NCAAB Betting News and Notes Saturday, February 4th, 2017

NCAAB Knowledge

Syracuse is 5-0 at home in ACC games, with four wins by 10+ points; home team is 9-1 vs spread in their ACC tilts- they’re 2-0 as a home underdog. Virginia won six of its last seven games; they’re 4-1 on ACC road, with only loss in OT at Pitt. Cavaliers are 2-1 as road favorites. Virginia is 3-0 vs Syracuse in ACC play, winning by 19-12-8 points; Cavaliers won 59-47 in last visit here, in 2015. Virginia shoots 41.9% on arc in ACC play; will shooting in the dome foul them up? ACC road favorites of 5+ points are 3-11 vs spread.

Maryland won/covered its last six games, they’re 12-1 this season in games decided by 8 or less points. Terps are 3-1 at home in Big 14 with only loss by hoop to Nebraska- they’re 6-0 vs spread as a Big 14 dog. Purdue won four of last five games, is 2-2 on Big 14 road, losing at Iowa/Nebraska- they were favored in all four road games (1-3 vs spread). Boilers are shooting 43.8% on arc in Big 14 games. Maryland is 2-1 vs Purdue in Big 14 games, winning by 11 LY in only series meeting here. Big 14 road favorites of 3 or less points are 4-6 vs spread.

TCU lost three of last four games, winning last game in OT at K-State; Frogs are 3-1 at home in Big X, with only loss by 9 to Baylor. Texas is 8-2 vs spread in its last ten games; their last three games were decided by total of seven points. Texas is 8-2 vs TCU in Big X play, but lost 64-61 at home to the Horned Frogs in first meeting Jan 11, in a brickfest where teams shot combined 10-38 on arc- Texas led by 7 with 9:45 left. Longhorns won three of last four visits to TCU. Big X home favorites of 6+ points are 2-14-1 vs spread this season.

Valparaiso won its last eight games, covered six of its last seven; they’re 4-0 as road favorites in Horizon games, winning by 11-16-11-18 points. Green Bay won three of last four games, are 5-1 at home in Horizon, losing to Youngstown by 3. Phoenix is 2-1 as an underdog in conference games. Valparaiso won five of last six games with Green Bay, beating Phoenix 80-56 in first meeting Jan 16, holding GB to 31% from floor. Crusaders lost four of last six visits to Green Bay. Horizon road favorites of 6 or less points are 5-3 vs spread.

South Carolina beat Georgia 67-61 in Athens January 4, despite being outscored 23-10 on foul line; it was Gamecocks’ first win in last five series games. Dawgs won three of last four visits to Columbia. Carolina is 3-1 as an SEC home favorite, winning home tilts by 11-11-4-29 points- their only SEC loss was by 16 at Kentucky. Georgia is 5-0 as a road underdog; they lost last game in OT at Kentucky. Dawgs lost last three games; four of their five SEC losses are by 6 or less points, or in overtime. SEC home favorites of 8+ points are 9-10-1 vs spread.

Both teams’ star PG’s are out for season. Creighton is 5-3 vs Xavier in Big East play, winning two of three here. Bluejays won first meeting 72-67 at Xavier Jan 16, the day they lost Watson for year- Xavier was 16-29 on foul line that day. Teams split season series the last three years. Creighton won last two games by 17-9 points, with win at Butler; Bluejays are 3-1 as home favorites, with home wins by 14-11-17. Xavier won its two games without Somner by 2-5 points; they’re 0-2 as road underdogs. Big East home favorites of 5+ points are 14-10-1 vs spread.

Baylor is 0-4 vs spread as a home favorite, with wins by 2-4-10-4 points; they had 4-game win streak snapped at Kansas last game. Road team covered 8 of their 9 Big X games. Kansas State is 2-2 as a road underdog, with losses by 2-1-5 points and win at Okla State. Baylor won its last four games with K-State, beating Wildcats 77-68 in first meeting this season on Jan 14. K-State lost its last three visits to Waco by 14-27-7 points. Big X home favorites of 8+ points are 1-12–1 against the spread this season.

