Monday's Best NCAAB Bets
By Covers.com
Iowa State Cyclones at Baylor Bears (-8, 140 )
The Cyclones are coming off a 69-46 blowout of Texas A&M on Saturday, their second 20-plus point beatdown of the Aggies this season. The win gave Iowa State its best start through the first 12 conference games since it went 10-2 in 2000-01, when Larry Eustachy was coach.
The Cyclones have turned into a dominant perimeter team, ranking first in the Big 12 in three-pointers per game (8.9) and second in three-point percentage defense (30.0).
Iowa State senior Chris Allen has caught fire in the past two games, scoring 47 points, including a career-high 25 against Texas A&M.
Baylor sophomore Perry Jones III is looking to break out of a slump. The NBA prospect had just nine points on three-of-20 shooting in the Bears’ last two games, losses to Kansas and Missouri.
The Bears are 0-5 ATS in their last five games, and 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings with the Cyclones.
Pick: Cyclones
Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats (3, 137)
Kansas State, once viewed as a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, suddenly finds itself squarely on the bubble after blowing a 14-point, second-half lead to Texas on Saturday.
But the Wildcats have won two of their last four meetings with their hated rivals. That includes last year’s 84-68 victory, a wire-to-wire win against the then-No. 1 Jayhawks.
Rodney McGruder, who scored a team-high 15 points in Kansas State’s 67-49 loss in Lawrence earlier this year, will have to come up big for the Wildcats to pull the upset.
Kansas is dominant inside thanks to center Jeff Withey, who leads the Big 12 with 79 blocks. He also has scored 43 points in the last two games, providing a nice complement to Thomas Robinson.
The Jayhawks are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 visits to Manhattan.
Pick: Jayhawks
Game of the day: Syracuse at Louisville
By Covers.com
No. 2 Syracuse Orange at No. 23 Louisville Cardinals (1.5, 138)
THE STORY: Jim Boeheim is the third-winningest coach in college basketball history. That said, the Hall of Famer hasn’t had success against Rick Pitino – his former assistant – in recent years. Pitino’s Cardinals have won seven straight meetings with Syracuse, a streak that has put Boeheim on edge with the local media. The latest rendition of this rivalry features two of the hottest teams in the country and will almost assuredly be played at a frenzied pace. Both teams love to run and create offense from their defense. Syracuse is fourth in the nation in steals (9.8), while Louisville is sixth (9.4). In the last meeting, Kyle Kuric scored 23 points and hit five of the Cardinals’ 13 3-pointers in a 73-69 win last February. Louisville leads the series 13-4, and hasn’t lost to Syracuse since 2005-06, its first season in the Big East.
ABOUT SYRACUSE (25-1, 12-1 Big East): Syracuse has won five straight since suffering its lone loss, at Notre Dame. Seven players average at least seven points for the Orange, which leads the Big East in scoring (77.8). Saturday’s 85-67 dismantling of Connecticut led Boeheim to proclaim, “This is the best we’ve played (offensively) all year.” Scoop Jardine, who’s fourth in the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), scored a season-high 21 points. Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone is holding opponents to just 38.5 percent shooting – the third-best mark in the Big East. The zone is anchored by 7-foot sophomore center Fab Melo, who is averaging 11.0 points and 3.6 blocks in three games since returning from an academic suspension.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE (20-5, 8-4 Big East): The Cardinals had a horrific 2-4 start in conference play, but have won six straight since. The offense is finally catching up to the defense, which ranks third in the nation in field goal percentage allowed (37.2). Louisville is averaging 75.3 points during its win streak, compared to 67.3 at the start of league play. The matchup between Melo and the frontcourt of Gorgui Dieng and freshman Chane Behanan will be one to watch. Dieng leads the conference in blocks (3.2) and is fourth in rebounding (9.2). Behanan, meanwhile, is averaging 12.5 points and 8.8 rebounds over the last six games. The Cardinals are also starting to get healthy, and the return of highly-regarded freshman swingman Wayne Blackshear is a big boost.
TRENDS:
Louisville is 6-0 ATS in its last six games.
The over is 6-1 in Louisville's last seven home games.
The Orange is 0-6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Syracuse is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 road games.
The favorite is 5-2-1 ATS in the last eight meetings.
TIP-INS:
1. “Now we’re going to (write) that I’ve lost six straight to Rick Pitino? Why don’t we write that I beat him six straight (when Pitino was at Providence and Kentucky)? ” – Boeheim, speaking to reporters prior to last season’s loss to Louisville.
2. The Orange’s Achilles’ heel has been rebounding (35.6 -- 11th in Big East) and it could struggle against the second-best rebounding team in the conference; Louisville averages 39.1 boards.
