College Basketball Knowledge
CBI
This is first game of best-of-3 series; games 2-3 are in Reno. Nevada lost three of last four true road games, with only win at San Jose. Wolf Pack has star G Coleman back now- he had 20 points last game. Nevada won 11 of 15 non-league games; they play tempo #58, have an NBA coach. Morehead State won at Siena/Ohio to get here; they won nine of last 10 D-I games, are more experienced, deeper team, with a lesser coach.
Las Vegas 8
Old Dominion won seven of last eight games, losing in C-USA title game by hoop to Middle Tennessee, which upset Michigan State in NCAAs. Monarchs are 19-3 vs teams outside the top 150- they've got #18 eFG% defense. Tennessee Tech hasn't played in 26 days; they'll start three seniors but lost four of their last six games. C-USA teams are 7-5 vs OVC teams this season, 3-5 vs spread if favored.
UCSB won nine of its last 10 games after a 9-12 start, losing to Hawai'i by 12 in Big West tourney; Gauchos are just 6-7 outside Big West; they have shortest trip to Vegas of these eight teams. Northern Illinois went finished 7-10 after a 14-2 start; they beat CSUN of Big West by 12 in season opener. MAC teams won/covered all three games vs Big West this season; they were favored in all three.
Oakland is 10-3 in last 13 games; they play #14 tempo with really good PG. Grizzlies haven't played in three weeks; they shoot 39.6% on arc- Mandalay Bay is big arena- will it hurt their shooting? Towson State is playing tempo #301; they're 9-4 out of conference, but played terrible schedule (#343). Tigers are 4-5 in last nine games- they haven't played in 23 days. Interesting contrast in styles in this game.
East Tennessee State won seven of last eight games, losing SoCon title game by 6 to Chattanooga; Buccaneers haven't played in three weeks. ETSU went 8-6 vs #41 non-league schedule; they're #15 experience team and shoot 38.2% on arc (#16). Louisiana Tech lost its last two games after a 23-7 start; they are #242 in experience. SoCon teams are 3-2 vs C-USA teams this year; underdogs covered four of the five games.
Armadillosports.com
Monday's Vegas 16 Tips
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Las Vegas is the undisputed sports betting capital of the world and it has decided to get into all the action March Madness brings to the table with the inaugural Vegas 16 Tournament starting this Monday night at Mandalay Bay. While there are only eight teams in the field, the four matchups on the slate feature Old Dominion and UC Santa Barbara in the top half of the bracket and Oakland and Louisiana Tech in the bottom half as favorites to advance to the next round.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Opening Odds: Old Dominion -7½, 138
Betting Matchup
The Golden Eagles went 11-5 straight-up in the Ohio Valley Conference this season as part of an overall record of 19-11. They closed things out on a down note with just two SU wins in their last six games while failing to cover against the spread in five of those contests. The player to watch in this tournament would be senior guard Torrance Rowe. He has averaged 22.3 points in his last four starts.
Old Dominion made a run to the Conference USA Tournament Finals before falling to Middle Tennessee is a tight 55-53 loss as a three-point favorite. This was just the second time the Monarchs failed to cover in their last eight games. The total has stayed UNDED in seven of their last 10 outings. Senior guard Trey Freeman led the conference in scoring this season with 22.2 PPG.
Betting Trends
The Golden Eagles have failed to cover in five of their last seven nonconference games and the total has stayed UNDER in 11 of their last 16 games played at neutral site.
The Monarchs are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games outside their conference and the total has gone OVER in seven of their last nine Monday games.
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Opening Odds: UC Santa Barbara -5, 136.5
Betting Matchup
The Gauchos fell to Hawaii 88-76 in the Big West Tournament as 3½-point underdogs to snap a SU nine-game winning streak. They went a very profitable 8-1 ATS during this run with the total going OVER in three of their last four games. UC Santa Barbara averaged 71.5 PPG led by senior guard Michael Bryson. His 18.4 point scoring average was the best in the Big West.
Northern Illinois went an even 9-9 SU in the Mid-American Conference this season and then bowed-out of the conference tournament with a 79-62 loss to Ohio as a 2½-point underdog. The Huskies were a solid bet down the stretch with a 7-3 record ATS over their last 10 games. They averaged 72.7 PPG while shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three-point range.
Betting Trends
The Gauchos are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following a SU loss and the total has gone OVER in their last four nonconference games.
The Huskies have gone 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games played on Monday and the total has gone OVER in their last four games against the Big West.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs. Towson Tigers
Opening Odds: Oakland -6, 160
Betting Matchup
Competing in the Horizon League, Oakland finished second to Valparaiso in the regular season standings at 13-5 as part of an overall SU record of 21-11. A 59-55 loss to Wright State as 6½-point favorites ended the Golden Grizzlies postseason run, but they were still a solid 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games. Junior guard Key Felder led the Horizon in scoring with 24.2 PPG.
Towson went 20-12 SU in the regular season including an 11-7 record in the CAA. Its postseason run was also short-lived with a 71-60 loss to the Northeastern Huskies as a 1½-point underdog. The Tigers went 9-6 ATS this season when closing as underdogs. Senior forward William Adala Moto scored 18 points and pulled-down 12 rebounds in a losing effort against the Huskies.
Betting Trends
The Golden Grizzlies have failed to cover in seven of their last eight neutral-site games and the total has gone OVER in 11 of their last 14 games outside their conference.
The Tigers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a SU winning record and the total has stayed UNDER in their last four games played at a neutral site.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. E. Tennessee St. Buccaneers
Opening Odds: Louisiana Tech -2, 155.5
Betting Matchup
Louisiana Tech is the second entry in this tournament from C-USA. The Bulldogs tied ODU for third place in the regular season at 12-6 SU, but they exited the conference tournament with a 68-52 loss to the Monarchs as three-point underdogs. They went an even 12-12 ATS with the total going OVER in 16 of those 24 games. Senior guard Alex Hamilton was third in the conference in scoring with 19.7 PPG and he was at the top of the list in assists (5.7).
The Buccaneers finished second to Chattanooga in the Southern Conference at 14-4 SU and they also lost to the Mocs 73-67 as 5½-point underdogs in the postseason tournament. It was the first time they failed to cover in their last seven games. Senior guard Ge’Lawn Guyn averaged 18.2 PPG and he has now scored 20 points or more in four of his last five starts.
Betting Trends
The Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU loss and the total has gone OVER in four of their last five Monday games.
The Buccaneers have covered in their last four nonconference games and the total has stayed UNDER in eight of their last 11 games at a neutral site.