VCU won its last three games, beating rival Richmond last game; Rams lost last two road tilts, are 2-2 as road favorites, losing at Davidson/Fordham, winning by 9 at George Mason, 7 at Duquesne. St Bonaventure won four of last five games, are 3-1 at home in A-14, with only loss by 16 to Dayton. VCU won three of last four games with the Bonnies, losing 7-71 in last visit here two years ago; home side won three of four series games. Rams force turnovers 21.6% of time in conference games. A-14 road favorites of 3 or less points are 1-4 vs spread.

Kentucky is 1-3 as SEC road favorites, with road wins by 23-6-7 points and loss at Tennessee by a hoop. Wildcats covered only one of last seven games. Florida is 4-1 at home in SEC with loss to Vanderbilt; Gators won last three games by 35-32-39 points since the Vandy loss- they force turnovers 22.1% of time in conference games. Gators play much slower tempo than Kentucky. Wildcats won their last five games with Florida, winning by 7-9 points in last two visits here. SEC home teams are 5-13 vs number in games with spread of 2 or less points.

Illinois State won three of last four games with Wichita State, beating Shockers 76-62 at home three weeks ago; Redbirds made 10-22 on arc- they’ve lost last eight visits to Wichita, with three of last four losses here by 12+ points. ISU is without injured F McIntosh (knee) for three weeks; he had 20 in the Wichita win. Shockers won its last five games, is 3-2 as a home favorite in Valley games, winning by 34-25-8-26-42 points. MVC home favorites of 9+ points are 6-7 vs spread. Illinois State won its last 12 games; their last loss was Dec 23 to USF in Hawaii.

Arizona won its last 15 games; their last loss was to Gonzaga in LA Dec 3. Wildcats are 100% now with Trier back eligible; they’re 5-0 on Pac-12, winning as underdogs at Cal, UCLA. Oregon swept Arizona by 8-6 points LY, beating Wildcats in OT in Pac-12 tourney; Arizona lost two of last three visits here, but won 90-56 in last visit here in 2015. Ducks are 6-0 at home in Pac-12 but escaped ASU game with 71-70 win (-17). Arizona held last three foes to 13-48 on arc. Pac-12 home favorites of 3 or less points are 1-5 vs spread this season.

Cal-Irvine was 0-2 last weekend after starting 6-0 in Big West play; they missed injured guard Nelson. Anteaters are 3-1 on Big West road; they’re 5-0 in league if they score 70+ points. Long Beach State played zero defense in a 108-98 loss at CSUN Wednesday; 49ers are 3-1 at home in Big West, with only loss also to Northridge- they’re 0-3 as a Big West underdog this season. Irvine won four of last five games with Long Beach, beating 49ers 82-67 in first meeting Jan 4- Long Beach was 1-14 on arc that night. Big West road favorites are 3-5 vs spread.

Denver won three of last four games, is 4-1 at home in Summit play, with only loss by 6 to South Dakota. Fort Wayne scored 95 pts/game in winning last two games but they’re 1-3 on road, 0-4 vs spread, with only win by hoop at Omaha- their road losses are by 4-6-10 points. Fort Wayne won its last five games with Denver, winning by 1-16 points in last two visits here. Mastodons won first meeting 87-83 at home Jan 7, after falling behind 12-2. Summit League home teams are 9-4 vs number in games where spread was 2 or less points.

Armadillosports.com

Florida hosts Kentucky
By: Dave Schoenholt
StatFox,com

A primetime, top 25 Saturday night battle features #24 Florida hosting #8 Kentucky for SEC supremacy.

