ACC/Big Ten Challenge Betting Cheat Sheet: Day 2
By Covers.com
Maryland Terrapins at Ohio State Buckeyes (-10)
Ohio State passed every test in November and looks to continue raising its game when talented Maryland visits on Wednesday as part of the Big Ten/ACC challenge. The third-ranked Buckeyes won six games by an average of 21.2, including a 17-point triumph at Marquette, with a balanced offense. Maryland, which returns several players from last season's 25-win team, dropped a one-point decision to No. 14 Connecticut and suffered a home loss to Oregon State before winning its last four.
Senior point guard Aaron Craft will be a key as Ohio State meets the Terrapins for the first time since 1985. Craft, who owns the school’s all-time steals record and is 18 shy of becoming the Buckeyes’ top assist man, will be tested by a defense that allowed 32.3 shooting the last four games. Michigan transfer Evan Smotrycz has recorded a double-double in his last two games for Maryland and will play Ohio State for the seventh time.
TRENDS:
* Maryland is 7-0 ATS in its last seven road games.
* Ohio State is 5-0 ATS in its last five versus the ACC.
* Ohio State is 1-6 ATS in its last seven home games.
Wisconsin Badgers at Virginia Cavaliers (-3.5)
Wisconsin may not have the most talented team in the country, but the ninth-ranked Badgers are proving that a little bit of chemistry can go a long way. Off to their best start in 20 years, the Badgers look to extend their undefeated run when they visit Virginia in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Wednesday. "We get along off the court really well. We're all best friends," said junior guard Josh Gasser. "When we're on the court, it's just fun for us. We're playing together and when you've got a group of unselfish guys who really want to win - and have common goals - good things can happen."
Wisconsin already has a strong resume that includes victories over Florida, Notre Dame, St. Louis and West Virginia. A win over Virginia would be another notch in the Badgers' belt, as the Cavaliers enter this matchup on a six-game winning streak and sporting a defense that has allowed fewer than 60 points six times in eight games. Virginia won the Corpus Christi Challenge with an 83-63 victory over Missouri State on Saturday despite trailing 11-3 early on, prompting coach Tony Bennett to comment afterward, "I thought we responded after a very sluggish start."
TRENDS:
* Wisconsin is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games versus the ACC.
* Virginia is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games.
* Over is 6-1 in Virginia's last seven games following an ATS win.
Northwestern Wildcats at North Carolina State Wolfpack (-8.5)
Northwestern could be without one of its best players Wednesday night when the Wildcats visit North Carolina State as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. Drew Crawford, a fifth year-swingman, sat out Saturday’s loss to UCLA with a sore back and then missed Sunday’s workout. Crawford, second on the team in scoring at 14.3 points and tops in rebounding at 6.9, reportedly had a sore back heading into the Las Vegas Invitational and then felt a sharp pain while diving for a loose ball in Thursday’s loss to Missouri, limiting him to two points in 13 minutes on 1-for-6 shooting and then forcing him out of Saturday’s game.
The area the Wildcats could be hurting the most if Crawford is unable to play is rebounding. Jordan Vandenberg, a 7-1 center from Australia, missed the first four North Carolina State games with a sprained ankle, but has totaled 21 points and 18 rebounds in the two games since his return. Then there’s T.J. Warren, a 6-foot-8 forward for the Wolfpack who’s averaging 22.7 points and 7.3 rebounds following back-to-back 30-point games with a combined 20 rebounds.
TRENDS:
* Northwestern is 1-6 ATS in its last six games overall.
* North Carolina State is 6-1 ATS in its last seven home games.
* Under is 9-2 in North Carolina State's last 11 games overall.
North Carolina Tar Heels at Michigan State Spartans (-9)
Michigan State will begin its third week as the top-ranked team in the nation when it hosts No. 25 North Carolina on Wednesday night as part of the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. The Tar Heels already have one victory over a top five opponent this season, knocking off then-No. 2 Louisville on Nov. 24 to end its school-record 21-game winning streak, but they suffered their second major upset this season when they were defeated Sunday at Alabama-Birmingham, dropping nine spots in this week’s rankings, the biggest movement of any team in the top 25.
