TJ Rives:
Well, hello there, and welcome back in to another edition to the BetUS College Basketball Show. We are america’s favorite sportsbook BetUS.I am merely the somewhat competent host, as we get ready for the Thanksgiving Feast of Food. All the Fs, food, football, family, but college hoops too. That’s why we are here. We are typically here Monday through Friday at 11:00 AM. Of course we weren’t taking Thanksgiving week off. We got day basketball galore going on all over the place. My handicappers are back. Hello, Corby Craig, back for another edition. Another helping, if you will, on a Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. How you feeling?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, pretty good. Off of quite a bad day. I’m sure we’ll talk about it. But me and Mid Major Matt didn’t have the most fun yesterday, but today’s a new day.
TJ Rives:
We always try to look ahead and be positive. You’re still bitter about the hook and which one of those plays yesterday you had an over, you had an under. What happened to you?
Corby Craig:
The Eastern Washington game got hooked, and it’s annoying because probably three hours before the show, the line was three points less. So it moved up and it cost us at the end. But sport of basketball, there’s going to be a sample size, so it’ll be fun.
TJ Rives:
Very true. And again, we take these live lines and the guys make their plays just a little before 11:00 AM Eastern time. If it goes up, goes down, it’s the breaks of the game. Hello, Matty Cox. Good to be back with you here on the program. First time for this week as we get ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. How are things?
Matt Cox:
Things are good. We’ll see how the wagers come in. Things might get drastically better or worse as the day progresses. You mentioned a ton of day ball today, so a lot of time to shirk work, I’d like to say.
TJ Rives:
I’m seeing all kinds of afternoon games that the guys are obviously going to have their eyeballs on. Some of you may have some questions. First of all, thank you for logging in, for finding us here on BetUS, on the platforms and on the YouTube channel. Hit that like button down below. Keep subscribing. I see our subscribers going up and up. We’re over two and a half, over 2.5k. Keep the subscriber number pumping, pumping. I think before Christmas time, we’ll set the goal. We can get to 3000 subscribers. We’re only doing that with your help. Hit that subscribe button down there, share us out. The live audience continues to be outstanding. We will have time for questions and answers, and I’m sure you guys are going to field some questions here about some of these day games that are going on.
And then we’ve got some marquee matchup. Syracuse and St. John’s are playing later tonight. Former traditional Big East rivals. Of course, Syracuse now in the ACC, so they’re playing in a tournament at Barclays Center. We got some games in Maui, in Hawaii, in the Maui Invitational, involving Creighton and Arkansas and San Diego State and Arizona, who won their quarter final games on Monday. So now the winners are playing tonight in primetime while we try to get ready for Thanksgiving. So a lot to get to.
Let’s take a look at our records. As Corby made reference to, not our best Monday between he and Mid Major Matt. Mid Major Matt banging all over Boston College yesterday, crapped all over them, and then they beat Wyoming. They turned around and they beat Wyoming yesterday in that matchup. All right, so there you see the overall record of the show, 24 and 24 and 1 right at the 500 mark. We will try to be better today. And guys, why don’t we begin with that. And with game number one, this one, a tournament game, and the day game as well for Winthrop and Southern Miss coming up on a neutral floor. I believe, are we correct, Cayman Islands here on this one, Corby? I think that is the case. I got to check all these.
Matt Cox:
I think Fort Myers, Fort Myers.
TJ Rives:
And it’s actually Fort Myers, Florida. Okay, so that’s not far from where I am in the state of Florida and the state of confusion. All right, so Fort Myers, Florida on this one, Southern Miss on the neutral floor is favored by one. The total is 139 and a half. Corby Craig, what do we like in this one for an official play on a tournament game? Neutral floor, Fort Myers, Florida.
Corby Craig:
Yeah, so I’m sure I’m going to mispronounce this name and you’re going to correct me per usual, but Winthrop as an underdog here.
