Sunday, February 20, 2022
Temple vs. Cincinnati (NCAAB) - 2:00 PM EST Premium Pick
Pick: Point Spread: 7/-110 Temple Rating: 8* Mike's CBB Sunday Sleeper Selection (WIN)
When the Owls & Bearcats meet, it's usually a down-to-the-wire affair like this season's earlier meeting won by Temple 61-58 @ the Liacouras Center. In fact, the last 6 meetings were won by a total of just 20 points (last 4 by 9 points). Now, HC Aaron McKie (3rd season & coming off a disastrous 5-11 campaign) takes his cherry & white squad into Bearcat country with both 6'5" guards Jeremiah Williams & Damian Dunn on the mend. I feel the 14-9 SU team out of Philadelphia is in the more desperate mode. They come in with a respectable 4-4 SU record on the road but have dominated ATS going a visiting 8-1 when matched up against a home team with a winning percentage over .600. Temple is the more-hungry group after their exit in the 1st round of the American Athletic Conference Tournament with a 73-71 loss to the South Florida Bulls. On the flip side, HC Wes Miller (1st season after relieving former HC John Brannen after reports of intimidating players & payment of extra benefits to a team member surfaced) is still making adjustments this season after the red & black got blown out in the AAC Championship 91-54 @ the hands of the Houston Cougars. My bottom line says its hard to ignore the Bearcats' 13-39-3 record versus the number in games off a SU win. I further feel Cincy's backcourt of David DeJulius & Mika Adams-Woods is a wash against Williams & Dunn. Even though Queen City holds a few more statistical edges, Temple will control the boards & keep this one tight in the end. Remember, these 2 are almost identical in the league standings with the 5th-place Owls currently besting the 6th-place Bearcats by a 7-5 to 7-6 1/2-game margin. Let's go to the Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati to play the TEMPLE OWLS (buying to +9) as my 8* CBB Sunday Sleeper Selection! NOTES: It's been a rough going to start in CBB. Remember, this is a marathon & NOT a sprint! I started the NFL 2-3 & wound up going 32-10 in the regular season. I took a page out of my dad (Jacob Handzelek's) playbook. He told me that he & his roommate Chuck Knox (who went on to be the HC of the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills & Seattle Seahawks spanning 22 seasons) thrived on weekend roadies since small home team favorites (5 to 7 points) usually did some excessive partying & were seldom 100% physically for a Sunday afternooner. Low & behold (see Temple play above), the Owls not only covered @ +9 but won the game OUTRIGHT! We'll proceed with caution as the conference tournaments are coming soon. Check back each night for possible CBB plays (before 6:30 PM Weekdays & 11:30 AM Weekends.
Mike Handzelek's 2021-22 CBB Overall Record: 2-2 for a slow start 50%
Mike's L28 Plays (all sports): 24-4 for a surreal 86%
![]() |
|
(TonyK) 3G-Sports
- TonyK's 30 day all access test drive TonyK is the most recognized handicapper in the country, and one of the top finishers of the NFL Las Vegas Hilton Contest. TonyK & 3G-SPORTS is currently ranked #1 in the Nation as monitored by The National Sports Monitor. Get his monthly package now for 30 consecutive days of College and NFL Football plus NBA HOOPS, World Series action and HOCKEY for just $275. Start collecting that extra paycheck each week! |
Click here to view all of today's premium picks.