thoughts
kentucky- I think kentucky at this point worth a play against pretty much anyone at home now with a short spread, now that they're so well coached. Bama will of course come to play coming off a loss, but I'm skeptical they'll slow kentucky surgical offense enough to win. Think Bama will have to shoot better than they have from 3 this year.
UGA- I think Auburn showed they're a total beast at home and it was classic situation where everyone steps up in short term to cover for a key guy out. Miss St also shot terribly. But now back on the road where they werent great last week even with Broome. I think UGA should be able to play their game (crashing glass and getting to the line), with auburn weakened on the boards without broome plus being foul prone. UGA looked like crap on the road against ole miss but bounced back in their next game at home, so thinking the poor showing at tenn wont be a factor, and they'll be competitive here at home
Duquesne- I think Bonnies have dropped a couple games recently because the heavy minutes for the starters are catching up to them and they could really use bowen back. Now facing upstart team that will be playing with confidence at home here, and goes with a deep rotation, I think will be tough game for bonnies
USC- Wiscy has not actually been putting complete games together recently when you really look at it. The 2nd half against Ohio St last game was super weak and disappointing. And I thought they looked super beatable in the buttger game last week but buttger just simply could not score with Dylan Harper a total shell of himself that game. I point all that out because, a long stretch of shaky play should get them in trouble against a home team playing with confidence like should be the case with USC right now, and the long travel can't help matters. So like USC chances to clip em here
West V- west v may simply not have the horses without Tucker Devries is the worry here. But they catch Iowa St coming off the big kansas win. And again, it's now all 3 road games that Iowa St has been in trouble and had to dig to deep down the stretch to win. In TT game, tech blew it both end of regulation and overtime, tho credit Iowa St for being clutch. I'm thinking West V will be scrappy enough to hang in, and it'll be like other Iowa St road games where the home team will be in position to have a shot in 2nd half.
Pitt- This team has been exposed as not that great. That's fine. But here they should have major major urgency to get a home win, and I do think a similar effort to the louisville game will turn into a win here, but louisville is just playing too strong right now. Clemson does not need this game, they are good, but certainly beatable, ultimately unless pitt does just totally suck now, they should be able to get it together enough and gut one out as the hungrier team at home.
Miss St- I see this as high urgency spot for a solid home team, think they'll be flying around defensively after couple subpar defensive games, and I think their length can cause smaller miss team some issues. Great win at alabama for miss, but they were +14 in turnover disparity (unlikely to be case agaist miss state), and bama while they have lot of size with all the big men, they also have 2 short guards out there alot, not really the case with Miss St who has the long wings and the bigs. Just like miss state chances to bounceback and take my chances they pull away enough