NCAAB Preview
Orlando tournament
--West Virginia's first two games (1-1) were both so one-sided its hard to tell how good WV is; only one kid played more than 21:00 Thursday in an execution of Marist. Davidson has five starters back from 25-8 team, but lost at New Mexico, Milwaukee to start season; they're very well-coached and had only one guy play more than 26 minutes vs Vandy in first round. SoCon teams are 12-9 vs spread away from home.
-- Oklahoma has five starters back from 15-16 team; they had 12-point lead at half last nite, held on to beat UTEP by 7 despite 12-20 shooting on line, 6-18 on arc. Gonzaga has four starters back from 26-7 team, but struggling with young Clemson side last night, which was first time they were challenged in a game. Sooners had two kids play more than 28:00; Gonzaga had three kids play 31+ minutes in game that was a struggle. Clemson had 13 offensive boards, led Zags by a point at halftime.
Atlantis tournament
-- Missouri lost 4 starters from LY, but UConn transfer Oriakhi is stud inside; Tigers beat Stanford 78-70 despite its starting guards shooting a dismal 8-32 from floor- they had three guys play 30+ minutes. Duke has four starters back from 27-7 team, they dispatched good Minnesota club by 18, shooting 54% from floor, 8-10 from arc. Duke's bench played 44 minutes total, not very much. ACC favorites are 9-4 away from home.
-- Louisville is 4-0 with three wins by 26+ points, but they struggled vs Northern Iowa's slowish pace last night, shooting 5-22 from arc, with 20 turnovers, way too manyfor team with three starters back from 30-10 squad. VCU has four starters back from 29-7 team; they made 13-22 from arc in fairly easy 78-65 upset of Memphis (up 14 at half) in first round. Big East single digit road favorites are 4-6 vs spread. A-16 single digit road underdogs are 6-7.
Anaheim tournament
-- Pacific has five starters back from 11-19 team; they upset Xavier in first round, playing 10 guys double digit minutes, but no one more than 28- they had lost first two games vs D-I teams, by 5 to Fresno, 2 to Oral Roberts. St Mary's has four starters back from 27-6 team; 6 of their 7 rotation guys are juniors/seniors. St Mary's won last meeting 80-65 back in '10; they beat injury-riddled Drexel by 12, despite going 3-12 on arc. Dellavedova/Holt, Gaels' two main guys, both played 36+ minutes.
-- Georgia Tech has two freshmen starting on team that has all 5 starters back, so they've upgraded talent, but they don't shoot well (39% in win over Rice, 3-18 from arc). Cal Bears have three starters back from 24-10 team, are 4-0 after surviving couple of technicals last night, rallying back from 6 down with 9:23 left to nip Drake by 3. Cal's three best guys had 35+ minutes. Crabbe is one of best guards in west. ACC underdogs are 6-3 against spread so far this season.
Great Alaskan Shootout
-- Belmont won by 7 at Stanford in its way to Alaska, holding Cardinal to 31% for night, 2-19 from arc; they start couple juniors, three seniors, have veteran team heading into their first year in OVC. Northeastern has pair of one-point wins (BU/Princeton) already, but also lost at home to Vermont; Huskies were 8-16 from arc, outscored Riverside 16-3 on foul line in 61-52 win. CAA single digit underdogs are 7-4 against spread.
-- Oral Roberts has three starters back from 27-7 team; they survived 19 turnovers to beat LMU by 9 last nite. ORU played four of its guys 30+ minutes, with star Niles (33 points) playing all 40. Charlotte scored last 11 points over final 4:30, beating Texas State 73-64 (-7) last night; 49ers start two frosh/three sophs, but talent has been upgraded. A-16 favorites are 6-4 away from home. ORU beat Xavier of A-16 by 16 last season.
Other games
-- Michigan played Burke/Hardaway 38:00 each Tuesday, two others 33 minutes in tough 67-62 win (down 4 at half) over Pitt; Wolverines made only 3-17 from arc, but are still over 40% for season. Kansas State subs played 121 out of possible 200 minutes in 66-63 win over Delaware, as new coach Weber searches for combos that work. Beilein won last three meetings with Weber when Weber was coach at Illinois. Big Dozen teams are 7-4 vs spread when number is 5 or less. Big X teams are 4-3.
