College Knowledge
-- Northeastern blew 16-point second half lead, beat Wm&Mary 95-91 in double OT Jan 23, its 4th win in last five series games. Huskies lost last three visits here, by 5-1-25 points, but are 6-0 on CAA road, with four of last five road wins by 4 or less points, or in OT. Tribe is 3-10 in last 13 games, but beat Towson/Hofstra in its last two home tilts. CAA home underdogs of less than 5 points are 4-7 vs spread.
-- Delaware was 41-50 from foul line in 84-72 win at Old Dominion Jan 5, just its second win in last nine series games (ODU was 20-34); Blue Hens won four of last five games, winning by 10-15 in last two at home. 3-21 Monarchs fired their coach last week, then upset Hofstra and took Northeastern to OT. Delaware better not look ahead to its next game, vs first place Northeastern CAA home faves of 6+ points are 12-7.
-- Marquette won four of last five games, but lost two of last three road games, losing by 2-19 points. Georgetown won last five games, allowing 53.8 ppg; they're 4-1 at home in Big East, winning last four at home by 9-2-22-12 points. Marquette edged Hoyas 49-48 in Jan 5 brickfest, home squads' fifth series win in row; Eagles lost last two visits here, by 9-3 points. Big East home faves of 7 or less points are 2-19 vs spread.
-- TCU followed up Kansas upset with 63-50 loss to West Virginia last game; Frogs are 0-4 on Big X road, losing by 18-11-21-17 points- they're turning ball over 22.4% of time. Oklahoma also upset Kansas Saturday; they're 3-4 in last seven games, winning by 3-6-3 points. Big X double digit home favorites are 7-3 vs spread. Sooners are 3-1 in Big X games at home, winning by 9-18-6 points, with loss to Kansas State.
-- Kansas lost three games in row for first time in 8 years; they're 19-3 in last 22 games vs K-State, winning last six played here by 27-14-16-8-24-18 points. Jayhawks won first meeting 59-55 in Little Apple Jan 22, as Wildcats were 9-30 from arc, 11-27 inside it. Big X home favorites of 8 or less points are 7-9 vs spread. K-State is 8-2 in conference, with only losses by 4-6 (at Iowa State) points.
-- Wofford won last two games, allowing 50 points in each, after losing 10 of its previous 12 games; Terriers lost last seven visits to Western by 9-5-3-5-12-5-10 points, as home side won last nine series games- teams also met in last three SoCon tourneys (Wofford 2-1). Western lost six of last eight games, losing last three at home, by 13-5-6 SoCon home faves of 5 or less points are 3-7 against the spread.
-- Chattanooga made 9-17 on arc, shot 61% inside it in 74-70 win Jan 5 (+1) at Samford, but Mocs are now on 1-5 skid, with last two losses by total of five points. Bulldogs lost four of last five games, dropping last three at home, by 2-20-11 points. Over is 9-2-1 in Mocs' last 12 games, 3-0 in Samford's last three. SoCon home favorites are 21-26 against the spread this season.
-- Appalachian State is 4-1 at home in SoCon, with three of four wins by 9+ points (lost to Davidson); ASU swept Furman LY, winning by 10-6 points. Paladins are 1-3 on road, losing by 4-13-14 points- they've lost last three games overall, by 5-23-4 points. Six of last seven ASU games stayed under the total; six of Furman's last nine went over. SoCon home favorites of 8+ points are 9-11 against the spread.
-- Weber State won last three games by 15-21-17 points; they whipped Idaho State 70-54 in first meeting, making 10-20 from arc, pulling away from 28-26 halftime lead. Big Sky home favorites of 8+ points are 5-12 vs spread. Weber has rematch with Montana Thursday. Bengals lost last six games, with none by more than 19 points and three by 5 or less- six of their last eight games went over the total.
-- Manhattan won three of last four games after a 5-14 start; they're 1-6 in last seven games vs Fairfield, losing last five visits here, by 2-5-9-7-6 points. Jaspers are 2-5 on MAAC road, with four losses by 4 points or less, none by more than 8. MAAC home favorites of 8+ points are 10-7 vs spread. Fairfield won its last five games, four by 10+, allowing 49.6 ppg; Stags won last three home games, by 34-10-17 points.
