Handicappers Picks

Butler vs. Cleveland State
Free Pick: Cleveland State +6 (February 13th 2010 – Matt Fargo)
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This is likely going to be a letdown game for Butler on Saturday. The Bulldogs clinched the Horizon League outright with its win at Youngstown St. on Thursday and they will head to Cleveland with little incentive. They were taken out last season by Cleveland St. in the Conference Tournament but they already got their revenge with a home win over the Vikings earlier this season. With first place already in its grasp, this is the best time we have seen to play against Butler and its 14-game winning streak. The Vikings knew it was going to be a much tougher season with the loss of three very important starters from last season’s championship team. Cleveland St. has grown up in a hurry however and heading into this game it is riding a six-game winning streak, its longest of the season. The Vikings are 10-3 at home this season but those losses came early in the season during the non-conference portion of the schedule. They are a perfect 6-0 at home in conference play and while it can be argued the conference is in a down year as far as strong teams go, protecting home court is still the goal no matter who the competition may be.

Now that one of the best and hottest teams in the country is making a visit, the motivation goes up even more. Also, the revenge factor doesn’t hurt either. When looking at the numbers, the two big categories I look at are pretty much even here. Butler and Cleveland St. are exactly even at the free throw line and the 1.03 to 1.01 assist/turnover comparison is nearly even as well. Cleveland St. covered its lone game as a home underdog this season when it lost against number four West Virginia by just a bucket while receiving 15.5 points. Butler may be 22-4 on the season but it is only 10-16 against the number and the number one cause for the poor spread record is the Bulldogs being overvalued. They have not lost as a road favorite this season, going a perfect 9-0 but they are just 4-5 against the number in those games. They are also only 7-14 ATS following a win and I do not see that changing much here. With first place locked up, the Vikings have a lot more on the line as far as seedings and possibly even more importantly, confidence heading down the stretch of the season 3* Cleveland St. Vikings

Related posts:

1. Free College Basketball Pick: Butler vs. Loyola-Chicago: January 21st 2010
2. NCAA Basketball Prediction: Wright State vs. Butler: March 9th 2010
3. Free College Basketball Pick: Boise State vs. New Mexico State: February 27th 2010
4. Free College Basketball Pick: Washington State vs. Stanford: February 11th 2010
5. Free College Basketball Pick: Northern Colorado vs. Idaho State: February 12th 2010