January '10 Sports—Frank Marino's Hoops with the Tout Column

Positive 5 2009–2010 Week 8

Idon’t want to brag, but I have to. Six ATS winning weeks in a row. I mean, come on. We’re on a par, percentage wise, with last year’s 62 % (72-43) see archives.

Each week we track the 5 college hoop teams that I have determined will show a “positive return on investment” by season’s end. This year I have selected Cornell, Tennessee, Minnesota, Siena and U of California (since replaced: see below).

This will be the last time I blow my own horn, until I go over 74.9 %; At that time I’ll run for mayor.

This past week the members of the Pos 5 (including Cal.) went 10-0 SU and 5-3 ATS bringing the season numbers to 56-22 SU and 41-25 ATS, maintaining our 62 %.

How ’bout those Volunteers of Tennessee? They defeated No. 1 Kansas, with four key players, including a starter, out. The four watching from the stands, are looking at anywhere from a slap on the wrist to a stretch in the hoosegow (I’m betting on the former) for gun and “happy stick” possession and three others out with injuries dismissals or illness, defeated No. 1 Kansas 76-68 this past Sunday.

Not only was coach Bruce Pearl’s No. 16th ranked Vols playing with only 6 scholarship players and 3 walk-ons, 2 of that game’s starters were on the bench for most of the game, due to foul trouble. Tenn. was able to hold off the Jay Hawks, who previously edged, in the last minute of play, another

member of the Pos 5 (Cornell) Both games were, of course, ATS victories for the Pos 5. Last night the Vols beat up on Auburn 81-55, to run their record to 13-2 SU and 7-3-1 ATS.

Our “pious” Pos 5 member, Siena, was victories in both their games this past VCO week, but the Saints only covered once.

Cornell, meanwhile, played two games against teams most of us never heard of, winning both by a combined total of 55 points. Neither game had a spread. The still unranked Big Red play back to back games against the Lions of Columbia next week. To bad it's not the Lions of Detroit… oh! that’s football.

Our final Pos 5 team, Minnesota, also played 2 games and out scored the other side in both, to win each, SU and ATS. In Wednesday’s game against Mich. St the Gophers covered by the “hook” –7 ½; if you got them early. We use the opening line at the Hilton.

Using the option of replacing a team that is not, or may not, in the near future, play according to my expectations, (did it 3 or 4 times last season) have replaced the Cal. Bears with the “home boy” Rebels of UNLV. Last night the Rebs won and covered against SDSU. But it’s a new beginning for coach Lon Kruger and his team has a member of the Pos 5. Tomorrow star senior guard Tre’von Wills and the boys play the Utah Utes. At the start of Pos 5 play, UNLV is 14-3 11-4.

Here’s “looking at nothing but net.”