NCAA Odds: Florida International Golden Panthers at South Alabama Jaguars (1/19)
January 19th, 2012COLLEGE BASKETBALL — January 19
FIU at SOUTH ALABAMA
(NCAA Odds: South Alabama -6, Total 126) — Wins are rare enough for FIU, but for the last seven games the Panthers have been without Dejuan Wright, one of Isiah Thomas’ better recruits, and they have lost six of those. Wright is 54% from the field and 52% from downtown, and the 6′3″ guard is FIU’s second-leading rebounder as well. It may take him a game or two to get back into rhythm.
But even with Wright in the lineup, FIU sustained losses to the likes of Alabama State and Texas Wesleyan, and took a 26-point beating at the hands of Georgia State. Ball distribution has been a problem, as Thomas’ Hall of Fame abilities obviously haven’t rubbed off on his players. Arkansas transfer Brandon Moore has had some impact at the center spot, and maybe that’s enough to corral his opposite number, Augustine Rubit. We’re certainly not overly impressed with South Alabama’s assist-turnover ratio, which ranks 324th out of 338 Division I teams. But FIU is only slightly better, and the “equalizer” in the middle for USA is Javier Carter, who has swatted away 3.2 shots a game, placing him among the national leaders. That’s a difference-maker with the NCAA odds.
JAY’S PLAY: SOUTH ALABAMA -6 **
(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
