Posted on
11/9/2007 5:58:51 PM
NCAA Basketball Betting – Owls at No. 7 Vols
By Eric Williams
The Temple Owls return three starters from last season’s team that went an unimpressive 12-18 in head coach Fran Dunphy’s first season. The Owls did make history last season however by becoming the first team in Atlantic-10 history to field the top two scorers in the league.
Fortunately for the Owls, both of those fairly prolific scorers, junior guard Dionte Christmas and senior guard Mark Tyndale, are back this year to try and take the Owls to greater heights – and a possible appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Christmas averaged 20.0 points per game to lead the A-10 while Tyndale was second in league scoring, averaging 19.4, points per game.
After a .hovering near the .500 mark for most of the season, the Owls lost six of their final seven games.
The
Tennessee Vols went 24-11 last season and have won eight consecutive season openers and 16 straight games on their home court since falling to
Kentucky 80-78 in their final home game of the 2005-06 season.
The seventh-ranked Vols may have the most talented team in school history this season, including outstanding combination guard Chris Lofton who led the SEC in scoring, averaging 20.8 points per game last season. Lofton was named the conference's player of the year for his season-long performances.
The Vols are 2-2 lifetime against the Owls, but the teams have not met since 1973.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my analysis and Free NCAA Basketball Betting Picks:
Key Temple Trends
The Owls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
The Owls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.
The Owls are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Key Tennessee Trends
The Volunteers are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
The Volunteers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
The Volunteers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 home games.
Key Totals Trends
The Over is 7-2-1 in Owls last 10 road games.
The Over is 19-7-1 in Owls last 27 overall.
The Over is 4-1 in Volunteers last 5 home games.
The Over is 4-1 in Volunteers last 5 Friday games.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
None Available
Analysis: I’ll keep this pick short and sweet. While I certainly like the Tennessee Vols to win this game, I’m going with the Owls and their outstanding head coach, Dunphy, to keep this game closer than the 17.5-point spread. Take the Owls and their two excellent scorers to cover the spread here.
NCAAB Free Picks: Temple + 17.5 Points
07:30 PM EST NCAAB Odds
Temple +17½ -110
Tennessee -17½ -110
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