Mississippi State +2.5

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have been playing better basketball in recent weeks. Rick Ray's team dealt with a bunch of injuries early in the season, but they are finally getting healthy as we near the stretch run of the season.

Missouri has totally fallen apart in the last few weeks. Their last win was an overtime win over LSU and that was on January 8th! The Tigers have lost ten games in a row, and most of them haven't been particularly close.

While Mississippi State definitely isn't a great team, it's hard to understand Missouri being favored against anyone right now. The Bulldogs have been gaining confidence, and they know they have a shot to win this game outright. Points will be at a premium in this one since both teams play at a slow tempo. Grab the points on the dog.

Take Mississippi State +2.5

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday NCAAB 8* ATS Play

William & Mary -13

The Delaware Blue Hens have beaten the William & Mary Tribe four times in the past year and a half. William & Mary is the better team this year after Delaware lost a ton of talent after last season, and you have to believe that William & Mary is sick and tired of losing to Delaware.

Last year, Delaware edged William & Mary by a point in the CAA finals to crush the Tribe's chances of going to the NCAA Tournament. Earlier this year, Delaware made a remarkable comeback win on their home floor to edge out William & Mary.

Delaware has been bad on the road, and this one shouldn't be close. William & Mary has been running teams out of the gym on their home court. They'll stay motivated to the finish against the hated Blue Hens.

Take William & Mary.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday NCAAB 9* ATS Play

UCLA -9

The Oregon State Beavers beat UCLA 66-55 in Corvallis on January 22. UCLA was 19/62 from the floor in that game. The Bruins were right in the midst of a very bad scheduling stretch. Since that time, UCLA has bounced back nicely.

Oregon State has been a great story this year, but the Beavers aren't the same team away from home. They have already lost at Quinnipiac and were blown out by Arizona State and Oregon on the road. The Beavers offense isn't good, and if UCLA starts hitting some long range jumpers it's hard to see Oregon State hanging around in this matchup.

In their last 4 road games, Oregon State is averaging less than 50 points per game. UCLA isn't going to shoot as bad as they did last time around. Lay the points with the Bruins.

Take UCLA.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Boise State -9.5

The Boise State Broncos have been red hot of late. Leon Rice's team is right on the edge of the bubble watch right now. They absolutely cannot afford any letdowns now, and it's highly unlikely they'll overlook Air Force in this matchup.

Boise State already beat Air Force on the road by nine points a few weeks ago. Air Force has a great homecourt advantage, and Boise was able to overcome that. Now, they only need to win by an extra point to cover the spread here.

Air Force wasn't a strong team to start with and then they lost Kam Williams and Max Yon both to injuries. Yon might play limited minutes here, but he won't be 100 percent. The Falcons are bad on the defensive end, and Boise State has plenty of shooters to take advantage of that weakness.

Take Boise State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Providence +4.5

The Providence Friars need a marquee win, and this is their best chance to do it. Providence took Villanova to double overtime at home last year, and  they should have a fighting chance in this game. Given this many points, we'll grab the underdog that needs this game badly.

Villanova is clearly in the Big Dance. The Wildcats have been tremendous this year, though they have looked shaky at times on the road. Providence would likely be in the tournament if it started today, but they aren't on firm ground.

In a Big East Conference where there aren't many elite teams (Villanova is the only one),  this is Providence's chance to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament barring some ridiculous slide late in the season. LeDontae Henton has been great all year for the Friars and Villanova is unlikely to have an answer for him.

Take Providence.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Bowling Green -3

The Bowling Green Falcons are buying into Chris Jans' system right away. This Bowling Green team was one of the worst in the Mid American Conference last year, but they are arguably the best in the conference right now.

Jans was an assistant coach at Wichita State up until this year, so he knows about being around a winning program. Bowling Green is doing it with defense and rebounding. The Falcons have the best defense in the MAC.

Northern Illinois is a team that works hard, but they aren't very talented, and they don't have much of an offense. The Huskies were beaten by 10 points at Bowling Green a couple weeks ago. While this meeting may be closer, it's hard to see it being a three point game.

Bowling Green has already won on the road at much tougher places to play than this. We'll lay the three points.

Take Bowling Green.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Akron -3.0

The Buffalo Bulls and Akron Zips meet in a key MAC matchup on Saturday. Akron is coming off a really tough loss at Ohio last time out. The Zips cannot afford another loss here if they want to keep pace in this crowded divisional leaderboard.

Buffalo is a solid team, but the Bulls have struggled to put away far lesser teams on the road, and they've lost to some teams that are not any better than Akron. The Zips have a key advantage on the interior in this game. Forsythe has been playing great, and he'll have a big game here.

Akron is great at controlling the style of play and winning with their stellar inside play and their defense. Buffalo will try to turn this into a transition game, but I don't look for them to have much success. Akron gets a much needed home win and covers.

Take Akron.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Denver -6.5

There aren't many teams with more drastic home/away splits than the Denver Pioneers. Denver is a terrible team on the road, but they are tough to beat on their home court. Obviously a good deal of that has to do with their large advantage at home because of the higher elevation, but that isn't the only reason.

Denver plays in a gym that is very friendly to shooters, and the Pioneers jack up all kinds of long range jumpers every game. They struggle to knock them down on the road, but they often shoot lights out at home.

Nebraska Omaha is a team that plays just about as fast as anyone in the nation, but Denver won't let them do that in this game. The Pioneers will slow it down and use up the clock. Denver will get some revenge for their loss earlier this year.

Take Denver.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Temple +1.5

The Temple Owls are so much better than they were a year ago. Memphis isn't even close to as good as they were a year ago. Temple still took Memphis to overtime on the road last year before eventually losing. This time around they should pick up a road win.

