Gamble College Sports

GAMBLE COLLEGE SPORTS — January 21

ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK at WESTERN KENTUCKY
(Gamble College Sports Line: Western Kentucky -1, Total 125.5) — Ouch! UALR was rolling along with ten straight covers in the pointspread until running into Louisiana-Lafayette the other night, and the Ragin’ Cajuns stopped them cold, holding them to just 25% shooting and creating another barren evening from beyond the three-point arc. Listen- we won’t guarantee anything about the way UALR is going to shoot from one night to the next, but they do have some defensive chops, and Western Kentucky couldn’t hit the side of a barn most nights; only ten teams in the entire country are more wild than this team that has converted only 38% of its attempts. Furthermore, WKU going through a coaching transition that includes a lame duck mentor, with Ray Harper having taken over the program just a couple of weeks ago. very little real size is on hand for the Hilltoppers, and perhaps Will Neighbor (0 for 5 vs. ULL) can get things going for UALR.

JAY’S PLAY: ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK +1 *

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL — January 19

WAKE FOREST at DUKE
(Gamble College Sports Line: Duke -22.5, Total 147.5) — Wake Forest is coming off a 36-point blowout at the hands of N.C. State, and they were recently challenged - severely - to score points by Wofford, so legitimate questions have to be asked as to whether they can keep pace with Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have been sizzling at home, shooting nearly 53% from the field.

After close shaves against both Virginia and Clemson within the last week, you have to wonder whether Coach K’s team can create considerable distance with this foe, which will be angry after such a humiliation. Has freshman Austin Rivers, who had assumed much of the Duke scoring burden, hit a wall lately? Rivers is just 40% (11% threes) with 23 points in three conference games.

GAMBLE COLLEGE SPORTS PLAY: WAKE FOREST +22.5 *

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL — January 19

WAKE FOREST at DUKE
(Line: Duke -22.5, Total 147.5) — Wake Forest is coming off a 36-point blowout at the hands of N.C. State, and they were recently challenged - severely - to score points by Wofford, so legitimate questions have to be asked as to whether they can keep pace with Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils have been sizzling at home, shooting nearly 53% from the field.

After close shaves against both Virginia and Clemson within the last week, you have to wonder whether Coach K’s team can create considerable distance with this foe, which will be angry after such a humiliation. Has freshman Austin Rivers, who had assumed much of the Duke scoring burden, hit a wall lately? Rivers is just 40% (11% threes) with 23 points in three conference games.

JAY’S PLAY: WAKE FOREST +22.5 *

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL — January 14

PITTSBURGH at MARQUETTE
(Gamble on College Sports Line: Pittsburgh -10, Total 141.5) — Marquette got a big boost out of bulky Davante Gardner, who had 22 points and 15 rebounds against St. John’s earlier this week. That’s important with Chris Otule out of action, and that opens things up for the rest of the Eagles, who are more into slashing then grinding their way inside. Pittsburgh remains winless in the Big East, which would seem almost incomprehensible at the season’s outset, and they may have reached rock bottom with a 62-39 loss to Rutgers which featured four first half field goals in 32 attempts. The offense would normally flow from point guard Troy Woodall, but he’s out with an abdominal injury, and Ashton Gibbs has been a 36% shooter in his absence while trying to do to much. It’s hard to imagine the Panthers, who aren’t even winning at the Petersen Center, which had been like a fortress, keeping pace with a Marquette squad that has averaged almost 82 points on 49% shooting at home.

JAY’S PLAY: MARQUETTE -10 **

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)