CBB Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
There have already been a number of stunning upsets and fantastic finishes in this year’s men’s college basketball season but the best is yet to come as teams continue their quest for a spot in March’s NCAA Tournament. Every game on the schedule from now until the end of the regular season is another chance to build a resume that is worthy of an earning an automatic invitation to the big dance.
The following is a brief look at the top matchups for each day this week along with a few facts and figures to help handicap the games.
Monday, Jan. 23 - No. 1 Syracuse Orange vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Syracuse will most likely fall from the top spot in the nation when the new weekly polls are released later today after Saturday’s 67-58 loss to Notre Dame as a nine-point road favorite. It was its first straight up loss of the season against 20 wins. The Orange are 13-7-1 against the spread and the total has gone 9-10-1.
Cincinnati comes in at 15-5 SU (7-7 ATS) after Saturday’s 77-74 loss to West Virginia in overtime as a 4½-point road underdog. The Bearcats are 10-3 SU at home this season, but just 1-6 ATS. The total has gone 8-6 overall and is 3-4 in seven home games. They have been opened as 4½-point home underdogs against Syracuse with the total set at 135.
Tuesday, Jan. 24 - No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Kentucky is in prime position to regain the No. 1 spot in the polls after knocking-off Alabama 77-71 this past Saturday as a 10-point home favorite. The Wildcats are a stellar 19-1 SU, but a walking disaster ATS at 4-14-1. They have covered the spread just once in their past 16 games and the total has gone 7-11-1 overall.
Georgia has lost four of its last five games SU including a 66-63 setback to Mississippi last Saturday as a 2½-point home favorite. The Bulldogs have dropped to 10-9 SU on the year and 7-8 ATS. They are 8-4 SU at home this season, but just 3-5 ATS. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of their eight home games.
Wednesday, Jan. 25 - No. 4 Duke Blue Devils vs. Maryland Terrapins
Duke blew a golden opportunity to move up in the rankings with a 76-73 loss to Florida State as a 10½-point home favorite this past Saturday. It was the Blue Devils’ third loss of the season against 16 victories and they are now 7-12 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in 13 of their 16 games overall.
Maryland has lost its last two games including a 73-60 nonconference setback to Temple as a 10-point road underdog this past Saturday. The Terrapins are now 12-6 SU on the year and 5-8-1 ATS. They are 3-4-1 ATS at home and the total has been evenly split at 4-4 in the eight games.
Thursday, Jan. 26 - North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. No. 8 North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina State extended its current winning streak to three games with a 78-73 upset of Miami, Fl. on Saturday as a three-point road underdog. The Wolfpack have actually won nine of their past 10 games SU, but are just 2-3 ATS in their last five. Overall, NC State is 15-5 SU and 8-8 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in 10 of the 16 games.
North Carolina should be well-rested for this matchup after posting an 82-68 victory over Virginia Tech last Thursday as a 6½-point road favorite. The Tar Heels are now 16-3 SU overall and 10-8 ATS. They are a perfect 12-0 SU at home, but just 6-5 ATS. The total has gone an even 9-9 overall and 4-7 at home.
Friday, Jan. 27 - No. 24 Harvard Crimson vs. Yale Bulldogs
Harvard continues to hold a spot in the national rankings with an impressive 16-2 SU record overall. It posted it second-straight win in Ivy League play with a 54-38 victory over Dartmouth this past Saturday as a 14-point home favorite. The Crimson are 8-5 ATS overall and 4-2 ATS on the road. The total has stayed ‘under’ in 10 of 13 games this season.
Yale has the second-best overall record in the conference at 12-4 SU and is 3-2-1 ATS. The Bulldogs posted their fourth straight win on Saturday with a 73-60 victory over Brown as six-point road favorites. They are 5-0 SU (0-1 ATS) at home this season and the total has stayed ‘under’ in four of six games overall.
Saturday, Jan. 28- Texas Longhorns vs. No. 3 Baylor Bears
Texas has dropped its last three games heading into Tuesday’s matchup with Iowa State. The latest was a 69-66 loss to No. 7 Kansas, but it did cover as a 3½-point home underdog. The Longhorns are 12-7 SU overall and 5-9 ATS. They are 2-3 ATS on the road this season and the total has gone 6-8 overall.
Baylor’s perfect 17-0 start fell by the wayside this past week with a 92-74 rout at the hands of Kansas as a 6½-point road underdog last Monday followed by an 89-88 loss to No. 5 Missouri on Saturday as a 4½-point home favorite. The Bears face Oklahoma on the road this Tuesday before returning home to play Texas. They are now 6-6 ATS overall and the total has gone ‘over’ in eight of the 12 games.