-- Cincinnati is 4-0, playing one team (#232) ranked in top 300; Cincy has three starters back from 26-11 team that beat Oklahoma/Texas from Big X last year. Iowa State has two starters back from 23-11 team that beat UConn of Big East in NCAAs; they also have Michigan St transfer Lucious eligible to play PG. Big East favorites are 6-7 away from; Big X underdogs are 2-2. Iowa State lost its top three scorers from LY.
-- UNLV dispatched pair of stiffs to open season; they've return three starters from LY's 26-9 team, but brought in talented freshmen to take their place, not JC kids, as Rice builds more solid program. Oregon lost three starters from 24-10 team; Ducks are 4-0, thrashing Vanderbilt by 26, but they're turning ball over 23% of time, a bit much. MWC faves are 4-7; 4-0 when laying 15+ points, 0-7 when laying less. Pac-12 dogs are 5-5, 0-2 when getting more than five points.
-- Arkansas scored 91.7 ppg in beating three stiffs to start season; now that Arizona State finally has PG Carson eligible, curious to see how the Sendek system does vs 40:00 of Hell. Hogs forced turnovers on 29.5% of possessions so far, but ASU is juge step up in class from those stiffs. Sun Devils return other 4 starters from LY, when lack of quality PG had them reeling to 10-21 season- they scored 80 ppg in a 3-0 start.
-- Creighton is shooting an amazing 68% inside arc thru four games, 41% outside arc; they're an offensive dynamo, scoring 85 ppg in 4-0 start that includes 77-60 win over UAB. Wisconsin missed PG Gasser in 74-56 loss at Florida, only good club Badgers faced so far; Ryan has 3 starters back from 26-10 team. Big Dozen teams are 7-4 vs spread when line is 5 or less points. MVC teams are 6-0. This has makings of NCAA tourney game; interesting contrast in styles.
Armadillosports.com
College Basketball Point Spreads and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
Here's a look at a few trends for Friday’s top 25 college hoops action. Lines and totals are from the LVH SuperBook as of 11:00 a.m. PT on Friday.
No. 13 Missouri vs. No. 2 Louisville – 9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Louisville -5.5, Total: 134.5
Trends:
• Cardinals are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
• Cardinals are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games
• Tigers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Friday games.
• Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Under is 13-3 in Cardinals last 16 overall.
• Under is 4-1 in Cardinals’ last 5 Friday games.
• Over is 11-0 in Tigers last 11 overall.
Kansas State vs. No. 4 Michigan – 4:30 p.m. ET
Line: Michigan -5.5, Total: 127
Trends:
• Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. Big Ten.
• Wolverines are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
• Wolverines are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
• Under is 3-0-1 in Wildcats’ last 4 non-conference games.
• Over is 7-1 in Wolverines’ last 8 overall.
UCF vs. No. 4 Florida – 4:00 p.m. ET
Line: Florida -15, Total: N/A
Trends:
• Knights are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
• Knights are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
• Gators are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
• Gators are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Over is 17-4 in Gators’ last 21 non-conference games.
• Over is 4-1 in Gators’ last 5 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
• Over is 5-2 in Gators’ last 7 Friday games.
• Over is 20-8 in Gators’ last 28 home games.
UMKC vs. No. 3 Ohio St – 6:00 p.m. ET
Line: Ohio State -29, Total: 131
Trends:
• Kangaroos are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
• Kangaroos are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
• Kangaroos are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.
• Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
• Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Over is 19-8 in Kangaroos’ last 27 road games.
• Over is 34-15 in Kangaroos’ last 49 overall.
• Over is 7-0 in Buckeyes’ last 7 home games.
• Over is 11-2 in Buckeyes’ last 13 overall.
• Over is 5-1 in Buckeyes’ last 6 non-conference games.
• Under is 5-1 in Buckeyes’ last 6 Friday games.
No. 5 Duke vs. VCU – 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Duke -5.5, Total: 139
Trends:
• Rams are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
• Rams are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
• Blue Devils are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
• Blue Devils are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.
