After nearly two weeks devoid of quality college hoops, today finally offers a bevy of quality games to get one last look at a lot of teams before the enter conference play. If you are a night-owl, you are doubly in luck, with quality games airing at 11pm and 1AM EST tonight.
Harvard @ UConn -13: The Huskies are a surprise at #4 in the country and undefeated. It is possible they sleepwalk through this game, it has certainly been the Huskies mantra over past seasons to play to the level of their competition. However, I think the men will be focused on not wanting to cede all the holiday attention to their record-breaking lady counterparts. Plus, Jeremy Lin is gone and this Harvard team just isn't very good. Gimme the Huskies big.
UCF -3.5 @ UMass: If anyone is ripe for a let-down game it is the Knights. After winning two of the biggest games in school history, defeating instate rivals Florida and Miami en route to their first ever appearance in the national rankings (#24 AP) the Knights look to keep their perfection alive visiting a reeling UMass squad. UMass started the year 7-0 before dropping their last three contests to Boston College, Maine and a 25-point blowout to struggling Seton Hall.
This line reflects a lot of the residual name recognition from the Marcus Camby-era Minutemen as well as the relative anonymity of the Knights basketball. I can understand the potential for a letdown, but objectivly the Knights are 10-12 points better on a neutral floor. I think they bring their A-game, win easily tonight, and enter C-USA play as one of the nation's only undefeated teams.
Texas @ Michigan State -6.5: Texas is one of my sleeper teams to watch in March. They are long and athletic and have dynamite freshman talent in Corey Joseph. Michigan State just seems to be a little off in the early part of the season. Knowing Tom Izzo, all those ills will be long forgotten by March, but here in December six and a half feels like way to many to lay in a game they could very well lose straight up. Gimme the Longhorns and the points.
Dayton @ Seton Hall -7.5: Is this line a typo?? I looked at four different sites to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong. It's one of those games that made me wish I wagered for real instead of simply prognosticating for pride and column width... Gimme the Flyers straight up, but the 7.5 makes it even cushier. This is my first lock of the year.
Drexel @ Syracuse -13.5: Don't sleep on the Dragons. They've already knocked off Louisville in their beatiful and cavernous new YUM Center. They won't be intimidated by the Carrier Dome. Drexel is a legit tourney team and will compete with VCU, Old Dominion and George Mason in the better-than-advertised Colonial League. I think the 'Cuse win at home, but I'll take the 13.5 going Drexel's way.
For the final selections, we'll tackle the wonderful trio of games tipping off at 11PM EST. For those of us who start their Christmas Break tomorrow, it's a good night to wrap some presents and watch some Christmas Hoops!
Butler -8 @ Utah, Kansas -10 @ Cal, Xavier +5 @ Gonzaga
Maniac's Record to Date: 12-8-1
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