SPORTS ADVISORS
Miami, Fla. (17-7, 8-7-1 ATS) at Clemson (17-7, 11-10 ATS)
Two teams playing their way out of NCAA Tournament consideration look to get back on track when Clemson plays host to the Hurricanes at Littlejohn Coliseum.
Clemson has gone 2-4 SU and ATS in its last six outings, all inside the Atlantic Coast Conference. One of those two wins came against Florida State on Wednesday night, when the Tigers earned a 77-67 victory as a 5½ point home favorite. Clemson has outscored opponents by 17 ppg at home (76.8-59.7), shooting 46.9 percent from the floor while allowing just 39.5 percent.
Miami has been similarly sluggish lately. After a 15-1 start, the ‘Canes have gone 2-6 in their last eight games (2-5-1 ATS, all in ACC play), though they edged Georgia Tech 64-62 Wednesday in getting the push as a two-point home chalk. This season, Miami has averaged 71.9 ppg and given up 63.3, but on the road, the Hurricanes have been outscored by an average of 67.9-64.4.
Clemson has won and covered in the last two meetings in this rivalry, after a 5-0 ATS run (4-1 SU) by Miami. Last season, the Tigers rolled 91-72 as a three-point road underdog. The pup is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings, and the SU winner is 7-2 ATS in the last nine contests (6-1 ATS last seven).
The Tigers are on an 8-1 ATS tear at Littlejohn and are 6-2 ATS in their last eight starts following a spread-cover, but they also shoulder negative ATS streaks of 2-5 overall, 2-9-1 on Saturday, 1-4 after a SU win and 2-5 against winning teams. The Hurricanes are 12-5-3 ATS in their last 20 Saturday outings, but the ATS streaks turn down from there, including 2-6-1 overall, 1-4 on the road, 3-9-1 in the ACC and 2-6-1 against winning teams.
The under for Clemson is on rolls of 11-4 overall, 5-1 after a SU win, 13-6 on Saturday, 19-7 at home and 7-3 in the ACC. Meanwhile, the over/under has alternated in Miami’s last six games, with the win over Georgia Tech falling short of the 140-point price. Finally, in this rivalry, three of the last four meetings have gone over the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CLEMSON
Maryland (16-6, 11-7 ATS) at (8) Duke (20-4, 15-8 ATS)
The Blue Devils look to stay atop the ACC in a meeting with second-place Maryland at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke pulled away in the second half Wednesday night to best archrival North Carolina 64-54 as a 5½-point road chalk for its third consecutive win and fifth in the last six games (4-2 ATS). The Blue Devils are among the top scoring teams in the country, averaging 80.7 ppg (13th), and rank 10th in free-throw percentage (75.2) and 16th in 3-point percentage (39.4). Duke is holding opponents to just 28.3 percent from long distance (eighth).
Maryland has peeled off victories in six of its last seven games (5-1 ATS in lined action) and has had five days off since pounding North Carolina 92-71 Sunday laying six points at home. Like Duke, the Terrapins are also a high-scoring squad (80.2 ppg, 16th), and they sport the sixth-best shooting defense (37.1 percent).
Duke has won the last five clashes in this rivalry (3-1-1 ATS, all as a chalk), including all three last season. The Blue Devils rumbled to an 85-44 home win giving 15 points, won 78-67 laying six points on the road, then earned a 67-61 win in the ACC tournament, though Maryland cashed as a nine-point pup. The road team is 4-1-1 ATS in the last six meetings, and the SU winner is on an 8-1-1 ATS run.
The Blue Devils have covered in just two of their last eight Saturday games, but they are on ATS upswings of 9-4 overall, 6-0 at home, 4-1 in the ACC and 9-4 against winning teams. The Terps are on nothing but positive ATS streaks, including 8-1 overall, 7-1 against winning teams, 5-1 after either a SU or an ATS win, 5-1 on the highway and 16-5 in the ACC.
