College Basketball Information
St John's is 0-5 in Big East this year, 16-31 in last 47 league games; they lost last three Big East games by total of 10 points, beating Dartmouth since. Seton Hall won three of last four games with Johnnies, losing by 4 here LY; Pirates are 2-3 in league, but both wins came on road, in OT at Providence, at Georgetown, holding Hoyas without hoop over last 9:35. Big East home favorites are 10-8 vs spread, 5-3 if giving 6 or less.
Home side won last four Valpo-Youngstown games; Crusaders lost last two visits here by 18-12 points, their only losses in last 13 series tilts. YSU won last three games, winning both home games by 1-14; they are holding teams to 29% from arc in league games. Valpo is 3-2 in league, splitting pair of road games- they're making 39.8% from arc in Horizon games. Horizon home favorites of 5 or less points are 4-6 vs spread.
Southern Miss won seven of its last eight games, with all seven wins by 9+ points; Eagles are 5-3 on road, 1-1 in league, losing last road game at Tulsa. Old Dominion won its last four games after 5-9 start; all of three of its league wins were on road. Monarchs lost four of last six at home. C-USA home teams are 6-7 vs spread if number was 5 or less points. USM is turning ball over 20.8% of time in league, worst mark in league.
Ohio State lost last four games (scoring 64.3 ppg) after 15-0 start, losing to Iowa in only home game during that span; teams are making 50.8% of 2-pointers vs Buckeyes in league play. Illinois have worst eFG% offense in league, making 26.2% from arc; they've also lost last four games after a 13-2 start, losing road games by 25-6 points. Big Dozen double digit home favorites are 7-2 vs spread.
Charlotte won four of last five games, with last three wins all by five or less points; 49ers are 2-3 in true road games, winning at Applachian St., UTEP. Louisiana Tech had 7-game win streak snapped at Southern Miss Sunday; they're forcing turnovers 22% of time in league, holding teams to 14% behind arc. Tech won two league home games by 20-34 points. C-USA double digit home favorites are 5-1 vs spread.
Georgia State is 5-0 in Sun Belt, forcing turnovers 23.8% of time; they've won nine games in row, forcing turnovers 23.8% of time. ULL won both its league home games by 20-23 points; they're 2-3 vs teams in top 125, beating Houston/La Tech. Cajuns are making 41.7% of their 3's in league play. Sun Belt home teams are 3-10 vs spread in games where number was less than 5 points.
Home side won last four Utah-Arizona State games; Utes lost last two visits here by total of 6 points, losing by 1 in OT LY. Utah is forcing turnovers 22.4% of time in league play- they lost first two road games in league by total of 5 points to Washington schools. ASU is 2-3 in league, with all five games decided by 11+ points- they split first two games at home. Pac-12 home favorites of 7 or less points are 2-4 vs spread.
BYU won its four WCC games with Portland, winning by 19-18 in two visits here; Cougars won last five games after losing four in row, winning road games in Bay Area last week by 7-10 points. Portland is 3-4 in its league games, 2-3 at home, with three of four losses by 8+. WCC home underdogs are 4-5 against spread, 0-3 if getting 5 or less points. Cougars scored 83+ points in each of last five wins.
St Mary's won 13 in row, 18 of last 19 with Pepperdine, winning last six here, four of last five by 12+ points. Gaels are 2-0 since Bennett came back from suspension, winning by 15-6 points. Waves lost three of last five games, with all three losses by 10+- they split four WCC road tilts. WCC double digit home favorites are 4-3 vs spread. St Mary's is making 41.2% of its 3-pointers in WCC play.
Oregon lost last four games after 13-0 start, allowing 89.5 ppg; Ducks are 1-2 on Pac-12 road, losing at Colorado/Oregon State, winning in OT at Utah- they were 3-0 vs Washington LY, beating Huskies by 3 in OT at Pac-12 tourney; Ducks are 2-3 in last five visits here but 1-4 in league, Washington allowed 55.5 ppg in winning first two Pac-12 home games by 2-17 points. Pac-12 home underdogs are 7-5 against spread.
UCLA won three in row, 12 of last 14 games with Stanford, winning last eight played here, with seven of eight by 8+ points. Bruins are 3-2 in league, with all three wins by 13+ points- they're forcing turnovers 22% of time in league play, making 39.4% from arc. Stanford won last three games, scoring 80.3 ppg; they split their first league road trip, up in Oregon. Pac-12 home favorites of 6+ points are 12-6 vs spread.
Belmont was 35-43 on foul line in 93-74 win over Morehead State LY, first league game between the two; Morehead turned ball over 24 times, was 19-31 on line, but is much better this year at 4-1 in OVC, winning at Edwardsville/E. Illinois in only road games. Morehead is getting to foul line most in OVC so far, and making 78.8% once they get there. OVC home favorites of 7+ points are 4-7 vs spread.
Northern Colorado won five of last six games with Northern Arizona, winning last six meetings here, last two by 16-8 points. Bears are 5-1 in Big Sky, 4-0 at home, with three wins by 18+ points. NAU won its last four games; they're also 5-1 in league, 2-1 on road, winning at Montana and at dreadful SUU. Big Sky home favorites of 4+ points are 4-7-1 vs spread. Northern Colorado is shooting 59.6% inside arc in league tilts.
Armadillosports.com
Florida at Alabama
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Florida will take its nine-game winning streak into Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night to take on a struggling Alabama squad. This SEC showdown will feature a pair of head coaches that are quite fond of each other.
Anthony Grant spent 10 seasons on Billy Donovan's staff at UF, playing a pivotal role through his recruiting efforts in the shaping of the 2006 and 2007 teams that repeated as national champions.
