NCAAB Betting News and Notes Saturday, December 17th, 2016

NCAAB Knowledge

Georgetown beat Syracuse 78-72 at home LY; they led by 21 early in second half. Hoyas won three of last four series games, winning two of last three visits to Carrier Dome. Georgetown won last four games, all vs stiffs; they’re 1-3 vs top 100 teams, with losses by 1-16-27 points and win over Oregon. Syracuse is 6-0 at home, 0-3 elsewhere, but Monmouth is only top 100 team they’ve played at home. Georgetown is in bottom 30 of country in defensive rebounding. Big East underdogs are 9-7 against the spread away from home.

Oklahoma lost two of last three games with four new starters this year; Sooners made 11-26 on arc, won 84-78 at Memphis LY, outscoring Tigers 13-4 over last 3:14 of game. Oklahoma is 1-3 vs top 100 teams with losses by 6-20-3 points and win over Clemson. Memphis is also 1-3 vs top 100 teams, with win over Iowa- they lost at home to Monmouth Tuesday. Tigers are making just 30.1% of their 3-pointers, 61.7% on foul line- they start three sophomores. Big X home favorites are 20-13 vs spread; AAC road underdogs are 7-12.

Wichita State is 2-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Louisville/Michigan State; they beat Oklahoma by 3 in last game. Shockers have #3 eFG% defense in country- they don’t start any seniors. Oklahoma State is 2-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by point to Maryland, 32 to UNC; Cowboys split two true road games, with games decided by total of five points- they’re forcing turnovers 26.6% of time, #3 in country. Big X underdogs are 8-4 vs spread away from home; MVC home favorites are 17-9 vs spread.

VCU outscored Middle Tennessee State 18-7 over last 6:34 in 62-56 win LY; Rams shot only 31.7% from floor for game. Rams are 2-2 vs top 100 teams this year, beating LSU/Princeton, losing to Baylor by 8, Illinois by 18. VCU is turning ball over 21.2% of time, not good. MTSU is 10-1 vs schedule #91, with wins at Ole Miss, Vandy, Belmont. Blue Raiders won their last eight games; they’re 3-0 vs top 100 teams, with only loss at home to Tennessee State. Conference-USA road underdogs are 21-19 vs spread; Atlantic-14 home favorites are 15-25.

Texas A&M is 7-2 but losses are to USC/UCLA, Pac-12 rivals of Arizona. Aggies are #297 in experience; they’re shooting only 29.9% on arc, 62.4% on foul line- their only top 100 win in three tries was by 3 over Va Tech. Arizona is thin/young; they beat stiffs in last three games, are 1-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Michigan State, losing to Butler by 4, Gonzaga by 7. Aggies are playing pace #337; their first true road game isn’t until January 3. SEC home favorites are 23-23 vs spread; Pac-12 road underdogs are 7-6.

Arkansas-Texas was a big rivalry when they were both in same league- this game is in Houston, a semi-neutral site. Razorbacks are 8-1 this season, with only loss by 13 at Minnesota, their only game away from home. Arkansas is #32 experience team that is deep; they’re grabbing 40.6% of own misses (#6 in country). Texas lost four of last six games; they’re 1-4 vs top 100 teams, with best win by 9 over Alabama- three of Longhorns’ five wins are vs teams outside the top 200. Texas is shooting 28.6% on arc, and not forcing turnovers like Smart’s VCU teams did.

Purdue is 8-2 with both losses top 10 teams (Villanova/Louisville); they lost by 31 to Notre Dame in last meeting two years ago. Boilers are making 44.1% of their 3’s (#5) this year, have #4 eFG% in country.- they’re 2-2 vs top 100 teams, with wins over Arizona State/Auburn. Notre Dame was 9-0 before 8-point loss to Villanova last week; Irish are #59 experience team thats played schedule #294- they’re #1 in country on foul line and at protecting ball. ND is 3-1 vs top 100 teams with wins over Iowa/Northwestern of Big 14.

Indiana beat Butler 82-73 in last meeting two years ago; Bulldogs beat IU in OT in previous meeting in 2013. Hoosiers are 8-1 vs schedule #333 (they’ve beaten Kansas/UNC); they’re #312 in experience but play lot of guys- their one loss was in OT at Fort Wayne. Butler is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time (#23); they’ve got five top 100 wins but lost by point at #161 Indiana State. Bulldogs beat Vandy/Arizona on neutral floor in Las Vegas. Big 14 favorites are are 6-3 vs spread on neutral floors. Big East underdogs are 5-5 vs spread on neutral floors.

UCLA is an offensive juggernaut so far; they’re 11-0 vs schedule #257, scoring 100+ points in five games. Bruins beat Nebraska by 11/Michigan by 18 in games vs Big 14 foes- they’re making 45.3% on arc (#1), 62.8% inside arc (#1) at pace #13. This game is in Las Vegas, just second game they’ve played outside of California (won at Kentucky). Ohio State is 8-2 with both losses by a basket but one of them was at home to Fla Atlantic. Buckeyes have #38 eFG% defense; they’re 2-1 vs top 100 teams, beating Providence/UConn. Interesting game.

