*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* The Southern Illinois Salukis are known for their quality defense. Southern Illinois plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, where it takes solid defense to win games. Nicholls State is a very poor team who struggles to get points up on the board normally. Nicholls State managed to put up 72 points on Utah State yesterday, but I don't think that happens again here. I had this game projected at 131 points. Look for Southern Illinois to jump out to a lead and clamp down on the defensive end. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Fordham Rams got a big piece of their offense back this week. Chris Gaston is the team's most talented player, and he should be their leading scorer by the end of the season. He is back now, and he should be able to put up quite a few points here. UConn will have a major advantage in the backcourt, and I look for Napier and Boatright to both have big games. The posted total is set so low that the pace here doesn't even have to be very quick for this one to get over. The over is 10-4 in UConn's last 14 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Idaho State Bengals are definitely one of the worst teams in college basketball this year. Idaho State hasn't beaten a Division I team yet this year. All of Idaho State's games against DI teams have finished below this posted total. Their single highest game was 122 against Oregon (Oregon won 87-35). Idaho State hasn't scored more than 53 points in a game all year. Portland State isn't very good offensively either. The under is 4-0 in Portland State's last 4 games overall. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Utah State Aggies are always one of the best teams in the nation at controlling the tempo. Utah State plays at the pace they want to play, and they have for years. The Aggies are a team that clamps down on defense and walks it up the floor. Nicholls State isn't a good team at all, and I just don't think they can dictate the tempo in this one. Nicholls State has scored 54 points or less in 3 of their games already this year. Don't be surprised if they are held under that mark again. I had this one projected at 130. Take the under.

*3 Star BYU/San Diego State Total Domination* The BYU Cougars and San Diego State Aztecs are both pretty good football teams, and for both of them it starts with good defense. BYU ranks third in the entire nation in total defense. They are second in the country in rushing defense. San Diego State really can't move the ball much at all through the air. If they are unable to run against BYU, they probably won't put up many points here. BYU's offense is far from dynamic, and San Diego State has a couple future NFL stars on their defense. The under is 11-2 in BYU's last 13 against a team with a winning record. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Oakland lost a lot of scoring from last year's team, and the Golden Grizzlies can't quite push the tempo like they did the past few years. Oakland will run into a West Virginia team that plays very physically. The Mountaineers aren't likely to let Oakland get their wish of turning this into a finesse game that is all about speed and quick shots. Bob Huggins' team will be physical and slow the tempo down to help their chances of winning. West Virginia had very poor defense last time out against Michigan, but I think we'll see a committed effort on the defensive end here. The under is 7-2 in the Mountaineers last 9. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Creighton Blue Jays are one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country. Creighton is averaging 79.6 points per game, and it is hard to imagine them not getting to 75 points in this one. Tulsa has picked up their tempo under new coach Danny Manning this year. Tulsa should get enough shots up to push this total over. I had this one projected at 138 points. Look for Doug McDermott to pile up the points both inside and outside in this one. The over is 4-0 in Tulsa's last 4 against the MVC. The over is 8-2-1 in Creighton's last 11 non-conference games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The NC Greensboro Spartans are one of my favorite over teams. Greensboro pushes the tempo in a big way, and they foul more than any other team in the country so far this year. NC Wilmington will likely be forced into the quicker paced game here, and Wilmington should benefit from getting a bunch of free throw attempts. Neither team is any good on the defensive end, so I expect a lot of easy layups on both ends of the floor. I had this one projected at 149 points. Look for this to go over the posted total.

*3 Star Xavier/Cincinnati Total* The battle for Cincinnati is on tonight. This one is played on a neutral floor. Most people remember the brawl that occurred last year when these two met. These teams absolutely hate each other. A game like this usually is won with defense. The last two meetings between these teams have gone well under this total, and three years ago it would have too if it hadn't gone into multiple overtimes. Cincinnati is playing quicker this year, but they still have a great defense. Xavier has slowed the tempo down a lot since they don't have much strength at the guard spot. The under is 6-2 in Cincy's last 8 games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Appalachian State Mountaineers might have the worst defense in the nation so far this year. Appalachian State is giving up 77.3 points per game, despite not really playing a very tough schedule thus far. South Carolina has scored 82 points or more on four occasions this year, so they are certainly capable of putting up a big number, especially against a terrible defense like this one. Appalachian State can't play defense, but they can shoot three's and score in bunches. The over is 4-0 in App State's last 4 against the SEC. The over is 4-0 in SC's last 4 following an ATS win. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Bailout* The LSU Tigers are adapting to a new offense under coach Johnny Jones this year. Under Jones this team is getting out and running in transition. Jones had a lot of success at North Texas getting his team out in transition, and LSU is putting up a lot of points so far this year as well. UC Irvine plays in the Big West where nearly everyone tries to push the tempo. Irvine isn't likely to slow the game down, and this could end up being a very fast-paced game. The over is 20-7-2 in Irvine's last 29 home games. The over is 6-2 in Irvine's last 8 non-conference games. Take the over.

*5 Star NBA Top Play Total* The Brooklyn Nets are one of the slowest paced teams in the NBA. They also play very good half court defense. Brook Lopez makes this team a very tough defense. When he was out of the lineup for several games, the Nets saw same high final totals. Now that Lopez is back, they have been back to slower paced games and cashing in on the under. The Utah Jazz's biggest strength is their frontcourt, but that will be neutralized by the Nets strong interior defense. Neither team pushes the tempo, and unless they shoot a very high percentage I don't see this one getting over 190. The under is 5-0 in the Jazz's last 5 games on 2 days of rest. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 Tuesday games. The under is 5-0-1 in the Nets last 6 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Furman Paladins have changed their style of play a bit in the past year. Previously, this was a team that slowed it down and walked it up the floor. Now, they look for opportunities to run when they can. Wake Forest always pushes the tempo under coach Jeff Bzdelik. The Demon Deacons should jump out to a lead, which will force Furman to keep their tempo up to try to catch up in this one. I pegged this total at 138. The over is 6-0 in Wake Forest's last 6 games. The over is 5-1 in Furman's last 6 following an ATS loss. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Southern Miss and Georgia State both have new coaches running their program. Both coaches are defensive-minded guys who have their teams playing very good halfcourt defense. Southern Miss has slowed their tempo down quite a bit from last year, while Georgia State has stayed at a slow pace. The oddsmakers seem to be a little too high here. I had this one projected at 120 points. Look for both teams to shoot the ball poorly because of contested shots all the way through. The under is 4-0 in Georgia State's last 4. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Michigan State Spartans don't have the most talent they have had in recent years, but they are playing very well on the defensive end of the floor. Tom Izzo's team is only giving up 56.4 points per game. They have allowed 44 points or less three times in their last nine games. Bowling Green plays at a very slow pace, and the Falcons have a solid defense (especially at home). Look for Bowling Green to slow this game down in a big way. The under is 6-0 in Bowling Green's last 6 against teams with a losing road record. The under is 9-1 in the Falcons last 10 home games. The under is 8-1 in BG's lats 9 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Eastern Washington Eagles and the UC Davis Aggies both play basketball the same way. Both of them push the tempo and get up a ton of shots. This game should be played at a very quick pace. Eastern Washington has given up 80 points or more in 6 of their 9 games this year. UC Davis and Eastern Washington both shoot the three-ball very well, and I expect that to help the points pile up quickly here. The over is 6-0 in UC Davis' last 6 home games. It is also 6-0 in Davis' last 6 Monday games. The over is 8-2 in Eastern Washington's last 10 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the Southern Utah Thunderbirds are both pretty bad teams. Still, they are both teams that should be able to put up points against each other. These are two very bad defenses. This game should see plenty of easy layups and wide open three-point shots for both teams. The pace here should be quicker than this total would indicate. Southern Utah has a new coach this year who has the team pushing the tempo much more than they have in the past. Take the over.

*3 Star Spurs/Thunder Total Domination* Manu Ginobili is expected to miss this game, and that will hurt the Spurs offense. Ginobili has been one of the best at breaking down the Oklahoma City defense in the past few years, and without him the Spurs will likely be less efficient. The posted total was 204 the first time these two met this year, so I see value getting three points higher on the 'under' here. In fact, in the last ten meetings between these teams there has never been a posted total higher than 206. Take the value with the under.

*3 Star NBA Play of the Day* The Houston Rockets and New York Knicks meet in an interesting game at Madison Square Garden today. Houston trampled the Knicks 131-103 last month in Houston. The Knicks will obviously be looking for revenge, and they have been red hot of late. Houston is pushing the tempo far more than anyone else in the NBA. New York has the NBA's most efficient offense right now, and it won't surprise me if they put up 115 points or more here. Houston will get plenty of shots up too. The over is 6-0 in the Knicks last 6 home games. The over is 5-0 in the Knicks last 5 against the Western Conference. The over is 4-0 in the Knicks last 4 games. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Pepperdine Waves control the tempo very well. Pepperdine plays at a snail's pace, and they force the opponent to do the same. Central Michigan is an extremely weak team this season. Keno Davis will likely do a good job with them in the future, but they just don't have many scoring options now. Central Michigan has been held to less than 60 points three times this year. Pepperdine has allowed less than 60 points in three different games. Two of those games also went into overtime. The under is 7-1 in Central Michigan's last 8 Sunday games. The under is 37-18 in Central Michigan's last 55 road games. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Total Domination* The Carolina Panthers have really been on a roll of late. Cam Newton was in a sophomore slump for the first half of the season, but he has been great in the team's last few games. San Diego's offense looked great in Pittsburgh last week, and the Chargers seem to always make that late run at the end of the season. The Carolina defense isn't very good, and they haven't shut down many teams this year. The over is 5-0 in Carolina's last 5 games overall. The over is 5-1 in the Panthers last 6 December games. The over is 5-1 in the Chargers last 6 games against teams with a losing road record. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Totals TKO* The Arizona Cardinals have the worst offense in the NFL right now, and it isn't even close. Arizona has scored a total of 6 points in their last two games. It's hard to believe, but the Cardinals were actually 4-0 at the start of the season. They have now lost 9 straight games. They haven't scored more than 19 points in any of those games. The Cardinals defense is still better than most realize, but they haven't gotten any help from the offense. The strength of this defense is their secondary. Detroit relies heavily on the pass, and I think Arizona can slow them down a bit. Detroit's defense should be able to keep the Cardinals offense out of the end zone most of the game. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Total Value Play* The Tampa Bay Bucs and New Orleans Saints are both probably out of the playoff picture at this point. Tampa Bay's offense has improved quite a bit as the season has gone along, but their pass defense is terrible. Tampa Bay ranks dead last in the league in pass defense. New Orleans can air it out with the best of them. The Saints put up 35 points at Tampa Bay earlier this year. The Saints defense is one of the worst in all of football. Tampa Bay has scored 30 points or more in 4 of their last 9 games. Don't be surprised if they do it again here. Take the over.

