One of many few remaining undefeated groups, No. 16 LSU, places its sterling document on the road in its first SEC recreation of the season towards No. 11 Auburn.
No. 15 Seton Corridor opens Large East play towards No. 21 Windfall, following a number of weeks off because of postponements and cancellations.
My colleague Kevin Sweeney rejoins me this week as a visitor picker in our quest to eclipse .500 on the season.
Season document: 14-14
Visitor pickers: 6-6
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Butch Dill/AP
Time: 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Unfold: LSU +4.5 (-110) | Auburn -4.5 (-110)
Over/Below: Below 143.5 (-110) | Over 143.5 (-110)
Moneyline: LSU (+165) | Auburn (-200)
LSU is certainly one of 5 remaining undefeated Division I groups. There’s an enormous caveat to that excellent document, although: The Tigers’ energy of schedule is 279th out of 358, according to ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index. Auburn will probably be by far essentially the most tough problem of the season for LSU thus far. The sport additionally marks the second true highway recreation of the season for the Tigers, solely including to the problem.
For the legitimate knocks towards the Tigers’ schedule, they’ve mowed down each staff of their path. LSU is tied for the second-best scoring margin within the nation (+25) and permits the second-fewest points (54.1). It leads the nation with 12.8 steals per recreation.
The offense is led by sophomore Tari Eason, a switch from Cincinnati, who averages 16.3 factors per recreation and seven.5 rebounds per recreation. LSU’s scoring offense (79.6 PPG) is tied for Fortieth-best, and the staff surpassed triple digits within the season opener.
Auburn misplaced in double extra time on Nov. 24 towards UConn and hasn’t misplaced since. Solely two video games throughout that eight-game profitable streak have been inside single digits—a nine-point win over Loyola Chicago and a four-point victory on the highway towards St. Louis. Auburn is far more battle-tested than its SEC opponent. The Tigers have the No. 8 energy of document, per ESPN’s CBPI, and the No. 69 energy of schedule.
Sophomore Walker Kessler swats 3.7 photographs per recreation to contribute to the Tigers main the nation in blocks per recreation (7.7). Auburn doesn’t have the identical general defensive prowess that LSU does, but it surely positive can rating. The Tigers common 81.1 PPG, the 29th-best mark in DI. Freshman ahead Jabari Smith leads the staff in scoring (16.2 PPG) and rebounding (7.2 RPG) whereas taking pictures 45.2% from deep.
Kyle Wooden’s Bets:
Unfold/Moneyline Choose: Auburn Moneyline
What LSU has performed up to now within the season ought to be counseled, but it surely’s about to seek out out what it’s manufactured from when it faces 5 top-20 groups in its subsequent seven video games. I feel Auburn provides LSU its first wake-up name. I feel residence court docket will play a consider LSU’s hardest take a look at but. Auburn overcomes LSU’s seemingly suffocating protection and fingers the Tigers from Baton Rouge their first lack of the season.
Over/Below Choose: Below 143.5
I’m not anticipating any type of blowout, simply an Auburn win. Auburn has an important offense, however LSU can maintain the Tigers from creeping into the 80s. For context, essentially the most factors LSU has allowed this season was 63—in extra time. Auburn isn’t a defensive stalwart however Kessler can management the paint and maintain LSU to outdoors photographs, the place it shoots simply 32.2% from deep.
Visitor Picker Kevin Sweeney’s Bets:
Unfold/Moneyline Choose: LSU +4.5
I’m on the document saying LSU will take its first lack of the season on this recreation, however I do assume the worth at this present line is on Will Wade’s staff. 4 factors is an enormous quantity for a staff with a protection that has been as exceptional as LSU’s has this season. LSU makes life tough on the rim and turns groups over at a powerful price, and each these attributes make them a tough matchup to cowl 4 factors towards for just about anybody. Auburn Area will probably be rocking, and I feel the group plus potential No. 1 decide Jabari Smith will drag Auburn throughout the end line … however not with no combat from LSU.
