Sunday's Pac-12 Action
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
The Pac-12 will take center stage this Sunday in men’s college basketball led by the California Golden Bears on the road against the UCLA Bruins. We decided to focus on this matchup as well as a few other conference clashes out west for this Sunday’s NCAAB betting tip sheet.
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins
The Golden Bears’ six-game winning streak both straight-up and against the spread came to an abrupt end in this past Wednesday’s 77-69 loss to USC as 8½-point home favorites on the closing betting line. They are now 14-5 SU on the year with a 10-8 record ATS. It was Cal’s first loss in the Pac-12 this season verse five SU wins.
Justin Cobbs leads California with 15.3 points and 6.4 assists a game with Richard Solomon chipping in another 11.9 points and a team-high 10.4 rebounds. The Golden Bears are averaging 76.3 points a game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range.
UCLA is third in the conference with a 4-2 SU record after running all over Stanford 91-74 this past Wednesday as a 5 ½-point favorite at home. The Bruins are 15-4 SU overall and 11-7 ATS after covering in four of their last six contests. The total has gone OVER in their last four home games.
The Bruins come into this matchup as the eighth-highest scoring team in the nation with 84.7 points a game and they are shooting an impressive 50.3 percent from the field. Jordan Adams is averaging 17.5 points and Kyle Anderson is putting up 15.4 points a game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. UCLA has also been fairly stout on defense by holding teams to 68 points on the other end of the court.
The opening betting line for this conference clash has the Bruins favored over Cal by seven points at home.
Head-to-head, the Golden Bears have covered in seven of the last eight meetings and they are 6-2 SU over the same stretch of games. The total has stayed UNDER in the last two meetings after going OVER in the previous five contests.
Other Key Pac-12 Games
Stanford Cardinal vs. USC Trojans
The Cardinal will try and bounce back from Wednesday’s loss to UCLA that dropped them to an even 3-3 SU in conference play. Stanford is 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 games and the total has gone OVER in five of its last seven outings. Chasson Randle is scoring 19.2 of the team’s 76.8 points a game, but the most versatile player on this roster has been Dwight Powell with 14.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
USC’s victory over Cal was its first conference win this season against five previous losses. The Trojans are one game above .500 overall at 10-9 SU with a 7-9-1 record ATS. Wednesday’s victory was the first time they covered in their last seven games. USC is averaging 71.9 points a game and shooting 45 percent from the field. Byron Wesley leads the team in scoring with 16.4 points and he is pulling down 7.4 rebounds a game.
The Cardinal have been opened as 5½-point home favorites for this matchup.
USC is 5-2 SU in the last seven games against the Cardinal and it holds a 4-3 edge ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of the last eight meetings.
Oregon Ducks vs. Washington State Cougars
The Ducks fall from grace has been swift and deep after posting a perfect 12-0 SU record in nonconference play. Oregon beat Utah by two points in overtime to open play in the Pac-12, but since then it has lost its last five contests both SU and ATS. It is ranked fourth in the nation in scoring with 86.8 points a game, but defensively it has been torched for an average of 87.6 points during this five-game skid.
Washington State finds itself at the bottom of the Pac-12 with a 1-6 SU record in conference play and an 8-11 SU record overall. The Cougars have lost seven of their last nine games dating back to Dec. 21 while going 3-6 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in six of those games. DaVonte Lacy has led the team in scoring with 17.7 points, but he remains out of the lineup indefinitely with an injury to his appendix.
Oregon comes into this must-win game as a 6½-point favorite on the road.
The Ducks have won eight of the last nine meetings SU, but Washington State covered in both games last season. The total has gone OVER in three of the last four contests.
Utah Utes vs. No. 1 Arizona Wildcats
Utah lost a 79-75 heart-breaker to Arizona State on Thursday night, but it covered as a 4 ½-point road underdog to improve to 5-1 ATS in its last six games. The Utes are 14-5 SU on the year with a 3-4 record in the Pac-12. They have been a financial boon this season with an 11-2-1 record ATS. Utah is averaging 80.7 points a game and shooting an impressive 50.8 percent from the field, which is the third-best field goal percentage in the nation.
Arizona ran its unbeaten streak to 19 games this season with a 69-57 victory over Colorado, but it could not cover the 14 ½-point spread at home. It was just the second time in its last nine outings the Wildcats failed to cover as part of a 13-5 record ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games. Nick Johnson leads a foursome of players scoring in double figures with 16.4 points a game. Arizona is averaging 75.5 points while holding opponents to just 56.7 points on defense.
The Wildcats will try and extend their winning streak to 20 games as 15-point home favorites over Utah.
The road team in this series is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings and the total has gone OVER in four of the last five games. Arizona is 7-0 SU in the last seven meetings.
College Basketball Information
NC State/Georgia Tech are both 2-4 in ACC play, Wolfpack won its last three games with Georgia Tech by 9-13-13 points. Tech lost three of its last four visits here, losing by 5-5-13. State is turning ball over 19.9% of time, making 25.7% from arc in ACC, both 14th in 15-team ACC. This is first time this season State is favored in league. ACC home favorites of 6 or less points are 8-6 against the spread.
Evansville won three of last four games with Bradley, winning last three played here by 3-23-10 points; they're 2-5 in Valley, with last four tilts all decided by 6 or less points. Braves are 1-2 as MVC road dogs, losing all three games by 34-3-22 points- they won last two home games after 1-4 Valley start. MVC home favorites are 11-7 vs spread, 1-3 if laying 5 or less points. Aces are 2-5 despite making 41.9% of its 3's.
Houston has won 12 of last 15 games with SMU, winning last three by 3-11-4 points; they're 3-1 at home in AAC, with only loss by point to Cincinnati- they beat UConn here. SMU covered its last five games, won last three by 17-12-14 points; they're 1-2 on AAC road, winning by 12 at UCF, losing at Cincy/Louisville. AAC home underdogs of 7 or less points are 1-4 against the spread.
Illinois lost last five games, is 0-3 on Big Dozen road (1-1 as road dog),. losing by 25-2-7 points. Indiana (+3) lost 83-80 in OT at Illinois New Years Eve, despite making 10-23 from arc; they turned ball over 23 times (-13). Erratic Hoosiers are 2-4 in league, 1-2 at home. Home teams won last six series games; Illini lost last two visits here, by 3-13 points. Big Dozen single digit home favorites are 1-10 vs spread.
Cincinnati is 7-0 in AAC; underdogs covered all three of their road tilts, with Bearcats winning by 16-1-7 points; they beat Temple 69-58 (-15) at home 12 days ago, game Owls led by hoop with 6:47 left. Cincy won its last 11 games, Temple lost its last seven; Owls lost by 7-10 in their two AAC home games, allowing 80.5 ppg. AAC home underdogs are 5-7 vs spread. Cincy blocks 18.3% of shots, forces TOs 23.3% of time.
USC got first Pac-12 win last game after five losses by 18+ points; they swept Stanford last year by total of 3 points. Cardinal lost seven of last eight visits here, winning by 12 in '12. Trojans lost by 19-20 to Arizona schools in their other home games, but whipped Cal last game. Pac-12 home underdogs are 8-5 vs spread. Stanford won three of last four, but is 1-2 on Pac-12 road, with only win by a hoop at Oregon.
Minnesota guard Hollins (ankle) is out here, blow for Gopher squad that is 1-2 on Big Dozen road, with only win at Penn State. Nebraska upset Ohio State in last home game but then laid an egg at Penn State, so they remain suspect. Big Dozen home teams are 7-15 vs spread in games with single digit spread. Gophers won four of last five games with Nebraska, but lost last visit here 53-51 last year.
Clemson is 0-56 in Chapel Hill, 0-56, with last seven losses here all by 10+ points (103-93 in two OTs in '08). Tigers had won three in row but lost last game by 33 at Pitt- they won other two ACC road tilts. UNC is 1-4 in ACC (0-5 vs spread), its only win was by 11 over BC. Tar Heels are last in ACC at putting its opponents on foul line. ACC home faves of 7+ points are 7-8 against the spread.
Oregon lost last five games, allowing 87.6 ppg after 13-0 start, amidst rumors they've got chemistry issues; Ducks won last five games against Washington State, winning here by 2 in OT LY. Pac-12 home underdogs are 8-5 vs spread. Coogs are 1-6 with star Lacy out (appendicits/ribs), losing at home by 1-11 points, with 49-46 win over Utah. I look at nine categories on offense in Pac-12; Wazzu is 12th in seven of the nine.