TJ Rives:
No, you’re good.
Corby Craig:
Winthrop. Okay, so as an underdog here, this is mostly a fate of Southern Miss. This is Southern Miss team who basically was projected at the bottom of their conference. They come in 4 and 0, they beat Liberty, they beat Vandy. The issue here is they have two players shooting over 50% of their shots. So I think that Winthrop is just a team who over the years we’ve seen complete consistency and a team, they could be able to shut down one to two players who make up the high majority of this Southern Miss team. So as a dog in a neutral court, Southern Miss bringing a lot of transfers in. I think that this is a short line for Winthrop.
Matt Cox:
TJ, I lied to you, real quick. I lied to you. Hand up. It’s the Cancun Challenge. You were right. It isn’t actually-
TJ Rives:
So I was just about to make mention, we can’t get this straight. It’s not the Cayman Islands, it’s not Fort Myers, Florida. It’s Cancun and the Cancun Challenge.
Matt Cox:
Riviera Maya at the Hard Rock.
TJ Rives:
They’re playing in this one. That’s right. So they’re playing an opening round game Southern Miss, off to a 4 and 0 start. Matty Cox, any thoughts here? Short line right now with Southern Miss favored by one on the neutral floor. Any thoughts if no official play?
Matt Cox:
Unfortunately, I do disagree with my colleague here. I like Southern Miss. I’ve been backing them a lot this season. The outright went Vandy, they almost blew a huge lead to Liberty last game, but still to [inaudible 00:05:08] up 26 points at Liberty on Liberty, super-impressive. I just think Jay Ladner’s got a whole new collection of talent. Team seems undervalued. I’d be leaning the Eagles, but I don’t think it’s any bargain at the current price.
TJ Rives:
Hey Corby, take us back through something philosophically for you. Because again, on a one-point line versus the money line, how much do you just weigh “I want that point?” Or do I just go ahead and take the better value at the money line? How do you discern that?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, so when posting the one was minus 110, the money line was 105, so you’re talking 5 cents for a point. I don’t think that you’re really missing out too much on 5 cents. So if that one point saves you, what is that, 1.1% of the time you’re plenty fine. So I’m not too worried about that. I think it comes more into play when Matt talked about recently the two, two and a half, three ranges is where it becomes a decision. But one to pick them at 5 cents difference. I’m not too worried about it.
TJ Rives:
All right, so again that is a matchup coming this afternoon. A lot of different day games. By the way, we’re already aware live here at 11:00 AM on a Tuesday that there are day games going on as we speak, involving Illinois State and Western Kentucky, East Carolina and Toledo. And there’s some other games coming up here in a little bit that we may have some questions on, but game number one for the show today is an official play on the matchup in Cancun. And Corby says Winthrop, give me Winthrop. They’ve been an NCAA tournament team in the past. Remember Gregg Marshall Long before he was at Wichita State in bringing them into the Final Four, he was the Winthrop coach.
They’ve been in the NCAA tournament even since Marshall left. Been a pretty good program. We’ll see. They have a losing record right now. They’re playing unbeaten Southern Miss. Corby says give me the Winthrop Eagles in this matchup. All right, game number two, and this is a matchup involving Nevada and Kansas State. Again, a five-point line for Kansas State, and again a neutral floor here in this one, with a total of 137 and a half. And we’re coming to Matty Cox. What do we have for the official play on this pre-conference tournament matchup?
Matt Cox:
I’m rolling with the pack, catching five points. Both teams looked very impressive yesterday in their opening round win in the Cayman Islands Classic. This one is in the Cayman Islands, I have that confirmed. But Nevada to beat Tulane, very impressive. Tulane’s been awesome so far to start the year. I know they were without their best player, Jalen Cook, but they’ve been deep and defective without him, and Nevada took them pretty easily. I ended up winning by nine. Nevada’s been banged up. I think people have been discounting them because of their injuries, but the injuries have actually been of blessing in disguise in my opinion.