*3 Star Florida/Arizona Total Domination* The Florida Gators have been one of the most impressive teams in the country this year. The thing I've been most impressed with is their defense. These guys are contesting every shot very well right now. The Gators aren't pushing the tempo much at all of late. Arizona is a solid team as well, and they are much better this year on the defensive end than they were last season. The under is 7-0 in Arizona's last 7 games. The under is 6-0 in the Wildcats last 6 home games. The under is 4-0 in Arizona's last 4 following an ATS win. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* South Dakota State has one of the best guards in the nation in Nate Wolters. A couple years ago the Jackrabbits were pushing the tempo in a big way, but now that Wolters doesn't have much help they have slowed things down a lot. Montana has been a team that slows it down the past few years, and they play better defense on their home floor. My numbers had this one at 137 points. Look for the slower than expected pace to keep the shots to a minimum here. This one should be close to the end. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Milwaukee Bucks seemed to have change their tempo of late. Milwaukee was running and gunning late last year and earlier this year, but they have changed back to a team that uses up the clock over the past few weeks. The under has been on a big roll with this team of late. The under is 9-2 in their last 11 games. I think the oddsmakers are being a little slow to react to this change in tempo from the Bucks. Both of these teams are above average defensively. I think this stays well under. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls are two of the slowest paced teams in the NBA. Both of these teams walk the ball up the floor and use up the shot clock almost every time. They are also two of the best defensive teams in the league. Brooklyn is a much better defensive squad with Brook Lopez in the lineup, and with him back I think we'll see some nice values on the under for a little bit. Look for a defensive battle between two teams who like to slug it out in a low scoring type of game. The under is 6-0 in the Bulls last 6 Saturday games. The under is also 6-0 in the Bulls last 6 games following 2 days of rest. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Throwdown* The West Virginia Mountaineers and Michigan Wolverines meet in an interesting battle here Saturday. John Beilein will be matched against his old team. Michigan is a very good team this year, and Bob Huggins' Mountaineers aren't particularly strong. Both of these teams like to keep the tempo very slow, so I expect a lot of the shot clock getting used up in this one. My projections had this game at 124 points. Look for both defenses to step up and hold this one down quite a bit. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* Loyola Chicago has proven to be a much improved team this year. Loyola likes to slow the game down and play at their pace, which they should be able to do even better on their home floor. Mississippi State will probably be right at the bottom of the SEC this year, because they simply aren't very good. The Bulldogs don't have many scoring threats at all, and their shooting numbers have been awful. I think Loyola controls the pace in this game, and I think this likely stays under 120. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Texas Total* The Texas Longhorns offense has been horrific this year. Texas State is the perfect opponent for the Longhorns to face right now. Texas is a very athletic team that can score when pushing it in transition. I actually think the Longhorns would benefit from pushing the tempo more often than they currently do. They'll get plenty of chances in this one against a Texas State team that runs and guns and doesn't play much defense at all. This is a great game for the Texas offense to come alive. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Value* Let me start by saying I'm no fan of taking an over between these two teams, but it is all about value. My projected line for this game was 115 points. USC is definitely a better team than they were last year, and most of their improvements are on the offensive end. UC Riverside isn't a good team, but if they get behind they won't be able to keep stalling like they normally would. With a number this low, a 65-45 game would be over the posted total. I can't overlook the value on this one. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA Instate Battle Total* It's a battle between two teams from the state of Iowa. These teams don't like each other very much, and I think that will make both teams play hard and pick it up a little on the defensive end. Both of these teams do like to run, but this number is set very high for that reason. I had this one set at 146 points. Look for both teams to shoot lower percentages than their season average today. I think this will end up being a sloppy game that stays close all the way. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Total* The Nebraska Cornhuskers don't know how to play other than to slow the game down and try to win by controlling the tempo. That probably isn't going to work against the Oregon Ducks, but that won't stop them from trying it. Oregon's defense is much improved this year. The Ducks are allowing only 62.6 points per game this year. Nebraska only averages 62 points per game. I think Oregon gets control of this game and then slows down later in the game when the game has already been decided. My numbers had this one at 131 points. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Anthony Grant will take his new team (Alabama) to face his old team (VCU) on Saturday. Both of these teams play extremely scrappy, and they fight as hard as they can on the defensive end. It's hard to imagine either team shooting the ball very well in this matchup. In addition, neither team really likes to push the tempo all that much. VCU does press, but they also use up the shot clock a lot in the halfcourt sets. I projected this one at 123 points. Look for this one to stay under the total.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Arizona State Sun Devils have played a slightly faster paced game than normal this year, but I think that is primarily because of the teams they have played against. Coach Sendek is normally a guy who likes to slow it down and play solid defense. Dartmouth is a very bad team who slows the game down and also shoots it very poorly from the floor. I projected this line at 123 points. I think Arizona State reverts to their old form in this one. The under is 10-2 in Dartmouth's last 12 Saturday games. The under is 4-0 in AZ State's last 4 Saturday games. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Golden State Warriors are coming off a big win over the Miami Heat in their last game. Golden State may be a little more sloppy in this one, and if they are I think that will show up on the defensive end. Both of these teams are in the top ten in the NBA in pace, so there should be plenty of shot opportunities for both teams in this one. These teams reached 196 in their game a couple weeks ago despite neither team shooting it particularly great or getting to the line very much. The over is 10-3-1 in Golden State's last 14 against the East. Take the over.

