Nelly’s Basketball is off to a 9-2 start to the season – check out tonight’s 2-for-1 package. Big E has also turned in back-to-back winning weeks in college hoops and he has an afternoon Biggie today!
Free Pick Monday: #791 Texas Tech +3.5 over Creighton 1:30 PM CT
The expectations for Creighton are greatly elevated as a top 10 team in the polls but this was a 23-12 team that didn’t make a lot of noise last season as a huge leap to an elite level seems like a reach. The 4-0 start has come against marginal competition with four home games as the trip to Hawaii this week will be the first meaningful tests of the season. Texas Tech is 3-0 this season and last week’s win over Louisiana Tech is worth a bit of credit as a top 150 opponent. The defensive numbers for the Red Raiders are again at an elite level for Mark Adams after this group went 27-10 and lost to Duke in a close game in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. There is good depth and size on the roster and Oregon transfer De’Vion Harmon and North Carolina transfer Kerwin Walton have great potential while Pop Isaacs has so far been one of the most impressive freshman in the conference. Texas Tech has allowed just over 25 percent on 3-point shots this season and Creighton is rather dependent on outside shooting despite posting average numbers so far this season, number that are not likely to improve in an unfamiliar gym. The Blue Jays have also really struggled with 3-point defenses and free throw shooting. Creighton isn’t a team likely to create turnovers at a high rate as turnovers on offense has been the one issue for the Red Raiders so far under Adams. Having an elite defense is more likely to travel well to tournament action more than Creighton’s typical style under Greg McDermott and Creighton was 2-3 vs. top 50 teams in neutral site games last season with the Round of 64 NCAA Tournament win over San Diego State a fortunate overtime result. Texas Tech was 4-2 in those games last season, only losing in competitive games with Duke and Gonzaga, a class Creighton has not established itself in just yet despite a lot of optimism for the program this season.
Check out a MONDAY NIGHT pick from Bobby Dalton – 7-2 in MNF this season! He went 6-3-1 Saturday & Sunday for a strong football weekend!