College Knowledge
-- Arizona State is playing #149 pace in country, after playing 296/281 pace last two years; thats how much new PG Carson means to Sendek's team. ASU is 6-0 at home, with five wins by 11+ points. Northridge is 6-2 vs D-I teams, losing by 12 at BYU, 26 at UCLA; nine of ten guys in their rotation are frosh/sophs. Big West road underdogs are 21-13.
-- Colorado is 7-1 but lost only road game by 7 at 9-0 Wyoming; five of eight games were vs top 100 teams. Buffs are #3 in country at getting to foul line, shooting 41% behind arc. Kansas used to be Buffs' Big 12 rival; last time they met, Jayhawks won by 7 in Big 12 tourney semis in '11. Kansas won last five games, with four of five wins by 14+ points.
-- 8-0 Duke was 12-1 LY when they got upset 78-73 by Temple; they beat Owls by 17 year before. Blue Devils have already played five Top 20 teams, four on neutral floor; four of five wins were by nine points or less. Temple beat Big 5 rival Villanova by 15 Wednesday; this will be its first top 100 opponent. A-16 underdogs are 20-18 against the spread.
-- 7-0 Virginia Tech has top 100 wins over Iowa/Oklahoma State; those were at home- theur only road win was by 9 at NC-Greensboro. Senior guard Green is future NBA guy. West Virginia is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, and awful on offense, making 23% behind arc. Big X single digit favorites are 8-7 vs spread. ACC road underdogs are 6-5 against the spread.
-- 6-1 Colorado State is one of best rebounding team in country; #5 most experienced team in country- they lost first game by 8 at Colorado last game, but have road wins by 7 at Denver, 18 at Washington. Four of last five games they played were vs top 100 teams. 7-1 UIC's only loss was to New Mexico by 7- they upset Northwestern 50-44 last Saturday.
-- First road game of year for 6-0 Ole Miss team that beat Rutgers by 13 last week, its only game vs top 200 team; they lost by 12 LY to Middle Tennessee when they were 9-2. Rebels are shooting 27.5% outside arc, 63% from line. MTSU is #2 most experienced team in country; they're 0-2 vs top 60 teams, losing by 21 to Florida, by 5 in OT at Akron.
-- UCLA-Texas are both disappointing 5-3 teams; this is close as Bruins have come to playing a road game- they're 1-2 on neutral floor, losing to San Diego State by 9, Georgetown by 8. Texas turns ball over 28% of time; they lost 64-41 to Hoyas in only game vs team ranked above #112. Longhorns are the least experienced team in entire country.
-- First road game for 5-3 Northern Iowa- they went 0-3 in Bahamas, but all three losses (by 5-16-5 points) were vs top 50 teams. George Mason is 1-3 vs top 100 teams; seven of its nine games were decided by seven or less points. CAA teams are 3-11 vs spread when number is less than 5 points. MVC teams are 9-7 vs spread in games like that.
-- Road team won four of last six Wisconsin-Marquette games; Badgers won two of last three visits here, are 1-2 away from home, losing by 18 at Florida, by 10 to Creighton in Vegas- they're 0-3 vs teams in top 50. 5-2 Marquette hasn't beaten anyone ranked better than #158; they have not played in nine days, since losing by 33 at Florida.
-- Clemson lost 63-47 at Arizona LY; young Tigers (11 of 13 players are frosh/sophs) had big win at #178 South Carolina last game, but Carolina is best team they've beaten- their losses are by 8 to Gonzaga on neutral floor, 12 at home to Purdue. Wildcats won only road game at Texas Tech by 28; they turn ball over 23% of time, but make 41.7% of their 3's.
-- Northwestern lost at home to UIC, then beat Baylor in Waco; hard to figure. Wildcats lost last two home games. Butler is 5-2 vs D-I teams but lost by 15 at Xavier in only true road game; Bulldogs are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Marquette/North Carolina on Maui (lost to Illini by 17). Atlantic 16 teams are 22-15 vs spread if number was 5 or less points.
-- Third road game in 8 days for Southern Mississippi, which lost by 8 points at both New Mexico State/Arizona after 6-0 start, during which they beat WKU/Georgia in OT. Eagles turn ball over 26.6% of time, not good. Louisiana Tech is 7-2, but lost by 12 at Texas A&M, in its only game vs team ranked above #200. Tech lost by 16 at USM last year.
-- Illinois beat Gonzaga by 12-7 points last two years, after Zags won by hoop in OT three years ago; Illini is 9-0 this year, won Maui Classic, but only beat USC/Butler to do it (beat D-2 Chaminade too)- they won by point at Hawai'i in only true road game vs D-I team. Gonzaga snuck by Washington State by hoop last game- they have five top 100 wins.
