Iowa State at Kansas
By Brian Edwards
VegasInsider.com
Editor's note: Brian's college hoops picks are absolutely on fire. He went 5-0 on Saturday and since Jan. 12, Brian owns a 31-17 record (65%) for 12.6 units of profit. Sign up for Tuesday's picks or you can win from now through the conference tournaments with his season package.
As usual, Kansas (15-4 straight up, 9-9-1 against the spread) find itself atop the Big 12 standings after winning its first six games in league play. The Jayhawks will put their unbeaten conference record on the line Wednesday night vs. Iowa St. at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence.
Most books opened Kansas as a nine-point home favorite early Tuesday night. There was no overnight total.
Bill Self's team has posted a 4-1-1 spread record against Big 12 competition. KU avenged an embarrassing loss at TCU last season by blasting the Horned Frogs by a 91-69 count Saturday in Ft. Worth. The Jayhawks easily took the money as 14.5-point road favorites. The 160 combined points flew 'over' the 138.5-point total.
Andrew Wiggins was the catalyst at TCU. The freshman sensation scored 27 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists. Freshman center Joel Embiid logged only 19 minutes of playing time before fouling out, but he still managed 14 points, six boards and three blocked shots.
Embiid has come on strong in recent weeks. The future lottery pick has scored in double figures in nine of KU's last 10 games, averaging 13.3 points per game. He has blocked 17 shots in the last four contests, including eight rejections in a narrow home win over Oklahoma St.
For the season, Embiid is averaging 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Embiid has blocked a team-high 53 shots and he's making a team-best 67 percent of his attempts from the field.
Wiggins is averaging a team-high 15.8 PPG. Wiggins, another future lottery picks, is pulling down 6.0 rebounds per game.
Iowa St. (15-3 SU, 9-7 ATS) snapped a three-game losing streak with Saturday's 81-75 win over Kansas St. as a 9.5-point home 'chalk.' But the Cyclones failed to cover for a fourth straight time after allowing Will Spradling to bury four 3-pointers in the last eight minutes.
Melvin Ejim led ISU to victory with 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Georges Niang added 18 points for the Cyclones.
Fred Hoiberg's squad has been an underdog just once this season. In that situation, ISU won 90-88 at BYU as a seven-point 'dog.
KU has only lost at home once to San Diego St. on Jan. 5. The Jayhawks are 4-4-1 ATS at home.
After cashing in back-to-back games, the 'over' is 8-7-1 overall for ISU.
The 'over' has cashed at an 8-2 clip in KU's last 10 games. The 'over' is 11-7 overall for the Jayhawks, 5-3 in their home games.
The 'over' is 6-2 in the last eight head-to-head meetings between these Big 12 rivals.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets
Cincinnati stud center Justin Jackson left Sunday's win at Temple early in the first half with an injured ankle. Mick Cronin told the media Tuesday after practice that Jackson is 'questionable' for Thursday's game at Louisville. However, Jackson told Fox Sports Cincinnati, "I'm a machine. I'm playing." If he can't go, Cronin would have to adjust his starting lineup for the first time this year.
Although Florida 6-10 power forward Damontre Harris remains suspended for the rest of the season, he is back practicing with the team. Harris sat out last season per transfer rules after coming to UF following a solid freshman campaign, but his insubordination in November prompted Billy Donovan to dismiss him from the team. After exploring transfer options, Harris went back to Donovan and asked for another chance. Donovan told Harris he would have every chance to earn a spot back on the roster next season, so he enrolled in school for the spring semester. Donovan announced to the media on Monday that he recently began practicing with the team again.
Xavier head coach Chris Mack announced the indefinite suspension of reserve forward Jalen Reynolds on Tuesday. Reynolds was a role player off the bench, but he always brought energy and athleticism. He was averaging 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.1 minutes of playing time.
Illinois St. forward John Jones is out for the next six weeks after breaking a bone in his foot. Jones has started 13 games this season, averaging 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Nebraska has dismissed junior guard Deverell Biggs from the program. After a two-year stretch in junior college, Biggs signed with Nebraska and was redshirted last year. Biggs was suspended for the first two games of 2013-2014 for a DUI arrest in early 2013. He played 15 games for the Cornhuskers and was the squad's third-leading scorer (9.9 PPG). The last straw appeared to be missing a film session this past weekend, prompting head coach Tim Miles to prevent him from playing in Sunday's home win over Minnesota. Biggs, who was the first in-state recruit for Nebraska in a decade, was also arrested Jan. 5 for driving with a suspended license. He is an Omaha product who led his high school to three consecutive state titles. Biggs can transfer to a school and have one year of eligibility remaining.
College Basketball Information
Home side won last ten St Joe's-Dayton games; Hawks lost its last six games in this gym by average of 8 points. Flyers lost last three games, are 0-2 in A-13 home games, losing to St Louis/VCU, two best teams in A-13. St Joe's won four of last five games, is 1-2 on A-13 road, losing at UMass by 4, Richmond by 15 with win at George Mason. Atlantic 13 home favorites of 5 or less points are 7-4 vs spread.
