College Knowledge
-- Pitt beat Duquesne at least 10 years in a row, last three by 11-14-9 points; Dukes lost their two top 100 games this year by 6-14 points. Panthers are 7-1, with only loss on neutral floor to Michigan- they won last three games by 26-24-13 points. Atlantic-16 double digit underdogs are 5-3 vs spread; Big East double digit favorites are 10-11.
-- Home team won seven of last nine Florida-Florida State games; Gators lost three of last four visits here- their last two wins at FSU are by 1-4 points. Florida State lost last two games at home, to Minnesota/Mercer. ACC underdogs of 5 or less points are 6-4 vs spread. First road game for 6-0 Florida squad whose closest win is 13 points.
-- Memphis allowed 66 or less points in its four wins, 78-84 in the two losses; they're 1-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Northern Iowa by 5 on a neutral floor. Ohio was 6-0 until they lost 84-76 at Robert Morris in first road game of season. C-USA favorites of 5 or less points are 5-7 vs spread; MAC underdogs of 5 or less points are 5-10.
-- Tennessee scored 75+ points in its four wins, 45-36 in its two losses, now they're playing a Bennett-coached team; best team Vols beat was #101 UMass. Virginia won last five games, allowing 51.2 ppg, beating four stiffs with an impressive win at Wisconsin. Cavaliers are defending well, holding opponents to 39% shooting inside the arc.
-- Marshall is 1-4 vs West Virginia since Huggins has been coach, beating WVU two years ago; losses are by 16-8-11-12 points. Herd is 4-3 vs D-I teams, losing by 1-12 points in only two games vs top 100 teams. WV is shooting only 23.5% behind arc. Young Mountaineers are 2-3, losing to three teams in top 90, beating teams ranked 209-252.
-- Western Kentucky beat Southern Illinois 62-55/53-46 last two years; Hilltoppers are 5-2, with both losses vs top 100 teams- they won pair of league road games last week, by 11 at ULMonroe, 4 at Troy. Salukis are 3-1 vs D-I teams despite turning ball over 27% of time- their only loss is by 10 at Saint Louis, best win by 3 over Fresno State.
-- Temple is 5-0, winning road games by 14 at Kent, 15 at Buffalo; home side won their last four games with Villanova. Owls lost last four visits crosstown, by 4-17-18-8 points. Wildcats are 13-22 overall in their last 35 games, losing three of last four- they've allowed 75+ points in three four of last five games. First top 100 opponent for Temple this year.
-- First road game for 5-2 Dayton team that forces turnovers on 26% of possessions; they beat BC/Auburn on neutral floor, but lost to Colorado by 10 on same court. Alabama lost 74-62 at Dayton LY; Crimson Tide is 6-1, losing by hoop at Cincinnati in last game, their first on road. SEC single digit home favorites are 7-9. A-16 single digit road dogs are 11-12.
-- Home team won last four Colorado State-Colorado games; State lost last two visits here, 90-83ot/75-56. Rams are 6-0, winning road games at Denver by 7, 18 at Washington, allowing 54 ppg in two games. Buffs are 6-1 after losing at Wyoming last game; they beat three top 100 clubs on neutral floor-- Dayton by 10, Baylor by 2, Murray State by 7.
-- Washington State is 5-3, losing to Kansas by 37, Texas A&M by 1 in only two games vs teams ranked above #187; Coogs lost three of its last four vs Gonzaga, but only one of losses was by more than eight points. 8-0 Zags have revenge game with Illinois Saturday; this game has to be more important to State. Gonzaga is shooting 58% inside the arc.
-- Iona won four of last five games with St Peter's, winning by 24-14-1 in last three visits here; erratic Gaels are playing first road game- they've lost neutral court games to Quinnipiac/UIC, with best win by 26 over Wake Forest. Peacocks started 3-0, with wins at Rutgers/Cornell, but is 0-4 since, with three of the four losses by 8 or less points.
-- Loyola Md is 6-2 but only three of those games were at home; they're 1-2 vs teams in top 200. Niagara won last five visits here, as road team won last four series games. Purple Eagles are 2-5, 0-3 on road, losing on foreign soil by 21-11-2 points. Teams are shooing 51% inside arc, 43% outside it vs Niagara. Loyola is making only 28.7% outside arc.
-- Davidson is playing D-I team in Charlotte for first time this year, but it is crosstown rival UNCC; home side won last five series games, with Wildcats losing last four visits here, by 23-7-4-11 points. 49ers are 7-0 but haven't played team ranked over #128. Davidson is 4-3, but two of three losses were to top 30 teams- they've played #16 schedule. .
