College Knowledge
-- Eastern Michigan is 3-1 vs D-I teams, allowing 48.7 ppg against three stiffs, losing 61-54 (+8) at Jacksonville State in its only road tilt. MAC double digit road underdogs are 5-6 vs spread. Syracuse already has wins at Arkansas and vs San Diego State; they won three home games by 31-20-36 points. Big East double digit home favorites are 7-10 vs spread.
-- Wright State is off to 5-2 start, 2-1 on road, winning at E. Illinois and Idaho, losing by 12 at Utah (+4), but they also have bad home loss to Central Michigan. Bowling Green is 2-4 vs D-I teams but upset Detroit, a good win; Falcons are playing 4th home game in row- they got beat at home by IUPUI/Youngstown. MAC single digit home faves are 4-8.
-- USC has 10 transfers on its roster; they lost three of last four games, scoring 61.8 ppg, but four tough opponents. This is first true road game for Trojans, who went 1-2 on Maui. Nebraska won last game by 16 at Wake Forest, after losing at home to Kent State, two best teams they've played. Big Dozen underdogs of 5 or less points are 7-5 vs spread.
-- Long Beach State (+5) won 69-61 at Fresno State last Sunday, holding Bulldogs to 38.6% from floor. 49ers are 3-3, but UNC/Arizona were two of the losses, so they're 4-1 vs teams at their talent level-- other loss was by 18 at USC. Fresno State is 3-3 on road, playing four of six on foreign soil- they lost last game 57-54 at Southern Illinois Wednesday.
Armadillosports.com
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Syracuse Orange
Reigning Mid-American Conference West Division Champions Eagles (5-1, 2-1 ATS) led on the court by senior forward Jamell Harris (14.2 PPG) net just 62.0 points/game. The Orange (5-0, 3-0 ATS) with four double digit scorers lead by James Southerland (19.2) are averaging 80.2 per contest. All Syracuse when these two collided last season at the Carrier Dome as Orange won 84-48 covering the 28 point spot. Orange 3-0-1 ATS last 4 vs. MAC have won twenty-three straight at the Carrier Dome (13-9 ATS). Eagles 4-10 ATS last 14 road games against a team with a winning home record are are ridding an 0-11 SU skid (2-8 ATS) allowing 70 or more points.
Samford Bulldogs at Kentucky Wildcats
This group of Cats' going through growing pains stumbled at home Saturday shooting just 29.6% from the field as they were upended 64-55 by Baylor Bears. The home loss was Kentucky’s first in the John Calipari era as the Wildcats’ last setback at Rupp Arena was in 2009 against Georgia. The non-cover ups Wildcats' ATS slide in Nov/Dec home games to 6-13 and it's overall non-conference skid to 5-17-1 ATS. Bulldogs winning just their second of the season last time out defeating Georgia Southern Eagles 57-48 as 2 point pups are 1-8 (3-6 ATS) vs the SEC. Bulldogs got clawed 82-50 by Wildcats last season but covered as they were a massive 34 point underdog.
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
The men's college basketball season is underway and so far Indiana remains the best team in the land with a 6-0 start. Right on the Hoosiers' tail are teams such as Duke, Michigan, and Ohio State, which are also off to a perfect start. All-in-all, there are a number of quality teams out there that promise to make this season another exciting race to a national title.
The following is a brief look at the top matchups for each day this week along with a few facts and figures to help handicap the games.
Monday, Dec. 3 - Eastern Michigan vs. No. 6 Syracuse
Eastern Michigan is off to a solid 5-1 straight-up start and it has covered against the spread in two of its first three games with a posted line. The Eagles biggest victory so far was a 61-54 road win over Jacksonville State as 8½-point underdogs on November 11. They are averaging 62 points a game and shooting 42.7 percent from the field.