Memphis plays some really sloppy basketball. The Tigers aren't disciplined on offense, and they are almost surely going to lose the turnover battle in this one. Memphis also isn't a very good shooting team. The Tigers have some good big guys, but their backcourt is weak.

Temple has two transfers that have sparked the team this year, and the Owls have a tremendous head coach in Dunphy. Pastner is on the hot seat right now, and if the Tigers miss the NCAA Tournament he might be out of a job. Temple picks up a road win.

Take Temple.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Seton Hall -5.5

The Seton Hall Pirates are a much more dangerous team now that Isaiah Whitehead is back on the floor. Whitehead is only a freshman, but he's a star. The entire offense runs through him, and when he was on the bench, the Pirates were extremely inconsistent.

Even without Whitehead, Seton Hall beat Marquette by ten on the road recently. Now, they'll have their best player back on the floor for this one. Marquette has lost a lot of close games recently, and I think that starts to hurt them soon. A team can only take so many close losses before they throw in a dud based on the pure disappointment.

Seton Hall's offense is dangerous again, and the Pirates should have little trouble outscoring a Marquette team that relies too much on Carlino.

Take Seton Hall.

Good Luck,  Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

South Dakota State -3

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits have hit their stride right in the middle of conference play in the Summit League. South Dakota State has the most talent in the league, and there is no close second. George Marshall has made a big difference for this team after transferring from Wisconsin.

IPFW was considered the favorite in this league before the season, but they have been inconsistent all year long. Tony Jasick left to coach Jacksonville in the offseason, and it seems like this IPFW team has struggled with the new system and new coach.

IPFW has already lost at home to some teams that are far worse than South Dakota State. While we don't necessarily think it's wise to lay points on the road too often, this is a rare case where the overwhelming talent gap warrants a play on the road favorite.

Take South Dakota State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Rutgers +11

The Illinois Fighting Illini aren't a very good team without Rayvonte Rice. Illinois had to scratch and claw to win by 2 points at home against Penn State this weekend. The Fighting Illini have slowed the game down and they are attempting to win ugly low scoring contests now that they can't get enough offense going.

Rutgers has been up and down all year. The Scarlet Knights stunned the basketball world when they beat Wisconsin earlier this year. They also put forth good efforts at Maryland and at Indiana. The Scarlet Knights have talent with Myles Mack and Kadeem Jack leading the way. Rutgers is an athletic team that has proven to be a scrappy bunch since Big Ten play has gotten underway. John Groce's undermanned Illinois team is very thin, and they shouldn't be laying 11 points against anyone in the league.

Take Rutgers.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Dayton -16.5

The Dayton Flyers are coming off a rare loss against UMass last time out. In fact, Dayton has lost two of their last three games. Luckily for them, they get to go home and take care of business against a bad Fordham Rams team on Sunday.

The Flyers having lost last game makes me believe they'll put a little extra effort into this one and run the score up more than they normally would have. Dayton just played at Fordham three weeks ago and won by 18 points.

Fordham has a really bad offense, and their defense isn't much better. The Rams have shown little fight on the road against quality opponents this year. They lost by 19 at Penn State, 16 at Maryland, and 21 at St. John's. Dayton's guards will have a big day and lead them to a big win.

Take Dayton.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Sunday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Northern Colorado -3.5

The Northern Colorado Bears have a tremendous home court advantage. They consistently outperform the normal home court advantage on a yearly basis. Northern Colorado is a team that can score a bunch of points in any given game, because they have so many different offensive weapons.

Weber State has been one of the best teams in the Big Sky Conference in the past few years, but this year they aren't the same. Weber State is lacking in the talent department, and it has been showing up of late. They have been losing games that they are never expected to lose.

It won't get any easier for the Wildcats here, as Northern Colorado has the type of team that should be able to outscore them. Weber State still gets a little too much respect based on what they have done in the past.

Take Northern Colorado.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Georgia Southern -9.5

The Georgia Southern Eagles have a real mismatch in the frontcourt in this game. Georgia Southern is having a ton of success in the Sun Belt because they aren't many teams who can matchup with them on the inside.

Arkansas Little Rock is one of the worst teams in the Sun Belt on the glass and defending the post. Look for Georgia Southern's Trent Wiederman and Eric Ferguson to have big games in this one.

Georgia Southern also has the best defense in the Sun Belt. This is a team that has been really stingy on the defensive end of the floor, and Little Rock is shooting a poor percentage from the floor.

Little Rock is a team that leaves it all on the floor, but because of their matchup problems and trouble scoring, that won't be enough in this one.

Take Georgia Southern.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

South Carolina -3

The South Carolina Gamecocks need a win in a big way. South Carolina has fallen apart in SEC play so far. This is a team that played extremely well and knocked off some good teams (notably Iowa State on a neutral court) in the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Martin is a good coach, and he should do a good job preparing the guys for this game. This is one of those draw a line in the sand type of games for South Carolina. They'll benefit from Georgia being less than 100 percent in this one.

Marcus Thornton, the Bulldogs best interior player, will miss this game. Without Thornton, Georgia won't have the advantage on the inside that they usually have when these two teams get together. Georgia hasn't been a good road team for the past few years.

Take South Carolina.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

UC Davis -2.5

The UC Davis Aggies are having a really nice season this year. UC Davis had an ugly year last year thanks in part to a bunch of injuries that left them without any depth on the interior. They are healthier this year, and they come into this game 14-4 on the year.

UC Davis is number one in the nation in 3 point field goal percentage at 43.9%. That's an amazing number, and what makes this team so dangerous offensively is the fact that they have so many different guys who can shoot it well from deep.