3. Blackshear, a McDonald’s All-American who missed more than three months with a shoulder injury, scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting against West Virginia on Saturday.
NCAAB Preview
Home side won last eight Iowa State-Baylor games, with Cyclones 0-4 in last four visits to Waco, losing by 4-18-7-21 points. State is 4-1 as a Big X road underdog, 3-3 SU, losing away games by 9-7-2 points- they are 9-3 vs spread overall in league play. Big X single digit home favorites are 11-8 against the spread. Baylor is 0-4 vs Kansas/Missouri, 8-0 vs the rest of the league; they're 1-4 as a home favorite, winning home games by 9-41-5 points, with losses to Jayhawks/Mizzou.
Syracuse won its last five games; they haven't lost with Melo in middle of its zone defense. Orange is 5-1 as road favorite, winning away games by 19-14-13-7-25 points, but they've lost seven games in row against Louisville, losing last three visits here, by 5-11-10 points. Blackshear's return gives Cardinals another productive player; they've won/covered their last six games. Big East home underdogs of less than 5 points are 7-9 against the spread. This is an excellent game to watch.
K-State (+10) lost 67-49 at Kansas Jan 4, shooting 32% for night, 5-20 from arc; Wildcats blew 13-point halftime lead at Texas Saturday, need win here to solidify NCAA resume. Big X aingle digit home underdogs are 10-4-1 against the spread. K-State is just 3-2 at home in conference, 2-3 in last five games overall; underdogs covered all five of their league games. Jayhawks lost two of last three road games; they're 2-2 as a road favorite, winning away games by 11-35-3-14 points.
Armadillosports.com
IOWA ST (18 - 7) at BAYLOR (21 - 4) - 2/13/2012, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
IOWA ST is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) against conference opponents this season.
IOWA ST is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a conference game this season.
IOWA ST is 24-14 ATS (+8.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 14-26 ATS (-14.6 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 14-26 ATS (-14.6 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BAYLOR is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) after a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
BAYLOR is 1-1 against the spread versus IOWA ST over the last 3 seasons
BAYLOR is 1-1 straight up against IOWA ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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SYRACUSE (25 - 1) at LOUISVILLE (20 - 5) - 2/13/2012, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
LOUISVILLE is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOUISVILLE is 32-20 ATS (+10.0 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road games over the last 3 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) in road lined games over the last 3 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games in February games over the last 3 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in road games after a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SYRACUSE is 23-12 ATS (+9.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOUISVILLE is 3-0 against the spread versus SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
LOUISVILLE is 3-0 straight up against SYRACUSE over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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KANSAS (20 - 5) at KANSAS ST (17 - 7) - 2/13/2012, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS is 4-2 against the spread versus KANSAS ST over the last 3 seasons
KANSAS is 5-1 straight up against KANSAS ST over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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MD-EAST SHORE (6 - 17) at COPPIN ST (12 - 12) - 2/13/2012, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
MD-EAST SHORE is 1-0 against the spread versus COPPIN ST over the last 3 seasons
MD-EAST SHORE is 3-2 straight up against COPPIN ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
IOWA STATE vs. BAYLOR
Iowa State is 4-14 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iowa State's last 6 games on the road
Baylor is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Baylor is 21-4 SU in its last 25 games
SYRACUSE vs. LOUISVILLE
Syracuse is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Syracuse's last 7 games on the road
Louisville is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Louisville's last 7 games
KANSAS vs. KANSAS STATE
Kansas is 4-6-2 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Kansas is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Kansas State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Kansas State is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games
Monday's Top College Basketball Trends
BAYLOR is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in a home game where the total is 140 to 149.5 (vs Iowa St)
SYRACUSE is 13-2 ATS (+10.8 Units) in road games after scoring 80 points or more (vs Louisville)
KANSAS is 7-0 UNDER (+7 Units) in road games (vs Kansas St)
CBB Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 10 Kansas Jayhawks vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas followed-up last Wednesday night’s 68-54 rout of No.6 Baylor as a two-point road underdog with an 81-66 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday as a 17½-point home favorite. The Jayhawks are now 20-5 straight-up and 12-11-1 against the spread. The total has stayed ‘under’ in 15 of their 24 games.
Kansas State fell to 17-7 SU and 9-11 ATS after losing to Texas 75-64 this past Saturday as a four-point road underdog. The Wildcats are 10-2 SU at home, but just 3-5 ATS. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of the eight games. These two met on Jan.4 with Kansas coming away with a 67-49 victory as a 10-point home favorite. The Jayhawks are favored by four points on the road in this one.