North Carolina is 8-4 vs Kentucky in meetings when both teams were in top 10- they lost 84-70 to Wildcats in last meeting two years ago. Tar Heels are #135 experience team playing pace #40 with a deep bench. UNC is 10-1 with only loss by 9 at Indiana- they’re 5-1 vs top 100 teams but struggled in last game, beating Tennessee 73-71. Kentucky is #347 experience team that is 9-1 vs schedule #187 while playing pace #11. Wildcats are 3-1 in top 100 games, with wins over Michigan State-Valparaiso-Arizona State. This is Kentucky’s 4th neutral court game already.

Northwestern is 8-2 vs schedule #299; if they want to make NCAAs for first time, would be good idea to win this game. Wildcats are 2-2 in top 100 games, but wins are over Texas/Wake Forest- they lost to Butler/Notre Dame by total of six points. Dayton is 2-2 vs top 100 teams, losing to Nebraska/St Mary’s; Flyers are #69 experience team but they’ve been thinned by injuries. Wildcats had surprisingly tough 68-64 home win over #329 Chicago State in their last game. This game is at United Center, a virtual home game for Northwestern.

Illinois is #44 experience team that will get its coach fired if they don’t make NCAAs; Illini is 8-3 vs schedule #163- they won last four games, including wins over NC State/VCU- they turn ball over 20.6% of time, a little high for a team playing pace #227. BYU is 7-3 vs schedule #248; they played #3 tempo so far, are 2-2 vs top 100 teams, beating Princeton/Colorado, losing to USC by Valparaiso by 3, both on neutral floors. Cougars are #298 experience team but their team is little older than most because lot of their players go on Mormon missions.

Chattanooga is 8-2 vs schedule #181; they split pair of top 100 games, losing to North Carolina by 40, beating Tennessee by 13. Mocs are #36 experience team that forces turnovers 24.1% of time (#12)- they’re 3-1 in true road games. Vanderbilt has new coach, is 5-5 vs schedule #108; Commodores are 0-5 vs teams ranked #130 or higher, with losses to Middle Tennessee and Bucknell. Vandy makes 41.4% outside arc (#13) but only 44.5% inside arc (#290). SEC home favorites are 23-23 vs spread; SoCon road underdogs are 15-12.

Armadillosports.com

Saturday's NCAAB Top 25 Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com

Texas A&M vs No. 19 Arizona (+2, OFF)

* Four of the Wildcats’ five starters average double-digit scoring with the freshman trio of Lauri Markkanen (16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds), Rawle Alkins (12.4 points) and Kobi Simmons (12.2 points) leading the way. Markkanen and Dusan Ristic (10 points, 6.4 rebounds) give Arizona a pair of 7-footers who can dominate inside, while Markkanen also can stretch defenses and shoots 44.9 percent from 3-point range.

* The Aggies have a trio of solid big men of their own in 6-10 centers Tyler Davis (14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds) and Tonny Trocha-Morelos (10 points, 4.3 rebounds), and 6-9 freshman forward Robert Williams (10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds). Davis is the reigning SEC Player of the Week after averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in three wins last week.

TRENDS:

* Aggies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Wildcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
* Under is 4-0 in Aggies last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.

Eastern Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville (-25.5, OFF)

* True freshman point guard Asante Gist (14.4 points) was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 21.5 points and five assists last week, including 24 points and six assists - both career highs - in a Dec. 7 victory at Jacksonville. Sophomore forward Nick Mayo (team-high 19.3 points) is the league's fourth-leading scorer and has reached double figures in 14 consecutive outings, including a career-high 30-point effort against Marshall to begin December. Dillon Avare, a former Louisville walk-on, is tied for the team lead with 23 3-pointers and coming off a career-best performance as well after going 5-for-9 from long-range and finishing with 15 points - all of which are personal bests - versus Ball State.

* The Cardinals remain the best in the country in KenPom.com's adjusted defense efficiency metric and six players finished in double figures versus Texas Southern for the first time since Dec. 7, 2013, en route to the team's best offensive output of the season. Louisville's reserves have averaged 32.8 points over the last four contests since totaling 51 during their three-game run at the Battle 4 Atlantis over Thanksgiving weekend. Pitino revealed Jaylen Johnson (9.4 points, 8.2 rebounds) has been battling "a terrible cold" for two and a half weeks; the 6-9 junior forward has tallied 48 points and 48 boards in his last seven outings after totaling 46 points and 34 rebounds over his first three games.

TRENDS:

* Colonels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Cardinals are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Under is 6-0 in Colonels last 6 games after allowing more than 90 points in their previous game.
* Under is 10-2-1 in Cardinals last 13 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 Saturday games.

