Sportsologists

70-62-2 on NCAAB last season up 8.95 units

3-5-1 this season up 0.64 units

Will Wade was Shaka Smart’s first hire for VCU in 2009. Wade was an assistant on VCU’s Final Four team in 2011. Wade left the VCU program 4 days after losing to St. Mary’s in the NCAA tournament. Samir Doughty, Malik Crowfield, and De’Riante Jenkins were Wade’s big recruits for VCU. Doughty helped lead Auburn to a final four last year after transferring from VCU once Wade left. Jenkins and Crowfield are seniors and still play for VCU. They will want their revenge tonight.

Wade’s LSU was 25-5 last season, when the FBI came down on him hard for a phone conversation between Wade and former Adidas consultant Christian Dawkins. Wade cusses and says things like “I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago. [Expletive] strong.” The phone call was supposedly about Ja’Vonte Smart, who is averaging 11.1 points a game. How Will Wade is still coaching I don’t know. If the FBI can’t stop a coach from cheating, why are they even involved in college basketball?

Both LSU and VCU are loaded with experience. At the start of the season, I would have said VCU will win, but I went to the North Texas game at VCU.. The Rams didn’t play their best game, but they did go on a 20-0 run at one point and won the game. The close win knocked the Rams out of the top 25. LSU are #23. The Siegel Center will be loud and I expect it to be a close game. The teaser below is an emotional hedge of sorts because I want Will Wade to lose and VCU to win.

LSU +8½  / Northern Iowa -4½ / Villanova +6½ Teaser risking 4 units to win 5.45 units. I think the VCU/LSU game will be close. When Shaka Smart and the Longhorns came back to Richmond, Texas won by 4 in 2017. Then VCU won by 1 in Austin last season. These “former coach vs VCU” games are usually close. Villanova looked great against Army and I expect them to put up enough points to keep it close and prolly win against Ohio State. Northern Iowa will beat Cal State at home.

Syracuse -10.5 at -105 for 4 units. The Orange will like playing Colgate after losing to Virginia. UVA allowed Syracuse to score 34 points. Colgate will have a harder time on defense. Clemson beat Colgate by 13. I expect an even bigger win here for Cuse.

 

 

 

Coby White set the Bulls’ record for 3’s in the 4th Quarter with 7 last night. Roy Williams went to the game because White had been in a shooting slump. Coach Calipari watched his Kentucky Wildcats lost to Evansville. Evansville is coached by Walter McCarty. McCarty won the 1996 National Championship with Kentucky and was drafted 19th overall by the Knicks that year.

"I love you! Our relationship goes past basketball."@CobyWhite (23 PTS in 4Q) shares a moment with his college coach Roy Williams after setting a @chicagobulls record with 7 threes made in a quarter! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/jwFXwavAnx

— NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2019

Roy watched one of his former players win and praise him, while Coach Calipari watched his current players lose to Evansville. This was supposed to be the year for Kentucky because they add their normal stellar recruiting class, plus a myriad of returning players. Losing to Evansville is not a good sign. No disrespect to the Purple Aces.

North Carolina has 5 top-50 recruits coming in in 2020. Kentucky only has 4. What a shame. Duke’s class is stacked with 6 top 50 recruits.

61-53-2 on NBA in 2017/18 up 9.28 units

30-28-2 on NBA in 2018/19 up 4.16 units 

6-6 on NBA in 2019/20 down 1.31 units

76ers +2 at -110 for 3 units. THE RAUL NETO RETURN GAME we have all been waiting for.

 

Donovan Mitchell wore his definition of a rookie hoodie that Ben Simmons didn’t “fit”. Simmons won NBA Rookie of the Year in his 2nd season because he didn’t play a game in his first season. 76ers are one of the best rebounding teams in the league. Ed Davis is out for Utah, which means Philly should win the battle in the paint against Gobert. 76ers have covered in every game Embiid has played. Jazz are 2-5 ATS.

70-62-2 on NCAAB last season up 8.95 units

1-5-1 this season down 4.05 units 

Clemson will never be good at basketball I guess. Dook won. Kentucky won. I won my big unit play on William & Mary and lost everything else. Old Dominion was close, then got down a lot, and the pushed. My VCU team looked good at home, but not great. More plays tonight..

