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Washington And Stanford Reach NIT Semifinals

A disappointing season for the Pac-12 on the hardwood can at least end on a positive note. Two of the four teams in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday hail from the conference, and oddsmakers like the chances for an all-Pac 12 championship game this Thursday.

Tuesday's action from Madison Square Garden gets underway at 7:00 p.m. (ET) when the Stanford Cardinal take on the Massachusetts Minutemen. That game will be followed at approximately 9:30 p.m. by a battle between the Washington Huskies and Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Don Best odds screen presently lists Stanford as a 2-point favorite and 149½ for the total. Washington is 1-point chalk for the matchup vs. Minnesota, with 143 for the scoreboard hurdle in that tilt.

Stanford drew a No. 3 seed for the NIT after finishing the regular season 21-11 (10-8 in Pac-12). The Cardinal hosted three early-round affairs, beating Cleveland State (76-65), Illinois State (92-88 in overtime) and Nevada (84-56) to earn a trip to New York City for this week's NIT Final Four. They failed to cover the victory vs. Illinois State as 8½-point favorites, and beat the 6-point spreads in the other two triumphs.

All three of Stanford's tournament games have gone 'over' the total, and the Cardinal are now on a 6-game run above the number dating back to their final regular season contest vs. California. Sophomore guard Aaron Bright has been a key contributor in all three NIT wins, coming off the bench in each contest to average 18.7 points per outing.

Massachusetts (25-11 SU, 19-14 ATS) was seeded fifth after falling to St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals. The Minutemen were road underdogs of 6½-7½ points in their three previous NIT contests, and pulled off upsets at Mississippi State (101-96 in double overtime), Seton Hall (77-67) and Drexel (72-70).

The spread has dipped a half-point after opening Stanford -2½ while the total has increased a bucket from the initial 147½ figure.

Washington drew one of the four No. 1 seeds after just falling short of reaching the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies (24-10 SU, 17-15 ATS) became the first team from a Power-6 conference to win its league's regular season title and fail to get an invite to the Big Dance since the NCAA's expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

Like its Pac-12 counterparts from Stanford, Washington had the luxury of hosting the first three games in the NIT bracket, taking down UT-Arlington (82-72), Northwestern (76-55) and Oregon (90-86) in the process. The Huskies covered the first two vs. the Mavericks and Wildcats as favorites of 9½ and 5½ respectively, but fell just shy of beating the 4½-point spread in last week's win over the Ducks.

Minnesota (22-14 SU, 18-14-1 ATS) was seeded sixth in the NIT and spent the first three games on the road as underdogs. The Gophers were getting 2-5½ points in their victories at La Salle (70-61), Miami-FL (78-60) and Middle Tennessee State (78-72). Those three covers have Minnesota entering Tuesday's tilt on a 7-game run against the spread.

The spread remains just where it opened with Washington laying the single point, but the total has been boosted from its initial 140½.

Kentucky, Ohio State Draw Final Four Chalk

Opening numbers are out for Saturday's NCAA Tournament semifinals, and it's no surprise to see that oddsmakers have given the early edge to Kentucky and Ohio State.

Final Four contests tip from New Orleans' Mercedes-Benz Superdome at 6:05 p.m. (ET) with a Bluegrass State battle between Kentucky and Louisville. The Wildcats are favored by 8½ for their rematch with the Cardinals, and the total has already dropped a point to 137½. Kentucky hosted Louisville this past New Year's Eve and posted a 69-62 triumph as 9½-point chalk. It was the third straight win in the series for the Wildcats, and also marked the third consecutive 'under' when the final score fell short of the 138-point total.

Saturday's second contest finds the Buckeyes laying 2½ against the Jayhawks with 136½ for the total. The game is yet another rematch from this past December when Ohio State traveled to Lawrence where Kansas scored a 78-67 victory. That contest started off with OSU -3 before word that Jared Sullinger would not play due to back spasms sent the number the other direction and closed KU -1½. The total closed where this week's game opened (136½).

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Mercer And Utah State Meet In CIT Final

The winners of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) could be crowned on Wednesday night in college basketball betting action.

We'll start in the CBI, where the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Washington State Cougars have been doing battle.

Game 1 of this cross-country clash between the Panthers and Cougars was a tremendous battle that went back and forth the whole way. It was a well-played game that featured a ton of defense. There were just 97 shots taken from the field in the duel, and in the end, the final shot by Tray Woodall was blocked to give Washington State a 67-66 victory.

JJ Moore led the Panthers with 16 points off the bench, while Woodall had 16 points and seven assists.

Abe Lodwick was the hero for the Cougars. He knocked down four three-point shots and totaled 16 points and seven rebounds. Reggie Moore had 14 points, five boards and five assists, but he also committed five of Washington State's eight turnovers on the night.

In this rare best-of-three format, the two teams will fly across the country to get back to the Steel City where they will meet in Game 2 on Wednesday night, and then for Game 3 on Friday night should the Panthers hold serve on their home court in Game 2.

Pittsburgh entered the CBI Final at -210, and though there are no futures odds on the board any longer now that this tournament has started, it could be surmised that the winner of this tournament is a total tossup.

The Panthers had covered all three of their previous games in the CBI before Game 1 of the finale. Washington State has now covered all four games, including winning three clashes straight up as underdogs.

The tip from Petersen Events Center on Wednesday is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET), and you can view this game on HD Net.

The Mercer Bears and the Utah State Aggies are going to square off in the CIT Final on Wednesday night. This winner-take-all duel will start at 9:00 p.m. (ET) in Logan, where the Aggies have been absolutely remarkable all season long. They are 17-4 SU and 10-7 ATS in their 21 games played at Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum, including posting a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record in this tournament at home.

The WAC reps only go as far as Preston Medlin and Brockeith Pane take them. These two are both capable of shooting the ball from all over the court, and they are the two double-digit point scorers on this roster. Medlin, who has averaged 17.1 PPG for the season, has managed to average 23.3 PPG in this tournament, and the argument could be made that he is the MVP of the CIT.