Armadillosports.com
Monday's Top 25 NCB Betting Notes
By Covers.com
Check out our quick-hitting betting notes on Monday’s ranked college basketball games:
Marquette at (21) Georgetown (-4.5)
Georgetown has worked its way back up in the Big East with wins in five straight and seven of the last eight, but it is still lagging one game behind first-place Marquette. Marquette edged Georgetown 49-48 back on Jan. 5 and has won four of five after taking down DePaul on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are about to begin the roughest part of their Big East slate, with Pittsburgh coming up after Georgetown and then two on the road before games against Syracuse and Notre Dame in Milwaukee. Marquette has ascended to the top of the conference by beating the teams it is supposed to beat from the bottom of the league. The Golden Eagles have taken out DePaul, South Florida (twice), Providence and Seton Hall by an average of 12.8 points. In the first meeting with the Hoyas, Marquette built up a 34-25 advantage on the glass and went 13-for-18 at the free throw line to pull out the slim victory. Georgetown is 4-0 ATS in its last four home games.
(15) Kansas State at (5) Kansas (-8)
Kansas has experienced a dreadful stretch and Kansas State has taken advantage to move into first place in the Big 12. Kansas State has won four consecutive games while Kansas has lost three in a row to allow the Wildcats to possess a one-game lead over the Jayhawks and Oklahoma State. Kansas is allowing 73 points per game during its skid after giving up an average of 52.3 over its previous six outings. The Wildcats allow a conference-low 58.3 points per game, but the Jayhawks defeated Kansas State 59-55 on Jan. 22 in Manhattan. The Wildcats are 0-6 ATS in the last six meetings in Kansas.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Kansas State at Kansas
Jayhawks extended they're skid to three-games Saturday falling 72-66 to Sooners moving the mark to 19-4 (9-13 ATS) on the campaign, 7-3 (3-7 ATS) within the Big 12. Meanwhile, Wildcats defeating Iowa State 79-70 last time out have run their streak to four games are at 19-4 (9-9-1 ATS) overall and sit atop the conference with it's 8-2 (6-3-1 ATS) record. Jayhawks who haven't had a three game skid since the '04-05 season should feel pretty good about ending the current slide as they've already defeated Wildcats (59-55) extending the series streak to 3-0 SU/ATS and 10-1 (9-2 ATS) the past eleven encounters including a perfect 6-0 SU/ATS running the hardwood in Norman.
Big Monday Tips
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Marquette at Georgetown
As of Sunday night, most books were listing Georgetown (17-4 straight up, 10-7 against the spread) as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 122. Gamblers can most likely anticipate a money-line return around +165 for Marquette.
Marquette (17-5 SU, 9-9 ATS) is in a first-place tie with Syracuse in the Big East standings with identical 8-2 records in league play. Since losing at Louisville, the Golden Eagles have won back-to-back games at South Florida (70-47) and vs. DePaul (89-78). They failed to cover the number in Saturday’s triumph over the Blue Demons as 14-point favorites. The 167 combined points leaped ‘over’ the 150-point total.
Vander Blue led the way for Marquette with a game-high 18 points at DePaul. Blue is enjoying a stellar junior campaign, pacing the Golden Eagles by scoring a team-best 15.0 points per game.
Georgetown has won five in a row both SU and ATS and finds itself one game back of Marquette and the ‘Cuse for the Big East lead. The Hoyas are coming off Saturday’s 69-63 win at Rutgers as 4½-point favorites. Markel Starks was the catalyst with a team-high 20 points on just 12 shots. Starks made 8-of-12 from the field and knocked down 3-of-5 from 3-point land. Otto Porter added 19 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Buzz Williams’s team is 3-2 ATS with a pair of outright wins in five games as an underdog this year. Marquette won outright vs. Wisconsin and at Pittsburgh.
Georgetown has won 12 of its 13 home games but is only 4-5 ATS. The Hoyas are 3-2 ATS in five games as single-digit home favorites.
Porter leads Georgetown in scoring (15.0 PPG) and rebounding (8.0 RPG). The sophomore from out of Missouri is making 51.2 percent of his shots from the field and has a team-high 36 steals and 21 blocked shots. Marks is averaging 12.2 PPG.
