In the Paint - Week 6
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
You See No Ls, Eh?
OK, that headline was a bit of a stretch...but you see no losses for UCLA so far, and you won't see any this week, either. They are going to murder UCSB Wednesday night. The Gauchos have dropped six of their seven games overall, and they're 0-5 ATS so far this season. That includes a 96-72 beating from UCLA's crosstown rival USC back on Nov. 27. Imagine what super freshman Lonzo Ball and company can do. After that, UCLA will host Ohio State, a team fresh off an overtime loss to Florida Atlantic of Conference USA. UCLA has covered seven in a row, including wins at Kentucky Dec. 3, and at home against Michigan Dec. 10. The Bruins not only appear poised for an unbeaten week, but perhaps an unbeaten regular season.
Blue Jays Flying High
Creighton flew into the Top 10 with another strong week. They covered at rival Nebraska Dec. 7, something they have been routinely doing over the years, and then they hammered visiting Longwood College of the Big South. The tests are about to get much tougher for Creighton when they get into Big East play. For this week, they have only Oral Roberts on tap for next Saturday, as the holiday schedule lessens for most teams. ORU has been tough in the past, but they're just 2-8 SU/3-5 ATS, so you can expect another blood bath in Omaha this weekend. Creighton has covered four of their past five, and seven of nine, winning five straight by double digits. In fact, their average margin of victory over the past nine outings is 21.78 points.
Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
That's what the license plates in West Virginia read, and the Mountaineers have been wild and wonderful, too. They're out to a 8-1 SU start with their only setback an 81-77 decision against Temple on a neutral-site court back on Nov. 25. West Virginia's defense has been the story, and if you like totals you'll want to pay attention. The Mountaineers have allowed 57 or fewer points in three straight, all 'under' results, and that includes a 66-57 win at Virginia Dec. 3. West Virginia has covered three of their past four, too. This weekend they host Missouri-Kansas City, which is actually the only team to come within single digits of Creighton (see above).
Wisky and Boilermakers
From the Big Ten, Wisconsin and Purdue each find themselves in the Top 15, and right next to each other, too. Each team has already absorbed two losses, but the Badgers fell to North Carolina on a neutral-site court and at Creighton Nov. 15, nothing to be ashamed about. The Boilers slipped up at Louisville Nov. 30 and against defending national champ Villanova Nov. 14 in an early-season test, so don't just look at the record and assume the worst. These two teams are very, very good. Purdue has covered three in a row, and five of their past six, while Wisconsin has covered four in a row since that UNC loss. These two sides will meet in the second game of conference play Jan. 9 in West Lafayette.
Three (Non-Covers) Musketeers
Xavier has been in a bit of a tailspin by their standards, falling at Baylor Dec. 3 and at Colorado Dec. 7, while edging out Utah at home by eight points. They have failed to cover in three in a row heading into a dangerous game against Wake Forest Saturday, Dec. 17. The Demon Deacons are 8-2 SU, and their only losses are to defending champ Villanova and on the road at a good Northwestern team. If Xavier ends up being favored in this game by double digits, and they probably will be, it's hard to trust them right now the way they've been playing. After Wake the Musketeers have one tune-up game against a good Eastern Washington side before getting into conference play. Xavier better 'wake' up in a hurry.
Other Teams to Watch
CS Northridge of the Big West Conference might give UCSB a run for the basement in that respective league. The Matadors have dropped five of their past six outings, and they are a dismal 1-7 ATS over their past eight games. Their won't be a line on their next game against Bethesda University, but remember the Mats when they travel to Boise State Wed. Dec. 21.
George Mason might not be 'Final Four' good this season, but the Patriots are playing pretty well lately. They just ran through Penn State and Pennsylvania in the past week, winning each game by 19 points, and the Pats have covered four in a row, and six of the past seven.
Georgetown slapped the brakes on a four-game non-cover slide with a 15-point win and cover against La Salle on a neutral court this past weekend. Next up is a trip to face old friend Syracuse under the dome, as former Big East rivals collide. 'Cuse enters Saturday's meeting 0-3 ATS in their past three outings.
You want points? Hofstra's got your points right here! The Pride has hit the 'over' in four in a row, and six of the past seven, thanks mostly to the fact they have scored 73 or more points in seven of the past eight while allowing 80 or more points in eight of the past 10.