Market Watch
Buy
Baylor
(1-21 Missouri, 1-24 @Oklahoma)
Baylor enters Saturday’s showdown with Missouri fresh off a Big Monday drubbing against the Jayhawks in Lawrence. This Big XII showdown will easily be one of the top five games of the week and it’s unfortunate the game hasn’t been earmarked for primetime. Since losing at Kansas St, Mizzou has covered 3 straight and may come in a little over valued for Saturday’s contest. After Baylor beats Missouri, I look for them to carry that emotion over at Oklahoma but be bettor beware if the price tag is too high as they head to Norman. My major buy interest on the Bears is vs Missouri while I’ll remain luke warm on backing them against the Sooners.
North Carolina
(1-16 NC State)
Only one game this week for UNC and I love it on the heels of last night’s rousing 2nd half comeback in Blacksburg. For the first time in conference UNC played 20 complete minutes in battling back from a halftime deficit against Tech to win by 14. Keep in mind this may be the worst the ACC has been from top to bottom in quite a few years with only Duke and UVA the real competition for UNC when they’re playing at full speed. I expect the Tar Heels to come out strong and beat the tar out of the Wolfpack this weekend and it will be the resounding blowout UNC fans have craved for weeks.
Michigan State
(1-21 Purdue, 1-25 Minnesota)
The Spartans were on my “SELL” list last week and we were dead on with the analysis as they went 0-2 as predicted. MSU now returns home to host a scrappy Boiler team but this is a must-win for MSU after back to back conference losses. Look for Sparty to come out strong and challenge the Boilermakers and exploit their lack of interior defense. The pressure will be on Purdue all night and Izzo should get 110% effort from his boys at the Breslin center. Minnesota comes in directly following Purdue and their finesse style might be exactly what the doctor ordered for Michigan State. Minnesota’s record is a tad misleading at 14-5 since they started out 0-4 in conference play but did beat Indiana and PSU to get back on track so there may be value fading Tubby’s bunch.
Indiana
(1-22 Penn State, 1-26 @Wisconsin)
Hoosiers have lost four straight ATS including Sunday’s debacle in Columbus where I issued a buy on the Buckeyes. Now its time for them to turn the tide this week against a lesser opponent in PSU. Look for IU to pull away early from the Nitany Lions, something they were unable to do in Happy Valley. Wisconsin poses a stiff challenge for the Hoosiers the following game but Indiana should find success from the perimeter against the normally stifling Badger defense.
Sell
Syracuse
(1-21 @Notre Dame 1-23 @Cincinnati)
After a tough game against Pitt, Cuse takes their undefeated show on the road for two road games against teams equipped to test the Orange and their ATS strength. Yes, ND is not the same side they’ve been in years past but since they haven’t covered their last couple of games the line may be inflated when they host Syracuse at the Joyce Center. Cincy has been the darling of the Big East so far, fresh off a win against Uconn and they get to show just how far they’ve against Syracuse at home. I expect Cincy to play their best game and put forth a complete effort where an upset win would make them a prime sell candidate on next week’s report.
Marquette
(1-21 @Providence, 1-24 South Florida)
Marquette has finally come to life going 4-1 ATS their last five after an abysmal start. The Golden Eagles travel to Providence where the Friars have pulled off major upsets in the past. Marquette then returns home to face USF who has quietly become a thorn in the side of many fellow conference members. This should be a tough week for Marquette ATS against the 2nd tier of the Big East.
