College Basketball Free Picks
Miami (Fla) vs. FLORIDA (-4') - at Tampa, FL
By Sean Michaels, Featured Handicapper
Florida opens the season ranked No. 1 nationally against No. 14 Miami in Monday’s neutral-site matchup at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa.
The Gators have a significant advantage in continuity, returning four starters and 81.8% of last season’s scoring. The frontcourt of Thomas Haugh (17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds), Alex Condon (15.1 points, 7.5 rebounds) and Rueben Chinyelu (10.9 points, 11.2 rebounds) gives Todd Golden a proven combination of size, scoring and rebounding.
Florida led the nation with a plus-14.7
rebounding margin last season, and that strength could be decisive against a
Miami team still integrating several newcomers.
Miami is a legitimate challenge, not simply an opponent stepping into a big-name matchup. The Hurricanes went 26-9 last season under Jai Lucas and added considerable frontcourt strength with Somto Cyril and the return of Malik Reneau, who averaged 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last season.
Point guard Acaden Lewis also gives Miami a capable playmaker after producing
23 points and 10 assists in the exhibition win over Vanderbilt. The concern for
Miami is whether its revamped frontcourt can consistently handle Florida’s size
and rebounding pressure.
The Gators defeated Miami 82-68 in last season’s meeting, and their returning frontcourt gives them the clearest matchup advantage in this contest. Miami has enough talent and depth to stay competitive, particularly if Reneau is fully ready, but Florida’s experience, size and ability to control the glass make the Gators the side I prefer.
Go ahead and lay the small number with the Gators in this
Sunshine State showdown.
Fordham at KANSAS (-23')
By Richard Coia, Featured Handicapper
Big number in Lawrence tonight where Kansas officially opens its season against the Fordham Rams, and I will lay the lumber with the Jayhawks.
Fordham is opening its season against a ranked opponent after going 17-15 last year, while Kansas has already tested itself against high-level competition in exhibitions against Louisville and Duke. Kansas lost both, but freshman Tyran Stokes showed his potential with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists against Duke.
The Jayhawks also have the added
motivation of extending their remarkable streak of 53 consecutive home-opening
wins.
Fordham does bring some momentum after exhibition victories over UMBC (87-67) and Fairfield (79-62), but the Rams have significant production to replace.
Rikus Schulte is the leading returning scorer after averaging 10.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, while transfer Lateef Patrick Jr. arrives after averaging 15.2 points at Stephen F. Austin. Kansas, meanwhile, has more high-end scoring options, led by Stokes and Tre White, who averaged 18.7 and 16.7 points, respectively, in exhibition play.
The possible debut of Purdue
transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn is another important factor: he averaged 14.2 points
and 8.3 rebounds last season, and is expected to make his KU debut in this one.
Kansas has the deeper roster, a major home-floor advantage and the individual talent to create separation, particularly if Stokes continues the form he showed against Duke.
It's go-time at the Allen Field House, lay it with the Rock
Chalkers.