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Memphis Grizzlies play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA, and they lead the league in defensive efficiency. Phoenix isn't the offensive juggernaut that they used to be. The Suns have been making a concerted effort to play more defense, and it has helped the team a bit. These two got together a couple weeks ago and the final total was 196 after overtime. I think this one has been set too high by 3 or 4 points. Look for the Grizzlies defense to control this one. Take the under here.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are both near the bottom in the NBA in terms of pace. Both teams walk it up the floor and use up the shot clock. Both are also near the top of the NBA in all the major defensive statistics. Doug Collins and Tom Thibodeau are both defensive-minded coaches. These two teams have played five straight games without a total going over 181 points. The under is 5-0 in the Bulls last 5 following an ATS loss. The under is 5-0 in the Bulls last 5 against a team with a winning record. The under is 5-0 in the Sixers last 5 following a day of rest. The under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these two. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Play of Day* Over the past few years, one of the best teams in college basketball at controlling the tempo of the game has been Cal Poly. With no change in the coaching staff, I expect that to be the same again this year. So far this season, Cal Poly has controlled the possessions quite well in most of their games. Nevada plays at an average pace, and the Wolfpack defense is pretty good. Look for the slow tempo to keep this lower than most expect. The under is 7-0 in Nevada's last 7 games against the Big West. The under is 9-2 in Cal Poly's last 11 road games against a team with a winning home record. The under is 4-1 in Cal Poly's last 5 games overall. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Los Angeles Clippers dismantled the Chicago Bulls earlier this year. The Clippers won 101-80 at home earlier this year against the Bulls. Tom Thibodeau's Bulls weren't playing their patented strong defense early in the year, but they have been much better again of late. Chicago should have this one circled, and I think we'll get a lot of effort from them in this one on the defensive end. Neither team pushes the tempo much at all, so I don't think there will be too many possessions here. The under is 5-0 in the Bulls last 5 home games. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 games following two days of rest. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Bookie BEATDOWN* The Los Angeles Lakers have finally started to pick up the scoring under Coach D'Antoni's new system over the past few games. Los Angeles has scored more than 100 points in six straight games. They have also given up at least 103 points in five of their last six games. Kyrie Irving is expected back for the Cavs, and Cleveland should be able to break down the Lakers defense here. At the same time, the Cavs have no one capable of stopping Kobe or Dwight Howard. This one should coast over the posted total. Take the over.

*3 Star New York City Battle Total* The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets met a few weeks ago in a very low scoring game in Brooklyn. Why do I like the value on the over this time? Brook Lopez won't play tonight and that makes a huge difference in how the Nets play. The Nets aren't going to be able to control the tempo in this one like they did before. Also, Andray Blatche isn't the defensive presence that Lopez is. New York is the most efficient offense in the NBA right now. The over is 4-1-1 in the Knicks last 6 games overall. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Play of the Week* The Miami Dolphins have an underrated defense. Miami is especially strong against the run. San Francisco can throw the football, but they still rely heavily on their rushing attack. It looks like Colin Kaepernick will get another start in this one. He certainly has the potential to be a special player, but he has plenty of room for improvement. The 49ers defense is the best in the NFL. San Francisco is giving up only 14 points per game this year! I expect both teams to settle for field goals in a low scoring battle. The under is 26-9 in Miami's last 35 road games. The under is 5-0 in the 49ers last 5 following a loss. Take the under.

*3 Star NFL Totals TKO* The Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals meet in a very important game Sunday afternoon. The Bengals have won four straight and they are right in the thick of the AFC playoff race. Dallas has struggled much of the year, but they are still 6-6 and very much alive. Tony Romo should be able to throw it against a Bengals secondary that has struggled this year. The Bengals offense has been much better of late, largely thanks to a strong offensive line and a great wide receiver in A.J. Green. BenJarvus Green-Ellis has three straight 100 yard rushing games. The over is 12-5 in the Cowboys last 17 against teams with a winning record. Take the over.

*3 Star NFL Early Bird Special* The Atlanta Falcons have the best record in the NFL, but their defense relies too heavily on forcing turnovers. Cam Newton and the Panthers offense have had a lot of success against the Falcons in their last few matchups. Look for Carolina to surprise some people and score several times in this on. On the other side, the Falcons offense is much better than it was a year ago. Matt Ryan has a tremendous group of pass catchers at his disposal. The Panthers don't have the personnel to stop the Falcons passing attack. The over is 4-0 in the Panthers last 4 games. The over is 7-1 in their last 8 vs. the NFC. The over is 5-1-2 in the last 8 meetings between these teams. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Bailout* Both Valparaiso and New Mexico are teams that I expect to do very well in their respective conference this year. The Crusaders should be the best in the Horizon League, and they have quite a few scoring options on the offensive end. New Mexico will have the athleticism advantage, and they should be able to get to the basket with dribble penetration. I had this one projected at 134 points. I think both offenses are better than the oddsmakers are giving them credit for. Take the over.

