So here are the numbers with these two teams:

RPI:
Toledo - 38
Southern Miss - 34

SOS
Toledo - 146
Southern Miss - 132

BPI
Toledo - 87
Southern Miss - 64

Offensive Ranking
Toledo - 21
Southern Miss - 132

Defensive Ranking
Toledo - 266
Southern Miss - 31

Line - at Southern Miss -7

** Southern Miss ranks #4 in the country in defensive rebounds per game.

My thoughts. 55% of betting money is picking Southern Miss to cover -7 against the Rockets at home. I think if I were putting money on the game, I would probably be inclined to also go with Southern Miss -7 after looking at these numbers. The fact that the Eagles rank as the #4 defensive rebounding team in the country and over #31 defensive team in the country with a SOS similar to the Rockets makes me nervous about the Rockets chances tonight. Rockets are going to have to make the most of their first chance opportunities and it's rare that they just have a game where everyone is on in terms of shooting. It looks like to me that the key to this game is going to be to have Juice shooting and passing the ball around until the guys get open looks on the first possession and we'll need Pearson, Drummond, and Booth to be highly efficient on offense. If the Rockets find that one of them has the hot hand (which has been normal throughout the season), they are going to need to start dishing to that hand as often as possible. Can't afford to give the others time to find their footing in a game like this. Southern Miss is simply a decent offensive team so if the Rockets can come out and pressure their two guards (Watson and Craig) and their forward (Boardingham) early on to give themselves a bit of a cushion to hold throughout the game, they may find themselves in a chance to win. However, they are not going to be able to win this game if they employ their usual defense throughout most of the game.

Unfortunately, I don't see the Rockets playing tough D to start the game and I ultimately see Southern Miss coming away with the victory. Definitely a winnable game if the Rockets really want it though.

Let's get this thing on!

Down 34-19 at the half are #s I don't like!

Two straight games of stinking

(03-19-2014 08:23 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Down 34-19 at the half are #s I don't like!

Two straight games of stinking

Yes, unfortunately they don't.

toledo is kickin ass!! a BIG run in the second half!!

Pretty much as expected. The line was Southern Miss -7 and they won by 7. This is good for the sports books because the 55% that bought on the Eagles at -7 only get their money back (as opposed to getting their money back and earning a profit) and the 45% that bought on the Rockets gave their money to the books.

But regardless, all signs pointed to a lower scoring game and that is what we got. Hope the Rockets work on their defensive game in the offseason.

What was the "real" reason Spoon did not start. Was it a physical injury or something else? Lauf supposedly told a tv guy a different reason.