Mercer won a slew of games this year in the Atlantic Sun, but the team was relegated to the CIT after losing to Florida Gulf Coast in its first game in the conference tournament. The Bears get the job done with their defense, which has held teams to just 38.6 percent shooting from the field on the campaign.

The Bears have definitely done well in this tournament, winning and covering all four games, and the last two wins over the Fairfield Stags and Old Dominion Monarchs came in very tough road venues.

These two teams actually have met once before, with the Aggies claiming a 74-55 decision in 1999.

Utah State hadn't scored more than 82 points in a game this season before dropping 105 on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the CIT semifinals, and it is now favored by five-points at home in the finale.

The FOX College Sports Network will have live coverage of this prime-time tip from the Beehive State.

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Thunder, Lakers And Spurs In Tuesday Spotlight

The Tuesday night NBA schedule has a modest 7-games, but three involve the ‘best of the West’ trying to survive on the road.

Oklahoma City (Even odds), the Lakers (+250) and San Antonio (+600) are the three favorites to win the Western Conference. Dallas is next at +800, followed by upstart Memphis (+900) and the fading Clippers (+1000).

The Thunder did some fading of their own in mid-March, losing three home games after previously dropping one all season. However, they seem to be back on track, including a huge 103-87 home win over Miami on Sunday, and deserve their favorite status.

Our Tuesday preview will focus on the Western elite, plus a key game for Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers
7:00 p.m. (ET) on NBA-TV

The Cavaliers (17-29 SU, 23-23 ATS) are falling apart with a 3-game losing streak and six of seven overall (2-5 ATS). The trade of guard Ramon Sessions to the Lakers took one their few scorers away and they’re averaging 89.2 PPG in regulation since the swap (five games). Reserve guard Daniel Gibson is questionable and his return would at least help some.

The 76ers (27-22 SU, 25-23-1 ATS) have just a half-game lead over Boston in the Atlantic Division, pending the Celtics’ Monday result at Charlotte. Philly is just 2-5 SU and ATS in its last seven, but is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 home games against a team with a losing road record like Cleveland (8-14 SU). Forward Andre Iguodala (knee) is questionable after missing last game.

The 76ers won the only meeting this season, 99-84 as 7½-point road favorites in February. Cleveland rookie sensation Kyrie Irving was injured. The ‘over’ is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings in Philly.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts

The Thunder (37-12 SU, 27-22 ATS) have played just two of their last 12 games on the road. Backcourt depth issues could start to show with Eric Maynor and Daequan Cook both injured. The aging Derek Fisher was signed, but he has almost nothing left in the tank. Oklahoma City is 15-8 SU and 13-10 ATS on the road this season, with the ‘under’ 6-1 in the last seven away.

The Trail Blazers (23-26 SU, 23-25-1 ATS) have stopped their second-half bleeding at least somewhat by going 2-1 SU and ATS the last three. The two SU wins were at home over Memphis (97-93) and Golden State (90-87), but point guard Raymond Felton (personal) is now doubtful Tuesday and that will sting.

Oklahoma City is 2-1 SU and ATS in the three games against Portland this year. The one in Oregon was a 111-107 Thunder win in overtime in early February.

San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns
10:00 p.m. (ET) on Regional Broadcasts

San Antonio (33-14 SU, 28-18-1 ATS) is hot once again, winning four straight and seven of eight overall (6-2 ATS). Defense has been the key the last three, allowing a paltry 83 PPG. All of those went ‘under’ after the ‘over’ was 7-0 in the previous seven. The Spurs have played just three road games since the break (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) and are 13-10 SU and 11-11-1 ATS away this season.

The Suns (25-24 SU, 26-23 ATS) are on the outside looking in at the playoffs right now, but this has quietly been a very good team since mid-February (13-5 SU, 14-4 ATS). That includes going 10-2 SU and ATS at home. Grant Hill has a knee aliment, but is listed as probable.

San Antonio won and covered the only meeting this year, 102-91 as 8½-point home chalk in January. The Spurs are just 1-5 ATS in the last six in the desert and the ‘over’ 6-1 in the last seven there.

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
10:30 p.m. (ET) on NBA-TV

The Lakers (30-19 SU, 22-27 ATS) are just 2-3 SU in their last five games (1-4 ATS). The ‘over’ is 5-0 in those contests and 10-1 in the last 11 overall. The better news is that the newly acquired point guard Sessions is playing well and L.A. has been much better on the road of late (4-1 SU and ATS) after starting the season 6-14 SU and 5-15 ATS.

The Warriors (20-27 SU, 25-22 ATS) are 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS in their last four despite being extremely banged up. Stephen Curry is still out indefinitely, but Nate Robinson and Andris Biedrins are questionable. The unheralded Charles Jenkins and Jeremy Tyler started at point guard and center last game, although Jenkins did have 27 points in a 90-87 loss at Portland as 10-point ‘dogs.

Los Angeles won the only meeting against Golden State this year, 97-90 as a 10½-point home favorite in January. The Warriors are 3-0 ATS in the last three in the series and also 3-0 ATS in the last three at home.

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Islanders Visit High-Flying Pittsburgh Penguins

The New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins are separated by just one point atop the Eastern Conference standings with just seven games remaining in each of their seasons. They’ll both be in action Tuesday night against teams out of playoff contention; but there are no easy games around this time of year.

The Penguins host the New York Islanders at 7:00 p.m. (ET) Tuesday night. Pittsburgh (47-22-6) is 14-1-1 in its last 16 games, fueled by the best offense in the NHL averaging 3.3 goals per game. In the seven games since his return, Sidney Crosby has racked up 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) and the Penguins have averaged 4.9 goals per game over that span.

The Islanders (31-33-11) rank 27th in the NHL in both goals for and goals against, and are 0-3-1 in four games against Pittsburgh this season.

