College Knowledge
-- Dayton won four in row, nine of last 11 games vs LaSalle, going 4-2 in last six games played here; Flyers lost four of last six games, losing first two A-16 games, by 12-6 points to VCU/Butler, best two teams in the league. LaSalle is 2-3 vs top 100 teams, also lost to Central Connecticut at home. A-16 home favorites of 7 or less points are 6-1 vs spread.
-- Temple won last five games vs George Washington, winning last two here by 10-16 points; Owls are 8-1 vs teams outside top 100, with only loss to Canisius- they're 3-2 on road, losing at Kansas/Xavier in last two away games. GW turns ball over 24% of time; they're 0-4 vs teams in top 100, losing by 17-3-3-15 points. A-16 home dogs are 3-3; favorites of 5 or less points are 8-3, 3-2 on foreign soil.
-- NC State beat Duke Saturday, has trap game here at Maryland team they've lost to nine of last 10 meetings; Wolfpack's 79-74 win LY ended its 9-game series losing skid. Underdogs are 7-3 vs spread in ACC games with spread of 5 or less points. Terps lost last two games, scoring 54.5 ppg-- playing #338 schedule caught up with them. State lost last four visits here, by 20-14-24-7 points.
-- Butler's leading scorer Clarke (head/neck) is out here; he is Bulldogs' only good 3-point shooter, will be missed. Butler won last ten games, is playing Gonzaga on national TV Saturday, but they better not overlook Spiders here. A-16 home favorites are 7-3 vs spread. Richmond lost four of last six games, is 0-4 vs teams in the top 100, losing by 15-25-28-12 points.
-- Pitt won last four games vs Villanova, by 5-3-10-9 points; Panthers are 1-3 in league after 12-1 start to season- they're 1-1 in true road tilts, losing by 5 at Rutgers, winning big at Georgetown. Wildcats lot by 11 at Syracuse last game, ending 7-game win streak; they're 1-3 vs teams in top 80, losing by 3-15-11 points. Villanova gets to foul line more often than any team in country. Big East home underdogs are 4-5 vs spread.
-- Miami is Final Four sleeper if they get Johnson (finger) back at 100%; Hurricanes won last four games vs Boston College, by 1-9-21-22 points. 'canes won last five road games, winning at Ga Tech/UNC. BC is 1-2 in ACC, losing by 5-3 points to NC State/Wake; youthful Eagles (#341 in experience) are 0-4 vs top 100 teams, losing by 10-16-16-4 points. ACC home underdogs are 4-1 vs spread.
-- St Bonaventure beat Xavier by 11 in A-16 tourney final last spring, a win that snapped X's long series win streak, but Bonnies lost last five games overall, osing by 7 at home to VCU last game; Musketeers won last four visits here, by 16-26-20-14 points. Xavier scored 53 ppg in its last two road games, losses at Tennessee/Wake Forest. A-16 home teams are 8-3 vs spread if number is 5 or less points.
-- San Diego State won six of last seven games with UNLV, winning last four played here, by 2-6-10-11 points; last five series games were won by 6 or less points. Aztecs won 12 of last 13 games overall, winning last couple by 3-7(ot). UNLV lost last two road games (UNC/New Mexico) as lack of quality PG hurts their offense in tight spots. MWC single digit home favorites are 3-2 against the spread.
-- 8-7 West Virginia is #307 in country in eFG% (43.7%); they're having trouble closing out games because they struggle to score- they're 1-2 on road, losing by 34 at Gonzaga, 4 at Duquesne, winning at Texas. Big X home favorites are 2-6 vs spread. Iowa State won five of last six games; they're #24 team in experience, are 9-0 at home, but just 2-4 vs teams in top 100. West Virginia is hanging in top 100 at #99.
-- Marquette won nine of last ten games vs Seton Hall, winning five in a row here, by 13-5-12-9-7 points. Eagles won last five games, with last three either by point or in OT. Pirates lost last three games by 19-12-15 points; they're lacking at PG, turning ball over 23% of time, but they are 3-2 SU on road, losing by 5 at LSU, 19 at Notre Dame. Big East home favorites are 5-12 vs spread, 5-4 if laying 7+ points.
-- Boise State had four players suspended for its last game at Wyoming, but made 11-19 behind arc and won by hoop; looks like Boise will get its PG Marks back here. Broncos lost twice LY to New Mexico, by 16-15 points, in Boise's first year in MWC. Single digit home favorites are 3-2 vs spread in MWC play. Lobos are 3-2 in last five games after starting season 12-0- they're 3-1 on road, with only loss at Saint Louis.
-- St Mary's beat BYU twice LY, by 16-14 points in Cougars' first year in WCC; Gaels are 9-2 in last 11 games, but lost two of three on road in that stretch (@ No Iowa by 7, Gonzaga by 5). WCC home favorites are 3-7 vs spread. BYU scored 82.5 ppg in 4-0 WCC start, with three of its four wins by 18+ points, but they're 2-4 vs teams in top 100, with only wins over #73 Weber State by 10, #94 Santa Clara by 18.
