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   I hit my first Big XII game of the new year last night as we rolled on the Central Michigan Chippewas to cover the 15 against Mizzou in the first game of the year for both teams. Tonight, we're rollin on the Tigers game tonight against Fordham. I'll start with some facts and stats on both:

   Fordham:

   Won 18 games last year

   Returns all 5 starters who are seniors.

   Mizzou:

   Start the 2nd season of Coach Anderson's 40 minutes of Hell Den of Thieves style. (This is the man that invented that UAB blazer frenetic pace that upset UK and made UAB a Conference USA power)

   Mizzou was 2nd in the Big XII and 14'th in the country scoring last year.

   My thoughts on the game:

   Mizzou @ home in Columbia is a very formidable place to play. I've been there numerous times, once came out with a broken nose and a ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK T shirt covered in blood. ( KU won by the way). The fans are rude, loud, and proud of being dicks. Think Philly Eagles on Christmas mentality. Anyways, I thought last night that 15 was too many against Central Michigan and I think tonight's game against Fordham is going to be the best game of the night.

   Mizzou returns 88% of it's scoring and Vanderbilt transfer Demarre Carroll scored 23 last night in his Mizzou debut. The fact is, Mizzou has all kinds of talent on the offensive side of the ball. However, with that being said, there are chinks in the armor:

   The team is mistake prone...22 fouls last night with 1 starter fouling out and 1 getting 4 and both limiting their minutes. Fordham starts 5 seniors and if intelligently coached will go after Carroll and try to force those silly fouls inside. In addition, Mizzou lost a lot of games last year in an 18-12 campaign because they couldn't close on a team in the 2H. They got as high as 15 last night but let CMU stay in it. Fordham has an all A-10 point guard running the show and he's known as a lock down defender? There's no doubt I'm fading the XII again and rolling with Fordham.

   Early in the year I favor teams with depth (still not in shape and jacked up for the first games of the year) teams with good coaching (know how to rein in young players and get their heads straight) and teams with great returning guards (If he's run the show for 2 or 3 years, he won't be fazed and will be a calming influence on the offense).

   I have to roll Fordham tonight. 5 seniors who want to make a post season tourney for the first time since 1992. A respectable opponent who will help when RPI and bubbles come up in b'ball talk in March, a chance to steal one against a major conference opponent. Mizzou is a solid team and could very well blow out Fordham at home. But looking at the talent level and seeing how good the 1 and 2 spots on the floor are for the Rams, I have to roll on Fordham. Did I mention the pub is over 70% on the Tigers?

   ROLL WITH ME ON FORDHAM +9 (Line as of 3:04 PST) to cover against Missouri and 2nd year coach Mike Anderson's 40 minutes of hell pressure defense.

   Mo Valley: 2-2 ATS

   Big XII: 1-0 ATS

   Wednesday night: Mo Valley GOW

   

   posted by pc7588

   Nov. 13 2007 6:06pm