College Knowledge
-- Home side won last seven Richmond-Old Dominion games; Spiders lost last three visits here, by 7-3-17 points, but ODU is down this year, losing last five games while allowing 74.4 ppg. Monarchs are shooting just 25.2% from arc. Richmond is 6-2 but lost both its road games, by 15 at Minnesota, 25 at Ohio. Atlantic 16 road favorites are 12-7.
-- Texas is 5-2, but lost to D-2 Chaminade; best team they've beaten is #120 Fresno State; they're turning ball over 27.7% of time, not too good. Longhorns allow 50.7 ppg vs D-I teams, but Chaminade scored 89-- go figure. Georgetown is 5-1, losing in OT to #1 Indiana- they won 37-36 in last game, vs Tennessee and also has 78-70 win over UCLA.
-- Oklahoma is 6-1, winning by 4 at Tex-Arlington, 1 at Oral Roberts in Tulsa; their only loss was by 25 to Gonzaga on neutral floor. Home side won their last five games vs Arkansas; Sooners lost last couple visits to Walton Arena by 10-8 points. Razorbacks lost last three games by 15-7-9 points, but all to good teams. SEC underdogs are 11-16, 0-3 at home.
-- Harvard split first six games; they're 0-2 on road, losing at UMass by 3, St Joe's by 19; Crimson beat Boston College last four years, by 21-9-7-12 points. Eagles lost four of last six games, including an ugly 56-53 home loss to #263 Bryant. Seven of nine guys in BC's rotation are frosh or sophs. Ivy League road teams are 6-8 vs single digit pointspreads.
-- Home side lost last two Georgia-Ga Tech games, after winning the five before; Dawgs lost four of last five visits here, with losses by 5-9-38-10 points. Georgia lost five of last six games overall; five of its six losses are vs top 100 teams; two teams they beat are #257/224. Tech has a young team that struggles to score; both its losses are to top 50 teams.
-- 8-0 Wyoming handed Colorado its first loss last game; Cowboys have road wins at Northern Colorado/UCSB-- #65 Buffs are best team they've beaten so far. 5-2 Illinois State lost its last two games, to Northwestern in OT, at Louisville by 3; Redbirds are shooting 58.8% inside arc. MVC home favorites are 9-8 vs spread, 2-4 if laying single digits.
-- TCU beat Houston last two years, 81-80/79-63; Horned Frogs are 5-2 vs D-I teams despite shooting 25.4% from arc. Cougars are 4-2 vs D-I teams, but best team they've beaten is #243 San Jose State- their three road games (2-1) were decided by total of 5 points. MWC home teams are 1-9 vs spread when laying less than 13 points.
-- New Mexico State is 0-3 on road, losing at Oregon St./Niagara/UTEP
by combined total of 13 points; Aggies gave Southern Miss its first loss of season Saturday, avenging pair of losses LY. South Alabama won pair of league road games last week, by 11 points each; Jaguars make 41% of 3's but turning ball over 24% of time- this is their first D-1 home tilt.
-- Northwestern lost last two games after 6-0 start, losing to Maryland/ UIC; this is their first road game, at Baylor squad that crushed Wildcats 69-41 LY in Evanston. Bears are 5-2, scoring 58-59 points in two losses, vs Colorado/Charleston. Baylor won by 9 at Kentucky last game; senior guard Jackson has been taking over games when needed.
-- #29 NC State lost two of last three games; they've allowed 76+ points in last four games- best team they've beaen is #101 UMass. ACC away favorites are 15-6 vs spread this year. UConn is 6-1, with only loss by 6 to New Mexico on neutral floor; Huskies beat Michigan State overseas by 3 in their opener, also their only top 100 win so far this season.
-- Southern Miss is 6-1 despite turning ball over 26% of time; Eagles lost by 8 at #105 New Mexico State Saturday, best team they've played this season. Now they move up in class, facing 5-0, #15 Arizona team that has four wins by 21+ points. Wildcats are leading country in eFG%, so they get good shots. Pac-12 home favorites of 15+ points are 2-10.