Duke is on “under” stretches of 4-0 against winning teams, 4-1 on Saturday, 24-9 in conference play and 23-10 after a spread-cover, and Maryland is on a 4-0 “under” string against winning teams. In addition, in this rivalry, the total has stayed low in the last four meetings overall and five of the last six in Durham. However, the Terps are on “over” rolls of 10-4-1 overall and 25-9 on Saturday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DUKE and UNDER
Missouri (18-6, 10-8 ATS) at (24) Baylor (18-5, 11-5 ATS)
The Tigers head to Waco, Texas, looking for their third straight win when they face Baylor in a Big 12 contest at the Ferrell Center.
Missouri topped Iowa State 65-56 Wednesday, but fell short as a hefty 13½-point home favorite, and the Tigers have now alternated ATS wins and losses over their past eight games. On the season, Mizzou has outscored foes by nearly 16 ppg (80.6-65.0), but on the road, the Tigers are allowing 75.7 ppg and scoring 74.3.
Baylor squeaked past Nebraska 55-53 Wednesday as a 2½-point road chalk, winning SU for the third time in the last four games, but dropping its second straight ATS decision after a 5-1 ATS run. The Bears are putting up 80.4 ppg at home on sterling 49.1 percent shooting, while holding opponents to just 61.1 ppg on 36.1 percent shooting. They are also killing the opposition on the boards, averaging 38.1 per game (eighth) and allowing just 28.
Missouri won and covered in both meetings in this rivalry last year, 89-72 at home giving 6½ points and 73-60 in the Big 12 tourney, also as a 6½-point chalk. Prior to that, Baylor had ripped off eight consecutive ATS victories (4-4 SU). The Bears are 5-0 ATS in the last five Waco meetings, and the pup is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 matchups.
The Tigers own positive pointspread streaks of 4-0 after a non-cover, 6-1 on Saturday and 15-7 in the Big 12, but are in an 0-4 ATS rut following a SU win and have gone just 16-35 ATS in their last 51 roadies. The Bears are on a bundle of ATS surges, including 11-4 overall, 6-1 on Saturday, 5-1 at home, 10-4 against winning teams and 7-3 after a SU victory.
The over for Missouri is on upticks of 4-1 after a non-cover and 7-3 on the road, and the over for Baylor is on tears of 9-2 overall, 7-0 after a SU win, 5-1 after an ATS setback, 8-1 in the Big 12, 4-1 in Waco and 20-8-1 on Saturday. Also, last year’s Big 12 tourney meeting fell short of the posted price, but that was after a 3-0 “over” run in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BAYLOR and OVER
(23) UNLV (19-5, 15-7 ATS) at San Diego State (17-7, 12-9 ATS)
The Rebels, aiming to get back on track after having their five-game win streak snapped, make a short trek to take on the Aztecs in a Mountain West Conference clash at Viejas Arena.
UNLV hammered then-No. 12 BYU 88-74 last Saturday as a two-point home chalk, but followed up with a 76-66 setback Wednesday laying five points at home to New Mexico. During their five-game run, the Rebels shot 53 percent from the floor; in the loss, they went just 25 of 58 (43.1 percent), including 10 of 30 from 3-point range (33.3 percent). UNLV has averaged 75.3 ppg on the road this year and given up 64.2, and they’ve gone 9-2 SU and ATS away from Las Vegas.
San Diego State has posted four straight ATS victories (3-1 SU), drubbing Wyoming 88-57 as an overwhelming 18-point home favorite Wednesday night to bounce back from an 88-86 loss catching two points at New Mexico last Saturday. The Aztecs have gone 11-1 SU (6-4 ATS in lined games) at home this year, outscoring foes by an average of nearly 18 ppg (74.6-57.0).
UNLV beat San Diego State 76-66 a month ago giving seven points at home, halting a 3-0 SU and ATS run by the Aztecs in this rivalry. In fact, the SU winner has cashed in the last seven meetings between these two.
Despite the loss to BYU, the Rebels remain on a bundle of ATS rolls, including 10-4 overall, 7-0 in roadies, 5-0 after a non-cover, 4-0 after a SU loss, 6-1 against winning teams, 4-1 on Saturday and 7-3 in the Mountain West. Similarly, the Aztecs are on ATS upswings of 5-1 overall, 4-0 in conference play and 19-8-1 on Saturday.
