Today is a huge day for the political pundits who get to squawk all day and night about how wise they are and make interpretations about exits polls and what they mean.

2008-02-05

Today is a huge day for the political pundits who get to squawk all day and night about how wise they are and make interpretations about exits polls and what they mean. The college basketball slate is pretty huge too.

Of course these visionary souls have been about as accurate as a handicapper on an 8-18 downer, but who cares; nobody is paying for this on-air dribble. While on the topic of dribbling, two important college basketball games are on the docket, each having major ramifications in there precincts. For those betting basketball tonight, use this information to give yourself the most informed opinion you can, then vote for the team of choice.

There are 15 games on the Super Tuesday college hoops betting board, with each one of your bets at Sportsbook.com counting towards the “Beat the House” promotion. Stay current with the latest key game information for the entire board by following the Live Odds and Betting Trends pages.

Florida at seventh-ranked Tennessee will generate all the headlines in evening action. Coach Bruce Pearl of the Volunteers works in the capitol of Tennessee and could get some write-in votes for an office in the state, should he be inclined to do so. The Vols are in the midst of another sensational season at 19-2 and the class of the SEC. Pearl would generate support on a national campaign as well, with his backers being financially supportive, thanks to his efforts.

Since taking the Tennessee job, Pearl is 47-32 against the spread, including 10-7 this campaign.
Other teams have more talent than the Orange and White, but nobody plays harder. Tennessee is relentless in pressure defense and keeps pushing the ball on offense, causing physical and mental fatigue from opposing teams. Tennessee is 11-0 at home with 5-2 ATS mark. They are fifth in the country in points scored at home at 89.1 points per game, shooting 49.9 percent from the field. The defensive intensity cranks up also, holding teams to 64.1 PPG on 39.8 percent.

With the impressive win and cover at Mississippi State, the Vols are 33-14 ATS off a road win.
The two-time defending champs Florida, set up a preseason schedule to fit there brand new roster, running unopposed for the most part and gathering momentum towards what has turned out to be campaign as surprising as John McCain’s. After making the Top 25 last week, Arkansas voters (players) knocked the Gators off kilter with 80-61 drubbing, making coach Billy Donovan feel like Rudy Giuliani for a day. Florida shot a lamentable 33.3 percent and will seek the quick reversal of fortune against a team that has beaten them three of four, when they were the best team in the country. The Gators have normally responded with 12-3 ATS record in road games off a road loss against a SEC rival.

Sportsbook.com has Tennessee as 9-point favorites and why not, since they are 15-5 ATS at Thomas-Boling Arena the last two years. Like a gator, the Vols feed off momentum and is 9-2 ATS in home games after two or more consecutive wins. Florida has to hope it doesn’t turn into a landslide with Pearl’s pack 8-1 ATS in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77 or points a game. ESPN will have this SEC encounter at 9 Eastern.

In the Missouri Valley a couple of Barack Obama’s types are ruling the conference. Drake was supposed to finish near the bottom of the Valley, instead have streaked to the front of the line with 11-0 (8-3 ATS) conference record. The Bulldogs are ranked 15th in the country and are chasing first conference regular season crown in 37 seasons. Drake runs and presses under new coach Keno Davis, who like current president Bush, followed in his father’s footsteps and took over the Des Moines, Iowa job. Drake is 14-3 ATS in all games this season and 6-0 ATS after a win by 6 points or less.

If any team in capable of knocking off the frontrunner, it is second place Illinois State. New coaching blood was also brought into Normal, IL, where things are anything but normal. Tim Jankovich has breathed life into dormant program, with a tough defense and mindset Hilary and Bill would be proud of. ISU is 11-0 with 5-3 ATS record at Redbird Arena, where teams convert a mere 37 percent of shot attempts. Illinois State has not had much success against teams like Drake, with 7-19 ATS record versus clubs who make eight or more 3-point shots a game.
Illinois State is a 2.5-point favorite, with a long history of playing well at home. Drake will try to counter with 8-1 and 6-2 ATS road record this season. Like understanding past elections, history suggests the Bulldogs will a tough time on the Valley campaign trail trying to earn enough delegates to win the conference with 2-8 and 4-6 ATS mark on the court named after former player, NBA star and TNT announcer, Doug Collins.

It promises to be a Super Tuesday with or with election results.

StatFox Power Line – Tennessee by 7, Drake by 3

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