Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
The start of the NBA season is seemingly right around the corner, but if you can’t wait to watch some good basketball, you’re going to want to tune into The Basketball Tournament (TBT). This event has been growing rapidly over the last couple of years, and the competition is getting better and better. And if that isn’t enough for you, the tournament does have betting lines, so you know FTN has you covered with some plays to keep an eye on. Here’s a look at today’s two-game slate:
Big X -1.5 vs. Red Scare – 2:00 PM ET
The Red Scare have all the makings of a dangerous TBT team, as they possess a healthy combination of both unbridled drive and perimeter scoring. This Dayton alumni team features two key rotation players from last year’s Flyers in Ryan Mikesell and Trey Landers. Both men will be eager to play in a tournament atmosphere, as they were robbed the opportunity to get any closure on a season that saw them go 29-2. In addition to those two, this team also has Ryan McMahon, who shot 43.6% from the outside as a senior at Louisville last year, and Darrell Davis, who averaged 20.6 points per game in Kosovo last season. Quite honestly, this is a team that Big X can’t play around with. They can undoubtedly get hot and steal this game.
The reason I’m backing Big X is that they have quite a few things working in their favor. For starters, they have already played a game in this tournament. It wasn’t pretty, but Big X earned a 79-74 victory over D2 in the opening round of this year’s TBT. That allowed them to get out some pre-tournament jitters, but it also gave them the opportunity to knock off some rust. The Red Scare have been practicing, but some of these guys haven’t played in a game since March.
Also working in Big X’s favor is the fact that they have both size and experience. For Red Scare, Trevor Thompson is the only legitimate big man on the roster. He’s a solid player, but he could be in for a tough outing against Nick Ward, who bullied his way to 18 points against D2 last game. Thompson has a couple of inches on him, but Ward has the edge in brute strength and physicality. And if the Red Scare sends any help Thompson’s way, guys like Jamel Morris, Vitto Brown and Trevon Hughes will make them pay from deep. On top of all that, Big X has become a TBT regular in recent years. This format might be different, but I expect them to be comfortable out there.
House of ‘Paign +6.5 vs. Carmen’s Crew – 4:00 PM ET
Carmen’s Crew are the defending TBT champions, and they come into this tournament with an improved roster. In addition to last year’s winning core, the team added former Buckeyes Deshaun Thomas and Lenzelle Smith Jr., while also picking up Pape Malik Dime, who played college ball at Washington. Thomas is the name to remember here, as he is a walking bucket who is capable of scoring at all three levels. The only problem with adding a guy such as Thomas is that he’s not somebody you just throw on the floor. He’s too good for that. Thomas will be a big part of the Carmen’s Crew gameplan, and I think it might be tough for them to incorporate him on the fly against a team as good as House of ‘Paign.
I don’t think the Illinois alums will ultimately win this game, but I do expect them to keep it close. An argument can be made that big man Mike Daum will be the best player on the floor today, which automatically makes them somewhat dangerous. Daum picked apart a good War Tampa team in the opening round, finishing with 21 points and 13 boards. Capable of scoring both inside and outside, I do expect Daum to cause some problems for Carmen’s Crew in this one. Former Illinois forward Malcolm Hill could also make his presence felt here, as he is in the best shape of his life and looked excellent in a 15-point performance in the first round. With those two playing with what is a rock-solid backcourt, it’s hard to imagine a world in which this team gets blown out by the champs, who haven’t played together since last year’s tournament.
