Bruce's Picks (4 Live)
Belmont has been flying under the radar and hits Orange County with an 11-1 mark, though a quick look under the hood and at the schedule to date create some doubts about the Bruins. Belmont has taken advantage of a very soft pre-MVC slate, recently barely surviving upset bids vs. modest opposition, and a long trip in the week before the Christmas break would unnerve many foes. Meanwhile, though Russell Turner's UCI has been a bit more erratic than expected. The Anteaters have won four on the spin, and a crackling perimeter led by G Jurian Brown (5.3 ppg) has enough weaponry to trade points if nothing else at the Bren Center. Play UCI.
This playoffs line has whipsawed for the past two weeks, but we're still talking a very narrow range and it's really pick the winner. In that case, an argument for the zig-zag in rematches that we noted in conference title weekend seems very much in play, simply because we can't see the Sooners replicating the dynamics of their 23-20 win last month at Tuscaloosa. Brent Venables' big-play defense keyed a 3-0 TO edge that night for OU, but the Sooners offense hasn't looked smooth since QB John Mateer injured his wrist in September. True, Bama's SEC title game effort won't be enough, but QB Ty Simpson has won some big games on the SEC trail this season. Play Alabama.
We can envision backing the Hilltoppers down the road in C-USA play this season, as WKU has displayed a sharper edge at times and put a scare into high-ranked Vanderbilt in the Bahamas last month. Three-point shooting, a bane for the Tops last season, has improved slightly from last term, and 6-5 soph wing Teagan Moore (17.6 ppg) has emerged as a go-to threat. Nonetheless, we need more evidence to buck a red-hot Tulsa that might be the team to be in the American with its 90 ppg offense. The Golden Hurricane can hit from all angles after HC Eric Konkol unearthed some gems from the portal such (ex-CBU G Tylen Riley & ex-St Thomas G Miles Barnstable, both at 15 ppg). Play Tulsa.
Neither of these sides has hinted about riding the handbrake, so this total looks very much within reach tonight at Diddle Arena. Tulsa, in particular, is playing at a much faster speed this season for HC Eric Konkol, who entered the campaign under fire but has re-booted the Golden Hurricane offense with transfers such as Gs Tylen Riley (via Cal Baptist) and Miles Barnstable (via St Thomas-Minn). Both are scoring at 15 ppg for a revved-up offense scoring 90 ppg and hitting nearly 50% from the floor. Meanwhile, Hank Plona's Hilltoppers are also playing at a fast pace and scoring nearly 85 ppg. WKU has uncovered a go-to threat from tis own ranks in holdover soph G Teagan Moore (17.6 ppg). Play Tulsa-WKU Over.
First things first, as need to keep an eye on status of Donovan Mitchell, which is apparently up in the air as he deals with illness, though he did feel good enough to score 32 points in last night's loss to the Bulls. There's also a good chance he'll play, but the quick zig-zag/payback dynamics are nonetheless in place, and Cleveland has been getting improved efforts lately from G Jaylen Tyson (scored 21 last night), while Darius Garland also capable of pitching in with extra points. It's the psychology that appeals here, however, against Chicago in this zag-zag, as the Bulls haven't won back-to-back since October, and might be hard-pressed to replicate last night's 56% FG shooting. Play Cavs
We'll always be interested in a plus price with the defending champs, considering they hit Sunrise tonight having won three straight and six of seven. Since winning a wild 7-6 verdict over the Blue Jackets on December 6, Florida has tightened its defense considerably; in five of the wins in the six games since, the Panthers have allowed just 8 total goals. Sergei Bobrovsky, back in the nets tonight, has won in his last four starts, and stopped 68 of 73 shots (.932 saves) across the past three of those wins. True, Carolina does come in hot, with five straight wins, but prior to Wednesday's 4-1 win at Nashville, the Canes' previous three wins were all decided via shootout. Play Panthers on Money Line
If we had a ballot for Coach of the Year, we might give Kennesaw's Jerry Mack a vote. That the Owls could win 10 games and the C-USA title in just their second year of FBS action should garner Mack a few votes. Even Indiana's Curt Cignetti didn't inherit a task so daunting, as Mack was able to improve Kennesaw's athleticism, with foot speed to unnerved conference foes. Meanwhile, Wofford transfer QB Amari Odom developed into a dual-threat playmaker responsible for 25 TDs. No knocks on Lance Taylor's MAC champ Broncos., but WMU didn't face this sort of defensive quickness since maybe the Illinois loss on September 13, and not sure any smashmouth tactics succeed at Myrtle Beach. Play Kennesaw State (at Conway, SC)
Not much glory in being one of the best 2-9 teams, but signs of progress nonetheless from the Beach. Four straight spread covers for Chris Acker's troops, who have narrowly missed road wins at UCSB and San Jose State (both in OT) and pushed a 10-1 UCSD side to the wire in the past couple of weeks. Improvement from last year is palpable with frosh G Gavin Sykes (17.1 ppg) & Syracuse transfer F Petar Majstorovic (14 ppg) likely to be popular portal targets in the offseason. Meanwhile, despite a better record, Pep hasn't impressed regional observers, missing the sharp edge that transferred G Moe Odum (now ASU) provided last term, while the Waves aren't helping themselves with subpar three-point shooting (29.1%). Play Long Beach.
Though Dallas has lost in his last two starts, Jake Oettinger has been performing well in goal for the Stars. To wit: in five starts this month, Oettinger has posted a 1.81 GAA and .930 saves, though he has been betrayed by his offense in his last two starts as Dallas scored a combined two goals in losses to the Wild and Panthers. The Stars continued to look sluggish for most of Tuesday vs. the Kings, too, before scoring twice in the last four minutes to finally put the game away. Meanwhile, prior to a pair of high-scoring wins, the Sharks had played five straight unders, and Thursday starter Alex Nedeljkovic faring decently in goal this month (2.42 GAA in four appearances). Play Stars-Sharks Under
The marketplace remains a bit slow to buy on San Jose even as the Sharks continue to surprise. The win streak is three; six goals in each of the past two wins. Against Pittsburgh last Saturday, the Sharks scored four times in the 3rd period to rally from a 5-1 deficit to force OT before winning; on Tuesday, it was a 6-3 romp past Calgary when Macklin Celebrini's now-expected magic (great "spin-o-rama goal vs. Calgary!) scored twice and matched by vet Barclay Goodrow's brace. Meanwhile, Dallas has looked a bit flat lately, scoring just two goals across losses to the Wild and Panthers before scoring twice in the last four minutes to finally pull away from the Kings on Tuesday. Play Sharks on Money Line
Not a dull moment at Mizzou State, where HC Ryan Beard recently moved to Coastal Carolina, and where SMU OC Casey Woods was just hired as his replacement. For tonight, OC Nick Petrino will serve as interim coach. Worth noting, perhaps, that both of these sides will have their regular-season QBs available in Frisco, as Jacob Clark for Mizzou State and Jaylen Raynor for Arkansas State have decided to stay and play. The venue tonight suggests the sort of conditions that could help the offenses, indoors at the climate-controlled Ford Center in Frisco, at the Dallas Cowboys complex. Both teams were involved in high-scoring games late in the season and expect some of the same tonight. Play Missouri State-Arkansas State Over (Xbox Bowl at Frisco)