Cal looked comatose in loss at USC Wednesday, its first loss after five league wins; Bears won SU as road dogs at Stanford/Oregon, are 6-2 in last eight games with UCLA, splitting last four visits here. Pac-12 home favorites are 16-10 vs spread. Favorites covered UCLA's first four tilts in Pac-12; Bruins are 3-0 as home favorites, winning by 34-15-17 points, losing only to Arizona. Cal is making 42.5% of its 3's in Pac-12 games.
Fairfield is 1-8 in MAAC but covered three of last four games; they are 5-1 in last six games with Siena, winning last three by 8-10-22, but those Stags aren't these Stags. Fairfield upset Manhattan in its last home game after losing first three by 11-1-4 points. MAAC home teams are 7-1 vs spread in games where spread was less than 3 points. Siena is 1-3-1 as a MAAC road underdog, losing last four road games by 15-4-22-14.
Iona won four of last five games after beating Quinnipiac Friday; Gaels won six of last eight games with St Peter's, winning three of last four in this gym (by 4-14-24) but losing 64-62 LY. MAAC home underdogs of 4+ points are 2-5 vs spread. Peacocks are 1-2 as home dogs, upsetting Quinnipiac in last home game, losing by 12-4 to Manhattan/Canisius in first two. St Peter's is holding MAAC opponents to 27.9% on arc.
Quinnipac (even) beat Manhattan 81-76 Jan 9, but they lost last two on road since then, by 7-22 points. Bobcats were 31-46 on foul line in first meeting (Jaspers were 14-28), blocked 10 shots. MAAC home favorites of 9+ points are 9-6 vs spread. Manhattan won 11 of last 13 overall, is 3-2 as MAAC home favorite, winning at home by 9-26-7-22-16 points. Quinnipiac is 0-2 as a MAAC underdog, losing by 12-22 points.
Armadillosports.com
Utah at Arizona: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Utah Utes at Arizona Wildcats
Top-ranked Arizona can set a school record for consecutive victories and looks to remain unbeaten when it hosts Utah in Sunday’s Pac-12 encounter. The Wildcats’ 19-game winning streak matches the mark set by the 1992-93 and 1997-98 squads and the 6-0 start in conference play is the school’s best since the 2002-03 campaign. Utah lost to Arizona State in the front end of a three-game road swing that concludes against Colorado.
The Wildcats have been a fixture atop the national rankings behind a well-balanced roster and their average winning margin is 18.8 points. Coach Sean Miller doesn’t want his players resting on their laurels and has reminded them that Utes are dangerous despite their 0-3 mark in Pac-12 road games. “Utah is one of the more improved teams in the country,” Miller told reporters. “If you look at their scores, even when they’ve lost they play everyone to the wire.”
ABOUT UTAH (14-5, 3-4 Pac-12): Guard Delon Wright is the biggest reason for the Utes’ improvement this season and the all-purpose player is shooting 61.5 percent from the field. Wright leads Utah in assists (5.1) and steals (49) and also ranks second in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (7.2) behind forward Jordan Loveridge (16.7 and 8.1). Wright has topped 20 points five times – including 21 in the loss to Arizona State – and has scored in double figures in all but one game.
ABOUT ARIZONA (19-0, 6-0 Pac-12): Junior guard Nick Johnson is in the mix for Pac-12 Player of the Year honors and leads the Wildcats in scoring (16.4) and 3-pointers (32) while playing heady defense. Johnson’s 114 career steals ranks third among active Pac-12 players and he recently became the 48th player in school history to surpass 1,000 career points. Forwards Aaron Gordon (12.4 points, team-best 7.6 rebounds) and Brandon Ashley (12.2) are also averaging in double digits while point guard T.J. McConnell has a 3-to-1 assists to turnover ratio while averaging 6.1 assists per game.
TRENDS:
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Wildcats are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 home games.
* Utes are 1-4 ATS in their last five Sunday games.
* Under is 5-0 in Wildcats last five home games vs. a team with a road winning percent of less than .400.
TIP-INS:
1. Arizona has won the last seven meetings.
2. The Wildcats have won 16 consecutive home games and have a 33-7 home mark in Pac-12 play during Miller’s five seasons.
3. Utah is shooting a solid 50.8 percent from the field and holding opponents to 39.9.