They have all of these 6’5,” 6’6″ wing guys. They’re playing Blackshear at point guard, he’s 6’6.” Big, burly, long. I think it’s actually helped their defense. So that’s why the pack had been undervalued. I think they continue to be undervalued against the K State team that while they’re impressing me to some degree, I do remember they were tied with Cal with three minutes to go, until a four-point play gave them the lead. And if anyone’s losing to Cal or competitive with Cal at any point this season, I’m putting a black mark on their resume. Take the points here at the pack on the neutral.
TJ Rives:
Interesting. Steve Alford’s still there, right, at Nevada.
Matt Cox:
That’s right.
TJ Rives:
He’s moved around all over the place, including after getting fired by UCLA. Corby, any thoughts here? Neutral floor game for Nevada against K State?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I think these are two pretty evenly matched teams, so just too many points on the neutral court. I agree with Matt. Kansas State’s looked really good. It’s a worry to fade this team as they’ve played. Yesterday they look really good versus Tulane team, but it’s just too many points. I have this two and a half, three. And so getting five points, I would’ve been on it five and a half, six.
TJ Rives:
Again, there’s a lot of discussion in the live chat about Nevada getting the five points here. I know you’ve got a lot of it in front of you, Matty, I don’t want to put you on the spot. Who is the other half of this bracket for the winner of Nevada and K State, if you know, in the Cayman Islands? Because I was looking for that as well. You may have it right in front of you before-
Matt Cox:
LSU Akron I believe. LSU Akron. Check on that.
TJ Rives:
And that’s the day game, right? They’re playing this afternoon, correct? So they might get a little more rest. Whoever ends up winning the LSU Akron game-
Matt Cox:
Correct. Yes.
TJ Rives:
… at 1:30 Eastern Time today in Nevada.
Matt Cox:
That is the late game.
TJ Rives:
Cayman Islands.
Matt Cox:
That’s right. Yep.
TJ Rives:
And Nevada the late game tonight. All right, so Matty Cox says officially, let’s go Wolf pack here. Nevada, plus the five on the neutral floor with Kansas State. Look at that. Corby Craig. There’s a nasty rumor Corby Craig’s going to be on 3 Dog Thursday, where we’re talking underdogs in college football in the NFL, logging in there on Nevada plus the five tonight. Good luck, Matty Cox with that official play. Again, get your questions ready in the live chat down below. You’ll see that we’re coming your way here in just a couple of more picks, with some questions on some different games while we go through what the handicappers have.
If you’re just joining us, again, the audience continues to grow. Hit that like button for us, make sure you’re subscribing and share us out at the same time. We’re here. We will be here tomorrow. We will not be here Thanksgiving day, but we will be back on Black Friday, I’m told. Once Corby and Matty have gone ahead and elbowed everybody out of the way for the latest video games on the PlayStation or whatever else they’re trying to buy in the middle of the night, Xbox, et cetera, they will be posting. The handicappers will be posting on Friday on the show here from BetUS.
All right, game number three, and this again, is another tournament situation, I believe, here between Alcorn State and UTEP. UTEP is laying seven in this one. The total is 131 in this matchup. Corby Craig, you’ve got to play on this game and I’m double checking here. This is another neutral floor situation, correct me if I’m wrong on that. It’s tough to keep up with all these different tournaments and all these different places. We’ll double check on that. What do you like about Alcorn State and UTEP on the record here with UTEP laying the seven, Corby?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, so KenPom has this at UTEP. That could be wrong as you said this-
Matt Cox:
Yeah, U UTEP is hosting a MTE, so yeah, is at, but UTEP is the home team here. They’re at home.
TJ Rives:
It’s UTEP’s tournament and Alcorn is the first opponent. Okay, go ahead.
