College Basketball betting news, trends, odds and predictions for Saturday, December 23, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
College basketball knowledge is posted every day thru the Final Four.
Saturday’s college hoop
George Washington outscored Harvard 26-13 on foul line in 77-74 road win over the Crimson LY; Colonials are 6-6 vs schedule #109 this year. GW is thin team whose bench plays 4th-least minutes in country- they also play 5th-slowest pace in nation. Harvard is 4-6 vs schedule #106; they’re turning ball over 21.1% of time, shooting 29.4% on arc- not good. Crimson does have decent depth. GW is shooting only 30.2% on arc this year. A-14 home favorites are 18-21 vs spread; Ivy League road underdogs are 10-15.
Tennessee is 8-2 vs schedule #33; they won 77-70 at Ga Tech in only true road game. Vols are #262 experience team that is forcing turnovers 23.9% of time. Tennessee is 2-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Villanova by 9, UNC by 5- they beat Purdue in OT and Mercer. Wake Forest won its last six games after a 1-4 start; they’re 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Houston by 5, to Georgia Southern by 2- they beat Illinois by 7. Wake is shooting 39% on the arc. SEC road favorites are 5-6 vs spread; ACC underdogs are 10-13, 3-1 at home.
Richmond shot 60% inside arc in 67-54 neutral floor win over Boston College LY, after BC led by 8 at half; Spiders are 2-9 this year vs schedule #65- they’re #341 experience team whose eFG% on defense is #336 in country. Richmond is 0-2 in true road games, losing by 23 at Wake Forest, 19 at ODU. Eagles are 9-3 vs schedule #293 and that includes a win over Duke; BC is 6-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with all six wins by 12+ points. ACC home favorites are 27-16 vs spread; A-14 road underdogs are 10-13.
Evansville has injury issues, was missing three guys Wednesday when they crushed at Duke in last game. Illinois State won seven of its last eight games with Evansville, winning last four by 10-12-10-11 points. Redbirds won last three visits here, by 2-10-10 points. ISU is 6-6 vs schedule #38- they’re 1-3 in true road games, winning in OT at Ole Miss, losing other three by 11-30-12 points. Evansville is 8-3 vs schedule #276; they lost 104-40 at Duke last game. Purple Aces are shooting 46.1% on arc, #1 in country, but they’re turning ball over 22.2% of time.
Toledo won its last three games with Cleveland State by 11-5-4 points; teams didn’t play last season. Rockets are 6-5 vs schedule #235- they’re 3-5 in last eight games, 3-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 2-3-26 points, with loss to Cornell. Cleveland State is 2-8 vs D-I teams, losing last four, with three of four losses by 10+ points. Vikings are turning ball over 21.6% of time, shooting only 31.6% on arc, 59.6% on foul line. MAC favorites are 7-6 away from home; Horizon home underdogs are 3-4.
UConn played in Arizona Thursday nite, now has an afternoon game at Auburn 41.5 hours later- tough spot for Huskies, who lost 70-67 in OT at home to Auburn LY, in brickfest where teams combined to shoot 9-50 on arc. Huskies’ 73-58 loss at Arizona was their first true road game this year- they’re 1-4 vs top 100 teams, with all four losses by 9+ points. Auburn is is 10-1 vs schedule #201, with only loss to Temple on neutral floor. Tigers’ last three wins were all by 6 or fewer points. SEC home favorites are 21-29 vs spread; AAC road underdogs are 3-10.
Long Beach State beat Colorado State last two years, by 1-6 points; 49ers won by point LY after blowing 15-point 2nd half lead. Colo State is 5-6 vs schedule #72, 2-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 11-8 points. CSU is turning ball over 20.5% of time, shooting just 30.7% on arc- their eFG% is #310, which is bad. Long Beach State lost 9 of last 12 games; they’re defensive eFG% is #326 vs schedule #18. As usual, they’ve over-scheduled, with guarantee $$$ they get helping to pay coach’s over-inflated salary. Mountain West home favorites are 23-11 vs spread; Big West road underdogs are 23-18.
Mississippi State made 17-29 on arc in 86-44 win over Southern Miss LY; Bulldogs are 10-1 this year vs schedule #344, 9th-easiest in country. State lost by 15 at Cincinnati in its only game this season away from Starkville- they’re 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with all five wins by 9+ points. Southern Miss lost 98-45 at Florida State Thursday; Golden Eagles are 0-3 in true road games, with other two by 11-14 points. Other than the FSU game, USM’s worst loss is by 14 points. SEC home favorites are 21-29 vs spread; C-USA road underdogs are 21-14.
Illinois won its last four games with Missouri by 1-5-3-9 points; this game is played every year in St Louis. Illini lost five of its last seven games; they’re 0-5 vs top 100 teams, with all five losses by 7 or less points with two OT losses. Illinois is #310 experience team that forces turnovers 24.7% of time. Missouri is 10-2 vs schedule #160; they’re turning ball over 21.2% of time, are making 41.9% of their 3’s. Tigers are 3-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to West Virginia by 18, Utah by 4. SEC home favorites are 21-29 vs spread; Big 14 road underdogs are 4-8.
North Carolina is 10-2 vs schedule #35 after losing as a 24-point favorite to Wofford last game; Tar Heels are 6-1 vs top 100 teams, also losing by 18 to Michigan State at the PK80 tournament. In its two losses, Carolina shot a combined 8-42 on the arc. Ohio State won its last five games, is 10-3 vs schedule #152; Buckeyes are 2-3 vs top 100 teams- they won their two conference tilts, lost other three top 100 games by 27 to Gonzaga, 1 to Butler, 14 to Clemson. ACC favorites are 23-14 vs spread away from home; Big 14 road underdogs are 4-8. This game is in New Orleans.
UCLA beat Kentucky last two years, by 10-5 points; Bruins lost two of last three games, with win by 3 over South Dakota- they’re #264 experience team that learned Friday they’ll be without their two suspended players the rest of this season. UCLA is 2-3 vs top 100 teams. Kentucky is least experienced team in country that split pair of neutral court games with Monmouth/Kansas, with 4-point loss to Jayhawks. Wildcats are turning ball over 20.7% of time. Pac-12 home favorites are 27-29 vs spread; SEC underdogs are 11-12 away from home.
Santa Barbara is 9-3 vs schedule #136 after going 6-22 LY; Gauchos split their six true road games- they’re 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 8-3-7-22 points. UCSB is #24 experience team that is shooting 39.1% on arc. Sacramento State is 1-9 vs D-I teams with two wins vs NAIA teams; Hornets are turning ball over 21.5% of time, shooting just 29.8% on arc- they used four starters 30:00+ in their 80-75 loss to Portland Thursday night. Big West favorites are 1-3 away from home; Big Sky home underdogs are 4-2.
Chattanooga beat Jacksonville State 70-67 Thursday; all five starters played 35:00+, their bench played 16:00 total. Georgia State is 6-4 vs schedule #246; Panthers are 3-2 in true road games, are 2-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 21-10 points. State force turnovers 24.6% of time, but are only playing pace #302. Chattanooga is 4-6 vs schedule #213; Mocs are 1-3 vs top 150 teams, with losses by 9-42-2 points. UTC turns ball over 22.2% of time while playing pace #280. Sun Belt favorites are 4-8 away from home; SoCon home underdogs are 5-1.
armadillosports.com