Monday's Best NCAAB Bets
By Covers.com
Cincinnati Bearcats at Georgetown Hoyas (-6.5, 124.5)
Georgetown had been playing with fire since the beginning of Big East play. On Saturday, the Hoyas finally got burned.
After escaping with narrow victories over Louisville, Providence and Marquette in its first three conference contests, Georgetown let one slip away at West Virginia, failing to mount a second-half comeback and falling 74-62.
Cincinnati worked its way through the suspensions of Yancy Gates and Cheikh Mbodj and has been successful with a four-guard offense.
The Bearcats switched to the four-guard lineup with Gates and Mbodj out and have kept the look since their return, bringing the duo off the bench to blend them into the rotation.
The problem against the Red Storm was shooting, as Cincinnati hit 20 of 76 (26 percent) from the field, including 7 of 32 from beyond the arc. Sean Kilpatrick scored 21 points but was just 4 of 15 from beyond the arc.
However, the Bearcats rank 200th in the nation in field-goal percentage, shooting 42.9 percent and that won't get it done against Georgetown.
Pick: Bearcats
West Virginia Mountaineers at UConn Huskies (-4.5, 138)
Jim Calhoun’s return apparently was not what No. 8 Connecticut needed to snap out of its funk.
The Hall of Fame coach returned from his three-game suspension for failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance and oversaw a second straight Huskies loss to an unranked team, this time barely-above .500 Rutgers.
The good news for UConn fans is the last time the team lost back-to-back games, it ended up winning 11 in a row en route to the national championship. The Huskies try to start another winning streak Monday when they host West Virginia.
Truck Bryant and Kevin Jones lead a WVU roster with eight freshmen and have been doing the bulk of the scoring. Jones and Bryant combine to average 37.6 points and each averages over 36 minutes per game, by far the most on the team.
That duo should give UConn all it can handle.
Pick: Mountaineers
NCAAB Preview
Home side won four of last five UConn-West Virginia games, with dogs covering three of last four; Huskies lost last two games, scoring 61.5 ppg vs Seton Hall/Rutgers, two teams they've dominated in past. UConn's only road win in three tries was 60-57 (-6) at USF. West Virginia is 3-1 in Big East, with all four games decided by 12+ points; they've played #26 schedule this year, despite having only three players back from LY;they're 9-2 vs top 100 teams. Big East home favorites are 6-10-1.
Oklahoma lost three of last four games after 9-1 start; they've started out 0-2 in Big X, losing by 38-11 points. Sooners lost four of last six games vs Oklahoma State, with two losses in Big X tourney; they lost last two visits to Stillwater by 21-6 points. State lost five of last seven games; they're 1-7 vs top 100 teams, with only win vs Missouri State. Big 12 home favorites are 2-4 vs spread; underdogs are 3-1 vs spread if spread is less than five points.
Home side won last six Florida Atlantic-Arkansas State games, as Owls lost last three visits to Jonesboro, by 7-2-2 points. FAU lost six of last seven games, with last three losses to teams ranked 217-187-214- they lost last six road games, with four losses by 12+ points. Sun Belt home teams are 6-4 vs spread when number is 4 or less points. ASU is 2-4 in last six games vs D-I opponents, with two wins by combined total of 5 points- they turn ball over 24.4% of time, very poor (#316).
Cincinnati won four of last five games vs Georgetown, taking two of last three played here; Bearcats had 7-game win streak snapped by St John's Saturday- they're 3-1 on road, with only loss to crosstown rival Xavier. Hoyas had 10-game win streak snapped at West Va Saturday; surprising that they've played #51 schedule in country. Big East home favorites of 6 or less points are 2-4 vs spread. Both teams are holding opponents to under 30% from the arc this season.
San Francisco lost its last 11 games vs St Mary's, losing last eight visits to Moraga by 24-4-18-9-25-21-16-14 points; Dons lost four of their last five games overall, allowing 78.3 ppg in dropping first three conference games. St Mary's won its first three WCC tilts by 16-29-6 points; they are 10-0 at home, with 16 points the closest game. USF isn't very good on defense (teams shoot 38.2% from arc. 50.3% inside it against them); they're 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 8-3-25 points.
Third game in five nights for 3-12 Idaho State squad that lost seven of its last eight games, getting waxed by 24 at home by Montana on Saturday; Bengals lost 80-56 (+8.5) at home to Wyoming Dec 22, shooting 31.4% from floor, while Cowboy starters shot 61%. 13-2 Wyoming has played #337 schedule up to now; they're building confidence by stockpiling lot of wins vs bad team- they start conference play Saturday. Big Sky road underdogs of 13+ points are 13-6. Mountain West home favorites of 15+ points are 7-5.
