*3 Star Play Under* The Clemson Tigers are dead last in the ACC in tempo. Clemson is also first in the ACC in defensive efficiency. They are allowing only 0.956 points per possession in league play. Clemson is 11th in the nation in defensive rebounding percentage. They are only 69th in offensive efficiency nationally.

Virginia Tech plays at an average tempo. The Hokies have tended to play to the pace of their opponent more often than not. They don't foul much at all on defense. They are a pretty good 57th in the nation in defensive efficiency. Virginia Tech has been hurt by teams who are good on the offensive glass, but Clemson is 16th in the ACC in offensive rebounding percentage.

Clemson is the better team, and I like them to grab the lead and slow things down in this one.

Take the under.

*3 Star Play Under* The Cal Baptist Lancers have been playing some tremendous defense in WAC play. Cal Baptist has allowed less than 0.99 points per possession in six of their last seven games. Not surprisingly, they have had seven straight games finish with 137 points or fewer in regulation.

Southern Utah is a weaker defensive team which is why the total is higher here. Still, we've seen these two clash and it be lower scoring three times last year and this year. The last three meetings have seen 136, 117, and 113 points. Southern Utah has been much better on defense at home than on the road.

Cal Baptist is the better team here and they want to slow the pace down. Southern Utah is shooting a lot more long range jumpers in WAC play, and Cal Baptist is only allowing opponents to shoot 26% from 3 point range in conference.

Take the under here.

*3 Star Play Under* The South Alabama Jaguars force opponents to shoot it from outside. They pack in a zone and extend it out deeper than most zone defenses. South Alabama has forced a higher percentage of opponents shots to be taken from three point range than any other team in the country.

Southern Miss has slowed their pace down this year. The Golden Eagles on offense rely on getting to the line and shooting it from inside. Southern Miss is shooting a miserable 27.5% from three point range. That is third worst in the country. The Golden Eagles do not match up well against the South Alabama zone.

South Alabama's offense is 250th in offensive efficiency nationally. Southern Miss is 266th. These are two subpar offenses and I think the pace here will be relatively slow.

Without much higher than average outside shooting, I like the chances of this to stay lower.

Take the under.

*4 Star Play Under* Marist and Merrimack meet in a MAAC battle of two really good defensive teams.

Merrimack is 29th in the nation in effective field goal percentage defense. Joe Gallo is a defensive wizard, and this Warriors unique zone pressure look actually slows the game down and confounds opponents. Merrimack's one weakness is on the defensive glass, but Marist is 353rd out of 365 teams in the nation in second chance conversion percentage. They are a poor offensive rebounding team.

Marist is third in the nation in effective field goal percentage defense. The Red Foxes contest shots very well. They are first in the nation in points per game allowed in their last three games (53.7 ppg allowed). Merrimack is top 15 at 58.3 points per game allowed in the last three games.

Marist is 250th in overall tempo and Merrimack is 343rd. The tempo in this game should be slow throughout.

These two teams have played three times in the past 13 months. The final totals were 121 points, 128 points, and 123 points. I expect something similar here.

Take the under.