[Handicapper]

Villanova @ Pennsylvania

This game is so heavily lopsided, I literally coldn't believe the number when I saw it. Nova comes in averaging 83.7 ppg shooting 49.2% from the field (28 makes per game), 72.4% from the FT line (17 makes per game), and an impressive 43.3% from 3pt range (11 makes per game) while Penn allows 39% 3 pt FG defense. Nova's Defense isn't too shabby either only allowing 58.3 ppg, while opponents shoot 41.3% (about Penn's average 42.3%), and they defend the three decent at 32.1% while Penn definitely likes to shoot the three ball to a tune of 28.6%, that number doesn't appear to get any better tonight. Nova outrebounds their opponents by an average of 5 per game, while Penn is outrebounded by the same margin. Nova has a 1.36 assist to turnover ratio while Penn has a -1.14 ratio. Penn also shoots 66% from the charity stripe. Penn also comes into this tilt allowing more points than they are scoring per contest (66.8 / 68.3). I know everyone's argument is simple for Penn...they ONLY lost by 13 at Cameron Indoor......Nova doesn't overlook the Quakers tonight on the road, and rolls to a rather comfortable 20+ point victory!

Villanova -11

DePaul @ Wake Forest

This is another contest where the books want you to think the DOG actually has a chance. DePaul comes into this game allowing ONLY 62.1 ppg, but they cannot score (63.1 ppg). That's not a good thing even against a Wake team allowing over 72 ppg. Wake puts up over 81 ppg, shots almost 49% from the field, and can still knock home the three ball at a 37.3% clip. DePaul defends the three well only allowing approx 30%, but that's not hard to do when you don't play 3 pt shooting teams. Although Wake allows 72.5 ppg, opponents are only shooting 37.7% against them. Wake will control the glass, which will control the tempo, and allow easy buckets, and 2nd chance points. I will simply take the superior, and more athletic team to get the job done at home tonight, and again, roll to a comfortable 20 point victory.

Wake Forest -10.5

New Mexico State @ New Mexico

These are the ones you really got to watch. NMST already has a 6 point W over the Lobo's as a 5 pt DOG, and are currently a 12 point DOG??????? Both teams approx shoot the ball the same (45%), they both defend the same allowing opponets to shoot 43% and approx 30% 3 pt range. The key to this game will be NMST's ability to get to the charity stripe where they average 26 attempts per game, and make 68.7%. The average 7 more attempts per game than the Lobo's and I feel this alone will keep the contest tight throughout. NMST also has the services of 6' G Mike Mitchell who in his first game back had a solid 19 point effort. NMST needs to take care of the ball better, and although they may not be able to win for the 2nd time in 10 days, they stay well within the current number.

New Mexico State +12