#14 Vanderbilt (16-1) @ #7 Tennessee (14-1)
7:00PM EST – 1/17/2008
Vanderbilt and Tennesee have developed somewhat of a rivalry over the past few seasons and that rivalry has made for some great basketball. Tennessee currently holds the edge winning 3 of the last 5 meetings including a 84-57 thrashing of the Commodores last year in Vady’s home arena. Tennessee comes into the game on a 9 game winning streak while Vanderbilt is coming off of a heartbreaking loss in overtime against Kentucky. The Vols are double-digit favorites, and while Vanderbilt is holding a #14 ranking right now, the spread is warranted. Tennessee matches up with Vanderbilt in every major category, only they play tougher defense, rebound better, and create more turnovers. The Commodores are, ahem, Vander”bilt” as a scoring team, relying heavily on the 3 point shot to win games. Tennessee plays some of the best perimeter defense in the nation, and that’s pure kryptonite for Vandy. Knoxville will be rowdy Thurday night and should help the Vols roll to victory.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Tennessee Vols -10.5
#21 Rhode Island (15-2) @ Saint Louis (9-7)
8:00PM EST – 1/17/2008
I’m a little tenative to bet on or against the Saint Louis Bellikens just two games after they set an NCAA Basketball record for futility, scoring just 20 points in their entire game against George Washington. It’s hard to believe this team shot under 13% from the field in an entire game, despite shooting over 50% in their previous three games. That’s odd. Saint Louis recovered somewhat and played well against Dayton, taking them to overtime. To have faith in this game you are going to need to throw out Saint Louis’s one terrible, horrible, historically bad games and look at the total picture. If you look at their seasons’ as a whole, Saint Louis has really played well against opponents that Rhode Island has played poorly against. This line feels like the books are begging you to take Rhode Island, and that’s never a good thing. Keep that 20-49 score out of your head and take the Bellikens.
NCAA Hoops Tip: Saint Louis Bellekins +5.5
#10 Indiana (14-1) @ Minnesota (12-3)
9:00PM EST – 1/17/2008
If there’s one thing you can say about Big 10 sports, it’s that they are rarely predictable. Take tonight’s game for instance. You have a top 10 ranked team, playing a 12-3 team that hasn’t proved a thing with the games they’ve won, other than they can beat the likes of Northwestern, Colorado State, and Penn State, not a horrible resume, until you consider those are by far the best teams they’ve played so far. The Golden Gophers are 8-0 at home, but most above-average teams that haven’t played a tough oppent at home tend to stay undefeated at home until someone like Indiana comes along. I’m not convinced that Indiana is a Top 10 team in the entire nation, but they are the best team in the Big 10 right now and they should pick this conference road win up Thursday night.
College Basketball Pick: Indiana Hoosiers -2
That’s all for Thursday! Check back soon for more College Basketball betting tips!
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