UC Santa Barbara is a quality team too, but they are without their star in this one. Alan Williams was the Big West Player of the Year last year, and he'll miss this one. With Williams, UCSB would have had an advantage inside, but now they don't have that much needed frontcourt advantage.

Take UC Davis.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Georgetown -5
 
The Georgetown Hoyas owe the Xavier Musketeers. Xavier beat them 70-53 on New Year's Eve in Cincinnati. Georgetown has been playing well of late, and they are up against a Xavier team that isn't even close to the same team away from the Cintas Center.

Xavier has only won one game away from home so far this year, and that was a win at Missouri (not a very good team). The Musketeers are a really talented team, but they are extremely young. That inexperience shows up more on the road, and Georgetown should be able to take advantage.

Xavier has been good offensively this year, but their defense has been really bad in Big East play. Georgetown is a solid offensive team, but they are also excellent on the defensive end. Lay the points here with the Hoyas.

Take Georgetown.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Kansas State -1.5

The Kansas State Wildcats have started to take care of business in Big 12 play. Bruce Weber's team works really hard on defense, and the Wildcats get to the line at an impressive rate.

The Big 12 is an extremely good conference this year, and winning on the road in the Big 12 is going to be tough! Bob Huggins' West Virginia team is a decent team, but they certainly aren't an elite team. That showed when they were blown away at Texas recently. They were also fortunate to beat TCU at home last Saturday.

Kansas State does a nice job of playing the game the way they want to play it, and that should mean we see Kansas State slow the game down and win with their defense. Look for the Wildcats to squeak out a home win here as the home teams hold serve in this conference.

Take Kansas State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Belmont -11

The Belmont Bruins have been the best team in the Ohio Valley Conference for much of the past few years. They aren't the best team in the conference this year, but they are still one of the best. In this one, they'll be up against the very worst team in the conference.

Tennessee State is just dreadfully bad. The Tigers have won only one game all year against a Division One opponent. They haven't been close very often either. Tennessee State has home losses by 17 against Southern Illinois and by 15 against Southeast Missouri State.

Belmont isn't the team they were the past few years, but this Tennessee State team is the worst team the OVC has seen in the past few seasons. Belmont can still pile up the points in a hurry, and that's a lot more than Tennessee State can do. The Bruins roll here.

Take Belmont.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Sunday NCAAB 8* ATS Play

Bradley -3.5
 
The Bradley Braves aren't a good team, but right now they are better than the Missouri State Bears. Missouri State was already a bad team, and then they lost Marcus Marshall who was their star player. Marshall left the team, and now no one on the Bears roster averages in double figures in scoring.

Winning on the road in the Missouri Valley Conference is really difficult to start with. Winning on the road in the MVC without any top scorer to turn to will be brutally difficult. Missouri State has averaged 51 points per game since Marshall left the team.

Bradley is playing for revenge from being swept last year, and they are up against a short-handed team. Great spot for the Braves. Lay the points on the home team.

Take Bradley.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Utah State +6

The Utah State Aggies aren't as good as they have been in some recent years, but they are still a quality team. Coach Stew Morrill is an extremely good coach who is in his last year of his illustrious career. The Aggies will be putting forth a lot of effort to help him finish strong.

UNLV picked up a signature win over Arizona in December, and since they have been downright awful. Dave Rice's team only has two wins since then and they were against Southern Utah and San Jose State. Those are two of the very worst teams in the country.

Coach Rice has not proven to be good at making the necessary adjustments to help his team win. He'll be outcoached in this one, and it won't be close. UNLV has the athletes, but they don't have the chemistry needed. Grab the points and the dog.

Take Utah State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

MTSU -2.5

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders have been a good team for several years in a row. Kermit Davis is an underrated coach in the college basketball world. Davis has really built this program up to an impressive level.

Charlotte is without their head coach Alan Major right now. He's out due to some health concerns. The 49ers have really fallen apart in recent weeks. Charlotte lost in overtime at home to a bad Rice Owls team, and then followed it up with a road loss at UAB in overtime.

The 49ers are reeling, and this isn't the type of spot that lends itself to a turnaround. MTSU beat Charlotte on the road by a 71-49 count last year. The Blue Raiders play great defense, and their aggressiveness forced 20 Charlotte turnovers last year.

MTSU is starting to hit their stride after a slow start, and Charlotte is going the opposite way.

Take Middle Tennessee State -2.5.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday RARE 10* NCAAB ATS Top Play

Wofford -12.5

The Wofford Terriers were beaten by The Citadel last week, and I think that was a major wakeup call for this team. Wofford is the favorite to win the Southern Conference, and this team looked great in their big win at home this pastSaturday over Western Carolina.

Their opponent here is Furman, and the Paladins are not a good team. Wofford blew them away by 20 or more in both meetings last year. Furman is slightly improved this season, but there's no doubt that Wofford is a better team than they were last year as well.

Furman's defense is among the worst in the nation, and Wofford has some really good scorers on their roster. Karl Cochran should have a big game here for the Terriers. Look for a mismatch right from the beginning. Lay the points.

Take Wofford.

Thursday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Tulsa -4

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane sit atop the American Athletic Conference standings right now. They have been playing much more consistently in recent weeks. Tulsa's road win over Temple told me a lot about their tenacity. Temple is no easy place to play. Tulsa followed that game up with a win at home over UConn.

The Golden Hurricane were in the NCAA Tournament last year, and they want back in on the action this year. Tulsa plays terrific defense in the halfcourt, and they are also good at forcing turnovers. The Golden Hurricane currently rank first in the league in turnovers forced.

Memphis has been playing better basketball in recent weeks, but their inconsistency has plagued them through Josh Pastner's whole tenure at the school. Memphis can't take care of the basketball, and that should cost them dearly in a game like this one.

Lay the points with the home team.

Take Tulsa.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Oklahoma -6.5

The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off their worst performance of the year. Oklahoma was embarrassed in their loss at West Virginia, and this is a great chance for them to get it back together. They face off against their rivals from Oklahoma State.

The Cowboys aren't a bad team, but they don't have the firepower they did last season. They rely too heavily on Nash and Forte to make shots from the outside. Oklahoma's defense has been excellent at guarding teams beyond the arc this season.

Oklahoma has an underrated home court advantage, and I think they hold a big advantage in the coaching department here. Lon Kruger is a great in-game coach, while Travis Ford has made plenty of key mistakes in the past.

Lay the points with the home team.

Take Oklahoma.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Fresno State +2 (+2.5 8*)

The Fresno State Bulldogs got a key piece back in the lineup when point guard Cezar Guerrero was made eligible before their last game. Guerrero is the team's play maker and he sets up opportunities for all the guys on this roster. With him back in the lineup, Fresno State should be able to shine.

The Bulldogs really struggled to start the year, but even before Guerrero came back, this team was starting to turn the corner thanks to much improved play on the defensive end. The Bulldogs have a history of pulling off upsets at home. They already pulled off one over San Diego State a few weeks ago.

While Wyoming is certainly a good team, the Cowboys have never been very good away from home. Wyoming was upset by San Diego State at home on Wednesday night, and the Cowboys now have to go back to the road. Look for their offensive woes that started last game to continue.

Take Fresno State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Utah State -6.5

The Air Force Falcons will play this game without the services of their two best players- Kamryn Williams and Max Yon. Air Force wasn't any good to start with, and now that they have lost their two top scoring options, this team is really in severe trouble.

Utah State isn't as good as they have been in past seasons, but the Aggies are always tough to beat in Logan. This is a brutally difficult place to play for opponents, and Utah State will certainly knock off some good teams at home this season.

Utah State showed they could beat down weak teams on their home floor recently when they took down San Jose State by a score of 61-33. This one won't be that ugly, but Utah State should win comfortably.

Take Utah State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Ball State +9.5

The Ball State Cardinals are going to surprise a lot of people in the Mid American Conference this year. Ball State hasn't been very good in basketball the last few years, but this team is much improved this season.

Ball State already upset Eastern Michigan on the road and took Western Michigan to double overtime. The Cardinals are getting much more balanced play this year, and they are a far better defensive team than they have been in recent years.

Bowling Green is a good team, but they aren't a particularly strong offense. The Falcons are going to win a lot of games with their defense. In a game between two solid defensive teams, this is a bunch of points. We'll gladly grab the generous amount of points and take the underdog.

Take Ball State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Miami +6.5

The Miami Hurricanes have definitely proven how good they are on the road already this year. Miami has wins at Florida and at Duke. Those two programs have arguably been the best programs in the nation in the last ten years, so beating both of them is really accomplishing something.

Notre Dame is a quality team, but they won't be as good without Zach Auguste. Auguste is academically ineligible and will miss this game. He is the team's second most talented player behind only Jerian Grant. Auguste does a little bit of everything well, and he will definitely be missed.

Miami is a balanced team that has a good point guard in Angel Rodriguez. Both of these teams like to slow the game down, so points should be at a premium in this game. Jim Larranaga is a tremendous coach, and given this many points, the Hurricanes are a strong play.

Take Miami.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday Rare 10* NCAAB ATS TOP Play

Murray State -10

The Murray State Racers are the best team in the Ohio Valley Conference. Belmont was seen by some as the top team in the league before the season, but their results so far this year have shown that they aren't the same team they used to be.

Murray State got off to a slow start before getting red hot of late. Murray State hasn't lost a game since November 29th! The Racers offense is tremendous led by Cameron Payne, who is one of the most dynamic guards in the nation.

Murray State has had a history of close losses against Belmont, and this is a chance for them to take out some pent up frustration. The Racers are far more talented than Belmont, and this year the Bruins don't have the offensive firepower to keep up.

Take Murray State.

Thursday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Georgia Southern -1

The Georgia Southern Eagles are in their first year in the Sun Belt, but they should be able to contend in this weak basketball conference. Georgia Southern has one thing that really helps them stand out from the rest of the conference- size on the inside.

Georgia Southern has Trent Wiederman and Eric Ferguson on the inside, and both of those guys are very talented players. The Eagles will keep feeding them the ball here, and Lafayette really doesn't have an answer.

The Ragin' Cajuns have had some nice wins in recent weeks, but that just gives us more value here. Louisiana Lafayette has yet to prove themselves away from home, and this is a bad matchup for them.

Too short of a price on the home team here.

Take Georgia Southern.

Thursday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Oakland +7

The Oakland Golden Grizzlies have had a lot of road games of late, but their one home game in the past couple weeks was an impressive overtime win over the Valparaiso Crusaders. Valparaiso is one of the best teams in the Horizon League, and the other top team is Green Bay.

The Phoenix come into this game off a couple nice wins, but Green Bay has a tough matchup here. Green Bay no longer has the kind of size on the inside that is truly needed to compete with a front line like Oakland has. Corey Petros is the best frontcourt player in the conference, and I think he'll go off in this game.

Last year, Green Bay had a 7'1 senior to counter with, but this year they have no answer. Oakland has played a tough schedule, so they are well prepared for this one.

Take Oakland.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Nebraska -2.5

The Nebraska Cornhuskers haven't played well so far this year, but they have a good coach in Tim Miles, and they should continue to improve as the year moves along. Nebraska is a much better team on their home court, and they have the home court advantage here.

