Oregon opened Monday with an 87-69 win over Montana, shooting 60% from the field with 21 assists against nine turnovers. Eastern Washington opened at Stanford the same night and lost 74-65 after Stanford shot 55% from the field. The Eagles made 27% of their threes and gave the ball away 13 times with seven assists. Oregon went 12-20 last season and Eastern Washington 14-19. Dana Altman retired on October 7; Tony Stubblefield is the interim head coach, and the four players back from last season’s team scored 18% of its points. Eastern Washington allowed 79 points a game last season, the 53rd-most among 365 teams, and the players it returns scored 27% of its points. Eastern Washington’s defense gave up 55% shooting to Stanford, and Oregon made 60% against Montana, so this game goes to Oregon.
Georgia Tech beat Hampton 75-55 on Tuesday with 59 rebounds to the Pirates’ 33, and Hampton shot 28% from the field. The Yellow Jackets made 14% of their threes and turned the ball over 18 times in that game. Georgia Tech scored 48 of its 75 points in the paint. Georgia Southern beat Ball State 67-55 on Monday, with Eltramon Smith scoring 24 of its 67 points. Ball State shot 27% from the field and outrebounded Georgia Southern 47-39. Georgia Tech went 11-20 last season and 2-16 in the ACC. Scott Cross was hired on March 20 after Damon Stoudamire’s firing, and the two players back from that team scored 11% of its points. Georgia Southern went 21-16 and allowed 79.7 points a game, the 40th-most among 365 teams, with four players back who scored 9% of its points. Georgia Tech’s 59 rebounds meet a Georgia Southern team that Ball State outrebounded, so Georgia Tech takes it.
Clemson beat Stetson 85-72 on Monday after leading 49-24 at halftime, shooting 51% from the field with 17 assists against eight turnovers. Ace Buckner scored 20. American lost 79-53 at Cincinnati, shooting 28% with 18 turnovers, and Madden Collins scored 20 of its 53 points. American returns 14 players who scored 87% of last season’s points, and that team went 16-16. Clemson went 24-10 last season and allowed 66.7 points a game, 28th-fewest among 365 teams, with seven players back who scored 33% of its points. American shot 28% in its opener against a Clemson defense that ranks 28th-fewest in points allowed, and Clemson comes out ahead.
I had Ole Miss on the spread Monday, and it cashed in a 99-58 win over Alcorn State. The Rebels shot 57% from the field and forced 26 turnovers, which became 39 points. Ole Miss went 15-20 last season and ranked 236th of 365 in scoring margin, with three players back who scored 28% of its points. Central Arkansas went 22-12 and ranked 85th, with nine players back who scored 51% of its points. Central Arkansas beat Oral Roberts 85-55 on Monday, making 13 of 39 threes, 33%, for 39 of its 85 points. Ole Miss scored 56 of its 99 points in the paint against Alcorn State, so Ole Miss wins.
Take Oregon (-1567 moneyline) plus Georgia Tech (-1567 moneyline) plus Clemson (-1567 moneyline) plus Ole Miss (-1900 moneyline) in a four-team parlay at -374.
