New UOP coach Dave Smart comes via Texas Tech but also with extensive background in Canadian college hoops at Carleton, where he won a Geno Auriemma-like 92.5% in 19 seasons. The Tigers looked improved in their three games at Honolulu the past week, as Canadian transfer wing Elias Ralph (18 ppg) and 6-5 combo G Elijah Fisher (previous Texas Tech & DePaul; 17.5 ppg) have lent a sharper edge to the attack. Meanwhile, we noted some of the same issues for NAU in its recent game at Stanford as last year, namely rebounding, which was the worst in the Big Sky a season ago. The Cardinal easily controlled the glass 31-22 en route to a breezy 90-64 romp at Roscoe Maples Pavilion. Play UOP

I waited to post this pick because I gave it out +5.5 last night on our Discord (Make sure to check it out) thinking the number would go down. That's when the fun started. The line jumped to -7 with early money pouring in on Pacific. Today the money came in on NAU to push the number back down to 5.5 at some books. You can still get +6.5 at DK. This is one of the oddest games I've ever bet. I can't remember when so much money came in on both sides of an obscure game. Maybe tread with caution but I have to trust my numbers. I make Pacific -2.5 but I'm fascinated with all the action on this game.