College Basketball Information
Mike Anderson went 77-29 his last three years at Missouri; now he's in third year at Arkansas- home team won his first two games vs Mizzou, winning by 2 here, losing by 30 in Columbia. Home team covered five of Hogs' six SEC games; they're 2-1 as home favorites, winning by 2-19 in home games, losing to Florida. SEC home favorites of 6 or less points are 7-2 vs spread. Mizzou is 1-2 on SEC road; three games were decided by total of 11 points.
Baylor lost its last four games after starting season 13-2; they lost last two home games, to Oklahoma/Texas, are 1-4-1 vs spread in league this year. Bears swept West Virginia by 20-3 points LY. WVU lost four of last five games; their only Big X wins are TCU/Texas Tech (twice). Big X home favorites of 6 or less points are 2-6 vs spread. Baylor is last in Big X; teams shoot 54.5% on 2-pointers against them.
Michigan State won six in row, 11 of last 12 games with Iowa, but State is banged up (Payne/Dawsen out) right now, coming off emotional loss at home to Michigan last game. Over last 4.5 years, Spartans are 9-7 as road dogs in Big Dozen games. Big Dozen single digit home favorites are 3-12 vs spread this year. Iowa is 3-0 at home, 2-1 as home faves, with wins by 10-26-21 points at home.
South Florida is 0-4 at home, 1-2 as home dogs in first AAC year, with home losses by 15-9-7-39 points. Bulls (+10.5) lost 71-54 at SMU Jan 15; Mustangs shot 59% inside arc, led by 16 after 10:00. Mustangs won last five games, covered last seven; this is quick turnaround after 75-68 win at Houston Sunday, game they trailed by six at half. AAC home underdogs of 7 or less points are 1-5 vs spread.
Wichita State is 8-0 in Valley, 7-1 vs spread, 4-0 as home favorite, with home wins by 14-19-22-20 points- they covered last four games overall. Underdogs are 6-1-1 vs spread in Loyola's Valley games; Ramblers lost all three road games by 12-9-5 points (1-1-1 as road dogs). MVC home favorites of 9+ points are 7-3 vs spread. Loyola is last in MVC, forcing least turnovers, turning it over the most, a bad combination.
Kansas State won last seven games with Texas Tech, winning last four in Manhattan by 12-34-19-20 points. Wildcats covered last four games, are 2-0 as Big X home favorites, winning home games by 3-6-22. Tech is 4-1 vs spread in last five games, 3-0 vs spread on road, losing by 3 at Texas, 6 at West va, winning at TCU- road team covered six of their seven Big X games. Big X home favorites of 7+ points are 4-7 vs spread.
Notre Dame lost five of last six games, is 2-1 at home in ACC, losing by 7 to NC State, beating Duke/Va Tech- they're shooting 29.7% from arc in ACC games, getting to line least of any team. Virginia is 6-1 in ACC, 7-0 vs spread, with road wins at Florida St/NC State, loss at Duke by 4. Cavaliers force turnovers 22% of time in league play. ACC home dogs of 4 or less points are 1-7 against the spread.
Creighton is 6-2 vs spread in Big East, 3-1 as home favorites, winning at home by 18-6-28-13 points. Bluejays make 42.4% of their 3's. St John's won last two games (Seton Hall/Butler) after 0-5 start; they've covered one of four as Big East dog, losing road games by 10-17-2 points, with lone road win at Butler. Red Storm's strength is interior defense, but the Jays shoot 3's. Big East double digit home favorites are 4-3 vs spread.
Kentucky won its last five games with LSU, winning last three here by 4-26-24 points. Home teams are 4-1-1 vs the spread in Kentucky's SEC games; Wildcats won by 9 at Vandy, lost by hoop at Arkansas in only road games. LSU won last three home games after losing to Tennessee in home opener; they went ahead after being down 19 at Alabama in last game, but lost by hoop. SEC home dogs of 4 or less points are 8-1-1.