*3 Star Arizona/Clemson Total* Brad Brownell is a coach that sticks by his philosophy every single year. Clemson is now a team that walks it up the floor and uses up the shot clock almost every time. They also focus on getting back defensive and setting up a very good half court defense. Arizona likes to push the tempo when they can, but I don't think they'll be able to dictate the tempo in a tough road environment here. Look for this one to stay close all the way. I think this one finishes around 125 points. Take the under here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden Gem Total* The Drake Bulldogs are a solid team in a very good Missouri Valley Conference. Most teams in the MVC like to slow it down, but Drake pushes the tempo whenever they can. Drake has had six games against Division I opponents this year. The lowest scoring game finished at 142 points. Fort Wayne might not be a good team, but they love to push the tempo and jack up quick shots. This should play right into Drake's hands. Look for a quick tempo and plenty of points in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star Butler/Northwestern Total* Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the country. Stevens focuses on ball control and solid defense. Bill Carmody is a very underrated coach as well, and he gets a lot out of his teams thanks to his defensive philosophy. It's hard to imagine a ton of points being scored when these two meet today. It should be a game that is played almost completely in the half court. I projected this one at 124 points. Look for this one to be close all the way. The under is the best value. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Play of the Week* The oddsmakers were way off my projected line on this one. I had this one pegged at 140 points, so I definitely don't know how they came up with 151 points. Both of these teams are in the moderate tempo range, so I don't expect a track meet. Both defenses are good at playing defense without fouling, so there shouldn't be an abundance of free throws. These teams both have a lot of youth and inexperience, which typically leads to an inefficient offense. The under is a perfect 6-0 in San Jose State's last 6 games overall. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* Oregon is a team that likes to push the tempo, but I think this total is set too high considering who their opponent is in this one. Idaho State has played five games against Division I teams this year and they have yet to score more than 52 points. In fact, they have scored 48 or less in four of their five games. The highest total score in a game of theirs this year was 106 points. This one will clearly be higher because of Oregon's offense, but I don't think it will be this high. Take the under.

*3 Star UCLA/Texas Total* The UCLA Bruins and Texas Longhorns meet today in Reliant Stadium. Texas has had one of the worst offenses in college basketball this year. They have also had one of the best defenses in the nation. UCLA has been extremely inconsistent this year. Big stadiums like this (especially ones that aren't normally used for basketball) tend to have very difficult shooting backdrops. I lower my totals by three or four points just on this factor alone. The under is 4-0 in Texas' last 4 neutral site games. The under is 6-0 in Texas' last 6 non-conference games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The West Virginia Mountaineers are never going to be a run and gun team with Bob Huggins as their head coach. This team has an identity built around playing physically and clamping down on defense. Virginia Tech hasn't played a team nearly as physical as West Virginia so far this year, and I think it will slow the Hokies offense down quite a bit. At the same time, the West Virginia offense has been terrible so far this year. Look for a sloppy game that leads to the under cashing in.

*3 Star Navy/Army Total Domination* The Navy and Army game should be never be overlooked as a major rivalry. These two teams have a ton of respect for each other, but they also want to beat each other very badly. The defenses have a key advantage in this game. Both offenses run a very similar triple option. This means both defenses are seeing something in the game that they see every single day in practice. It's no coincidence that the 'under' has been on a nice run when these two teams get together. The under is a perfect 6-0 in their last 6 meetings. The under is 8-0 in Navy's last 8 games on turf. The under is 5-0 in Navy's last 5 December games. The under is 7-0 in Army's last 7 December games. Take the under here!

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Marist Red Foxes have been running and gunning for the last couple years. Marist isn't a very good team, but you can count on them getting up plenty of shots. Manhattan used to play at a slow pace, but the Jaspers adopted a new style last year and it has worked out for them very well. Manhattan has several very good scoring options on their team. I had this one projected at 132 points, so I like the value on this one quite a bit. Look for both teams to get easy looks from pressure defenses. Take the over here.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The Fairfield Stags are the favorite in the MAAC. Fairfield is great at controlling the tempo and playing very solid defense. Canisius is pushing the pace this year, but Fairfield should be able to get this game into their style of play on their home floor. These teams have met five times in the past couple years. The final totals of those games were 124, 127, 125, 127, and 126 points. The line has been adjusted upward far too much here. The under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two at Fairfield. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns both like to push the pace. In fact, both of these teams are in the top nine in the NBA in tempo this year. Dallas is playing faster with O.J. Mayo in the lineup this year. He is a guy who can score in bunches, and I think he'll be effective in this one. Shawn Marion and Vince Carter are both back in Phoenix here, and they should be fired up for a good performance. The Suns still push the pace and put up points at home. The over is 10-2 in the Suns last 12 games playing on one day of rest. The over is 5-0 in the Suns last 5 against the Western Conference. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* The Idaho Vandals are very good at controlling the tempo. It is very rare that you see one of their games with this high of a posted total. Eastern Washington definitely gets out and runs whenever they can, but I don't think they'll be able to turn this game into a track meet like they do with most games, because the Vandals will want to move slowly. I had this game projected at 143 points. The under is 6-0 in Idaho's last 6 games against teams with losing record. The under is 5-0 in Eastern Washington's last 5 games against a team with a losing record. The under is 4-0 in their last 4 meetings in Washington. Take the under.