No. 17 Georgetown at Syracuse (-6.5, OFF)

* The Hoyas are on a four-game winning streak, although the victories came against opponents with a combined record of 11-28 entering Thursday. Georgetown, which is playing its first true road game of the season, lost four of five before the streak. Senior guard Rodney Pryor leads the Hoyas with 20.6 points and L.J. Peak, who had a season-high 24 points in a 93-78 victory over La Salle last Saturday, is the only other player scoring in double figures (16.4).

* The Orange snapped out of an offensive funk with a 99-77 thumping of Boston University last Saturday after averaging 59.3 while losing three of its previous four games. Guard John Gillon and forward Taurean Thompson led the way with season highs of 23 and 22 points, respectively. Gillon, a graduate transfer who had been scoreless in 27 minutes the previous two games, and Thompson, a freshman, are part of a bench averaging 24.6 points.

TRENDS:

* Hoyas are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Hoyas last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 6-0 in Orange last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.

No. 15 South Carolina at South Florida (+12.5, OFF)

* Dozier is second on the team in scoring with a 13.6 average and entered Thursday tied for 24th nationally with 2.33 steals per contest. Senior guard Duane Notice ranks third in scoring (10.7) but has been very inconsistent of late, shooting 1-for-10 from the floor against the Pirates after breaking out for a career high-tying 27 in a win over Florida International, which came on the heels of back-to-back single-digit scoring efforts. The Gamecocks rank third in the country in scoring defense (56.8 ) and second in field-goal percentage defense (33.8 ).

* The Bulls trailed by 13 points with just over four minutes remaining before a furious rally allowed them to avoid the upset by the Wildcats - who have only one win against a Division I team - and potentially provide a lesson for a squad without any seniors. "You can't take anything for granted," coach Orlando Antigua told reporters. "You got to come out from the beginning and play with that kind of fight, that kind of energy. As a young team, they got to learn that. They got to learn that." McMurray, a sophomore, is averaging 18 points in two games since returning from a suspension and freshman forward Tulio Da Silva is coming off a 12-point, 15-rebound performance.

TRENDS:

* Gamecocks are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Bulls are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
* Under is 6-0 in Gamecocks last 6 overall.
* Over is 6-1 in Bulls last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Manhattan vs No. 23 Florida State (-24, OFF)

* Junior guard Zavier Turner (team-leading 17.0 points per game) is a dynamic scorer, having topped 30 points twice this season, but he is averaging more turnovers (four per game) than assists (three) on a team that averages more giveaways (21.1) than any of the other 346 teams in Division I. Thanks in large part to junior Zane Waterman (10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds) and 7-2 junior Ahmed Ismail (4.6 points, 5.3 rebounds), rebounding has been a strength -- the Jaspers have out-boarded their foes in eight of 10 games and boast a rebounding margin of plus-4.4. However, in addition to their turnover issues, Manhattan has been outscored 231-153 at the foul line with its foes having more made free throws than the Jaspers have attempted (224).

* Versatile sophomore Terance Mann (7.9 points, 4.8 rebounds) had been somewhat quiet in the scoring department in recent games while different players from a deep bench had been putting up some big numbers, but he broke loose for 16 points and 10 rebounds and hit two key foul shots in the final minute against the Gators. Freshman guard Trent Forest (7.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals) continues to consistently provide energy off a bench, while others like junior college transfer PJ Savoy (10.5 points in five games, 16-of-32 beyond the arc) have erupted on different nights. Behind the leadership of Bacon and floor general Xavier Rathan-Mayes (9.5 points, 4.7 assists), the Seminoles rank eighth in Division I in scoring (89.6 points) and sixth in field-goal percentage (51.8 percent).

TRENDS:

* Jaspers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
* Seminoles are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Jaspers last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Over is 4-1 in Seminoles last 5 Saturday games.

UMKC at No. 13 West Virginia (OFF)

* Senior guard LaVell Boyd recorded 27 points and six assists Thursday to increase his team-best scoring average to 19.8. Harrison, a senior guard who last played Nov. 25, averaged 16.5 points in the first six games, helping the Kangaroos to a 4-2 start. Saturday marks UMKC's third game against a ranked team, losing at No. 10 Creighton 89-82 in its season opener and at No. 3 Kansas 105-62 on Dec. 6, and it also plays Mississippi State on Dec. 29.

* Junior guard Dax Miles, who missed the first three games with an illness and was ejected from the Virginia game for throwing an elbow, became the first Mountaineer to score 20 points in a contest this season with 20 versus VMI. West Virginia's depth - necessary to execute a full-court press for 40 minutes - also produces eight players averaging at least 6.9 points and 13 playing 8.7 minutes per game or more. Sophomore forward Esa Ahmad (12.7) and senior forward Nathan Adrian (10.6) are the only players averaging 10 or more points while Adrian leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game.

