Handicappers Picks

Northeastern vs. Connecticut
Free Pick: UConn -7.5 (2010 NIT Tournament – Tom Stryker)
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Off four consecutive straight up losses including an embarrassing first round blemish to St. John’s in the Opening Round of the Big East Tournament, Connecticut will bounce back nicely tonight at home in the NIT matched up against Northeastern.

As stated, the Huskies dropped a 73-51 decision to the Red Storm in their last game and that crushing defeat places them in an automatic “play on” situation. Since the 1990-91 season, NIT 1st Round hosts that enter off a blowout loss of 20 points or more are a respectable 21-5 SU and 17-9 ATS including a solid 16-2 SU and 14-4 ATS in this role carrying a won/loss percentage less than .640. With those two parameters applied and our host favored by -4′ or more, this system tightens up to a rewarding 8-1 SU and ATS mark! UConn applies to all three parameters of this angle.

To help our cause, Big East home teams have dominated the 1st Round of the NIT Tournament posting a solid 20-3 SU and 15-7-1 ATS mark provided they check in off a straight up loss. If our BEAST team spots a won/loss percentage less than .590, this conference situations improves to a superb 11-0 SU and 9-1-1 ATS! On the flip side, since the 2005 season, Northeastern has struggled against teams from the Big East notching a woeful 1-9 SU and 2-8 ATS record.

The Northeastern Huskies participated in the CBI Tournament last year and found a way to pull off an upset win at Wyoming in their first game. Considering these Huskies are just 9-20 ATS priced as a road dog of +5′ or more when matched up against an opponent that holds a won/loss percentage greater than .200, an encore performance against one of the Big East’s better teams isn’t likely to happen. Take Connecticut. Thank you and best of luck, Tom Stryker.

Iowa State vs. Kansas State
Free Pick: Kansas State -16 (March 6th 2010 – Tom Stryker)
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With a 2-11 SU and 5-8 ATS record in its last 13 games, Iowa State is obviously playing some of its worst basketball of the season. Things won’t get any easier for the Cyclones when they visit Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday night. Kansas State returns to Manhattan off its 82-65 beating at rival Kansas and the Wildcats will be looking to administer a little of their own pain here.

If you need a couple of technical reasons to lay the lumber with KSU on Saturday, please consider the following: K State is a spotless 8-0 SU and 5-2-1 ATS in its last eight meetings against ISU. Equally impressive, the Cats are a stellar 36-21-1 ATS at home since 2005 including 26-11 ATS in this role favored by -6 points or more.

With a victory tonight, KSU will grab sole possession of the No. 2 spot in the Big 12 standings. Wildcat seniors Luis Colon and Chris Merriewether have won more games than any class in school history. These two seasoned veterans will close out their stellar careers with one more “W”! Take Kansas State. Thank you and best of luck, Tom Stryker.