*3 Star Instate Battle Total* It's a battle for Nebraska tonight in Lincoln. Creighton is the better team here, but Nebraska plays good half court defense and will make the Blue Jays work for their points in this one. These rivalry games are often won on the defensive end, and I think the pace will slow down a bit here. Creighton is an extremely efficient team on offense normally, but they don't really run and gun all that much. Nebraska plays defense on their home floor, and I think this will be a hard fought game. The under is 37-18-1 in Nebraska's last 56 home games. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Cincinnati Bearcats have picked up their tempo a bit this year, but they are still playing very good halfcourt defense. In fact, opponents are shooting only 36% on two-point field goal attempts against the Bearcats. Arkansas Little Rock isn't used to playing teams like Cincinnati, and I suspect they'll have quite a bit of trouble scoring in this one. Look for the Bearcats to jump out to a big lead and then take their foot off the gas. The under is 12-4 in Cincinnati's last 16 home games. Take the under in this one.

*3 Star NCAA BB Total Domination* The South Florida Bulls are as good as anyone in the nation at controlling the tempo of the game. The Bulls like to play a slow half court style, and they force their opponent to get into that type of matchup. Some teams are only able to do this on their home floor, but USF has done it consistently on the road. The under is 13-4 in the Bulls last 17 road games. The under is 15-5 in Oklahoma State's last 20 home games. I projected this one at 121 points. Look for the slow pace to keep this one under the total.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Milwaukee Bucks play at the second fastest tempo in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs are also in the top ten in the NBA in tempo. A game between these two should mean plenty of possessions and shots for both teams. The Spurs are well rested now, and that should mean we'll get a good effort out of guys like Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan. The over is 5-0 in the Spurs last 5 games following a straight up win. The over is 10-2 in their last 12 games against the NBA Central. The over is 6-1 in their last 7 games overall. Look for this to coast past the total. Take the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Hidden GEM Total* Valparaiso should be the best team in the Horizon League this year. Valpo has a nice combination of good shooters as well as solid inside play. Fort Wayne doesn't play teams as good as Valpo very often, and I think they'll give up a lot of points here. Fort Wayne likes to push the tempo, and I expect them to be able to put up a decent amount of points simply because their tempo is quick. This line is quite a ways off what I projected. I expected a line of 132 points here. Take the big value on the over.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* UAB has a new coach who is installing a faster-paced offense for the Blazers. They are speeding things up, but Middle Tennessee State is a very good team. I don't expect the Blue Raiders to just let UAB have its way with the tempo here. In addition, MTSU's defense will be one of the best that UAB faces this year, and that should keep their shooting percentage down. I had this one projected at 138 points. The oddsmakers probably got a little ahead of themselves making this one so high. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Under Radar Total* This game is way off most people's radar, but I like the value on this one. North Dakota likes to push the tempo, and their defense is weak. UMKC has one of the worst three-point field goal defense percentages in the nation. Last year, these teams combined to score 153 points with similar lineups. I don't expect 153 points here, but I do think this one gets into the 130's. Look for plenty of made shots from beyond the arc here. This total was just set too low for these teams. Take the over in this contest.

*3 Star NCAA BB Instate Rivalry* The Marshall Thundering Herd and West Virginia Mountaineers will meet on a neutral court to settle the battle for West Virginia on Wednesday night. Neutral courts typically lead to lower scoring games, and both of these teams have very inefficient offenses right now. The Mountaineers will scrap and claw on defense, but they just aren't very good right now. Neither team will push the pace here very much, and I think this game stays in the half court. Look for this one to stay in the 130's. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night Total* The Pacific Tigers have historically been a team that does a great job dictating the tempo of the game. Pacific likes to play in the half court and not get out and run. The Tigers will be able to control the tempo better here on their home floor. Nevada will push the pace when they can, but this total is set as if both teams will be running and gunning. I projected this game at 136 points. The under is 7-0 in Nevada's lats 7 games against the Big West. The under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings between these teams. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Siena Saints aren't anything even close to the team they used to be. A few years ago they were a high flying team that pushed the tempo under Fran McCaffrey. He is now at Iowa, and Siena is now slowing the tempo down and looking to win with ball control and defense. St. Bonaventure lost their star (Andrew Nicholson) from last year, and this team's offense is no longer all that strong. I had this one projected at 127 points. Look for this to stay under the total by a couple of baskets.

*3 Star NCAA BB Intrastate Battle* The Michigan Wolverines have looked about as good as anyone in college basketball so far this year. Michigan controls the tempo extremely well, and there won't be anything Western Michigan can do to turn this into a track meet (I don't think that would help them anyways). Michigan's defense is much better this year, especially in the half court. Western Michigan doesn't have any clear established leaders on offense right now. Look for Michigan's style of play to keep this one under the posted total.