TRENDS:

* Kangaroos are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Big 12.
* Mountaineers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Under is 6-1 in Kangaroos last 7 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 games following a straight up win.

Cleveland State at No. 25 Ohio (-12, OFF)

* The Ohio Bobcats are ranked 183 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 43.4% while attempting 62.5 shots per game. The Bobcats shooting percentages include 66.3% for free throw percentage and 40.3% for three point percentage so far this season.

* The Cleveland St. Vikings are ranked 258 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 41.5% while attempting 59.7 shots per game. The Vikings shooting percentages include 68.4% for free throw percentage and 30.0% for three point percentage so far this season.

TRENDS:

* Vikings are 1-10-1 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
* Under is 4-0 in Bobcats last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
* Under is 4-0 in Bobcats last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

No. 16 Purdue vs No. 21 Notre Dame (+3.5, OFF)

* Caleb Swanigan is living up to expectations as a sophomore, averaging 15.9 points and 11.2 rebounds - both team highs - while shooting 59.6 percent from the field and 8-of-13 from the arc. Isaac Haas had a team-high 14 points in the team's win over Cleveland State and is averaging 14.8 points, while freshman Carsen Edwards (11.3) is off to a solid start, as is Vince Edwards (10.8 points). Dakota Mathias has scored exactly 12 points in each of the last three games and is 10-of-26 from 3-point range during that stretch.

* Entering Thursday's action, only 15 teams in the nation were averaging more points than Notre Dame (86.6), which has only scored less than 83 points twice all season. Steve Vasturia and Matt Farrell each scored 18 versus Villanova, but V.J. Beachem was just 2-of-11 for four points, dropping the senior forward to 6-of-25 shooting over the last two contests. Bonzie Colson (16.5 points, 10.8 rebounds) had his six-game double-double streak end against the Wildcats as he was held to 11 points and eight boards.

TRENDS:

* Boilermakers are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
* Fighting Irish are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 4-0 in Boilermakers last 4 neutral site games.
* Under is 9-1 in Fighting Irish last 10 games following a ATS loss.

Fairleigh Dickinson at No. 23 Cincinnati (OFF)

* The Knights, the reigning Northeast Conference champions, are finishing a stretch of five of six games on the road. They put a scare in Ohio State during a 70-62 loss Dec. 3 in Columbus in which they trailed by only a point at halftime. Fairleigh Dickinson has four players scoring in double figures, led by junior Darian Anderson at 19.7.

* The outburst from Cumberland, who had scored a total of six points the previous three games, was a welcomed sight for coach Mick Cronin. "I knew he was going to eventually show he could play," Cronin told reporters. "It just takes some time." Junior forward Kyle Washington leads the Bearcats with 15.3 points and 8.1 rebounds but totaled only 15 points and nine boards over the past two games.

TRENDS:

* Bearcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
* Over is 4-0-1 in Bearcats last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
* Over is 5-0-1 in Bearcats last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Under is 9-2 in Bearcats last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.

Ohio State vs No. 2 UCLA (-9, OFF)

* The win against Connecticut helped put behind the sting of losing in overtime to mid-major Florida Atlantic four days earlier, when the Buckeyes let an 11-point lead midway through the second half get away. The Buckeyes can clamp down on defense when they're at their best, coming into the weekend ranked 24th in the nation in points against at 61.7, and they'll need to keep UCLA closer to 80 points if they hope to escape with a win. A key player for Ohio State might be 6-8 power forward Marc Loving, who's in his fourth season with the Buckeyes and could be facing a UCLA team that's shorthanded up front, as 7-footer Thomas Welsh has missed the last two games with a bruised right knee.

* A key figure for the Bruins this season has been backup point guard Aaron Holiday, who started last season as a freshman but has been supplanted by Ball. Holiday hasn't let the demotion affect his production, as he's bumped his scoring up to 13.9 points after averaging 10.3 last season, despite averaging about 4 1/2 minutes less of playing time. Holiday's been especially strong the last four games, averaging 17 points and five assists while shooting 61.8 percent from the floor and 11-for-17 from 3-point range.

TRENDS:

* Buckeyes are 3-15 ATS in their last 18 neutral site games.
* Bruins are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Bruins are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
* Over is 5-1 in Bruins last 6 vs. Big Ten.

Eastern Illinois at No. 11 Missouri (-8, OFF)

TRENDS:

* Panthers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Tigers are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 vs. Ohio Valley.
* Under is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 Saturday games.
* Under is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 games following a straight up loss.

Robert Morris at No. 12 Virginia (-29, OFF)

* The Colonials average just 61 points per game and it certainly will be hard for them to reach that figure against a Virginia squad allowing just 47.6. Sophomore guard Isaiah Still averages a team-best 15.1 points per game and senior guard Kavon Stewart averages 11 but both players shoot under 40 percent -- Still at 38.7, Stewart at 37.8. Senior forward Aaron Tate collects a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per game for Robert Morris, which commits 16.7 turnovers per game.

