College Basketball Betting News and Notes Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

College basketball knowledge is posted every day thru the Final Four.

Wednesday’s college hoop
UMass is 6-5 vs schedule #191, but they beat Providence/Georgia in last two games, their first two top 200 wins after four losses. Minutemen shot 62% inside arc, won 74-65 at Georgia State in LY’s meeting. State is 7-4 vs schedule #241; their last two losses were both in OT, including a loss at Dayton Saturday. Panthers are 2-3 vs top 200 teams; their best win was by 3 over Montana. State forces turnovers 24.6% of time. A-14 home favorites are 17-19 vs spread; Sun Belt road underdogs are 18-17. UMass has new coach, is turning ball over 21.1% of the time.

Northeastern won its last five games after a 1-4 start; Huskies are 2-1 vs top 100 teams, with wins over Vermont/Bucknell and an 80-55 loss to Ohio State. NE’ern is shooting 57.9% inside arc but is turning ball over 20.9% of time while playing pace #304. St Bonaventure won its last five games; they’re 4-1 vs teams in top 150. Bonnies force turnovers 24.1% of time; they #66 experience team in country. A-14 home favorites are 17-19 vs spread; CAA road underdogs are 11-14. Bonnies better not look ahead to Friday’s game in Syracuse.

Towson State won its last eight games since losing opener to Old Dominion; Tigers have played #231 schedule, are 1-1 in true road games, losing by 3 at ODU, winning by 23 at Loyola, MD- their defensive eFG% is #6 in country. Towson plays a slow pace (#284). Oakland is 6-5 vs schedule #108; they play fast (pace #24). Grizzlies are #62 experience team that is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing to couple top 20 teams and also by by 24 to Syracuse. Horizon League home favorites are 6-6 vs spread; CAA road underdogs are 11-14.

Georgetown is 8-1 vs schedule #350; they’re #241 experience team that tuns ball over 20.9% of time. None of Hoyas’ wins are over a team ranked better than #231— six of their eight wins are by 14+ points. North Texas won its last three games, two in OT; they won at San Diego in OT in last game, as a 10-point underdog. Mean Green is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 19-10-5 points- their win at San Diego was their only road win five tries; they’re turning ball over 21.2% of time. Big East home favorites are 20-15 vs spread; C-USA road underdogs are 20-12.

Nebraska lost three of last four games, losing 73-72 at home to Kansas Saturday; Cornhuskers are 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with three wins by 14+ points. Nebraska is #81 experience team thats played schedule #52 so far. Tex-San Antonio is 1-3 in true road games, with losses by 4-8-12 points; Roadrunners are #295 experience team that plays fast (#22) pace- they haven’t beaten anyone ranked higher than #221. Big 14 home favorites are 30-22 vs spread; C-USA road underdogs are 20-12.

Valparaiso lost three of last four games, all of which were on road; Crusaders are 2-3 in true road games, winning by 25-8 at Edwardsville/Santa Clara. Valpo is turning ball over 22% of time; they’re #266 experience team whose bench plays 7th-most minutes in country. Riverside is 2-7 vs schedule #144- they scored 61 or less points in their last five games. Highlanders are a terrible offensive team, turning ball over 22.9% of time, shooting 27.2% on arc. MVC road favorites are 4-5 vs spread; Big West home underdogs are 3-7.

Kansas State is 9-2 vs schedule #336; they won only true road game by 5 at Vanderbilt- they force turnovers 23.5% of time, are 8-0 vs teams ranked outside top 120, with six of eight wins by 18+ points. Wildcats are #220 experience team whose opponents have longest average possessions in country (0:19.6). Washington State is 1-3 since winning Wooden Classic in Fullerton; Coogs are 7-3 this season, beating St Mary’s/San Diego St in only top 100 games. Big X favorites are 13-12 vs spread away from home; Pac-12 home underdogs are 1-4.

St John’s is 9-2 vs schedule #140; Red Storm force turnover 26.8% of time (#3 in country)- they’re 4-2 vs teams in top 130. Johnnies are #222 experience team that is playing pace #58. St Joe’s is 5-5 vs schedule #148; they’re 1-2 in top 100 games, losing by 41 to Villanova, 3 to Temple- they beat Bucknell by 13. Hawks are #1 in county at protecting ball, but shoot only 32.8% on arc, 46.4% inside arc, 64.8% on line, all bad numbers. Big East home favorites are 20-15 vs spread; A-14 road underdogs are 10-13.

Houston won seven of last eight games, with a win over Arkansas, an 80-77 loss at LSU. Cougars are #26 experience team that is 9-2 vs schedule #257- they’ve got road wins at Saint Louis and Liberty. Houston forces turnovers 21.1% of time. Providence split its last four games after a 6-1 start; Friars are 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 12 to Minnesota, 7 to URI with win over BC by 20. Providence is shooting 40.8% on arc, turning ball over 20,.3% of time. AAC favorites are 10-10 vs spread away from home; Big East home underdogs are 1-3.

Bradley outscored SE Missouri 25-13 on foul line in 84-78 home win over the Redhawks LY; Braves are 9-2 this year vs schedule #323, forcing turnovers 22.6% of time- their only two losses are both to top 100 teams, Vermont/San Diego State. Bradley does turn ball over 23.2% of time, which is a problem. SE Missouri is 4-5 vs schedule #221; they split pair of road games vs MVC opponents, losing by 16 at Evansville, winning by 6 at SIU. Redwolves are shooting 40.9% on the arc. MVC road favorites are 4-5 vs spread; OVC home underdogs are 3-4.

Manhattan shot 59% inside arc in 80-68 home win over Hofstra LY; Jaspers are lost six of last eight games this year, are 4-6 vs schedule #298, turning ball over 24.8% of time- they’re 1-3 vs top 200 teams, with losses by 4-1-14 points with a win over Harvard. Hofstra won its last four games, is 7-3 vs schedule #106; Pride’s last three wins are by total of 10 points- they’re 2-1 vs MAAC teams, beating Monmouth/Rider, losing by 9 at Siena. CAA home favorites are 5-4 vs spread; MAAC road underdogs are 15-15.

Memphis won four of last five games, losing last game by 9 to Louisville; Tigers beat Albany by 9 LW, a team that won by 5 at Siena just before that. Tigers are 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with wins by 8-11-1-18 points. Siena is 3-8, the #338 experience team thats played schedule #103. Saints turn ball over 22.1% of time; they’re 1-5 on road with two OT losses and only win at Bryant. Siena is 1-8 vs top 200 teams, with only win over Hofstra. AAC home favorites are 13-17 vs spread; MAAC road underdogs are 15-15.

Tennessee is 7-2 vs schedule #24; they’re forcing turnovers 24.4% of time, are 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, winning by 35-31-7-10 points. Vols are shooting 40.5% on arc; they’re #23 experience team whose bench plays #29 minutes in country. Furman is 7-3 vs schedule #237; Paladins lost by 17 to Butler, 29 to Duke in their only top 100 games. Furman forces turnovers 22.1% of time, but teams shoot 57.7% inside arc against them if they don’t turn it over. SEC home favorites are 21-26 vs spread; SoCon road underdogs are 15-19.

armadillosports.com