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Time to get some CBB Winners for today.
Kentucky vs Kansas
This is part of the SEC/ Big 12 Challenge and it should be a great game and could be a preview of a Final Four game. The Kentucky Wildcats are not the dominant team they were last year, but they are starting to show signs of putting it all together. The Cats will have a game vs Missouri prior to this game, but in their last two games they topped a very good Arkansas team on the road by 14 and then crushed Vanderbilt at home by 19. Jamal Murray (17.8) and Tyler Ulis (15.3 ppg) are the only two player on the team that average in double figures, while the Cats have seven players overall that average at least 6.2 ppg. Not a terribly deep team. The Cats ar a very solid offensive team as they rank 95th in the nation in scoring, putting up 77.4 ppg, while hitting 46.8% of their shots, which is 52nd. They do struggle from long range (283rd) and from the charity stripe (264th), so they are not perfect on offense. On defense they are a strong team as well, ranking 78th in points allowed (67.1 ppg), 61st in defensive FG% (40.5%) and 73rd in 3-point defense (31.9%).
The Kansas Jayhawks come in at 16-4 on the year but they have been very mediocre of late as they are just 2-3 in their last five games. They come into this one off a tough 85-72 loss at Iowa State in a game they led for about three quarters of, before the Cyclones finished the game on a tear. The Jayhawks have been very inconsistent in Big 12 play and that was just another instance of that. The Jayhawks have 8 players that average at least 4.0 ppg and are led by Perry Ellis, who puts up 16.6 ppg. Wayne Selden (14.6 ppg) Frank Mason (13.4 ppg) and Devonte Graham (10.4 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. The Jayhawks check in at 13th in the nation in scoring, putting up 83.7 ppg, 21st in shooting (48.6%) and 5th in three-point shooting (43%). The numbers look good overall, but a closer look shows that they have averaged just 69.1 ppg in their last six games in big 12 play. They really built their numbers up on weak non-conference opponents. Defensively, Kansas has been decent as they allow 69.2 ppg (137th), but on just 40.5% shooting, which is 64th.
The Kansas offense has been very average of late and both teams can play very good defense. Kentucky is a solid offensive team, but they are not a high tempo squad either. This should also be a close game throughout and that usually means walking the ball up the court during the last eight to 10 minutes or so of the game. This game really has the feel of a 69-66 type final score. I do not see this one hitting the 140’s at all.
Play Kentucky/ Kansas Under 146.5
Cleveland State vs Illinois-Chicago
These are the two worst teams in the Horizon league, but the Ramblers are clearly much worse than the Vikings, especially on defense. UIC is also worse on the offensive end of the floor and I just don’t see them coming up with enough points to keep this one close vs a Cleveland State team that really is looking for an easy win. I say they get it here.
Play Cleveland State -3.5
Indiana State vs Loyola-Chicago
Prior to getting blown out by the Shockers, the Ramblers last four losses were by Eight, One, Two and two points. They were very competitive in those games and while they might be here as well, I still feel that the Sycamores cane cover this small number. Indiana State is 4-1 ATS the last five in the series and they have both the offense and the defense to cover this number as well. The Ramblers have played great defense this year, but they just don’t have the offense to stay with a quality defensive team like the Sycamores are. I see 68-58 here.
Play Indiana State -2
Two Other Games I will Be Playing:
Arizona -11.5 over Oregon State
Tulsa -14.5 over Tulane
GLA
Kentucky vs Kansas
This is part of the SEC/ Big 12 Challenge and it should be a great game and could be a preview of a Final Four game. The Kentucky Wildcats are not the dominant team they were last year, but they are starting to show signs of putting it all together. The Cats will have a game vs Missouri prior to this game, but in their last two games they topped a very good Arkansas team on the road by 14 and then crushed Vanderbilt at home by 19. Jamal Murray (17.8) and Tyler Ulis (15.3 ppg) are the only two player on the team that average in double figures, while the Cats have seven players overall that average at least 6.2 ppg. Not a terribly deep team. The Cats ar a very solid offensive team as they rank 95th in the nation in scoring, putting up 77.4 ppg, while hitting 46.8% of their shots, which is 52nd. They do struggle from long range (283rd) and from the charity stripe (264th), so they are not perfect on offense. On defense they are a strong team as well, ranking 78th in points allowed (67.1 ppg), 61st in defensive FG% (40.5%) and 73rd in 3-point defense (31.9%).
The Kansas Jayhawks come in at 16-4 on the year but they have been very mediocre of late as they are just 2-3 in their last five games. They come into this one off a tough 85-72 loss at Iowa State in a game they led for about three quarters of, before the Cyclones finished the game on a tear. The Jayhawks have been very inconsistent in Big 12 play and that was just another instance of that. The Jayhawks have 8 players that average at least 4.0 ppg and are led by Perry Ellis, who puts up 16.6 ppg. Wayne Selden (14.6 ppg) Frank Mason (13.4 ppg) and Devonte Graham (10.4 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. The Jayhawks check in at 13th in the nation in scoring, putting up 83.7 ppg, 21st in shooting (48.6%) and 5th in three-point shooting (43%). The numbers look good overall, but a closer look shows that they have averaged just 69.1 ppg in their last six games in big 12 play. They really built their numbers up on weak non-conference opponents. Defensively, Kansas has been decent as they allow 69.2 ppg (137th), but on just 40.5% shooting, which is 64th.
The Kansas offense has been very average of late and both teams can play very good defense. Kentucky is a solid offensive team, but they are not a high tempo squad either. This should also be a close game throughout and that usually means walking the ball up the court during the last eight to 10 minutes or so of the game. This game really has the feel of a 69-66 type final score. I do not see this one hitting the 140’s at all.
Play Kentucky/ Kansas Under 146.5
Cleveland State vs Illinois-Chicago
These are the two worst teams in the Horizon league, but the Ramblers are clearly much worse than the Vikings, especially on defense. UIC is also worse on the offensive end of the floor and I just don’t see them coming up with enough points to keep this one close vs a Cleveland State team that really is looking for an easy win. I say they get it here.
Play Cleveland State -3.5
Indiana State vs Loyola-Chicago
Prior to getting blown out by the Shockers, the Ramblers last four losses were by Eight, One, Two and two points. They were very competitive in those games and while they might be here as well, I still feel that the Sycamores cane cover this small number. Indiana State is 4-1 ATS the last five in the series and they have both the offense and the defense to cover this number as well. The Ramblers have played great defense this year, but they just don’t have the offense to stay with a quality defensive team like the Sycamores are. I see 68-58 here.
Play Indiana State -2
Two Other Games I will Be Playing:
Arizona -11.5 over Oregon State
Tulsa -14.5 over Tulane
GLA
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