Thursday's Best NCAAB Bets
By Covers.com
N.C. Asheville Bulldogs at Connecticut Huskies (-13, 139.5)
UConn may not have Kemba Walker to hit their big shots this season, but it looks like they have a couple of guys ready to handle the scoring load.
Through four games, Jeremy Lamb is averaging 22.8 points per game and Shabazz Napier is chipping in 18 per contest to pace the Huskies to an undefeated record heading into the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Paradise Island.
Napier took the spotlight in UConn’s most recent win, going off for 22 points, 13 assists and 12 boards in an 87-70 victory over Choppin State.
"To come in and do a triple-double, with all that pressure on him: Don't foul, take care of the ball, let's not turn it over. He is one tough kid. He is crafty. I thought he was just terrific," coach Jim Calhoun told reporters of Napier.
UConn supporters have seen just one spread for their Huskies so far this season and went home empty handed as their club downed Columbia 70-57 as 21.5-point favorite. They should be able to earn their first payday in this one.
Pick: Huskies
Dayton at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6, 140)
Like so many teams this time of year, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons are going through a learning curve right now. They’re still looking to get comfortable with systems and need these early games to get on the same page.
They took a step in the right direction Sunday, beating up on NC Central 93-79. They hit better than 70 percent of their trey attempts and shot 57.6 percent from the floor.
"We're starting to gel a little bit as a team, getting to know each other's tendencies,'' freshman Chase Fischer told reporters. "And I think it's just going to keep progressing. We're going to be a really fun team to watch five games in, and then when ACC play starts.''
They’ll open up play in the Old Spice Classic Thursday in Orlando looking to build on their 3-0 straight up record (1-1 against the spread) against Dayton.
This one should be close.
Pick: Demon Deacons
NCAAB Preview
Old Spice Classic
Texas Tech is 3-0 under new coach Gillispie, with pair of 5-point wins over Sun Belt teams; they step up in class here vs Indiana State squad that has four starters back from LY's 20-14 team. Sycamores won first four games, allowing 55 ppg in last three, beating Ball State by a point, Green Bay by 7. Big X teams are 1-8-1 vs spread away from home.
DePaul hasn't played in 10 days; they scored 85.5 ppg in beating couple chumps by 19-10 points; Blue Demons have four starters back from LY's 7-24 team, but also has talented newcomers. Minnesota allowed 56.5 ppg in 4-0 start, with best win by 10 over Fairfield. Big Dozen road favorites are 6-3 vs spread. Big East underdogs are 3-4-1 vs spread.
Dayton allowed 58 ppg in 2-1 start, losing only road game at Miami Oh in OT; Flyers have three starters back from 22-14 team, and also have a new coach. Wake Forest scored 83 ppg in 3-0 start; best win was 75-63 over Loyola Md- they're up in class here. A-14 road favorites are 9-5 vs spread; ACC underdogs are 2-5. Deacons are picked 11th in the ACC.
Arizona State is off to 1-2 start, with all three games at home; they've turned ball over 26% of time, uncharacterisitc of a Sendek team. ASU lost three starters from LY's 12-19 team. Fairfield is 2-2, losing to both teams they played ranked better than #183 (ASU is ranked #116). Pac-10 road underdogs of 6 or less points are 3-5; MAAC favorites are 1-4.
Battle for Atlantis
Charleston allowed 65 ppg in 3-0 start, winning 72-69 at Clemson, by 9 over Holy Cross; Cougars lost three starters from LY's 26-11 team- they made 38% of shots on arc in first three games. Central Florida lost by 23 to Florida State; only decent team they've played. UCF is shooting just 34% from arc. C-USA single digit road underdogs are 2-5 vs spread.
Florida State scored 77.8 ppg in 4-0 start, with all four wins by 12+; so far, Seminoles are making 59% of 2-point shots, rebounding 45% of all misses- they're #3 pick in ACC. UMas just pounded Boston College of ACC by 36; they've won their three games vs D-I teams by 18-16-36. Minuteman are 5th in US blocking shots. Lot of athletes in this game.
UConn is off to 4-0 start, but this is best team they've faced so far, all four Huskies' wins were by 12+ points. NC-Asheville lost to NC State by 9, North Carolina by 16, scoring 75 points both games; they lost by 23 to Pitt in NCAAs LY, have four starters back from that 20-14 team. Big East double digit favorites are 7-11 against the spread this season.
Harvard beat Holy Cross by 9, LMU by 10; they were down 13 early in last game, still won/covered; Crimson has all five starters back from LY's 23-7 team that lost Ivy title game at buzzer. Utah is 0-2 vs D-I teams, losing by 21 at Boise State, by 6 at home to Montana State. Underdogs from Pac-10 are 8-7-1 vs spread. Still, laying 15 here is lot of points.
76 Classic
Boston College has been horrible, losing to Holy Cross by 22, to UMass by 36; Eagles are making just 38.8% of 2-points, 59% of foul shots- not good. Saint Louis is 3-0, beating Southern Illinois by 19, Washington by 13- they were up 25 at the half over Huskies. Saint Louis opponents are making just 35% of 2-point shots. A-14 favorites are 16-7 vs spread.
Young Villanova team (lost three starters from LY's 21-12 team) won its first three games, scoring 87 ppg, with OT win over LaSalle, wins by 36 over Monmouth, 10 over Delaware. Cal-Riverside scored 45 ppg losing last two games, by 11 at UTEP, in OT at Youngstown, despite having four starters back from LY. Big West underdogs are 9-7 vs spread.
New Mexico is supposed to be one of best teams in Mountain West; so far, they've split two games vs D-I teams, losing to New Mexico State at home, winning by 5 at Arizona State. Not great- they've turned ball over 28% of time- bad. Santa Clara lost by 33 at Santa Barbara, then best San Jose by 26. Mountain West favorites are 9-8 against the spread.