Corby Craig:
Yeah, so this is just the idea that these tempo ratings have been pushed down a bit too much. UTEP was able to speed up a decently fast New Mexico State team, but they were able to keep pace with them. They played Texas early in the season. That game got out of hand, tempo ratings got pushed down a little bit. Alcorn State is basically the idea in this over, I don’t know if I even announced, it’s the over 131. Alcorn had to play Wichita State, who has just been miserably slow all year. I’ve bet on an over in the game the other day, and their press has just suffocated speed. It is impressively slow.
And I think it’s pushed these numbers down. On defense, Alcorn is pressing and putting a little bit of tempo. They’re 68th in tempo on the defensive end, but on offense they’re 340th. I think that’s mostly weighted to the Wichita game, and I think this number’s just too low. I had a 135 and a half, so getting 131, which is near the bottom of which you’re going to get a total in college basketball. The 128 range is typically the medium low besides of a Virginia type team. Then you’re going to see the teens, the north Texas as you’ll see the teens. But 131’s a pretty low standard deviation, and I think that Alcorn is much faster than that.
TJ Rives:
All right, interesting. Matty Cox, any thoughts here? No official play on this one with the Miners of UTEP, as you mentioned, hosting this game. This is a seven Mountain Time game. UTEP’s on Mountain Time by New Mexico, seven Mountain Time, nine Eastern Time on their home floor. Even though it is a tournament, that’s a home game for them. Any thoughts if no official play?
Matt Cox:
Yeah, I think other feather in the over’s cap is this game should have a lot of fouls. Both teams are pretty physical, and if you get a pretty loose whistle, that’s a bonus avenue to chipping away at points. Death by a thousand paper cuts, so to speak, with the over. So if the pace doesn’t deliver for you, if shots aren’t falling, I think you have a contingency plan as an over backer with the potential high free throw rate in this one.
TJ Rives:
Well, we’ve seen some upsets already. What was it? Grambling over Colorado, and a couple of other ones with either a SWAC school, et cetera, as some of the historically black colleges that have gone and gotten a couple of upsets early on in the year. Don’t know if that’s going to be the case here for this matchup tonight with Alcorn and with UTEP. Corby, however, is only interested in lots of points tonight. He says over 131 in the Alcorn-UTEP game for tonight. And again, we’ve got some other prominent games that we will be discussing, even if there’s not an official play, one more official play to make, and that one is in a game. What is this game, Matty? The what? The Causeway Classic. Is that what this one is called?
Matt Cox:
Causeway Classic. Yes, sir. Causeway Classic is the-
TJ Rives:
UC Davis and Sacramento State. So we do this off the beaten path at times, but this is apparently a rivalry with UC Davis on their home floor, laying four and a half, the total 129. Tell me a little more about this rivalry between these two schools.
Matt Cox:
It’s been going on for close to 70 years. It means more on the Gridiron. Both are strong football FCS program, so I think that’s where it’s gotten most of its luster, but it means a lot on the hardwood too. I think the home court advantage here is relatively nullified because they are so close. I know it’s a big rivalry game, but I don’t believe that UC Davis has some massive home court edge in this game, and I think that’s what’s driving a lot of the minus four and a half price you’re seeing. I think it should be close to a pick. Sac State under first-year coach David Patrick, who basically built Riverside into what it is now, which is a competent program after almost defunding its program two years ago, went to Arkansas for a year. Now he’s back as the head honcho.
He’s got Cal McRae and Australian Bowyn up front. 7’4.” They play through him. He completely changes the game. I just think he’s such a tough matchup for, it seemed like UC Davis without really plus size upfront to match up with him. Or UC Davis can maybe play, you can counter on the other end and spread them out and maybe drive him, but I think the edge net goes to Sac State here. And again, what I think plays closer to a pick’em in what should be a very slow-paced game as well. I know it’s only four and a half, but man, I think seven points will feel like 70 in a game that’s this slow.
