College Basketball Betting News and Notes Monday, December 18th, 2017

Top 25 Betting Recap
December 18, 2017
By Joe Williams

Each week until March Madness we'll take a look at how the Top 25 fared from college basketball, but straight up and against the number, while also taking a look at their upcoming schedule.

Villanova (11-0 SU, 8-3 ATS) had a successful week as the No. 1 team in the land, taking care of intra-Philadelphia rival Temple (7-3 SU, 4-5-1 ATS), 87-67. The Wildcats do not figure to get much of a test until perhaps a trip to Butler (8-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) on Dec. 30, and they do not face another ranked team until Xavier (10-1 SU, 9-2 ATS) pays a visit on Jan. 10. They will not play a ranked team on the road until meeting the Muskateers in Cincinnati on Feb. 17, so the reign of the 'Cats could be a long one as the nation's top-ranked squad.

We're about to bid adieu to Florida (6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS) from the Top 25, as they fell again. The Gators lost on a neutral site against a very ordinary Clemson (9-1 SU, 5-2 ATS) side, 71-69. The Gators are in freefall, losing four of their past five. While the win against Cincinnati (9-2 SU, 5-4 ATS) on Dec. 9 was a nice one, losses to the Tigers and Loyola-Chicago (10-2 SU, 5-3 ATS) are inexcusable for a team wishing to remain among the nation's Top 25. Suddenly, the Gators are looking very average and they have work to do to work back into the rankings. They face two unranked opponents outside of Power 5 conference this week.

Duke (11-1 SU, 7-3 ATS) has been champing at the bit since falling to Boston College (9-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) back on Dec. 9. The Blue Devils will be well rested, and that's either a good thing - or they're be rusty - when they meet Evansville (10-2 SU, 6-2 ATS) on Wednesday night in front of the Cameron Crazies. It's the only game for the Blue Devils in a three-week span, as they won't take to the hardwood again until Dec. 30 before a much greater test against Florida State (9-1 SU, 7-1 ATS), the next ranked opponent on the docket. The Blue Devils also need a win in that game to get out of the basement in the ACC, as they're 0-1 while BC is 1-0 and everyone else is 0-0. Yeah, it's early, but...

Arizona State (10-0 SU, 9-1 ATS) has enjoyed a meteroic rise, suddenly finding themselves as a Top 5 team after a quick start. They won't be tested this week with non-ranked teams visiting. However, we'll get a good idea about the mettle of the Sun Devils when they travel to Arizona (8-3 SU, 4-6-1 ATS) on Dec. 30 down in Tucson. After that test they will not face another team currently in the Top 25 until facing the Wildcats again on Feb. 15 at home. Yeah, the Pac-12 is having another down season.

Wichita State (10-0 SU, 6-4 ATS) suffered a 91-83 loss against Oklahoma (8-1 SU, 3-6 ATS), a team that previously hadn't had a lot of success against the number. The Shockers couldn't pull off the Sooner State two-step after winning at Oklahoma State (8-2 SU, 4-4 ATS) on Dec. 9. The coast appears to be clear for a major rebound for Wichita State, as they are not scheduled to face another team in the Top 25 until Feb. 18 when they travel to Cincinnati to meet the Bearcats. Wichita State has yet to cover in back-to-back games this season, but they also haven't failed to cover in back-to-back games, either.

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Monday’s college hoop
Wake Forest beat Coastal Carolina last two years by 6-12 points; Deacons won their last five games after a 1-4 start; they won by 23 at Charlotte in inly true road game, then the 49ers fired their coach. Wake is #212 experience team that is playing #260 pace- they’re 3-4 vs teams in top 200. Coastal is 3-5 vs schedule #147- they also have three non-DI wins. Chanticleers lost by 13 to Vermont, by 2 to South Carolina in their only top 100 games this season. ACC road favorites are 8-2 vs spread; Sun Belt underdogs are 23-20, 1-0 at home.

Northeastern edged Kent State 73-70 at home LY, after trailing by 17 early in second half; Kent lost five of last seven games overall- they’re 0-4 vs top 200 teams, wth all four losses by 9+ points. Best team Flashes have beaten is #281 Cleveland St. Northeastern won its last four games, allowing 64.5 ppg; they’re 2-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 6-18 points. Huskies are #258 experience team that is turning ball over 20.1% of the time. CAA favorites are 4-7 vs spread away from home; MAC home underdogs are 6-3.

Marquette hasn’t played in nine days; they won four of last five games. Eagles are 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 21-3-26 points. Marquette is #299 experience team that is shooting 40.1% on arc and had #14 eFG% in country. Northern Illinois is 4-4 vs schedule #333; they lost 94-80 at Iowa State in their only top 100 game, lost by 13 points to both Milwaukee, Penn in their other top 200 games. Huskies haven’t played in nine days either. Big East home favorites are 19-12 vs spread; MAC road underdogs are 11-12.

Home team won East Carolina/Charlotte games last two years; these teams have already fired their coaches- it is December 18. Charlotte lost 88-74 here two years ago. ECU is 5-4 against schedule #249, winning last three games, by 5-6-3 points. Pirates don’t shoot well (30.1% on arc, 64.1% on foul line); 49ers lost their last four games, with two losses to teams ranked outside top 200. Charlotte are #236 experience team that is turning ball over 21% of time- they haven’t played in 8 days. AAC home favorites are 11-14 vs spread; C-USA road underdogs are 17-11.