The over is 5-1 in UNLV’s last six Saturday games and 7-2-1 in San Diego State’s last 10 starts, but the under is 9-4 in the Rebels’ last 13 road games, and the Aztecs are on “under” runs of 39-14-1 at home, 11-4 on Saturday and 35-16-1 after a SU win. Finally, in this rivalry, the total has gone high in the last two meetings and four of the last six.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Rhode Island (19-4, 9-10-1 ATS) at (21) Temple (19-5, 14-10 ATS)
Two Atlantic 10 rivals coming off losses to Richmond hook up at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, as Temple hosts the Rams.
Rhode Island took a four-game winning streak into Wednesday’s home game against Richmond, but it fell 69-67 as a 5½-point favorite. Although the Rams are 7-2 in their last nine games (all in the Atlantic 10), including 3-1 on the road, they’re just 2-5-1 ATS in their last seven. On the bright side, Rhode Island is 9-2 in road/neutral site contests this season (8-2-1 ATS), averaging 76.2 ppg and allowing 70.1 ppg.
The Owls haven’t been on the court since last Saturday, when they got crushed 71-54 at Richmond as a 1½-point road underdog. Temple is still 7-2 in the A-10 (5-4 ATS), and it holds a half-game lead over Rhode Island in the conference standings. It is also 10-2 at the Liacouras Center (7-5 ATS), with the last home defeat coming to then-No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 2 (84-52 as a seven-point home ‘dog).
Temple needed overtime to dispose of Rhode Island back on Jan. 10, wining 68-64 as a two-point road underdog. The Owls are 3-1 SU and ATS in the last four – with two of the games going into overtime – and they’ve cashed in 13 of the last 19 meetings, including four of five at Temple.
Going back to last season, the Rams are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 road games, but otherwise in they’re in pointspread ruts of 2-5-1 overall, 3-8-1 in conference, 2-5 versus winning teams and 0-3-1 on Saturday. Temple has failed to cash in four of its last five on Saturday, but from there the Owls are on ATS runs of 27-10 at home, 32-13-1 in the Atlantic 10, 7-3 against winning teams, 4-1 following a SU loss and 7-3 after a non-cover.
Rhode Island is on “under” runs of 9-3 overall, 4-1 on the road, 10-3 against A-10 rivals, 8-2 on Saturday and 4-1 against winning teams. Temple carries “under” ‘trends of 18-8 at home, 7-3-1 on Saturday, 6-2 against winning teams and 19-7 after a SU loss. Lastly, the under has been the play in each of the last three meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEMPLE and UNDER
Texas A&M (16-7, 11-6 ATS) at Texas Tech (17-6, 11-8 ATS)
Fresh off Tuesday’s upset victory at Oklahoma, the Red Raiders return to United Spirit Arena, where they will try to avenge last month’s blowout loss to Big 12 rival Texas A&M.
The Aggies hammered Texas Tech 85-70 as a nine-point favorite two weeks ago, which kicked off a three-game winning streak that continued with last Saturday’s 78-71 win over Baylor as a two-point home favorite. Texas A&M is 5-1 (3-3 ATS) in its last six games – all within the Big 12 – and after dropping its first three conference road games (1-2 ATS), it won the most recent one at Missouri (77-74 as a 9½-point underdog on Feb. 3). Still, the Aggies are just 4-6 (6-4 ATS) away from College Station, Texas, where they get outscored by an average of 5 points per game (75-70).
Texas Tech followed up last Saturday’s 81-74 home win over Oklahoma State as a one-point underdog with Monday’s 72-71 win at Oklahoma as a six-point pup. The Red Raiders have won four of their last six games while going 5-1 ATS (after starting out 0-3 ATS in conference), but they have yet to win three straight league contests. Coach Pat Knight’s squad is 13-1 on its home floor (7-2 ATS in lined action), averaging 82 ppg while yielding 70.4.
