Thursday's Best NCAAB Bets
Covers.com
Savannah State at Wisconsin Badgers (-27, 111)
Wisconsin looks to head into final exams on a positive note when it hosts Savannah State. The No. 15 Badgers are coming off a tougher-than-expected victory at Milwaukee on Tuesday, rallying late after blowing a 17-point lead in the second half.
The Badgers rank at or near the top of Division I in most defensive categories, leading the nation in points allowed (45.7) and holding opponents to 34 percent shooting. A balanced lineup features four players scoring in double figures, led by junior center Jared Berggren (12.3). Senior All-American point guard Jordan Taylor averages 11.8 points and 5.5 assists for Wisconsin, which commits the fewest turnovers (8.4) of any team in the country.
However, the Badgers had a tough time with UW-Milwaukee the last time they took the court. Wisconsin slipped away with a 60-54 road victory, but couldn't cover the number as a 10.5-point favorite.
The Badgers should be able to get back on track in front of their home fans, but there's no way we're biting on this fat line.
Pick: Under
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at Gonzaga Bulldogs (-11.5, 139.5)
This isn't exactly the way the Bulldogs drew it up.
Gonzaga has dropped two straight, losing at Illinois before dropping a 74-67 decision at home to Michigan State. Seven-foot center Rob Sacre continues to shoulder a big load and dropped 16 points while adding seven rebounds in the losing effort. He's putting up 16.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game on the year.
"Shake off the dust and get ready, and get all that losing out of our system," Sacre told reporters ahead of Thursday's game with Oral Roberts. "[We need to] really focus on getting better and go after these guys. We're really hungry for these guys."
They had better be, because the Golden Eagles are coming off a big win. Damon Bell-Holter hit a heave at the buzzer to give Oral Roberts a 58-55 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock.
This is a big one for the 'Zags and they'll show up.
Pick: Bulldogs
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles vs. No.22 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Oral Roberts fell to 6-3 SU on the year with a 73-59 loss to Oklahoma last Thursday and takes-on Arkansas-Little Rock tonight as a seven-point road favorite. The Golden Eagles are 1-4 ATS overall and have failed to cover in their last three games.
Gonzaga is coming off back-to-back losses to Illinois and Michigan State that will most likely knock it out of the top 25. The Bulldogs are now 5-2 SU on the year and 3-4 ATS. They are 3-1 SU at home this season, but just 1-3 ATS.
NCAAB Preview
George Washington lost its last four games, scoring 52.8 ppg, but this is only second team they've played not in top 200. Bradley lost four of its last five games; they lost 66-49 at Wyoming in only road game this year; Braves are 0-3 vs teams ranked in top 150, losing by 23-5-17 points- they're shooting 26% behind arc. MVC road dogs of 7 or less points are 10-6 vs spread; Big Dozen home favorites are 23-15-1, 11-6 if spread is double digits.
1-6 Cal-Irvine has a quick turnaround after Tuesday's loss at Wyoming (58-48); Anteaters are 0-4 on road, losing by 21-1-10 points against D-I opponents- they also lost by 14 at D-II Alaska-Anchorage. LSU won five of last six games, winning last three by 1-5-19 points- they force turnovers on 26% of possessions. Big West road underdogs of 15+ points are 7-1 vs spread; SEC double digit home favorites are 8-18-1.
Oral Roberts won seven of last eight games, but they're 1-2 on the road, losing by 7 at West Virginia, 14 at Oklahoma (only two top 100 teams they've played), before winning last game by 3 at Little Rock Monday. Gonzaga lost last two games to Illinois/Michigan, has Arizona coming in Saturday; three of their five wins are by 19+ points. WCC double digit home favorites are 6-5-1 vs spread. Zags are making 40.5% from arc.
Savannah State at Wisconsin Preview
Covers.com
Savannah State at Wisconsin Badgers (-27, 111)
THE STORY: Wisconsin looks to head into final exams on a positive note when it hosts Savannah State. The No. 15 Badgers are coming off a tougher-than-expected 60-54 victory at Milwaukee on Tuesday, rallying late after blowing a 17-point lead in the second half. The Tigers split back-to-back home games against Georgia Tech and Coastal Georgia after playing eight of their first nine on the road.
ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (4-7): The Tigers have struggled for much of the year on offense, scoring 59.4 points while ranking near the bottom of Division I in assist-turnover ratio (0.65) and turnover margin (minus-3.0). Opponents, meanwhile, are shooting nearly 48 percent. Rashad Hassan has been about the lone bright spot offensively, averaging 13.0 points while shooting 56 percent from the field.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (9-2): The Badgers rank at or near the top of Division I in most defensive categories, leading the nation in points allowed (45.7) and holding opponents to 34 percent shooting. A balanced lineup features four players scoring in double figures, led by junior center Jared Berggren (12.3). Senior All-American point guard Jordan Taylor averages 11.8 points and 5.5 assists for Wisconsin, which commits the fewest turnovers (8.4) of any team in the country.
TIP-INS:
1. Wisconsin coasted to a 79-32 victory in the lone previous meeting between the schools. The game was played in Madison on November 15, 2007.
2. The Badgers are 158-12 at home under coach Bo Ryan, including 80-6 in non-conference games. One of those six defeats came earlier this season against Marquette.
3. Both teams are struggling from the foul line. Savannah State comes in shooting only 60.6 percent, while Wisconsin - which led the nation a year ago - is at 68.3 percent.
BRADLEY vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON
Bradley is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Bradley's last 5 games on the road
George Washington is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
George Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF vs. AKRON
No trends available
Akron is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Akron is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
KENNESAW STATE vs. MISSOURI
No trends available
Missouri is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Missouri is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
LIPSCOMB vs. MURRAY STATE
No trends available
Murray State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Murray State's last 5 games
NORTHWESTERN STATE vs. LOUISIANA-MONROE
No trends available
Louisiana-Monroe is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games
Louisiana-Monroe is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
UC IRVINE vs. LSU
UC Irvine is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of UC Irvine's last 9 games on the road
LSU is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
LSU is 7-17 SU in its last 24 games
SAVANNAH STATE vs. WISCONSIN
No trends available
Wisconsin is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Wisconsin's last 5 games
TROY vs. BELMONT
Troy is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
No trends available
TEXAS SOUTHERN vs. NORTHWESTERN
No trends available
Northwestern is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Northwestern is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
JACKSON STATE vs. SOUTHERN METHODIST
No trends available
Southern Methodist is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Southern Methodist is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
ORAL ROBERTS vs. GONZAGA
No trends available
Gonzaga is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games
Gonzaga is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
HOWARD vs. OREGON STATE
No trends available
Oregon State is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oregon State's last 5 games
NORTH CAROLINA A&T vs. ST. MARY'S
No trends available
St. Mary's is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
St. Mary's is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
CS BAKERSFIELD vs. PORTLAND STATE
No trends available
Portland State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
BRADLEY (4 - 4) at GEORGE WASHINGTON (4 - 5)
Top Trends for this game.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in December games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 4-15 ATS (-12.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGE WASHINGTON is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in home games after scoring 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
UC-IRVINE (2 - 7) at LSU (6 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
UC-IRVINE is 51-74 ATS (-30.4 Units) when playing with one or less days rest since 1997.
LSU is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
LSU is 73-50 ATS (+18.0 Units) after allowing 60 points or less since 1997.
UC-IRVINE is 25-11 ATS (+12.9 Units) as a road underdog of 12.5 or more points since 1997.
UC-IRVINE is 40-21 ATS (+16.9 Units) in December games since 1997.
LSU is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) in a home game where the total is 135 to 139.5 since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
ORAL ROBERTS (7 - 3) at GONZAGA (5 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
ORAL ROBERTS is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) in December games over the last 2 seasons.
GONZAGA is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) in home games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=64 points/game since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
SAVANNAH ST (4 - 7) at WISCONSIN (9 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
WISCONSIN is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
WISCONSIN is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
WISCONSIN is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in home games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
WISCONSIN is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) after allowing 60 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.