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals Takedown* The Richmond Spiders are a very good defensive team. This is a team that controls the tempo of the game and makes it tough for their opponents to get easy looks near the basket. Old Dominion hasn't found any go to guys on offense yet this year, and the Monarchs simply haven't been very good this year. ODU isn't the type of team to push the tempo, especially now that they are weak in the backcourt. Look for a defensive game here between two teams who have a lot of question marks offensively. The under is 5-2 in Richmond's last 7 games. Take the under .

*3 Star Texas/GTown Total* The Texas Longhorns have one of the best defenses in the nation so far this year. They also have one of the worst offenses. Without Myck Kabongo, this offense is struggling to find any kind of rhythm. Georgetown lost a lot of talent from last year, but the Hoyas are still playing very good defense. Georgetown will keep the pace of the game slow here. Madison Square Garden is the site of this game, and the shooting background here is notoriously difficult. The under is 5-0 in Texas' last 5 non-conference games. The under is 5-0 in GTown's last 5 following an ATS loss. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA BB Early Bird Special* The Purdue Boilermakers are known for their defense. This year Purdue has given up just 63.3 points per game. Lamar's offense has been horrible this season. Lamar is scoring just 56.1 points per game. Purdue should get in front in this and then cruise to a big victory. Lamar has no offensive leadership, and the Boilers will make them take a lot of difficult shots in this one. The under is 12-4 in Purdue's last 16 non-conference games. The under is 3-1-1 in Lamar's last 5 road games. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Milwaukee Bucks have the second fastest paced offense in the NBA by the numbers (Houston is first). Milwaukee has two guards who can push the tempo as well as anyone in the NBA in Jennings and Ellis. New Orleans is without Anthony Davis in this one, and that probably helps the over more than anything because he is a defensive beast. These two met earlier this year and the final was 117-113. The total in that game was 191. The total here is set two points lower for some reason. Milwaukee will get their shots up, and New Orleans allows opponents to shoot 40.2% from three-point range. The over is 4-0 in the Hornets last 4 vs. a team with a winning record. The over is 6-1-1 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Total* The Florida Atlantic Owls have slowed their tempo down this year. Arkansas State is a very slow paced team under John Brady. The oddsmakers line here is way off of my projections. I projected this one at 124 points, so I see a ton of value on this one. The recent trends have been to the over, but I can't overlook that much value on my numbers. Both of these teams play slow, and neither team shoots the ball very well. Look for an ugly game that finishes way under the posted total. Take the under in a big way!

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play Total* The Princeton Tigers may not play quite as slow as they used to, but they still don't let a game speed up much at all. Kent State lost most of their offense from last year, so I don't see them being able to turn this into an offensive shootout. The Tigers will run the shot clock down and slow this game down in a big way. I had this line projected at 128, so I see a lot of value in this one. Unless the shooting numbers are outrageously high, I just don't see this one breaking 130 points. Take the under big!

*3 Star Alabama/Georgia Total Domination* The SEC is going to be back in the BCS title game once again this year. Who will be playing for that title? Most assume it will be Alabama, but Georgia is better than many believe. The strength of both teams is their defense. Georgia likes to run the football with Marshall and Gurley, but Alabama's run defense is extremely good. Aaron Murray has been shaky in big games. Georgia's defense has been amazing of late. The Bulldogs have allowed 14 points or less in four straight games. The under is 6-0 in Georgia's last 6 games. The under is 5-0 in Georgia's last 5 conference games. Look for both defenses to play well. Take the under.

*3 Star NCAA FB Early Bird Special* This will be the highest 'over' I have ever recommended, but I still believe this is a good value. Baylor is a perfect over team because they have a prolific passing offense and a horrible defense. Baylor is second in the nation in total offense, and second to last in the nation in total defense. Oklahoma State averages 45.6 points per game, and they have allowed more than 40 points four times this year. Don't expect to see any defense played in this game. It should be a lot of passing and missed tackles by the secondary. The over is 4-0 in the Cowboys last 4. The over is 21-4-1 in Baylor's last 26 games. Take the over. **I recommend a play on this one all the way up to 88 points**

*3 Star NBA Totals TKO* The Memphis Grizzlies have the best record in the NBA right now. The number one reason for that has been their effort on the defensive end. Memphis is only allowing 91.1 points per game this year. Detroit is coming off a huge win over Phoenix, but things won't come nearly as easy for the Pistons in this one. I expect Memphis to jump out to an early lead and coast late in the game. Detroit has been blown out on several occasions this year, and this could certainly be another one. The under is 6-1 in the Grizzlies last 7 against the Eastern Conference. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two in Memphis. Take the under.