With their 15-point victory over Texas Tech on Jan. 30, the Aggies improved to 4-1 SU and ATS in the last five meetings (all as a favorite), including a 79-73 win in Lubbock last year as a 1½-point road chalk. The Red Raiders’ only victory in the last five clashes came in last year’s Big 12 tournament (88-83 as a 6½-point ‘dog). The home team is 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 regular-season series battles, and the SU winner has cashed in each of the last 12 meetings.
Texas A&M is on ATS hot streaks of 39-19 on the road, 15-7 in Big 12 action, 5-1 on Saturday and 36-17 on the road against opponents with a winning road record. Likewise, the Red Raiders have been cashing tickets in bunches lately, as they’re on pointspread surges of 5-1 overall (all in conference), 7-1 at home, 5-1 versus winning teams and 8-2 after a SU victory.
The Aggies are on “over” runs of 4-0 overall, 5-1 against winning teams and 4-1 after a victory, while Texas Tech carries “over” streaks of 36-15-2 overall, 5-2 at home, 5-0 against winning teams and 16-6 after a SU victory. Finally, the last five meetings between these squads have hurdled the posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS TECH and OVER
Virginia (14-7, 9-7 ATS) at Virginia Tech (19-4, 10-7 ATS)
The red-hot Hokies, who have won three in a row overall and all 12 home games this season, look to keep things rolling when they welcome rival Virginia to Cassell Coliseum for an ACC contest.
The Cavaliers have been idle since last Saturday’s 64-61 overtime home loss to Wake Forest as a four-point favorite, halting a modest two-game SU and ATS winning streak. Virginia is still 10-3 in its last 13 games (6-3 in the ACC), with the last two defeats coming in overtime, including a 76-71 setback to Virginia Tech as a two-point home chalk on Jan. 28. The Cavs are 2-1 SU and ATS in conference roadies.
Virginia Tech followed up last Saturday’s 11-point home rout of Clemson with Wednesday’s 72-52 destruction of North Carolina State as a one-point road chalk. The Hokies have won six of their last seven games; they’re 4-1 ATS in their last five (3-0 ATS last three); and they’re 12-0 at home this year, including 4-0 (3-1 ATS) in ACC contests at Cassell Coliseum. For the season, Seth Greenberg’s squad is outscoring visitors by nearly 20 ppg (74.1-54.8) and outshooting visitors 44.5 percent to 35.3 percent.
Three of the last five Virginia-Virginia Tech clashes have gone into overtime, with the Hokies winning and cashing in all three. Overall, Va-Tech is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in the last five clashes, and despite last month’s 76-71 road win for the Hokies, the host is still 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS in the last eight regular-season clashes (with four of those eight requiring overtime). Going back further, the host has cashed in nine of the last 13 meetings. Also, the ‘dog is 4-1 ATS in the last five.
Virginia is 5-1 ATS in its last six after a SU defeat and 5-2 ATS in its last seven following a non-cover. Meanwhile, the Hokies are on ATS tears of 4-1 overall (all in the ACC), 5-1 at home, 4-1 on Saturday and 8-3 after a SU victory.
For the Cavaliers, the under is on runs of 4-1 overall, 40-17-2 on the highway, 15-5-1 in ACC action, 7-1-1 on Saturday and 19-8 after a SU loss. Similarly, Virginia Tech carries “under” streaks of 5-2 overall, 5-2 after a SU win and 11-3 at home against teams with a losing road record. Finally, last month’s overtime clash topped the posted price, so the total has alternated in the last six meetings.
ATS ADVANTAGE: VIRGINIA TECH
(20) Georgia Tech (17-7, 11-7 ATS) at Wake Forest (17-5, 11-8 ATS)
The Yellow Jackets will attempt to rebound from a heartbreaking last-second loss at Miami, Fla., when they trek to Joel Coliseum in Winston Salem, N.C., for an ACC battle with Wake Forest.