The New York Rangers (47-21-7) have held off Pittsburgh’s late surge to this point by winning three of their last four games to break out of a 2-5 straight up slump that they were in earlier in March. New York heads to Minnesota to face the Wild Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Goals will likely be hard to come by for the Wild; New York ranks third in the NHL in defense allowing just 2.2 goals per game against while Minnesota has the worst offense in the NHL scoring just 2.0 goals per game. Minnesota (31-34-10) is just 3-9-1 over its last 13 games.

While the battle at the top of the Eastern Conference is an interesting one, the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot is as well. The Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres are tied with 84 points with six games left in each of their seasons; and one of those games is this Tuesday night when the Capitals host the Sabres at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Whichever team wins this game will have an inside track to a playoff spot.

Buffalo (37-29-10) is coming on strong to close out this season, winning each of its last four games and boasting a 13-2-3 record over its last 16 games. Washington (38-30-8) has gone just 2-4 over its last six games, but four of those games came on the road where the Capitals haven’t played well all season; at home, they are one of the NHL’s best with a 24-10-4 record.

The Sabres won both of their games over the Capitals in Buffalo, but lost when they last met here in Washington back in late December.

Two other important games between playoff teams Tuesday night that will help shape the Western Conference’s standings are the Chicago Blackhawks (42-26-8) at the New Jersey Devils (42-28-6) at 7:00 p.m. (ET) and the Nashville Predators (44-24-8) visiting the St. Louis Blues (47-20-9) at 8:00 p.m. (ET).

Nashville, Detroit and Chicago are separated by just three points for seeds four to six in the West, and all three are fighting for home ice in the first round of the playoffs in that four-seed. Chicago seems to be peaking just in time for the playoffs at 9-2-1 over its last 12 games.

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NIT Semifinals

March 26, 2012


The National Invitational Tournament has narrowed its field of 32 down to four schools that will congregate Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City for the event’s semifinals. The winners will collide Thursday night for the championship. Let’s take a look at Tuesday’s doubleheader.

**Massachusetts vs. Stanford**

--As of Monday afternoon, most betting shops were listing Stanford (24-11 straight up, 17-15 against the spread) as a 2 ½-point favorite with the total in the 149-150 range. Gamblers can take the Minutemen to win outright for a plus-125 return (risk $100 to win $125).

--UMass (25-11 SU, 19-13 ATS) had a tough path to MSG with each of its NIT games coming as a road underdog of six points or more. The Minutemen began its trek in Starkville, where it emerged from The Hump with a 101-96 win at Mississippi St. as a 7 ½-point underdog. Chaz Williams led the winners with 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. Sean Carter added 20 points and 12 rebounds.

--After winning 77-67 at Seton Hall as six-point underdog, UMass won a 72-70 decision at Drexel as a 7 ½-point hound. The Minutemen trailed by as many as 17 points early in the second half before rallying to victory behind a 20-point effort from Williams, who knocked down 8-of-13 shots from the field. Terrell Vinson added 18 points with 14 of those coming in the second half when UMass shot better than 70-percent from the field.

--Stanford got to play all three of its previous NIT games at home in Palo Alto. The run for the Cardinal started with a 76-65 win over Cleveland St. as a six-point favorite. Aaron Bright scored a game-high 17 points, while Anthony Brown and Josh Owens added 15 points apiece.

--In the NIT second round, Johnny Dawkins’s squad needed overtime to sneak past Illinois St. by a 92-88 count as an 8 ½-point home ‘chalk.’ Bright played the game of his life with 29 points and six assists. The sophomore point guard made 11-of-13 shots from the field, draining 6-of-7 treys. Dwight Powell added 18 points and nine rebounds.

--Stanford advanced to MSG thanks to an 84-56 win over Nevada as a six-point favorite. Owens and Chasson Randle paced the Cardinal with 15 points apiece.

--Stanford owns a 9-6 spread record in 15 games as a single-digit favorite.

--UMass has been an underdog 14 times, going 7-7 ATS with six outright victories.

--The ‘over’ is 18-13-1 overall for UMass, 5-2-1 in its last eight games.

--The ‘over’ is 18-14 overall for Stanford, hitting in each of its last six games.

--Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**Minnesota vs. Washington**

--Most books are listing Washington (24-10 SU, 17-15 ATS) as a one-point favorite with a total of 143.

--Minnesota (22-14 SU, 19-13-1 ATS) is playing outstanding basketball and has been treating its backers to nice payouts in recent weeks. Like UMass, the Gophers paved their way to NYC with three road wins. They won 78-72 at Middle Tennessee as 3 ½-point ‘dogs in the NIT quarterfinals. Rodney Williams’s stellar play continued with a 24-point effort on 8-of-11 shooting against the Blue Raiders. Andre Hollins also finished with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists.

--Tubby Smith’s team has won five of its last six games with the only loss coming to Michigan in overtime at the Big Ten Tournament. Even better, Minnesota is 7-0 ATS in its last seven outings.

--Minnesota won its NIT opener at LaSalle by a 70-61 count as a two-point underdog. Williams led the way with 21 points. During the Gophers’ three-game NIT run, Williams is averaging 22.0 points per game, making 26-of-38 from the floor (68%).

--Washington lost its regular-season finale at UCLA and its Pac-12 Tourney opener to Oregon St. to play its way off the bubble and into the NIT where it was tabbed as one of the four No. 1 seeds. The Huskies won all three of its NIT games at home, covering in the first two before failing to do so in their 90-86 quarterfinals victory over Oregon as five-point ‘chalk.’

--Terrence Ross has been the catalyst for UW, scoring a game-high 24 points in the win over the Ducks. Ross scored 32 points in the Huskies’ 76-55 win over Northwestern as five-point home favorites. He finished with 23 points in an 82-72 over Texas-Arlington in UW’s win as a 9 ½-point favorite.

--Ross is currently listed as the No. 18 pick in the first round of this upcoming NBA Draft if the sophomore decides to turn pro. As for Minnesota’s Williams, the junior forward is listed at No. 48 in the second round if he bolts early.