* Senior point guard London Perrantes (10.2 points, team-best 4.4 assists) is the lone player scoring in double digits for a squad that has nine players averaging at least five points. Two backups, junior guard Marial Shayok (9.6) and freshman guard Kyle Guy (8.1), may be the team's best scorers and Guy has knocked down 13-of-21 3-point attempts despite playing just 16 minutes per game. "I'm not complaining about my minutes. I'm fine with not playing at all," Guy told reporters. "I just want my team to win, and I know my minutes are going to fluctuate throughout the year. So some games I'll be able to put up numbers and help this team, and others I can help this team by cheering."

TRENDS:

* Colonials are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
* Cavaliers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 6-1 in Colonials last 7 non-conference games.
* Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 games following a straight up win.

No. 16 Murray State at South Dakota State (-2.5, OFF)

* The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are ranked 315 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 39.1% while attempting 51.9 shots per game. The Jackrabbits shooting percentages include 78.1% for free throw percentage and 33.5% for three point percentage so far this season.

* The Murray St. Racers are ranked 197 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 43.1% while attempting 63.4 shots per game. The Racers shooting percentages include 70.6% for free throw percentage and 34.8% for three point percentage so far this season.

TRENDS:

* Racers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Jackrabbits are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Racers last 6 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 4-1 in Jackrabbits last 5 Saturday games.

No. 18 Butler vs No. 9 Indiana (-3, OFF)

* Four key players average more than two turnovers per game for the Hoosiers, but each one of them is providing excellent numbers in most other categories. Blackmon also provides 6.6 rebounds per contest and backcourt mate Robert Johnson is averaging 13.1 points – shooting 55 percent from the field – while combining for 39 turnovers. Sophomore center Thomas Bryant (11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) and junior point guard Josh Newkirk (7.7 points, team-high 3.7 assists) have also each coughed up the ball 20 times in nine games.

* The Bulldogs, coming off a 75-65 win over Cincinnati on Dec. 10, are 25-0 under coach Chris Holtmann when scoring 80 or more points and they accomplished that four times in 2016-17. Senior forward Andrew Chrabascz is the only other player averaging in double figures scoring (11.0), but four more register at least 8.3. Senior guard Tyler Lewis (8.7 points, team-high 5.2 assists, 62.5 percent shooting), junior forward Tyler Wideman (8.3 points, 70.5 percent shooting) and freshman guard Kamar Baldwin (8.3 points, team-best 2.2 steals) also contribute.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
* Hoosiers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
* Under is 4-0-1 in Bulldogs last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 4-1 in Hoosiers last 5 games following a straight up win.

No. 6 North Carolina vs No. 7 Kentucky (Pick, OFF)

* Junior forward Justin Jackson averages a team-most 15.5 points despite scoring only seven and shooting 3-for-15 from the field - 0-for-6 from 3-point range - against Tennessee. Kennedy Meeks (12.5 points), a 6-10 senior forward, grabs a club-best 9.3 rebounds with 40 of his 102 boards coming on the offensive end. Senior forward Isaiah Hicks (12.7 points) is the Tar Heels' other double-figure scorer while 6-10 freshman forward Tony Bradley (9.3 points, 6.5 rebounds) is an even bigger force on the offensive glass with 41 of his 71 rebounds coming at that end.

* Freshman guard Malik Monk (team-high 19.4 points) recorded at least 20 in five of his last six games while shooting 50.5 percent from the field during that stretch. Freshmen forwards Bam Adebayo (12.6 points, club-best 8.0 rebounds) and Wenyen Gabriel (6.7, 5.8 ) must have strong games on the boards to help neutralize North Carolina's strong rebounding presence. Sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe (16.6 points) shoots 53.8 percent from the field while Fox boasts 69 assists against 24 turnovers and leads the Wildcats with 17 steals.

TRENDS:

* Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Saturday games.
* Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 4-0 in Tar Heels last 4 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Wildcats last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Tar Heels are 9-2-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.

Jackson State vs No. 5 Baylor (OFF)

* The Tigers entered their meeting with Blue Mountain ranked 341st nationally in shooting (36.7) and 334th from 3-point distance (28.6). Yettra Specks, a 5-10 senior, pulled into the contest leading the team in scoring (14.3) and 3-pointers, while junior guard Paris Collins was 10th in the country with 2.88 steals per contest. Those two combined for 27 points in a 77-60 loss at Baylor last season, when Jackson State was outrebounded 56-30.

* Motley leads the squad in both scoring (16.8 ) and rebounding (8.4) and is shooting 52 percent from the floor. Four of the team's top five scorers are making at least 50 percent of their shots and the one who is not - junior guard Manu Lecomte - is the top distributor with 5.6 assists and leads the way with 18 makes from 3-point range. The team was given a boost in Wednesday's win with the addition of 6-9 junior college transfer Nuni Omot, who had eight points in his debut after being academically ineligible through the first eight games.

