College Basketball betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Wednesday, December 27 2017 from various handicappers and websites
Wednesday’s college hoop
Butler won three of last four games with Georgetown; underdogs are 5-4 vs spread in this series. Bulldogs won their last two visits here, with both wins in OT. Butler won seven of its last eight games but lost by 14 at Maryland in its only true road game. Bulldogs are 10-3 vs schedule #149; they’re 1-3 vs top 100 teams, with only win in OT over Ohio State in PK80 tourney. Georgetown has played worst pre-conference schedule in America; they’re 10-1, losing in OT to Syracuse in their only top 200 game. Last four years, Butler is 8-5 as a Big East road favorite.
Syracuse hammered Eastern Michigan 105-57 LY, making 15-28 on arc; EMU is coached by former SU assistant Murphy, who also uses 2-3 zone. Orange is 10-2 vs schedule #142, but two of their last three games went OT. Syracuse is experience team #337; they’re shooting only 29.8% on arc this season. Orange is 8-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with three of last four of those by single digits- they start ACC play Sunday. EMU is 8-3 vs schedule #265; they lost by 20 at Indiana in their only top 100 game this season.
Villanova won its last 14 games with DePaul, covering four of last five visits here- they won last seven games at DePaul. This is Wildcats’ first true road game outside of Philly this year; they won at both Temple/St Joe’s, crosstown rivals. Villanova is 7-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with six wins by 15+ points. DePaul won six of last seven games after a 1-4 start; none of Blue Demons’ seven wins are against a top 200 team. DePaul is are 0-5 vs top 100 teams, with three losses by 9 or less points or in OT. Last six years, DePaul is 17-28 as Big East home underdogs. Last four years, Villanova is 21-13 as a road favorite.
Marquette swept Xavier LY, winning by 22-11 points after losing six of first eight Big East games with Musketeers. Xavier split its four visits here, with favorites covering all four games. Eagles won their last four games, are 9-3 vs schedule #164. Marquette is 4-3 in top 100 games, 0-2 in top 50 games. Xavier won last seven games since 102-86 loss to Arizona St in Vegas; Musketeers are 2-0 in true road games, winning by 10 points at Wisconsin, 10 points at Northern Iowa. Last four years, Marquette is 3-9 as Big East home underdogs. Xavier is 9-7 as a road favorite.
Air Force/New Mexico split their last eight meetings; Falcons lost last nine games in The Pit, going 0-5 vs spread in last five visits here. Lobos are just 5-8 in Weir’s first season as coach; they’re forcing turnovers 23.6% of time, but they’re shooting only 44.4% inside arc. Lobos are only 3-2 vs teams ranked outside top 200. Air Force lost six of its last seven D-I games; they’re 0-3 in true road games, losing by 12-10-19 points. Falcons are turning ball over 21.4% of time, shooting 30.3% on arc, 45% inside arc. Last five years. AF is 18-23-1 as road underdogs.
SMU won its last seven games with Central Florida; Knights lost their last three visits here, by 15-19-15 points. SMU hasn’t played in 8 days; they’re 3-3 vs top 100 teams, beating Arizona and USC. Mustangs force turnovers 23.6% of time; they’re #279 experience team thats played #274 schedule, but their bench doesn’t play much (#336 in minutes). UCF won its last five games after a 3-game losing streak, including a win at Alabama; Knights are #228 experience team that is turning ball over 22.5% of time, shooting just 28.7% on the arc. Let four years, SMU is 24-11 a a home favorite in conference games.
San Diego State won five of last six games with Wyoming, winning last three by 12-12-9 points. Aztecs are 4-2 in their last six visits to Laramie, winning by 8-12 points in last two visits here. San Diego State lost by 22 at ASU, won by 9 at San Diego in only true road games; Aztecs are #210 experience team that forces turnovers 20.9% of time- they’re shooting only 31.4% on arc. Wyoming is 1-2 in top 100 tilts, losing by 25 at Cincinnati, 16 at South Carolina- they beat South Dakota State by 12. Last five years, Wyoming is 4-6 as a MW home underdog. Last three years, San Diego State is 10-6-1 as a conference road favorite.
Utah State is 8-0 vs San Jose State in Mountain West games; Spartans lost last three visits to Logan, by 19-28-18 points. San Jose lost five of its last six games; they’re 1-3 vs teams in top 150, with losses by 17-17-18 points. Aggies are 6-6 vs schedule #206; they’re 4-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with wins by 8-36-14-17 points, with a loss to Weber State. Utah State is #295 experience team. Last four years, San Jose State is 16-20 as MW road underdogs; last three years, Aggies are 12-6 as MW home favorites.
Colorado State/Boise State split their last six meetings; Rams lost their last five visits to Boise, by 9-1-13-1-4 points. CSU won its last couple games after a 4-6 start (schedule #117); Rams are shooting only 29.6% on arc- they’re 0-4 in true road games, with all four losses by 10+ points. Broncos are 10-2 vs schedule #229; they’re 7-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with five wins by 18+ points. Last four years, Boise is 16-20 as MW home favorites; last six years, Colorado State is 12-20-1 as road underdogs (5-2 LY).
Fresno State is 6-2 in its last eight games with Nevada; they swept Wolf Pack in regular season LY, then lost to Nevada in Mountain West tourney. Wolf Pack lost last three visits to Fresno, by 4-1-22 points. Nevada split its last six games after an 8-0 start; they’re 2-2 in top 10 games, with wins over URI/Davidson, losses to Texas Tech/TCU. Nevada is 3-0 in true road games, with three wins over stiffs. Fresno is 8-3 vs schedule #323; they’re 0-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 7 to Oregon, by 8 at Oregon. Bulldogs’ only top 200 win was by 15 over Bakersfield.
Florida Gulf Coast is 7-7 vs schedule #244; they’re 1-3 vs top 100 teams, with losses by 13-5-10 points, with an 85-78 win at Tex-Arlington. Eagles lost five of their last six games; they’re #37 experience team that is turning ball over 20.4% of time while playing pace #56. Rhode Island is 7-3 vs schedule #32; Rams are 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with three wins by 20+ points- they’re forcing turnovers 24.4% of time. URI is #32 experience team that got Matthews back from injury- he’s played 10-16 minutes in last two games, vs Charleston, Iona.
Arkansas is 9-2 vs schedule #49; they won their last four games, are #60 experience team whose FG% is #21. Razorbacks are 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 25, with five wins by 25+ points. Hogs haven’t played in eight days; they’re forcing turnovers 213% of time. Bakersfield is 7-7 this year after being 49-19 the last two years; Roadrunners are 4-7 vs schedule #47; Bakersfield is 0-3 vs top 100 teams this season, losing by 32-9-15 points- they’re #139 experience team that is shooting only 30.2% behind arc.