What a year, what a decade, what a career for GodsTips! Yesterday, we go 5-0 again as you bet like a pro with the Center of the Handicapping Universe GodsTips. Here is what the pros got. Sunday’s card has three winners including a Wise Gy.
Wise Guy…
OREGON +3.5 St. Louis
Oregon has a lot shorter travel. Saint Louis will travel 1712 miles to San Jose, compared to 468 for the underdogs. The Ducks are much better with Dominic Artis in the line-up. They were 1-7 without him. Though one can argue they underacheived with him, they have turned it around and covered three straight now that he is fully integrated into line-up.
Major…
MICHIGAN STATE -5.5 Memphis
It is almost a home game for the Spartans. Michigan St will travel 64 miles to Auburn Hills. Memphis is coming 636. MSU is 11-2 SU all-time at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Under Tom Izzo, MSU is 11-1 SU at The Palace, including 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament.
Under Tom Izzo, the Spartans are a remarkable 17-3 in the second game of an NCAA Tournament weekend. All three losses have come to No. 1 seeds. Izzo, like Joe Duffy, wins a ton in March. Clearly he uses the short preparation time as well as anyone.
In the last nine games for MSU, Adreian Paye is averaging 13.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, including grabbing 14 boards at Nebraska and a career-high 15 at Ohio State, while recording four double-doubles.
Michigan State presents a balanced scoring attack with all five Spartan starters averaging 9.3 points or better. Keith Appling, Branden Dawson, Gary Harris, Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne have each scored 20 points in at least one game this season. This is big especially when foes have such a short time to prepare.
LOUISVILLE -10.5 Colorado State
Louisville breezed two days ago and will be well rested against this CSU team that traveled 1114 miles to Lexington, compared to 72 for Louisville. With a few days off before their next game, the Cards can certainly be in statement mode. Yes, in our Wise guy winner, Colorado State won by 12 in their opening game, but certainly spent a ton more energy.
As of March 20, the Rams are the top-ranked team statistically in rebounding margin (+12.1) and also hold the 12th-best turnovers per game mark in the country (10.8). Seriously, do you think that holds against this mega-talented team?
CALIFORNIA +7.5 Syracuse
Nobody got more screwed than Syracuse. The much higher seeded team is basically playing a road game 2416 across the country, to a team that traveled a mere 42. Cal is not short on talent. Pac -12 Player of the Year and Naismith Award candidate Allen Crabbe leads the California offense. He is averaging 18.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Junior Justin Cobbs was voted to the All-Pac-12 Second Team. He leads the team with 154 assists to along with 15.4 points per game. David Krash is the Golden Bears’ leading rebounder (7.0 rpg.) and shot blocker (1.7 bpg.).
Cal has been playing up or down to the competition, winning outright their last three as underdogs, but losing their last two SU when favorites.
Butler-Marquette OVER 125
Our math total on the game is 132.5. We also have the total projected at 130. Both are significant and point towards an over.