Ncaa Bracket Picks - November 20, 2008

Over the last four days our CBB picks are up +15.4 units while hitting 75% (9-3). Today we roll with a stacked CBB card of seven picks.

Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:

Game: Missouri vs. Xavier (1:20 PM Eastern)
Pick: 2 units on Missouri +4 (-110) (risk 2 to win 1.8)

Missouri and Xavier will open the Puerto Rico Tip-off in San Juan. The Tigers seem primed to contend in the competitive Big-12. They have a trio of scorers in Carroll, Lyons, and Lawrence that are playing unselfish basketball accumulating 24 assists in their last game. More important, they took care of the basketball with just nine turnovers. Xavier has an inexperienced backcourt and it showed. They played a completely under-manned Toledo team, but committed 20 turnovers in the process which won't get it done against Missouri. The strength of the Musketeers is rebounding, but inexperience against a ball-hawking defensive team that takes care of the ball will be their demise here. I like Missouri, and like them also to get the outright win.

My game writeup details why I like Missouri in this one, and suggested I like the moneyline as well. Missouri is a disiplined team, and are 45-30 on the moneyline when they commit 10-13 turnovers. They are also 24-11 on the moneyline, after a home win by 20 or more. Coach Anderson is also 13-2 on the moneyline after a win as a double-digit favorite, so I am also including the Tigers on the moneyline in this one.

USC will be charged for this one as a win puts them up against Memphis. The Trojans said good bye to OJ Mayo after one season, but they are loaded with talent and top freshman DeMar deRozen is already netting double figures. Taj Gibson is controlling the paint on both ends and the Hall simply does not have any answers there. The Hall is going to struggle on offense this season and a sure sign of trouble was their abysmal 37.5% performance against Columbia. Seton Hall has some talent, but a lot of the type of players that do one thing well, but are deficient in other areas. Case in point - Jeremy Hazell who is averaging 22 points per game, but has just one assist and just six rebounds in two games. It will take more than that to knock off the Trojans, so I'll ride them on the moneyline here.

The Salukis struggled at home against unknown California (PA) and won by just 14. They held off a UMass team again on their home court by seven points. The Salukis are known for their clamping-tight defense, but the problem this team faced last season was being able to score. They shot a miserable 42.4% from the floor, and they will be matched up with a team that can match their defensive intensity, but can also run the floor and shoot deep. Kyle Singler is also emerging as an inside force for Duke, and it is going to take more than one end of the floor to hang with the Dukies. I'll grab Coach K's five to win this one in comfortable fashion.

The Golden Hurricane won at home against Oral Roberts by just three points despite Oral Roberts shooting just 30%, and connecting on just 3-18 from beyond the arc. Certainly a good defensive display, but partially do to a mediocre offense. Tulsa struggled immensely on the offensive end knocking down just 39% of their shots and 2-12 from deep. They showed their inability to shoot the ball, even at the line where they hit just 8-20. That doesn't bode well for a team taking to the road for the first time. The Cowboys are getting big production from three players, and when you have a guy like Keaton Page who came off the bench and scored 20, it makes life difficult for a team that is struggling to score. I like the Cowboys to get it done and get the money at home.

The Illini know about home-court prowess and will get to experience that tonight as they take to the road against Vanderbilt. Memorial Gym has been a death trap for opponents as the Commodores will bring a 20-game home winning streak into this one, which includes some SEC heavyweights. Vanderbilt is built around last year's freshman sensation A.J. Ogilvy who averaged 17.6 points per game, and 6.7 rebounds per game, and should build on those numbers this season. The ‘Dores have added a top freshman in Jeffrey Taylor who led them in scoring last game with 16 points. The Illini were punished on the road last season, finishing just 3-9 and coming into this building without a road resume will be lethal. I'll take the Commodores to make it 21 straight.

The Golden Panthers have enough firepower to stay in this one. They shot 49% in their last game and connected on 50% of their three-point shots - hitting eight of them and Cedric Essola may soon find his way to more minutes, or a starting role as he produced nearly a double-double off the bench in just 13 minutes (nine pts., 10 boards). The Huskies have a dominant frontcourt, but lost at Portland State and this isn't the same caliber team we saw a few years ago. They certainly are good enough to win here, but the Golden Panthers are offensive enough to stay within the lofty number.

Results: 2-4

NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:

• Hop over to our 2008 season college basketball gambling preivew here.
• View our NCAA basketball sports book here.
• Take a look at our 2008 college basketball pick season results here.
• View college basketball gambling philosophy here.
• Check out our updated NCAA basketball Game-of-Day-Preview.
• View our college basketball picks blog here.
• Check out our updated college basketball handicapping.
• Check out NCAA basketball odds and lines here.
• Hop over to our ncaa bracket picks here.
• Here we show our college basketball ATS standings.
• View our ncaa march madness picks here.
• Read our college basketball prior predictions here.

Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-November-19-2008
Wake threw a perfect game in their opener with all five starters balanced in double-figures and a pair of double-doubles thrown in as well. Although the competition will be a bit tougher tonight, the ...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-November-18-2008
It is hard to even refer to Gonzaga as a mid-major anymore, as they have been a fixture in the top 25 for years, and this year are ranked No. 9 in the early going. The Vandals certainly are nowhere ne...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-November-17-2008
Many wondered if when Gene Keady retired if Purdue could find its way back onto the national scene again. After a struggle, Matt Painter logged a 22-win season with the Boilers last year. This season,...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-November-16-2008
Kansas State took care of business on Friday, dispatching of Florida A&M 96-57. SE Missouri State lost 102-59 at New Mexico. So, easy blowout winner for the Wildcats here, right? Not so fast. This...

NCAA-Basketball-Picks-November-14-2008
Iowa State is host to The World Vision Classic opening in Ames tonight, taking on the UC-Davis Aggies. The Aggies were not a competitive team last season as they dropped 22 games. Even in the Big West...