--Washington is 9-8 in 17 single-digit favorite situations. Meanwhile, Minnesota has covered the spread in seven straight underdog spots. For the season, the Gophers are 10-5 ATS with six outright wins as ‘dogs.

--Minnesota got good news over the weekend when the NCAA granted Trevor Mbakwe a sixth year of eligibility. He suffered a season-ending injury in November. Mbakwe was averaging 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game through the Gophers’ first seven contests.

--The ‘over’ is 17-15-1 overall for Minnesota, going 5-1 in its last six games.

--Totals have been an overall wash for UW (16-16), but the ‘over’ is on a 6-3 run in the Huskies’ last nine games.

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Tuesday Tips

March 26, 2012

Seven games take place on the Tuesday NBA card, as each contest involves conference opponents hooking up. The night wraps up with three games on the West Coast, including the Thunder heading to the Pacific Northwest for a battle with the Blazers. We'll begin in Philadelphia as the struggling Cavaliers play with revenge against a 76ers' squad looking to find their identity.

Cavaliers at 76ers - 7:05 PM EST

Cleveland has dropped six of its last seven games, including Sunday's home blowout loss to Phoenix. The Cavs head to the City of Brotherly Love to take on Sixers' team that has alternated wins and losses in each of the previous five games. Philadelphia scored just 27 second half points in Sunday's 93-76 loss at San Antonio as three-point underdogs, dropping to 2-4 ATS the last six games. Cleveland is riding a 4-2 ATS run the previous six contests in the road 'dog role, including victories at Oklahoma City and Denver. The Sixers routed the Cavs in their last meeting at Quicken Loans Arena, 99-84 as 7 ½-point favorites on February 11. Philadelphia received 50 points from its bench, while limiting Cleveland to 37% shooting from the floor.

Wolves at Grizzlies - 8:05 PM EST

Memphis returns home following a four-game road trip in which the Grizzlies closed it out with a win over the Lakers. The Wolves head to Memphis with double-revenge after Minnesota dropped the first two meetings earlier this season. Both games finished 'under' the total, while the Wolves picked up a backdoor cover in the last matchup in Memphis without Kevin Love in the lineup. The MVP candidate racked up his eighth 30-point, 15 rebound performance of the season in Sunday's home blowout of the Nuggets. The Grizzlies own a solid 16-7 record at FedEx Forum, but have failed to cover each of their last three home contests. Minnesota is profiting in the role of a road 'dog, going 5-2 ATS the previous seven games in this situation.

Hawks at Bucks - 8:05 PM EST

Atlanta outlasted Utah in the longest game of the season, 139-133 in four overtimes on Sunday night. What made that win even more impressive for Larry Drew's team is that was the third game in as many nights for the Hawks. Now, Atlanta heads to Milwaukee to take on a Bucks' team playing for the fifth time in six nights. The Bucks haven't had the best of luck against the Hawks this season, losing twice, including a late meltdown in a 99-94 defeat at Philips Arena in early March. Scott Skiles' club is 9-2 ATS the last 11 games, but both losses came at the Bradley Center to the Celtics and Pacers. However, this is the worst rest situation for the Bucks, who are 5-11 ATS when playing with no rest following Monday's loss at New York.

Rockets at Mavericks - 8:35 PM EST

Dallas held off Houston in overtime on Saturday night as three-point road 'dogs, 101-99, as the Texas state rivals meet for the second time in four days. The venue shifts to the American Airlines Center, as the Mavs hope to avoid a look-ahead spot by heading to Miami for an NBA Finals rematch on Wednesday. Rick Carlisle's squad is riding an 8-1 'over' run the last nine games, even though they have broken the 100-point mark only five times in this stretch. The Rockets are still without their starting backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, but Houston is 2-1 ATS the last three games as a road underdog. The Mavs are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in the previous five meetings in the series, including a pair of home victories last season.

Spurs at Suns - 10:05 PM EST

Phoenix salvaged its four-game road trip following losses at Miami and Orlando, as the Suns knocked off the Pacers and Cavs in the final two stops. The Suns return to the Valley for a meeting with old playoff rival San Antonio, as the Spurs go for their eighth win in nine games. San Antonio is playing its fourth game in five nights after winning all three times in the 3-in-3 sequence, including Sunday's rout of Philadelphia. Phoenix has compiled an impressive 12-3 ATS mark the last 15 contests, including an 8-1 ATS record at home. The Spurs grabbed the first meeting of the season at home, 102-91 on January 15 as 8 ½-point 'chalk.'

Thunder at Blazers - 10:05 PM EST

Oklahoma City and Portland meet for the fourth and final time this season, as the Thunder goes for their third victory in the series. The Blazers rallied past the Warriors on Sunday night, 90-87, but failed to cash as 10-point home favorites. The Thunder looks to avoid a letdown after dominating the Heat on Sunday, 103-87, but OKC has struggled to maintain consistency in the ATS department. Oklahoma City has alternated ATS wins and losses in each of the last 12 games, coming off the cover as two-point 'chalk' against Miami. The Blazers haven't been able to capitalize off a win recently, posting an 0-12 SU and 2-10 ATS the last 12 games off a victory (each cover came in the 'dog role against the Mavs and Lakers).

Lakers at Warriors - 10:35 PM EST

Golden State returns to the Bay Area for a three-game homestand starting with the Lakers heading to town. Los Angeles has struggled recently to cover numbers by going 1-5 ATS the last six games, including an 0-5 ATS ledger as favorites. Mike Brown's team isn't cashing tickets in the road 'chalk' role, posting a 2-8-1 ATS record in that situation, as both wins came in overtime. The Warriors own an 8-3 ATS mark the last 11 games, but Mark Jackson's club has split its previous eight home contests from an ATS perspective. The Lakers topped Golden State, 97-90 in early January at Staples Center, but the Warriors cashed as 10 ½-point 'dogs.

