College Knowledge
-- Iowa State swept Oklahoma by 7-11 points LY, after losing five in a row to Sooners, with three of five losses by 6 or less points. Oklahoma is 2-3 in last five visits here, losing by 8-7-11 points; their last couple games were decided by total of 5 points. Cyclones are 4-0 at home in its Big X home games, winning by 20-2-6-8 points. Big X home favorites of 8 or less points are 5-7 against the spread.
-- Syracuse won three of its last four games vs Notre Dame, winning last two here, by 19-12 points; Orange lost last two games, at Villanova and Pitt; they're 3-0 at home in Big East league games, winning by 25-11-2 points. Irish won last three games, by 8-5-8 points; they're 3-1 on road in conference, with win at Cincinnati, 4-point loss at St John's. Big East home favorites are 13-30 against the spread.
-- Wright State (+3.5) won 62-61 at Loyola Jan 11, after being down 8 with 6:52 left; it was Raiders' 6th win in row and 12th in last 13 series games. Ramblers lost their last seven visits here, by 14-26-4-21-18-13-6 points. Wright lost four of last five games; their last six were all decided by seven or less points. Loyola is 3-2 on Horizon road, losing by 2-13 points. Horizon home favorites of 6 or less points are 5-4 vs spread.
-- Towson won its last two games vs NC-Wilmington by 5 points each; seven of last eight series games were decided by 8 or less points. Tigers (+3.5) won 79-74 in Wilmington Jan 2, racing out to 39-19 lead- they've lost three of last four games, losing last two at home, by 2-10. UNCW is 1-4 on CAA road, with its last three losses on foreign soil by 28-18-15 points. CAA home favorites of 7+ points are 11-6 vs spread.
-- George Mason won last four games vs Old Dominion by average of 14 points; Monarchs (+11) lost 71-46 in Fairfax Jan 10, shooting 25% from floor, while Mason made 69% inside arc. CAA home underdogs are 5-6, but 5-0 if they're getting more than three points. ODU lost its last nine games, with five of last seven losses by 10+ points. Patriots are 3-2 on CAA road, with wins by 25-10-11 points.
-- Home side won last four Seton Hall-Pitt games; Pirates lost last three visits here, by 14-25-21 points, but they beat Pitt at home LY. Big East double digit home favorites are 5-6 vs spread. Hall lost seven of its last eight games, losing last four on road by 19-7-4-22 points; they're weak at PG. Pitt won five of last six games, beating Syracuse Saturday; they won last three home games, by 8-38-10 points.
-- West Virginia is 10-11, 3-5 in Big X; they won 57-53 (+4.5) in OT in Austin Jan 9, a brickfest where WV was 3-20 from arc, Texas 11-25 on foul line. WV is 2-5 since that game, with wins by 21-16 points-- they're 1-3 at home in Big X play. Texas is 0-4 on Big X road, losing by 7-20-6-26 points; they get PG Kabongo eligible next week. Big X home faves of 8 or less points are 5-7 against the spread.
-- San Diego (-6.5) beat LMU 78-70 Jan 17, its 3rd win in last four tilts vs Lions. Toreros lost last four games (three by 14+ points) since then- they played hearts out but lost by hoop at home to Gonzaga Saturday. USD is 2-2 on WCC road, winning at USF/Pepperdine. LMU lost last five games; they've been off since 88-43 disaster vs Gonzaga Thursday. WCC home teams are 0-7 vs spread if number is 5 or less points.
-- Fairfield won three of last four games vs Siena, but lost three of its last four visits here, losing by 6-2-13 points. Stags won last three games, by 34-17-10 points, allowing 50 ppg; four of their five MAAC losses are by 5 or less points. Siena is 4-3 in last seven games after 2-13 start; they won last two games by total of seven points, are 3-1 in last four home games. MAAC home underdogs are 10-5 against the spread.
-- Northern Arizona forced 20 turnovers (+12) survived 32% shooting in 57-50 home win (-2) over Sacramento Jan 3, its 14th win in last 15 tries over Hornets, who beat NAU 77-43 here LY. Big Sky home favorites of 7 or less points are 20-7 vs spread. NAU is 1-4 on Big Sky road, with three losses by 11+ points. Sacramento is 4-1 at home in Big Sky, with wins by 5-5-9-7 points, and only loss to unbeaten Montana.
