[CMattis22]

Craig Davis Friday's Lineup
30 Dime --- TEMPLE (Buy the 1/2 point)

15 Dime --- WARRIORS

10 Dime --- ROCKETS

TEMPLE OWLS (be sure to buy the 1/2 point whether your number is -4 1/2, -4, -3 1/2 or -3 as these are all key numbers in college football) --- This game is going to come down to one thing and one thing only... Temple's running game. Freshman RB Bernard Pierce is one of the best RBs in college football that no one's talking about, and I'm here to tell you this guy is the real deal. Pierce already has 1211 yards rushing, not to mention his 14 TDs. He has surpassed 175 yards on the ground in each of his last three games to go along with 8 rushing TDs... so it appears he's getting stronger as the season goes on. Pierce is a unique runner who can not only run effectively outside the tackles but he's also not afraid to get his hands dirty and bust a few right up the middle. Pierce is running like a senior at just 19 years old and is honestly the sole reason this team is 7-2, including seven straight wins.

As for Akron... well, they're awful. In every facet of the word "awful", they're awful. They don't run it well (just 3.2 yards per carry), they don't throw it well (having already used three QBs this year) and don't really play very good defense. It's not surprising the Zips are just 2-7 on the year... and one of those wins was against lowly Morgan State. They're only other win, coming last week, was in conference against Kent State --- but if you look at their record you can see that win should have been expected. Kent State's record is a bit misleading as they are seriously on about the same level as Akron, despite their 4-2 conference record.

The number that stood out to me was the horrendous run defense that Akron rolls out there each week. The Zips surrender the exact same number of yards on the ground per game as the Owls average on offense. So I think it's safe to say Temple, with Pierce, will clearly have their way with this Akron defense. They'll control the tempo, chew up the clock, and likely win the battle of field position. This might not be as exciting as West Virginia/Cincy in terms of entertainment value, but it's the best bet on the board... you can be sure of that. Like I said, Temple has won 7 straight games after dropping their first two of the season, having covered ALL FOUR of their roadies in 2009. The Owls have covered 7 of their last 9 lined games overall while Akron is just 2-6 ATS in their last 8 conference games. The Owls are also 17-7-1 ATS in their last 25 conference games, 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 when coming in off an ATS loss, and 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 when allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game. Temple wins and covers rather easily tonight.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS --- Just curious... who are the NY Knicks to be laying points to anyone right now? Okay, I realize the Warriors really don't appear to be all that much better right now, but I've seen both of these teams play and I'm telling you, the Knicks might be one of the worst two or three teams in basketball. They don't defend, they don't shoot well, they don't rebound... really the only thing they can hang their hat on is their free throw shooting (over 80% per game). And when it comes right down to it, we have two perceived, high-powered offenses doing battle... and one of them shoots the 3 exceptionally well --- the other one doesn't. Golden State hits nearly 41% of their shots from behind the arc while New York is hitting at a 29% clip. Like I said, when neither team plays defense and one of them clearly shoots better from the field and from the three-point arc, you have to side with the better shooting team, don't you? Yes, I understand that the Warriors likely can't keep up this 41% shooting from downtown all season, but right now they are hot from out there and until that stops, it's hard not to back them when they're getting points... especially when facing a team that doesn't play a lick of defense. Take the points and enjoy the win.

HOUSTON ROCKETS --- Like I mentioned already a few times this year... the Sacramento Kings are a bad basketball team, but the fact that they've already won four games gives us tremendous line value in this one. But honestly, who have the Kings beaten this year? OKC, Memphis, Golden State and Utah. Admittedly, the Utah win was a bit surprising, but it's not like the Jazz are playing good basketball right now either. Houston is clearly the superior team, even without Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest, and should make quick work against a less-experienced Kings starting five. Sacto will also be without their best player, G Kevin Martin, who is still dealing with broken bones in his shooting wrist. Don't get me wrong... Sacramento has clearly surprised me to this point in the season and they are fun to watch because they like to push the tempo, but they just don't have that one, go to player, with Martin on the bench, that can be counted on when the game is on the line. My thought here is... Houston is deeper, a little more experienced, and better defenders... and in the end they will use that defense to clamp down on the Kings in the fourth quarter en route to a fairly easy 10-point win on the road.



BOUGHT,PAID AND CONFIRMED