NEWSLETTER College Basketball Prediction From Robert Ferringo
Take UAB (-4) over Illinois (9:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27)
We are 2-0 with our college basketball free plays in the newsletter and that is pretty much par for the course as right now we continue to dominate the hardwood. Here is another strong spot in a game that should be a blowout. Illinois is fielding about half a team at the moment. And it is half of a bad team. Injuries and other issues have really wiped out this team, and they are off to a terrible start to what many believe is a make-or-break season for John Groce. The Illini barely escaped Monday with a win over a really bad Chicago State team, needing a comeback to win 82-79. That game came after a loss to Chattanooga over the weekend. Now Illinois has to travel to Florida for a holiday tournament and face a UAB team that has everyone back from a team that not only played in but also won a game in the NCAA Tournament. UAB hasn’t looked good to start this season, losing its opener at Auburn and then looking shaky against some other bad in-state competition. But the Blazers should be up for this game against a Big Ten opponent. Illinois is just in a fog right now. I think that any mediocre team could beat them right now, and UAB fits the bill.