Illinois is coming off a really nice home win against Maryland. The Fighting Illini are without star Rayvonte Rice. While they were able to win without him earlier this week, that game was at home, and the rest of the team shot it well.

I don't think Illinois gets the same kind of game from the role players on the road in Lincoln. Nebraska's defense is good, and Petteway is a real force for the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska needs a nice win, and they should pick it up and cover.

Take Nebraska.

Sunday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

VMI +1

The VMI Keydets know what they want to do, and that is run and get up as many shots as possible. VMI just gave Wofford a very tough game (losing 75-70) on the road on Thursday night. The Keydets style of play is going to bother teams in this conference.

VMI moved to the Southern Conference this year. Teams like Furman haven't been used to playing against an offense like the one VMI runs, and that is tough to prepare for. Wofford is the favorite in the Southern Conference, and they needed a late run to beat VMI.

Furman is a really bad team who has been beaten up consistently in the past in the Southern Conference because of their terrible defense. Look for VMI to outscore Furman as they push the tempo successfully in this matchup.

Take VMI.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Wake Forest -2.5

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have shown a lot in their last two losses at home against Louisville and Duke. The loss to Louisville was a game where they led much of the second half. It would have been very easy to not show up against an elite Duke team, but the Demon Deacons gave the Blue Devils a real scare.

Danny Manning is changing the culture at Wake Forest, and we trust him to motivate his team for their third straight home contest. This is an opportunity to get back on track.

Georgia Tech's offense isn't good at all, and they rely almost solely on offensive rebounds for long periods of time, and we all know how that usually turns out. Brian Gregory hasn't proven himself to be a good coach when it comes to making adjustments, so Manning has the advantage.

Take Wake Forest.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Nebraska Omaha -3

The Nebraska Omaha Mavericks can put up the points in a hurry. This team upset Marquette on the road earlier this year and scored 97 points in that game. They also beat a pretty good Nevada team by 24 points at home earlier this season.

North Dakota State was a good team last year, but this year's team looks nothing like last year's. Without their top three players from last year, North Dakota State is a shell of its former self. They dominated the Summit League last year, but that isn't going to happen this season.

Nebraska Omaha lost both times they played North Dakota State last year, and you know they have revenge on their minds here. North Dakota State doesn't have many scoring options this year, and they aren't likely to be able to keep up with this high powered Omaha attack.

Take Nebraska Omaha.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Indiana State -1.5

The Indiana State Sycamores played some bad basketball earlier this year, but Coach Lansing seems to have his team turned around right at the correct time. They have picked up two really nice wins to start Missouri Valley Conference play.

Indiana State went to Illinois State and pulled off a big road upset. Winning on the road is really tough in the MVC, and that win was impressive. Indiana State then came home and upset Evansville. The Aces should be one of the better teams in the MVC this year.

Missouri State has played better of late, but their inconsistency this year is troubling. As mentioned earlier, winning on the road in the MVC is really tough and Indiana State has a nice home court advantage.

Marcus Marshall too often has to be a one-man show for Missouri State, and that normally doesn't win games on the road.

Take Indiana State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Alabama -4.5

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a disappointing season last year, but Coach Anthony Grant's team has looked much better so far this year. Alabama isn't necessarily more talented this year, but they have much better team chemistry and sometimes that is even more important than overall potential based on talent.

Texas A&M is better than they were a year ago as well, but we don't believe their improvements are as drastic as Alabama's. The Aggies have played two road games this year, and haven't been particularly close in either of those losses. The Aggies haven't played a good schedule thus far either, and Alabama has been playing some top teams tightly.

Alabama has an underrated home court advantage, and with Texas A&M being a good fade on the road in recent years, we'll back the home team and lay the points here.

Take Alabama.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs use a zone full court press somewhat similar to that of VCU, and it forces a bunch of turnovers when they play against opponents who don't have good ball handlers. Southern Miss is definitely a team lacking good ball handlers.

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles have been a very good team in recent years, but they are totally starting over this year with essentially a whole new team and a brand new coach. The results so far this year aren't encouraging for fans. Southern Miss has been drubbed several times by less than stellar teams.

Louisiana Tech is capable of covering big numbers thanks to their fast paced style and their full court press. Southern Miss has very little home court advantage right now, and Louisiana Tech should jump on them right from the tip off.

Take Louisiana Tech.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

LSU vs. Savannah State

While we're not necessarily excited about laying a big price, this one is absolutely justified. LSU has shown to be a much improved team thus far in the young college hoops season. The Tigers have a strong backcourt and a star in the inside, so there is a nice amount of balance here.

Savannah State has been getting knocked around by every good team they have played this year. Savannah State lost 86-27 at Louisville early in the year. They also lost 95-49 at Indiana and 70-39 at Miami. Clearly, it's not out of the realm of possibilities for LSU to win by 35 or 40 here, so laying this price is a good value.

LSU takes care of the basketball, and turnovers are the primary nemesis for Savannah State. Look for LSU to capitalize on Savannah State's mistakes and coast to a huge win.

Take LSU.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Illinois +8

The Illinois Fighting Illini will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus on Saturday. Ohio State has rolled up some huge wins against terrible opponents this year, but the Buckeyes have lost all three games they have played against top 50 caliber teams.

Illinois isn't a great team, but they can certainly make Ohio State work. Rayvonte Rice is the perfect guy to work around the Ohio State zone defense, and I think he'll make the Buckeyes pay for their defensive lapses.

John Groce is a former assistant at Ohio State, so he knows this Buckeyes program really well. Ohio State has a high upside this year, but they also have a lot of room for growth. Until the Buckeyes prove they can do it against a quality team, I have to take the points.