Armadillosports.com
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 2 Duke vs. Temple
Duke ran its record to a perfect 8-0 SU with an 88-50 victory over Delaware this past Saturday as a 20-point home favorite. The Blue Devils are 5-3 ATS and the total has gone OVER in four of their last six games with a posted total line. Mason Plumlee remains the team's leading scorer with an average of 19.6 points while also leading in rebounds with 11 a game.
Temple remained perfect on the year with a 70-62 victory over Wagner this past Saturday. There was no posted line on that game, but the Owls are 2-2 ATS this season. Before facing Duke this Saturday, they will put their 5-0 SU record on the line in a Wednesday night matchup against Villanova. Scootie Randall has been the top Owl so far with an average of 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game.
CBB: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
College Basketball takes center stage Saturday with several undefeated teams looking to remain undefeated including 2nd-ranked Blue Devils (8-0) in revenge-mode against Temple (6-0) in an early tip-off and two offensive powerhouses going head-to-head later as 13th-ranked Illinois (9-0) faces 10th-ranked Gonzaga (9-0). Last season, Temple upset then-No. 3 Duke but this years Owls have a tough task for a team that lost a number of important pieces from last season's team in point guard Juan Fernandez, Ramone Moore and center Michael Eric. Stopping Blue Devils averaging 78.8 points/game on 48.1% shooting, 37.3% from long range lead by five double digit scorers including Mason Plumlee (19.6), Seth Curry (15.1) will not come easy. In the late matchup, Fighting Illini netting 78.7 per/game lead by leading scorer Brandon Paul (18.3 PPG) have no walk in the part when they take on Gonzaga at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Bulldogs scoring a whopping 83.7 per/game lead by Elias Harris (16.8) and eight other players averaging 9.0 or more points/game are on a smart 20-1 (11-7 ATS) stretch at home. Bulldogs looking to show itself worthy of a top-10 ranking and looking to exact revenge for last years 85-72 loss at Assembly Hall will be tough to topple.
Colorado at Kansas: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Colorado at Kansas (-11.5)
One of the main benefits of moving to the Pac-12 for the Colorado basketball team is avoiding Kansas twice a year. Apparently the Buffaloes still feel like once is appropriate. Colorado will be renewing an old Big 12 rivalry when it visits the Jayhawks on Friday. No. 9 Kansas is in its usual position in the top 10 and is coming off a tight win over another Pac-12 school, Oregon State.
The Buffaloes took advantage of a down year in the Pac-12 last season to advance to the NCAA tournament and have looked strong to begin the 2012-13 campaign. They bounced back from their first loss with a win over Colorado State on Wednesday and have a point guard in Spencer Dimwiddie that can get in the lane and score from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks have plenty of players like that, led by freshman sensation Ben McLemore, as well as a center that controls the rim in Jeff Withey.
ABOUT COLORADO (7-1): The Buffaloes lost to Kansas three times in their final Big 12 season in 2010-11, including a 90-83 setback in the semifinals of the conference tournament that likely prevented Colorado from going to the NCAA tournament that season. Colorado has fared better in the Pac-12 and has four players averaging 12 or more points, led by Dinwiddie’s 17.8. Dinwiddie has gone for 24 or more in three straight games, capped off by 29 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the 70-61 win over the Rams on Wednesday. The Buffaloes were hurt by an inability to advance the ball against a pressure defense in their lone loss to Wyoming, 76-69 on Saturday. Colorado’s lone weakness is in passing, as its 9.5 assists rank near the bottom of Division I.
ABOUT KANSAS (6-1): The Jayhawks suffered their lone setback, 67-64, against Michigan State in Atlanta on Nov. 13 and have been on a roll ever since with five straight wins. Kansas has a backcourt big enough to overwhelm any opponent, with Elijah Johnson, McLemore and Travis Releford all 6-4 or bigger. Should opponents get past that line of the defense, Withey is waiting at the rim. The senior center is averaging 5.7 blocks and had 12 in a 70-57 win over San Jose State on Nov. 26. Withey scored 17 points and added three blocks against the Beavers on Nov. 30, leading a 60-percent shooting effort in the 84-78 win. Kansas has three straight home games before its next road battle - at No. 7 Ohio State on Dec. 22 - and does not kick off its Big 12 slate until Jan. 9.
TRENDS:
* Buffaloes are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
* Buffaloes are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Buffaloes are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Kansas.
* Jayhawks are 4-1 ATS in their last five vs. Pac-12 foes.
TIP-INS:
1. Kansas holds a 122-39 all-time lead in the head-to-head series, including a 52-5 record at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have taken 20 straight overall.
2. Buffaloes F Andre Roberson has recorded four straight double-doubles and is averaging 12.0 points and 11.5 boards.
3. Kansas has won 10 straight against Pac-12 schools.
College Basketball Point Spreads and Trends
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
Twenty-one of the nation’s top 25 college basketball teams are in action Saturday, and the slate isn’t all heavyweights vs. cupcakes.