The Florida Gators have played the role of “distant second place” to the dominant era of Kentucky basketball in the SEC recently, but things could be changing when the Gators and Wildcats clash on Saturday night. A Florida win would tie them with Kentucky at 8-2 in the conference standings. The Gators have won three straight coming into Saturday night’s game, most recently thrashing Missouri on Thursday night (93-54, UF -20.5). Kentucky, however, was on the cusp of losing a third straight game before gutting out a 90-81 overtime win (UK -15.5) at home against Georgia on Tuesday night. Prior to that win, the Wildcats had losses dropped on them at Tennessee and at home against Kansas. Kentucky has been dreadful against the spread of late, going 1-6 ATS since Jan. 10th, and are 1-4 ATS on the road for the season. Florida sports a 5-1 (3-3 ATS) home mark, their lone loss coming against Vanderbilt (68-66, UF -11.5) two weeks ago. It’s worth noting that Florida is 2-0 (2-0 ATS) when given just one day’s rest, while three of Kentucky’s four losses have come with 3+ day’s rest. The matchup between the Gators and Wildcats has trended towards Kentucky domination since 2014 with Coach Calipari winning the last five meetings against Florida (4-1 ATS). Those five wins include an 88-79 (UK -4.5) win at the O’Connell Center last March. The Wildcats’ struggle to put away Georgia at home on Tuesday night can be partially attributed to the absence of star freshman G De’Aaron Fox (15.9 PPG, 5.7 APG). Fox caught the illness bug going around the team (which also affected reserves Mychal Mulder and Sacha Killeya-Jones). Fox’s effectiveness (he was also injured against South Carolina on Jan. 21st) if he plays will be something to keep an eye on, as he’s reportedly a “game time decision” for Saturday night.

Without Fox on the floor at 100 percent since Jan. 21, Kentucky has noticeably struggled. Fox is their best perimeter defender and their offensive floor-leader; but without him at his best, Kentucky’s defense suffered against Tennessee, while Fox labored through 38 minutes and committed five turnovers against Kansas. More pressure is also put on the shoulders of guards Malik Monk (22.4 PPG, 1st in SEC) and Isaiah Briscoe (14.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.5 APG). Monk was his magnificent self against Georgia on Tuesday scoring eight of his game-high 37 points in overtime. There would’ve been no overtime had Monk not drained a game-tying jumper with 8 seconds left in regulation. Briscoe also contributed a magnificent all-around game while tasked with full-time ball-handling duties. He did commit six turnovers, but also poured in 23 points along with 11 rebounds and eight assists. It’s worth noting that the sophomore guard converted 11-of-15 from the charity stripe in the win over Georgia, highlighting a remarkable turnaround in that area for Briscoe (72.0% FT) compared to the unacceptable 46.0% FT his freshman season in Lexington. F Edrice Adebayo (13.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 61% FG) contributed 12 points in 23 foul-plagued minutes against the Bulldogs. His presence on the court is something Coach Calipari can’t do without, but the 6’10” Adebayo has committed four fouls in five of his last seven contests. After a string of seven consecutive games over 50.0% FG for the nation’s No. 3 offense (91.3 PPG), Kentucky has dipped below the 50.0% mark in three straight contests. Florida’s 38th ranked scoring defense (65.6 PPG) will provide little relief for the Wildcats, as they specialize in eliminating easy baskets (0.400 Assist/FGM ratio, 1st in NCAA). Kentucky would seem to have a size advantage over the Gators as the Wildcats’ stellar rebounding (40 RPG, 8th in NCAA) would normally give the smaller Gators fits. That said, Florida has grabbed 106 rebounds over their last two games (+35 reb margin).

