Stanford at Oregon State (-3) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #729-730

Playing at home has meant as much difference to Oregon State as it has to any team in college basketball.  They are 10-1 in home games and just 2-8 in away games.  In conference play they are 6-1 at home and 0-7 on the road.  Their only home loss of the season came vs Arizona in a game that the Beavers led for a good part of.  Their six conference home wins have come by an average of 10.83ppg and most recently includes a 17 point blowout of #13 Washington.  This is a talented, deep team and as their past performance shows a very tough out at home.  Stanford has reeled off 9 wins in their last 11 games thanks in part to a favorable schedule.  However, leading scorer Dan Grunfeld was lost for the season to a knee injury three games back.  They went 2-0 in first two games without him beating USC & UCLA at home, but this will be their first test without him on the road.  Stanford was only 3-4 in Pac-10 road games even with Grunfeld.  Stanford is now extremely thin in the backcourt as promising freshman guard Tim Morris was lost to academics 6 weeks ago, and junior reserve guard Carlton Weatherby has not played at all this year due to injury.  Sophomore G/F Fred Washington who was seldom used at the start of the season, now finds himself in the starting lineup.  Depth and athleticism is lacking beyond the starting 5.  Oregon State came up just short in first meeting at Stanford losing by 4 in a game that was tied in the final 30 seconds.  Expect them to turn the tables tonight.

 

Official Play:  Oregon State -3  1 UNIT

 

Fullerton at UCSB (OVER 130.5) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #731-732

On Saturday I discussed how UCSB plays at a much higher tempo with starting forward Cameron Goettsche not in the lineup.  Games played without him are averaging about 20 points more than their average season game total.  He is again listed as doubtful tonight with a back injury.  I attended the first meeting between these two.  It was a slow paced game and Fullerton shot only 35% from the field but they still ended up combining for 127 points.  Not much more would have to happen for these two to surpass 130 tonight.

 

Official Play:  Over 130.5  1 UNIT

 

UC Riverside at Cal Poly (OVER 137.5) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #733-734

While leading 37-23 at halftime over Idaho on Saturday, UCR athletic director said in halftime interview that this was as loose as he had seen the team shoot the ball all season.  It appeared as if after losing 5 straight conference games that head coach John Masi was ready to change his patient, hold the ball approach.  UCR was able to win the game vs Idaho on a last second coast to coast lay in so I expect to see more of the same today.  Cal Poly games remain simply the highest scoring in the conference by far.  Their games average 149 points in conference play and the first meeting between these two (90-71 Cal Poly win) totaled 171!  This game should have no trouble getting to 140. 

 

Official Play:  Over 137.5  1 UNIT