It wasn’t the best ever for the PiRate Ratings, as we’ve had greater than 200% returns on investment in a handful of weeks in the last 17 years, but last week’s 171.2% ROI was our best in the last three years. We played six wagers last week, ranging from +159.65 to +360. We lost the +360, but we won the other five selections for an imaginary gain of $1,027.74 on an imaginary investment of $600.
Coming this late in the year, if we play a bit conservatively the rest of the year, we will be guaranteed of having our 5th winning season in the last 6 years and our 14th winning season in the 17 years we have been pretending to wager. For the season, our imaginary 54 wagers at $100 per game for $5,400 in imaginary currency has returned an imaginary $6,337.83, for a profit of $937.83, and a ROI of 17.4%. Hopefully, you have seen the word “imaginary” a few times to this point. We hope you get what we’re saying; we do not wager real money on these parlays.
We are issuing just two parlays this week. The odds were not what we hoped for, as too many games have very large Money Lines. Additionally, our plan is to play one, two, or three games in each parlay while receiving odds better than +120 and preferably better than +150. Having to ask four teams to win for us is basically one too many. Alas, we had to issue a 4-game parlay this week to bring the odds up above +150.
Here are the two parlays we have selected this week. If either one wins, we are guaranteed to have another winning week. If both win, we may retire for the season and enjoy our imaginary winnings. If neither win, we will have given back a little of our profits.
Today, we preview the strongest of the Group of 5 conferences. In a couple of years, we might be referring to the American Athletic Conference as the top of the “Tier 2” leagues. It would not be surprising to see some of the Big 12 teams and some of the AAC teams merging into one league.
Until then, the AAC remains the conference where the top team is usually the leading contender for the guaranteed Group of 5 team in a New Year’s Six bowl. Last year, Cincinnati ran the table in the abbreviated season and then beat Tulsa in an exciting game to move to 9-0 and earn the New Year’s Six bowl bid against Georgia in the Peach Bowl. Playing basically a road game against the in-state school, the Bearcats had a chance to win the game and fell just short.
Bearcats coach Luke Fickell welcomes back a roster that has a little rebuilding to do, but the talent-level should be a little stronger thanks to some excellent recruiting classes bringing underclassmen to the roster.
UC has back-to-back games at Indiana and Notre Dame after beginning the year with winnable home games. If the Bearcats can pick off the Hoosiers and Fighting Irish, they could find themselves in the same position as last year–in the hunt for a Playoff bid but probably looking at a #6 or #7 final rating and a repeat trip to a New Year’s Six bowl.
The Bearcats cannot be counted out this year against the big dogs on their schedule. A defense that gave up 16.8 points and 325 yards per game last year, could be a little better in 2021. The secondary coverage should be one of the five best in the nation, led by the top cover corner in the nation in Ahmad Gardner.
The only question for this year’s UC team is the offensive line, which must be rebuilt with more underclassmen than upperclassmen. In a season where other teams might field 23-year old seniors, this could come to haunt the Bearcats.
Central Florida undergoes a big change as Josh Heupel and his up-tempo, high-powered spread offense have moved to Tennessee, while former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn brings his different style of spread offense to Orlando. The former offense was driving on the interstate in open country, while the new offense will be like the old blue highway with winding roads and hilly terrain. It won’t be as flashy, but the Knights could benefit by playing defense a lot less than they did in recent years. This is going to benefit UCF’s young defense that must break in eight new starters, including four excellent defensive backs.
The UCF offense can become the team’s best defense if they can sustain long drives. In Heupel’s time in Orlando, UCF had no trouble moving the ball, but they scored so quickly, the defense fatigued. In the Knights’ three losses last year, second half defense was the reason they lost those games by eight to Tulsa, one to Memphis, and three to Cincinnati.
This is year three for Dana Holgorsen, and he’s 7-13 in two years at the helm. This is a school that made it public that 8-4 records were grounds for divorce with its head coach, so Holgorsen better hope he can turn things around this year, or he might receive a lump sum alimony check with orders to vacate the premises.
An Air Raid style offense that struggles to pass the ball is an anomaly. Houston also had a problem holding onto the ball in 2020, and the defense was overly tasked due to a lot of short offensive drives that turned the ball over via fumble, interception, or punt.
What hurt the Cougars most last year was never knowing if they were going to play from week to week. They were like understudies when the star had a cold. They prepared all week and then found out on Friday that their game was cancelled. It happened eight times!
Quarterback Clayton Tune has the potential to run the Air Raid. Houston needs to have an extra receiver step up to complement Jeremy Singleton and Nathaniel Dell.