-- Homecoming for St John's mentor Lavin, facing #124 San Francisco team that is 3-1 losing to Stanford by 12- none of three teams they beat are ranked higher than #142, #80 Red Storm is 6-2, winning by 11 points at Charleston in only road game- they lost to Murray State/Baylor on neutral floor. WCC teams are 3-9 when spread is 5 or less points.
-- Louisville misses shot blocker Dieng; they escaped with 69-66 home win over Illinois State, after losing previous game to Duke. Cards beat Charleston by 7 LY. Cougars are 5-2 despite turning ball over over 25% of time; they upset Baylor in Eaco, best team they've played- their two losses are both at home, by 11 to St John's, by 4 to Auburn.
Armadillosports.com
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 18 North Carolina State vs. Connecticut
North Carolina State comes into this year's Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden with two losses in its last three games. Overall, the Wolfpack are 4-2 SU and 3-2 ATS with the total going OVER in two of their last three games. This past Tuesday, NC State fell to No. 3 Michigan 79-72 as a 5½-point road underdog.
The Huskies have jumped out to a 6-1 SU Start but they have only covered in one of their first four games with a posted line. They opened the season with an impressive 66-62 victory over then-No. 14 Michigan State as eight-point underdogs. The Huskies are averaging 70.4 points a game but struggling under the boards with just 32.3 rebounds a game.
Jimmy V Classic: Texas vs. Georgetown, NC State vs. UConn
By Covers.com
Texas Longhorns vs. Georgetown Hoyas (-5)
Georgetown is coming off one of the ugliest games in program history, but at least the Hoyas ended up in the win column. Texas knows a little something about ugly games and has spent the last two weeks trying to bounce back from a disastrous trip to the Maui Invitational. The Longhorns will try to secure their fourth straight win when they face the Hoyas in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
Georgetown shot 36.4 percent and reached a 28-year low in scoring but managed to squeeze out a 37-36 victory over Tennessee on Friday. Only six players scored for the Hoyas, and three led the way with eight points apiece. Texas has not exactly been an offensive juggernaut, averaging 64.9 points, but has been strong on the boards and has reached 65 points in each of its last three wins. Longhorns sophomore guard Sheldon McClellan has reached double figures in scoring in each of the first seven games.
ABOUT TEXAS (5-2, 2-3 ATS): The Longhorns were shocked by Division II Chaminade at the Maui Invitational on Nov. 19 and lost to Southern California in overtime the following day to give their early season a decidedly dark tinge. But Rick Barnes’ crew managed to knock off Mississippi State in the final day at Maui and has had a chance to put things back together against Sam Houston State and Texas-Arlington. Since allowing Chaminade to score 86 points, Texas has held its last four opponents to an average of 51.3. The Longhorns held Texas-Arlington to 29.5 percent shooting and put three scorers in double figures in the 70-54 triumph.
ABOUT GEORGETOWN (5-1, 1-3 ATS): The Hoyas and the Volunteers went the last four minutes without scoring, and Georgetown managed to hang on for the one-point victory. It marked the lowest point total for the program since a 37-36 win over Southern Methodist in the 1984 NCAA Tournament. The Hoyas went a 10:10 stretch in the first half without a field goal but did not let it cloud their focus on the other end of the floor. Georgetown’s only loss came to top-ranked Indiana, and it has been much better offensively in the other five games. Four players average in double figures, led by Greg Whittington’s 12.7 points, and the Hoyas are averaging better than 48 percent shooting from the field.
TRENDS:
* Longhorns are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 vs. Big East.
* Hoyas are 25-10-1 ATS in their last 36 non-conference games.
* Under is 6-2 in Longhorns' last eight overall.
* Under is 9-3 in Hoyas' last 12 non-conference games.
TIP-INS:
1. Georgetown sophomore F Otto Porter is shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from 3-point range and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line.