TJ Rives:
Has there been line movement at all of this game that you’ve been watching? I know this is a late night game the night, and I don’t know what it opened at, but have you been watching that and has it moved?
Matt Cox:
A little bit. Yeah, I think actually your early money came up on UC Davis. UC Davis has been taking some money, I think, in the market through a team of the market likes. So I guess I am against some of the shark betters here early, but I just trust Sacramento State under David Patrick. I think they’re little bit undervalued right now.
TJ Rives:
Any thoughts, Corby, on this one or do you just want to move on off of UC Davis? I’m looking for my nicknames here on this. UC Davis Aggies, right? UC Davis Aggies. What is Sacramento State? Pop quiz. Matty Cox. What is Sacramento State? Do we know? Do we know?
Matt Cox:
The Hornets. The Hornets.
TJ Rives:
The Hornets. Very nice. Five bonus points for you. Any thoughts, Corby Craig, or do you want to move on?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I think that as Matt referenced, the under here is something that I would be interested in. I lean towards the underdog as well, strictly due to the idea that I don’t think there’s going to be many points. I had this 65-62 and that is just quite a snoozer of a game where one possession or one big play, it can basically break this in and have a cover. So I like getting the points here. I like the under. Not enough for me to play by any means, but I do agree with the side.
TJ Rives:
All right, the side is Sacramento State. Let’s lock Matty Cox in for a second underdog on a Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. Two different dogs, both of them in the West by the way, with Nevada being the other one. It will take the four and a half in that matchup. All right, kids. Time for some Q&A. There’s some games that are already going on, there’s some peeps that have some questions. We’ll get those. Get those right now in on the live show again, as we’re here at 11:00 AM Eastern time, taking your questions and comments.
If you haven’t done so, hit the like button already. I see the live audience continuing to grow here over the last 10 or 15 minutes. We’ll stay here for a few minutes and take some live questions and see what you guys like here, and see what the handicappers like on some of these. Let’s see. Harold is watching us live. Thank you, Harold. He says, “How do you all like Sam Houston minus 11?” I don’t have that in front of me about who that’s against or where that is. I defer to you boys. Either one of you want to take that, Corby or Matty on Sam Houston laying 11?
Matt Cox:
Sam Houston’s been great, but I don’t like him as a favorite. Go ahead, Corby. I just don’t like laying the points of Sam Houston. Better as a dog.
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I don’t know anything about the side. I had the total over by a decent amount. Sam Houston’s played really slow to speed, but the price, it was 127 currently, I believe. I had this 134, so it’s just a bit too low. Like I was saying, 127’s basically the bottom of a deviation, the teams that fit in the 125 to 127 range should be Virginia’s, North Texas’s. Not teams that shoot bad, more teams that just play purposely slow tempo and very good defense. So I don’t think these teams really do much of either. They are slow, but they’ll give up points, I believe.
TJ Rives:
And in the barrage of games, I can’t tell if that’s a neutral floor game, but I don’t think so, guys. Correct me if I’m wrong, because they’re laying 11 points. That indicates to me Sam Houston, who’s a former NCA tournament team a couple times is the home team in that instance. So-
Matt Cox:
No. Actually, as you said, that is a neutral site game, I believe.
TJ Rives:
Shows you what I know on that. But they’re laying 11 in a neutral floor game. That’s interesting. Do you find that odd, that it’s that high? Do you find it odd, Matty, that it’s that high?
Matt Cox:
I can feel it’s very high, but Northern Illinois, their roster is really, really bleak to be blunt. So it’s not a team I’m rushing to the bookmaker to back, that’s for sure.
TJ Rives:
Okay, good enough on that one. Showtime Cause is watching us. “Can San Diego State slow down Arizona’s offense?” he asks, “Or we just overs till it loses?” I know last night San Diego State and Cincinnati raced. Did they race the over? I believe they got to the over on that one.
Matt Cox:
Yes.