Defensively, we expect the UH stop troops to show considerable progress this year, especially if the Cougars cut down on the turnovers. They gave up slightly less than 400 yards per game and 32 points per game in 2020. With most of the top players returning, those numbers could drop to 350-370 yards and 25-28 points per game. And, what might that bring UH? Maybe an 8-4 record, and we know what that did to former coaches Major Applewhite and Tony Levine.
Tulsa was the big surprise of the AAC last year. After multiple years languishing near or at the bottom of the standings, the Golden Hurricane discovered how to play defense. TU surrendered 21.6 points and 333 yards per game, holding Oklahoma State to 16, Navy to 6, undefeated league champion Cincinnati to 27, and Mississippi State to 28 in the Armed Forces Bowl.
That defense returns 10 starters, so opponents are going to be in for a fight trying to score points on the Hurricane in 2021. If the offense can live up to expectations, then TU might repeat with another trip to the AAC Championship Game. Quarterback Davis Brin came off the bench as the backup last year against Tulane and led TU on three consecutive touchdown drives, and then led his team to an overtime victory. If he can play an entire season like he did in that quarter and a half, Tulsa might be playing at Cincinnati in November with first place on the line.
Tulane has slowly improved year by year during coach Willie Fritz’s tenure in the Crescent City. Now entering year six, Fritz has a minor defensive rebuild to perform, but the offense should remain potent after averaging 35 points per game and leading the league in rushing. This is a team that may be a year away from contending for a spot in the conference championship game, and we expect the Green Wave to remain a .500 team this year.
East Carolina coach Mike Houston was the Nick Saban of FCS football during his tenure at James Madison. Prior to that, he did the inevitable and won at The Citadel. After a 4-8 record in year one at ECU, his 2020 shortened season record of 3-6 included consecutive wins over Temple and SMU to finish the 2020 season. This just might be the year the Pirates cross the .500 threshold and return to a bowl for the first time since 2014. 10 starters return to both sides of the ball. Houston’s short passing game is almost an aerial version of Woody Hayes’ three yards and a cloud of dust. By spreading the field and throwing quick passes for 3 to 7 yards with an occasional run after catch of another 10-15 yards, it can be difficult to bend and not break for any defense.
The key will be the defense. If the more experienced stop side can shave a touchdown off its 2020 average, that might be enough for the Pirates to break even in the league. The problem is that ECU plays Appalachian State, South Carolina, and Marshall out of conference.
SMU enjoyed a 7-3 season that ended with a Frisco Bowl bid that never came to fruition due to Covid. With nine starters returning to the attack side, one would think that the Mustangs are poised to top their 39 points per game average. But, the biggest reason why this team moved the ball with relative ease last year is one of the two not returning. Former Oklahoma backup Tanner Mordecai might be a talented passer, but he isn’t going to match what Shane Buechele did in Dallas. With an expected drop in offense, and a defense that at best will be as good as 2020, expect the Mustangs to take a step backward this year, but they could still earn a bowl bid.
Since Justin Fuente won 19 games his last two years at Memphis and then took the Virginia Tech job, pundits have predicted the downfall of the Tigers’ fortunes. Mike Norvell replaced Fuente and guided the Tigers to a Cotton Bowl berth before he took the Florida State job two years ago. Ryan Silverfield took over last year, and during Covid, UM’s best offensive players opted out. Memphis still managed to put together an 8-3 record that included a bowl win over Florida Atlantic.
Now, the Tigers face an issue at quarterback as former QB Brady White gambled on the NFL Draft, went undrafted, signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans, and did not make it to the preseason. Two transfers from Power 5 schools expect to vie for the starting QB job this year. Former Arizona Wildcat Grant Gunnell and former LSU Tiger Peter Parrish are competing for the job, and we expect Gunnell to be under center when Memphis runs its first play of the 2021 season. Considering that he had very little help at Arizona, as the Wildcats struggled to compete in the Pac-12, Gunnell looked decent enough to believe he can guide Memphis to a possible break-even or slightly winning record.
South Florida hired former Clemson offensive coordinator Jeff Scott to try to return the Bulls’ program to where it was in the prior decade. Unfortunately, Scott couldn’t bring any of Clemson’s All-Americans to Tampa. After going 1-8 with the lone win coming against FCS The Citadel, there is nowhere to go but up for the Bulls this year. The offense has a chance to be improved this year, but there’s one small problem. Scott still does not know who will be his starting quarterback as August practices have been underway for a week. The defense is missing several key parts from a unit that was downright weak in 2020. Against FBS competition, USF gave up 44.1 points and more than 450 yards per game.