TRENDS:

* Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Bears are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 Saturday games.
* Under is 6-1-1 in Bears last 8 neutral site games.

No. 3 Kansas vs Davidson (+15, OFF)

* The Jayhawks received some good news earlier in the week when the battery charge against Carlton Bragg Jr. was dismissed, allowing the sophomore forward to rejoin the team after his indefinite suspension was lifted. Leading scorer Frank Mason III (20.5 points), who was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 24 points and six assists last week, ranks second in the league in scoring, third in 3-point percentage (54.8 ), fourth in assists (5.5) and 3-pointers per game (2.3) and sixth in field-goal percentage (58.7). Freshman Josh Jackson (14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists) paced Kansas with a season-high five blocks against Nebraska and has 15 for the season - five more than any other guard in the Big 12.

* Gibbs and Aldridge form the second-highest scoring duo in the country and each exceeded their season averages against the Tar Heels, as the former erupted for 30 points and the latter chipped in 22. Aldridge, who is only 26 points shy of becoming the 49th player in school history to reach 1,000 for his career, has as many 20-point games this season as Gibbs (five) and leads the team in rebounding (6.6) and minutes (34.3). Gibbs became the 15th player in program annals to surpass the 1,500-point plateau versus North Carolina and has topped 30 in two of his last three games; the senior guard has been held below 10 points only four times over his last 47 outings.

TRENDS:

* Jayhawks are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
* Wildcats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 6-1 in Jayhawks last 7 neutral site games.
* Under is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 overall.

Oral Roberts at No. 10 Creighton (-25, OFF)

* Sophomore guard Kris Martin (team-high 15 points per game) is coming off a career-high 35-point performance in Wednesday's loss at Missouri State and ranks third in the Summit League in 3-point percentage (49.2) after going 17-for-32 beyond the arc over his last three contests. Nebraska native Jalen Bradley (12.7 points, 4.7 assists) is averaging 16.2 points and 5.4 assists over his five outings this month, as opposed to 9.8 points and 4.2 assists in six November contests. Albert Owens (13.7 points) entered the Golden Eagles' last game as the leading scorer before Martin's scoring eruption, but the junior center still paces the team in overall scoring (151 points), blocks (nine) and at the free-throw line (29 makes, 40 attempts).

* Leading scorer Marcus Foster (17.8 points) only needed 15 minutes last Friday to score 16 points and is one of four Bluejays averaging at least 10 points, all of whom shoot at least 40 percent beyond the arc and three of whom convert at least half of their field-goal attempts. Freshman center Justin Patton (12 points, 6.3 rebounds) ranks second in the country in field-goal percentage - a number greatly helped by the fact he has 24 of his team's 46 dunks - and is 22-for-24 from the floor in the second half of the last six games. Watson, who leads the country in assists (9.1), is the only active Division I player with at least 600 field goals and 600 assists in his career.

TRENDS:

* Golden Eagles are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up loss.
* Bluejays are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Golden Eagles last 5 overall.
* Over is 10-1 in Bluejays last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 23 New Mexico (OFF)

* The New Mexico Lobos are ranked 18 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 49.5% while attempting 52.9 shots per game. The Lobos shooting percentages include 73.2% for free throw percentage and 30.3% for three point percentage so far this season.

* The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions are ranked 343 for offensive field goal percentage shooting 36.0% while attempting 54.6 shots per game. The Golden Lions shooting percentages include 61.2% for free throw percentage and 30.6% for three point percentage so far this season.

TRENDS:

* Golden Lions are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Golden Lions are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Golden Lions last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 5-1 in Lobos last 6 overall.

Wake Forest at No. 17 Xavier (-10, OFF)

* Collins gives the Demon Deacons a major inside force, but they can score from the outside as well with 81 makes from 3-point range – getting at least 11 from four different players. Keyshawn Woods (13.3 points) has drained 19-of-34 from behind the arc and fellow sophomore guard Bryant Crawford has scored 13.1 per contest. Senior forward Austin Arians (8.9 points) has made a team-high 20 from 3-point range and 10 from inside the arc while junior forward Konstantinos Mitoglou also contributes 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

* Senior forward RaShid Gaston, a transfer from Norfolk State, posted double-doubles in the last two games and leads the team with 7.5 boards per contest. Gaston (7.3 points) and junior forward Sean O’Mara (6.6 points, 57.1 percent shooting) are producing to give the Musketeers an inside presence to go along with one of the nation’s most talented backcourt trios. Juniors Trevon Bluiett (19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds) and J.P Macura (15 points), along with sophomore Edmond Sumner (14.2 points, 4.3 assists), made 15-of-30 from the field versus Utah.

TRENDS:

* Demon Deacons are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Saturday games.
* Musketeers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 4-1-1 in Demon Deacons last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 4-1 in Musketeers last 5 Saturday games.