LaSalle won last five games with George Washington; winning by 4-9 in last two visits here; Explorers (-3) beat GW 76-72 Jan 9, making 9-20 on arc- GW was 3-14. Colonials are 4-0 since first meeting, beating URI by 13, VCU by 10 at home. Atlantic 13 home favorites of 5 or less points are 7-4 vs spread. LaSalle lost its last two games, losing to VCU in OT in its last game; favorites covered four of their five league games.
St Bonaventure won four of last six games with UMass, winning two of last three played here; Bonnies' last three series wins were by total of 10 points. UMass split its two A-13 road games, with games decided by a total of four points. Atlantic 13 home teams are 10-8 vs spread in games where spread was 5 or less points. Underdogs covered five of Bonnies' six A-13 games; they're 2-1 at home, beating Richmond/LaSalle.
Road teams won four of last six Western Michigan-Buffalo games, with Broncos winning two of last three visits here. WMU is 2-1 on road in MAC, losing by 19 at EMU, winning at Miami/Kent. Buffalo is 4-2 in MAC, 3-0 as home faves, winning by 21-10-11 at home. MAC single digit home favorites are 3-12 vs spread this year. Broncos are turning it over 26.4% of time in MAC games, 2nd-worst rate in MAC.
Valparaiso was 3-0 vs Green Bay LY, winning by 12-1-19 points; they won three of last four games, are 2-1 at home in league, losing to Wright State by 17, beating UIC/Milwaukee. Horizon home teams are 3-12 vs spread if number was 5 or less points. Green Bay won its last 11 games, is 7-0 in Horizon, winning road games by 7-10-5 points- they lost last two visits to Valpo, by 3-12 points.
Saint Louis is 6-3 in last nine games with Richmond, holding Spiders to 48 ppg in wins by 14-5 the last two years. Billikens won first five A-13 games, are 1-1 as home favorites, winning by 6-22 points. Richmond won last four games, but is on road for first time in 18 days; they split first two road games, winning in OT at Fordham, lost at St Bonaventure by 14. Atlantic 13 home favorites of 8+ points are 4-6 vs spread.
Ole Miss is 4-0 in SEC since Henderson came back from his suspension, with three of four wins by 11+ points; Rebels have road wins at South Carolina/Vandy- they won last three games with Tennessee, by 5-18-6 points. Vols are 2-1 at home in SEC, beating Auburn by 11, Arkansas by 7, losing to A&M. SEC home favorites of 8+ points are 9-5 vs spread. Rebels' Summers is an amazing 33-60 (55%) from arc this year.
Syracuse is unbeaten, #2 in country, 6-0 in ACC, but they wouldn't be human if they weren't looking ahead to Duke game Saturday, when the dome will be packed. Orange are 3-0 as road favorites, winning its away games by 20-10-12 points. Wake Forest won three of last four games, is 3-0 at home in ACC, beating UNC/NC State/Notre Dame. ACC home underdogs are 4-9 vs spread. Deacons are 3-2 as an ACC underdog.
Florida State won four of last five games vs NC State, winming four of last five visits here; Seminoles lost last two road games, at Virginia by 12, Duke by 22- they're turning ball over 22% of time in ACC games, but making 43.1% from arc, #1 in league. Wolfpack beat Maryland and Ga Tech in last two home games, after losing to Pitt/Virginia in its first two. ACC home teams are 4-13 vs spread if spread was 4 or less points.
Kansas won four in row, 17 of last 18 games with Iowa State, beating Cyclones 77-70 (+2.5) in Ames Jan 13, despite 24 turnovers (-16) and ISU outscoring them 22-12 on line. Jayhawks are 1-1-1 as home faves, winning home games by 26-2-10 points. State lost three of its last four games, losing by 5 at Oklahoma, 10 at Texas. Big X home favorites of 7+ points are 4-7 vs spread. Kansas has best eFG% in Big X, despite fact they turn ball over 21.6% of time, worst in league.
Arizona won its last seven games with Stanford, winning last three here by 2-9-13 points; Wildcats are 7-0 in Pac-12, 2-0 as road favorites, with wins by 4 at UCLA, 20 at USC on foreign soil. Stanford won four of its last five games after winning in OT at USC Sunday; Cardinal is 2-1 at home, losing to Cal, sweeping Washington schools. Arizona is forcing a turnover 22.9% of time. Pac-12 home underdogs of 5+ points are 6-4.
California won six of last eight games with Arizona State, but lost by 4 in Tempe LY; Sun Devils lost last four visits to Berkeley, by 10-16-4-21 points. ASU lost by 15 at UCLA, 23 at USC in its last two road games- favorites covered five of their last six games. Pac-12 home favorites of 5+ points are 14-8 vs spread. Cal Bears got swept in LA last weekend, is 2-0 as home favorite, beating Washington by 26, Wazzu by 21.
Belmont (-7.5) beat Morehead State 80-66 Thursday, making 8-14 from arc, outscoring Eagles 24-13 on line; Bruins are 3-1 on OVC road, with only loss at 11 at Eastern Kentucky. Morehead needed OT to beat 2-21 Tennessee State Saturday; Eagles are 0-3 vs Belmont, losing by a point here LY, despite Belmont making only 11-21 from line. OVC home sides are 8-5 vs spread when number was 3 or less points.
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