USF has a difficult schedule this year with games out of conference against North Carolina State, Florida, and BYU. Winning three games would be considered a major advancement this year.
Navy was one of the most disappointing teams last year, but Coach Ken Niumtalolo failed to get the Midshipmen ready to play to start the season due to Covid concerns. After an opening game pasting at the hands of BYU, Navy rebounded to get to 3-2, but then they dropped their final five games, scoring just 13 points in the last three.
The 2021 picture is anything but rosy for Navy. The offense suffered severe losses, as players that would normally come back for an extra year at other schools are starting their military commitment. When a triple option team has to break in a new quarterback, two new slotbacks, and three new offensive linemen, it is expected that the offense will suffer a drop in production. Navy only scored 16.6 points per game and rushed for just 178 yards per game, an all-time low in Niumatololo’s 13 years. Now, Navy embarks on a 2021 season with its toughest schedule in many years. Marshall, Air Force, Notre Dame, and Army represent one of the toughest out of conference slates in all of FBS football, as all four should earn bowls this year. This looks like a rough year in Annapolis.
After several really good years under Al Golden, Steve Addazio, Matt Rhule, and Geoff Collins, Temple looked like they pulled off a minor coup when they hired former Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey to keep the good times rolling in Philly. After an 8-5 season in 2019, Temple looked more like the 2003 and 2004 program that was kicked out of the old Big East Conference last year. A 1-6 season almost became an 0-7 season, but the Owls benefitted from USF mistakes to pull out a 2-point win.
One would think that the program couldn’t be worse than last year, but the Owls have major rebuilding projects on both sides of the ball this year.
On the positive side, if you can call it that, Temple was one of the most affected teams by Covid last year. They almost didn’t play at all and only played their first game in Mid-October, losing narrowly to a Navy team playing its fourth game of the season. 2021 should be another tough one at Lincoln Financial Field.
Here is how the American Athletic media voted at the preseason conference meetings.
2021 American Athletic Conference Preseason Media Poll
Team (First-Place Votes)
Points
1.
Cincinnati (22)
262
2.
UCF (2)
241
3.
SMU
188
4.
Houston
181
5.
Memphis
168
6.
Tulsa
153
7.
Tulane
132
8.
East Carolina
85
Navy
85
10.
Temple
46
11.
South Florida
43
The PiRate Ratings are not that different.
American Athletic Conference
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Average
Cincinnati
116.3
115.3
118.0
116.5
UCF
102.5
101.2
104.8
102.8
Houston
101.1
99.5
101.6
100.7
Tulsa
100.2
100.3
99.7
100.1
Tulane
98.8
97.5
100.6
99.0
East Carolina
95.3
94.3
96.2
95.3
SMU
94.3
95.4
95.4
95.0
Memphis
92.4
92.8
94.3
93.2
USF
91.0
89.7
90.6
90.4
Navy
90.8
90.0
90.3
90.3
Temple
80.6
82.4
81.9
81.6
AAC Averages
96.7
96.2
97.6
96.8
The PiRate Ratings are not designed to predict won-loss records for a season, as they have a use by date of the next week’s games. Nevertheless, we issue predictions just for the fun of it.
American Athletic
Conf.
Overall
Cincinnati
8-0
12-1*
Central Florida
6-2
9-4
Houston
6-2
10-2
Tulsa
6-2
8-4
Memphis
5-3
8-4
Tulane
4-4
6-6
East Carolina
4-4
5-7
SMU
3-5
6-6
Navy
1-7
2-10
South Florida
1-7
2-10
Temple
0-8
2-10
* Cincinnati picked to win AAC Championship Game
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Coming Monday–Updated ratings and Bracketology plus a first look at early conference tournament action, including some preliminary “Bracketnomics” data.
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Note: Game Spreads Have Been Adjusted From Ratings Due To Covid-19 Opt-outs.
This Week’s Ratings
#
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg.
1
Clemson
123.6
124.5
127.8
125.3
2
L S U
123.2
122.5
125.8
123.8
3
Alabama
121.4
122.3
123.3
122.3
4
Georgia
121.1
119.4
121.9
120.8
5
Florida
119.7
119.3
120.8
119.9
6
Auburn
118.0
116.6
117.9
117.5
7
Notre Dame
117.5
116.5
117.7
117.2
8
Oklahoma
116.9
116.9
117.1
117.0
9
Texas A&M
115.7
115.8
115.9
115.8
10
Texas
115.2
113.6
115.3
114.7
11
Oklahoma St.