New Mexico is 6-1 in Mountain West, 4-0 on road; they won by hoop at Colorado State Saturday without Kirk (check status). Utah State got beat at home by San Diego State in OT Saturday; Aggies lost last three games, are 2-5 in MW, beat San Jose/Colorado St at home, losing to the Aztecs. Utah State is making 40.5% of its 3's, #1 in league. MW home underdogs of 6 or less points are 5-7 vs spread.
Cleveland State won five of last seven games, with all five wins by 10+ points; Vikings are making 39.2% from arc in league games, 38.7% for season- Horizon is much better league than OVC. Eastern Illinois is 3-2 in last five games after a 1-9 skid; their last five games were all decided by 8 or less points. Panthers don't defend against 3's very well- teams are making 36.7% for season, #278 in country.
Armadillosports.com
Super Tuesday
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Michigan State at Iowa
As of late Monday night, most betting shops had Iowa (16-4 straight up, 12-6 against the spread) installed as a six-point home 'chalk.'
Michigan State (18-2 SU, 10-7-2 ATS) saw its 11-game winning streak snapped Saturday night at Breslin Center where Michigan emerged from East Lansing with an 80-75 win. The Wolverines won outright as five-point underdogs, hooking up money-line backers with a +185 return (risk $100 to win $185). A rash of injuries for the Spartans finally caught up to them. They were playing without their two best 'bigs' in Adreian Payne (foot) Branden Dawson (fracture bone in his shooting hand).
In the loss to Michigan, Michigan State was outscored 50-39 in the second half. Gary Harris played tremendous in the losing effort, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Harris also had five rebounds, three steals and two assists compared to just one turnover. Keith Appling had 10 points and 10 assists.
This is Tom Izzo's first underdog situation of the season. Sparty has been perfect in five true road assignments, going 5-0 both SU and ATS.
Payne, who averages 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, is listed as 'doubtful' and will probably miss his six straight game at Iowa. Dawson isn't expected to return until late February or early March. He averages 10.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per conteState
Iowa is unbeaten in 11 home games, compiling a 6-2 spread record.
Iowa is No. 30 in the RPI Rankings. There isn't one shameful loss on the Hawkeyes' resume, as their defeats have come at Michigan, at Iowa State, at Wisconsin and vs. Villanova on a neutral court. Fran McCaffrey's squad has three scalps of RPI Top-50 foes, winning at Ohio State, at home vs. Minnesota and vs. Xavier on a neutral floor.
Iowa's best player is Roy-Devyn Marble, the son of former Hawkeye great Roy Marble. The younger Marble leads the team in scoring (16.0 PPG) and steals (2.0 per game). He is second on the team in assists with 63.
Despite seeing back-to-back 'unders,' Iowa has seen the 'over' go 11-6 overall, 6-2 in its home games.
The 'over' is 10-9 overall for the Spartans, 4-2 in their last six games.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Kentucky at LSU
The calendar hasn't even hit February yet, so it would be a bit premature to imply that this is a must-win for LSU. But it's not too early to call this a pivotal home date with Kentucky. With an RPI of 65 and zero wins over RPI Top-50 foes, the Tigers' chances of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament would take a serious hit with a home loss to UK.
As of late Monday night, most books had Kentucky (15-4 SU, 8-7-2 ATS) listed as a three-point road favorite.
LSU (12-6 SU, 4-7-3 ATS) collected a solid home win over Missouri last Tuesday night, but then it dropped an 82-80 decision at Alabama as a two-point 'dog. Johnny O'Bryant led five LSU players in double figures with 18 points against the Crimson Tide.
LSU has won eight of its 10 home games while posting a 2-3-1 spread record. The Tigers lost outright in Baton Rouge to Rhode Island and Tennessee (by 18!). This is LSU's first home underdog spot. It owns a 1-2-1 spread record in four games as a dog either on the road or at a neutral site.