*3 Star NBA Total Domination* The Washington Wizards play at one of the slowest paces in the NBA. Not many people realize it, but the Knicks are also playing at one of the slowest paces in the league right now. Coach Woodson has the Knicks playing efficiently on offense, but they don't look to push the tempo very often at all. Washington has improved quite a bit on the defensive end this year, and the Wizards aren't as bad as their record would indicate. Look for a half court game here where both teams use up the shot clock. The under is 6-1 in the Knicks last 7 home games. The under is 4-0 in the Wizards last 4 games following a win. The under is 20-5-1 in the Knicks last 26 games against a team with a winning percent below 40%. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA Hidden GEM Total* Pepperdine has been great at controlling the tempo of the game over the last couple years. Pepperdine had two overtime games earlier this year, and the final totals in those games was 110 and 114 points. The Waves aren't going to get sucked into a transition type of game here. Montana State has played against a lot of fast-paced teams this year, which gives us a lot of value here on the under. Montana State's offense has a ton of question marks this year because of youth. The under is 11-3 in Pepperdine's last 14 road games. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Late Night BAILOUT* Long Beach State definitely doesn't have the talent they had last year, but Dan Monson's team is still going to put a lot of pressure on the opposition and force them into mistakes. Loyola Marymount will likely turn it over a lot here and lead to easy buckets for Long Beach State. On the other end, Anthony Ireland and Ashley Hamilton should be able to get open looks just about any time they want to in the half court sets. The over is 4-0 in Marymount's last 4 games overall. The over is 6-0 in the 49ers last 6 games against the WCC. Take the over.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Total* The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks have had a lot of success in football this year, but this basketball squad isn't any good. They will struggle to score points all year. Last year the Warhawks went 3-26, and they won't be much better this season. In their two games this year they have scored 51 and 52 points. Look for Western Kentucky's pressure defense to bother them a lot. Western Kentucky plays quickly, but they shoot a poor percentage. The under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between these two at Louisiana-Monroe. I think this one stays under 130. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* UMKC has been brutal on the offensive end so far this year. They are shooting only 28.8% from three-point range, which is particularly bad since this team shoots a ton of three-pointers. They are also only shooting 62.8% from the free throw line. UMKC has traditionally been a team that slows the game down when given the chance, and I think they'll be able to do that against a mediocre IUPUI team. The under is 8-2 in IUPUI's last 10 games against the Summit League. The under is 4-1 in UMKC's last 5 against the Summit League. Take the under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play of Day* The Arkansas State Red Wolves really control the tempo under head coach John Brady. Brady has always been a defensive-minded guy. Arkansas State won't let Florida International turn this into a track meet. I also don't believe FIU has the talent to put up a ton of points right now. The team is in a rebuilding mode. Several of Arkansas State's best players are dinged up right now. They will likely play, but they aren't going to be at 100 percent. My numbers had this one projected at 133 points, so I see a ton of value in this play. Take the under big!

*3 Star NCAA BB Totals TKO* The Cal State Northridge Matadors only know one way to play and that is extremely fast. Northridge will press and try to turn this game into a track meet. The problem with that is UCLA has tons of speed and athleticism all over the floor this year. Teams who are going to beat UCLA will likely need to slow them down a bit, but Northridge can't do that. UCLA should put up a huge number against this Northridge defense. On the other side, Northridge moves quick enough that they should get plenty of shots and points to push this over. Take the over.

*5 Star Top Play Under Radar Total* Stanford has picked up the pace since Dawkins took over as their coach. Aaron Bright and Chaisson Randle are very talented in the backcourt. The Cardinal should certainly put up a very big number against a Seattle team that doesn't play much defense at all. Seattle loves to push the tempo. In fact, they play at the fastest pace in the entire nation right now. Seattle will get up quick shots, and they'll get their points. Stanford has a big size advantage on the inside and they'll get easy looks. The over is 6-2 in Stanford's last 8 home games. Take the over big.

*3 Star NCAA BB Bookie Blaster* The Utah State Aggies are very good at dictating the tempo that they want the game to played at. Utah State isn't nearly as talented this year as they have been in many years in the past, but they'll still control the tempo and play solid defense. Stew Morrill's team is fundamentally sound, and I think they'll slow down Santa Clara's high powered offense. Santa Clara likes to play quickly, but they aren't particularly efficient on the offensive end. I had this line projected at 136 points. Look for this to stay under.

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play GEM* The Washington State Cougars have slowed down their pace in a big way from where they were a couple years. Of course it makes sense because they don't have Klay Thompson or any prolific scorers on this team anymore. Washington State is content to burn clock and play solid defense. Idaho is a very similar team. The Vandals don't have any great scorers, but they have plenty of guys who play great one on one defense. This has all the makings of a half court game where both teams struggle to get open looks. The under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these teams. The under is 5-1 in Washington State's last 6 home games. Take the under big!

*5 Star NCAA BB Top Play of Week* The UNLV Runnin' Rebels love to push the tempo under coach Dave Rice. UNLV has speed at every position on the floor, and they are extremely dangerous in the open floor. UC Irvine is a team that runs and guns all the time. The Anteaters nearly knocked off UCLA on the road, and they scored 79 points in that one. UC Irvine isn't going to slow the game down, which means UNLV should have a field day here. Don't be surprised if UNLV puts up 90 points on their own in this one. If the shooting in this game isn't atrocious, I think this sails over the total. The over is 22-5-1 in Irvine's last 28 following an ATS loss. Take the over in a big way!

*3 Star Ohio State/Duke Total Domination* The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Duke Blue Devils both have some guys who can really fill it up. Deshaun Thomas is capable of going off for 30 points at any time for Ohio State. Seth Curry is one of the best shooters in the nation for Duke. Both teams like to get out in transition when given the opportunity. I expect the tempo here to be conducive to an over. Both defenses are far from terrific at this point. Neither team has a great shot blocker down low. Look for both teams to get to the line often. The over is 13-3 in the Buckeyes last 16. The over is 6-0 in Duke's last 6 against the Big 10. The over is 6-1 in the Buckeyes last 7 non-conference games. Take the over.