-- Colorado waxed Washington 87-69 in Boulder LY, in first meeting as Pac-12 rivals; Buffaloes are 1-3 in league this year, losing road games in Arizona by 9-9 points. Coach Boyle went public with criticism of his players after UCLA loss; we'll see how that works. Underdogs are 11-0 in Pac-12 games if spread is 5 or less points. Washington starts out 3-0 in league, with three road wins, but they've lost at home to Albany and Nevada (#195/172)- this is their fifth top 10 game in a row.
Armadillosports.com
Wednesday's Top 25 NCB Betting Notes
By Covers.com
Check out our quick-hitting betting notes on all of Wednesday’s ranked college basketball games:
(15) North Carolina State Wolfpack at Maryland Terrapins (-2)
Ten consecutive victories, the latest over previously unbeaten and top-ranked Duke, have North Carolina State soaring as the Wolfpack travel to Maryland. The Terrapins have scored an average of 54.8 points in losses to the Hurricanes and Florida State, after putting up 94 in their conference opener against Virginia Tech. Maryland leads the ACC in field-goal defense, holding opponents to 35.3 percent shooting and rank last in the conference in turnover margin (-3.94). The Wolfpack are 1-10 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
Richmond Spiders at (13) Butler Bulldogs (-9)
Butler received a huge scare in Saturday's win at Dayton when leading scorer Rotnei Clarke was hurt in a harrowing fall. Clarke escaped serious injury and was diagnosed with a sprained neck, but the Bulldogs will be without him for at least the next two games. Richmond is also dealing with an injury to a key player. Forward Derrick Williams (ankle), the team’s second-leading scorer and No. 2 rebounder, will miss his fourth straight game. The Spiders are 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.
(17) Michigan State Spartans at Penn State Nittany Lions (+11)
After losing at Minnesota in the Big Ten opener, the Spartans have needed big second halves to pull away from Purdue, Iowa and Nebraska -- all considered to be middle-tier to bottom-half teams in the conference. The starting backcourt of Keith Appling, Gary Harris and Denzel Valentine combined to shoot just 3-for-22 in Sunday's 66-56 win at home against Nebraska. Penn State has lost four straight, averaging just 49.5 points per game in the process. The Nittany Lions are 0-7 ATS in their last seven Wednesday games.
Georgia Bulldogs at (16) Missouri Tigers (-15)
Missouri will be without leading scorer Laurence Bowers, who sprained the MCL in his right knee last week. The inability of the Bulldogs to establish a second consistent scoring threat besides Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a big reason Georgia ranks 318th nationally in scoring (59.5 points). The Bulldogs are facing their second ranked team in eight days; Georgia lost by 33 points at Florida on Jan. 9 and is 1-4 ATS in its last five road games.
(18) Kansas State Wildcats at TCU Horned Frogs (+10)
Scoring could be a grind for both teams when Kansas State travels to TCU for a Big 12 game. The Horned Frogs are 341st out of 345 Division I teams in scoring (55.2), taking another tumble after a 51-40 loss Saturday against Baylor. They're eighth in scoring defense (55.3), however. Kansas State has only one player averaging double figures in scoring; senior guard Rodney McGruder (14.9). He’s been especially hot lately, averaging 19.3 points over the last six games. The Horned Frogs are 5-0 ATS in their last five games following a loss and K-State is 0-5-1 ATS in its last six road games.
(21) New Mexico Lobos at Boise State Broncos (-2.5)
Off to its best start since 1987-88, Boise State looks to knock off its second ranked opponent in as many weeks when the Broncos host New Mexico. The Broncos won their seventh straight game last Wednesday against previously unbeaten Wyoming despite missing four suspended players. Three of them have been reinstated in time to face New Mexico. Leading scorer Derrick Marks and reserves Mikey Thompson and Darrious Hamilton have been reinstated after serving one-game suspensions for violating team rules, but reserve center Kenny Buckner’s suspension has been extended through Jan. 23. The Lobos are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
(23) UNLV Runnin' Rebels at (14) San Diego State Aztecs (-4.5)
San Diego State will try to start 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference for a third consecutive season when the Aztecs host UNLV. Both teams feature elite scorers/rebounders. Anthony Bennett, a 6-8 freshman forward for UNLV, averages 19.6 points and 9.3 rebounds. Jamaal Franklin, a 6-5 junior guard, averages 17.8 and 10.3 for San Diego State. The Runnin' Rebels are 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall.
Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
No. 20 N.C. State Wolfpack vs. Maryland Terrapins
The Wolfpack will be moving up the charts with their 84-76 upset of Duke this past Saturday as one-point home underdogs. It was their 10th-straight victory to move to 14-2 SU overall and it also tied them with Miami for the lead in the ACC at 3-0. NC State is 8-6 ATS this season and the total has gone OVER in four of its last five games. It comes into this matchup as the No.1 shooting team in the nation with a field goal percentage of 52.8.
Maryland lost its second-straight ACC game with a 54-47 setback to the Hurricanes this past Sunday as a six-point road underdog. It is now 1-2 in the conference and 13-3 overall. The Terrapins have a 5-4 record ATS and the total has stayed UNDER in three of their last four games. They are averaging 74.8 points and have done a great job under the boards with 43.1 rebounds a game.