Armadillosports.com
Big Monday Tips
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Notre Dame at Syracuse
After winning eight consecutive games, Syracuse (18-3 straight up, 10-7 against the spread) has dropped back-to-back contests. The Orange went down 65-55 Saturday at Pittsburgh as a three-point underdog. They lost a 75-71 decision at Villanova in overtime the previous Saturday.
Jim Boeheim’s team is mired in a 1-5 ATS slump in its last six games. The ‘Cuse is unbeaten in 13 home games at the Carrier Dome, though. They are 6-3 ATS at home.
BetOnline.com opened Syracuse as a 9½-point favorite.
Notre Dame (18-4 SU, 10-9 ATS) lost three of four games in mid-January. Since then, however, the Fighting Irish have won three in a row, including Saturday’s 79-71 win at DePaul in overtime. Mike Brey’s team hooked up its backers with a miracle cover as a six-point road favorite. Jack Cooley had an incredible game, logging minutes of playing time and producing 26 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots. Eric Atkins added 16 points, five assists, four steals and three boards.
Syracuse is ranked ninth in the RPI with a 3-1 record against RPI Top 50 opponents and an 8-3 mark against RPI Top 100 foes.
Notre Dame has an RPI of 40. The Irish are 3-2 against RPI Top 50 foes and 7-4 vs. the RPI Top 100.
Notre Dame has only been an underdog once this year, winning 66-60 at Cincinnati as a 4½-point puppy.
Syracuse is led by Brandon Triche, who is averaging 14.9 points per game. C.J. Fair, a junior forward from Baltimore, is averaging 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Cooley is enjoying an outstanding senior campaign, averaging team-high in points (15.0 PPG), rebounds (11.3 RPG), 3-point percentage (50%) and field-goal percentage (58.8%).
Syracuse’s James Southerland (13.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG) remains ‘out’ due to eligibility concerns. Notre Dame is also missing a key player, as Scott Martin (7.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG) will miss his fourth straight game with a knee injury.
When these teams met in South Bend last year, Notre Dame captured a 67-58 win as a nine-point home underdog. Cooley was the catalyst for the Irish with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Totals have been an overall wash (8-8) for Notre Dame this season, but the ‘under’ has cashed in six of its last eight games.
The ‘under’ is 8-7 overall for the ‘Cuse.
The ‘under’ has connected in the last three head-to-head meetings.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Texas at West Virginia
Both of these proud programs are in the midst of nightmare seasons. Unless they win out or win the Big 12 Tournament, both schools are going to miss the NCAA Tournament – and possibly the NIT, too!
BetOnline.com opened West Virginia (10-11 SU, 7-10-2 ATS) as a 4½-point ‘chalk.’
Texas (10-11 SU, 10-9 ATS) has not missed the NCAA Tournament since 1998. In fact, the Longhorns have heard their name called on Selection Sunday in all 13 previous seasons during Rick Barnes’s tenure. But the Longhorns have lost six of their last eight games.
Texas picked up its second Big 12 victory Saturday by thumping TCU 60-43 as an 11 ½-point home favorite. Sheldon McClellan scored a game-high 15 points for the winners.
West Va. has not missed the Big Dance since 2007. The Mountaineers had lost five of their last six until beating up on Texas Tech in Saturday’s 77-61 victory as 4½-point road favorites. Freshman guard Eron Harris led the way with 18 points.
Bob Huggins’s squad is 6-3 SU but 2-4-1 ATS at home in Morgantown. WVU has been a single-digit home favorite twice, failing to cover the number both times.
Texas has been a road underdog five times this season, compiling a 3-2 spread record.
These teams met in Austin on Jan. 9 and West Va. captured a 57-53 win in overtime as a 4½-point road underdog. Aaric Murray scored had a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, while Jabarie Hinds was also in double figures with 11 points.
McClellan averages a team-high 14.9 PPG for the ‘Horns, but he was held to nine points against WVU earlier this year. The Mountaineers forced him into an abysmal 2-of-13 shooting night.
