College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Binghamton at Syracuse
Syracuse winning the Maui Invitation with it's 74-67 victory over Baylor did not miss a beat in the return to the mainland dumping Indiana 69-52 in the Big Ten/ACC challenge. Orange 8-0 (4-2 ATS) on the year take a big drop in class Saturday when they host Binghamton Bearcats. Syracuse will have little trouble disposing this cup-cake. The Orange are 44-2 (24-14 ATS) last fourty-six on home court and a sparkling 65-1 (32-19 ATS) in November/December games.
College Basketball Information
First road game for young 7-1 Texas team that lost to BYU, beat DePaul on neutral floor; Longhorns must be playing lot of zone, allowing 39.3% shooting outside arc, 40.5% inside it. Texas' 60.2% from foul line raises red flag. 4-3 Temple scored 82.3 ppg in winning last three games, with a Big 5 win over St Joe's last game- they make only 31.5% from the arc.
Mizzou/UCLA were both in Las Vegas last week but didn't play-- lot of Tiger fans are lilely to be out of town for football game in Atlanta. First road game for 8-0 UCLA team that beat Northwestern by 16, Nevada by 21 in Vegas; Bruins' 61.1 eFG% is #3 in US. Missouri shot 62% inside arc in fairly easy win over West Va Thursday. Bruins had harder game in a 89-76 win over UCSB (42-all at half) Tuesday.
Wake Forest is 7-2, allowing 84.5 ppg in losses to top 40 teams; its best win was 77-63 on neutral floor over #133 USC. #61 Richmond is 2-0 on road, winning at Air Force/Wm Mary; Spiders force turnovers 21.8% of time, but make just 28.5% behind arc. Richmond beat Deacons last three years, by 2-8-16 points. Wake is shooting only 63.4% from foul line.
Long trip east for BYU squad that won 112-103 at Stanford in only road game so far; they're 2-1 on neutral floors, 3-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Iowa State by 2, Wichita by 13. Cougars are playing fastest tempo in all of US, good news for 7-0 UMass squad that is playing at #8 tempo and has played four top 100 games, only two home games. BYU is making 39.1% from arc; UMass allows just 29.7% from the arc.
First road game for 7-1 Clemson squad that lost finals at Charleston to UMass; Tigers' 37.1 eFG% is best in US- teams shoot just 21.1% from arc against them. 5-2 Arkansas went 1-2 on Maui- they force turnovers 24.8% of time (#8 in US), make 38.9% from arc, play #16 temp, so this is contrast in style (Clemson plays #346 tempo). ACC road dogs: 5-7.
Cleveland State lost in 3OT at Drexel Wednesday after trailing by 13 in first half; they had three guys play more than 40 minutes. Vikings lost by 30 at Akron LY (Zips shot 63% inside arc) after beating Zips two years in row before that. For some reason, Akron hasn't played in three weeks; they lost last two games by 22-7, turn ball over 25.2% of time.
5-3 Marquette is shooting just 27.2% from arc; they went 2-2 on trip to west, losing by 2 at Arizona State, by 8 to San Diego State on a neutral floor, won by 20 at Fullerton. Eagles won last two games vs Wisconsin by 7-10 points; Badgers shot 32.7% from floor, 9-23 from line in game they trailed 34-20 at half. Wisconsin is 9-0 with six top 100 wins, four by 7 or less points.
Kansas used to treat Colorado like a pinata when teams were rivals in Big X, but Buffs are top 40 program now, winning last eight games after losing opener to Baylor in Dallas. First road game for Jayhawks, who are 4-1 vs top 100 teams. Buffs had solid road win in Fort Collins Tuesday; PG Dinwiddie is NBA player; Buffs' bench is talented but very young. Both teams are in bottom 15 in country in terms of experience.
Mike Brey coached Delaware before getting Notre Dame job; Blue Hens are 5-3, losing by 2 at Richmond, 4 at Villanova in top 100 games- they won three other road games vs stiffs. #77 Hens' three losses are by total of 8 points. Notre Dame allowed 83-98 points in losing its only games vs top 100 teams- best team they've beaten so far is #149 Santa Clara.