As mentioned above, a big key for the Gators will be to sustain their relentless rebounding efforts of the past week against the bigger and more athletic Wildcats. Everyone got into the action on the glass on Thursday night, highlighted by a 12-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double by reserve G Chris Chiozza (5.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG). The 6-foot Chiozza becomes the third Gator to ever record a triple-double and was one of six Gator players to grab five or more rebounds against Missouri. Florida’s bench, a point of strength all season has enjoyed resurgent play from G Canyon Barry (12.8 PPG) in his past two games after returning from injury. The 6’6” transfer has scored 32 points in his last 41 minutes of action in wins over Missouri and Oklahoma. Coach Mike White will keep relying on that deep bench to run a thinner Kentucky rotation down. While Kentucky has struggled in the past week and a half, Florida has breezed by, winning their last three games by an average of 32 points. The Gators should be well-rested even with playing on Thursday at home, given how much garbage time has been spread out in these blowout victories. The Gators don’t jump off the page on either side of the ball statistically, but rank in the top 10 in both turnover margin (4.3) and in adjusted defensive efficiency (per kenpom.com). The Gators are lead in scoring by G Ke’Vaughn Allen (13.6 PPG, 40.3% 3PT) and rebounding by big John Egbunu (7.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG). F Devin Robinson (11.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG) is a solid frontcourt cog for the Gators, and he has steadily improved with each season in Gainesville. G Kasey Hill (9.4 PPG, 4.9 APG) rounds out the starting lineup and is averaging 11.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 6.0 APG over his past two games.

Saturday's Elite Eight
By Tony Mejia
VegasInsider.com

Arizona at Oregon

Since UCLA has dropped consecutive games in league play, these teams have jumped to the top of the Pac-12 standings, entering this contest with only one loss between them over their first 20 outings. They won't see one another again this regular season, so the winner of today's showdown in Eugene will the hold head-to-head tiebreaker if the teams end up even. Arizona hasn't lost since Dec. 3 and is now at full strength with shooting guard Allonzo Trier back from suspension. Since being cleared, Trier has come off the bench all four games, averaging 14.8 points despite shooting just 28 percent from 3-point range. Whether Sean Miller reinserts him into the starting lineup or he continues in a sixth man role, Trier will be essential to the Wildcats pulling off an upset since he'll be tasked with keeping pace with Ducks star Dillon Brooks. The preseason All-American came up clutch in scoring the final 12 points for Oregon in its 71-70 win over ASU on Thursday night, drilling the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:32 left to help prevent a letdown likely caused by looking ahead to this one. The Ducks, 17.5-point favorites, only survived when they were able to run out the final 2.9 seconds. By holding on, Oregon secured its 39th consecutive home win, the second-longest streak in the country behind Kansas. Arizona has yet to lose on the road this season, winning and covering in all seven of its visits. Both Wildcats' losses came as an underdog (Butler, Gonzaga), but they've won four times when getting points, including their last three. The Ducks have been the Pac-12's top defensive team, but will have to find a way to slow likely lottery pick Lauri Markkanen, a 7-footer from Finland who can spread the floor and force bigs Chris Boucher and Jordan Bell out from under the basket, perhaps limiting their impact altering shots. Oregon is 8-1 against ranked competition at Matthew Knight Arena since it opened in 2011. Arizona lost twice to the Ducks last year after winning all three meetings in 2014-15. The under has prevailed in the last four Oregon games and the last three contests involving the 'Cats.

Kentucky at Florida

Kentucky narrowly escaped a three-game losing streak when Malik Monk drilled a game-tying jumper with 8 seconds remaining against Georgia, ultimately winning 90-81 thanks to its star freshman shooting guard scoring eight of his 37 points in the extra session. Isaiah Briscoe addded 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists helping fill in for ill point guard De'Aaron Fox, but there's no question the 'Cats suddenly look vulnerable. Fox, who has also been hobbled by an ankle sprain, is expected to play. Kentucky was without senior wing Mychal Mulder and freshman forward Sacha Killeya-Jones against the Dawgs due to illness, so the 'Cats could be out of sync on the road even if everyone does return. Kentucky is 3-2 in true road games (1-4 ATS), and lost outright as 10.5-point favorites in its last game outside Lexington, falling 82-80 at Tennessee. If the spread holds tight with the Gators slightly favored, this will be the first game the Wildcats will open as an underdog in this season. Florida is 0-4 straight up against ranked opponents (Gonzaga, Duke, FSU, South Carolina) but has covered twice and been in every game. The Gators are perfect at the newly renovated O'Connell Center and has won its last three games by an average of 35.3 points, crushing LSU, Oklahoma and Missouri following a team meeting. Point guard Kasey Hill (9.4 ppg, 4.9 apg) is the only player on the roster that has tasted victory over Kentucky, so he'll be asked to lead the way with his ball handling and leadership. Leading scorer KeVaguhn Allen (13.6) will have to be Florida's answer for Monk at both ends of the floor and is shooting 55 percent over the last four games, hitting 13-of-28 3-pointers. The Gators haven't beaten Kentucky in Gainesville since 2014 but have won three of the last six at home in the series. Mike White is 0-2 against John Calipari since replacing Billy Donovan and will be looking to help UF snap a five-game losing streak against the 'Cats.