The ‘under’ is 9-6 overall for Texas, but the ‘over’ is 4-1 in its five true road assignments. The ‘over’ is also 3-1 in the Longhorns’ last four games.
The ‘under’ is 10-9 overall for WVU, but the ‘over’ is 4-3 in its seven home games with a total.
ESPN will have the telecast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
Florida has won 10 consecutive games by 14 points or more. However, the Gators saw their 8-0 ATS run halted in last night’s 78-64 win over Ole Miss as 17½-point home favorites.
BetOnline.com opened Iowa St. as a five-point home favorite for Monday’s Big 12 showdown vs. Oklahoma. ESPNU will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
BetOnline opened Pitt as a 15½-point home favorite for Monday’s Big East clash vs. Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.
What has happened to Old Dominion? Two seasons ago, the Monarchs got beat at the buzzer by Butler’s Matt Howard in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. As we know, the Bulldogs went on to play for the national title. Then last season, they won 22 games. This year? Blaine Taylor’s squad is an atrocious 2-19 straight up going into Monday’s game vs. George Mason as a five-point home underdog.
Not that it matters, but who do you think should be No. 1 this week? My vote is for the Gators, but it will most likely be Indiana following its 81-73 win over Michigan as a 5½-point home favorite. All five IU starters scored in double figures with Cody Zeller leading the way with 19 points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
Iowa had a golden opportunity to bolster its resume Sunday at Minnesota, but it let a lead get away in the final minute of a 62-59 loss. Gamblers taking the Hawkeyes were hooked up, though, as 10-point underdogs.
Villanova’s profile has been on the rise but that’s a bad home loss to Providence on Sunday afternoon.
CBB: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
Notre Dame at Syracuse
Jim Boeheim's Orange (18-3, 10-7 ATS) dropping it's last two on the road falling 75-71 at Villanova then upset 65-55 at Pittsburgh Saturday return to the comfort of the Carrier Dome where they'll host Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-4, 10-9 ATS). Orange will be tough to topple as they're seemingly unbeatable at the Carrier Dome posting thirty-five straight victories cashing 19 of 30 lined games. Orange winning 11-of-15 encounters (9-6 ATS) and on a 9-2 stretch hosting Fighting Irish (5-5-1 ATS) plenty of reason to back Orange on home court. However, Fighting Irish ridding a three-game winning streak along with a 3-1 SU/ATS road stretch in conference play will test Orange playing without center DaJuan Coleman and James Southerland. No likely upset in this hostile environment but might want to consider Notre Dame covering the number. Fighting Irish are on a 4-2-1 ATS stretch last seven on Orange hardwood, have cashed 6-of-9 tickets on the road vs Big East opponents while Orange enter on a 1-5 ATS skid vs the conference, 6-13 ATS marl last nineteen at home vs a team with a winning road record.
NCAAB Game Of The Day: Notre Dame at Syracuse
By Covers.com
Notre Dame at Syracuse (-9.5)
Syracuse aims to keep its losing streak from reaching three games when it hosts Notre Dame on Monday. The No. 6 Orange had been sailing along and won their first six Big East games before losing back-to-back outings to Villanova and Pittsburgh. The loss to the Panthers on Saturday knocked Syracuse out of first place in the Big East. The Orange are now a half-game behind Marquette. Notre Dame is in a three-way tie for third.
The Fighting Irish can bolster their NCAA tournament resume with a road win against the Orange. Notre Dame struggled on the road Saturday and had to go overtime to defeat lowly DePaul. The Fighting Irish have won three consecutive games overall. Syracuse is 13-0 at home with 10 of the victories coming by 20 or more points. The Orange have a 35-game homecourt winning streak that is the longest in the nation but had to score the final five points to squeak past Cincinnati 57-55 in their most-recent contest at the Carrier Dome.
ABOUT NOTRE DAME (18-4, 6-3 Big East): Senior forward Jack Cooley continued his huge season with 26 points and 16 rebounds in the victory over DePaul. Cooley fell one point shy of tying his career-best output and did match his season-best for rebounding. He has grabbed 15 or more rebounds five times in his career and has recorded 14 double-doubles this season. Cooley leads the Fighting Irish in both scoring (15) and rebounding (11.3). Junior guard Jerian Grant averages 12.6 points and junior guard Eric Atkins chips in 11.8. Notre Dame commits just 10.3 turnovers per game and has had fewer than 10 miscues in six of its nine Big East contests.