The Spartans played without leading scorer Gary Harris in their blowout victory Friday against Mount St. Mary’s as he rested a sore ankle, but the 6-foor-4 guard is expected to play against North Carolina. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo also sent a message by keeping Keith Appling, Adreian Payne and Branden Dawson out of the starting lineup because they showed up late to a class. Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine took advantage of the extra playing time and scored 15 points apiece, but they’ll likely be back in their reserve roles against the Tar Heels.
TRENDS:
* North Carolina is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Home team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings.
Boston College Eagles at Purdue Boilermakers (Pick)
Matt Painter hopes to see more consistency from his Purdue Boilermakers when they host Boston College on Wednesday for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. "I've never been with a team that can show such promise against quality opponents and then in the other half lose their focus," Painter said in his Tuesday teleconference. "It is a positive that ... you show that you can be successful. It's also a negative in terms of when things don't go your way, you're not able to right the ship and show more consistency." The Boilermakers have alternated good and bad halves during a 1-2 stretch while the Eagles enter the game with back-to-back wins.
Purdue has won four straight games in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, matching Illinois for the longest active win streak. The Boilermakers are 6-6 overall in the event while Boston College is 6-1, its only loss to Penn State in 2011. The Eagles are 0-2 all-time against Purdue but haven't played the Boilermakers since 2008.
TRENDS:
* Purdue is 5-1 ATS in its last six games following an ATS loss.
* Over is 5-1 in Boston College's last six games overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Purdue's last five games overall.
Miami Hurricanes at Nebraska Cornhuskers (-4.5)
Two teams beginning to adjust after a big turnover on their rosters meet when Miami (Fla.) visits Nebraska on Wednesday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Nebraska has five newcomers in its regular rotation and won its last two games after losing to unbeaten Massachusetts and Alabama-Birmingham, who defeated North Carolina recently. The Hurricanes return one player that averaged more than two points and come in off two victories, including an impressive effort against Arizona State.
Coach Jim Larranaga called Miami’s performance against Arizona State in a 60-57 win Sunday the best it has put forth on both ends of the court. Rion Brown leads the balanced Hurricanes in scoring (12.4) and Miami will have to continue its improvement on the other end against a capable Nebraska offense. The Cornhuskers boast three players scoring at least 12 points per game and averaged 36.4 off the bench the last five games.
TRENDS:
* Miami is 1-5 ATS in its last six games versus a team with a winning SU record.
* Nebraska is 7-1-1 in its last nine home games.
* Under is 4-0 in Miami's last four games overall.
ACC-Big Ten Challenge
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
This year’s ACC-Big Ten Challenge kicked things off on Tuesday with the first six matchups in an ongoing series that started all the way back in 1999. The final six games are scheduled for Wednesday night including a matchup including the No. 1 team in the nation.
Maryland Terrapins at No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes
Maryland opened the season with straight-up losses to Connecticut and Oregon State in two of its first three games, but it brings a four-game winning streak into Wednesday night’s matchup. The Terrapins have covered in their last three games and they are 4-1 against the spread overall. Jake Layman could be a difference maker for Maryland with a shooting percentage of 51.1 percent from three-point range.
The Buckeyes have posted six straight double-digit victories to start the season, but they are just 2-4 ATS. It has been a total team effort so far with four different players each averaging 11 points a game. Ohio State is scoring 74.5 points a game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor. One area of concern could be under the boards with an average of 38.3 rebounds a game.
Ohio State has been opened as a 10-point home favorite over Maryland.
The Terrapins have had great success in this Challenge with a 10-4 record overall, while the Buckeyes are an even 6-6. However, Maryland has struggled on the road overall with a 7-15 SU in its last 22 games away from home.
North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 1 Michigan State Spartans
The Tar Heels followed-up a stunning 93-84 upset of then-No. 3 Louisville as 10.5-point road underdogs with a sloppy 63-59 loss to UAB as 7.5-point favorites this past Sunday to fall to 4-2 SU (3-3 ATS) on the year. Marcus Paige leads the team with 20.8 points and 3.8 assists a game while shooting 50 percent from the floor. The team as a whole is hitting 48.3 percent of its shots from the field.