TJ Rives:
Last night. So now this is late night tonight in Maui, San Diego State, Arizona who both won their quarterfinal games. Corby, a thought here. I know you were talking about the total yesterday with Cincinnati and San Diego State having seen, what did San Diego State put 80-plus up by themselves? Are we looking at, I mean, not an official play, but are we looking at a lean towards an over, maybe against Arizona who can score?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, so that was San Diego State versus Ohio State. I think that the biggest issue here, I’ve been on San Diego State’s under, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask about points. The issue here is it’s on a neutral court in Maui, and Maui’s rims are susceptible to being very loose. I’m not here to make an argument on if they actually are or not, but if you watched that San Diego State-Ohio State game last night, geez, Sean McNeil scored, I believe, 25 in the second half. And probably half of them hit front rim, bounced up and went in. So I don’t know if I want to ever bet an under in Maui again. San Diego state’s defense looked fine. The tempo looked fine, they just could not miss. So with Arizona pushing any kind of pace, 164 is a number that’s just like, gee, you would have to do everything correct to score 164 points in a game with San Diego State. But in Maui, I think that that is highly possible, unfortunately.
TJ Rives:
What is the total in this one? Because again, San Diego State got 88 in their game, and I’m looking what Arizona finished with.
Matt Cox:
164, 164 is the bet up. Yeah.
TJ Rives:
Matty, thoughts on that total if no official play on it? Any thoughts?
Matt Cox:
Yeah, I wouldn’t bet it now 164, but I do think over is the right play. I think Maui overs are back. I think the last year or two they’d cooled. They used to be kind of a running joke. You auto bet Maui overs because of the loose rims. You watched those games, I mean, some of those shots hits like there’s-
TJ Rives:
That’s what he’s saying.
Matt Cox:
Yeah, there’s glue on the rim. It’s insane. So I think Maui overs are back. I would lean over in this one, but the price is, yeah, you’re right. It’s high. 164.
TJ Rives:
Carnival rims, as we like to call them, that seemingly help out the shooter. By the way, Cincinnati and Arizona last night in the late night game in Maui, 124 points in the second half. Hello? 63 for Cincinnati. 61 for Arizona in the second half of the game. Just be aware on that for Arizona and San Diego State to play this evening. Let’s see, Dusan Stankovic, if I have that right, I think I have that pronounced right, what a name, says, “Any thoughts on Austin Peay and Bucknell, particularly on the under?” You guys with any thoughts on that or you want to move along?
Matt Cox:
Yeah, any Austin Peay game under sounds good. And it starts at, I think it’s 11:00 AM tip, an early morning, kind of a sluggish, still got to sleep in your eyes type of thing. I like the angle there. I’d lean under too.
TJ Rives:
So is that game, I’m just double checking because the question may have come in before that game started. I’m double checking. That game is a noon Eastern 11:00 AM Central game. It’s in Daytona Beach, so you got a half-hour for that one, and the total is 134. Corby, any thought, any lean?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I completely agree. Austin Peay is an under team. They’re always going to be an under team. They’re one of those teams that do fit in 128, 129 range. They play miserably slow. They want to hold the ball on offense. See, they’re 357th in offensive possession length, and so they are looking to hold the ball. Teams have actually pushed pace on them. They’re a 130th in defensive possession length. That’s only due to opponents. They want to be slow. So I like the under here in an early tip.
TJ Rives:
All right, Bob is watching us. Bob just put a question up about St. John’s and Syracuse. That one again is at Barclays Center, so it is not St. Johns’s home floor, either the Carnesecca Arena in Queens or Madison Square Garden. It’s a Syracuse home away from home, though, as well at Barclays Center. Both these teams won last night, Syracuse had to go to overtime to win the game with Richmond. Any thoughts on this one tonight if no official play? Corby, any thoughts?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, this is going to be a high-scoring game. You know what you’re going to get with St. John’s. I think St. John’s is a really talented team, and I’ve said a couple times on this show, I don’t really think that Syracuse is in particular. I could just be a hater of the team, but I really like St. John’s talents. If I had to lean one way, it would be St. John’s. I have them winning by two, and so it doesn’t fit by any means. I believe the line is three and a half. I don’t have it in front of me, but it should be a good game. It’ll be fun to watch this tempo. St. John’s going to be a fun team to watch all year.