Georgia Tech was on the wrong end of a buzzer-beating shot at Miami on Wednesday, falling 64-62 and coming up just short as a 1½-point road underdog. The Yellow Jackets have split their last six games, going 2-3 in ACC contests. But all three losses came on the highway, and they’ve dropped five of their six road games, going 1-4 (2-3 ATS) when visiting ACC rivals. During its 1-5 slump on the road, Georgia Tech has averaged 68.1 ppg while allowing 74 ppg.
Since getting annihilated 79-58 at Georgia Tech on Jan. 28, the Demon Deacons have ripped off three straight wins and spread-covers, including Tuesday’s 92-85 victory over Boston College, narrowly escaping as a 6½-point home chalk. Wake Forest is on a 5-1 SU and ATS roll (all against ACC foes); it is 5-0 in ACC home games (3-2 ATS); and it is 11-1 at Joel Coliseum this season (5-4 ATS in lined contests). The Deacons’ five conference home victories have come by an average of 7.6 ppg.
Georgia Tech improved to 4-1 SU and ATS in the last five matchups against Wake Forest with its 21-point rout as a 5½-point home chalk 2½ weeks ago, the Jackets’ largest margin of victory in 68 all-time meetings. However, the Demon Deacons have won nine of the last 11 clashes at Joel Coliseum. In fact, the host is 9-1 SU and ATS in the last 10 head-to-head battles and 11-1 (10-2 ATS) in the last 12. Finally, the SU winner is on a 14-1 ATS roll in this rivalry (10-0 ATS last 10).
Despite coming up just short of cashing at Miami this week, Georgia Tech is still on pointspread upticks of 15-7 overall, 8-4 on the highway, 9-5 in ACC action, 13-7 against winning teams and 5-1 on Saturday. The Demon Deacons are riding ATS streaks of 5-1 overall (all in ACC action), 4-1 at home, 5-1 versus winning teams and 4-0 on Saturday.
The under is on runs of 5-2 for the Yellow Jackets overall, 8-3 for the Yellow Jackets in conference play and 5-1 for Wake Forest overall (all in conference). Conversely, the Deacons have topped the total in 12 of their last 16 home games, the over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams and 5-0 in the last five clashes in Winston Salem.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WAKE FOREST and OVER
(12) Tennessee (18-5, 9-10-1 ATS) at (3) Kentucky (23-1, 11-11 ATS)
The Volunteers, who got crushed at Vanderbilt earlier this week, hope to get back on track when they make their annual visit to Rupp Arena for an SEC showdown against Kentucky in the day’s only matchup between Top 25 teams.
Tennessee’s three-game winning streak came to a screeching halt in Tuesday’s 90-71 loss at Vanderbilt, and the Vols dropped to 1-5 ATS in their last six games by falling way short as a three-point road underdog. Tennessee’s last two defeats were to Vandy, and Bruce Pearl’s squad is now just 3-3 in true road games (2-4 ATS).
The Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season at South Carolina back on Jan. 26 (68-62 as a seven-point road chalk), but they’ve rebounded to win their last four in a row in double-digit fashion, splitting the cash in all four games. On Tuesday, Kentucky shook off pesky Alabama and prevailed 66-55, but failed to cover as a 15-point home favorite. In fact, John Calipari’s team has alternated spread-covers in its last 10 games, including all nine SEC contests.
Kentucky has won all 16 of its games at Rupp Arena, but is just 6-8 ATS, despite outscoring visitors by 18.7 ppg (84.7-66) while shooting 50 percent from the field (39 percent from three-point range) and holding opponents to 38.2 percent.
In an otherwise disappointing season last year, Kentucky managed to sweep the season series from the Vols, rolling 90-72 as a six-point road underdog and 77-58 as a three-point home chalk. The Wildcats have won three of the last four meetings, five of the last seven and seven of the last 10, and they’ve covered the spread in each of the last four clashes (including three times as an underdog).
Also in this rivalry, Kentucky has won three in a row and nine of the last 10 at Rupp Arena (4-1 ATS last five), with an average margin of victory of 14 ppg.
