Puerto Rico Tip Off Classic
Tip off: 5:30 PM EST, Friday, Nov 16, 2012
Spread: NC ST -7.5
Total: 158
M/L: NC ST -335, UMass +285
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
UMASS
UMass won 25 games last year and made the NIT semifinals, and they should be even better this year. They have one of the best point guards in the A-10 in Chaz Williams, who led the team in scoring, assists and steals last year. He’s great for Derek Kellogg’s fast paced offense and full court pressing, and should have a big year.
UMass also only lost one starter from last year’s squad (Sean Carter). Cady Lalanne has the body to do it, at 6’9″ 250, and should actually be an improvement over Carter.
Raphiael Putney, Terrell Vinson, Sampson Carter, Freddie Riley and Javorn Farrell all were a part of Kellogg’s first recruiting class and are all ready to make a big impact now. Kellogg was hired four years ago to return this UMass program to relevance, and the path has been blazed for that to happen with the collection of veteran talent on the team.
The Minutemen haven’t made the NCAA tournament in 14 years, but that can come to an end this year if the team plays to expectations. Athlon Magazine predicts the Minutemen to finish 4th in the A-10, though, and without winning the conference, it may be difficult to earn an at large berth. It always is.
NC STATE
NC State has a chance to win the ACC this year, which would be the first time since 1989. UNC and Duke both lost a lot of talent to the NBA draft and NC State’s window of opportunity is firmly open this season. Last year, they finished 24-13 with a 9-7 record in the tough ACC. They beat San Diego State and Georgetown in March, but then lost to Kansas in the Sweet 16. This year, they could make another run deep in March, but Athlon Magazine predicts them to fall in the Sweet 16 again.
They need to win 12 or 13 ACC games this season, and they should be able to if they can get the most out of C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell, Lorenzo Brown and Scott Wood. The quartet averaged 50.7 points per game last season and all four saw at least 27 minutes per game.
Leslie, a 6’9″ junior forward led NC State in both scoring and blocked shots (1.6 per game), and he was second in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per game. He seemed to mature a lot as a player and as a person last year, and he averaged 17.1 points per game over the final 16 games, which was about five points per game better than his first half of the year.
Howell, a 6’8″ senior forward, led the team in rebounding last year and he had 22 points in the NCAA tournament win over San Diego State. He needs to work on mitigating his foul trouble, though, because the Wolfpack needs him on the court in big games.
UMass Betting Trends:
Minutemen are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 on Friday, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs ACC teams, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games, and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 following an ATS loss.
NC State Betting Trends:
Wolfpack are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 following an SU win, 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 vs teams with winning pcts above .600, 8-0 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games, 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 on Friday, 22-8 ATS in their last 30 neutral site games.
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