TJ Rives:
St. John’s beat Temple last night. This’s a four team tournament at the Barclays Center. So now they play Syracuse, old Big East rivals. Matty Cox, any thought here?
Matt Cox:
I like ‘Cuse. Another cutoff cut off the OT game yesterday, but they can zone St. John’s and St. John’s against zones is their kryptonite. So I think they will be this season with that roster, which is really star per shooting. So I like the matchup, even though the spot may not be as great because of the overtime. A disadvantage coming from yesterday.
TJ Rives:
St. John’s, laying three on the quasi-neutral floor of Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Total 154 and a half in that one. Let’s see, couple of people are asking about LSU and Akron. That is a day game that is coming up in just a little bit for that matchup on the neutral floor. I’m scanning back. Where is that game? Help me. One of you guys help me. Where is that day game? That one is actually in the Cayman Islands. There we go. Coming up at 1:30 Eastern Time. Adjust your time zone accordingly. LSU and Akron, with LSU laying five on the neutral floor. Thoughts? Matty Cox? Any thought?
Matt Cox:
Yeah, I don’t really like either team, to be honest. And both got wins yesterday against opponents I don’t love. So this is a hard stay away from me.
TJ Rives:
Corby, any thought on LSU and Akron out of the Mac?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, the same for me. Akron is a team that I really disliked all year or coming into the year. I thought that I was going to be able to fade them pretty early, but LSU is not the team to do it. I watched the LSU Missouri-Kansas City game, and LSU let a team that just is not good at all stay in that game for way too long. So completely stay away. This one should be pretty ugly. If anything, it would probably lean the under here on a neutral court.
TJ Rives:
All right, San Francisco and Wichita State, they’re asking about that. The Savages are in the live chat, asking about different games. San Francisco, Wichita State, they were both winners in Kansas City. Now they meet each other. This is another day game at two Eastern Time in Kansas City. San Francisco. The Dons on the neutral floor, laying a point and a half. Any thought on this? Corby Craig, back to you. Any thought on this one on the neutral floor? Dons and Shockers?
Corby Craig:
I’ve bet two totals with Wichita State involved, and believe I’m 0 and 2 on those Wichita State’s defense just forces tempo to be pulled down. But I think San Francisco has a nice balance of offense to be able to get. It’s not a good press by any means. They’ve just played bad teams. I believe Grand Canyon shot 22% in the game that I bet the over. So I don’t think that I was forced because of Wichita. It’s really hard to credit defense to a 22% over. So I would say San Fran if anything.
TJ Rives:
Pardon me, they held Grand Canyon to 43 points on the same floor yesterday in game number one for what it’s worth. Any thought here, Matty? San Francisco got the win in their opening game. This is an afternoon game, coming up here on the neutral floor.
Matt Cox:
Nothing profound. I just think Wichita playing in their backyard matters. That’s a family that travels really well. I think they’ll have a really strong home support. Maybe an extra bonus point of value that’s not reflected in the current line. But I like USF, I like the Dons. I think they’re a sneaky talented roster with a good coach. Part of that Todd Golden-Kyle Smith data raid tree. They play the moneyball of basketball. I think they’re usually a good bet. So all that nets out to no play for me.
TJ Rives:
Brian is watching us real quick. Creighton playing Arkansas. Says, “Anyone like Creighton today? Because everybody said Texas Tech money line yesterday and then got shellacked. Arkansas struggled for a little while with Louisville, who is in complete disarray, but then Arkansas pulled away. Any thoughts on Creighton against Arkansas in Maui?” That’s the first of the doubleheader tonight before Arizona and San Diego State play. Any thoughts on the Blue Jays, guys, real quick before we’re done? Silence.