No. 14 Creighton vs. Wisconsin – 10:00 p.m. ET
Line: Wisconsin -1, Total: 129.5
Trends:
• Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
• Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Bluejays are 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
• Over is 10-3 in Badgers’ last 13 overall.
• Over is 7-1-1 in Bluejays’ last 9 non-conference games.
Oakland vs. No. 15 Michigan State – 8:15 p.m. ET
Line: Michigan State -18.5, Total: 148.5
Trends:
• Golden Grizzlies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Golden Grizzlies are 34-15-3 ATS in their last 52 road games.
• Spartans are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 home games.
• Spartans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
• Spartans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Over is 5-1 in Golden Grizzlies’ last 6 Friday games.
• Under is 9-4 in Spartans’ last 13 Friday games.
• Over is 13-6 in Spartans’ last 19 home games.
Oklahoma vs. No. 17 Gonzaga – 7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Gonzaga -9, Total: 139
Trends:
• Sooners are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
• Sooners are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
• Bulldogs are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
• Bulldogs are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
• Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big 12.
Oregon vs. No. 18 UNLV – 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: UNLV -12, Total: 145.5
Trends:
• Ducks are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
• Ducks are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Mountain West.
• Ducks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.
• Runnin' Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
• Runnin' Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games.
• Runnin' Rebels are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Over is 5-1 in Ducks’ last 6 overall.
• Under is 7-2 in Runnin' Rebels’ last 9 home games.
• Under is 6-2 in Runnin' Rebels’ last 8 overall.
Iowa State vs. No. 22 Cincinnati – 6:30 p.m. ET
Line: Cincinnati -4, Total: 142
Trends:
• Cyclones are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games overall.
• Bearcats are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Big 12.
• Bearcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
• Over is 5-1 in Cyclones’ last 6 vs. Big East.
• Over is 5-1 in Cyclones’ last 6 Friday games.
• Over is 4-1 in Cyclones’ last 5 overall.
• Under is 5-1 in Bearcats’ last 6 vs. Big 12.
NCAAB game of the day: Louisville vs. Missouri
By Covers.com
Louisville vs. Missouri (5.5, 133)
Two of the top point guards in the nation coming off very different games headline a showdown between two unbeaten teams Friday when No. 2 Louisville squares off against No. 14 Missouri in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. The Tigers’ Phil Pressey was selected as the Southeastern Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year and played like it in Thursday’s 78-70 victory over Stanford with 18 points and nine assists. Conversely, the Cardinals’ Peyton Siva – named the Big East’s Preseason Player of the Year – shot 3-of-12 from the field and scored only seven points as Louisville held off Northern Iowa 51-46 in the hard-fought defensive struggle Thursday.
ABOUT MISSOURI (4-0): Laurence Bowers had 13 points in the second half Thursday, continuing a season-long theme. The 6-8 junior has scored 55 of his 65 points this season after the break. Missouri overcame a long dry spell in its win over Stanford as it converted only three field goals over the final 9:10, but made up for it by going 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Even though Earnest Ross recorded his second double-double of the season, he had a day to forget in the first-round win, going 3-of-19 from the field, including 0-of-5 beyond the arc.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE (4-0): The Cardinals, who shot 27 percent from the field and committing 10 turnovers in the first half, forced 12 consecutive missed shots and held the Panthers scoreless for a 10:26 stretch in the second half. But Louisville scored only five points over a 10:13 span toward the end of the game, allowing an 18-point lead to get trimmed to two. The Cardinals have held each of their opponents to 54 or less points and forced at least 21 turnovers three times this season, but their 30.6 percent shooting Thursday will need to improve against a Tigers' defense limiting opponents to 34.7 percent from the field.
TRENDS:
* Over is 11-0 in Tigers' last 11 overall.
* Tigers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight neutral site games.
* Cardinals are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
TIP-INS:
1. Missouri, which is 17-0 against non-conference opponents under second-year coach Frank Haith, is 2-1 all-time against Louisville.
2. Tigers C Alex Oriakhi, a Connecticut transfer, averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in six career games against the Cardinals, but his Huskies went only 1-5 in those games.
3. In the win over Northern Iowa, Louisville had more turnovers (20) than assists (12) for the first time since losing to Kentucky in the Final Four last season.