Grant moved on from Florida to take his first head-coaching gig at Virginia Commonwealth. In his first year, he helped VCU pull a stunning upset over Duke on Eric Maynor's go-ahead jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining.
Grant would lead VCU to an NIT trip in his second season and then a return appearance to the NCAAs in his third campaign. He then left to take the Alabama job, but his recruitment of players like Joey Rodriguez to VCU eventually landed the Rams in the Final Four on Shaka Smart's watch.
This is Grant's fifth season at Alabama. He has taken the Crimson Tide to just one NCAA Tournament and two NIT's. In 2009, if you had told me that's what his tenure would've produced at this point, I would've been absolutely shocked.
And I am stunned. You can recruit to Alabama, especially if you're someone like Grant. Wimp Sanderson attracted the likes of James 'Hollywood' Robinson, Robert Horry, Melvin Cheatum, Derrick McKey, Jason Caffey, Bobby Lee Hurt and Latrell Sprewell.
But things haven't gone right for Grant, especially in this fifth year with his team sporting a mediocre 8-9 straight-up record. Grant is universally respected in the hoops community and I understand that he has the support of the big power brokers at Alabama.
Nevertheless, his job security will come under further scrutiny if this year continues to head south. The exact type of win and subsequent reversal of fortune could come with an upset of Florida, but that won't be an easy task.
As of early Wednesday night, most betting shops were listing Florida (15-2 straight up, 6-6-1 against the spread) as a 5.5-point favorite.
The Gators got a tough test Saturday at Auburn, but they survived thanks to a clutch shot from Scottie Wilbekin at crunch time after the Tigers had pulled to within one. UF won 68-61 but failed to cover the spread as an eight-point road 'chalk.' However, gamblers that took Florida at halftime (-5.5 with a one-point lead, -6.5 adjusted) cashed a fortunate winner thanks to late free throws.
Casey Prather returned to the court after missing a pair of games with knee swelling. UF's leading scorer, who averages 17.3 points per game, scored 16 of his team-high 21 points in the first half. Wilbekin finished with 16 points, while senior center Patric Young added 13 points and six rebounds.
Alabama (8-9 SU, 5-9 ATS) got stroked 68-47 Saturday at Missouri as a 4.5-point road underdog. The Tide trailed by only one at intermission, but it scored just 17 points in the final 20 minutes. Shannon Hale scored a team-best 12 points.
Alabama has a 2-3 spread record in five lined home games. The Tide, which is 1-3 ATS as an underdog this year, is a home 'dog for the first time in this spot.
The 'under' is 9-3-1 overall for the Gators this year. Dating back to last season, they have seen the 'under' go 19-6-1 in their last 26 lined games.
The 'under' is 7-6 overall for 'Bama, but it has seen the 'over' go 4-1 in its home games.
Florida has won seven in a row over Alabama since the Tide won an 80-69 decision in the 2008 SEC Tournament. That defeat popped UF's bubble when it was the two-time defending national champs.
Even though it has lost seven straight to UF, Alabama has covered the number in the last three meetings and is 4-3 ATS in those setbacks.
ESPN2 will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets
Cincinnati's incredible run of 'unders' will be on the line Thursday night when it takes on UCF at home. The 'under' is 12-1 for the Bearcats this season and dating back to last year, they have seen the 'under' go 25-3 in their last 28 games with a total.
Ohio State and Illinois have both lost four consecutive games. One of those slumps will end Thursday when they collide in Columbus. The early number out early Wednesday evening had the Buckeyes favored by 10.
BYU has won five in a row while going 4-1 ATS. The Cougars are favored by 4.5 Thursday at Portland. This is the third of four consecutive road assignments for Dave Rose's squad. The Pilots are 2-1 both SU and ATS in three games as home underdogs this year. They beat Gonzaga and Princeton outright. Portland owns a 9-5 spread record in 14 home games.
After starting the season with a 12-0 record, Oregon has lost four in a row both SU and ATS. The Ducks will look to snap out of it Thursday at Washington as 1.5-point road 'chalk.' The Huskies are 1-1 both SU and ATS as home underdogs, with a 71-54 victory over Colorado to their credit.
When you look at the SEC, it only has two teams in Florida and Kentucky that are locks to get invited to the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee has a strong chance and can lean on two very solid non-conference wins over Virginia and Xavier. But the rest of the candidates -- Ole Miss, Missouri, Arkansas and LSU -- are squarely on the bubble with a lot of work to do on their respective resumes.
UCLA owns a 9-3 spread record when installed as a favorite this season. The Bruins are six-point home 'chalk' vs. Stanford on Thursday. The Cardinal is 2-1-1 ATS in four games as an underdog with outright victories at Oregon and at UConn.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Colorado at Arizona
Unbeaten top-ranked Arizona Wildcats (18-0, 13-4 ATS) who just dismantled ASU 91-68 behind seven players dropping double-digits won't get much resistance from visiting Colorado Buffaloes (15-4, 10-8 ATS). Buffaloes four league wins are against teams that are a combined 4-17 in Pac-12 play. Bad enough that the hosts are a perfect 5-0 (4-1 ATS) in conference play winning by 18.2 PPG, 12-0 (8-3 ATS) overall at McKale Center with a winning margin of 25.1 PPG the Buffaloes have lost their top player in Spencer Dinwiddie (14.7). Tough spot for Buffs' at 4-8 ATS last twelve against conference rivals, 1-5-1 ATS last seven road games vs a team with a winning home record, 2-6-1 ATS overall last nine road games.