These schools met in Milwaukee on Jan. 5 with Marquette capturing a 49-48 win as a 3 ½-point home favorite. The 97 combined points had ‘under’ backers (127.5) cashing an easy winner. The Hoyas’ Greg Whittington was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining. Whittington hit the first two from the charity stripe but after Williams burned a timeout prior to the third free throw, Whittington caught the back iron on the tying attempt. Marks scored a game-high 18 points for Georgetown, while Marquette got 12 points apiece from Blue and Davante Gardner.
Marquette is 16th in the RPI Rankings with a 4-4 record against RPI Top 50 schools and 8-4 mark against RIP Top 100 foes. Georgetown has an RPI of 23, going 3-3 against the RPI Top 50 and 9-4 against RPI’s Top 100.
The ‘over’ is 10-7 overall for Marquette, but the ‘under’ is 3-2 in their five true road assignments.
Totals have been an overall wash in Georgetown games (7-7), but the ‘over’ has hit in each of its last three games.
ESPN will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Kansas State at Kansas
As of Sunday night, most spots had Kansas (19-4 SU, 9-13 ATS) favored by 7.5 or 8 with a total of 129.
After starting the season with a 19-1 record, Bill Self’s team has suddenly lost three in a row both SU and ATS, including Wednesday’s incomprehensible 62-55 loss at TCU as a 17½-point favorite. On Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma snapped a 10-game losing streak against KU by winning a 72-66 decision as a five-point home underdog.
KU is led by freshman shooting guard Ben McLemore, who is averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game. McLemore pulls down 5.4 boards per contest and is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from beyond the arc. Senior center Jeff Withey averages 13.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.1 percent from the field. Withey, a San Diego product, has a team-high 93 blocked shots.
Kansas St. (19-4 SU, 9-9-1 ATS) has won four straight games, going 3-1 ATS. The Wildcats beat up on Iowa St. 79-70 Saturday as 6.5-point home favorites. Rodney McGruder produced 22 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds. Angel Rodriguez added 20 points.
With an 8-2 record in Big 12 play, Bruce Weber’s team is in first place with a one-game lead over both KU and Oklahoma St.
KU has won 11 of its 12 home games, going 5-6 ATS. The Jayhawks have only been single-digit home favorites once this year, losing outright to Oklahoma St. as 9.5-point ‘chalk.’
When these bitter rivals met in Manhattan on Jan. 22, Kansas collected a 59-55 win as a 3.5-point road favorite. This defensive struggle resulted in an easy winner for ‘under’ backers (127.5). Travis Releford scored a team-high 12 points for KU, while Withey and McLemore finished with 11 apiece.
Kansas St. has been an underdog five times, compiling a 2-3 record both SU and ATS wins outright wins at Oklahoma and vs. Florida (in Kansas City).
The ‘under’ is 10-9 overall for Kansas, but the ‘over’ is 5-4 in its nine home games with a total.
Totals have been an overall wash for K-St. both overall (7-7) and on the road (3-3).
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
In five seasons at Marquette, Buzz Williams owns a 54-28 record against Big East foes. Very impressive!
The ‘under’ is 14-3 overall for Cincinnati. Man, the Bearcats really struggle to score sometimes. They couldn’t make anything in the second half of a game they seemingly had control of against Pittsburgh, which rallied for a crucial Big East win Saturday as a short road underdog.
Minnesota has lost six of its last eight games but the real story from The Barn on Sunday was another huge win for Illinois. Jim Groce showed us he could coach last year when he guided Ohio to the Sweet 16 before losing an overtime heartbreaker to North Carolina. Coming off an upset win at the buzzer over top-ranked Indiana, the Illini won 67-63 over the Gophers as a nine-point underdog. Gamblers taking Illinois on the money line cashed a nice plus-350 ticket (risk $100 to win $350). Leading by one with the shot clock winding down and only 18 ticks remaining, sophomore guard Tracy Abrams drained an audacious step-back trey to insert the dagger.
Illinois made 11-of-23 from 3-point range against Minnesota. Following his buzzer-beating layup against Indiana, Tyler Griffey had another big game with 16 points.
