College Basketball Knowledge
Iowa (+8) won 70-63 Jan 2 at Purdue, rallying back from down 17 at the half; its third win in last four series games. Boilers lost 58-48/83-76 in last two visits here. Hawkeyes won last eight games overall, winning by 13-11-11 points in first three Big 14 home games. Big 14 home favorites of 5 or less points are 3-4 vs spread. Purdue won its last three games by 17-50-11 points since loss at Illinois- they're 2-1 on Big 14 road.
Home side won seven of last eight USC-Oregon State games; Trojans are 0-6 in last six visits to Corvallis, 4-12-19-4-6-4 points. USC is 4-2 in the Pac-12 (average total, 166.2), splitting four road tilts, winning at Wazzu, UCLA, losing at Washington/Oregon. Pac-12 home underdogs are 10-5 vs spread. Beavers scored 60 ppg in losing last three games, by 17-6-9 points; they're forcing turnovers 21.2% of time in conference play.
Indiana State won eight of last 11 games with Evansville, winning last four played here by 2-10-5-4 points- they lost 70-62 at Evansville Dec 30 after leading by 8 at half. Sycamores lost last two games overall by 20-13 points after winning seven of previous eight games; they're 3-0 at home in Valley, winning by 15-12-14 points. Evansville won last four games, allowing 50.3 ppg. MVC home underdogs are 5-9 vs spread.
Utah won three of last four games with Washington, winning two of its three visits here; dogs are 3-2 vs spread in last five series games. Pac-12 home underdogs are 10-5 vs spread. Utes play slowest tempo in league games, Washington fastest. Utah won three of last four games, winning last two road games at Colorado/Utah. Huskies are surprising 5-1 so far in Pac-12, winning its first three home games by 3-2-12 points.
Canisius won its last six games with Siena, winning last three in Buffalo by 32-15-34 points- they beat Saints in OT in last two visits to Albany. Griffins beat rival Niagara Friday; they lost last three MAAC home tilts by 2-8-17 points- this is their first home game in 15 days. Siena lost five of last six road games, with lone win at Quinnipiac. MAAC favorites of 6 or less points are 1-6 against the spread.
Quinnipiac lost eight of last nine games; lone win was 64-60 over Rider at home Jan 4; they were +19 in boards that night. Home side won four of last five series games; Bobcats lost 90-78/94-83 in two visits to Rider. Five of last seven Rider games were decided by 5 or less points; Broncs won three of last four home games, with two of three wins in overtime. MAAC home favorites of more than 6 points are 7-10 vs spread.
St Joe's-LaSalle split last eight meetings; Hawks lost three of last four at LaSalle, losing by 5-12-7 points. St Joe's is 11-1 in last 12 games with four straight wins, by 5-14-25-15 points; they won two A-14 road tilts by 4-14 points. Explorers are 1-10 in last 11 games; the win was as 12-point dog to Dayton- they lost last three games by 22-11-13 points A-14 home underdogs are 4-10 against the spread.
Virginia beat Syracuse 75-56/59-47 in its two ACC meetings; Cavaliers are 2-3 in last five games after 12-1 start, all three losses were on road. Virginia is 3-0 at home in ACC, winning by 11-8-7. Syracuse is 3-1 since Boeheim came back from suspensions, allowing 52.3 ppg in its last three games; Orange lost at Pitt/Miami by 11-13 points before winning last two on road, at Wake/Duke. ACC single digit home favorites are 8-9.
Villanova won its last five games with Providence, winning 91-61/89-61 in last two played here; Wildcats won last nine games, winning its three Big East home games by 31-9-15 points. Big East home favorites of 7+ points are 6-8 vs spread. Providence won eight of last ten games, with both losses at home; they won both Big East road games, at Creighton, Butler. Villanova is shooting 56.3% inside arc in conference play.
SMU is playing to be first team on probation to go thru season with no losses since NC State in 1973. Mustangs won three AAC road games by 12-24-15 points; they've rebounded 43.6% of their own misses shots, #1 in country. SMU is 4-1 vs Temple in AAC play, winning 60-55 in LY's game after losing 71-64 here year before. Temple won four of last five games; three of those five games were decided by exactly two points.
VCU lost 73-71 in Olean LY, its first loss in three A-14 games against St Bonaventure; Rams won last nine games after a 5-5 start- they won all three A-14 home games, by 24-34-22 points- they're still just 2-5 vs top 100 teams, winning last two. Bonnies allowed 90 ppg in losing last two games vs 6-7 points, after a 12-3 start. A-14 double digit home favorites are 9-4 vs spread. Rams force turnovers 24% of time in A-14 games.
Hofstra won in triple OT at Northeastern Thursday; they used two subs for 7-9 minutes- all five starters played 49:00+. Having game moved to Sunday after the snow has to help some here. Pride lost last four games with Wm&Mary, losing in two OTs to them in CAA tourney in March. Home side won seven of last eight series games. W&M won five of its last six games, with only loss in OT at NC-Wilmington.
Belmont/Tennessee State are last two unbeatens in OVC, Bruins won 11 of last 12 games with TSU, winning last six played here, with four of six won by 11+ points. Belmont won its last seven games after a 7-6 start, winning all three OVC home games by 26-8-18 points. State won its two OVC home games by 5-6 points; they lost by 5 at Tennessee in only top 100 game this season. OVC home favorites are 17-13 vs spread.
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