Daily Three 1/27

  Hello,

 1-2 last night. It sucks, I know, but we must move on. NHL is on all-star break, so we stay with the same format even with the short slate in college hoops.

NBA
Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors -5

 As I am sure you can imagine, the raptor really has no historical significance with the city of Toronto, or Canada for that matter. So, how did Canada's lone NBA team get the name of a prehistoric predator? Well, the organization asked for a nationwide vote on what the team name should be and received more than 2,000 throughout Canada. Ultimately, they elected the Raptors, and the name has stuck ever since. Normally, I would think this is a stupid name to represent a Canadian team. However, this organization will get a pass, because the name was chosen by the people who support them. That is the true definition of democracy, and I could never rail that. In the game tonight, the Raptors will be without all-star Demar Derozan. Despite the loss, the spread has jumped up a point from Raptors -4 to Raptors -5. UCLA alum Norman Powell will take his spot in the lineup and should do a decent job taking his place. The Raptors are one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference, and it will show tonight at the Air Canada Center.

NCAAB
Wright State Raiders at Valparaiso Crusaders -9 

Last season, Valpo was the media's mid-major darling. Last year, they had an incredibly deep roster, a star in Alec Peters, and a pretty good up-and-coming coach in Bryce Drew (a March Madness legend).  Then, the unthinkable happened and the Crusaders were upset in the Horizon League Tournament by the Phoenix of Green Bay. Stuck with an NIT bid after their bubble bursted, the clock struck midnight way too early. This season, the Crusaders managed to keep Peters, but lost some other key members and their coach who moved on to Vanderbilt. Peters is a monster though, and the Crusaders are still the favorites in the Horizon this year. Valpo is almost a hundred spots higher than Wright State in the Kenpom, and the Raiders even have a negative efficiency rating. I'll take Peters and the Crusaders to blow out Wright State.

Dayton Flyers +5 at VCU Rams

 I may have already mentioned this, but the Atlantic 10 is usually the most underrated conference in the country. That would again be the case this season, and the Flyers and the Rams appear to be the two best teams. The Flyers are experienced, well-coached, and talented. Charles Cooke and Schoochie Smith are apparently well-known Ram killers. Also, Dayton has won the past two meetings and are currently 3-1 against the spread on the road. Take the points here and cheer on the Flyers along with Dimitri.

Yesterday: 1-2
Overall: 33-25-2 (+74 Units)