113.4
112.8
113.6
113.3
12
N. Carolina
111.3
111.5
112.5
111.8
13
Kentucky
110.3
110.5
111.5
110.8
14
Iowa St.
110.9
110.2
110.7
110.6
15
Louisville
110.3
110.9
109.1
110.1
16
Virginia Tech
109.2
109.2
111.3
109.9
17
UCF
109.2
109.6
110.5
109.8
18
Tennessee
109.1
109.0
109.6
109.2
19
Memphis
110.0
108.0
109.3
109.1
20
Cincinnati
109.5
108.3
109.4
109.1
21
S. Carolina
109.3
107.0
108.7
108.3
22
Baylor
108.0
108.1
108.2
108.1
23
Ole Miss
106.7
106.1
108.4
107.1
24
Kansas St.
107.4
106.0
107.5
107.0
25
Florida St.
107.4
105.8
107.7
107.0
26
Virginia
106.6
106.1
106.3
106.4
27
T C U
105.0
102.8
105.1
104.3
28
Houston
104.7
103.2
103.2
103.7
29
Pittsburgh
102.9
104.7
103.1
103.6
30
Miss. St.
104.1
102.5
103.8
103.4
31
Appal. St.
103.0
102.1
104.4
103.2
32
Navy
104.4
102.4
102.3
103.0
33
Louisiana
102.5
101.9
102.3
102.2
34
SMU
102.1
101.5
101.5
101.7
35
BYU
101.9
100.4
101.5
101.3
36
Miami (Fla.)
100.3
103.0
100.3
101.2
37
W. Virginia
100.6
100.7
100.7
100.7
38
Duke
100.3
101.0
99.5
100.2
39
Missouri
99.1
99.2
100.3
99.5
40
Boston Coll.
99.6
99.3
99.6
99.5
41
Texas Tech
99.7
98.5
99.9
99.4
42
Wake Forest
98.4
99.6
98.1
98.7
43
Georgia Tech
98.7
98.0
97.3
98.0
44
W. Kentucky
96.0
97.1
97.0
96.7
45
Temple
96.4
97.0
95.3
96.2
46
Tulsa
97.6
95.7
95.1
96.1
47
Georgia Sou.
95.2
96.2
96.5
96.0
48
Florida Int’l.
95.4
95.2
95.8
95.5
49
Syracuse
94.3
96.6
95.1
95.4
50
Marshall
95.9
95.5
94.6
95.3
51
Tulane
94.8
95.0
94.1
94.6
52
Arkansas
94.7
95.8
92.4
94.3
53
USF
95.3
94.0
93.4
94.2
54
NC State
93.5
93.7
93.6
93.6
55
U A B
93.3
94.0
93.0
93.4
56
Vanderbilt
93.3
92.7
91.8
92.6
57
Arkansas St.
92.0
94.1
91.6
92.6
58
E. Carolina
92.1
92.6
90.9
91.9
59
Southern Miss.
91.1
91.6
91.2
91.3
60
Army
90.1
92.5
89.8
90.8
61
Kansas
89.8
90.0
88.5
89.5
62
Coastal Car.
88.3
88.9
88.7
88.6
63
Middle Tenn.
87.5
88.1
87.8
87.8
64
Troy
87.0
89.0
87.3
87.8
65
Georgia St.
87.8
87.5
87.7
87.7
66
La. Tech
86.5
88.0
87.7
87.4
67
Liberty
86.2
89.1
86.8
87.4
68
Charlotte
86.2
86.5
86.3
86.4
69
Rice
86.2
84.2
85.6
85.3
70
UL-Monroe
84.7
84.9
83.2
84.3
71
S. Alabama
82.8
84.1
80.9
82.6
72
Fla. Atlantic
81.3
83.0
81.4
81.9
73
North Texas
78.1
79.3
78.5
78.7
74
Texas St.