Take Illinois.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Cornell +6.5

The Cornell Big Red are one of the most improved teams in college basketball this year. This team was absolutely dreadful last year, but if you look at what they have done this year so far, Cornell has been very good. Cornell has played some pretty good teams very competitively.

Siena is missing some very good players due to injuries and suspensions. Jimmy Patsos is having to rely on some inexperienced guys and guys who are undersized right now. Siena is without their leading scorer, their leading rebounder, and their best post presence on the defensive end. 

The Saints play hard, but it's tough to cover a number this big when you are missing so many key players. Cornell has proven they will fight to the final whistle and we think the value is definitely with the underdog.

Take Cornell.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Bradley +7.5

The Bradley Braves aren't a particularly strong team, but they definitely don't deserve to be this kind of an underdog against a very short-handed UC Irvine team. The Anteaters aren't even close to the same team without their 7'6 center N'Diaye patrolling the paint.

UC Irvine is a tremendous mid-major team with N'Diaye in the lineup, but without him they are just an ordinary team. The Anteaters haven't been able to cover a spread since he went down. Still, the oddsmakers are being slow to react.

Bradley has played in quite a few close games this year. Though the Braves might not be able to finish games out, we don't need them to finish this one off to cash this bet. Bradley is improving with their young team, and they have a solid coach leading the way.

This price is out of whack.

Take Bradley.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Sunday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Northern Colorado -9
 
The Northern Colorado Bears are a totally different team on their home floor. Northern Colorado hasn't gotten to play much at home so far this year, but their history tells us that they will be very good at home. They have a great home court advantage.

Jacksonville State has been better than expected so far this year, but the Gamecocks have been beating up some really bad teams. They also have quite a few of their wins on their home floor. Things will get much more difficult for them here as they head to the high elevations of Northern Colorado.

The Bears have a deeper team and they are used to the atmosphere, while Jacksonville State is likely to wear down. The results from earlier this year have skewed this line too much. We think Northern Colorado should be favored by 13.

Take Northern Colorado.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

UTEP +7.5

The UTEP Miners get to host one of the top five teams in the land on Friday night. Tim Floyd has done a really nice job with this UTEP program, and they would love nothing more than to knock off Arizona here.

Sean Miller's team is clearly very good, but this is their first game on the road this year. Arizona should have been beaten by Gonzaga, and they narrowly avoided a loss against San Diego State on a neutral floor. Arizona's defense is great, but their offense needs some work.

UTEP has a good defensive team, and the Miners are going to make this a halfcourt type of game. This game will be televised on national television and it gets a late night slot where nothing is up against it. If ever there were the perfect time to come up with an elite game, this is the time for UTEP.

UTEP might not win this game, but they should stay close.

Take UTEP.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Friday RARE 10* NCAAB Top Play

South Carolina -8

The South Carolina Gamecocks have double revenge on their mind as they take on the Clemson Tigers on Friday night. For those of you who don't know much about these two teams, South Carolina and Clemson have a serious football rivalry, and they don't care for each other in basketball either.

Clemson lost their best player from last year (McDaniel) and this Tigers team has struggled through the early part of their schedule. Losses to Gardner Webb, Winthrop, and Rutgers have shown this Tigers team will have a tough time in the ACC.

Frank Martin is an intense guy and he's had lots of time to get his team ready for this game. They haven't played for nearly two weeks. Also, check out the fact that Clemson is playing in their first road game of the year. The fact that it is against a rival makes it that much more difficult.

Take South Carolina.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Friday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Oregon State -3.5

The DePaul Blue Demons are a bad basketball team right now. DePaul has one decent win this year, and that was a home win over Stanford. Other than that win, DePaul has a one point win over UIC and an 11 point win over Northern Illinois.

DePaul also has a 12 point loss at home to Lehigh as well as a six point home loss at home to Illinois State. We were on Illinois State in that one and cashed in. We'll look to go against DePaul again here.

Oregon State isn't a terribly talented team, but they are improving quickly thanks to the leadership of new head coach Wayne Tinkle. Coach Tinkle was highly successful for many years at Montana. He is just starting to build a nice base at Oregon State.

The Beavers aren't going to win very many games in the Pac-12 Conference this year, but because of their strong defense, they will beat teams that have no real leadership. DePaul is one of those teams.

Take Oregon State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Mercer -4

The Mercer Bears are nothing close to the team they were last year, but it won't take a team that good to cover the number against the Dartmouth Big Green. It's no secret that the majority of the Ivy League (outside of Harvard and Yale) isn't good in college basketball, and Dartmouth is particularly bad on the road.

Mercer has played against a relatively tough schedule so far this year. I like that Coach Hoffman has been able to find out a lot about his team during games that test them. Dartmouth has played one of the weakest schedules in the country so far this year.

Mercer has a lot more depth than does Dartmouth. If Maldunas gets into foul trouble as he often does, Dartmouth is left with no inside scoring presence at all. Dartmouth's struggles on the road continue.

Take Mercer.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

The Illinois State Redbirds have a nice opportunity on Sunday. Illinois State has the chance to beat a "bigger name" school inside the state. DePaul is certainly the bigger name school because of their history.

DePaul has really struggled to get going under Oliver Purnell. Purnell isn't having near as much success recruiting Chicago high school stars as the program thought he was going to have. DePaul's two best players from last year are gone, and the Blue Demons don't have enough firepower now.

Illinois State is a team to watch in the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVC is really improving as a conference with Wichita State rising so quickly and others being forced to raise their game. We've seen it out of Northern Iowa already this year. Watch for Illinois State to surprise people with their defensive pressure.

