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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\nKey Matchups and Handicap: Milwaukee vs Santa Clara<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
These teams opened their seasons in very different fashion on Monday. Santa Clara looked like a polished contender in a comfortable home win, while Milwaukee looked overmatched in a lopsided road loss. With the Panthers making a second straight trip to face a potential Big Dance team in California, the opening-night results carry plenty of weight in this handicap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Santa Clara Seizes a Wide-Open WCC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
With Gonzaga gone to the new Pac-12 and longtime head coach Randy Bennett leaving Saint Mary's for Arizona State, the coast has been cleared in the WCC for Santa Clara to take control. After qualifying for the Big Dance for the first time in 30 years last March, Herb Sendek looks ready for an encore. His team unveiled some new weapons in Monday's 89-70 cruise past Coastal contender Towson, a statement opener for a program with big expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
SCU Backcourt Could Be the Best in the League<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pulling another rabbit out of the hat, Sendek unveiled redshirt guard Brad Longcor III, who scored 18 points in just 24 minutes in the opener. Alongside holdover guard and former Villanova transfer Sash Gavalugov, who added 17 points, Sendek may have the best backcourt in the conference. That kind of guard play gives Santa Clara the firepower to build and sustain big leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Santa Clara Adds Muscle With Chris Tadjo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bruising 6-foot-7, 250-pound Iowa transfer Chris Tadjo, another of Sendek's redshirts from a year ago, looked beastly on the blocks in the opener before running into foul trouble. If Tadjo stays on the floor, he gives the Broncos a physical interior presence to complement their skilled backcourt, creating matchup problems for a Milwaukee team already struggling to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Milwaukee Reeling After a 32-Point Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
The outlook is far less rosy for Milwaukee, which was on the wrong end of a 32-point beatdown at USC on Monday. It did not help head coach Bart Lundy that his top scorer from last season, guard Seth Hubbard, transferred to Hampton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Hubbard averaged 16.6 points per game, though he played only nine games before encountering shoulder problems. Credit Lundy for scheduling formidable road opponents in California, but the USC result showed his team is not ready to trade points with potential NCAA Tournament teams in early November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Panthers Missing Firepower on the Wing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Well-regarded 6-foot-8 wing John Lovelace made little impact against the Trojans and looks like he still has a ways to go after last season's serious leg injury. Without Hubbard and with Lovelace not yet back to full form, the Panthers lack a dependable scorer to answer Santa Clara's runs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
MIL vs SCU Betting Trends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nMIL vs SCU Key Injuries and Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nMilwaukee vs Santa Clara ATS and Total Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
ATS Pick: Santa Clara -16.5 (-112).<\/strong> Santa Clara has a deep, talented backcourt, a physical presence inside, and a coach who keeps finding new weapons. Milwaukee is missing its top scorer from a year ago, has a key wing still recovering, and just lost by 32 to the first quality opponent it faced. The line has dropped two points from the opener, giving bettors a better price on the stronger team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nTotal Pick: Under 160.5 (-115).<\/strong> Milwaukee's offense lacks a dependable scorer, and the Panthers are unlikely to hold up their end of a high-scoring game. Santa Clara can control this matchup without needing a track meet, and if the Broncos build a big lead early, the second half could slow considerably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\nMilwaukee vs Santa Clara Best Bets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\nFinal Score Prediction for Milwaukee vs Santa Clara<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Santa Clara looked every bit like the new WCC favorite on Monday, while Milwaukee looked like a team still searching for answers. Expect the Broncos' guards to set the tone early and pull away for a comfortable cover in a game that stays just under the total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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