Old Hammy's College BB Picks - Mediocre 8/7 so far

Harvard at Iona under 140

Harvard is #292 and Iona $290 in offensive efficiency.  Throw out the two games Harvard has played against teams below #330 in Ken Pom rankings and Harvard has scored 79 (1st game of the year at home), 55,56,66,78,54,64,67 and 63 in the rest of the games.  Iona scores at home are 64-58, 62-59, 68-84 (against #114 Cornell) and 72-63.

Iona is #287 from 3 pt range (30.3%), #339 from 2 pt range (44.4%) and #333 from the FT line (64.4%).  Harvard is #298 from deep (30.1%), #171 from 2pt range (51.4%) and good from the FT line at 75.6%.

Ken Pom's #204 Illinois Chicago at #146 Ill. State over 145

Ill. St. is 4/0 at home incl. an 81-77 win over #151 St. Louis and an 85-75 win over #163 Ohio.  In 4 home games they scored 81, 81, 72 and 85.  In their last game UIC traveled to #141 Seattle and beat them 79-68.  They got 74 at stingy #49 Northwestern and 81 against #157 JMU.

Ill. St. is #9 in 3 pt% (40.6) and UIC is a woeful #342 defending the 3.  Ill. St. shoots 54.7% from 2pt range and is #24 from the FT line (78.4%). UIC is mediocre at 32.3% from deep, 50.3% from 2 pt range and 72.6% from the FT line.  PS, I also sprinkled some pizza money on a parlay with Ill. State -5 and the over.

Woeful Ken Pom #364 Mississippi Valley State under TT 50.5 at #60 LSU

MVS has played a difficult schedule with 8 teams in the top 100, although only one ranked team.  They have averaged 11 points fewer per game than any team in the NCAA.  They've broken 50 twice against D1 teams, totaling 49, 39, 56, 43, 48, 48, 49, 52, 42 and 48.

LSU is as very good defensive team, especially at home.  They are #20, allowing opposing teams to shoot only 28.2% from 3 pt range, and they are #16 defending the 2 (43.3%).  Their demanding coach, who took over a dumpster fire two years ago when Will Wade was fired, has recruited and used the transfer portal well in the tough job of rebuilding what was once a very good program.  If they show up with some intensity in their final tune up before conference play begins, MVS will not break 50.

@OldHammy

 Good luck today 

@OldHammy

 Brother you been hotter than fish grease.. I been following you . Thanks for the info

@playboy37

 Thanks — but caution is always warranted.  

@OldHammy

 Lucky if MVS scores 20 for the game!

@Crash44

 Looks pretty safe with 13 at halftime.

@OldHammy

 Unfortunately Illinois State’s top scorer didn’t even dress and he wasn’t listed in any injury reports.  About 4 minutes into the game their 2nd leading scorer took a hard Fall on a dunk for his 6th point, left the game injured and did not return.  That pretty much killed the chances for going over 145 but they came within 5 points without those two.  Hopefully it will be a 3/1 day.