As you can see @coach_fritz and @catteberry33 had rough nights in pick ’em and ATS last night. However, it can only get better from here……..hopefully! Let’s get to tonight’s buffet of awesome games!
Tuesday’s Performance: @coach_fritz: Overall- 1-4 ATS- 1-4
@catteberry33: Overall- 2-3 ATS- 1-4
Overall Performance: @coach_fritz: Overall- 12-9 ATS- 6-14
@catteberry33: Overall- 13-8 ATS- 6-14
1. #4 Duke (17-2, 4-2 ACC) at #8 Notre Dame (19-2, 7-1 ACC) Favorite: Duke -1.0
Do I really need to hype up how big of a match-up this is? For Duke, this is the biggest two game stretch of the season. After Notre Dame, they get Virginia on Saturday. The Blue Devils need both of them to stay alive in the conference race. Obviously, the player to watch for Duke is Jahlil Okafor. However, you need to also keep an eye on Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow. It seems that when these two play well, Duke is in good shape. On the other side, Notre Dame is coming off a huge comeback road win at NC State. Jerian Grant HAS to play well. If he doesn’t, the Irish have no chance. Pat Connaughton is Notre Dame’s X Factor. If he can heat up, Duke will be in for a battle. This is the first game in South Bend between two top 10 teams since 2003 so Purcell Pavilion should be rocking tonight. The awesome thing is, this may be just a preview of what Duke-Virginia could be on Saturday.
@coach_fritz: Duke- Notre Dame will have a hard time double teaming Okafor inside and then closing out on shooters.
@catteberry33: Notre Dame (Win & Cover)- The Irish will feed off the energy of the crowd and I think Duke has a slight letdown after getting Coach K his 1,000th win.
2. Albany (12-7, 7-0 Am. East) at Vermont (11-9, 6-1 Am. East) Favorite: No Line- Pick ‘Em
This America East showdown tonight may go a long way in deciding the conference race. One thing I remember about Albany…. I picked against them when they played Stony Brook and they torched me. This team is for real. They flew under the radar at the beginning of the year but the Great Danes are here to stay. Senior F Sam Rowley has been outstanding. Rowley has put up double digits in all but four of Albany’s 19 games. Vermont, meanwhile, is led by Ethan O’Day. The Catamounts struggle to score sometimes so the defense will need to be on point. Vermont has been the favorite in the conference for the last few years so Albany can take a step up in class by beating the Catamounts tonight.
@coach_fritz: Vermont- They have been the class of the America East for years and I have been a closet Vermont fan since the early 2000’s.
@catteberry33: Albany- I picked against them once and I regretted it. I’ve learned my lesson.
3. Stanford (14-5, 5-2 Pac-12) at Washington (14-5, 3-4 Pac-12) Favorite: Stanford -2.0
Two bubble teams will clash at Alaska Airlines Arena tonight. Both of these teams are sitting squarely on the bubble and this would be a top 50 RPI win for both. These two teams went to OT in the first game which Stanford won by 8. Chasson Randle, for Stanford, is the player to watch. He’s averaging over 20 ppg and scored 24 against the Huskies in the OT game. Washington is without 6’11” big man Robert Upshaw. Upshaw was dismissed from the team due to a violation of team rules. Nigel Williams-Goss will need to step up in his absence and Williams-Goss has shown the ability to be able to do that as he scored 30 points against Washington State earlier in the year.
@coach_fritz: Stanford (Win & Cover)- They will get what they want inside with Washington lacking the presence of Upshaw.
@catteberry33: Washington (Win)- I think the Huskies will play with the next-man-up mentality and prove that they don’t need Upshaw to win and stay on the bubble.
4. Oregon (14-6, 4-3 Pac-12) at #6 Arizona (18-2, 6-1 Pac-12) Favorite: Arizona -15.0
Arizona hasn’t lost a home game in nearly two years, and tonight they will look to extend the nation’s longest home winning streak to 33 games. Arizona is in a tie for the Pac-12 lead with Utah and has won four straight games. They’re led by freshman Stanley Johnson. Johnson has been a monster scoring the ball and even better crashing the glass this year. Oregon will have problems with him. The Ducks are playing for a spot on the Bubble Watch. IF they can find a way to beat the Wildcats tonight then they will be rewarded a spot. It’s been an up and down year for Oregon. They’re led by senior G Joseph Young. Young played at Houston for two years before transferring to Oregon and has improved every year. This game is HUGE for the quack attack tonight.
@coach_fritz: Arizona (Win)- I think the spread is just too big and Oregon has been playing well lately. The Wildcats get the win but Oregon will cover.
@catteberry33: Arizona (Win & Cover)- The Wildcats are tough at home and Stanley Johnson has been a stud. Zona dominated in Eugene and they will dominate in Tuscon.
