TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASKETBALL SELECTION SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
#849 MINNESOTA (-) over Northwestern at 3 PM EST
It’s definitely gut-check time for the Golden Gophers. On an ugly 0-3 SU and ATS run that includes home losses to Iowa and Indiana in its last two, Minnesota (12-13) absolutely must win this game or its NCAA Tournament chances are all but gone. Luckily, Northwestern is suffering through a dismal 6-19 SU campaign and the Wildcats want nothing more than this dismal season to come to an end. Let’s take a look inside the numbers.
In this series, Minny has played well in the last two meetings posting SU and ATS wins by margins of 12 and nine points respectively. Equally impressive, when favored and matched up against a foe that checks in off a straight up loss, the Gophers have posted a respectable 73-49-2 ATS mark provided their opponent enters with four or more days of rest. In this spot battling an opponent that played on the road in their last contest, Minnesota cruises to a reliable 36-18 ATS including 28-5 SU and 25-8 ATS provided head coach Richard Pitino’s boys played in the comforts of home last.
Currently on a disturbing 7-31 SU and 12-19-3 ATS run dating back to January 26th, 2019, it’s obvious that Northwestern is having all kinds of trouble on the court right now. In this situation checking in off a conference game, the Wildcats drop to a pitiful 3-24 SU and 7-17-3 ATS including a horrible 3-17 SU and 2-15-3 ATS provided they are priced as a favorite or an underdog of +10.5 or less. Also, Big 10 home dogs in conference play that hold a team won/loss percentage less than .500 own a woeful 36-102 SU and 56-80-2 ATS mark provided their opponent scoots in without confidence off a straight up loss. If our “play against” host is fighting a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage of .750 or less, this Big 10 angle falls to a woeful 27-86 SU and 41-70-2 ATS.
If the Golden Gophers want to have a shot at the Big Dance, folding here isn’t an option. With their proverbial backs to the wall, Coach Pitino’s kids will respond. Take Minnesota. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
BIG AL’s NBA TV GAME OF THE WEEK — LAKERS/CELTICS!
Al McMordie bounced back on Saturday to have a nice, winning day, including big winners on his Horizon League Game of the Month and his Pac-12 Game of the Month. Here, pick up Big Al’s NBA TV Game of the Week in the ABC-TV match-up between the Celtics and Lakers, backed by a sweet 72{98f2b46702b964aa2f621cb1b604d81e6a02f7a689ec244db25f4c0c4ad46cb7} ATS system. Get on it!