Matt Cox:
Corby, you go first. Yeah, I’m torn. I really am.
TJ Rives:
Corby. Any thoughts on one of those?
Matt Cox:
I had Tech yesterday, so Creighton took my money. So now I’m going to sit and pout in the corner and watch them probably win.
TJ Rives:
Okay, fair enough. Corby, any thought on that one? And I don’t even see a line. I’ll scan and find a line if I can on the BetUS line, but go ahead.
Corby Craig:
So I think that it’s flipped from Creighton as a favorite to Arkansas as a favorite, I believe. I could be wrong there.
Matt Cox:
Creighton’s favorite now. Arkansas opens short favorite money’s coming on Creighton, as it did yesterday.
TJ Rives:
Interesting.
Matt Cox:
Market likes Creighton. Market really likes Crane.
TJ Rives:
Total 143 and a half on the neutral floor with those carnival rims in Maui, Corby, any thoughts?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I think that Arkansas with Nick Smith Jr. is a team that probably gets this line, but without him, I think that it’s Creighton or nothing for me. And the over nothing for me. But Arkansas, they don’t have one of their best players. So yesterday they have a point guard, I believe his last name was Black. I don’t actually know his first name. He was McDonald’s All-American last year, but he dropped, I believe, 28 points and had the game of his life, and beat up on a Louisville team. That means nothing. Louisville is awful. I’m looking to probably fade Louisville today, and the next game and probably any game that I can. So it doesn’t mean much. I would say Creighton or nothing for me.
TJ Rives:
All right, good enough. Okay, peeps, you got a bunch there. Let’s go back and take a look by means of recap at what the handicappers are officially on. There are four different games. Matty Cox has got two underdogs. Corby’s even got a short underdog with Winthrop, and he’s also on a total as well. Guys, good luck with the plays that are coming up here for the games this afternoon and tonight. Anything else in closing? Corby Craig, anything else in closing before we’re good?
Corby Craig:
Yeah, I had to toss the dog in there because you’ll see me today on the 3 Dog, I guess it’s Tuesday show.
TJ Rives:
Yeah, the 3 Dog Thursday that we’re having to put together today, but it will be out because there’s so many Thanksgiving NFL games, et cetera. We will have 3 Dog Thursday out a little earlier this week. So Corby’s going to make an appearance there. And I think you’re back with us tomorrow as well on the college basketball show.
Corby Craig:
And Friday.
TJ Rives:
If Corby is not sick of me yet, he’ll be sick of me by tomorrow. It’s like everybody with the relatives and the family members that you see once a year. By about Thursday night, I’m just saying. I’m not naming any names in my own family tree. That by Thursday night everybody’s like, “Now we know why it’s only once a year.” I’m not saying about that in the Rives household if this gets back to anybody, but I’m just saying in general, Corby will be sick of me probably the same way by tomorrow. Matty Cox, help me. Any final thought before we depart here?
Matt Cox:
None. I got plenty to share tomorrow and Thursday. So I’ll be back early and often this week as well with the squad.
TJ Rives:
Lots of day games as well as we’re doing this live. LSU Akron coming up in a couple of hours is a day game. We talked about that San Francisco-Wichita State game. That’s a game at two Eastern time. They are playing, let me do my math real quick, at 9:30 in the morning. Texas Tech and Louisville local time in Hawaii for the afternoon here in the United States. So get your day basketball going on a Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. Corby Craig, thank you. Matty Cox, thank you. Appreciate both of you guys. Good luck with your plays.
Matt Cox:
Sir.
TJ Rives:
And Alejandro and everybody else at BetUS, thank you as well. We thank you for watching. We’re back once more before Thanksgiving on Wednesday at 11 on the BetUS College Basketball Show.