Intriguing matchups like Temple-Duke, Arkansas-Michigan and Colorado-Kansas dot the schedule. But there’s only one meeting of ranked teams: No. 13 Illinois (9-0) at No. 10 Gonzaga (9-0).
The Bulldogs sit third in the Linemakers Power Ratings, behind Indiana and Duke. This could very well be coach Mark Few’s best team. No one expected the Illini, picked ninth in the Big Ten, to also be undefeated now, but the team survived new coach John Groce’s brutal offseason conditioning program and is thriving in his up-tempo style.
Spreads are courtesy of William Hill, the first sports book in Las Vegas on Friday to offer spreads on Saturday's games.
No. 13 Illinois (9-0 SU, 3-3 ATS) at No. 10 Gonzaga (9-0, 5-3 ATS), 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Line: Gonzaga -11
About Illinois: The Illini, featuring a three-guard lineup, are among the nation’s top teams in made 3-pointers (10.8 per game) and shoot an impressive 40.6 percent from deep. Senior guard Brandon Paul (17.8 ppg, 3.9 apg, 4.4 rpg) is playing like an All-American. But Illinois can’t get out and run if it doesn’t get stops, and the team has a weak interior defense. In the Illini’s unimpressive 72-64 victory over Western Carolina on Tuesday, Catamounts 6-8 center Tawaski King attempted nine free throws.
About Gonzaga: The Bulldogs, who lead the nation in shooting percentage (53.1), will try to avenge last season’s 82-75 loss in Champaign. This team is deep; nine players can lead the team in scoring on any given night. It returned four starters and doesn’t miss departed center Robert Sacre after adding 6-9 Sam Dower (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and 7-1 Polish freshman Przemek Karnowski (9.3 ppg, 68.5 percent shooting, 3.8 rpg in 14.7 minutes per game). The Bulldogs also have played a more difficult schedule than the Illini (82nd-toughest to 131st-toughest). Gonzaga will be Illinois’ first ranked opponent
Key matchup: Gonzaga, which ranked high third nationally in rebounding margin (+14.4) through Dec. 2, has a big edge inside over Illinois (+3.9). Bulldogs big men Elias Harris (16.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Kelly Olynyk (13.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) combined for 45 points in Wednesday’s win at Washington State.
Linemakers Power Ratings: Gonzaga 148.5, Illinois 137.6 (add 3-4 points for home court)
Trends:
Illini are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 road games.
Bulldogs are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 home games.
Bulldogs are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 nonconference games.
Under is 11-5-1 in Bulldogs’ last 17 nonconference games, and 44-21-1 in Bulldogs’ last 66 overall.
Quick Hits
Temple (6-0 SU, 3-2 ATS) vs. No. 2 Duke (8-0 SU, 5-3 ATS) at East Rutherford, N.J., 3:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Duke -8
The teams have one common opponent. Duke just whipped Delaware 88-50, while Temple held off the Blue Hens 80-75. The Owls have only two regulars taller than 6-6, which could mean a field day for 6-10 senior Mason Plumlee (19.6 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 65.4 percent shooting).
The Blue Devils also expect senior guard Seth Curry (15.1 ppg) to return from an ankle injury that kept him out against Delaware.
Duke seems to relish neutral-site matchups against quality opponents (4-0 ATS).
Linemakers Power Ratings: Duke 149.5, Temple 140.3
Trends:
Owls are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. the ACC.
Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
Blue Devils are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. the Atlantic 10.
Virginia Tech (7-0 SU, 4-1 ATS) at West Virginia (3-3 SU, 2-2-1 ATS), 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Line: West Virginia -6.5
Even though these teams haven’t met in basketball since 2004 or in football since 2005, there’s no love lost. Tech Sideline.com reports the game is a sellout, which should help bring out West Virginia’s best effort. The Linemakers rate the defensive-minded Mountaineers slightly better than the offense-oriented Hokies despite a much worse record.
West Virginia will have 6-10, 240-pounder Volodymyr Gerun available for the first time this season. He was suspended for the first six games after playing for a pro team in Ukraine.
First-year Virginia Tech coach James Johnson has the Hokies attacking and playing beautiful offensive basketball. They were in the top 10 in offensive efficiency earlier this week, compared to WVU being in the low 100s, and senior guard Erick Green (24.9 ppg) is among the nation’s leaders in free throws attempted (10.4 per game).
Linemakers Power Ratings: West Virginia 137.3, Virginia Tech 134.9 (add 3-4 points for home court)
Trends:
Mountaineers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games vs. the ACC.
Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games.
Hokies are 5-0 ATS in their last five road games.