Marquette +4.5 vs. UCLA

[BM1090]

Seems right. First road game. UCLA is back at full strength. Going to be a challenge, but it's winnable.

UCLA has a ton of talent but they play at a slow pace which may bode well for Marquette.

[tower912]

Cronin can coach.  Slowdown is his thing.  I am never optimistic about MU's first road game.

[MU82]

Here is Seth Davis' pick on The Athletic:

Marquette at UCLA (-5), 9:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network. The Bruins got an important piece back Wednesday night, when 6-6 sophomore guard Johnny Juzang, a transfer from Kentucky, made his season debut by scoring 10 points off the bench in the Bruins’ 83-56 home win over San Diego. Juzang missed the first four games with a stress reaction in his right foot, and while his scoring potential is a welcome addition, his real value is adding perimeter depth to a team that desperately needed it. Marquette is riding a two-game win streak, including its dramatic win over Wisconsin on Dec. 4, and is excelling on the defensive end. The Golden Eagles are leading the Big East in scoring defense (62.0 points per game), field-goal defense (34.3 percent) and 3-point defense (26.5 percent), but Mick Cronin has an experienced team, and it might be the best offensive squad he has ever had. I’ll take the Bruins at home. The pick: UCLA

If forced at gunpoint to bet, and to remove my blue-and-gold glasses, I'd bet on UCLA.

But I won't take off the glasses and I'm not forced to bet. So many folks said Madison would crush us, including the folks at The Athletic. Wrongo!

We Are Marquette!

[BM1090]

I think we lose by 10+, but I also thought we'd beat Oklahoma State.

[DegenerateDish]

FD has UCLA at -3.5, I'm probably going to grab UCLA first half -1.5 (-120), don't love the vig, but of all the Illinois books, FD is the only one with the line this low.

I think first true road game, 4 hour flight, late tip, I can see MU getting off to a slow start. I don't mind betting this either, if MU covers this, it's a tight game or an MU lead going into the half.

[tower912]

Take UCLA and the points.

[We R Final Four]

Take UCLA and the points.

Hope you lose.

[Nukem2]

FD has UCLA at -3.5, I'm probably going to grab UCLA first half -1.5 (-120), don't love the vig, but of all the Illinois books, FD is the only one with the line this low.

I think first true road game, 4 hour flight, late tip, I can see MU getting off to a slow start. I don't mind betting this either, if MU covers this, it's a tight game or an MU lead going into the half.

Not so late in Westwood.

[mileskishnish72]

Take UCLA and the points.

First big trip for some of these kids - flying across the country, hotel, etc. Maybe a bit of stage fright. The lay is the play. Usually don't go deep against MU, so if I pay, it's OK.

[Carl]

I might just still be riding high off of the UW win and the current perceived high ceiling for this team, but this feels like a huge game tonight. Pretty excited for it, we have so many guys capable of SOTG type performances.  Hope we have a hard time deciding!

[LAZER]

FD has UCLA at -3.5, I'm probably going to grab UCLA first half -1.5 (-120), don't love the vig, but of all the Illinois books, FD is the only one with the line this low.

I think first true road game, 4 hour flight, late tip, I can see MU getting off to a slow start. I don't mind betting this either, if MU covers this, it's a tight game or an MU lead going into the half.

Nice job grabbing 1H -1.5

[rocky_warrior]

I'm probably going to grab UCLA first half -1.5 (-120),

Cha-ching.  Barely, but that doesn't matter

[DegenerateDish]

I don’t bet large amounts, but I would not have mined losing that bet.

I would take the second half over 72 as well here.

[mileskishnish72]

Bummer. You were probably expecting both teams to score.

[DegenerateDish]

Bummer. You were probably expecting both teams to score.

I didn’t get it in in time because I had to put my kids to bed, but I was expecting pace/possessions/fouls and potential overtime to drive that over. MU was ice cold, especially last 8 minutes.