Hey, we admit it; we're greedy. After a 3-0 college basketball Saturday we're looking for more on Sunday. Here's our take on a couple of games from Sunday's slate, and our free picks.
College Basketball
Betting: Two for Sunday
Saturday's CBB Picks Record: 3-0
This Week's Record: 8-5
Xavier -9.5 vs. Kent
State (4 pm ET)
The 6-2 Musketeers host the 5-4 Golden Flashes for a Buckeye
State battle.
Xavier only has one starter back from last season, but looks
like it's on its way toward extending its NCAA tournament streak to eight
seasons. The Musketeers own victories over Butler and Purdue already this
season, and their two losses have come against Drexel and, last time out, to
Vandy.
Thursday night Xavier, as 12-point favorites at home over
the Commodores, lost in overtime 66-64. Part of the problem came at the FT
line, where the Musketeers made just nine of 17 attempts, which was unusual,
because on the season they're shooting 74 percent from the line.
Xavier is also shooting 51 percent from the field as a team
so far, while holding foes to 43 percent shooting.
Kent State, also with just one starter back from last year,
is still trying to find a blend with the returnees and some incoming transfer
talent. So far the Flashes' best win is probably their victory over Nebraska,
while they've lost their last two games, to Princeton by 12 points and to
Bucknell by 16.
Over those last two games KSU has shot just 37 percent from
the floor and allowed the Tigers and Bison to shoot a combined 55 percent.
On paper this looks like a little more even match-up than
the pointspread might indicate. But in expecting a bounce-back effort from
Xavier, we'll take the Musketeers at the -9.5 offered at BetOnline.
Get the best selection of College Basketball Betting Odds in one place, right here!
Free Picks: Xavier -9.5 at BetOnline
Cal -1 vs. UNLV (6 pm
ET, ESPNU)
Two 6-1 teams meet when the Bears and Rebs get together in
Berkeley.
Cal, with three starters back from last year, began this
season by winning its first six games. Its two best victories, on a
tournament-resume basis, are probably the wins over Georgia Tech and Pacific.
But the Bears ran into a buzz-saw last Sunday at Wisconsin, as the Badgers shot
52 percent from the floor in an 81-56 Cal defeat.
UNLV, with just two starters back from last year, won its
first two games this season, lost outright to Oregon as 11-points favorites,
and has since won its last four games. But Tuesday night, playing without
injured F Mike Moser, UNLV had to rally from nine points down in the second
half to win at Portland 68-60, coming nowhere close to covering the spread as
14-point chalk.
The Rebs hope to get their leading rebounder back for
Sunday's game, but as of Sunday AM Moser was still listed as questionable.
Statistically speaking Cal is shooting 48 percent from the
floor this season, UNLV 43 percent. But the Rebs are holding foes to 36 percent
shooting, while Cal is allowing opponents to shoot 40 percent.
As the pointspread indicates, this should be a close game.
And much could depend on whether Moser plays, and if so, how effective he is,
especially on the boards. Combined with his uncertain status, and the fact that
Cal is looking to redeem itself after that loss to Wisconsin, we'll take the
Bears at the -1 offered at 5Dimes.
Free Picks: Golden Bears at 5Dimes
Good luck with all of your sports picks today, and until next week!