2. Texas gives six freshmen heavy minutes, led by point guard Javan Felix.
3. The schools have not met since Jan. 8, 1972, when the Longhorns picked up a 78-70 victory.
North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. UConn Huskies (+5.5)
Life without Jim Calhoun has had its ups and downs at Connecticut through the first four weeks of the season. First-year coach and former star guard Kevin Ollie guided the Huskies to a huge win over Michigan State in his debut, but has struggled at times since. Connecticut will be looking to knock off another ranked opponent when it faces North Carolina State in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
The Huskies have let schools with seemingly less talent hang around late into the second half in several games since that opener against the Spartans and are struggling on the inside - something about which Calhoun’s teams rarely worried. The Wolfpack were a top 10 team to start the season but have fallen twice already, most recently at No. 3 Michigan in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last week. N.C. State has plenty of size on the inside to exploit Connecticut’s weakness, but struggled containing the quick guards of Michigan.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (4-2, 3-2 ATS): The Wolfpack were surprisingly blown out 76-56 by Oklahoma State in the final of the Puerto Rico Tipoff, when they shot 35.5 percent and let the Cowboys’ guards do the bulk of the scoring. N.C. State shot 57.1 percent at Michigan but could not stop the perimeter trio of Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nik Stauskas in a 79-72 setback. The Wolfpack are at their best when they can pack the inside with C.J. Leslie, T.J. Warren and Richard Howell, opening things up for shooters Scott Wood and Rodney Purvis. Howell leads the nation in field goal percentage at 73.9 and the team ranks in the top five, hitting 52.5 percent of its attempts.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT (6-1, 1-3 ATS): The Huskies needed double overtime to survive Quinnipiac, trailed in the second half against Stony Brook and had to hold off New Hampshire on Thursday. But Connecticut has exactly the type of team that has given N.C. State trouble this season, with lightning-quick guards Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright running the point and freshman Omar Calhoun on the wing. What the Huskies don’t have is size following Andre Drummond’s defection to the NBA and Alex Oriakhi’s transfer. Starting forwards DeAndre Daniels and Tyler Olander top out at 6-9 and played further from the basket last season.
TRENDS:
* Wolfpack are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
* Huskies are 1-6 ATS in their last seven non-conference games.
* Under is 4-1 in Wolfpack's last five neutral site games.
* Under is 7-2 in Huskies' last nine vs. Atlantic Coast.
TIP-INS:
1. Leslie needs one block to reach 100 for his career.
2. The schools have not met since the third round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, when the Wolfpack secured a 65-62 victory.
3. The Huskies out-rebounded a team for the first time this season in Thursday’s win over New Hampshire 40-39.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Samford Bulldogs at Kentucky Wildcats
This group of Cats' going through growing pains stumbled at home Saturday shooting just 29.6% from the field as they were upended 64-55 by Baylor Bears. The home loss was Kentucky’s first in the John Calipari era as the Wildcats’ last setback at Rupp Arena was in 2009 against Georgia. The non-cover ups Wildcats' ATS slide in Nov/Dec home games to 6-13 and it's overall non-conference skid to 5-17-1 ATS. Bulldogs winning just their second of the season last time out defeating Georgia Southern Eagles 57-48 as 2 point pups are 1-8 (3-6 ATS) vs the SEC. Bulldogs got clawed 82-50 by Wildcats last season but covered as they were a massive 34 point underdog.
College Basketball Point Spreads and Picks
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
There are nine games in the top 25 on the college basketball schedule Tuesday night. Many eyes are on the Jimmy V Classic in New York, where No. 15 Georgetown plays Texas, and No. 25 N.C. State takes on UConn.
Here are some trends to ponder for all nine games. The lines below are from the LVH SuperBook, as of about 10:15 a.m. PT.
No. 25 N.C. State vs. Connecticut - 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: N.C. State -5, Total: 143
Trends:
• Wolfpack are 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall.
• Wolfpack are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.
• Wolfpack are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
• Wolfpack are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Wolfpack are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games.
• Huskies are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games.
• Huskies are 18-6 ATS in their last 24 neutral site games.
• Huskies are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Huskies are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
• Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Huskies are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Linemakers’ take: N.C. State is extremely talented, but also young. They lost to Oklahoma State in Puerto Rico and at Michigan, 79-72. Like Oklahoma State and Michigan, UConn has solid guards in Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatwright and Omar Calhoun. But the Huskies don't have a lot of size, and the Wolfpack have an advantage along the front line. Still, the Huskies have overachieved so far, and the value is with the dog and the points.
Texas vs. No. 15 Georgetown – 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Texas -6, Total: 120.5
Trends:
• Longhorns are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 non-conference games.
• Longhorns are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Longhorns are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 vs. Big East.