Oklahoma has new coach (Kruger) but four starters back from its 14-18 team that got the last coach fired; Sooners scored 85 ppg in winning first two games against chumps- they're rebounding 52.3% of their misses, #1 figure in country. Washington State has three starters back from a 22-13 team, but lost the best two- they're 2-1, losing by 8 at Gonzaga.
Alaskan Shootout
New Mexico State is 3-0, winning by 14-9-16 points, with impressive win at New Mexico; Aggies are getting to foul line better than anyone in US right now. Central Michigan beat Pepperdine by 10, after losing to Charlotte in double OT; Chippewas lost three starters from LY's 10-21 team. Central is one of worst rebounding teams in country right now.
Cal-Irvine is off to 0-3 start, losing by 21 at Cal, 1 at San Jose, by 8 at home to Weber State; Anteaters two starters back from LY's 13-19 club in Turner's first year as coach. Southern Mississippi split pair of games in Colorado on way to Alaska, but those were first game Southern Miss played vs D-I teams. Conference USA road favorites are 1-5 vs spread.
TEXAS TECH (3 - 0) vs. INDIANA ST (4 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 12:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS TECH is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS TECH is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA ST is 40-26 ATS (+11.4 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA ST is 40-26 ATS (+11.4 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
INDIANA ST is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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MINNESOTA (4 - 0) vs. DEPAUL (2 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 2:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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DAYTON (2 - 1) vs. WAKE FOREST (3 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DAYTON is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
DAYTON is 20-8 ATS (+11.2 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
WAKE FOREST is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 over the last 2 seasons.
WAKE FOREST is 17-40 ATS (-27.0 Units) in all neutral court games since 1997.
WAKE FOREST is 17-40 ATS (-27.0 Units) when playing on a neutral court since 1997.
WAKE FOREST is 19-42 ATS (-27.2 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
WAKE FOREST is 138-177 ATS (-56.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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ARIZONA ST (1 - 2) vs. FAIRFIELD (2 - 2) - 11/24/2011, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in November games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA ST is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA ST is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
FAIRFIELD is 11-25 ATS (-16.5 Units) in November games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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COLL OF CHARLESTON (3 - 0) vs. UCF (2 - 1) - 11/24/2011, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 40-22 ATS (+15.8 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 40-22 ATS (+15.8 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 36-19 ATS (+15.1 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 since 1997.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 18-7 ATS (+10.3 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
COLL OF CHARLESTON is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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MASSACHUSETTS (4 - 0) vs. FLORIDA ST (4 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MASSACHUSETTS is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in November games over the last 2 seasons.
MASSACHUSETTS is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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UNC-ASHEVILLE (2 - 2) vs. CONNECTICUT (4 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 23-13 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 23-13 ATS (+8.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 13-1 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all neutral court games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 13-1 ATS (+11.9 Units) when playing on a neutral court over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 13-1 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all tournament games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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HARVARD (3 - 0) vs. UTAH (1 - 2) - 11/24/2011, 9:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HARVARD is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in all tournament games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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BOSTON COLLEGE (1 - 2) vs. SAINT LOUIS (3 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 2:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON COLLEGE is 99-69 ATS (+23.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
SAINT LOUIS is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
SAINT LOUIS is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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VILLANOVA (3 - 0) vs. UC-RIVERSIDE (1 - 2) - 11/24/2011, 4:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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NEW MEXICO (2 - 1) vs. SANTA CLARA (2 - 1) - 11/24/2011, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SANTA CLARA is 68-45 ATS (+18.5 Units) after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
SANTA CLARA is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games in November games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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OKLAHOMA (2 - 0) vs. WASHINGTON ST (2 - 1) - 11/24/2011, 11:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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C MICHIGAN (2 - 1) vs. NEW MEXICO ST (3 - 0) - 11/24/2011, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
C MICHIGAN is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
C MICHIGAN is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
C MICHIGAN is 11-22 ATS (-13.2 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
C MICHIGAN is 45-67 ATS (-28.7 Units) in non-conference games since 1997.
C MICHIGAN is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) after allowing 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
NEW MEXICO ST is 13-3 ATS (+9.7 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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UC-IRVINE (0 - 3) vs. SOUTHERN MISS (2 - 1) - 11/24/2011, 11:59 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
DARTMOUTH vs. SAN FRANCISCO
No trends available
San Francisco is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
TEXAS TECH vs. INDIANA STATE
No trends available
Indiana State is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON vs. CENTRAL FLORIDA
College of Charleston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Central Florida
College of Charleston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
No trends available
BOSTON COLLEGE vs. SAINT LOUIS
No trends available
Saint Louis is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Saint Louis's last 7 games
MINNESOTA vs. DEPAUL
No trends available
DePaul is 3-18 SU in its last 21 games
MASSACHUSETTS vs. FLORIDA STATE
Massachusetts is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
No trends available
VILLANOVA vs. UC RIVERSIDE
No trends available
UC Riverside is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games
UNC ASHEVILLE vs. CONNECTICUT
No trends available
Connecticut is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
DAYTON vs. WAKE FOREST
No trends available
Wake Forest is 4-16 SU in its last 20 games
NEW MEXICO vs. SANTA CLARA
No trends available
Santa Clara is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
HARVARD vs. UTAH
No trends available
Utah is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
ARIZONA STATE vs. FAIRFIELD
No trends available
Fairfield is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
CENTRAL MICHIGAN vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Mexico State's last 6 games
New Mexico State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
OKLAHOMA vs. WASHINGTON STATE
No trends available
Washington State is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Washington State's last 15 games