Minnesota played without stud forward Rodney Williams, who was nursing a shoulder injury.
The theme of the week was upsets and California produced Sunday’s biggest stunner. The Bears went into Tuscon and handed Arizona just its third defeat in a 77-69 win as 12.5-point underdogs. They hooked up money-line supporters with a gorgeous +700 return (paid $700 on $100 wagers).
This Georgia team has won five in a row both SU and ATS to improve to 12-11 overall. The Bulldogs’ next three games are against RIP Top 100 squads: vs. Alabama (63), at Ole Miss (48) and at Arkansas (91).
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 13 Kansas State Wildcats vs. No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas State should move up in the rankings after extending its current winning streak to four games with a 79-70 victory over Iowa State this past Saturday as a 6 ½-point home favorite. It now has the lead in the Big 12 standings by one game at 8-2 straight-up and is 19-4 overall. The Wildcats have covered in three of their last four games to move to an even 9-9-1 ATS overall. The total has gone OVER in six of their last nine games. Rodney McGruder is the only player scoring in double figures with 15 points a game and while Kansas State is only averaging 68.8 points a game, it is holding its opponents to 58.3 points.
The Jayhawks are mired in a stunning and extremely rare three-game losing streak after Saturday's 72-66 loss to Oklahoma as 11½-point road favorites. This slide has dropped them to 7-3 in the conference and 19-4 overall. It was the fourth game in a row where they failed to cover the spread to fall to a costly 9-13 ATS overall. Kansas will look to regain the form that had it averaging 73 points a game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field. The key could be the play of Travis Releford and Jeff Withey, who were both instrumental in the Jayhawks' 59-55 victory over Kansas State as 3 ½-point road favorites the first time they met this season.
Monday Cliff Notes
By Dave Essler
Marquette at Georgetown: Without looking I lean Marquette. They've been playing super. Now I need to look, I suppose. Marquette sits atop the Big East, and I did watch them destroy South Florida and some of my money, but after seeing how easy L'ville made that look, perhaps they are over valued given that they've played the 14th worst schedule in the Conference, BUT, G-Town's isn't much better. Hoyas won 49-48 at Marquette earlier this season. Hoyas have rattled off five straight impressive wins including at Notre Dame and against L'ville. Marquette with the experience big time and G-Town with the size. Interesting matchup in the the Hoyas scored from outside and do not get to the line, while Marquette scores inside and does. Marquette not a great perimeter defending team. Hoyas turnovers can be an issue, but their perimeter shooting should overcome that, given how poorly Marquette is out there and the Hoyas are at home. Probably a Hoya ML play and lean to the over slightly.
K-State at Kansas: I suppose one might wonder how anyone could bet on Kansas right now, but if anyone will light a fire under their ass it's obviously K-State in a game for first place in the Conference. However, winning and covering a number might be two different things here. Kansas won at K-State by four in a very low scoring game earlier. Some of K-State's success I almost have to contribute to Weber and these teams not being familiar with his style. If the Jayhawks have a glaring weakness (or two) on offense it is protecting the ball, and if the Wildcats do nothing else on defense they create turnovers. I do think K-State can shoot their way through this game, given that the teeth of the Kansas defense is inside, not outside. Perhaps because of the last game's low total this one might be a little low, and with the energy both teams will bring I lean over. At least the first half.
Northeastern at William & Mary: Boy, do I have to, after that brutal loss we took on ODU Saturday. Northeastern all but has the regular season CAA Title wrapped up, having a three game lead, and Wm and Mary took them to double OT earlier this season (obviously on the road) so they aren't going to be intimidated here. The best part of Bill's defense is defending the three (33rd best % in the nation) but they've been suspect since CAA play started. Statistically this game should be no contest, but the game isn't played on a computer and my guess is Northeastern won't be favored by enough to get my to hop on the home team. Neither team rebounds worth a damn (outside shooting teams usually don't) but neither team really wants to run, either. Perhaps the total will be inflated based on the last game, and we can see if the under works. It might.