Since losing 82-77 at North Carolina on Dec. 14, John Calipari's team has won seven of their eight games and is sporting a 5-1 SEC record. Kentucky blasted Georgia 79-54 at Rupp Arena on Saturday, easily covering the number as a 14-point home 'chalk.' Aaron Harrison scored a team-high 15 points, while Julius Randle finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
The 'over' has hit in four consecutive LSU games to improve to 7-6-1 overall, 4-2 in its home games at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge.
The 'under' is 9-6-1 for UK, but the 'over' is 2-1 in its three true road assignments.
UK has won five in a row over LSU in this SEC rivalry, but the Tigers have taken the money in back-to-back meetings. When these teams met at Rupp Arena last year, the 'Cats captured a 75-70 win as 15.5-point home favorites.
ESPN will have television coverage at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets
Duke picked up a monster win for its resume Monday night at Pittsburgh. Jabari Parker scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Blue Devils to a convincing 80-65 victory as 4.5-point road underdogs. Andre Dawkins came off the bench and in just 15 minutes of playing time scored 20 points thanks to 6-of-7 shooting from behind the 3-point line. The loss was Pitt's first at home this season.
Former Louisville player Chane Behanan has enrolled in school at Colorado State, and he will be eligible to play for Larry Eustachy's program next season. Assuming Behanan can keep his nose clean, this is a big get for Eustachy, who is now working on about a decade of sobriety. Behanan reportedly spent time with John Lucas in Houston after his dismissal from Rick Pitino's program.
Oklahoma improved to 6-2-1 ATS in nine underdog spots with last night's 88-76 home win over Oklahoma State while catching four points. The Sooners hooked up money-line supporters with a payout in the +160 range (risk $100 to win $160).
Arkansas is a 5.5-point home favorite Tuesday vs. Missouri. When I was in New Orleans for the 2012 Final Four, I tweeted about how I found it odd to see Arky head coach Mike Anderson and Mizzou HC Frank Haith hanging out together at Harrah's Casino on multiple occasions over the weekend. Obviously, Anderson left Mizzou to take over at Arkansas, and his departure left a lot of the Tigers faithful quite upset with Anderson. So I found it even more peculiar when Haith acted like he wanted to go after Anderson at midcourt as a timeout was called at one point in the first half. As Haith was screaming at Anderson and making a scene for the ESPN cameras, the Mizzou assistants restrained him as Anderson simply smiled at him. I'll be interested to watch their interactions at Bud Walton Arena in a key SEC showdown for both teams that could be dubbed bubble squads even at this early stage.
Villanova's nine-game run for the 'over' ended last night in a win at Georgetown. What didn't end was the Hoyas' winless woes since center Josh Smith was lost for the season due to academic reasons. Georgetown has lost five in a row without Smith.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Kentucky at LSU
Kentucky flexed it's talent Saturday in a 79-54 romp of Georgia. Kentucky dropping a boat load (79.6) behind four players in double-digits lead by Julius Randall (16.6) along with it's solid defensive play allowing 65.5 PPG on 38.7% shooting are now 15-4 overall (8-7-2 ATS), 5-1 in the SEC (3-3 ATS). Louisiana State dropping an 82-80 squeaker at Alabama fell to 12-6 on the campaign (4-7-3 ATS), 3-3 in conference play (2-2-2 ATS). The Tigers with three in double digits average 76.1 PPG while allowing opponents 69.0 per/contest. The Wildcats enjoying success vs Tigers winning 9-of-11 (7-4 ATS) in the series should make it five straight vs LSU. However, NCAA Handicappers that follow Cali's Cats closely will tell you they're in dangerous betting territory. Wildcats are on a 1-9 ATS road skid, 3-12-2 ATS slide away from Rupp Arena facing a team with a winning home record. Those digging deeper will also be aware LSU Tigers are profitable 5-1-1 ATS off a conference loss.