W VIRGINIA (12 - 4) at CONNECTICUT (12 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in home games after scoring 60 points or less since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 1-1 against the spread versus W VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 1-1 straight up against W VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA (10 - 4) at OKLAHOMA ST (8 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA ST is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
OKLAHOMA ST is 39-59 ATS (-25.9 Units) in January games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA is 3-2 against the spread versus OKLAHOMA ST over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA ST is 3-2 straight up against OKLAHOMA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
FLA ATLANTIC (5 - 11) at ARKANSAS ST (8 - 9)
Top Trends for this game.
FLA ATLANTIC is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) versus poor offensive teams - scoring <=64 points/game since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
FLA ATLANTIC is 1-0 against the spread versus ARKANSAS ST over the last 3 seasons
FLA ATLANTIC is 2-0 straight up against ARKANSAS ST over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CINCINNATI (12 - 4) at GEORGETOWN (13 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
CINCINNATI is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) when the total is 120 to 129.5 over the last 3 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 78-108 ATS (-40.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 25-49 ATS (-28.9 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
GEORGETOWN is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGETOWN is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGETOWN is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) off a loss against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 2-1 against the spread versus GEORGETOWN over the last 3 seasons
CINCINNATI is 2-1 straight up against GEORGETOWN over the last 3 seasons
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SAN FRANCISCO (10 - 7) at ST MARYS-CA (14 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
ST MARYS-CA is 35-22 ATS (+10.8 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ST MARYS-CA is 2-1 against the spread versus SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
ST MARYS-CA is 4-0 straight up against SAN FRANCISCO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
IDAHO ST (3 - 12) at WYOMING (13 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
IDAHO ST is 115-159 ATS (-59.9 Units) in all games since 1997.
IDAHO ST is 115-159 ATS (-59.9 Units) in all lined games since 1997.
IDAHO ST is 34-54 ATS (-25.4 Units) in January games since 1997.
IDAHO ST is 33-58 ATS (-30.8 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
IDAHO ST is 67-101 ATS (-44.1 Units) after a conference game since 1997.
IDAHO ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in home games after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) in home games in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
WYOMING is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games versus poor offensive teams - scoring <=64 points/game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
WYOMING is 1-0 against the spread versus IDAHO ST over the last 3 seasons
WYOMING is 1-0 straight up against IDAHO ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
WEST VIRGINIA vs. CONNECTICUT
West Virginia is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
West Virginia is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Connecticut is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Connecticut is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games
OKLAHOMA vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road
Oklahoma is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Oklahoma State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Oklahoma State is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
HAMPTON vs. JAMES MADISON
No trends available
James Madison is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
James Madison is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. ARKANSAS STATE
Florida Atlantic is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Florida Atlantic's last 8 games on the road
Arkansas State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Arkansas State is 19-4 SU in its last 23 games at home
CINCINNATI vs. GEORGETOWN
Cincinnati is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Cincinnati's last 21 games on the road
Georgetown is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Georgetown is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN vs. AIR FORCE
No trends available
Air Force is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Air Force is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home
IDAHO STATE vs. WYOMING
Idaho State is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Idaho State is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Wyoming is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Wyoming is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
SAN FRANCISCO vs. ST. MARY'S
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
San Francisco is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Mary's
St. Mary's is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Mary's last 6 games
Monday's Top College Basketball Trends
OKLAHOMA is 0-8 ATS in road games off back to back losses (vs Oklahoma St)
WYOMING is 14-4 ATS in all home games (vs Idaho St)
ST MARYS-CA is 3-15 ATS in home games off a road win against a conference rival (vs San Francisco)
IDAHO ST is 0-11 ATS when the total is 129.5 or less (vs Wyoming)
ARKANSAS ST is 18-5 ATS after having won 2 of their last 3 games (vs FLA Atlantic)
CBB Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. No. 8 Connecticut Huskies
West Virginia comes into this game riding high after a 74-62 victory over No. 9 Georgetown as a two-point home favorite this past Saturday. The win raised its overall record to 12-4 straight up and a healthy 9-4 against the spread. The total has gone ‘over’ in nine of the 13 games with a posted line.
Connecticut has lost its last two games as a road favorite including a stunning 67-60 loss to Rutgers on Saturday as a six-point favorite. It is 12-3 SU on the year but a costly 4-7 ATS. The Huskies will be glad to be back home for this one where they are 9-0 SU (3-2 ATS) this year. They have been opened as 4½-point favorites for this game.