College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
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UNC-AsheVille at Duke
Duke upended 94-83 by Kansas in the Champions Classic barely broke a sweat in topping FAU 97-64 Friday marking a 45th consecutive November non-conference win at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Cashing as 31.5 point favorite the Blue Devils are 24-13 ATS in those November lined games on home hardwood. Coach K's troops stay home to play UNC-Asheville Bulldogs on Monday a team ridding an 0-19 skid vs the ACC and one that has not won in twenty-four attempts away from home in November (4-2 ATS).
Portland at Michigan St
Michigan State which was coming off a 78-74 victory over top-ranked Kentucky in the Champions Classic had a scare Friday night against upset-minded Columbia but did walk off with a 62-53 victory losing the cash as 23.5 point favorite. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo obviously disappointed with the teams effort sent a message to the troops after the game stating - 'We haven't proven enough to be considered a great team. We're a doggone good team with a long, long way to go. Spartans on a 48-0 November home court streak since 1997 should respond to Izzo's lashing with a win over Pilots ridding an 0-7 SU side away from home. Challenge for Spartans, covering the number - Spartans have been inconsistent as favorite posting a 9-9-2 ATS mark last twenty situation. Have them dressed up as double-digit chalk they're on a 2-7-1 ATS skid overall, 2-5-1 ATS slide laying DD in November. Pilots despite the road woes are 3-4 ATS L7, 12-8 ATS L20 away.
NCAAB Preview
Cleveland State scored 82.3 ppg in winning two first three games, with a win at Tex-Arlington after losing by 9 at San Francisco; Vikings were 3-2 vs MAC teams LY, losing to Akron/Kent. Eastern Michigan won by 7 over Robert Morris last game, after beating two stiffs. Horizon teams are 10-9 vs spread on road. MAC home teams are 2-7 against spread.
Miami split OT games, beating Ga Southern, losing to St Francis, before beating Texas Southern by 15; Hurricanes lost all five starters from LY's 29-7 team. Charleston lost in OT to NC-Asheville after coming back to beat Charlotte by point after being down 16 at half; they've made only 58% from foul line in first three games. CAA teams are 8-8 vs spread
Arkansas won its first three games by 34-13 points; Razorbacks forced turnovers on 28.3% of possessions vs those stuifs. Hogs have 2 starters back from 19-13/10-8 team. SMU forced turnovers 26% of time in wins by 8 over TCU, 31 over URI. AAC teams are 13-8 vs spread, 3-3 away from home. SEC home favorites are 6-3 against the spread.
Middle Tennessee/Ark- Little Rock were Sun Belt rivals until now, with MTSU jumping to C-USA; ASU won four of last six meetings in series, including Sun Belt tourney game two years ago. Blue Raiders beat couple stiffs, then beat Akron by 7 Saturday, making 6-11 from arc. MAC road dogs are 7-5 against the spread. Sun Belt home favorites are 2-1.
Portland was 18-45 last two years after having good team in 2011; they split first two games, they lost by 6 at Oregon State Wednesday, after winning opener by 17. Michigan State struggled mightily with Columbia, trailing Lions in 2nd half, after they beat Kentucky in big Chicago event Wednesday. State was 0-7 from arc in sluggish effort vs Columbia.
Colorado smacked two stiffs they played by 26-24 points, but Baylor beat them in Dallas and Buffs only beat Wyoming by 5, despite 24-11 edge on foul line- they were down 10 early. Arkansas State was down 24 at half, lost by 21 at Wyoming, shooting 36% for night. Sun Belt dogs on road are just 3-9 against spread. Pac-12 home favorites are 11-9.
Drexel won by 8 at youthful Illinois State after losing by 5 at UCLA, in game Dragons shot just 5-23 from arc and trailed by 11 at half. Elon lost 83-69 at Charlotte Friday after being up 12 early in game; Phoenix were up 6 with 8:34 left but gave up 36 points in last 10:00. CAA road clubs are 7-6 vs spread. SoCon teams are 2-11 against spread this month.
Rutgers was lucky to escape with 72-71 home win over Yale, after 79-76 loss at UAB in game before that; Knights scored 81 ppg in Jordan's first three games as coach. Canisius lost by 22 at St Bonaventure last game- they've got three starters back from 20-14/11-7 team. MAAC road dogs are 6-5 vs spread. AAC home favorites are 10-5 against the spread.
McNeese State lost first two games vs D-I teams by 42-26 points; they beat a stiff last game, but are still shooting just 28% inside arc so far this month. Georgia Statte lost by 6 at Vanderbilt Tuesday, after being up by a hoop with 5:02 left- Kentucky transfer Harrow had 27 points in his State debut. C-USA home favorites are 4-4 against the spread.
SE Missouri State turned ball over 22% of time in 2-1 start, losing by 22 to Saint Louis, winning at IUPUI by 8; Redhawks have 4 starters back from 17-16/8-8 team. Ball State lost by 9 at good Indiana State, then beat a stiff; Cardinals have three starters back from LY. OVC road underdogs are 8-14 vs spread. MAC home favorites are 2-5 so far this month.
Can't be easy getting to North Dakota State from Hattiesburg; Southern Miss scored 71 ppg in winning its first two games, despite turning ball over 26% of time. North Dakota State shot 56% inside arc, turned ball over only five times in 78-65 loss at St Mary's; Bison have five starters back from 24-10/12-4 team- they're expected to win Summit League.
San Francisco won couple of high scoring games, 91-82 over Cleveland State, a 92-90 loss to Nevada when Wolf Pack shot 64% inside the arc. Idaho Statte lost by 28 at Arizona State; Sun Devils made 12-29 behind arc in Bengals' only D-I game. ISU was 6-24 LY, has three starters back. Big Sky road underdogs are 4-10 vs spread. WCC home favorites: 13-3.
UCLA allowed 63.5 ppg in winning first two games, beating Drexel by 5, Oakland by 31; Alford's first November schedule in Westwood is but on easy side. Bruins have three starters back from 25-10 team but they are learning new system. Sacramento State lost first D-I game by 8 at Bakersfield, not a good omen since they're moving way up in class here.
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