College Hoops: Under-Whelming
By Nick Parsons
Enjoy exciting up tempo basketball? If so, mid major college basketball is probably not the place for you.
Poor fundamentals and lack of talent, rather than good defense, have contributed to several mid major teams hitting the under on a consistent basis.
So for you bettors that love college basketball totals, here's a quick look at some of the best under teams in mid major college ball and what they are up to this week.
UC Riverside 7-8, 2-8-1 O/U
Jan 14 at CSU-Northridge
Jan 16 at UC Santa Barbara
UC Riverside games have only gone over twice this season, earlier against Pac 10 foe USC and a recent overtime game versus Long Beach St. The Highlanders are simply a team that has trouble putting the ball in the hoop. They shot under 40% in their two most recent games and they have only gone over 70 points four times this year. Oh and three of those were against Berry College, La Verne, and Cal St Bakersfield
NC Wilmington 6-9, 1-8 O/U
Jan 13 Old Dominion
Jan 16 at Northeastern
UNC Wilmington is on a 7 game under streak and their last three games have gone under the total by an average of 20 points. The Seahawks face two of the best teams in the CAA this week in Old Dominion and Northeastern and even if they get blown out, there is a strong possibility that the over won't hit. VCU scored 91 points earlier in the month and the game still went under.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee 10-7, 1-8-1 O/U
Jan 14 Detroit
Jan 16 Wright St.
The 80-67 loss to Butler was the only time that the over hit in a Wisconsin-Milwaukee game this season. In their other 4 Horizon league games, the under hit by an average of 21.5 points. They start off the week at home against a surprising Detroit team that only loss to Butler by two points. Detroit is 7-4 on totals this year, but 3 of their last 4 games have gone under.
Toledo Rockets 3-12, 0-7 O/U
Jan 13 at Eastern Michigan
Jan 16 at Ball State
Toledo isn't a popular team to bet on and rightfully so. They play in a small conference, and well I don't know maybe it was the whole point shaving scandal a couple years ago. Regardless the 09/10 Rockets have emerged as the best under team this year, going 0-7 on totals. It helps that they rank 209th in points allowed and 330th in points scored per game at 58.9.
Bowling Green 7-6, 1-7 O/U
Jan 14 Buffalo
Jan 17 at Kent State
No matter what oddsmakers set Bowling Green totals at, the games seem to go under. Twice they have been given a total of 140 or higher and the games went under. Two times at 120, both went under. In their last game against Akron, the total of 125 was on pace to go over, but Bowling Green did their part to keep the streak alive by only scoring 17 points in the 2nd half.
Please note that the MAC as whole has been a great under bet with all teams in the conference going 31-54-1 on totals this season.
Loyola Maryland 8-7, 1-5 O/U
Jan 11 Iona
Jan 15 Marist
Jan 17 at St. Peters
Unlike actual greyhounds, the Greyhounds of Loyola Maryland run at a slow pace and they try to establish this early. During their four game winning streak, Loyola held teams to an average of 24.5 points in the first half. They will deal with their lowest total, 126, on Monday against Iona. It will be interesting to see what oddsmakers will set the totals at for the weekend games against Marist and St. Peters, who themselves run their offenses at a slow pace.
Citadel 9-8, 0-6 O/U
Jan 14 at Chattanooga
Jan 16 at Samford
Ranking 310th in points scored per game, combined with being the 22nd best team in points allowed, is a great recipe for a good under team. Even though the Bulldogs have an offensive star in Cameron Wells, they have remained a perfect 0-6 on totals. Their most recent game against Charleston went under the total of 131 by 15 points. The streak might continue this week as their opponents Chattanooga and Samford, are a combined 5-9 on totals this season.