78.0
78.9
76.0
77.6
75
U T S A
76.6
76.3
75.9
76.3
76
U T E P
64.0
67.0
63.6
64.9
Ratings By Conference
American Athletic Conference
East Division
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
AAC
Overall
UCF
109.2
109.6
110.5
109.8
0-0
0-0
Memphis
110.0
108.0
109.3
109.1
0-0
0-0
Cincinnati
109.5
108.3
109.4
109.1
0-0
0-0
Houston
104.7
103.2
103.2
103.7
0-0
0-0
Navy
104.4
102.4
102.3
103.0
0-0
0-0
SMU
102.1
101.5
101.5
101.7
0-0
0-0
Temple
96.4
97.0
95.3
96.2
0-0
0-0
Tulsa
97.6
95.7
95.1
96.1
0-0
0-0
Tulane
94.8
95.0
94.1
94.6
0-0
0-0
USF
95.3
94.0
93.4
94.2
0-0
0-0
E. Carolina
92.1
92.6
90.9
91.9
0-0
0-0
AAC Averages
101.5
100.7
100.4
100.9
Atlantic Coast Conference
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
ACC
Overall
Clemson
123.6
124.5
127.8
125.3
0-0
0-0
Notre Dame
117.5
116.5
117.7
117.2
0-0
0-0
N. Carolina
111.3
111.5
112.5
111.8
0-0
0-0
Louisville
110.3
110.9
109.1
110.1
0-0
0-0
Virginia Tech
109.2
109.2
111.3
109.9
0-0
0-0
Florida St.
107.4
105.8
107.7
107.0
0-0
0-0
Virginia
106.6
106.1
106.3
106.4
0-0
0-0
Pittsburgh
102.9
104.7
103.1
103.6
0-0
0-0
Miami (Fla.)
100.3
103.0
100.3
101.2
0-0
0-0
Duke
100.3
101.0
99.5
100.2
0-0
0-0
Boston Coll.
99.6
99.3
99.6
99.5
0-0
0-0
Wake Forest
98.4
99.6
98.1
98.7
0-0
0-0
Georgia Tech
98.7
98.0
97.3
98.0
0-0
0-0
Syracuse
94.3
96.6
95.1
95.4
0-0
0-0
NC State
93.5
93.7
93.6
93.6
0-0
0-0
ACC Averages
104.9
105.4
105.3
105.2
Big 12 Conference
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
B12
Overall
Oklahoma
116.9
116.9
117.1
117.0
0-0
0-0
Texas
115.2
113.6
115.3
114.7
0-0
0-0
Oklahoma St.
113.4
112.8
113.6
113.3
0-0
0-0
Iowa St.
110.9
110.2
110.7
110.6
0-0
0-0
Baylor
108.0
108.1
108.2
108.1
0-0
0-0
Kansas St.
107.4
106.0
107.5
107.0
0-0
0-0
T C U
105.0
102.8
105.1
104.3
0-0
0-0
W. Virginia
100.6
100.7
100.7
100.7
0-0
0-0
Texas Tech
99.7
98.5
99.9
99.4
0-0
0-0
Kansas
89.8
90.0
88.5
89.5
0-0
0-0
Big 12 Averages
106.7
106.0
106.7
106.5
Conference USA
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
CUSA
Overall
W. Kentucky
96.0
97.1
97.0
96.7
0-0
0-0
Florida Int’l.
95.4
95.2
95.8
95.5
0-0
0-0
Marshall
95.9
95.5
94.6
95.3
0-0
0-0
U A B
93.3
94.0
93.0
93.4
0-0
0-0
Southern Miss.
91.1
91.6
91.2
91.3
0-0
0-0
Middle Tenn.
87.5
88.1
87.8
87.8
0-0
0-0
La. Tech
86.5
88.0
87.7
87.4
0-0
0-0
Charlotte
86.2
86.5
86.3
86.4
0-0
0-0
Rice
86.2
84.2
85.6
85.3
0-0
0-0
Fla. Atlantic
81.3
83.0
81.4
81.9
0-0
0-0
North Texas
78.1
79.3
78.5
78.7
0-0
0-0
U T S A
76.6
76.3
75.9
76.3
0-0
0-0
U T E P
64.0
67.0
63.6
64.9
0-0
0-0
CUSA Averages
86.0
86.6
86.0
86.2
FBS Independents
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
Conf.
Overall
BYU
101.9
100.4
101.5
101.3
x
0-0
Army
90.1
92.5
89.8
90.8
x
0-0
Liberty
86.2
89.1
86.8
87.4
x
0-0
Ind. Averages
92.7
94.0
92.7
93.2
Southeastern Conference
East Division
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
SEC
Overall
Georgia
121.1
119.4
121.9
120.8
0-0
0-0
Florida
119.7
119.3
120.8
119.9
0-0
0-0
Kentucky
110.3
110.5
111.5
110.8
0-0
0-0
Tennessee
109.1
109.0
109.6
109.2
0-0
0-0
S. Carolina
109.3
107.0
108.7
108.3
0-0
0-0
Missouri
99.1
99.2
100.3
99.5
0-0
0-0
Vanderbilt
93.3
92.7
91.8
92.6
0-0
0-0
West Division
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
SEC
Overall
L S U
123.2
122.5
125.8
123.8
0-0
0-0
Alabama
121.4
122.3
123.3
122.3
0-0
0-0
Auburn
118.0
116.6
117.9
117.5
0-0
0-0
Texas A&M
115.7
115.8
115.9
115.8
0-0
0-0
Miss. St.