Purdue at Maryland

Michigan head coach John Beilein summed up the pecking order in the Big Ten by stating that "Wisconsin and Purdue are outstanding and everyone else can beat everyone else." That's relatively spot on, except for the small detail of Maryland crashing the party by winning eight of its first nine within the conference, entering this game 1.5 up on the visiting Boilermakers while even with the Badgers. The Terps have survived nagging injuries to their big men and the growing pains of a fairly young roster to win 13 of 14 since losing to Pittsburgh in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Both of Maryland's losses this season have come at the Xfinity Center, but it did win the only time it was a home underdog as it is today. The Terps are a perfect 8-0 in games where they're either a pick'em or an outright dog, so they won't be bothered by today's role. The key to their success has been Melo Trimble's health, since he's avoided the nagging back and hamstring injuries that sabotaged his sophomore season and caused his draft stock to plummet, keeping him in College Park. He shook off an illness two weeks ago to help beat Rutgers but has basically been 100 percent, re-emerging as the force he was during his freshman season. Trimble struggled in Tuesday's 77-71 win in Columbus but rescued the game with big plays down the stretch to help Maryland rally from a 10-point second-half deficit. The Boilermakers bounced back from an 83-80 upset loss at Nebraska by destroying Northwestern 80-59 but are just 2-3 in true road games. Guard P.J. Thompson will be tasked with keeping Trimble from finding a rhythm, while Vincent Edwards will use his 7-foot wingspan to try and disrupt Terps freshman Justin Jackson, who was 9-for-12 from 3-point range in road wins over Minnesota and Ohio State and has emerged as the team's leading rebounder (6.3) and second-leading scorer (11.5). This will be the only meeting between these teams this season.

Illinois State at Wichita State

Since 1994, the Missouri Valley has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament 13 times. That's a high success rate for a mid-major league over 23 years. If it's to happen again in 2017, these teams will almost certainly be the ones dancing, coming in a combined 21-1 in conference play. The Redbirds won the first meeting on Jan. 14, trouncing the Shockers 76-62 as a three-point home underdog. They held Wichita State to just 35 percent shooting while shooting 54 percent themselves. Despite that setback, Wichita is a double-digit favorte at home and hasn't been an underdog all season. The Shockers' four MVC wins prior to falling in Normal were all by double-digits, and they've won by at least 15 points in each of the four games since suffering the upset loss. ISU owns the Valley's top scoring defense (61.6) and ranks fourth nationally in FG percentage defense (37.1), while Wichita is tops offensively (81.5) and sports an average margin of victory of 18.2, which ranks third in the country behind Gonzaga and West Virginia. The Redbirds are looking for an unprecedented seventh consecutive road win, but will have to pull it off without standout junior forward MiKyle McIntosh (13.5, 6.4), who scored a game-high 20 points to help beat the Shockers but is out until the end of the month following surgery to repair a meniscus tear. Wichita State will be at full strength with reserve wing Austin Reaves expected back from a shoulder dislocation. With guards Fred VanVleet (Raptors) and Ron Baker (Knicks) both playing in the NBA, Gregg Marshall has moved on with the help of redshirt freshman Landry Shamet, Kansas transfer Conner Frankamp and JUCO import Daishon Smith. That trio shot a combined 6-for-19 in the first meeting with Illinois State and must be better here. The Shockers have won eight straight over the Redbirds at home and are expecting a packed house decked out in yellow.

