If we don't get on with it, we'll dwell on it, and I cannot be more angry. My keyboard is feeling the angst. And as I am continuing to work, Northeastern lets ODU tie it and send it to OT. And with less than a second left in OT ODU fouls and we lose that one, too. Cannot get a push out of what was a win, twice.
Indiana at Ohio State: I imagine people will be lining up to take Ohio State after the Hoosiers last game at Illinois, but let's not forget that Ohio State has lost two games at home in three years, none to the Hoosiers. And with that third loss they will be the far more desperate team. And I am still waiting for Indiana to beat a good team on the road. Fact of the matter is that Indiana has played the worst Conference SOS this season, but Ohio State is not much better at 10th. And Indiana is next to last in the Conference in turnovers. Ohio State isn't far behind, and with those stats I would lean to the under and the home team. I don't back road teams in Conference play unless they're getting a significant amount of points.
Virginia at Maryland: Maryland's only home loss was back in early January to FSU, a loss that looks worse now than it did then, and the Terps have Duke next, but they do have almost a week to prepare. UVA's only road win was against V-Tech, and their 6-3 Conference record is a bit deceptive because they haven't played Duke, Miami, or UNC yet. Terps have played those teams, but all on the road. With UVA's defense and Maryland propensity to turn the ball over (and not create many) I could make a case right there for the Cavaliers. And with the Terps shooting less that 62% from the line since Conference play started, it is indeed UVA or nothing.
NC State at Clemson: Not unlike football, this is the ACC and one must wonder how we could possibly take Clemson after the beating they took at UVA. But let's not forget this is a rematch of a game won by the 'Pack by only four earlier this season. And let's not forget that NC State's only Conference road win was in game number one at BC, and that included winnable games at UVA, Wake, and Maryland. And the Tigers only home loss was way back when to arch-rival FSU, so clearly I can make a case for Clemson. Cannot believe I said that. Interesting stat is that NC State has the best three point shooting percentage in the ACC since Conference play started, but take the fewest amount of them. That could change since guarding the perimeter is a weakness of Clemson's. There are probably better games to play. I thought that perhaps with the turnovers Clemson is usually guilty of I'd like the over, but if NC State gets the game even close to the tempo they want to play, they could dominate inside. Still, I will not take a road team, so it's Clemson and/or the total.
UConn at Seton Hall: Without even looking people will want to take Uconn, so I'll see how we might take Seton Hall. It could be easy because since the win at Notre Dame the Huskies haven't been road warriors, just lost to St. John's, and have Syracuse Wednesday. So, from a situational standpoint this game could be tough for them to focus on. Seton has had almost a week to get ready for this game, and at home they've at least been tolerable. They do turn the ball over far more than I'd like to back, but UConn is 12th in the Conference in creating them. But they (Seton Hall) CAN shoot from deep and UConn is simply not a great rebounding team. If this were to be a close game, I simply cannot back the Huskies because of their free throw shooting. If they Pirates have a memory, UConn crushed them by 23 in Storrs last year. Pirates or pass.
Colorado at Oregon State: Oregon State may be one of the most undervalued teams right now. They lost at home to Oregon, Arizona, and Arizona State early on, and then played exactly two homes game in a month until beating Utah badly the other night. Now, I would admit to having a tough time fading Colorado, but they played a bizarre game against Oregon Thursday (48-47) and have only beaten Washington State on the road. They're inexperienced, small, and can turn it over at times, and don't shoot free throws particularly well. With Colorado having a home date with Arizona this week and their size disadvantage, it's the Beavers or nothing.