Clemson (-2.5) at South Carolina - 10:00am Pacific - Game #529-530
The Tigers were very impressive at Minnesota on Wednesday. They won by 22 points while exhibiting a level of class, poise, and efficiency that they have not had in years. Clemson is now a perfect 8-0 and fans have every reason to be excited about this team. With plenty of experienced playmakers on the perimeter a lack of quality big men was a concern for this team, but freshman forwrad Trevor Booker (9.4ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.0bpg) has been a pleasant surprise on the interior. Forward James Mays (11.8ppg, 7.8rpg) has also exeeded expectations after missing the second semester last year due to academics. Oliver Purnell has this team playing well.

I pegged South Carolina as one of the most overvalued teams in the country earlier in the season. Since then they have gone 3-0 SU & 2-0 ATS (USC, The Citadel) but my opinion of them has not changed much. They had many things go their way in win at USC. The Trojans emotion of opening a new arena and remembering a lost teammate ended up working against them. Their top two scorers had horrible shooting nights and the team as a whole just did not play well. Aside from that win, South Carolina was beaten soundly at UC Irvine and has received scares from South Carolina State (3 point game), Lipscomb (7 point game), and even The Citadel (15 point game) who trailed by only 4 multiple times in the second half. The Gamecocks hit 12-of-29 (.413) from 3-point range against USC but are just 19-of-77 (.246) in four other games. South Carolina is very thin with six players getting the majority of minutes and only seven likely to see action today. They are not talented by SEC standards and have very little margin for error just to be able to stay competitive with a quality team like Clemson. Give the points.

RAS Official Play: Clemson -2.5   1 UNIT

Lousiana Tech at UL Lafayette (-4) - 6:30pm Pacific - Game #609-610
Despite playing with an inexperienced and shorthanded roster, the Ragin Cajuns are receiving rave reviews from fans and media. The team actually got a standing ovation for their effort after losing to Tennessee and in last game played competitively vs Nevada who is likely to soon be a top 10 team. Nevada only led by 1 with 12:30 to play before pulling away to win by 12. Prior to that ULL lost at Oral Roberts by only 3 and to Cal State Fullerton by only 2 in OT. This team is knocking at the door and improving with every game. Liberty transfer G/F David Dees (22.5ppg) and senior G/F Ross Mouton (21.5ppg) have emerged as potent scoring options. True freshman big man Courtney Wallace (career high 8 points vs Nevada) is a promising prospect.

Louisiana Tech head coach Keith Richards promised a more uptempo system this season but after giving up 77.6ppg in first three games (all losses), Richards appears to already be back to a more conservative style. Tech beat McNeese State 59-50 in their next game, their only win of the season, before losing in ugly fashion Wednesday to Southern Illinois 50-36. La Tech only managed 12 points in the first half and that was only thanks to a late three point shot. The game could have been even uglier had SIU had not been weary from a difficult road/travel schedule. Louisiana Tech is shooting just .367 from the field and allowing opponents to hit .471. Opponents have also made more free throws than they have attempted. This is a bad team right now and playing on the road will not help their confidence. UL Lafayette has lost three straight home games, but is still an impressive 51-10 all time at the Cajun Dome. Give the points.

RAS Official Play: UL Lafayette -4   1 UNIT


Return to Record Page