In addition to failing to cover in five of their last six games, the Vols are 0-4 ATS in their last four after a defeat and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight after a non-cover. Kentucky is in pointspread ruts of 7-15 in SEC action and 1-4 against winning teams, but it is 20-8 ATS in its last 28 after a non-cover (7-0 ATS last seven after a non-cover).
Tennessee is on “under” surges of 25-10 overall, 9-3 on the highway and 14-6 in SEC action, but Kentucky has topped the total in 11 of 15 overall, eight of 10 at home, four of five on Saturday and six straight after a non-cover. Finally, the last four Vols-Wildcats matchups in Lexington have stayed under the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KENTUCKY and UNDER
Brad Diamond Sports
Play on: LSU+ over Vanderbilt
Interesting LSU is a bad club 0-7 SU on the road, while the Commies roll in at 12-0 SU on their home floor. The futile Bayou offense has averaged 50 ppg, over the last five outings all in the SEC. LSU has lost 10 straight games. Vandy has 8 of 10 SU after just blistering Tennessee 90-71 on Monday. The Commies have a huge road game with Ole Miss up next followed by a home date with Kentucky. Clearly, there are bigger games down the road for this feisty group. Historically, this has been a home and chalk series ATS, but Vandy is just 3-7 ATS versus clubs with under .400 winning percentage.
Marc Lawrence
Maryland at Duke
Play: Maryland
If there’s ever a time to sprint into Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Terps just found it. Maryland catches the Blue Devils off a triple-revenge win over North Carolina where Coach K’s boys are 4-13-1 ATS after those Tobacco Road turnouts. The Terrapins, themselves, arrive with triple revenge, including a 6-point semifinal loss from last year’s ACC tourney. The Turtles really pick up the pace playing with ACC tourney revenge when they own a win percentage of .727 or greater, posting a solid 7-2 ATS mark. They’re also a sure and steady 8-3 ATS with conference tourney revenge off a SU win. Gary Williams’ crew has also come out of their shells away from home this season, registering a 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS log outside of College Park, including 3-1 ATS on the ACC highway. Take a slow stroll down Memory Lane and grab the points with the resurgent visitors who have won six of their last seven.
Matt Fargo
Butler @ Cleveland State
PICK: Cleveland State
This is likely going to be a letdown game for Butler on Saturday. The Bulldogs clinched the Horizon League outright with its win at Youngstown St. on Thursday and they will head to Cleveland with little incentive. They were taken out last season by Cleveland St. in the Conference Tournament but they already got their revenge with a home win over the Vikings earlier this season. With first place already in its grasp, this is the best time we have seen to play against Butler and its 14-game winning streak. The Vikings knew it was going to be a much tougher season with the loss of three very important starters from last season’s championship team. Cleveland St. has grown up in a hurry however and heading into this game it is riding a six-game winning streak, its longest of the season. The Vikings are 10-3 at home this season but those losses came early in the season during the non-conference portion of the schedule. They are a perfect 6-0 at home in conference play and while it can be argued the conference is in a down year as far as strong teams go, protecting home court is still the goal no matter who the competition may be. Now that one of the best and hottest teams in the country is making a visit, the motivation goes up even more. Also, the revenge factor doesn’t hurt either. When looking at the numbers, the two big categories I look at are pretty much even here. Butler and Cleveland St. are exactly even at the free throw line and the 1.03 to 1.01 assist/turnover comparison is nearly even as well. Cleveland St. covered its lone game as a home underdog this season when it lost against number four West Virginia by just a bucket while receiving 15.5 points. Butler may be 22-4 on the season but it is only 10-16 against the number and the number one cause for the poor spread record is the Bulldogs being overvalued. They have not lost as a road favorite this season, going a perfect 9-0 but they are just 4-5 against the number in those games. They are also only 7-14 ATS following a win and I do not see that changing much here. With first place locked up, the Vikings have a lot more on the line as far as seedings and possibly even more importantly, confidence heading down the stretch of the season 3* Cleveland St. Vikings
Lee Kostroski
Missouri @ Baylor
PICK: Baylor -3.5
Baylor returns home after two tough conference road games. They let a 2nd half lead slip away against Texas A&M and lost by seven, and defeated the Cornhuskers by 2 points in their latest game. In their loss to the Aggies, Baylor had a better shooting percentage but A&M had a +14 edge in free throws made. Because of their last two “sub-par” performances, they are a little undervalued here at home. Baylor is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings with Missouri and we expect them to extend that streak on Saturday.