Illinois State pulls the upset here.

Take Illinois State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Sunday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Valparaiso -13

The Ball State Cardinals are in for a long season. They are going to be beat around in the Mid American Conference all year. Ball State was better last year than they will be this season, and even then Ball State lost 69-50 at home against Valparaiso.

This year Ball State must travel to Valparaiso to take on a much improved Crusaders team. This Valparaiso team shares the ball very well, and while there is no star, there are a bunch of high quality players capable of leading the way.

Valparaiso is coming off an ugly loss last weekend at home against New Mexico, and that gives us line value here. The Crusaders were outclassed by a team from the Mountain West Conference,  but they aren't going to be outclassed at all here.
Ball State will be a team to fade this year. Valparaiso beats them handily here.

Take Valparaiso.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Northern Iowa +6

The Northern Iowa Panthers are unbeaten, but they aren't getting much love from the oddsmakers. They go to VCU to play a Rams team that has honestly been a big disappointment so far this year. VCU was trashed on a neutral floor by Villanova and lost on the road to ODU.

Shaka Smart is a good coach, so he will have his team playing good basketball by the end of the year. Still, it's hard to see why they should be favored by this many points against a good veteran team like Northern Iowa.

It's important to remember that Northern Iowa plays at an extremely deliberate pace which makes a lot of their games be low scoring battles. That means getting six points is a big value here.

Northern Iowa has the guards needed to break the VCU pressure and make them pay.

Take Northern Iowa.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Creighton -5.5
 
The Creighton Blue Jays looked past South Dakota earlier this week, and it nearly cost them. Creighton squeaked past them in double overtime. Don't expect Creighton to look past another big name school like St. Mary's.

It's important to note that this is St. Mary's first road game of the year. We are a month into the season, but the Gaels have yet to be tested on the road. This is a tough spot for them. St. Mary's is going to need to get their feet wet on the road, and this isn't the place you want to be doing that.

While Creighton certainly isn't the same team they were last year, neither is St. Mary's. I expect the Gaels to have a decent season, but they aren't the power they have been. Creighton has a nice home court advantage.

Take Creighton.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Elon +12.5
 
The Elon Phoenix aren't necessarily a team we are terribly high on, but they also shouldn't be a 12 point underdog against a Missouri team that is still looking to find itself. Missouri lost to UMKC at home in their season opener. The Tigers also squeaked out a four point win over Southeast Missouri State in their most recent home game.

Missouri has a new coach and a completely different system to learn. It's obvious that this Tigers team is struggling to adapt to Kim Anderson's approach. Their single biggest win of the season was a 15 point win, and they have played some bad teams.

Elon lost in overtime at Northwestern earlier this year, and they beat Miami (Ohio) in their most recent road game. The Phoenix aren't likely to quit fighting in this one, and they are up against a Missouri team that doesn't score a lot of points.

Take Elon.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Thursday 7* NCAAB ATS Play

Villanova -4
 
Villanova has impressed me all year. Their win over VCU came at Madison Square Garden, and they totally picked apart the "Havoc" full court pressure. Villanova has shown the ability to play in a variety of different ways and still win.

The Villanova Wildcats are accustomed to playing at Madison Square Garden a lot more than the Illinois Fighting Illini, and that matters because of the oddity of the MSG arena compared to places college teams typically play.  Illinois has been busy playing a bunch of home games, and the Fighting Illini are in for a difficult task here.

While Illinois might be improved a bit this year, their weak schedule up to this point has certainly exaggerated their improvement. Illinois is at a talent disadvantage against Villanova at almost every position on the floor. The Wildcats are also the deeper team.

Take Villanova.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

IPFW +14

The IPFW Mastadons might be an unfamilar name to you, but they have a nice little squad. This is a team that lost very little from last year, and last year's team did a lot of damage in the Summit League. IPFW only lost by 9 at Georgia Tech this year, and they have won three road games.

Purdue is certainly the more talented team here, but the Boilermakers are extremely young. With youth comes a lot of inconsistency and we saw that last game when Purdue lost at home to North Florida. I don't have to tell you that the fact North Florida won that game was a huge upset.

The only thing that makes this a 7* play instead of a 9 or 10* play is the fact that Purdue lost last game. The Boilermakers still have lots of fundamental flaws though. IPFW has a veteran team. Take the dog.

Take IPFW.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Monday 7* CBB ATS Play

Montana -5.5

Montana has been a good home team for many years. We realize they have a new coaching staff now, but it's unlikely their home court advantage is going to suffer much at all. Playing in altitude in the West can be difficult for opponents to get used to.

The Grizzlies have gone to double overtime twice on the road this year against very good opponents. This team has a lot of spunk. They have played some tough teams already this year, which has them ready for this game.

North Dakota State is still getting too much love from the oddsmakers based on what they did last year. North Dakota State not only has a new coach, but they also lost their star player when Taylor Braun graduated. This team looks nothing like last year's, and they shouldn't be given this much respect.

Take Montana.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Sunday 6* NCAAB ATS Play

Valparaiso -7

The Valparaiso Crusaders are having a really nice season under Coach Bryce Drew. Valparaiso has a team loaded with depth, and that depth has helped them to an impressive 8-1 start to the season.

New Mexico has been a really good team in the Mountain West the last few years. This year's team is nothing like the team from the past few season. Kendall Williams is gone and he was the point guard who did it all for them. Alex Kirk and Cameron Bairstow are both gone from the frontcourt as well.

New Mexico was going to build around Cullen Neal, but he is injured. The Lobos have played some bad basketball since he went down. New Mexico lost badly to Texas A&M and USC, and neither of those teams are good.

