TOM STRYKER’S FREE BASKETBALL SELECTION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH
#900 NORTHERN KENTUCKY (+3′) over Oakland at 7 PM EST
With dubs in five straight and six of its last seven, Northern Kentucky is in prime position to pull off the upset over Horizon leader Oakland on Friday night. The Golden Grizzlies enter this conference battle off three consecutive straight up wins and, after being forced to push this game back a night because of weather, head coach Greg Kampe and his boys will have trouble making the adjustment.
Revenge motivation will certainly help our cause too. In the semifinal round of last year’s Horizon League Conference Tournament, the Norse (-2) got rocked by the Golden Grizzlies 69-58. Thankfully, when priced as a home underdog inside the friendly confines of BB&T Arena, NKU has quietly inked a spotless 8-0 ATS mark in its last eight tries. Also, in conference play running the court against an opponent that holds a team won/loss percentage of .501 or better, head coach Darrin Horn and his troops hold a respectable 25-12 SU and 23-14 ATS record including an elite 15-6 ATS in this situation provided they are priced as an underdog or a favorite of -2 or less.
This isn’t the best wagering spot for Oakland either. When priced as a favorite, the Golden Grizzlies hold a stiff 9-17 ATS mark provided both teams enter with four or more days of rest. In this role playing on the road, Coach Kampe’s troops fall to a shocking 0-7 ATS. Also, when holding a team won/loss percentage of .750 or better and going into revenge, Oakland sports a feeble 3-7 ATS record in its last 10 battles.
On the defensive end of the court, the Norse have cranked up the intensity and limited their last five opponents to an average of 59.0 points per game. There’s an upset brewing in Highland Heights on Friday night. Take Northern Kentucky. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
TOM’S 19-3 ATS NBA BEST BET OF THE WEEK
Coming off a 2-1 ATS Thursday that grabbed a huge AAC Game of the Month winner on Central Florida, Stryker heads over to the NBA on Friday looking to cash another ticket. An elite 19-3 ATS angle supports this selection along with a reliable 28-13 ATS team trend. Grab Tom’s NBA Best Bet of the Week for $30.