Michigan State has already been tested a few times this season and has stood tall with a 7-0 SU record, but it has been costly to wager on with a 2-3-1 record ATS. The total has gone OVER in five of six games. The Spartans are averaging 85.9 points a game while shooting 50.6 percent from the field. Gary Harris is averaging 17.7 points a game with Keith Appling chipping in another 16.9 points.
The Tar Heels come into this matchup as nine-point road underdogs.
North Carolina has owned this series in head-to-head play with a 6-0 record both SU and ATS in the last six meetings. They met in the 2009 Challenge with the Tar Heels coming away with an 89-82 victory as 1.5-point home favorites. The total has gone OVER in three of the last five games between these two.
Other Games
No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers at Virginia Cavaliers
The Badgers are No. 8 with a bullet after starting the season ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll. They are 8-0 SU with a 4-3-1 record ATS. Wisconsin is shooting 48 percent from the field and it has five different players scoring in double figures.
Virginia’s lone SU loss this season against seven victories came against then-No. 14 VCU. The Cavaliers 2-3 ATS. They are only averaging 69.6 points a game but shooting an effective 48.9 percent from the field.
Virginia has been opened as a 3½-point favorite at home against the Badgers
These two met in last season’s Challenge and Virginia hammered out a stunning 60-54 victory as a 10-point road underdog. The loss dropped Wisconsin to 6-8 all time in the Challenge.
Northwestern Wildcats vs. N.C. State Wolfpack
Northwestern is an even 4-4 SU on the year and even worse ATS at 2-5. The Wildcats are ranked in the bottom third of Division I in both points (71) and rebounds (34.3) a game, but JerShon Cobb (15.1 points) and Drew Crawford (14.3 points) remain two players to watch.
NC State is off to a 4-2 SU start with a 2-1 record ATS. It is averaging 77.5 points a game and shooting a solid 49.5 percent from the field. TJ Warren is accounting for 22.7 points hitting 53.8 percent from the floor.
NC State comes into this contest as a nine-point favorite at home.
These two teams met twice before in the Challenge with the Wolfpack winning both games SU. They are 5-8 overall in this competition and the Badgers are 6-8.
Boston College Eagles vs. Purdue Boilermakers
The Eagles have stumbled out of the gate to a 3-4 SU start and they have failed to cover in four of six games with a posted line. The total has gone OVER in five of those games. The bright spot has been the play of Olivier Hanlan and Ryan Anderson, who are combining for 40.7 points a game.
Purdue has won six of its first eight games SU, but it is 2-4 ATS as well. It is putting up 80 points a game behind the hot hands of Ronnie and Terone Johnson. Each is averaging close to 13 points a game.
The Boilermakers have been opened as slight two-point home favorites for this game.
Boston College has only appeared in seven of the previous 14 Challenges, but it is tied with Duke with the best winning percentage from the ACC at 85.7 percent.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Miami comes into this game at 5-3 SU (2-4 ATS) after upsetting Arizona State 60-57 as a nine-point underdog this past Sunday. The Hurricanes are averaging 65.8 points a game and shooting just 41.5 percent from the field.
The Cornhuskers are 2-2 SU in their last four games after winning their first three. Terran Petteway leads the team in scoring with 15.7 points a game but he is only hitting 38.6 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
Nebraska closes out this year’s Challenge as a 4½-point favorite at home.
The Hurricanes beat Michigan State 67-59 in last season’s Challenge as one-point favorites at home, while Nebraska upset Wake Forest 79-63 on the road as a five-point underdog.
College Basketball Information
Valparaiso lost four of last six D-I games, losing to Mercer in 3OTs last week; Crusaders are 0-3 on road, losing by 12-4-8 to Illinois/Evansville and Ohio. Valpo is turning ball over 21% of time. Ball State lost its last three games, by 1-19-23 points; they're turning ball over 22.3% of time. Horizon favorites are 8-10, 1-1 on road. MAC underdogs are 15-14.
