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New Orleans Privateers(+15.5) over SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GOLDEN EAGLES
4* #731 NEW ORLEANS over SOUTHERN MISS

Yes, Southern Miss is considered the host of this event. But this is not in Hattiesburg, it is at the Gulfport High School gym, and the crowds will be rather sparse over the course of these three days (especially with so many Southern Miss fans making the trip to New Orleans for last night?s bowl game). Yet the markets are pricing this like a full home court for the Golden Eagles, which is mistake number one. Mistake number two is that we are going to see a tempo that makes this pointspread a mountain to overcome, calling for a degree of dominance that this matchup does not bring. Although Larry Eustachy?s team is off to a 7-1 start, the schedule has been among the weakest for any Division I team, and with so many new faces blending into the rotation it is a prime reason why this three-in-three format was put together. This is to be a chance to learn and develop some more, and without a senior in the playing rotation the building process is only in its early stages. They are not going to do much pressing to create tempo, and with two more games immediately on deck there will also not be much focus ob building a margin in the latter stages. Not that the margin would be available anyway. In John Pasternak? three season the Privateers have gone 10-4 ATS taking double figures, and have already compiled a 4-0 in that category this season, all on the true home courts of the opposition. The methodical pace that they play at is part of the reason why that tally has been put together, but it is not all tempo in this case ? Georgia transfer Billy Humphrey has stepped in an provided just what they were looking for (17.8 ppg), and he is the most explosive scorer on the court for either team. That provides an option through the back door if needed, but we doubt that this game ever gets stretched out that far.