Wednesday's Best NCAAB Bets
By Covers.com
Virginia Tech Hokies at Syracuse Orange (-8, N/A)
Amid all the controversy surrounding the investigation of Bernie Fine, the Syracuse Orange just keep doing their thing as they get ready for the NIT semifinal.
For the record, coach Jim Boeheim reiterated his support for Fine in the sexual assault investigation.
“I’ve been friends for 50 years with Coach Fine, and that buys a lot of loyalty to me,” Boeheim told reporters. “Our program will be fine. It’s been pretty good for 36 years. We’ve been through a lot of different things. We’ll get through it.”
Meanwhile, Syracuse is perfect straight up and against the number heading into Wednesday’s date Virginia Tech and the Hokies could have a tough time dealing with the Orange’s balanced attack. James Southerland, Dion Waiters and Kris Joseph are all scoring better than 13 points per game.
Plus, Syracuse is holding its opposition to 34.7 percent shooting from the floor.
Pick: Orange
San Diego State Aztecs at Arizona Wildcats (-7, N/A)
To the casual sports fan, Arizona’s 4-1 straight up start to the season looks pretty good. College hoops bettors know better.
The Wildcats are only 1-4 against the spread and this is already shaping up to be a trying season for coach Sean Miller. Arizona suspended 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman Sidiki Johnson Tuesday for violating a team policy.
However, the young Wildcats did gain some valuable experience in New York, where they dropped a 67-57 decision to Mississippi State in the 2K Championship game as 5.5-point favorites.
"We played against a lot of different styles," Miller told reporters. "Duquesne pressed. We saw a lot of fast pace. St. John's zoned, but was fast-paced. Mississippi State played man-to-man, but it was at a very slow tempo and we didn't handle it well."
San Diego State is another young club struggling against the number but we think they'll give Arizona a good run.
Pick: Aztecs
NCAAB Preview
Ill-Chicago won 82-80 at Evansville in last meeting two years ago; Aces have three starters back from 16-16 team that went 9-9 in MVC- they've beaten Butler in OT and lost by 19 at home to Indiana. UIC lost by 11 to Eastern Michigan, then split pair of games vs non-D-I schools, with a loss to Quincy. Evansville shot 43.3% from arc in first three games.
Nebraska is off to 3-0 start, allowing 62 ppg in wins over USC, Rhode Island; Cornhuskers have four starters back from 19-13 team that went 7-9 in its last year in Big 12. Oregon lost to Vanderbilt by 14, then beat Eastern Washington/SE Missouri by 8-25 points; Ducks lost their star freshman Brown, who quit team after two games. .
Well-coached Colorado lost three starters from 24-14 team that went 8-8 in its last year in Big 12; Buffaloes went 1-2 in Puerto Rico, losing by 9 to Wichita, 7 to Maryland, then beating WMichigan by 5. Air Force won its first three games, beating three stiffs. Pac-10 teams are 4-8 vs spread in games where spread is 6 or less points. MWC favorites are 9-7.
First road game for St Mary's team that blasted Northern Iowa by 16 in its opener eight days ago; Gaels hammered Denver 77-47 in Moraga LY. St Mary's has four starters back from 25-9 team that was 11-3 in WCC. Denver won its first three games, allowing 57 ppg, with Southern Miss best team they've beaten. Sun Belt home teams are 6-7 vs spread.
San Diego State is already 5-1, winning its last two games by total of six points over USC/Long Beach State; they lost only road game at Baylor by 10. Aztecs lost five of last six games vs Arizona, losing three in row here by 12-16-13 points, but beat Wildcats 63-46 in teams' last meeting two years ago. Arizona is 4-1, winning by 9-8-10-9 points.
Syracuse won tis first four games against collection of stiffs, all by 24+ points; Orangemen have four starters back from 27-8 team that was 12-6 in Big East LY. Virginia Tech won its first three games, allowing 54 ppg against three other stiffs; Hokies often get left out on Selection Sunday, so games like this mean lot to them. Syracuse will have edge in crowd support in NYC. ACC underdogs are 2-4 vs spread.
Iona scored 91.3 ppg in winning two of first three games, winning by 6-26 points vs WMichigan/Maryland, losing by point to Purdue. Iona has Arizona transfer Jones as leading scorer (16.3 ppg). St Joe's is 3-1 with wins over Georgia Tech/Tulsa; their only loss was 78-70 to Seton Hall in Puerto Rico. Atlantic 14 underdogs are 10-6 against the spread.
Siena won two of first three games, losing by 6 to St Bonaventure, but they're using 6-man rotation, which is probably why they're shooting a crummy 29.4% behind arc. Georgia Tech is 3-2, beating VCU, but losing to St Joe's/LSU, scoring just 51.5 ppg. MAAC road underdogs of 18 or less points are 8-2 vs spread. ACC double digit favorites are 5-5.
Stanford is off to 4-0 start, allowing 53 ppg, with wins over Fresno State by 16, Colorado State by 12; they're moving way up in class, playing an Oklahoma State team that is 3-0, beating UT-San Antonio in OT in last game. Cowboys have two starters back from LY's 20-14 team. Stanford is struggling shooting, making 61% on foul line, 33% behind arc.
