535 NORTHERN IOWA +3.5 over T.C.U. - Let's side with the more established program coming off a huge season over the rebuilding Horned Frogs hoping to reverse their losing culture (11-21 last season).
566 GONZAGA +2.5 over Illinois - The market is giving this young Illini team too much respect. Look for the Zags to show improvement in December after a rocky 4-2 start. Elias Harris will start despite sitting out last game vs. Eastern Washington. The annual Battle in Seattle will be played at KeyArena.
581 CORNELL +17.5 over Minnesota - Al Nolen is out (foot injury) for the Gophers. The starting point guard is critical to Minny's success, both offensively and defensively. Nolen missed Minnesota's last game against Virginia, an 87-79 loss with Minny a 13-point chalk. UVA hit 10-of-13 from 3-point range. Cornell, after losing four starters from last year's outstanding team, still shoots plenty of 3's. The Big Red this season has made 61 shots from beyond the arc compared to only 35 from their opposition.
602 NEW MEXICO STATE +7 over New Mexico - This is the first of two games in the annual home-and-home series between the Lobos and Aggies with the rematch scheduled for next Saturday in Albuquerque. Let's side with the home underdog who showed resilience in a two-point loss last Tuesday night against another rival, UTEP.
615 WICHITA STATE +10 over San Diego State - Like the UNI selection over TCU, I'm taking points with a MVC team over a MWC rep. Wichita State's lone loss to UConn on November 22 is looking better and better after the Huskies went on to win the Maui Invitational en route to opening the season a perfect 7-0. Wichita State is a fundamentally-sound team that must focus on defense against a red-hot SDSU team playing before a sellout crowd at Viejas Arena. The points are irresistible.
566 GONZAGA +2.5 over Illinois - The market is giving this young Illini team too much respect. Look for the Zags to show improvement in December after a rocky 4-2 start. Elias Harris will start despite sitting out last game vs. Eastern Washington. The annual Battle in Seattle will be played at KeyArena.
581 CORNELL +17.5 over Minnesota - Al Nolen is out (foot injury) for the Gophers. The starting point guard is critical to Minny's success, both offensively and defensively. Nolen missed Minnesota's last game against Virginia, an 87-79 loss with Minny a 13-point chalk. UVA hit 10-of-13 from 3-point range. Cornell, after losing four starters from last year's outstanding team, still shoots plenty of 3's. The Big Red this season has made 61 shots from beyond the arc compared to only 35 from their opposition.
602 NEW MEXICO STATE +7 over New Mexico - This is the first of two games in the annual home-and-home series between the Lobos and Aggies with the rematch scheduled for next Saturday in Albuquerque. Let's side with the home underdog who showed resilience in a two-point loss last Tuesday night against another rival, UTEP.
615 WICHITA STATE +10 over San Diego State - Like the UNI selection over TCU, I'm taking points with a MVC team over a MWC rep. Wichita State's lone loss to UConn on November 22 is looking better and better after the Huskies went on to win the Maui Invitational en route to opening the season a perfect 7-0. Wichita State is a fundamentally-sound team that must focus on defense against a red-hot SDSU team playing before a sellout crowd at Viejas Arena. The points are irresistible.