106.7
106.1
108.4
107.1
0-0
0-0
Ole Miss
104.1
102.5
103.8
103.4
0-0
0-0
Arkansas
94.7
95.8
92.4
94.3
0-0
0-0
SEC Averages
110.4
109.9
110.9
110.4
Sunbelt Conference
East Division
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
SBC
Overall
Appal. St.
103.0
102.1
104.4
103.2
0-0
0-0
Georgia Sou.
95.2
96.2
96.5
96.0
0-0
0-0
Coastal Car.
88.3
88.9
88.7
88.6
0-0
0-0
Troy
87.0
89.0
87.3
87.8
0-0
0-0
Georgia St.
87.8
87.5
87.7
87.7
0-0
0-0
West Division
Team
PiRate
Mean
Bias
Avg
SBC
Overall
Louisiana
102.5
101.9
102.3
102.2
0-0
0-0
Arkansas St.
92.0
94.1
91.6
92.6
0-0
0-0
UL-Monroe
84.7
84.9
83.2
84.3
0-0
0-0
S. Alabama
82.8
84.1
80.9
82.6
0-0
0-0
Texas St.
78.0
78.9
76.0
77.6
0-0
0-0
SBC Averages
90.1
90.7
89.9
90.2
This Week’s Free College Pick–And You Get What You Pay For!
We are toning down the selections against the spread this year due to the lack of games each week and the uncertainty of available personnel. We will issue a minimum of selections and highly urge you to not use this non-advice. All wagers will be done at the pretend amount of $100 units.
1. Money Line Parlay (+103)
Southern Miss over South Alabama
Navy over BYU
Comments Off on PiRate Ratings College Football–Sep 3-7
Unassociated Press: The 1973 Providence Friars connected on 11 three-point shots and held off a furious Tiger Rally to beat 2008 Memphis 79-75.
Ernie DiGregorio and Kevin Stacom combined for nine of the Friars’ 11 three-pointers, while Marvin Barnes dominated inside with 17 rebounds.
Down 73-59 with five minutes to play, Memphis held Providence scoreless for three minutes while scoring 13 consecutive points and connecting on six of nine shots to cut the lead to a point at 73-72. Consecutive baskets by Barnes and Nehru King built the lead back to five points wiht one minute remaining.
Providence advances to the Midwest Region as the Number 16 seed and will face top-seed 1968 UCLA on Friday.
Score By Halves
Team
1
2
Final
Providence
41
38
79
Memphis
32
43
75
Boxscore
Providence
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Marvin Barnes
C
7
12
0
0
2
5
4
13
17
0
0
4
3
3
16
Frank Costello
F
3
6
0
0
0
0
2
7
9
1
0
1
2
3
6
Nehru King
F
3
8
2
7
0
0
1
4
5
2
0
0
2
1
8
Kevin Stacom
G
6
11
4
7
3
4
1
1
2
5
2
0
1
2
19
Ernie DiGregorio
G
9
19
5
11
3
3
0
2
2
8
1
0
1
1
26
Charles Crawford
2
5
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
0
0
2
2
4
Team
3
Totals
30
61
11
25
8
12
8
29
40
17
3
5
11
12
79
Memphis
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Joey Dorsey
C
5
10
0
0
2
3
2
6
8
0
0
2
0
2
12
Robert Dozier
F
3
6
0
0
0
0
3
4
7
1
0
1
1
1
6
Chris Douglas-Roberts
F
8
17
2
6
3
4
1
2
3
2
1
1
2
1
21
Antonio Anderson
G
1
5
1
5
0
0
1
2
3
4
1
0
0
2
3
Derrick Rose
G
7
15
1
3
4
5
1
4
5
6
3
0
1
1
19
Donneal Mack
0
3
1
3
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
1
2
1
Shawn Taggart
2
4
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
1
1
1
0
2
4
Willie Kemp
2
5
2
5
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
6
Andre Allen
1
3
1
3
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
3
Team
2
Totals
29
68
8
25
9
12
9
24
35
16
6
5
5
12
75
Player of the Game
Ernie DiGregorio
Cougars Prevail in Exicting Overtime Game
1983 Houston
104
OT
1972 North Carolina
101
Unassociated Press: The 1983 Houston Cougars and 1972 North Carolina Tar Heels fought an evenly contested game that took an extra five minutes to decide the outcome Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio. Houston won 104-101. Late steals by Clyde Drexler and Bennie Anders led to baskets that clinched the victory for the Cougars.
