Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 6:00 PM Eastern
Ohio State has looked great on offense through two games, averaging 86 points per game but by nature this is not an extremely uptempo team, ranking 269th in total possessions per game last season and face a Marshall team in lots of transition with their offense with six of last season's top seven scorers gone from a unit that was 80th in the nation in points per possession.
Pick: Marshall vs. Ohio State Under 162.5 (Greg's Handicapped Total 154.5)
Syracuse Orange vs. Indiana Hoosiers 6:30 PM Eastern
The Gerry McNamara era in Syracuse has started 2-0, but that was against outmatched competition with a 102-49 win over Central Connecticut and a 74-58 win over New Haven while Indiana has also begun 2-0 with 22+ point wins over Bellarmine and Eastern Illinois. This game will likely be slow paced as McNamara’s Siena team last season was 359th in possessions per game and Indians was 264th in total possessions per game and should have an edge on the glass with the Hoosiers grabbing 31 offensive rebounds in their first two games while their opponents have grabbed only 13.
Picks: Indiana -4.5 and Under 147.5 (Greg's Handicap Indiana -10.5 and Total 144.5)
UNC Greensboro Spartans vs. Illinois-Chicago Flames 7:00 PM Eastern
With Jerod Haase taking over as UNC Greensboro's new coach, they should play at a faster tempo than in the Mike Jones era as they were 173rd in total possessions per game and should get plenty of second chances to score against an Illinois-Chicago unit that was 278th in defensive rebound percentage with opponents grabbing 30.5% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound and Illinois-Chicago was 287th in points per possession at home last season.
Pick: UNC Greensboro +20.5 (Greg's Handicap UNC Greensboro +11.5)
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. LSU Tigers 8:00 PM Eastern
While Louisiana Tech is unlikely to duplicate the defensive performance they put in their last game when they held Arkansas-Monticello of the Division II ranks to 17 points, this is a strong defense that will look to slow down the game as they 57th in points per possession allowed and 24th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage last season. And while LSU has guards that can drive to the rim and generate turnovers on defense, outside shooting is not their forte as the team has begun the season 12-of-50 from 3-point range in games against New Orleans and Texas Southern.
Picks: Louisiana Tech +31.5 and Under 151.5 (Greg's Handicap Louisiana Tech +17.5 and Under 145.5)
Boston U Terriers vs. Northwestern WIldcats 8:00 PM Eastern
Boston U was fifth in the nation 3-point shooting percentage at 38.8% last season, but also 314th in points per possession allowed on defense and take on a Northwestern team that through two games this season has allowed opponents to go 12-of-47 from 3-point range and were 145th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage last season at 33.4%. Northwestern also year in and year out wins the turnover battle in games, as they were seventh in fewest turnovers per possession on offense last season.
PIcks: Northwestern -15.5 and Over 146.5 (Greg's Handicap Northwestern 21.5 and Total 149.5)
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Auburn Tigers 9:00 PM Eastern
Appalachian State is content with playing games that are slow and every point is at a premium as they last season ranked 349th in total possessions per game and 74th in points per possession allowed on defense with clean looks being difficult to come by as they were 21st in opponent 2-point shooting percentage away from home. Auburn should be better on defense this season after ranking 282nd in points per possession allowed a season ago.
Picks: Appalachian State +24 and Under 146.5 (Greg's Handicap Appalachian State +20.5 and Total 142.5)
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. Washington Huskies 10:00 PM Eastern
New Mississippi Valley State coach Mike Davis inherits a mess as the Delta Devils have been a bottom 20 team in both points scored and points allowed on a per possession basis each of the past three season and while they looks semi-respectable in their 84-57 loss to Oklahoma to begin the season, frankly do not have a Division I caliber roster. Washington was 48th in the nation last season in offensive rebound percentage with 33.1% of their missed shots becoming an offensive rebound, but just 97th in points per possession on offense and 146th in points per possession on defense allowed last season and while they may have issues in the Big Ten, should get a blowout win in this one.
Picks: Washington -32.5 and Under 152.5 (Greg's Handicap Washington -41.5 and Total 145.5)
Portland Pilots vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 11:59 PM Eastern
Both teams have played a lot of basketball recently as this is game number three in four days for both teams and Hawaii is a dominant defense to start with, ranking 12th in defensive rebound percentage and 11th in points per possession allowed last season while Portland was 293rd in points per possession overall, which went to 350th away from home. Portland also ranked 246th in points per possession allowed on defense and will likely lose the battle on the glass after ranking 251st in rebound percentage.
Picks: Hawaii -6.5 and Under 158.5 (Greg's Handicap Hawaii -10 and Total 154)