Over/Below Choose: Below 143.5
It is a difficult quantity as a result of it feels low given how briskly each groups are keen to play, however excessive contemplating how good these defenses are on a per-possession foundation. I lean in the direction of the underneath although given the struggles LSU has had offensively towards high-major competitors. We all know their protection will maintain them in it, however I’m unsure their offense can rise up into the 70s on this recreation.
Jessica Hill/AP
Time: 7 p.m. ET | FS1
Unfold: Seton Corridor -1 (-110) | Windfall +1 (-110)
Over/Below: Below 138.5 (-110) | Over 138.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Seton Corridor (-118) | Windfall (+100)
Seton Corridor was final seen beating Rutgers on its residence court docket by 14. That was all the way in which again on Dec. 12, two postponements and one cancellation in the past. Because the Pirates resume play on the highway to start their convention schedule. It’s value remembering what Seton Corridor achieved early within the season, even after a near-three-week hiatus. The Pirates took down then-No. 4 Michigan on the highway and then-No. 7 Texas at residence, scoring two enormous wins for his or her resume come Choice Sunday.
The Pirates depend on their robust offense, which averages the Thirty seventh-most factors within the nation (80.1). They confirmed their full capabilities towards Nyack College after they poured in a season-high 113 factors. Senior guard Jared Rhoden is the first scoring menace on a deep staff. He leads Seton Corridor in scoring with 17.4 PPG and is first in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per recreation. 5 different Pirates gamers common eight factors or higher and the staff has had 5 totally different main scorers in its 10 video games.
Windfall enters Tuesday on a six-game profitable streak, together with a 57-53 highway win in its Large East opener over then-No. 20 UConn on Dec. 18. That was the final time the Friars performed as they too have been impacted by a postponed recreation towards Georgetown. Windfall is undefeated at residence, with its sole loss coming at a impartial website by the hands of Virginia.
The Friars should not particularly spectacular on offense. They common 69.8 PPG and run their offense by fifth-year senior middle Nate Watson, who averages 14.8 PPG. Protection isn’t Windfall’s calling card, both, although it has held its final 4 opponents underneath 60 factors.
Kyle Wooden’s Bets:
Unfold/Moneyline Choose: Seton Corridor -1
I feel Seton Corridor returns to the court docket from its break day and does one thing it’s already performed this season: Rating a high quality highway win. Windfall isn’t going to stifle the Pirates’ stellar offense, which might beat groups in a wide range of methods with a large number of scorers, and the Friars merely received’t be capable to sustain within the scoring division.
Over/Below Choose: Over 138.5
This quantity is simply too low for me to go underneath, even with the provision or conditioning considerations. Eclipsing 70 factors will not be an enormous ask for both staff, particularly with Windfall, the lesser offense, taking part in at residence. Each groups’ poor three-point taking pictures is trigger for concern in choosing the over, however Seton Corridor has a top-40 scoring offense despite these inefficiencies outdoors so it’s clearly not a crippling weak spot.
Visitor Picker Kevin Sweeney’s Bets:
Unfold/Moneyline Choose: Windfall -1
Seton Corridor is coming off a COVID-19 pause and Windfall has “a pair gamers” in well being and security protocols. That makes choosing this recreation fairly a problem. I’d wait so long as I can to choose a aspect on this one to see if info turns into accessible in regards to the unavailable Friars, but when Windfall’s core rotation is undamaged I’m inclined to lean in the direction of them on this one. PC has among the finest bigs within the nation in Nate Watson, and he ought to be capable to management the paint if Seton Corridor middle Ike Obiagu is out or restricted because of an ankle harm suffered earlier this month.
Over/Below Choose: Below 138.5
One staff is taking part in its first recreation in 17 days and spent a few of that point quarantined. One staff will probably be short-handed and could possibly be with out key items. That’s the time to play an underneath if I’ve ever seen one. Add in the truth that each these squads are fairly stingy on the defensive finish and Windfall has been nice this season at slowing the sport down, and I really like the underneath play right here.
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