College Basketball Betting: Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia
Free Pick: West Virginia +8.0 (-110) – Mon February 9th 2009 7:00p
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The casual observer may expect a blowout at first glance here when the fifth ranked 21-2 Pittsburgh Panthers host the unranked 16-7 West Virginia Mountaineers, but a peak at the Pomeroy Ratings actually paints a different picture.

Yes, Pomeroy has Pittsburgh at number 4, and deservedly so. The surprise however is that West Virginia is ranked number 7, mainly due to the fact that the Mountaineers rank fifth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency and a respectable 32 in adjusted offensive efficiency.

West Virginia has been a perimeter team in recent seasons, but they have changed their personality a bit this season as they rank number 11 in the nation in offensive rebound percentage, giving them more garbage second chance points than they have had in the recent past.

They must have learned a thing or two in practice about defending the perimeter in past years though, as they currently lead the country in defensive three-point percentage, limiting opponents to 26.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Now the Panthers are obviously one of the best teams in the land, and they did beat the Mounties by 12 points at Morgantown last month. But they have to guard against some complacency here, as they may get too comfortable at home where they are undefeated at 14-0, especially vs. a team they handled rather easily on the road.

However, West Virginia is a much better team than they showed that night, and the Mountaineers will be motivated by revenge in this nationally televised contest. Look for them to fight to the finish here and keep this game close.

College Basketball Free Pick: West Virginia +8 (-110) – Courtesy of LT Profits

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