First road game for 7-0 Cincinnati team that was 12-0 LY when they lost 55-54 at home to New Mexico. Cincy was 9-38 (24%) inside arc, 11-26 on arc. Bearcats force turnovers 27.5% of time; their best win this year is by 11 over #68 NC State. 7-1 Lobos had good win at New Mexico St during week; they're 2-1 vs top 100 teams, could struggle vs quickness of Cincinnati's defenders, lot like they did in 81-65 loss to UMass.
6-0 Iowa State beat Michigan by 7, won by hoop at BYU in its top 100 games; they lost last three games with Northern Iowa by 7-6-3 points- teams didn't play LY. Cyclones scored 77+ points in every game. UNI is 2-4 vs D-I teams, with three of four losses by 11+ points; Panthers have only played one home game so far. MVC underdogs are 14-15 vs spread.
8-0 Villanova won Atlantis tourney, beating Kansas/Iowa on back/back days; Wildcats are 7-2 in last nine games vs St Joe's, with both losses in only two games in this gym. Villanova is forcing turnovers 23.7% of the time, have decent depth. St Joe's is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 4-17-8 points; best team they've beaten so far is #110 Washington State.
Portland won four of last five games after losing only two road tilts, by 6 at Oregon State, 15 at Michigan State; Pilots beat Portland State by 21 LY, after losing previous four games with Vikings. State lost by 19-16 to only two decent teams they've played; beat team PSU beat is #252 in country (Loyola Chi). Big Sky underdogs are 14-22 against the spread.
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Great Underdog Value in Lesser-Known NCAAB Rivalries
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The Marquette-Wisconsin rivalry doesn’t measure up to some of the more notable grudge matches in college basketball, unless you call the Badger State home.
It’s not for a lack of intensity or bad blood between the schools, but the Eagles and Badgers aren’t as sexy as some of the conference clashes that grace the ESPN and CBS primetime slots. But, if you’re a college basketball bettor, that limited media exposure is just fine.
Marquette vs. Wisconsin has stayed below the mainstream radar and retained great betting value for the underdog in recent years, with the dog going 6-1 ATS in the last seven. The Eagles won SU and ATS, 60-50, as 2.5-point home underdogs last season and have covered in back-to-back meetings with the Badgers heading to the Kohl Center for Saturday’s 120th meeting between these schools.
Here are a few other lesser-known college hoops rivalries providing great underdog value this Saturday:
Villanova Wildcats at St. Joseph’s Hawks (+4.5)
If you live in Philadelphia, these Big 5 rivalry games are some of the can’t-miss games of the year. If not – meh? The underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between Villanova and St. Joe’s, with the Wildcats covering as 4-point home pups last season. However, the Hawks covered in the previous five meetings and were getting the points in three of those games.
Northern Iowa Panthers at Iowa State Cyclones (-9.5)
These in-state foes meeting for the 48th time in the Hy-Vee Big Four Classic at Wells Fargo Arena Saturday. Iowa State has the all-time series edge at 35-12 but UNI has won three straight meetings over the Cyclones – two as an underdog. The pup has covered in three of their last four contests and the Panthers won 61-48 as a pick’em in 2007. Funny enough, the other side of this Hawkeye State rivalry – Iowa vs. Drake – has watched the favorite cover in five of the last six installments.
Fordham Rams at St. John’s Red Storm (-11.5)
A forgotten Big Apple battle has seen the underdog prevail ATS in each of the last four meetings between Fordham and St. John’s. The Rams have covered as pups in the four games since this rivalry was renewed in 2009 but trail the all-time series versus the Red Storm 23-2 SU since 1981. They clash again in 2013, as part of the Holiday Festival in Madison Square Garden Saturday.
Akron Zips at Cleveland State Vikings (-5)
This low-key state rivalry will go even more unnoticed Saturday, with the entire state of Ohio focusing on the Buckeyes' clash with Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. Those bettors are going to miss out on a series in which the underdog has gone 5-2 ATS in the last seven meeting between the Zips and Vikings. Akron covered as a big favorite last year, marking the first time in five encounters that the home team came through against the spread. Saturday’s showdown is the 67th time these Ohio foes have faced off with the Zips leading the all-time series 34-32 SU.
Richmond Spider at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-2)
The success of the underdog in this ACC-versus-A-10 series has more to do with road team dominance than anything. While the underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six games between Richmond and Wake Forest, the visitor has cashed in during nine of their last 12 meetings – 9-1-2 ATS – including the Demon Deacons losing 62-61 as 12.5-point road pups in Richmond last year.