It’s a new month, and hopefully, we can keep the momentum going from last month, considering I finished January up 35.5 units. We got February off to a great start with a couple Asian soccer plays, and I’ve got some South American plays sitting there for later in the day, so hopefully, we can start February with four soccer victories.
As for how we finished January, I feared the worst when Notre Dame couldn’t hit Lake Michigan at 15 feet and Hartford got hot and pulled away from Maine. But I read both Penn State and the Senators correctly, and playing both on the moneyline meant I emerged ahead two units with a 3-2 record for Monday. And that’s why you take underdogs sometimes when you’ve got a good feeling.
It’s back to totals, which tend to go a lot better for me in the winter than in the fall. Here are my best plays for February 1.
BOSTON COLLEGE TTU 54, -110
Boston College averages 58.9 points per game on the road anyway, and that’s with one game being a 70-pointer at Clemson. In their past three games away from Chestnut Hill, the Eagles scored 47 points at North Carolina, 57 at Wake Forest and 54 at Louisville. What do those three teams have in common? They all play a heck of a lot faster than Virginia. This could be first team to 50 wins in Charlottesville.
KANSAS TTU 71, -110
I feel like I’m missing something here. The Jayhawks only got 62 on Iowa State’s defense in Lawrence and they’re coming off a 62-point performance at home where Kentucky battered them in every conceivable way. And I’m supposed to buy Kansas reaching a number that 12 of Iowa State’s past 13 visitors to Hilton Coliseum have failed to hit? Unless the Cyclones have an off night on defense, Kansas isn’t getting to 70.
ALABAMA-AUBURN O155, -110
Speed, speed and more speed. Alabama seems to save its best for the big names (case in point, the Crimson Tide have wins over Baylor and Gonzaga, yet somehow managed to lose to Missouri), and the only way the Tide is going to win this one is by getting out and running. Auburn’s not afraid to run either, so this game should find its way to the 80s.
NORTH CAROLINA-LOUISVILLE O145.5, -110
Hubert Davis has yet to figure out how to pack the defense when the Tar Heels leave Chapel Hill. The Heels have given up 83 or more on the road seven times out of nine, and the over has cashed in seven of Carolina’s road games (and it would have been eight if the Heels hadn’t shot 34 percent at Miami). Both teams should do their share of the scoring in this one.
MICHIGAN TTO 78.5, -110
Michigan already dropped 102 points on Nebraska in Lincoln, and that’s where the Huskers actually resemble a basketball team. If they couldn’t stop the Wolverines in Lincoln, what’s likely to happen in Ann Arbor? Nebraska is 0-6 outside of Lincoln and has given up 90 or more points in four of those games (Auburn, Purdue, Rutgers and N.C. State). Only Indiana failed to get above 78 against the Huskers at home, so I like Michigan’s odds.
SHARKS-LIGHTNING O5.5, -115
Tampa Bay has never had a problem scoring against the Sharks and just dropped seven on the Sharks in the Tank last week. As long as the Sharks contribute a goal or two, this number should be within reach.