Missouri is only 4-3 in their last 7 games. They have bad losses @Oklahoma and @Kansas and lost at home for the first time in 32 games (loss vs. Texas A&M). Their wins have been anything but impressive; vs. Iowa State, @Colorado, vs. Oklahoma State, and vs. Nebraska. They’ve gone cold on the offensive side of the ball, hitting on just 39.7% of their field goals in the past 8 games. The Bears defense is playing well enough lately to continue Missouri’s cold streak. Baylor’s ‘D’ has held 13 of their 23 opponents under 40% field goals. On the season, they are 3rd best in the nation in opponent’s field goal percentage, allowing just 36.9%. One reason for that is that they can be very disruptive, considering that they are the 2nd tallest team in the nation (seven players taller than 6’7’’).
Baylor is 3-1 in their only 4 Big 12 home games this season. They defeated Iowa State by 21, lost to #9 Kansas State by 2, defeated Oklahoma State by 13 and Oklahoma by 31. Baylor is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning record and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win. They are also 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games overall. Missouri is just 16-35 ATS in their last 51 road games and 0-5 ATS in the last 5 road games in Baylor. Go with Baylor minus the points tonight.
Jim Feist
Cs Fullerton vs. Cs Northridge
Play: Under 147½
Cal State Fullerton loves the uptempo game, with four players in double figures, led by the frontcourt of Aaron Thompson (12 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Jer'Vaughn Johnson (10.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg). They lead the Big West in shooting percentage (49.5%). However, their defense is very underrated, tops in the Big West allowing 34.7% shooting by opponents and tops at defending the three-pointer. They face a Northridge team that has been slowing the pace down of late, on a 9-3 run under the total. The Northridge defense is decent, allowing 42% shooting in the conference -- third best. Oddsmakers are anticipating an offensive show, but the defenses will surprise in this one. Play Fullerton/Northridge Under the total.
James Patrick Sports
Tennessee vs. Kentucky
In SEC action on Saturday Night the action at UK's Rupp Arena will be intense as the Tennessee Volunteers come to Lexington to play the Wildcats. Vols HC Bruce Pearl is a solid underdog with a (21-10-1) ATS mark and when he heads into Rupp Arena with revenge his teams own a solid (9-3) ATS mark. Kentucky is (13-25) ATS as double-digit favorites versus .615 opposition and (0-5) ATS post Alabama. Big Game James Patrick's College Basketball selection in SEC action is Tennessee Volunteers.
Stan Lisowski
NORTH TEXAS
Mean Green are 10-4 vs. the number in Sunbelt play this season, while they are 9-2 straight up as a host. Denver continues to fail on the road standing 0-9 ATS, 0-7 as an away dog with a double digit average margin of defeat.
Triple Threat Sports
North Texas (-) over Denver
Few teams have as big of a Home/Away dichotomy as the Denver Pioneers. They are extremely solid at home (NTU one of the last teams to win in Denver) but awful on the road; 1-9 SU and 0-9 ATS. Mean Green are a solid team and will defend their home court tonight.
BIG AL
George Mason at Old Dominion
Prediction: Old Dominion
These two Colonial Athletic Association rivals met back on January 2, and George Mason stunned ODU 71-55, as a six-point home underdog. Make no mistake about it, the Monarchs will have revenge on their minds today, and according to my database, they should get it. Old Dominion is a spotless 12-0 straight-up at home this season, and conference home favorites, priced from -9 to -16 points, are a solid 60% ATS since 1990, if they are playing with revenge from a road loss to their foe earlier in the season, and have a current home record of 7-0 (or better). George Mason has covered just one of its previous five games, and we will fade the Patriots this afternoon. Take Old Dominion.