North Carolina had taken a 99-96 lead with 90 seconds remaining in overtime, but Houston capitalized on consecutive steals leading to consecutive made baskets and free throws to take a 102-99 lead. The Tar Heels appeared to be headed to victory in regulation with a 79-71 lead late in the second half. Houston tied the game at 87-87 on a basket by Larry Micheaux with eight seconds remaining.
Houston advances to the West Region as the number 16 seed and will face number one seed 1972 UCLA on Friday.
Score By Halves
Team
1
2
OT
Final
Houston
45
42
17
104
N. Carolina
47
40
14
101
Boxscore
Houston
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Hakeem Olajuwon
C
10
16
0
0
5
9
4
6
10
0
1
4
3
4
25
Michael Young
F
7
14
0
0
2
4
2
3
5
1
1
0
1
4
16
Larry Micheaux
F
8
13
0
0
4
7
3
4
7
2
2
1
2
4
20
Clyde Drexler
G
8
17
1
3
4
4
1
3
4
2
4
1
1
3
21
Alvin Franklin
G
2
5
1
4
2
3
0
1
1
6
2
0
3
3
7
Benny Anders
1
3
1
3
2
2
0
2
2
2
3
0
3
4
5
Dave Rose
1
4
0
2
1
2
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
5
3
Reid Gettys
2
4
2
4
1
2
1
2
3
1
0
0
0
2
7
Team
2
Totals
39
76
5
16
21
33
12
24
38
15
14
7
14
29
104
North Carolina
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Bob McAdoo
C
10
17
0
0
4
6
4
7
11
1
0
2
2
4
24
Dennis Wuycik
F
5
12
2
5
6
6
2
4
6
2
0
0
2
3
18
Bobby Jones
F
4
7
1
2
3
3
2
8
10
4
2
1
3
4
12
Steve Previs
G
1
4
0
1
2
3
1
2
3
3
0
0
4
5
4
George Karl
G
4
9
2
5
4
4
2
1
3
4
1
0
5
4
14
Bill Chamberlain
5
10
2
4
5
7
1
6
7
1
1
0
2
3
17
Kim Huband
2
5
1
3
2
2
0
0
0
1
2
0
1
1
7
Donn Johnston
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
0
2
1
2
Bill Chambers
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
3
0
Craig Corson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
Ray Hite
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
Team
2
Totals
33
67
9
23
26
31
12
32
46
18
7
3
24
30
101
Player of the Game
Hakeem Olajuwon
Coming Thursday: The East and South Regions
East Region
1-Duke 2001 vs. 16-St. Bonaventure 1970 8-Michigan St. 1979 vs. 9-Kentucky 1978 4-North Carolina St. 1974 vs. 13-Duke 1999 5-Connecticut 1999 vs. 12-Louisville 1980 3-Virginia 2019 vs. 14-Arkansas 1991 6-Villanova 2016 vs. 11-Georgetown 1984 7-UCLA 1995 vs. 10-Indiana 1987 2-North Carolina 2005 vs. 15-Ohio St. 1962
South Region
1-Kentucky 1996 vs. 16-Maryland 1974 8-UCLA 1964 vs. 9-Indiana 1981 4-UCLA 1970 vs. 13-Oklahoma 1988 5-Louisville 2013 vs. 12-North Carolina St. 1983 3-North Carolina 2009 vs. 14-Kansas 1997 6-Duke 1992 vs. 11 Connecticut 2014 7-Florida 2007 vs. 10-Syracuse 2003 2-Villanova 2018 vs. 15-Illinois 2005
Comments Off on The Greatest NCAA Tournament That Never Was–Wednesday, March 18
Unassociated Press: The 1970 Saint Bonaventure Bonnies dominated in the paint and taking advantage of early 1984 North Carolina turnovers to take a 10-point lead in the first eight minutes, as they cruised to an 87-79 victory. The Bonnies now advance to the East Region as the number 16 seed where they will face the top-seeded 2001 Duke Blue Devils.
Bob Lanier led Saint Bonaventure with 31 points and 18 rebounds, and in the process he drew five fouls on Tar Heel starter Brad Daugherty.