• Hoyas are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Hoyas are 16-6 ATS in their last 22 neutral-site games.
• Hoyas are 25-10-1 ATS in their last 36 non-conference games.
The Linemakers’ take: Texas lost to Chaminade and USC (which does not have a good basketball team) in Maui. Georgetown just beat Tennessee, 37-36, on Friday in one of the ugliest games you will see. The Hoyas are 25-10-1 ATS in their last 36 non-conference games. We lean toward Georgetown.
Western Michigan vs. No. 3 Michigan – 8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Michigan -21.5, Total: 132.5
Trends:
• Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
• Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
• Wolverines are 35-15-1 ATS in their last 51 games overall.
• Wolverines are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
• Over is 9-2 in Wolverines’ last 11 overall.
• Over is 4-1 in Wolverines’ last 5 non-conference games.
• Over is 4-0 in Broncos’ last 4 overall.
• Over is 5-0 in Broncos’ last 5 non-conference games.
No. 5 Louisville vs. Charleston – 9:00 p.m. ET
Line: Louisville -10, Total: 129.5
Trends:
• Cardinals are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.
• Cardinals are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
• Under is 5-1 in Cardinals’ last 6 Tuesday games.
• Under is 5-1 in Cardinals’ last 6 games following a ATS loss.
• Under is 12-4 in Cardinals’ last 16 overall.
• Under is 5-2 in Cardinals’ last 7 road games.
Southeast Missouri State vs. No. 12 Missouri – 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Missouri -18, Total: N/A
Trends:
• Redhawks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games.
• Redhawks are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
• Redhawks are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
• Tigers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 Tuesday games.
• Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
• Over is 8-0 in Tigers’ last 8 home games.
• Over is 12-3-1 in Tigers’ last 16 overall.
• Over is 12-3-1 in Tigers’ last 16 non-conference games.
Southern Mississippi vs. No. 8 Arizona – 9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Arizona -16.5, Total: N/A
Trends:
• Golden Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
• Golden Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
• Wildcats are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Tuesday games.
• Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
• Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
• Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
• Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games.
• Over is 5-1-1 in Golden Eagles’ last 7 road games.
• Over is 10-3-1 in Golden Eagles’ last 14 overall.
• Over is 5-0 in Wildcats’ last 5 Tuesday games.
• Under is 4-0 in Wildcats’ last 4 games following a S.U. win.
• Under is 6-0 in Wildcats’ last 6 home games.
Western Carolina vs. No. 13 Illinois –8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Illinois -18, Total: N/A
Trends:
• Catamounts are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
• Catamounts are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
• Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
• Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Over is 6-1 in Catamounts’ last 7 overall.
• Over is 6-1 in Catamounts’ last 7 games following a ATS win.
• Under is 16-5 in Catamounts’ last 21 non-conference games.
• Over is 6-2 in Catamounts’ last 8 vs. Big Ten.
• Over is 4-1 in Fighting Illini’s last 5 non-conference games.
• Over is 4-1 in Fighting Illini’s last 5 home games.
South Dakota State vs. No. 14 Minnesota –8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Minnesota -21, Total: 152
Trends:
• Jackrabbits are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• Golden Gophers are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
• Golden Gophers are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games.
• Under is 5-1 in Jackrabbits’ last 6 overall.
• Over is 13-3 in Jackrabbits’ last 16 non-conference games.
• Under is 4-1 in Jackrabbits‘ last 5 road games.
No. 21 UNLV vs. Portland– 11:00 p.m. ET
Line: UNLV -13, Total: 145
Trends:
• Runnin' Rebels are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
• Runnin' Rebels are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games.
• Pilots are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
• Pilots are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Mountain West.
• Pilots are 5-15-1 ATS in their last 21 non-conference games.
• Under is 23-6-1 in Runnin' Rebels’ last 30 Tuesday games.
• Under is 5-2 in Runnin' Rebels‘ last 7 vs. West Coast.
• Under is 7-3 in Runnin' Rebels’ last 10 road games.
• Under is 5-1 in Pilots’ last 6 home games.
• Under is 5-1 in Pilots’ last 6 games following a ATS loss.
• Over is 8-2 in Pilots’ last 10 non-conference games.