 (Ark), to 232 with no TDs and 4 interceptions (Ky). From 44, to 14, to 2 points. Momentum squarely A&M's.