Wednesday, January 19, 2011

CRIER'S CORNER - THE CRIER/SR CREW - JANUARY 19, 2011



CRIER’S CORNER

Written by: The Crier/Sr Crew
Date posted: 1/19/2011


BASKETBALL ACTION


Yesterday’s Record ATS: 2-1
Cumulative Season Record ATS: 255-161


Today’s Action (for reading purposes only):


NBA


HOUSTON* (-2.5) over NEW YORK
Luis Scola is the glue of the Houston team, but one of the keys to their team is the way they share the ball. They love to make the extra pass. This figures to be an up and down game as both squads can fill it up. Rockets beat Knicks in New York early in the year and one of the main reasons was because they defended the long ball. HOUSTON, 117 - 103


LOS ANGELES LAKERS at DALLAS* (Over 187)
L.A. figures to be up for this one, as they know that they may have to go through Dallas to get to the promised land. The Mavs were really exposed as a team that has some holes when talking about scoring the ball. Only two guys can get their own shot, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. LOS ANGELES, 107 – 103


OKLAHOMA (+3.5) over DENVER*
People have knocked the OKC for not playing as tough a defense this year but there are reasons. The Thunder rely on their offense more and that means the other teams have more looks at the basket. Coach Karl has had his hands tied with the Nuggets all year and the Thunder forced 17 turnovers in the win over this team on Christmas Day. OKLAHOMA, 103 – 101


COLLEGE HOOPS


NOTRE DAME* (-4) over CINCINNATI 
We had a wonderful time fading the Irish over the past week or so with Best Bet selections (Marquette AND St. John’s) . . . hope you were there! At least Mike Bray’s troops showed up for a while against Golden Eagles, but last Sunday’s nooner at the Garden was a mail-in. Certain that Dame practices have not resembled a visit to the local comedy club, and while we were huge Bearcat supporters through their undeafeated early-season run which surprised so many with its longevity, and their defense remains markedly above-average, the self-doubt’s creeping in, in the Queen City – and the Irish KNOW what they’ve been able to do to high-reputation teams attempting to successfully invade the Purcell Pavilion. Expect Bearcat stud Yancy Gates to return to action, tonight, but doubt his presence will make any critical difference. Good night. NOTRE DAME, 73-56


JAMES MADISON (+7.5) over OLD DOMINION*
Dukes outrank the Monarchs in raw talent this time around, and Monarchs are going to have serious issues with uncharacteristic Colonial/Jimmy Mad physicality. Visitor looking to establish tone – and any home chalkie who’s sought to successfully lay points to these guys this season have found it an extremely-difficult row to hoe. OLD DOMINION, 66-64


KENT STATE (+3.5) over BUFFALO*
With Carlton Guyton back in the saddle for the Golden Flashes, Kent remains a legitimate candidate to represent the MAC in the Big Dance, and points are a nice cushion. KENT STATE, 67-64


PENNSYLVANIA at TEMPLE* (Over 129)
Another serving of volatile Big Five trickeration, Quakers will take this more seriously, a not-insignificant factor in tucking under numbers of this magnitude. TEMPLE, 82-67


MARSHALL (+10.5) over WEST VIRGINIA (Charleston, WV)
This looms a nuisance and distraction for Huggy, amidst the Big East wars. For the Thundering Herd, it’s an opportunity for marked redemption, especially off Marshall’s shattering no-show at Memphis over the weekend. WEST VIRGINIA, 67-64


SOUTH CAROLINA* (-3.5) over ARKANSAS
Broad team focus and attitude is much healthier in Columbia. Line tells you that Hogs are in disarray, especially on the road – but you knew that. SOUTH CAROLINA, 74-65


FLORIDA STATE (+2) over MIAMI FL*
Sems are more than meet the eye, especially as underdogs, as win over Duke confirms. ‘Canes are as fraudulent as you can get in the ACC, given the difference between their reputation -- and the reality. Unless zone gives FSU more fits than it should . . . FLORIDA STATE, 67-64

 
HMW
 
THE CRIER/SR CREW

No comments: