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

Positive 5 2009–2010 Week 14

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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, St. Mary’s, Siena and UNLV.

Well, with less than a dozen games remaining in the regular season for the members of the Pos 5, it will be difficult to dip below .500 That’s sad, because three months ago, I was looking to come in at above .600 against the spread.

The first half of the VCO Pos 5 season, we hovered above and around 60%, but then we shot a few “air balls” to stand (going into this week’s games—tonight Feb. 26–Thursday Mar. 4) at 90-60 SU and 61-52 ATS. The spread numbers are showing a small profit at 53%. We hope to bring that percentage closer to 55% with a good post-season run for Cornell, Siena, UNLV, Tennessee and St. Mary’s.

The 5 went 6-2 SU and 5-2-1 ATS last week with VCO readers favorite UNLV, leading the way, at 2-0 straight up and vs. the number.

Cornell, the Pos 5’s biggest winner (12 of their last 13), won both their games and won one and tied one against the spread. The Big Red kicks off the week tonight hosting the Princeton Tigers and come right back tomorrow night, again at home against the Quakers of Pennsylvania, who defeated Cornell at Penn. two weeks ago by 15 points as a 16 point dog…“go figure.”

The Siena Saints also play tonight at Rider. The Saints suffered their worst defeat of the season Sat. vs. the ranked Butler Bulldogs.

The remaining three teams, Tenn. UNLV and St. Mary’s play tomorrow, with the Gaels closing out the regular season vs. Loyola-Marymount.

Here’s hoping for “nothing but net” as we prepare for “March Madness.”