Syracuse has worked itself to No. 6 in the last AP poll after starting the season ranked No. 9. It is off to a perfect 5-0 SU start and is 3-0 ATS. The Orange are coming off a 91-82 victory over Arkansas as 8½-point road favorites as part of last week's Big East/SEC challenge. James Southerland and Brandon Triche have provided the bulk of the scoring so far with a combined 34.8 points a game.
College Basketball Betting Update
By: Larry Hartstein
Sportingnews.com
Baylor loses at home to Charleston, then goes to Rupp Arena on Saturday and ends Kentucky’s 55-game home win streak. Emphatically.
The defending national champs have lost two straight for only the second time in coach John Calipari’s four-year tenure. They don’t have a NBA lottery-type point guard as in years past.
Last season, the script played out as expected: the Wildcats’ pros-in-waiting rolled over everyone en route to the title. This season there is no script.
“It’s the most wide open it’s been in years,” said Rick Herron, one of The Linemakers on Sporting News who has run Las Vegas sports books and has been in the industry since 1980. “I don’t think Indiana or Louisville is dominant. I think there are 25 to 30 teams in the country that can win the national title. And I’m not sure Kentucky is one of them.”
Kentucky is one of only six teams that have played at least five lined games without getting a single ATS win. Kentucky, Denver and UTEP are 0-5 ATS, Marshall is 0-5-1 ATS, UMass is 0-6 ATS and Drexel is 0-7 ATS.
Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy: Kentucky's kiddie Cats in crisis
On the flip side, Cal State Northridge is 7-1 ATS, while Indiana and Illinois-Chicago are 6-1 ATS.
Jay Kornegay, director of the LVH SuperBook, agrees there’s no clear-cut favorite. He says the early season has been full of surprises like the Mountain West’s top-to-bottom excellence, Wyoming’s stunning 8-0 start and UCLA’s total lack of chemistry.
“(No. 1) Indiana is doing their thing, and maybe we’re just taking them for granted, but I don’t see any gap between them and the other top teams,” Kornegay said. “Some teams have four returning starters and are struggling. Other teams with one returning starter are clicking. It’s a small sample right now.”
Sharps hot early
The public continues to spend the bulk of its betting roll on football, but sharps are hammering the books in early-season college hoops.
“The big trend is we’re losing,” said Jeff Stoneback, manager of MGM/Mirage sports books. “The professionals are definitely beating us – it’s always tough early in the year. The professionals know quite a bit more about these smaller schools.”
Monday's card
Eastern Michigan (5-1 SU, 2-1 ATS) at No. 5 Syracuse (5-0 SU, 3-0 ATS)
Line: Syracuse -25
Former Orange assistant Rob Murphy, who spent seven years under Jim Boeheim before taking over Eastern Michigan last season, brings the Eagles to the Carrier Dome for the second straight year. Last year’s meeting was an 84-48 Orange massacre. But Eastern Michigan went on to its first-ever MAC West division title, and Murphy won MAC coach of the year and then turned down a job in the Orlando Magic scouting department. This guy can coach. Eastern Michigan holds opponents to 52.7 points – seventh-fewest in the nation.
Syracuse is 2-5 ATS in its last seven home games.
Under is 11-4 in Orange’s last 15 home games, and 6-2-1 in Eagles’ last nine non-conference games.
Linemakers Power Ratings: Syracuse 147.8, Eastern Michigan 123.8 (add 3-4 points for home court).
Southern California (3-3 SU, 2-3 ATS) at Nebraska (5-1 SU, 3-2 ATS)
Line: USC -2
The Trojans are 8-28 on the road the past three seasons, but they’re far more battle-tested (25th-toughest schedule) than the Cornhuskers (241st-toughest) this year.
One angle to look at: Betting against USC in the first half and on the Trojans in the second. USC has been outscored by 40 points in the first half this season. In the second half and overtime, the Trojans have outscored their opponents by 34.
Nebraska is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 home games.
USC is 20-7 ATS in its last 27 road games following three or more straight home games.
Linemakers Power Ratings: USC 129.9, Nebraska 125.9 (add 3-4 points for home court).