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Hoop Trends - Tuesday

March 27, 2012


SU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Mavericks are 10-0 ATS (9.5 ppg) since November 28, 2008 with two or more days of rest after a game in which their field goal attempt per turnover ratio was at least eight.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:


The Hawks are 0-11 OU (-9.7 ppg) since May 04, 2010 on the road after a game in which they allowed less than 40% from the field.


PLAYER TREND OF THE DAY:


The 76ers are 11-0 ATS (9.4 ppg) since October 29, 2010 at home after a loss in which Thaddeus Young took fewer than 10 shots.


CHOICE TREND:


The Warriors are 11-0 ATS (11.8 ppg) since February 08, 2009 after a game on the road in which they had at least ten fewer assists than in the game before.


TODAY’S TRENDS:


The Thunder are 0-11-1 OU (-13.6 ppg) since January 30, 2009 on the road after a home win in which they shot at least ten three-pointers and made at least half of them.The Warriors are 10-0 OU (12.1 ppg) since March 26, 2007 as a home dog with at most one day of rest after a loss in which they made more baskets than their opponent.

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UMass looks for another upset over Stanford in NIT


MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN (25-11)

vs. STANFORD CARDINALS (24-11)


NIT Semifinals
Tip-off: Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. EDT – New York, NY
Line: Stanford -2½, Total: 150

After Massachusetts eked by Drexel with a two-point win in the quarterfinals, the Minutemen will look to advance to the championship game by beating a Stanford squad that trounced Nevada by 28 to get to the semifinals.

This will be a game of contrasting styles as the fast-paced Minutemen average 76.8 points per game, 23rd best in Division I, while the Cardinal’s 70.5 points are just 115th. UMass, however, lacks on the defensive end where it allows 72.4 PPG nightly, compared to the Cardinal’s paltry 63.5 PPG allowed, for a healthy 8.2 PPG scoring margin. But UMass has already won three NIT games as a road underdog, doing this despite unspectacular statistical performances, notably making just 47.1 percent of their foul shots in their narrow win over Drexel while getting outrebounded 43-21. The Minutemen should have no problem winning the battle of the boards against Stanford, which averages 2.3 fewer rebounds per game, with Massachusetts ranking the 13th in the nation at 39.3 RPG. Look for UMASS to dominate the glass for its fourth consecutive upset.

This strong FoxSheets trend also sides with the Minutemen:

Play On - All teams where the line is +3 to -3 (MASSACHUSETTS) - average 3-PT shooting team (32-36.5%) against an average 3-PT defense (32-36.5%) after 15+ games, after a game where a team made 55% of their shots or better. (180-113 since 1997.) (61.4%, +55.7 units. Rating = 2*).

Chaz Williams (16.9 PPG, 6.3 APG) leads the potent UMass offense in both scoring and passing. He led the Minutemen over Drexel with his third consecutive 20-point performance, making 8-of-13 shots (2-of-3 from three) while recording two steals. Using his 5-foot-9 frame efficiently, he’s a classic workhorse who has played 40 minutes in each of the team’s past two games, and 47 in their OT first-round win at Mississippi State. But, for a game that might be won on the glass, 6-foot-9 center Sean Carter (7.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) and 6-foot-9 forward Raphiael Putney (10.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG) will need to play their best. Carter has a propensity to get in foul trouble with four or five fouls in each of his past five games, so he’ll have to control his body in this one. He was able to play 40 minutes and picked up a double-double in the second round against Seton Hall, but he was forced to ride the bench with fouls in a one-rebound effort against Drexel.

Like the Minutemen, the Cardinal don’t have extreme size in the paint. Six-foot-8 senior Josh Owens (11.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG) leads the team’s post effort, and is coming off a strong 15-point performance against Nevada. Also like Massachusetts, their top scorer is in the backcourt where freshman Chasson Randle (13.9 PPG, 2.3 threes per game) is a menace from beyond the arc, making 43.8% of his shots from deep. The team’s third and final double-digit scorer is also a guard, Aaron Bright (11.6 PPG, 1.9 threes per game) who shoots well from deep (1.9 threes per game, 43.3% 3-pt FG). Bright carried the team to the quarterfinals with a 29-point showing on 11-of-13 FG against Illinois State, and will carry his team to victory if he can do anything like that again.

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Washington meets Minnesota in NIT semis Tuesday


MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (22-14)

vs. WASHINGTON HUSKIES (24-10)


NIT Semifinals
Tip-off: Tuesday, 9:25 p.m. EDT – New York, NY
Line: Washington -1, Total: 143

Minnesota will look to take down top-seeded Washington Tuesday night in order to advance to the NIT championship game.

The strong Huskies offense (75.2 PPG, 34th in D-I) has been even better in the NIT with 82.7 PPG. Their offensive prowess is fueled by their elite rebounding (40.3 RPG), which ranks fifth in the nation. The Golden Gophers have the size to match with 6-foot-11 Ralph Sampson III in the paint, but he is nowhere near talented enough to fight off the physical 7-footer Aziz N’Diaye over the course of an entire game. N’Diaye’s impact extends beyond the stat sheet, opening up the way for Washington’s crew of lengthy guards, including 6-foot-6 Terrence Ross who averages 6.4 RPG and has used that size to dominate the NIT (26.3 PPG). Look for Ross to continue that hot play and carry the Huskies over the far less athletically-gifted Golden Gophers. Play on WASHINGTON for the win.

This strong FoxSheets trend also likes the Huskies to win Tuesday.

Play Against - An underdog (MINNESOTA) - after successfully covering the spread in 6 or more consecutive games, playing with 5 or 6 days rest. (32-12 since 1997.) (72.7%, +18.8 units. Rating = 2*).

Since losing Trevor Mbakwe earlier in the year, the entire Minnesota squad has had to adjust, namely 6-foot-7 forward and leading scorer Rodney Williams (12.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG). The junior has stepped it up in the NIT with 22.0 PPG on a ridiculously efficient 68.4% FG. He and Sampson III (7.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG) will have to play big in this game against the physical Huskies, defending the lane and stopping guard penetration. They must play well and the Hollins brothers—Austin and Andre—who combine for 2.6 threes per game must be on target if the Golden Gophers want to pull this out.