Memphis won double OT game vs in-state rival Tennessee yesterday, now faces Georgetown team that had glorified practice in easy win over host Chaminade. Tigers also had tough game Monday but are deep, with three subs playing 33+ minutes Tuesday. Hoyas play seven guys- they are 3-1, losing tough game to Kansas 67-63 late Monday night.
Kansas is young, thinner than usual but talented; they've beaten UCLA by 16, Georgetown by 4 this week. Jayhawks' bench played total of 44 minutes vs UCLA, 52 vs Georgetown. Duke had two decent tests so far on Maui, beating Tennessee by 10, Michigan by 7; Blue Devils aren't a great defensive team, allowing Belmont 76 points, Michigan 75, but can Kansas shoot ball well enough to take advantage?
Michigan is well-coached; UCLA acts like they hate each other, but they did show spark in second half of 72-56 loss to Kansas Tuesday, cutting lead to 5 at one point. Wolverines play 1-3-1 defense that is hard to get ready for; Bruins made 8-14 from arc last night, still lost by 16. Third day in row for Michigan; UCLA had easy win vs Chaminade Monday.
SAM HOUSTON STATE vs. NIAGARA
No trends available
Niagara is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
AUSTIN PEAY vs. DETROIT
No trends available
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
GEORGETOWN vs. MEMPHIS
No trends available
Memphis is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Georgetown
Memphis is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
WISC-MILWAUKEE vs. MICHIGAN STATE
Wisc-Milwaukee is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Michigan State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Michigan State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
GARDNER-WEBB vs. BUTLER
No trends available
Butler is 16-3 SU in its last 19 games
Butler is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
RADFORD vs. KENTUCKY
No trends available
Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Kentucky is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games
WRIGHT STATE vs. NORTH FLORIDA
Wright State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Wright State is 8-15-2 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
No trends available
OKLAHOMA STATE vs. STANFORD
No trends available
Stanford is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
SAINT JOSEPH'S vs. IONA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saint Joseph's last 6 games on the road
Saint Joseph's is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Iona is 14-3 SU in its last 17 games
Iona is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games at home
VERMONT vs. OLD DOMINION
No trends available
Old Dominion is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games at home
Old Dominion is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
ST. MARY'S vs. DENVER
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Mary's last 6 games on the road
St. Mary's is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver's last 5 games at home
Denver is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home
VMI vs. OHIO STATE
No trends available
Ohio State is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games
Ohio State is 24-1 SU in its last 25 games at home
WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. PURDUE
No trends available
Purdue is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Purdue is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games at home
RUTGERS vs. RICHMOND
No trends available
Richmond is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games
SIENA vs. GEORGIA TECH
Siena is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Georgia Tech is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
GEORGIA SOUTHERN vs. SOUTH FLORIDA
Georgia Southern is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Georgia Southern's last 7 games on the road
South Florida is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home
South Florida is 7-18 SU in its last 25 games
YOUNGSTOWN STATE vs. PENN STATE
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Youngstown State's last 5 games on the road
Youngstown State is 1-23 SU in its last 24 games on the road
Penn State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Penn State is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
IUPUI vs. BALL STATE
No trends available
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Ball State's last 9 games at home
Ball State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
GEORGE WASHINGTON vs. BOWLING GREEN
George Washington is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of George Washington's last 5 games on the road
Bowling Green is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Bowling Green is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
UCLA vs. MICHIGAN
No trends available
Michigan is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Michigan is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing UCLA
TEXAS-ARLINGTON vs. BAYLOR
No trends available
Baylor is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Baylor is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
SOUTH ALABAMA vs. LSU
South Alabama is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of South Alabama's last 7 games on the road
LSU is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games at home
LSU is 4-16 SU in its last 20 games
EVANSVILLE vs. ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
Evansville is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Illinois-Chicago is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Illinois-Chicago is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
MONTANA vs. NORTH DAKOTA
Montana is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Montana is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
No trends available
ALABAMA A&M vs. ALABAMA
No trends available
Alabama is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Alabama is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY
Virginia Commonwealth is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Western Kentucky's last 5 games at home
Western Kentucky is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
CAMPBELL vs. IOWA
No trends available
Iowa is 7-16 SU in its last 23 games
Iowa is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
SAN DIEGO STATE vs. ARIZONA
San Diego State is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games on the road
Arizona is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
COLORADO vs. AIR FORCE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games on the road
Colorado is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Air Force is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Air Force is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
VIRGINIA TECH vs. SYRACUSE
No trends available
Syracuse is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
OREGON vs. NEBRASKA
Oregon is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Oregon is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Nebraska is 18-3 SU in its last 21 games at home
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT vs. IDAHO STATE
Loyola Marymount is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Loyola Marymount's last 7 games on the road
Idaho State is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
ILLINOIS STATE vs. ILLINOIS
No trends available
KANSAS vs. DUKE
No trends available
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Duke's last 8 games
Duke is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games