College Basketball Knowledge
Buffalo hasn't played in nine days; they're 5-2 despite playing only one home game (Nov 14); they led at Kentucky at half, are 5-0 vs teams not in top 100, with three wins by 12+ points. Bulls are forcing turnovers on 21.4% of possessions. Drexel is 2-6 despite playing only one true road game (48-65 at Colorado); Dragons turn ball over 21.3% of time.
Charleston beat Charlotte 83-82 at home LY despite being down 14 with 6:01 left; Cougars were 12-28 from arc, 49ers just 23-37 on line. This is home opener for Charlotte team that lost four of last five games; they're shooting 58.5% from line- two of their four wins were in OT. Charleston has new coach, is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 8-9-29 points.
Middle Tennessee won its last two games by a point each; they're 0-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 18-10 points. Blue Raiders are shooting 39.9% inside arc- this is rare shot on national TV for them. Oklahoma State won by 18 at Memphis last game; they're 8-1, forcing turnovers 23.3% of the time (#40)- they have bigger game for them up next, against Maryland.
Arizona State is 6-3, losing only true road game 72-71 at Texas A&M in game they led by 11 at half; Sun Devils also lost couple games on neutral floor by five points each. ASU hit 10-22 from arc in 79-77 home win vs Marquette LY. Eagles are down to eight scholarship players; they have not played in 10 days, split first four home tilts, losing to #220 Omaha.
6-2 Alabama lost its only road game by 13 at Xavier; Crimson Tide is #3 foul shooting team in US- they lost 72-67 at home to Wichita LY, after leading by 3 with 6:22 left. Shockers are 7-1 vs #36 schedule, with four top 100 wins; they're forcing turnovers 24.2% of time- they've won all four home games, three by 17+ points.
Oakland lost by 26 at Michigan State Sunday night; they're 3-6 vs #74 schedule, with #325 eFG%, not good- they lost their other two top 100 games by 11-5 points. Arizona is 10-0, with five wins by 18+ points vs teams outside top 150. Wildcats hammered Michigan by 27 Saturday; they shoot 56% inside arc, force turnovers 21.2% of the time.
North Carolina lost by 14 at Kentucky Saturday in first true road game; Tar Heels are 3-0 vs teams outside top 100, winning by 16-44-44 points. UNC beat NC-Greensboro 81-50 LY- it was 44-14 at the half. Spartans won last three games by total of seven points after losing six in row prior to that. UNCG lost only true road game 87-79 at Indiana.
VCU handed Northern Iowa its first loss in OT Saturday; Rams won at Belmont 81-68 LY, forcing 21 turnovers in game they trailed by 12 early on. Rams are 6-3 vs #14 schedule; #108 Bruins are 2nd-worst team VCU has played this season. Belmont lost last two games by 3-8 points after 7-1 start; Bruins turn ball over 20.3% of time, a red flag vs VCU.
Dartmouth is 3-5 vs #334 schedule; they're 1-4 on road, with only win at #298 Mass-Lowell; Big Green turns ball over 21.4% of time. Mercer won its two D-I home games y 8-9 points; they lost two of three games up in Alaska, with two of those going OT. Bears give up 39.7% of their points behind arc. Dartmouth is shooting 38% as a team behind the arc.
East Tennessee State just split first two SoCon home games; they're 2-1 on road, losing by 14 at Valparaiso; Bucs are 2-1 vs top 200 teams- their 55.1 eFG% is #319 in nation. Eastern Kentucky is 3-1 vs teams outside top 100, winning by 23-9-9 points, losing by 6 to Valpo. EKU forces a turnover 28.7% of time, gets 48.9% of its points behind arc (#3).
North Dakota State is 4-4 vs D-I teams, 3-0 at home, winning by 13-8-29 points; Bison have #305 3FG%, are shooting just 43.3% inside the arc. Akron is 6-3 vs #301 schedule, losing last game Saturday at home by a point to Middle Tennessee. Zips lost only true road game 78-72 at Penn State three weeks ago. Akron has couple of guys hurt right now.
Vanderbilt upset Purdue at home last game; Commodores are in bottom 5 in country in experience, are making 42.6% of 3's (#9), #13 in eFG%, so they're young but good. Vandy is 3-0 vs teams outside top 200, winning by 10-32-10 points. Western Carolina lost last three games by 6-7-20 points- they've already lost games with SEC teams by 10-6 points.
St Mary's had great OT win at Creighton Saturday; Gaels have another road trip coming up to NYC this weekend, could overlook NAU squad that is 0-4 on road, with three losses by 12+ points, also losing by 6 at Ole Miss. Lumberjacks' last four games were all decided by four points or less, or in OT- they just beat LMU of the WCC by a hoop Saturday.
Armadillosports.com
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Alabama at Wichita State
It's a good bet the Shockers walk off Charles Koch Arena hardwood with a victory/cover when they host Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday. Shockers lead by leading scorer Ron Baker (18.5 ppg) are netting 78.1 points/game and with reigning Defensive P.O.Y. Tekele Cotton (10.9 PPG, 12 steals) are very solid on the defensive end allowing 59.9 PPG. Alabama lead by Levi Randoph (17.8 ppg) drop 78.0 through the hoop but allow opponents to shoot 45.2% from the field surrendering a whopping 71.4 per/contest. Wichita State better at both ends of the court expect Shockers to notch it's 22nd consecutive home victory. Consider laying the -13.0 points knowing Shockers are on a 5-1 ATS stretch laying double digits, 8-2 ATS in their last ten on home hardwood, 22-8-1 ATS in their last thirty-one non-conference games. If that were not enough, Crimson Tide hit the hardwood on a 0-15 SU, 6-8-1 ATS road skid and have cashed just 2-of-16 tickets following a win the previous effort (2-12-2 ATS).
Tuesday College Basketball Betting Preview
By: Craig Williams
Sportingnews.com
While Alabama's football team is headed to the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide have a chance to make some noise on the hardwood tonight against No. 11 Wichita State (9 p.m. ET, ESPN 2).
It will be Alabama's second shot at knocking off a ranked opponent. The Tide fell to No. 13 Iowa State in the CBE Classic semifinal on Nov. 24.
Wichita State (7-1 SU, 5-2 ATS) is a 12-point home favorite tonight, with a total of about 142.5. The line opened at 13, so there's been some action on the underdog.
Laying big numbers is familiar territory for the Shockers, who covered their first three double-digit spreads of the season but have failed to get the cash against their last two.
These teams met a year ago nearly to the day, when Wichita State, as a 1-point favorite, won in Alabama 72-67.
Alabama has lost its last four non-conference road games against top-25 opponents. The Tide, though, have been deadly as double-digit underdogs on the road, going 4-0 ATS in the situation since the start of the 2012 season and 7-1 in their last eight opportunities in the role, per OddsShark data.
The Crimson Tide (6-2 SU, 3-4-1 ATS) have jumped out to a decent start, but are still searching for the type of win that announces their presence as a potential tournament team. This will be the third time the Tide receive points this season. They dropped games both SU and ATS against Iowa State (+6.5) and Xavier (+7.5) as dogs.