The Huskies have a number of dynamic scorers, led by Ross (16.3 PPG) who has raised his performance level in the tournament with 23, 32 and 24 points on 28-of-54 FG (52%). But, when Ross has gone quiet this season, Tony Wroten (16.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.8 APG) has stepped it up. The 6-foot-5 freshman has NBA written all over him. But he can be inconsistent—he scored a total of 11 points in the first two NIT games—but also dominant as he scored 22 points in the quarterfinal win over Oregon. Although he is not much of a shooter and can turn the ball over (3.9 TOPG), he drives extremely well and plays phenomenal defense (1.9 SPG). Six-foot-5 C.J. Wilcox (14.3 PPG) rounds out the lengthy part of the backcourt as a shooting threat (2.3 threes per game) while 6-foot-3 Abdul Gaddy (8.1 PPG, 5.2 APG) makes it all run from the point. Gaddy is coming off a double-double against Oregon (11 points, 10 assists), and could be in line for another big performance in this one.

[StarDust Bum]

Mavs seek 6th straight series win over Rockets


HOUSTON ROCKETS (27-23)

at DALLAS MAVERICKS (28-22)


Tip-off: Tuesday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Line: Dallas -7, Total: 193½

The Mavericks look to continue their dominance of Houston when they host their in-state rivals on Tuesday night.

Dallas has won five in a row SU (4-1 ATS) against the Rockets, including a two-point overtime win in Houston on Saturday. Will Houston finally stop its losing skid in this series? For the answer, connect to the NBA Weekday Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day.

The Rockets will continue to be without their starting backcourt of PG Kyle Lowry (15.9 PPG, 7.2 APG) and SG Kevin Martin (17.1 PPG). Lowry has been out because of a bacterial infection, and Martin has been sidelined by a shoulder injury. In the Dallas loss, PG Goran Dragic (9.4 PPG, 4.6 APG) was excellent, going for 24 points, hitting 5-of-7 from behind the arc, and adding eight assists. Since stepping into the starting lineup for the injured Lowry, Dragic is averaging 16.7 PPG on 50.9% shooting and 9.5 APG over 10 games. He did suffer an ankle injury on Monday, but is expected to start Tuesday.

In Monday’s 113-106 OT victory over the Kings, Houston got a career game out of PF Patrick Patterson (7.0 PPG) off the bench, as he scored a career-high 24 points on 10-for-16 shooting. PF Luis Scola (15.9 PPG) was outstanding as well in the win, going for 18 points (8-for-12 FG) and 14 rebounds. He’s averaging 19.2 PPG on 61.9% FG over his past five games. Rookie Chandler Parsons (9.0 PPG) had 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 46 minutes and hit a deep three-pointer to force overtime. Parsons is averaging 15.3 PPG and 9.3 RPG over his past four games. This FoxSheets trend expects the Rockets to keep this game close:

HOUSTON is 61-30 ATS (67.0%, +28.0 Units) in road games after allowing 100 points or more 2 straight games since 1996. The average score was HOUSTON 99.7, OPPONENT 99.9 - (Rating = 2*).

The Mavs had dropped back-to-back games—to the Lakers at home and at San Antonio—before bouncing back with the overtime win at Houston on Saturday. They got another big night from PF Dirk Nowitzki (21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG) in that game, as Nowitzki is now averaging 26.7 PPG and shooting 47.1% FG in his past seven games. Those numbers rise to 28.5 PPG and 51.3% FG if you exclude Friday’s 5-for-21 disaster in San Antonio. Sixth man Jason Terry (15.3 PPG) has also really stepped up his game. He scored 24 points on 9-for-16 FG in the Houston win, and is now averaging 19.1 PPG on 48.1% FG and 47.3% from three in his past nine games. SF Shawn Marion (11.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG) has also looked good in two games since returning from a knee injury, including a 12-point, 15-rebound performance at Houston. The FoxSheets provide this four-star trend favoring the Mavs:

DALLAS is 11-0 ATS (+11.0 Units) off a win against a division rival over the last 2 seasons. The average score was DALLAS 104.8, OPPONENT 91.5 - (Rating = 4*).

[StarDust Bum]

Thunder try to extend win streak Tuesday at Portland


OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (37-12)

at PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (23-26)


Tip-off: Tuesday, 10:05 p.m. ET
Line: Oklahoma City -4½, Total: 198½

After three straight impressive home victories, Oklahoma City takes to the road to visit Portland on Tuesday night.

The Thunder have rolled in their three straight wins, averaging 122.0 PPG (53% FG, 42% 3-pt FG) in victories over the Clippers (by 23), Timberwolves (by 9) and Heat (by 16). Meanwhile, the rebuilding Blazers haven’t surpassed 100 points in eight straight games, averaging just 89.9 PPG on 40.5% FG during this stretch. When the Thunder are favored by six points or less, they usually come through, going 10-5 ATS in the past 15 instances of this low-to-moderate spread, including 8-4 ATS on the road when giving six points or less. OKLAHOMA CITY is the pick to win and cover here.

The FoxSheets provide this three-star trend siding with the Thunder:

Play Against - Home underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points (PORTLAND) - revenging a road loss vs. opponent, off a close home win by 3 points or less. (56-24 since 1996.) (70%, +29.6 units. Rating = 3*).