Armadillosports.com
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 7 Florida vs. Florida State
Florida has moved up the polls with a perfect 6-0 SU start that includes victories over Wisconsin, Central Florida and most recently an 82-49 romp over Marquette this past Thursday as a 10½-point home favorite. The Gators are now 3-1 ATS on the year. Kenny Boynton leads the team in scoring with 14.5 points a game while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor.
Florida State fell to 4-3 SU on the year with back-to-back losses to No.21 Minnesota as a three-point home favorite and to Mercer in a game that had no posted line. It is 3-2 ATS and the total has gone OVER in all four of its games with a posted line. As a team, the Seminoles are shooting 47.6 percent from the field and averaging 75.1 points a game.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Florida at Florida State
The fifth-ranked Florida Gators put their unblemished record on the line once more, as they take on Florida State Seminoles on Wednesday night. Gators with their most recent triumph against Marquette are 6-0 (3-1 ATS) winning each contest by double-digits. Florida's bread and butter is it's play at the defensive end of the court, as foes are shooting 35.0% overall managing just 48.5 points/game giving Gators a staggering +25.3 scoring margin over the six game span. Meanwhile, Seminoles suffering their second consecutive loss vs Mercer last time out have opened 4-3 (3-2 ATS) netting 75.1 per game while giving up a whopping 69.3 per contest. Seminoles faltering the past two scoring just 62.0 points/game on 36.8% from the field could prove to be another laugher for Gators who've won/cashed the last three meetings and on a 6-0 ATS streak vs an ACC opponent.
Florida at Florida State: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Florida Gators at Florida State Seminoles (+4)
Archrivals come together in Tallahassee as No. 5 Florida pays a visit to Florida State. The Gators are 6-0 for the ninth time in program history and the fourth time under head coach Billy Donovan, excelling with a stifling team defense that has limited opponents to an SEC-leading 48.5 points per game. Only Stephen F. Austin's defense (44.2) has been more suffocating among Division I schools. The Seminoles rebounded from the disappointment of a season-opening loss to South Alabama with four straight wins but have taken consecutive steps back of late, falling to Minnesota and Mercer at home in their last two games.
ABOUT FLORIDA (6-0, 3-1 ATS): The Gators ran all over Marquette at home last time out, dropping the Golden Eagles 82-49 in Florida's second-highest offensive output of the season. Six players reached double figures for the Gators, led by freshman Michael Frazier II, who totaled 17 points off the Florida bench. The win marked the first time a Gator team had as many as six players score 10 or more since seven accomplished the feat against North Carolina A&T in 2010. Florida has knocked down 47 percent of its field goals, second only to Kentucky (49.2 percent) in the SEC among the top 50 in the nation.
ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (4-3, 3-2 ATS): The Seminoles' loss to Mercer was their first loss to the Bears since 1954 and the latest setback in a troublesome start for the defending ACC champions. Mercer limited senior guard Michael Snaer, Florida State's leading scorer, to just seven points on only six attempts from the field. Snaer enters play against Florida averaging 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game - second on the team behind super sub Terrance Shannon, who pulls down 6.9 boards.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Home team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
* Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Gators are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Florida State.
TIP-INS:
1. The Gators lead the all-time series against the Seminoles 41-22 and have rolled off three straight.
2. Florida State's defense has been opportunistic, averaging 7.7 steals per game, second only to North Carolina (9.8) in the ACC.
3. A win in Tallahassee would give Florida its fifth 7-0 start and its third under Donovan, who is 10-6 all-time against the Seminoles.
College Basketball Point Spreads and Betting Guide
By: Larry Hartstein
Sportingnews.com
Here’s a look at some of Wednesday night’s college basketball betting action. Lines are from the LVH SuperBook as of Wednesday morning at about 8:30 a.m. PT. Visit our live odds board for updated college basketball point spreads.
No. 6 Florida (6-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) at Florida State (4-3 SU, 3-2 ATS), 7 p.m. ET
Line: Florida -6, Total: 136
About Florida: Six-foot-10 senior Erik Murphy (12.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg) did not practice Monday due to a hip pointer and is questionable. This is the Gators’ first true road game. Those are the only question marks for a Gators team that demolished Marquette, 82-49, last Thursday and beat Wisconsin by 18 earlier.
Florida ranks second nationally in points allowed (48.5), fourth in scoring margin (25.3), ninth in rebounding margin (+11.2) and ninth in field-goal percentage defense (35.0). Coach Billy Donovan, displeased with Patric Young’s effort in practice, did not start him against Marquette. The 6-9 junior responded with an intense 22 minutes (10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals) and should start tonight.
About Florida State: The Seminoles just got out-rebounded by Mercer in a stunning 61-56 home loss. They look nothing like last year’s team, having lost four starters and six regulars from that 25-win, ACC champion outfit.