Tex-Arlington is 8-3 vs schedule #195; they’re #1 experience team in country. Mavericks are 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 1 at Alabama, 4 at Northern Iowa- they won at BYU. UTA forces a turnover 21.7% of time, playing pace #54. Creighton is 8-2 vs schedule #210; they’re shooting 62.1% inside arc (#2 in country), playing pace #33. Bluejays are 3-2 vs top 100 teams, with wins by 4-11-10 points. Arlington is 3-2 in true road games; their three losses this season are by 1-4-7 points. Big East home favorites are 19-12 vs spread; Sun Belt road underdogs are 16-17.

SMU was 1-11 on arc, 11-22 on foul line in 71-62 loss at Boise State LY. SMU is 8-3 vs schedule #248; they force turnovers 25.1% of time. Mustangs are shooting 41.4% on arc- they’re 2-3 vs top 100 teams, beating Arizona/USC. SMU is #279 experience team whose bench plays 12th-least minutes in country. Boise State is 11-1 vs schedule #270; their only loss was to Iowa State by 11. Broncos won by 3 at Oregon on a half-court buzzer-beater in their only true road game. AAC home favorites are 11-14 vs spread; Mountain West road underdogs are 8-13.

Santa Clara lost seven of its last nine games, with a loss to a D-II team; Broncos are 0-4 vs top 200 teams, with losses by 30-10-3-23 points. Santa Clara’s best win is over #334 Northern Arizona- teams are shooting 44.8% on arc against them. Valparaiso lost its last three games after an 8-0 start, with two losses by 30+ points; Crusaders are 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with all five wins by 9+ points. Valpo is turning ball over 22.1% of time. WCC home favorites are 10-17 vs spread; MVC road underdogs are 10-14.

Drexel lost 63-60 at Temple Saturday- their bench played total of 11 minutes- three starters played the whole 40:00. Dragons are 4-6; they don’t force lot of turnovers because they can’t get in foul trouble- their bench has played #326 minutes in country. Quinnipiac hasn’t played in 11 days; they’re 3-7 vs schedule #300. Bobcats are 1-3 in true road games, with losses by 12-21-2 points and an 89-87 win at Columbia. Drexel made 10-21 on arc in 91-74 win at Quinnipiac LY. CAA home favorites are 5-3 vs spread; MAAC road underdogs are 14-15.

South Florida lost four of last five games, is 5-6 vs schedule #344; Bulls are turning ball over 21.4% of time playing tempo #346. USF is 5-2 vs teams ranked outside top 200; their best win is over #247 FAU. NAU is 1-9 vs schedule #27; they also lost to an NAIA team. Lumberjacks turn ball over 26.4% of time, shoot only 29.9% on arc. NAU is 0-5 in true road games, with all five losses by 22+ points. AAC home favorites are 11-14 vs spread; Big Sky road underdogs are 22-17.

Western Michigan won three of last four games; they’re 4-4 vs schedule #128. Broncos haven’t played in nine days; they’re 2-4 vs top 200 teams, with best win was over #182 Appalachian State by 19 on a neutral floor. Idaho is 1-2 in true road games, with losses by 11-24 points; they are #4 experience team that still turns ball over 21.5% of time, but they’re shooting 41.3% on arc. Vandals’ best win is a 91-64 win over #181 Washington State. MAC home favorites are 13-15 vs spread; Big Sky road underdogs are 22-17.

Indiana visited Fort Wayne LY and lost 71-68 in OT, in an arena mostly filled by Indiana fans. Hoosiers beat Notre Dame in OT Saturday, using three guys 36:00+- they’re 6-5 vs schedule #52. This is Indiana’s first game since Nov 24 vs team outside the top 80. Ft Wayne is 5-5 vs schedule #294; they lost by 19 at Kentucky in their only top 100 game so far. Mastodons force turnovers 21.9% of time while playing pace #28. Big 14 home favorites are 28-21 vs spread; Summit League road dogs are 14-19.

Montana State hasn’t played in nine days since 91-69 home loss to UCSB; Bobcats are 4-5 vs schedule #131- 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 9-10-6 points. State is #64 experience team whose bench plays #38 minutes. Denver is 0-4 in true road games, scoring 64.5 ppg, losing by 27-8-20-13 points; Pioneers are 3-2 vs teams ranked outside top 200- their best win was by 10 over Wyoming. Big Sky home favorites are 8-2 vs spread; Summit League road underdogs are 14-19.

Idaho State is 1-5 vs D-I teams, with only win vs #336 Northridge; Bengals haven’’t played in nine days- they’re shooting only 32.4% on arc. Teams are shooting 56.6% inside arc vs ISU. Youngstown State lost its last six games; they’re 0-3 in true road games, losing by 20-16-28 points. Penguins are #277 experience team that is turning ball over 21.1% of time, and is shooting only 55.7% on foul line. Big Sky home favorites are 8-2 vs spread; Horizon League road underdogs are 11-19.