Oklahoma City has been a strong road team all year, going 15-8 SU and 13-10 ATS. The team never looked better than on Sunday when it destroyed the Heat 103-87 behind 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists from SF Kevin Durant (27.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG). Durant has scored 100 points during the three-game win streak, making 56% FG and 8-of-15 threes. He’s also pulled down 11.7 RPG and tallied 6.0 APG. PF Serge Ibaka (9.0 PPG, 7.9 RPG) continues to thrive, averaging 12.5 PPG (58% FG) and 9.5 RPG in his past six contests, including 19 points and 10 rebounds versus Miami. The other member of Oklahoma City’s frontcourt, C Kendrick Perkins has also been strong lately with 14.0 PPG (14-of-20 FG) and 5.5 RPG in 28.5 MPG over the past two contests. The one player looking to improve upon Sunday’s performance is PG Russell Westbrook (24.0 PPG, 5.4 APG) who finished 4-for-16 from the floor against the Heat. Despite the off night, Westbrook is still scoring 25.5 PPG on 48% FG in March, and torched Portland for 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in his last visit to Rose Garden on Feb. 6.

Portland is 3-3 since interim head coach Kaleb Canales replaced the fired Nate McMillan. PF LaMarcus Aldridge (21.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG) has played very well under his new coach, averaging 20.0 PPG on 51% FG. Aldridge has also been dominant against Oklahoma City this season, piling up 28.0 PPG in the three meetings. This includes scoring a season-high 39 points in a 111-107 overtime defeat at home on Feb. 6. SG Wesley Matthews (12.5 PPG) has also performed at a high level against OKC this season with 16.7 PPG on 58% FG (5-of-10 threes). Matthews has scored in double figures in six straight games, averaging 16.5 PPG on 56% threes (22-of-39) over this stretch. PG Raymond Felton had a team-high 24 points (19 in the second half) and seven assists in Sunday’s 90-87 home win over Golden State, which was quite an improvement from his 2-for-11 shooting performance in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.

[StarDust Bum]

Lakers seek important road win Tuesday at Golden State

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (30-19)

at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (20-27)


Tip-off: Tuesday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -6, Total: 198

The Lakers look for another win on the road when they visit Golden State on Tuesday night.

The Lakers have struggled away from home all year, where they’re 10-15 SU and 8-16-1 ATS on the season. But recently they’ve seemed to turn things around. L.A. has won four of five SU on the road (3-1-1 ATS), and the club has finally found some additional firepower on the perimeter with Ramon Sessions joining the starting lineup. Can the Lakers win and cover the moderate spread here? For the answer, connect to the NBA Weekday Pass for ATS picks covering all the marquee NBA games each day.

The Lakers had the good times rolling, hammering the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday and handling Portland at home on Friday, before the Grizzlies tripped them up at the Staples Center on Sunday. Still, there are some good signs here. Sessions (14.3 PPG on 55.1% FG in six games with the Lakers) has really turned it on of late, averaging 17.3 PPG on 63.9% FG and 7.3 APG over his past four games. He moved into the starting lineup two games ago and had 20 points and 11 assists against Portland, then 18 points and five assists against the Grizzlies.

Meanwhile, C Andrew Bynum (18.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG) has established himself as the best big man in the West, averaging 23.1 PPG on 65.6% FG and 11.3 RPG so far in March. However, SG Kobe Bryant (28.3 PPG) has been a bit uneven over the past week. In his past five games, he’s been held under 20 points three times, averaging 22.0 PPG and shooting just 37.1% from the field. Facing the Warriors might be just what he needs, as Bryant is averaging 28.6 PPG and hitting 50.5% of his shots in five games against Golden State over the past two seasons. He scored 39 against them in their last matchup, at Staples Center in January, a 97-90 Lakers win. This two-star FoxSheets trend backs the Lakers:

Play On - Road favorites of 3.5 to 9.5 points (L.A. LAKERS) - after going over the total by 36 or more points total in their last five games, in March games. (65-34 since 1996.) (65.7%, +27.6 units. Rating = 2*).

The Warriors have covered the spread the past three times they faced the Lakers overall and the past three times they hosted them in Oakland. When they visited Staples Center back in January, they were able to keep it close (97-90) in large part because of the play of rookie SG Klay Thompson (10.2 PPG). Thompson scored 14 points in 22 minutes, taking just eight shots. Thompson joined the starting lineup when the Warriors traded Monta Ellis, and he’s been outstanding as a starter, averaging 19.7 PPG and hitting 37.5% of his threes. SG Nate Robinson (10.5 PPG) has also been outstanding of late since moving into the starting lineup in place of the injured Stephen Curry. Robinson missed Sunday’s game in Portland with a minor hamstring injury, but has averaged 13.9 PPG and 6.4 APG over eight starts. Rookie Charles Jenkins started in Robinson’s place on Sunday and had a career-high 27 points and six assists. PF David Lee (19.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG) continues to post solid numbers as well in the post-Ellis era, averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.7 RPG.

Golden State is a conflicting 3-6 SU and 6-3 ATS since the Ellis trade, though its three SU wins came over Sacramento (twice) and New Orleans. This strong FoxSheets trend supports the Warriors on Tuesday:

Play Against - Any team (L.A. LAKERS) - vs. division opponents, off an upset loss as a home favorite. (157-102 over the last 5 seasons.) (60.6%, +44.8 units. Rating = 2*).

[StarDust Bum]

Bruins favored heavily over Lightning Tuesday


TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (35-33-7, 77 points)

at BOSTON BRUINS (44-28-3, 91 points)


Puck drops: Tuesday, 7:35 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -265, Tampa Bay +225, Total: 5.5

The Lightning look to win their fourth consecutive game and play the role of spoiler when they travel to Boston to take on the Bruins on Tuesday night.

The Bolts pulled off a huge upset on Monday night, defeating the Flyers 4-2 in Philadelphia despite mustering only 15 shots on goal. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson withstood a furious rush by the Flyers in the second period and turned aside 35 shots to grab his third straight win. For Tuesday’s game in Boston, though, Mathieu Garon (23-16-4, 2.85 GAA, .901 SV Pct.) will make his first start since suffering a torn groin muscle on March 6. The Bruins have won four of their past five games –outscoring opponents by a combined score of 18-6 in those contests. Expect Boston to play with anger and purpose as it seeks to avenge an ugly 6-1 loss at Tampa back on March 13. The B’s will start Tim Thomas (32-19-0, 2.40 GAA, .920 SV Pct.), who has allowed two goals or less in four straight starts—including an 8-0 shutout victory over Toronto on March 19. With the Bolts coming off an emotional victory, expect Tampa to show signs of fatigue on the second leg of back-to-back road games. Also, the Bruins are an amazing 29-5-0 with six ties all-time at home against the Lightning. Take BOSTON in this one, but with such steep odds, try taking the Bruins at -1.5 (+105) for better value.