Chattanooga at No. 19 Vanderbilt (-4, OFF)

* The Mocs have prevailed by an average of 22.5 points during their winning streak, and opened their season with a 13-point victory at SEC opponent Tennessee. Justin Tuoyo anchors the interior defense, ranking first in Conference USA and among the nation’s best in blocked shots per game (3.5), while a pair of Mocs – Tre’ McLean and Greg Pryor – both average more than two steals per contest. Tuoyo (15.0 points per game), McLean (13.6) and Pryor (13.2) combine to account for 50.9 percent of Chattanooga’s scoring.

* The schedule does not ease up after Saturday, as the Commodores travel to Dayton on Wednesday before opening SEC play at LSU on Dec. 29. Matthew Fisher-Davis leads Vanderbilt in scoring at 14.7 points per game, but has scored 21 points on 7-of-24 shooting from the field in the Commodores’ past two losses. Vanderbilt leads the SEC in 3-point shooting (41.4 percent) but ranks near the bottom of the nation in forced turnovers (11.3 per game) and steals (4.1 per contest).

TRENDS:

* Mocs are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Commodores are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 4-1-2 in Mocs last 7 road games.
* Under is 4-1 in Commodores last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.

Troy at No. 25 Southern California (-22, OFF)

* Person is the son of Wesley Person, who starred at Auburn and played for seven NBA teams from 1994-2005. The younger Person, a 6-3 shooting guard, was second on the team in scoring in 2014-15 (14.2), led the Trojans last season (16.8 ) and enters second behind Varnado this fall (13.3), but hasn't shot the ball as well to start his junior year, coming in at 38.7 percent from the floor. Varnado, a 6-6 sophomore forward, has gone the other direction, pumping his shooting percentage up to 53.9 after shooting 18-for-24 over the last two games.

* McLaughlin and Boatwright are the only returners among the top five scorers last season, which shows how much Stewart's production has improved after finishing sixth on the team in scoring last season (9.8 ). The only other returner from last season's team is 6-11 sophomore forward Chimezie Metu, who has also shown great strides in his game, averaging 12.3 points and eight rebounds in 29.6 minutes after putting up 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.5 minutes last season. Freshman guard De'Anthony Melton continues to find a variety of ways to contribute, most recently blocking three shots against Pepperdine, part of a single-game school record 14 blocks against the Waves.

TRENDS:

* Trojans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Trojans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 4-1 in Trojans last 5 road games.
* Over is 4-1 in Trojans last 5 games following a straight up win.

UNLV vs No. 22 Oregon (-17, OFF)

* The Runnin' Rebels upset Oregon, 80-69, last season at the MGM Grand Garden Arena but that was with Dave Rice as head coach and future NBA players Stephen Zimmerman (Orlando), Patrick McCaw (Golden State) and Derrick Jones (Phoenix) on the roster. Marvin Menzies, who left New Mexico State in the spring to take over after an at-times comical coaching search, inherited just three returning reserve players including sophomore guard Jalen Poyser, who leads the team in scoring (16.1) and assists (3.9), and 6-7 senior forward Tyrell Green, who is second in scoring (12.8 ) while shooting a team-best 43.6 percent from 3-point range. Menzies said that senior forward Christian Jones, the team's third leading scorer (10.5) and second best rebounder (6.5), will likely miss the game with a sprained ankle as will leading rebounder Dwayne Morgan (7.3, 9.4 points) who is battling hip and shoulder injuries.

* Chris Boucher, a 6-10 senior forward and explosive leaper, leads the team in scoring (14.1), rebounding (7.8 ) and blocked shots (3.2) and is coming off a monster game in the win over Montana when he finished with 23 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and five blocks. Sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey is second in scoring (13.5) while shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range while Brooks (12.3) and Ennis (11.0), who started for three years at Villanova, also are averaging in double figures. Highly touted freshman Payton Pritchard leads the team in assists (3.7) while also scoring 7.8 points per game.

TRENDS:

* Runnin' Rebels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Ducks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 4-1 in Runnin' Rebels last 5 neutral site games.
* Under is 5-1 in Ducks last 6 neutral site games.

Oregon faces UNLV on Saturday
By: Dave Schoenholt
StatFox.com

Oregon looks to avoid a December loss to UNLV as a ranked team for the second straight season when they take on the Runnin’ Rebels in Portland on Saturday night.