Boston College at -170 for 5 units. Nik Popovic is the consistent big man that can get some crafty, easy points for Boston College tonight. Derryck Thornton, the transfer from Duke and Southern California will help out BC in the backcourt. Jay Heath is a Washington DC point guard that should be able to play a lot of minutes in his freshman year for the Eagles. Boston College wins the battle in the paint and wins the game. Wake Forest does have some talented freshman and Brandon Childress, but may need some more time to gel.

South Carolina -19 at -115 for 2 units. North Alabama had two good players last season and they lost one, Kedarius Smith. Jamari Blackmon of Hoover High (remember MTV) is a solid sophomore, but South Carolina should win by a lot. Keyshawn Bryant, A.J. Lawson, and Maik Kotsar will have to step up this season with 4 or 5 notable departures for the Gamecocks. Jermaine Couisnard is a redshirt freshman from Chicago that could be a great player for South Carolina. He can get hot. All in all, South Carolina has more talent and should be able to shut down Blackmon and North Alabama.

61-53-2 on NBA in 2017/18 up 9.28 units

30-28-2 on NBA in 2018/19 up 4.16 units 

5-5 on NBA in 2019/20 down 0.38 units

Thunder -145 for 3 units. SGA and Darius Bazley went off for the Thunder against the Pelicans. The Magic have struggled on the road. The Magic have struggled to score points. Points are important in basketball. Nerleans Noel, Chris Paul, and Danilo Gallinari have played well this season. Not the roster I thought the Thunder would have, but they have actually looked good this season. The Magic have not.

Spurs -220 for 3 units. John Collins of the Hawks has been suspended for 25 games because of PEDs. Trae Young seems like he is returning, but I doubt he plays his full minutes. DeRozan and Aldrige should be able to score against the Collins-less Hawks team. Spurs have only lost to the LA teams this season, I like them to take care of business, like they have been doing for two decades, tonight.

70-62-2 on NCAAB last season up 8.95 units

My schools VCU and UNC are both going to be real good this season and I am excited..

Weird Card to get the season started, but I like these spots. Kentucky and Michigan State each have a few injuries that scare me away. I liked Kansas at +2, but now they are at -2 against Dook. Tre Jones is going to be one of the best point guards in the country this season for the Blue Devils. Going with the bigger, more athletic teams tonight. I like my angles on the Primetime “Big” Games for tomorrow night.. but for now..

William & Mary -2 at -105 for 4 units. Nathan Knight is 7 feet tall and averaged 21 points a game last season. High Point will not be able to guard him. Dane Fischer is the new coach for William & Mary. Andy Van Vliet is also 7 feet tall and starts for the Tribe. Willam & Mary shot 25 3s a game over the past 3 seasons, they will slow the game down this year and feed their big men.

Clemson -7 at -110 for 2 units. Mike Young is the new coach of Virginia Tech. He has done an impressive job on the recruiting trail for next season without even playing a game yet, but the Hokies might be the worst team in the ACC this year. Clemson needs to get off to a good start after barely missing the NCAA tournament last year.

Old Dominion +5 at -110 for 2 units. Old Dominion lost two of their best scorers from last season in Stith and Caver. Aaron Carver and Xavier Green will have to step up this season. ODU got a solid transfer in AJ Oliver from Clemson. This ODU team is long and athletic and I expect them to cause Northern Iowa some problems.

Rhode Island -15 at -110 for 2 units. Jeff Dowtin, Cyril Langevine and guard Fatts Russell is all I need. I had this line at 19. Fatts Russell is a stud.

Mississippi Valley State +34 at -110 for 2 units. Biggest spread on the board. Why not take the points? Iowa State will feel bad once they get up 25 and chill

Pepperdine at -135 for 2 units. Colbey Ross, Kameron Edwards, Kessler Edwards, and Jade Smith all averaged 9.6 points or more for Pepperdine last season. Colbey Ross can ball. Lorenzo Romar (former Washington coach) coached against Cal for over 10 years in the Pac-however teams they have now. Pepperdine plays fast and Cal are not a great defensive team, bad combo for the Bears tonight.

 

61-53-2 on NBA in 2017/18 up 9.28 units

30-28-2 on NBA in 2018/19 up 4.16 units 

4-5 on NBA in 2019/20 down 4.26 units

Suns +2 at -110 for 4 units. Suns are 6-0 ATS this season. 76ers are 5-1 ATS. Suns are passing well and draining 3s. Phoenix leads the league in averaging 7.1 assists more than their opponents. No Joel Embiid for Philadelphia still.