BPI: Bettor Power Index #15 – #11
Provided by professional sports bettor Payne Insider
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Lets get it on…
#15-SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS (22-5) A 10 AP Poll: NR, Coaches Poll: NR
I love Temple this year, but Rick Majerus and the Billikens are the king of the castle in the A-10 conference. Before you say; “But wait, Temple beat St. Louis and will likely win the conference, how can they be better?” I know, sharp bettors are weird! It’s great you match up well against a specific team but reality is there are 343 other teams in the country, and Saint Louis has been better against them. Temple ranks slightly better than St. Louis in offense, but the Billikens are one of the best defensive teams in the country. Come tournament time you can always rely on defense, but offense at the college level tends to pull a Houdini-act as pressure mounts (just ask Butler after last year’s final). The Billikens aren’t as tested as I would like having only played 2 teams in my top 25, but they weren’t outclassed in those match ups by any means losing both by an average of 4.5 points. St. Louis has racked up 7 wins against my top 100 and I like a team that’s savvy, has some experience, plays defense, and has an all-world coach that can prepare them for the ins and outs of the NCAA tournament. The Billikens are one of the most underrated teams in the country and will offer value on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Next Big Game: 2/28 Vs. Xavier Musketeers
#14-MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES (23-5) BIG EAST AP Poll 10, Coaches Poll 10
Buzz Williams always has his Golden Eagles swarming as they play a relentless brand of basketball from tip to final whistle. The kids on this team would do anything for their coach, and because of that this is one of the tightest knit groups in all of college basketball. Marquette can score with the best of them and that’s because they share the ball as well as anybody in the country translating into a team capable of shooting lights out. Despite how the program reads, their tallest starter stands at 6’6″, so to have the success Marquette is having they’ve earned the award of being my “All Effort Team.” With the potential to win 15 Big East games you know it’s been a solid season regardless if the conference is down. Marquette’s reeled off 4 wins against my top 50, and as it stands has the opportunity to tally up 3 more on that list as they close out the regular season. Keep an eye on the Golden Eagles over the next 10 days as they have an opportunity to prove their worth, or let us know they’re an overvalued commodity heading into March.
Next Big Game: 2/24 @ West Virginia
#13-INDIANA HOOSIERS (21-7) BIG 10 AP Poll: 23, Coaches Poll: 24
Hats off to Tom Crean, he’s quickly becoming a legend in the State of Indiana as he rejuvenates this Hoosiers team and leads them back to where Indiana basketball should be. Nobody thought the fix would be this quick, but when you knock off #1 Kentucky, #2 Ohio State, and #13 Michigan it shows people you’re back on the map and can compete with the very best. In addition to the three monumental achievements previously mentioned, Indiana has tacked on 2 more wins against my top 50, so they’re as battled tested as they come. In fact, showing a potential to beat anybody on any given night is the sole reason the Hoosiers are even ranked this high. Their struggles away from Assembly Hall are extremely alarming as the gauntlet that is March Madness rapidly approaches. As big as the game against Michigan State on the 28th is, I want to see what this Hoosiers team does in their last Big 10 road game. If Indiana can pick up a road win at Minnesota in an unfriendly environment it will go a long way in convincing those that have justified concerns. Ease our minds, IU!
Next Big Game: 2/26 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
#12-FLORIDA GATORS (22-6) SEC AP Poll: 12, Coaches Poll: 11
The Florida Gators have one of the highest powered offenses in the country behind coach Billy Donovan. Their efficiency rating on that end of the floor is through the roof and the talent on this Gators team matches up with anybody in the country. Before I continue, this team goes as far as Erving Walker takes them. He’s a liability on defense, and his shot selection and decision making is horrific at best. Can he be one of the better players on this Gators team? Yes! The good version of Erving Walker isn’t hoisting 30-footers over larger defenders, but is breaking down his man off the dribble, finding Boynton and Beal on the wings and getting the ball down low to Young. When he does that, it allows the Gators to compete against anybody – and that’s the reason they have 4 wins against my top 50 including; 2 wins against my top 25. Florida is another team to pay attention to as the regular season concludes, they go on the road to Georgia and Vanderbilt, then finish the year at home against Kentucky. I took a flyer on Florida earlier in the season at 45-1 to cut the nets down, but remember, we take positions on long shots like this to come back later and earn off them. Can they win the National Championship? Probably not, but they certainly can make an elite 8 run to where we can hedge off that and earn profits.
Next Big Game: 2/28 @ Vanderbilt Commodores
#11-NEW MEXICO LOBOS (21-7) MOUNTAIN WEST AP Poll: 18, Coaches Poll: 21
This doesn’t look like a drastic difference to what both the AP and Coaches polls put out. However; the difference is New Mexico just cracked the top 25 in both the aforementioned polls this week, while New Mexico has been in my top 15 since the middle of January. It’s all about getting ahead of the market place on these teams. Bottom line, the Lobos were riddled with injuries early in the season and it caused them to drop games they wouldn’t lose now. They also had a big man that was more concerned about his future NBA team, than his present team. Drew Gordon had bulked up and put on weight at the advice from scouts, but he was extremely uncomfortable playing at his increased mass. Gordon has since shed the excess pounds throughout the season as he’s found a comfortable playing weight, and now he’s back to being one of the best bigs’ in the country. They play in the unheralded Mountain West so not many people get to see their games, but they’ve managed 3 wins against my top 50 including; 2 wins against my top 25. This New Mexico team can do just about everything well, and I expect the Lobos to make some noise come tournament time under coach, Steve Alford.
Next Big Game: 2/25 @ TCU Horned Frogs
Stay tuned for Saturday’s unveiling of teams #6 – #10!
Can you stop wondering, already…
#28 – TEXAS LONGHORNS
#32 – SAINT MARY’S GAELS
#55 – MIAMI HURRICANES
