College Basketball Knowledge
NIT
George Washington split last six games; they're 12-2 outside the A-14. Colonials are #26 experience team, start three seniors. Monmouth won 14 of last 17 games; they lost to Dayton by 3 in their only A-14 game. Hawks play #18 pace, start no seniors. A-14 teams are 7-3 vs MAAC this year, 4-4 vs spread when favored.
Georgia Tech is 2-1 vs SEC teams this year, losing by 14 at Georgia; Tech won seven of last nine games, losing to Louisville/Virginia; they're 3-6 in last nine road games. South Carolina is 4-5 in its last nine games, 2-2 in last four at home. ACC teams are 11-8 vs SEC clubs this season, 3-6 vs spread when an underdog.
San Diego State is 19-3 in its last 22 games they struggle on offense but have #1 eFG% defense in country. Washington is young, runs like hell, playing pace #2 (Aztecs are #311); Huskies beat Long Beach 107-102 in first round NIT game. Pac-12 teams are 14-4 vs Mountain West so far this season, 3-0 vs spread when an underdog.
CBI
Duquesne lost nine of its last 11 games; they gave up 80 points in 2nd half of last game, beating Omaha 120-112 in ABA-like action. Dukes are obviously bad on defense; they also turn ball over 18.9% of time (#233). Morehead State won seven of last eight games, winning at Siena in first round; Eagles split pair of games with A-14 opponents this season.
Ohio U is 9-3 in its last 12 games; they're an offensive team, shooting 38.7% on arc (#20), with #24 eFG%- they stink on defense. Bobcats are a young team (#289 experience), starting one senior. NC-Greensboro won five of last six games after a 9-17 start- they won at Chattanooga in last road game. Spartans are 5-9 outside of SoCon this season.
Vermont-to-Seattle is very long road trip; Catamounts won eight of last nine games, losing America East title game by 6 at Stony Brook. Seattle is 3-5 in its last eight games; they turn ball over 22.9% of time, 5th-most in country- they're a bad offensive team. Vermont makes 38.5% on arc (#27), has #20 eFG%; they're young team, starting three sophs.
Nevada is 3-0 vs Big Sky teams this season, winning by 21-3-4 points; they beat Montana by 4 in first round, after trailing by 13 in second half. Wolf Pack might get PG Coleman back- he is listed as probable. Eastern Washington lost five of its last seven games; they beat Pepperdine by 7 in first CBI game- they lost last two road games, by 16-4 points.
CIT
Boston U lost 90-76 at NJIT November 19, despite Terriers' 14-27 nite on arc; BU is 9-3 in its last 12 games, winning at Fordham in first round of this tourney. NJIT is 7-3 in its last ten games; they made run in last year's postseason, losing at Northern Arizona in tourney final. NJIT is young, starting two sophs, two juniors.
Armadillosports.com
Monday's NIT Tip Sheet
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
This season’s National Invitational Tournament takes center stage on Monday night when it comes to betting on college hoops.
Kicking things off in the second round is a trio of games featuring a matchup between George Washington and Monmouth at 7:00 p.m. (ET) followed by Georgia Tech squaring-off against South Carolina in a 9:00 p.m. start. The third game on the slate is a late 11:30 p.m. start out west between Washington and San Diego State.
George Washington Colonials vs. Monmouth Hawks
Opening Odds: Monmouth -3½, 153
Betting Matchup
George Washington was able to get past Hofstra in its NIT opener with a tight 82-80 win last Wednesday as a six-point favorite. The total went OVER 152½ points in that game and it has gone OVER in its last four contests. The Colonials had four starters score in double figures in the opener led by junior forward Tyler Cavanaugh’s 20 points. They a have averaged 75.2 points per game this season while shooting 44.4 percent from the field.
Monmouth came into this tournament as a No. 1 seed and it got off to a strong start in a 90-80 victory over Bucknell as 8½-point favorites last Wednesday. The total went OVER the closing 161½-point line after staying UNDER in four of its previous five games. The Hawks are averaging 79.4 PPG, but that was the first time they exceeded that average in their last six outings. Junior guard Justin Robinson scored 23 points in the winning effort.
Betting Trends
The Colonials have failed to cover in their last four games against a team with a SU winning record and the total has gone OVER in four of their last five games following an ATS loss.
The Hawks are 6-2 ATS in their last eight nonconference games and the total has stayed UNDER in six of their last seven games following a SU win.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams in recent memory.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Opening Odds: South Carolina -4, 144½
Betting Matchup
After bowing-out of the ACC Tournament in a 72-52 loss to Virginia as 10-point underdogs, the Yellow Jackets started their run in the NIT with an 81-62 victory against Houston as four-point favorites. The total has now stayed UNDER in four of their last five games. Senior guard Adam Smith has the hot hand in last Wednesday’s win with 20 points while going 6-for-12 from the field. He has now scored 20 points or more in three of his last four starts.
South Carolina rebounded from a tough 65-64 loss to Georgia in the SEC Tournament as a 1½-point favorite with a convincing 88-66 romp over High Point in last Tuesday’s NIT opener as a heavy 16½-point favorite. The total has stayed UNDER in six of its last eight games. The Gamecocks were missing five players against High Point due to an indefinite team suspension, but they still managed to top their 75.9 point scoring average.
Betting Trends
The Yellow Jackets are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a SU winning record and the total has stayed UNDER in three of their last four games against the SEC.
The Gamecocks are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 home games and the total has gone OVER in seven of their last 10 games played at home.
This will be the first meeting between these two teams in recent memory.
Washington Huskies vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Opening Odds: San Diego State -5, 148
Betting Matchup
The Huskies advanced to this second round clash with a wild 107-102 win against Long Beach State, but they could not cover as 9½-point favorites. They are now 2-3 ATS in their last five games with the total going OVER in three of those contests. Freshman guard Dejounte Murray put-up 30 points in that game and freshman forward Marquese Chriss added 27 points while going 11-for-17 from the floor.
San Diego State came into the NIT as a No. 2 seed after losing to Fresno State 68-63 in the Mountain West Tournament as a four-point favorite. The Aztecs hammered IUPU Fort Wayne 79-55 in their NIT opener last Tuesday as 9½-point favorites. Senior forward Winston Shepard led the way in Tuesday’s win with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. San Diego State is only averaging 68.1 PPG, but at the other end of the court it is holding opponents to an average of just 60.3 points a game.
Betting Trends
The Huskies have covered in four of their last five road games and the total has gone OVER in their last five nonconference games.
The Aztecs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five games played on Monday and the total has stayed UNDER in 19 of their last 27 games against the Pac-12.
The home team in this matchup is 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings with Washington going a perfect 4-0 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in the last two games.