ODU at Delware: Well, if nothing else since the coaching change the Monarchs have been competitive, winning on the road and losing in OT at home. Surely they'll be catching a ton of points. Delaware comes home after playing a ballsweater with George Mason and winning on the road, so maybe since they handled ODU easily earlier this season there's the potential for a letdown. Delaware had played such a tough schedule and they get to the line as much as anyone in the nation (or close). They'll certainly try and speed the game up, and since the coaching change ODU has been shooting a ton more three's. ODU a great offensive rebounding team, and Delware is not. Perhaps because of free throws and not too many turnovers this game goes over. That's the best I can do with this one at this point. I could make a case for taking the points, and if you do my guess is the line will be better for OSU early and Delaware late.
College Basketball Game of the Day: Marquette vs. Georgetown
Atssportsline.com
Marquette (17-5 SU, 9-9 ATS) has won two straight and four of their last five. They beat Depaul, 89-78 giving 14 on Saturday. They take on a Georgetown (17-4 SU, 10-7 ATS) team led by Otto Porter, one of the top forwards in the nation. They've won five straight including a 69-63 road win over Rutgers giving 4.5 on the road on Saturday. The Golden Eagles travel to the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. to take on the Hoyas at 7pmET.
Matchup: Last game (1/5/13). MARQUETTE (-3.5) over Georgetown, 49-48. Marquette has won the last two meetings.
Latest Odds: Georgetown is a 4.5-point favorite. The total is 121.5.
Key Betting Trends:
Marquette is:
8-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS loss.
8-3 ATS in their last 11 Monday games.
12-5 ATS in their last 17 road games.
34-16-1 ATS in their last 51 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
19-9 ATS in their last 28 vs. Big East.
Georgetown is:
4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
5-1 ATS in their last 6 Monday games.
8-22 last 30 matchups on the Under bet on Monday.
7-3 last 10 matchups on the Over bet in series.
Key Injuries:
Marquette:
None.
Georgetown:
F Greg Whittington (eligibility) is questionable.
Preview:
Marquette's upset of Georgetown in their first meeting of the season has helped the Golden Eagles to a first-place tie in the tightly packed Big East. The next showdown should prove just as crucial in determining who ends up with the conference title.
The No. 24 Golden Eagles look for their third straight win over the 20th-ranked Hoyas as they try to move back into sole possession of first Monday night, while host Georgetown may need a victory to remain in the thick of the race.
Marquette (17-5, 8-2) held off the then-No. 15 Hoyas 49-48 on Jan. 5, snapping Georgetown's seven-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles share the top spot in the conference with No. 9 Syracuse, which defeated St. John's on Sunday, and are one game up on the Hoyas.
Marquette warmed up for Monday by beating DePaul 89-78 on Saturday, its last easier contest before a brutal closing eight-game stretch that includes meetings with Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and St. John's in addition to Georgetown - all of which are in the hunt to win the league.
Williams' players hardly seem intimidated by the rough final stretch, however.
Georgetown certainly wants to play Marquette again after the loss in January. Once again, the Hoyas (17-4, 7-3) bring a winning streak into the meeting, having taken five in a row after a 69-63 victory over Rutgers on Saturday.
Markel Starks led the Hoyas with 20 points and Otto Porter had 15 of his 19 in the second half, including 10 straight over the final 5:42, and finished with 14 rebounds.
Perhaps that's why the Hoyas left Milwaukee in January without a victory. Porter, averaging 15.0 points on the season and 18.3 in his last eight games, managed 13 and went 5 for 13 from the field in that matchup.
If this contest goes at all like the first meeting, however, those shooting numbers may hardly be atypical. Neither team made 40 percent from the field in that game, with Marquette missing 11 of its first 13 shots and Georgetown missing 10 of its first 12.
A loss by Georgetown on Monday could prove fatal to its conference title hopes, as it would be two games behind Marquette and Syracuse and in an even tighter battle with the four other teams vying for the top spot.
Though they've dropped the last two in the series, the Hoyas have taken two straight matchups with the Golden Eagles at home.
Starks has reached double figures in points in a career-high four consecutive games, and he scored 14 of his game-high 18 in the second half to go along with seven assists in the first contest against Marquette.
Blue, averaging 19.5 points and 55.4 percent shooting over his past four games, has scored 6.8 and shot 36.8 percent in four career matchups with the Hoyas.