Richmond is 6-2, winning at Air Force in only true road game; they lost by 10 to North Carolina on a neutral floor, by 15 to Minnesota at home. Spiders beat Wm & Mary last three years by 8-31-24 points, but took two OTs to win LY's game, after being down 3 in last minute. W&M is 4-3, won last three games, but hasn't beaten anyone ranked above #200.
First road game for Maryland team that won last four games and is 2-1 on neutral floors, losing by point to UConn; Terps are going to be in the Big Dozen next year- they're making 40% behind arc, just 60.4% inside it. Ohio State is 6-0 with all six wins by 10+, including 17-point win vs Marquette; Buckeyes force turnovers 24.9% of time, hold teams to 25% outside the arc. Very good defensive team.
Wisconsin is 8-0, beating Saint Louis/West Va in Cancun last week, two solid neutral court wins; Badgers are making 43.6% from arc, and that is when Ryan''s teams are best- they find open men on arc. Virginia plays an even more deliberate style; they're 7-1, splitting pair of 3-point tilts with top 50 teams, but are turning ball over 21.3% of time, not good.
South Florida scored 63.5 ppg in losing last two games, after 4-0 start vs teams ranked #237 or worse; Bulls won by 14 at Bowling Green in only road game so far. George Mason is 5-2, with three wins by 7 points or less; Patriots are turning ball over 22.9% of time, making just 30.9% on arc. A-13 home favorites are 8-11 vs spread. AAC road dogs are 2-4.
Harvard won Alaskan Shootout late Saturday night; they lost by 8 at Colorado in only true road game. Crimson holds teams to 26.7% from arc, forces turnovers 21.9% of time. Northeastern upset Georgetown on neutral floor but is still just 2-5, losing last three games, all vs teams in top 80. Like Harvard, but with all the travel, this could be tough spot.
NC State is 4-2 but down this year, hurt by early defections; best win so far was #164 E. Kentucky; Wolfpack is making just 27.6% on arc, 62% on foul line. Northwestern lost by 11-16 in two games in Vegas over the weekend; Wildcats are 4-4, 1-1 in true road games, losing at Stanford by 13, winning at UIC. ACC was 4-2 vs Big Dozen in last night's games.
Temple hasn't played in 10 days; they won last two games after starting 1-3; Owls lost four starters from LY, when they lost 70-69 to St Joe's, after leading by 9 with 5:32 left, snapping 4-game series winning streak. Hawks are 4-2 after winning two of three in Orlando- they gave up 82.5 ppg in their two losses, are making 40.2% of shots behind the arc.
North Carolina gets only 13% of points behind arc, 2nd-lowest in USA; they're shooting 60.5% from line, #331 in nation, but they won by 9 vs Louisville on neutral court, in between losses to Belmont/UAB. Erratic teams are good to avoid. Michigan State is 7-0 with three top 100 wins; they assist on 67.8% of made hoops, 2nd-best ratio for that in country.
Purdue is 6-2 but hasn't beaten anyone good, losing two of three down in Florida- they trailed by 13 at half to Siena in game they won. Boilers are playing faster, subbing more; they're #7 in country in bench minutes, so thats a change for them. Boston College is 3-4 with three losses by 4 or less points- they won three of last four games and upset Washington.
Miami's last four games were all decided by 5 or less points, or in OT- they had good Fullerton tourney, blowing OT game to GW, then coming back to beat Fullerton/Arizona State in next two games. Hurricanes are playing 2nd-slowest pace in country as they rebuild. Nebraska is 5-2, giving up 96-87 points in its losses; best win was over #149 Georgia.
Pepperdine is 4-3 vs D-I teams, with four games decided by six points or less; they've turned ball over 21.5% of time, while forcing a TO only 11.5% of time, 4th-worst rate in US. Fullerton lost last five games; they scored 53.3 ppg in losing three tourney games last weekend- Titans are 2-3 vs teams ranked below #200, shooting just 65.2% on foul line.
2-5 Davidson is well-coached but overscheduled; four of their losses are vs teams in top 50. Wildcats lost to local rival Charlotte by 23-4 points last two years, losing 73-69 LY in game they led by 8 late in first half. Charlotte is 6-1 and was up 14 with 6:01 left in loss; 49ers have risen 50 spots in rankings since season started- they beat K-State/Michigan.
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