This is New Mexico's first road game of the year, and Valparaiso will be motivated here.

Take Valparaiso.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 7* CBB ATS Play

Murray State -5

The Murray State Racers have underachieved so far this year. Murray State is far more talented than they have shown. The Racers are a team that should be the best in their conference, and there will likely be some good chances to back them this year.

The fact that they have played poorly leading up to this key game helps the value here. Western Kentucky is an intrastate rivalry for Murray State, and the Racers will be up for this game. Murray State lost at Western Kentucky last year despite leading almost the entire game. It's a great chance for revenge here.

Western Kentucky is a pretty good team, but they have some drastic home/road splits in the last few years. The Hilltoppers aren't good away from home, and that should be exposed in a big rivalry game like this one.

Take Murray State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Saturday 8* CBB ATS Play

Evansville -8.5
 
The Evansville Purple Aces look like a team who could surprise a lot of people in the Missouri Valley Conference this year. Evansville’s coach believes this is the deepest team he has coached, and he’s been around for quite a while.

The Wright State Raiders lost five key seniors after last year, and the Raiders didn’t look good in their first road test against a quality opponent this year. Bowling Green took them down by 15 points. This Evansville team is likely better than Bowling Green.

Evansville hasn’t been a team that has received much fanfare in recent years, which gives us some extra value betting on the Purple Aces (great nickname by the way). Evansville’s home court advantage is tremendous, and Wright State comes in with a lot of inexperience. It’s the type of scenario that usually creates blowouts.

Lay the points with the home team.

Take Evansville.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Alabama State +1.5

The Alabama State Hornets have the best team in the SWAC this year. Alabama State actually lead Arkansas on the road in the second half earlier this year. The Razorbacks are a high quality team, and that performance told me a lot about the Hornets potential this season.

Alabama State is well balanced with some solid big guys down low who can rebound as well as some good ball handlers in the backcourt. North Dakota doesn’t have that same balance.

North Dakota will need to retool this year. This is a team that lost its three best players from a year ago. North Dakota plays in the Big Sky Conference, and that is one of the worst conferences in college basketball.

This one is one of those under the radar games that can have a great deal of value, especially early in the year. Alabama State should win this game, and as an underdog, there is a lot of line value on this play.

Take Alabama State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Wednesday 8* CBB ATS Play

Bowling Green -7.5

The Bowling Green Falcons will be one of the most improved teams in the MAC this year. The Falcons got a new coach this year who has a great history that comes with him. While Chris Jans hasn’t been a head coach, he has been an assistant at Wichita State and he was considered one of the top assistants in the land.

The Falcons have a really nice nucleus of players, and a lot of them are veterans. A team that had many questions and was inexperienced in recent years is now experienced and ready to make a run.

Southeast Missouri State plays in a much weaker league (Ohio Valley Conference) and they aren’t used to playing teams with as much athleticism and depth as Bowling Green. The Redhawks aren’t likely to be able to withstand the pressure from Bowling Green for 40 minutes.

Take Bowling Green.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 7* CBB ATS Play

Southern Illinois +4.5

The Southern Illinois Salukis were a terrific team in the Missouri Valley Conference a few years ago. They have slipped back in recent years, but they are on the rise once again.

Southern Illinois is a team I expect to surprise a lot of people this season. The Salukis have a good coach in Barry Hinson, and he has more talent to work with this season.

Kent State is a team that is headed south in the Mid American Conference. The Golden Flashes were once the cream of the crop in the conference, but that’s no longer the case.

Kent State skidded into the finish at the end of last year, while Southern Illinois finished with momentum. Look for the Salukis to come out of here with a straight up win. Grab the generous amount of points.

Take Southern Illinois.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Friday 9* NCAAB ATS Play

Duke -7.5

The Michigan State Spartans are normally one of the best teams in the nation, but they lost a bunch of talent at the end of last year. Michigan State lost their top three scorers in Payne, Appling, and Harris. It’s going to be hard to replace those guys immediately.

A coach like Tom Izzo will get this team playing much better over the course of the season, but it’s clear they have a lot of work to do right now. Michigan State barely beat Navy on the road in their season opener, and Navy is a very poor team.

The Duke Blue Devils have scored 109 and 113 points in their first two games. The talent assembled in Durham this year is scary good. Jahlil Okafor has the potential to be the best player in the country in his freshman season. Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow are also tremendous talents.

Duke has a more athletic team overall this year, which will allow them to get a lot of points in transition. Winslow is a shut down type of defender, and that was something that Duke lacked last season. The Blue Devils upside this year is tremendous.

Duke is on a whole different level than Michigan State at this point in the season.

Take Duke.

Good Luck, Razor Ray.

Tuesday 8* NCAAB ATS Play

Utah State -1.5

Many people are down on the Aggies this season because they only return one senior to the squad, but don't mix up lack of experience with lack of talent. Utah State is a talented squad and this is a very favorable price with them at home.

Utah State always gets up for these opening tips, winning 15 of their 16 season openers under head coach Stew Morrill, including a perfect 8-0 mark at home. As mentioned above, the Aggies are youtful, but they definitely aren't void of talent. Freshman forward David Collette will be a big presence on the inside, while reports out of Utah suggest that sophomore forward Jalen Moore is ready to take a big step forward this season.

Weber State enjoyed a run into the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, where they were upended by Arizona, 68-59. This is a solid Wildcats team, but it's important to note that they did most of their damage at home a season ago. Weber State was 14-2 at home, but just 5-10 on the road last season.

The Aggies are 16-5-1 ATS in their last 22 non-conference games and 15-6-2 ATS in their last 23 home games.

Take Utah State.

Good Luck, Razor Ray

7* Play