Score By Halves
Team
1
2
Final
St. Bonaventure
44
43
87
N. Carolina
34
45
79
Boxscore
St. Bonaventure
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Bob Lanier
C
13
21
0
0
5
8
6
12
18
0
0
4
2
3
31
Matt Gantt
F
6
13
0
0
3
5
3
5
8
1
1
1
1
4
15
GregBubba Gary
F
4
11
0
0
2
4
2
2
4
1
2
0
3
3
10
Bill Kalbaugh
G
3
7
2
5
3
4
0
2
2
3
2
0
4
3
11
Paul Hoffman
G
4
10
3
8
7
8
0
1
1
2
0
0
3
4
18
Mike Kull
1
4
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
3
2
Tom Baldwin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
1
0
1
1
0
Team
2
Totals
31
66
5
14
20
29
11
25
38
10
6
5
15
21
87
North Carolina
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Brad Daugherty
C
2
7
0
0
1
2
1
5
6
1
0
0
2
5
5
Sam Perkins
F
7
12
0
0
5
6
2
8
10
2
1
1
3
2
19
Matt Doherty
F
2
6
2
5
2
2
1
3
4
2
0
0
5
4
8
Michael Jordan
G
6
14
3
9
7
8
1
5
6
5
2
1
3
3
22
Kenny Smith
G
3
7
2
6
5
6
1
3
4
4
2
0
5
5
13
Steve Hale
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
2
2
Joe Wolf
2
5
0
0
1
2
2
5
7
0
0
2
2
3
5
Buzz Peterson
3
7
2
6
2
2
0
1
1
3
2
0
3
2
10
Cecil Exum
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
1
0
2
3
0
Team
3
Totals
24
55
9
26
22
26
7
28
38
18
8
4
24
24
79
Player of the Game
C-Bob Lanier
Terps Ride Big Offensive Night From Lucas
1974 Maryland
95
1970 Florida St.
85
Unassociated Press: The 1974 Maryland Terrapins played 37 minutes of up-tempo basketball before slowing the game down during the final three minutes to hold off the 1970 Florida State Seminoles 95-85. Star guard John Lucas was virtually unstoppable, leading Coach Lefty Driesell’s Terps with 25 points, while narrowly missing a double-double with nine assists. His three steals led to seven Maryland points.
Florida State stayed within striking distance thanks to strong offensive rebounding, but the Seminoles committed 22 turnovers, 10 of them via steals and never could get within six points in the second half.
Maryland advances to the South Region as the 16-seed and will face top-seed Kentucky 1996 on Thursday.
Score By Halves
Team
1
2
Final
Mary
52
43
95
FSU
45
40
85
Boxscore
Maryland
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Len Elmore
C
7
13
0
0
5
8
3
9
12
1
0
3
1
3
19
Tom McMillen
F
9
16
2
5
3
4
1
6
7
2
1
1
2
2
23
Owen Brown
F
4
7
0
0
1
2
1
4
5
0
1
1
1
3
9
John Lucas
G
8
17
3
7
6
7
0
1
1
9
3
0
3
2
25
Mo Howard
G
4
11
3
8
2
3
0
2
2
4
2
0
2
2
13
Tom Roy
2
4
0
0
0
0
2
3
5
0
1
1
1
2
4
Jap Trimble
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
2
Billy Hahn
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
1
0
1
2
0
Team
3
Totals
35
71
8
21
17
24
7
27
37
19
10
6
11
17
95
Florida St.
Start
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS
Dave Cowens
C
8
15
0
0
3
4
4
12
16
0
1
2
2
3
19
Willie Williams
F
10
17
0
0
2
3
3
9
12
0
0
1
1
2
22
Vernell Ellzy
F
2
5
2
5
0
0
2
2
4
3
0
1
3
2
6
Ken Macklin
G
3
7
2
6
2
2
0
1
1
2
2
0
5
4
10
Skip Young
G
2
6
1
4
4
6
1
3
4
5
1
0
3
3
9
Ron Harris
3
7
2
5
2
3
0
1
1
3
1
0
2
3
10
Rowland Garrett
2
5
0
1
0
0
1
4
5
0
0
1
1
2
4
Randy Cable
1
4
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
3
Jan Gies
1
3
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
2
Team
2
Totals
32
69
8
26
13
18
11
34
43
15
5
5
19
22
85
Player of the Game
John Lucas
Wednesday’s Schedule From Dayton
Midwest Region: 2008 Memphis vs. 1973 Providence
West Region: 1972 North Carolina vs. 1983 Houston
Comments Off on The Greatest NCAA Tournament That Never Was–Tuesday, March 17 Results
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