ABOUT SYRACUSE (18-3, 6-2): The offense stagnates when both senior Brandon Triche and sophomore Michael Carter-Williams are struggling with their shots in the same game. The two guards were a combined 7-of-26 from the field – including 1-for-10 from 3-point range – in the loss to Pittsburgh. “We missed a lot of shots,” Carter-Williams said afterwards. “I was like 3-for-12. Brandon didn’t shoot the ball great. So if me and him don’t shoot the ball good, we’re going to lose.” Triche averages a team-high 14.9 points while Carter-Williams averages 12.6 points and 8.6 assists. Junior forward C.J. Fair scored 20 points against the Panthers and averages 13.7 points and team-leading seven rebounds.
TRENDS:
* Orange are 1-5 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Fighting Irish are 1-5 ATS in their last six games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
TIP-INS:
1. Notre Dame won last season’s lone meeting to break a three-game losing streak against Syracuse.
2. Orange starting C DaJuan Coleman will miss his second game after recent knee surgery.
3. Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey has 139 Big East wins and is tied with former St. John’s coach Louie Carnesecca for fourth-most in conference history.
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Syracuse Orange
Notre Dame stayed within striking distance of the top spot in the Big East standings with a 79-71 overtime victory over DePaul this past Saturday as a six-point road favorite. It is now 18-4 straight-up on the year and 6-3 in conference play. The Fighting Irish have a 10-9 record against the spread and the total has stayed UNDER in six of their last eight games. They have been one of the top shooting teams in the nation all season long with a 49.3 field goal percentage while hitting 39.6 percent of its shots from three-point range. Jack Cooley leads the Irish with 15 points and 11.3 rebounds a game. Jerian Grant is averaging 12.6 points and Eric Atkins is the third player scoring in double figures with 11.8 a game.
The Orange are sure to tumble in the rankings this week after falling to Pittsburgh 65-55 as 3.5-point road underdogs this past Saturday. They are now one game behind Marquette for the lead in the Big East at 6-2 and are 18-3 overall. Syracuse has failed to cover in five of its last six games and is now 10-7 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in three of its last five games, The Orange are averaging 76 points a game while pulling down an impressive 41.1 rebounds. They are shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. Brandon Triche is the team’s leading scorer with 14.9 points a game with CJ Fair a close second after averaging close to 14 points a game.
College basketball point spreads and betting guide
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
There’s just one top 25 college basketball team in action on Monday, as No. 6 Syracuse, after losing in Pittsburgh on Saturday, hosts Notre Dame. The Orange (18-3 SU, 10-7 ATS) are laying 8 points at home against the Irish tonight, and the total is 134. Notre Dame sports a SU record of 18-4 and is 10-9 ATS.
Our attention is also on a key Big 12 game between Oklahoma and Iowa State, both of whom are 5-3 in conference play. The Sooners are 14-6 straight up and 10-6 ATS this season, while the Cyclones are 15-6 SU and 8-8 ATS.
Iowa State is a 6-point favorite at home tonight, and the total is 142.
Coach Lon Kruger, as is his M.O., is building a solid program at Oklahoma, and his team got a nice win at Baylor last Wednesday. But the Sooners couldn’t get it done at home Saturday vs. Kansas State, losing 52-50, as 3-point favorites. That was their second loss of the year to the Wildcats, with their other in-conference loss coming at Kansas, 67-54, on Jan 26, although they covered as a 12.5-point underdog.
Iowa State has performed better than Oklahoma against Kansas and Kansas State, who sit in first- and second-place, respectively, atop the conference. The Cyclones took the Jayhawks to overtime in Kansas before losing 97-89, but covering as an 11.5-point dog. They beat Kansas State, 73-67, covering as a 4.5-point home favorite.
Iowa State beat Oklahoma in both meetings last season – 80-69 as a 7.5-point favorite at home on Feb. 18, and 77-70 as a 3-point road dog on Feb. 4.
The Cyclones, by the way, are a perfect 12-0 at home this season.