College Basketball: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
NC. State at Maryland
Wolfpack (14-2, 8-6 ATS) with five double digit scorers paced by C.J. Leslie (16.2) are one of the nation’s most potent offenses netting impressive 81.5 PPG on a whopping 52.8% shooting. Recently handing Duke it's first loss of the season the Wolfpack winners of ten straight head to Maryland for a battle with ACC rival Terrapins (13-3, 5-4 ATS). Little doubt N.C. State is better than Maryland but following the huge victory over Blue Devils there is always the possible hangover effect in play. Historical trends sure point that way as Wolfpack are on a 1-4 slide following it's last five wins over Blue Devils. Also interesting, Wolfpack are ridding a 2-9 SU, 1-10 ATS stretch running the hardwood with Terps including an 0-6 SU, 1-5 ATS skid in Maryland.
College Basketball Point Spreads and Betting Guide
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- The hottest team no one’s talking about is Auburn.
Just 8-7 straight up, the Tigers have covered their last five lined games while managing to stay under the radar. They’re getting double-digit points tonight in Arkansas.
Coach Tony Barbee, who’s in his third year, said before the season he was finally pleased with the athleticism and depth on his roster. The Tigers started showing it in earnest in late December at the United Center in Chicago, where they nearly erased an 11-point deficit and lost, 81-79, to Illinois, easily covering the 12.5 points.
The Tigers have won three in a row since then, despite injuries to No. 2 scorer Chris Denson and sharpshooter Jordan Price. In fact, the chemistry seems better without Denson dominating the ball.
Auburn is 2-0 in the SEC for the first time in a decade, and Saturday’s home game against Kentucky is sold out. That's newsworthy at football-obsessed Auburn.
"They're tough-minded kids,” Barbee told reporters. “We have a physical toughness and a mental toughness. ... Things are starting to change direction, even though we're not quite there yet."
Onto Wednesday night’s action.
Auburn (8-7 SU, 7-6 ATS) at Arkansas (10-5 SU, 3-4 ATS), 8 p.m. ET
Line: Arkansas -10.5
Trends:
Auburn is 7-1 ATS in its last eight road games.
Auburn is 4-0 ATS in its last four games against teams with .600-plus winning percentages.
Arkansas is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games.
Arkansas is 1-5 ATS in its last six home games.
Over is 5-1 in Auburn’s last six games.
Over is 7-1 in Arkansas’ last eight home games.
Auburn is 10-1-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings with Arkansas.
Eight ranked teams are in action Wednesday, including red-hot North Carolina State. The Wolfpack are trying to win 11 straight for the first time in 24 years.
No. 14 NC State (14-2 SU, 8-6 ATS) at Maryland (13-3 SU, 5-4 ATS), 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Maryland -2, Total: 149
Even with N.C. State’s potential letdown and Maryland’s strong home court, this line appears short based on how the teams are playing. The Wolfpack's 84-76 win over top-ranked Duke was their 10th straight, and they lead the nation with 52.8 percent shooting. The Terps have dropped two straight and might start a third straight different point guard in Nick Faust, after Pe’Shon Howard and Seth Allen flopped the last two outings. The Terps averaged 54.8 points in those losses to Florida State and Miami. But they will make the high-flying Wolfpack work for their points — Maryland leads the ACC in field-goal percentage defense (35.3).
Trends:
N.C. State is 7-1-1 in its last nine ACC games.
N.C. State is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 road games.
Maryland is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 home games.
Maryland is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games following an ATS loss.
Over is 10-2 in N.C. State’s last 12 ACC games.
Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Maryland.
Maryland is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
N.C. State is 7-1-1 in its last nine ACC games.
N.C. State is 16-5 ATS in its last 21 road games.
Maryland is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 home games.
Maryland is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games following an ATS loss.
Over is 10-2 in N.C. State’s last 12 ACC games.
Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Maryland.
Maryland is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
UNLV (14-3 SU, 6-10 ATS) at No. 15 San Diego State (14-2 SU, 7-4 ATS), 10 p.m. ET
Line: San Diego State -5, Total: 134
Each of the last three meetings between these teams has been decided by exactly two points, and the last five have been decided by a total of 18 points. The Rebels got a boost when junior forward Mike Moser returned to the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since dislocating his elbow. He played 40 minutes in the OT win against Air Force, getting 14 points and 11 rebounds, but shot 6-of-16 from the field and 2-of-7 on free throws. Look for him to shoot better Wednesday as he knocks the rust off. But the Aztecs have covered seven straight meetings and nine of the last 10.
Trends:
UNLV is 2-14 ATS in its last 16 road games.
UNLV is 0-4 ATS in its last four Mountain West games.
San Diego State is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 home games.
Under is 6-1 in UNLV’s last seven road games.
Over is 5-1-1 in San Diego State’s last seven games overall.
Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings.
UNLV is 0-5 ATS in its last five visits to San Diego State.