UNLV will have a tough task to upset Oregon for the second season in a row. Four of the Runnin’ Rebels five starters from 2015 have gone on to play pro basketball while their fifth starter last season (F Dwayne Morgan) is questionable to play on Saturday night with a shoulder injury. Injuries to Morgan and F Christian Jones (questionable; shoulder) leave an already-thin UNLV roster even more at a disadvantage. Jones, a transfer from St. John’s averaging 10.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG, played the first three games of the season and then tried to return from his injuries on Dec. 10th against Duke, only to exit again reinjuring his shoulder. UNLV was able to get a team effort (five players in double figures) to handle Incarnate Word at home (92-64, UNLV -8 ) on Wednesday night. The Runnin’ Rebels are 0-3 (1-2 ATS) against Power 7 foes this season, losing handily to Duke (94-45, UNLV +24.5) in Las Vegas, as well as a 97-73 loss at Arizona State (UNLV +7). UNLV played TCU close on a neutral floor on Thanksgiving, losing 63-59 (UNLV +5.5). Oregon has reeled off seven straight wins (2-4 ATS) since their last loss on Nov. 21 to Georgetown in the Maui Invitational (65-61, Oregon -9). The Ducks are 7-1 with star F Dillon Brooks back in the fold, boasting wins over Tennessee, Connecticut and Alabama in that span. Oregon’s only other loss was to then-unranked (now undefeated and No. 4) Baylor in Waco. While this game will not officially be a home game for Oregon, the Moda Center – home of the NBA’s Trail Blazers – is a two-hour drive from the Ducks’ home in Eugene, OR. Oregon is 7-1 (3-5 ATS) as a favorite this season while UNLV is 0-3 (1-2 ATS) as an underdog. Although there is no official line, this game is expected to have Oregon favored by double-digits (the Ducks are 2-5 ATS when favored by 10 or more this season). Oregon is 2-1 (2-1 ATS) in the three meetings between these two teams since 2007.

Coach Dana Altman has the Ducks hitting on all cylinders as they welcome UNLV to Portland. Yes, they failed to cover in their last two home games (Alabama, Montana) but with Dillon Brooks (12.3 PPG) back, they’ve cleared 44% FG in each of their last seven games and shot better than 51% in three of those. Brooks isn’t even back to full strength as evidenced by Coach Altman managing his minutes and a decrease in shot attempts. However, just having the threat of the All-Pac 12 first teamer from a season ago back on the floor opens up opportunities for the rest of the Ducks. F Chris Boucher (14.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.2 BPG) is having an all-league type season himself as a senior. Boucher is 10th in the nation in blocks per game and is coming off arguably the best game of his career (23 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks) in the win over Montana. With Boucher and Jordan Bell (8.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.5 BPG) protecting the basket, Oregon boasts the best rim-protection in the country (8.6 BPG). 14 % of attempted FG against the Ducks get swatted away. Expect Boucher and Bell to have a field day on the defensive side of the paint against UNLV’s undersized front line. In the backcourt, Oregon relies on sophomore Tyler Dorsey (13.5 PPG, 42% 3PT) and sixth-year senior Dylan Ennis (11.0 PPG, 3.2 APG). Between injuries and transfers, it feels like Ennis (the older brother of third-year NBA pro Tyler Ennis) has been in school forever. Ennis provides a steady option at point guard that allows Dorsey to play his natural two-guard position. Duke and Arizona State’s guard play decimated UNLV’s defense earlier this season, and look for Oregon to try and do the same.

UNLV can ill-afford to go cold from the field like they did against Duke (29.7% FG) and Arizona State (39.7% FG). Unfortunately scoring in the paint against the long-limbed Ducks is an unenviable task, therefore UNLV will have to work on creating easy baskets off turnovers and hope that their perimeter shooting is locked in from the tip. Oregon is vulnerable to sloppy ball handling (15.0 TO/G, 258th NCAA), but can UNLV capitalize? In an effort to balance out scoring, first year Coach Marvin Menzies had leading scorer Jalen Poyser (16.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, 42% 3PT) and fellow starter Kris Clyburn (9.3 PPG) come off the bench against Incarnate Word. The ploy worked as UNLV racked up 92 points on 47.7% FG (45.0% 3PT), as Poyser and Clyburn’s replacements stepped up, while Clyburn posted a double-double. Unfortunately Poyser slumped to a six-point outing, and they’ll need a lot more from their sophomore leader against a team like Oregon if the Runnin’ Rebels are to compete. Senior F Tyrell Green (12.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG) has been a mainstay as a starter this season for Menzies after playing sparingly (5.6 MPG) last season. Green posted his first collegiate double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) on Wednesday against Incarnate Word. Keep an eye on 6’11” freshman Cheickna Dembele (3.0 PPG) who got his first meaningful minutes of the season against Incarnate Word on Wednesday night. His frame could be put to lots of use against the frontcourt size and athleticism of Oregon on Saturday after his 13-point, seven-rebound performance Wednesday night. Staying out of foul trouble will be a big hurdle for the young big man against an experienced talent like Boucher. Another freshman, 6’8” Troy Baxter Jr. (4.4 PPG) contributed nicely in his first start on Wednesday (12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks) as Coach Menzies has continually worked his rotations to find the best combination of pieces on this rebuilding team. Keep in mind that if the aforementioned Dwayne Morgan (9.4 PPG, 7.3 RPG) is healthy, he will certainly get minutes as the most experienced frontcourt player UNLV has.