This strong FoxSheets trend also likes the Bruins to prevail:

BOSTON is 52-28 ATS (65.0%, +20.0 Units) against good offensive teams - scoring 2.85+ goals/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was BOSTON 3.5, OPPONENT 2.2 - (Rating = 1*).

The Lightning have won back-to-back road games only once all season—beating Dallas 2-1 and Phoenix 4-3 on January 20 and 21, respectively. The Tampa defense is simply too inconsistent to sustain success on the road—allowing a league-worst 3.4 goals per game. The fact is, despite their current three-game winning streak, the Lightning essentially needed Roloson to stand on his head to pull out the win in each game.

The NHL’s goal scoring leader Steven Stamkos (53 G, 35 A) scored again in Monday’s win, and the All-Star center has four points in his past two games. Stamkos’s linemate—RW Martin St. Louis (24 G, 44 A)—scored the game-winning goal on a third period breakaway and also added an assist against the Flyers.

The Bruins are just 1-2-0 against the Lightning—the same team they defeated in an epic seven-game series in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Boston’s offense should have no trouble scoring goals against this defense—averaging 3.1 goals per game (2nd in NHL).

With a win on Tuesday, the B’s will have, incredibly, their first three-game winning streak since December 28. With seven games remaining, Boston needs just seven more points to clinch its second-consecutive Northeast Division title—currently holding a three-point advantage (with two games in hand) over Ottawa.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday's BEST BETS NBA-NCAAB-NHL !


03/27/2012 @ 05:35 PM

NBA

[767] TOTAL o192 1.91
(HOUSTON vrs DALLAS)



03/27/2012 @ 05:35 PM

NBA

[768] DALLAS -7 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 07:05 PM

NBA

[769] TOTAL o203 1.91
(SAN ANTONIO vrs PHOENIX)



03/27/2012 @ 07:05 PM

NBA

[772] PORTLAND +5 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 07:35 PM

NBA

[774] GOLDEN STATE +7 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 07:35 PM

NBA

[774] TOTAL u196½ 1.91
(LA LAKERS vrs GOLDEN STATE)



03/27/2012 @ 04:10 PM

CBB

[775] MASSACHUSETTS +2½ 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 04:10 PM

CBB

[775] TOTAL o149 1.91
(MASSACHUSETTS vrs STANFORD)



03/27/2012 @ 06:25 PM

CBB

[777] MINNESOTA U PK 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 06:25 PM

CBB

[778] TOTAL u144½ 1.91
(MINNESOTA U vrs WASHINGTON U)



03/28/2012 @ 06:00 PM

CBB

[524] UTAH ST -6 1.91



03/27/2012 @ 04:35 PM

NHL

[60] BOSTON -1½ 2.00

[StarDust Bum]

Mercer And Utah State Meet In CIT Final

The winners of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) could be crowned on Wednesday night in college basketball betting action.

We'll start in the CBI, where the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Washington State Cougars have been doing battle.

Game 1 of this cross-country clash between the Panthers and Cougars was a tremendous battle that went back and forth the whole way. It was a well-played game that featured a ton of defense. There were just 97 shots taken from the field in the duel, and in the end, the final shot by Tray Woodall was blocked to give Washington State a 67-66 victory.

JJ Moore led the Panthers with 16 points off the bench, while Woodall had 16 points and seven assists.

Abe Lodwick was the hero for the Cougars. He knocked down four three-point shots and totaled 16 points and seven rebounds. Reggie Moore had 14 points, five boards and five assists, but he also committed five of Washington State's eight turnovers on the night.

In this rare best-of-three format, the two teams will fly across the country to get back to the Steel City where they will meet in Game 2 on Wednesday night, and then for Game 3 on Friday night should the Panthers hold serve on their home court in Game 2.

Pittsburgh entered the CBI Final at -210, and though there are no futures odds on the board any longer now that this tournament has started, it could be surmised that the winner of this tournament is a total tossup.

The Panthers had covered all three of their previous games in the CBI before Game 1 of the finale. Washington State has now covered all four games, including winning three clashes straight up as underdogs.

The tip from Petersen Events Center on Wednesday is set for 7:00 p.m. (ET), and you can view this game on HD Net.

The Mercer Bears and the Utah State Aggies are going to square off in the CIT Final on Wednesday night. This winner-take-all duel will start at 9:00 p.m. (ET) in Logan, where the Aggies have been absolutely remarkable all season long. They are 17-4 SU and 10-7 ATS in their 21 games played at Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum, including posting a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS record in this tournament at home.

The WAC reps only go as far as Preston Medlin and Brockeith Pane take them. These two are both capable of shooting the ball from all over the court, and they are the two double-digit point scorers on this roster. Medlin, who has averaged 17.1 PPG for the season, has managed to average 23.3 PPG in this tournament, and the argument could be made that he is the MVP of the CIT.

Mercer won a slew of games this year in the Atlantic Sun, but the team was relegated to the CIT after losing to Florida Gulf Coast in its first game in the conference tournament. The Bears get the job done with their defense, which has held teams to just 38.6 percent shooting from the field on the campaign.

The Bears have definitely done well in this tournament, winning and covering all four games, and the last two wins over the Fairfield Stags and Old Dominion Monarchs came in very tough road venues.

These two teams actually have met once before, with the Aggies claiming a 74-55 decision in 1999.

Utah State hadn't scored more than 82 points in a game this season before dropping 105 on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the CIT semifinals, and it is now favored by five-points at home in the finale.

The FOX College Sports Network will have live coverage of this prime-time tip from the Beehive State.