The Orange are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record and 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games as a favorite. Down the stretch the Orange have been on of the hottest teams in the the nation as they won 8 of their last 9 games and a case can be made that that lone loss was due to all the extra OT periods they had played the previous nights. Well the Orange are now rested and ready for a solid run in the tourney. The Orange defense has been very good down the stretch and if you take out the 6 OT game vs UConn then they have allowed just 55.9 ppg in their other 8 games, and that still includes 2 other OT games. ASU has not been that hot down the stretch, as they limped into the Pac-10 tourney with a 1-3 mark right before and then they lost to USC in the title game. ASU's numbers vs Temple were solid as they shot 51.3% from the field, including 57.1% from beyond the arc, while the Owls shot just 37.3% overall and 35.5% from beyond the arc. Despite those solid numbers the Sun Devils still only won by 9. ASU won't have those kinds of numbers in this one as the Orange are simply a better team than the Owls. ASU has played good defense this year, but the Orange have scored 73.7 ppg when playing away from home and 84.3 ppg on neutral floors. The Devils have scored just 64.7 ppg away from home this year. I just feel the Orange are playing to well right now to not make it to the Sweet 16. 'Cuse by 7+ here.
2 UNIT PLAYS
Cleveland State/ Arizona Over 133.5:
The Over is 12-4 in Vikings last 16 games following a S.U. win, while the Over is 9-1 in Wildcats last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600 and 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 NCAA Tournament games. The Vikings come in scoring 70.7 ppg on neutral floors this year and they have put up a solid 67.5 ppg in their last 5 games. Cleveland State does allow just 60.1 ppg overall and 63.4 ppg on neutral floors. The will be facing a very good offense tonight as the Cats have averaged a solid 72.5 ppg overall 73.8 ppg on neutral floors and a very good 78.2 ppg in their last 14 games. Their last 14 games have averaged 153.4 ppg, while their neutral games have averaged 138 ppg. The Vikings put up 84 points on a tougher Wake defense and I see them having good success vs this Arizona team, while the hot shooting Cats are more than capable of notching 70+ points in this one, This game should be played in the high 140's
5.5pt Two Team Teaser Play--- Wisconsin +9.5 & Michigan State +1.5
Jeff Scott 3-22-09
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