But now, lets get to the business at hand. CrazyDavo has gone off to a furious start to the college hoops betting season starting at 9-2. My apologies for not spreading the love, so no better time to start then now, so lets get to it:
KENTUCKY WILDCATS -6.5 @ PORTLAND PILOTS
Kentucky rolls into Portland's backyard in the Rose Garden tonight. This is a cushy spread to pounce on with the game being in Portland. Portland is no chump team. They finished 3rd in a tough Gonzaga-led West Coast Conference last year.
And Kentucky's record last year is meaningless towards this years prognostication, due to a complete overhaul of their line-up with the NBA-"gradumacated" John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. So John Calipari has rolled in yet another line-up this year full of McDonald All-Americans who will more than likely be found academically ineligible after the season and Calipari will vacate more wins.
Regardless of Calipari's shady recruiting, his line-up is full of talent. They are not like last year's line-up. But they are led by all-world point guard, Brandon Knight who is lighting it up from 3 point land. They boast 3 McDonald All-Americans while Portland has last years leading 3 point shooter in Jarrod Stohl, but little depth.
Kentucky should cover easy on talent alone. Credit this game being in Portland's backyard for the cushy spread. Wildcats by 18.
NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS -6 vs. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
North Carolina went through a hellish season last year, however picking it up late to salvage an NIT title game. As much of a moral victory the end of last season was, it was still a complete disappointment. UNC came into last season with the best recruiting class in the nation led by supposed one-and-done forward John Henson. He led a recruiting class that had little in terms of basketball IQ and little to none defensive ability.
Fast forward to this year. Coach, Roy Williams has assembled another highly rated recruiting class that seems to know how to get into a defensive stance and actually close-out. They are led by definite one-and-done forward in Harrison Barnes. He has amazed everyone this year with his play by dominating on the boards and being unstoppable on the blocks and wing.
The Tar Heels will cover the 6 points tonight on Harrison Barnes alone. With that being said, there is still talent in last year's class, and this year's sophomore class aren't burdened like last year to carry the load. John Henson, DOES have a season under his belt, so he will contribute.
The Gophers on the other hand are continuing their off-court shenanigans from last year. Head Coach, Tubby Smith assembles talented recruiting classes, but last year it seemed like all were suspended, arrested or both! They had one constant threat, and that was in all-hustle team point guard, Devoe Joseph, but alas he's been suspended for off-court issues. All that's left for the Gophers is a pretty big front court. But from watching them last year and in person this year as they played an exhibition game at UBC, the Gophers' front court players are indeed huge at 6-10 or over, but quite soft. Gopher bigman Ralph Sampson III is leading the Gophers in scoring early on this season, but he'll be no match for UNC's bigmen led by Barnes, Henson and Junior crusher, Tyler Zeller.
Another cushy spread, UNC by 16.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS -8 vs. WOFFORD TERRIERS
Georgetown is a traditional big man factory. They had quite the big man last year in Greg Monroe, who parlayed his talent to becoming a Top 10 draft pick in this past NBA draft. Monroe was a great talent, but this year's Georgetown Hoya team will be better than last year's team as it will be an addition due to Monroe's subtraction.
Monroe was a huge talent, mainly off of the drive from the wing or elbow. But within Georgetown's Princeton offence, he was needed in the blocks and on the boards. As much as Monroe had great rebounding stats, he was as soft as his garbage rebounds. The conflict of Monroe's strengths from the wing/elbow vs. the role he was needed for in the blocks held Georgetown back last year, and they down right underachieved.
Cue in last year's Hoya strengths in senior guards, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Chris Wright is a solid point guard that takes care of the ball. And Austin Freeman can flat out score!!!! All he does is hit 3's from every spot, off the dribble, on the break or when the puppies are set off of a Chris Wright drive. What makes Austin dangerous is when any team clues in and tries to execute a game plan on his 3 point shooting, he's able to drive baseline for a lay-up or easy dish. Freeman can downright ball like he's K-Smack running a Salem pick-up game at lunch time!!!
Wright and Freeman are 2 of the 3 remaining Top 50 recruits left from their freshmen class (Kyle Singler from Duke being the third), with every other player having left for the pros. Both will come out from the shadows and dominate a Big East Conference where most of the top teams are rebuilding from graduations and NBA defections.
Wofford's strength is in their guards and the will be quite Woe-ful vs. Wright and Freeman tonight.
G-Town by 22.
That's it folks. Some easy spreads tonight.
There's one more interesting game in Long Beach State being a 10 point dog to a slightly over valued Clemson Tigers tonight. Long Beach matches up well to Clemson. Their pre-season tourney game on a neutral court in the Virgin Islands boasts a juicy pick as Clemson have been 1-9 ATS the past 2 years on neutral courts. Plus Long Beach played Clemson last year at this time and covered. The great match up between both team's posts/forwards is leaning more towards Long Beach based on toughness alone. I'd be more inclined to put money on Long Beach State at +10, but the game should be a Clemson victory at 6-7 points. That's too close of a margin when there's all of these cushy single game spreads for games where the winning margins are by 15 points or more.
Stay tuned for more picks and for the All-Adolph Insanity Report Pre-Season extravaganza!!!
CrazyDavo out!!
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