Senior G Michael Snaer (14.1 ppg) is a marked man, and he’s feeling the burden, shooting 39 percent. Coach Leonard Hamilton hasn’t found the right mix yet while incorporating seven newcomers. There's plenty of talent, but it hasn't meshed yet. Hamilton's teams usually defend like crazy, but this bunch allows 69.3 points (236th) and 41.1 percent shooting (129th). FSU has dropped two straight home games for the first time since 2010.
Key matchup: Despite having three 7-footers, FSU lacks a true shot blocker. There are no intimidators like Bernard James, Solomon Alabi or Chris Singleton anchoring the defense. Florida’s big men – especially Young – could go off. With the Seminoles also struggling to stop penetration, look for slasher Mike Rosario to attack the basket repeatedly.
Trends:
*Florida has won and covered three straight vs. FSU.
*Gators are 6-0 ATS in their last six vs. the ACC.
*Seminoles are 1-4 ATS in their last five vs. the SEC.
*Home team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Linemakers Power Ratings: Florida 147.9, Florida State 140.1 (add 3-4 points for home court).
The Linemakers' Rick Herron says: "Florida has been terrific and they have possibly the best threesome of guards in the nation led by Kenny Boynton, Mike Rosario and Scottie Wilbekin. Patric Young is also a force down low. If they are without Erik Murphy tonight it will be a big blow in tough, rivalry contest. The Gators have not been on the road yet. Florida State lost its last two game to Minnesota (no shame there) and to Mercer! They also have beaten BYU and a very good St Joe's team. Looking for a big effort out of the Noles tonight.
Quick Hits
Tennessee (4-2 SU, 3-2 ATS) at Virginia (6-2 SU, 5-1-1 ATS), 7 p.m. ET
Line: Virginia -5
Last we saw Tennessee, the Volunteers were setting back basketball a generation in a 37-36 loss at Georgetown. Tennessee misses F Jeronne Maymon (knee) badly because his absence allows opponents to double-team F Jarnell Stokes (13 ppg, 7.7 rpg).
Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett runs a grinding defensive system that won’t allow the Vols to get out and run. Virginia senior PG Jontel Evans, who’s coming back from foot surgery, finally looked healthy Saturday against Green Bay, getting seven assists and five steals in 23 minutes.
Trends:
*The Cavs are 4-0-1 ATS at John Paul Jones Arena.
*Vols are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following an ATS loss.
*Cavs are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 nonconference games.
Linemakers Power Ratings: Tennessee 139.4, Virginia 137 (add 3-4 points for home court).
Southern California (3-4 SU, 2-4 ATS) at No. 18 New Mexico (8-0 SU, 2-5 ATS), 10 p.m. ET
Line: New Mexico -10, Total: 124
UNM coach Steve Alford was a deadly free-throw shooter, and his Lobos are killing opponents at the foul line. UNM averages a whopping 23.5 made free throws on 29.6 attempts. No team shoots more free throws per game. The Lobos’ 79.3 percentage ranks third nationally, with Tony Snell, Cameron Bairstow and Chad Adams all hitting at least 87.5 percent.
USC, meanwhile, has shot fewer free throws (18.4) than its opponents (19.9).
Trends:
*Lobos are 0-5 ATS in their last five home games.
*Trojans are 0-5 ATS in their last five road games.
*Over is 6-1 in Lobos’ last seven home games.
Linemakers Power Ratings: New Mexico 140.1, USC 129.9 (add 3-4 points for home court).
No. 10 Gonzaga (8-0 SU, 5-2 ATS) at Washington State (5-3 SU, 4-2 ATS), 11 p.m. ET
Line: Gonzaga -11.5, Total: 132
Against a decent schedule that’s included Davidson, Oklahoma, Clemson and West Virginia, the Bulldogs are undefeated with an average winning margin of 27.8 points. They’re a legitimate national title contender.
The Cougars, meanwhile, have won 17 straight nonconference home games. They handled Gonzaga, 81-59, on the Bulldogs’ last visit to Beasley Coliseum in 2010. And this season, WSU is holding opponents to 36.9 percent shooting at home. But the Cougars’ schedule has been super weak (214th-toughest). When WSU stepped up in class to face Kansas on Nov. 19, they got buried by 37.
Trends:
*Bulldogs are 1-8-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.
*Cougars are 6-0 ATS in their last six home games.
*Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
Linemakers Power Ratings: Gonzaga 148.5, Washington State 132.6 (add 3-4 points for home court).
Temple (5-0 SU, 2-2 ATS) at Villanova (4-3 SU, 3-2-1 ATS), 9 p.m. ET
Line: Temple -3, Total: 139.5
The Linemakers' Rick Herron's take: "Temple is led by Scootie Randall (15.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Khalif Wyatt (15.6 ppg). This young Villanova team has been very inconsistent. They have played tough in a couple of games, but also have a bad loss to Columbia by 18. I think the Owls just have too many weapons in this one.