Tom Freese
George Mason at Old Dominion
Prediction: Old Dominion
George Mason is 16-9 overall and 11-3 in Conference Play. The Patriots score 67 points a game. They are led in scoring by guard Cam Long and his 13.5 points a game. Forward Ryan Pearson scores 12.1 points a game. Three other players score 8.6 and 7.4 points a game. The Patriots shoot just 65% from the foul line. George Mason is 1-3-1 ATS their last 5 games and they are 6-13 ATS after scoring 75 or more points in their last game. Old Dominion is 19-7 overall and 11-3 in Conference Play. The Monarchs have a balanced attack. Forward Gerald Lee scores 13.9 points a game and forward Ben Finney scores 9.1 points and 6 rebounds a game. Frank Hassell scores 8.5 points a game. Ken Bazemore scores 8 points a game and two other players score 7 points a games. The home team is 4-1 ATS the last 5 meetings. PLAY ON OLD DOMINION -
Charlie Scott
Providence vs. Villanova
Play: Under 174
Villanova is talented and can get up and down the court. However, when the oddsmaker makes a College Basketball total this high, in my opinion the only play is UNDER. Villanova will come out run and score a bunch of points the first 10 minutes of the game, but then settle down and with 8 minutes in the second half will slow down the pace.
Nelly
Providence + over Villanova
Villanova only has two blowout wins in Big East play and those games came against Rutgers and DePaul. Expecting the Wildcats to wipe out a solid Providence team would be asking a lot as this team has some holes in its resume despite the lofty ranking and a projected top seed. Villanova easily could have lost both games with Marquette and also struggled against St. John’s and Seton Hall. The home win over Georgetown required a narrow win and the Hoyas pounded Villanova last weekend in a high-scoring game. Providence is a fast tempo high scoring team and that is the type of game that Villanova has had some problems in. The Friars are in a tough skid, having dropped six of the last seven games but they have played a brutal schedule, losing on the road against Syracuse, Cincinnati, and Marquette while dropping close home games with South Florida, Marquette, and Georgetown. The road team has actually covered in eight of the last nine meetings and this is not a true road game for the Wildcats, playing in the larger and less intimidating Wachovia Center. This has been a tough week for Villanova with two road games and facing hectic travel with the snowstorms and this could be a tough situation for the Friars team that knows it needs a marquee victory to get back in the postseason conversation.
Tom Stryker
SOUTHERN MISS (-) over Rice
When these two CUSA foes met in Houston last year, Rice pounded Southern Miss 88-72. Rest assured, the Golden Eagles haven't forgotten about that spanking and they'll be primed to start their four-game homestand with a huge win on Saturday afternoon.
Surprisingly, the Owls enter this contest off a rare straight up home win over Texas A&M International on Monday night. That victory actually places head coach Ben Braun's troops in an automatic "play against" situation. In their last 23 lined games coming off a straight up win, the Owls haven't been worth a hoot notching a dismal 6-17 ATS record. Beating good teams on foreign soil hasn't been Rice's cup of tea either. As a guest facing a foe that holds a won/loss percentage greater than .600, the Owls are a pathetic 3-51 SU and 19-35 ATS including a ridiculous 0-15 SU and 2-13 ATS in this role coming off a straight up victory of seven points or more. With those two parameters applied and Rice running with four or more days rest, this team trend crashes to a shocking 0-7 SU and ATS!
Southern Miss has played extremely well defensively and the Golden Eagles find themselves ranked No. 1 in the conference in scoring defense allowing an average of 60.0 points per game. That spells trouble for an offensively challenged Rice bunch that has posted an average of only 65. points per game this season! On a technical note, USM stands 26-12 ATS as a home favorite matched up against a foe that arrives off a straight up win and 12-2-1 ATS at home returning off two or more road games.
As stated, head coach Larry Eustachy's kids have four straight inside Reed Green Coliseum and they would love to visit Memphis on February 27th with a powerful 18-9 SU record. In a payback mode and with tremendous home versus road dichotomy, the Golden Eagles will soar this evening. Take Southern Miss!