College Basketball betting trends, odds and predictions for Saturday, November 11th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
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Bradley has all five starters back from LY’s 13-20 team; they’ve won only 27 games the last three years. Braves have 5 juniors, 2 seniors; they figure to be a lot better this year. IUPUI joins the Horizon League this year, after going 7-9 in a tougher Summit League LY. Jaguars lost three starters/40 ppg from LY- they’re picked near bottom of Horizon, seeing how they’ve got to replace their top three scorers from LY. Last two years, MVC teams are 6-6 vs spread when facing a Horizon League opponent.
DePaul opens its new 10,000-seat arena here; Blue Demons’ last winning season was 11 years ago. Blue Demons have four starters back from LY but their best player graduated; they poached a grad transfer from Northern Illinois who scored 14.1 ppg LY. Notre Dame has 82 wins the last three years, going to Elite 8 twice; they’ve got three starters back from a 26-10 team that lost in 2nd round of the NCAA’s- they’re expected to be a top 20 team. Last two years, Big East teams are 15-9 vs spread when facing an ACC opponent.
St Joe’s nipped Toledo 77-76 at home LY, after trailing by 8 in first half; Hawks made only 17-28 on foul line. St Joe’s has all five starters back from an 11-20 team that went 4-14 in A-14, losing 10 of last 11 games. Hawks start pair of 6-0 guards; they should be healthier/quicker than last year. Toledo lost three starters from a 17-17, 9-9 team that played 8 overtime games (3-5), tying an all-time record. Rockets’ two best players from LY both graduated. Last two years, A-14 teams are 6-5 vs spread when facing a MAC team.
Tex-Arlington won 80-77 at Loyola Marymount LY, despite Lions making 12-29 on the arc. UTA out 3 starters from a 27-9 team that won the Sun Belt regular season title. Mavericks have couple of senior starts, but rest of the rotation figures to be pretty young. LMU has a former NBA coach in Dunlap, but he’s lost 7 of his top 8 scorers from LY’s 15-15, 8-10 team, so this is almost a total rebuild. LMU brought in a couple of JC point guards to run the show. Last year, Sun Belt teams covered three of four games vs WCC opponents.
Akron beat Cleveland State 65-53 in last meeting two years ago; both teams have new coaches this season. Cleveland St went 9-22 LY, is expected to finish last in Horizon; they lost their best player, who bolted to Arizona State. Vikings Akron went 27-9 LY but lost in MAC tourney- they lost four starters and their coach, who moved on to Duquesne. Zips then lost six transfers after the coach left, so they’re rebuilding here. 78% of Akron’s scoring from LY is gone. Last two years, MAC teams are 25-19 vs spread when playing a Horizon League foe.
Youngstown State lost 79-70 at Kent State two years ago, in teams’ last meeting. Penguins have a new coach after a 13-21, 5-13 season. Coach Calhoun says Penguins will play very fast; his Fairnont St team lost D-II national title game LY. YSU has 8 new players this year; they will try to press/run like West Virginia does. Kent State has 64 wins the last three years; they’ve got 3 starters back from a 22-14, 10-8 team that won the MAC tourney, lost 97-80 to UCLA in NCAA’s. Last two years, MAC teams are 20-11 vs spread when favored over a Horizon League opponent.
Buffalo lost 53% of its scoring, 50% of its playing time LY’s 17-15 team that was first Bulls’ team in three years not to make NCAAs. They have a transfer coming in who will help, but he in’t eligible yet. Canisius went 18-16 in Witherspoon’s first year as coach LY; Griffins lost 57% of their scoring from LY. Last two years, MAC teams are 6-2 SU vs MAAC teams (4-4 vs spread). Buffalo fired Witherspoon in 2013; he had won 18+ games in four of his last five years, so if you think the same means more to him, you’re right. Canius beat Buffalo 94-87 in OT last year.
Penn shot 63.6% inside arc in 74-68 home win over Fairfield LY; Quakers were down 12 early on in that game. Fairfield has three starters back from 16-15, 11-9 team, including a senior PG, but rest of team has lot of newcomers. Penn has four starters back from 13-15, 6-8 team; they were 0-6 in the Ivy at one point. Quakers ave three sophs who logged lot of playing time LY. Penn hasn’t won the Ivy League in a decade, has been under .500 in Ivy the last five years. Last two years, MAAC teams are 15-9-1 vs spread when playing an Ivy League team.
Quinnipiac has a new coach, two starters back after LY’s 10-21, 7-13 team- their top two scorers transferred after the season. Bobcats have two transfers sitting out, figure to struggle this year. Dartmouth has three starters back a 7-20, 4-10 team that started the season 0-9. Big Green has its top five scorers back from LY- nine of their players are frosh/sophs. Last two years, MAAC teams are 15-9-1 vs spread when playing an Ivy League team.
St Peter’s went 23-13 LY, won the CIT, their most wins since 1991; they finished 2nd in MAAC regular season. Peacocks played 5th-slowest tempo in America LY; they’re much younger this season, figure to regress some. LaSalle has all five starters back from 15-15, 9-9 team- coach is on the hot seat this season. Explorers need starting PG Powell to stay healthy this year- they went 4-10 after he got hurt last season. Last two years, MAAC teams are 12-9 vs spread when facing an A-14 opponent.
North Dakota State opens season with Santa Barbara/USC trip; solid scheduling. ND State has eight players, three starters back from 19-11, 11-5 team; Bison also added six newcomers. Last year was first time in five years the Bison won less than 20 games- they’re picked 3rd in 8-team Summit this year. UCSB has new coach after a 6-22 disaster; he’s brought in lot of new guys but health of recovering star Vincent (torn ACL in February) will be a key. Last two years, Summit teams are 8-5 vs spread who playing a Big West opponent.
Eastern Illinois beat Illinois in an exhibition game, so they’ll be confident here; Panthers have four senior starters back from 14-15, 6-10 team that didn’t make OVC tourney LY. EIU brought in junior college players to fill holes; they’re trying to win now, to save the coaches’ jobs. Nebraska shot 32% from arc LY, their opponents 39.9%; 4th-worst difference in country; all the Huskers’ new players are shooters. Nebraska will depend on freshmen to score from outside. Last two years, Big 14 teams are 8-4 vs spread when playing an OVC team.
Portland State won 77-75 at Portland LY, making 10-27 on arc in ages they led by 13 in first half, but Vikings finished 15-16 and now have a new coach. State lost three starters from LY; they want to play 9-10 guys now, will need immediate help from four transfers who came in. Portland was 11-22 in Porter’s first year as coach; he lost two transfers, but brings in the #10 recruiting class in country, which includes Porter’s two sons. Pilots took a trip to England this summer- those trips help. Last two years, WCC teams are 15-14 vs spread when playing Big Sky teams.
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