USC at Loyola Marymount (+1) - 7:00pm Pacific - Game #807-808
This is a huge, huge game for the Lions.  Not only are they off to a disappointing start under a first year head coach and getting the rare opportunity to host a big name Pac-10 opponent, but it is also homecoming night.  Believe it or not, homecoming night at LMU is a pretty big deal.  Among the festivities is a pep rally Friday night and free t-shirts handed out to the first 1500 students.  Last year's homecoming game vs Long Beach State drew 2710, well over their season average, and resulted in a 16 point win.  This year's attendance should be even higher with USC in the house.  At almost every LMU game I have been to this year, someone in line was picking up pre-ordered tickets for this game.  The two biggest crowds last year were for Gonzaga and Pepperdine, both easy ATS wins for LMU, and they went 4-1 ATS last year at home with attendance of 2000 or more. 

I definitely overestimated USC early in the season.  While they do have some talented individual players, they are still a long way away from becoming a solid complete team.  They are on a four game win streak coming into this game, but the four teams they have beaten (Alaska Anchorage, Eastern Washington, BYU, and UC Riverside) are very suspect.  This is  their very first and only true road game of their entire non-conference schedule.  That by itself will make this game very difficult for them.  The Trojans will also have a hard time getting their minds off of the big home game vs North Carolina on Dec 21.  USC has had trouble all season with defending the interior, rebounding, and front line foul trouble which should give LMU power forward and leading scorer/rebounder Matthew Knight (24.6ppg last 3 outings) an opportunity for a big game.  Knight had struggled with double teams early in the season but has looked much better in recent outings.   
This year's LMU team is very similar to the one that tested Washington (lost by 7) and Gonzaga (lost by 3) here last season.  They may have needed time to adjust to well liked, but new head coach Rodney Tention in the early going.  The team really put everything together two games ago vs UCSB in a big win and even played well for first 20 minutes at Montana in last game but could not overcome an 0-for-9 shooting night from second leading scorer Wardrop.  LMU is definitely capable of beating USC, and I expect a very strong showing from them tonight.  Look for an outright win in convincing fashion.
 
RAS Official Play:  Loyola Marymount +1  2 UNITS 

Oregon State at Portland (-2) - 7:00pm Pacific
Whatever had been troubling Portland early in the season appears to be behind them.  They played their best and most complete game of the season Wednesday night in a dominating win over crosstown rival Portland State.  The Pilots held PSU to 33.3% shooting in the first half, opened up a double digit lead early, and cruised to victory.  Senior guard Darren Cooper continued his hot shooting, going 7-for-8 from the field and left little doubt that he has returned to his normal self after struggling to start the season.  The Pilots finished with four players in double figures and shot 54% for the game.  

Oregon State continues to be a horrible road team.  The Beavers were 2-10 on the road last year and this year are already 0-2 with an ugly blowout loss at Tennessee Tech and a 7 point loss at Fresno State.  In last game they had to rally from an 18 point deficit to beat UNLV.  They are not as deep as they were last season and just do not appear to be clicking on all cylinders in the early going.  They miss leading scorer and rebounder David Lucas and leading assist and 3-point man J.S. Nash.  Both have graduated.  While OSU has hit the boards slightly better this year, they are struggling to shoot from behind the arc (26%) and have been turnover prone (-5.5 margin per game).  Injuries to reserve forward Michael Johnson and reserve guard Josh Tarver have hurt depth. 

Portland has lost two straight in this series, but last year came just 3 points short in Corvallis.  Three of Portland's top five scorers are seniors and this will be the last shot they get at the Beavers.  Meanwhile, the game will have added significance for Portland junior center Kevin Field who played two years at Oregon State before transferring.  This will be his first game against his former team.  A big crowd should be expected as Portland's hugely popular National Champion Women's Soccer team will be honored at half-time.  Expect the Pilot's to extend their win streak to three.  Give the small number.