Iowa State at Kansas

Despite getting wrapped up in a vandalism investigation over an incident with a fellow student's car, the expectation is that Kansas star wing Josh Jackson and key reserve LaGerald Vick will both suit up for this key home game. Power forward Carlton Bragg is expected to remain suspended for a separate off-court incident where he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, so this may be a distracted group taking the floor against the Cyclones. There's also potentially the threat of a letdown for KU, coming off wins at Kentucky and over Baylor, both Top 10 teams, but it hasn't lost at Allen Fieldhouse in 51 games, the longest active streak in the country. The Jayhhawks overcame Hilton Magic to beat Iowa State 76-72 on Jan. 16, narrowly covering as a three-point road favorite despite leading the entire second half. They outrebounded Iowa State 41-24 and scored 52 of their 76 points in the paint, so the Cyclones will likely have to execute nearly perfectly in order for their small ball approach to prevail. The visitors are looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2013-14, but haven't won in Lawrence since '05. Iowa State has lost four of six and is 4-5 in the new year. The over is 6-2 in its last eight games, but Kansas has seen the under come in seven consecutive times, a streak that includes the win in Ames. That total was set at 155, just one point higher than the number opened at here.

Xavier at Creighton

This game would rank higher on this list if it weren't for unfortunate injuries that have irreperably derailed the season for both Big East schools. Creighton lost point guard Mo Watson to a torn ACL when these schools first met on Jan. 16 and managed to hold on without him. Xavier felt similar heartbreak when its point guard, Edmond Sumner, suffered the same fate on Jan. 29 in a win at St. John's. The Blue Jays lost their first two games without Watson, who was averaging a national-best 8.5 assists per game playing Maestro, but have rallied to beat DePaul and pull off an upset at Butler since. The Musketeers held off Seton Hall without Sumner (15.0, 4.3, 5.0), but will now have to take the floor without him on the road. Barring a complete meltdown over the next five weeks, both of these teams are going to reach the NCAA Tournament, but where they're seeded will be entirely in the hands of a selection committee that must now weigh their performances going forward since all the wins they've notched until this point were accomplished thanks in large part to catalysts who aren't coming back. Xavier had its 15-game home winning streak snapped by the Blue Jays and has turned the offense over to freshman Quentin Goodwin, who shot 2-for-11 but dished out seven assists against the Pirates. Creighton is utilizing sophomore Khryi Thomas and freshman Damion Mintz, and it seems best-equipped to pick itself up off the mat fastest due to better depth and a lighter schedule. The Muskies are expected to have top scorer Trevon Blueitt (18.7, 5.9) despite him sporting a walking boot after spraining his right ankle on Wednesday. The Blue Jays were held to 51 points in a brutal loss at Georgetown, but have averaged nearly 85 points in their other three games, basically on their clip of 84.9 that ranks 14th in the country. Despite this, the under is 7-1-1 over the Blue Jays' last nine contests.

Oklahoma State at West Virginia

The Cowboys entered Big 12 play with lofty aspirations, hosting West Virginia less than two weeks after stomping out Wichita State 93-76. They were 10-2, losing to only UNC and and by a point at Maryland. The Mountaineers crushed Oklahoma State in Stillwater, the first of six straight losses that seemingly ended all realistic NCAA chances. Now, the Cowboys have won four straight, three within the conference, so they go into Morgantown with high hopes once again. We'll see if Bob Huggins can send former assistant Brad Underwood's team into another tailspin, but his team is a double-digit favorite for a reason. West Virginia has only lost once on its home floor and has beaten conference powers Kansas and Baylor there. Six Mountaineers scored at least nine points as the team shot 55 percent. Meanwhile, the Cowboys committed 19 turnovers and are looking for Jawun Evans (18.3 ppg, 5.4 apg), one of the top point guards in the nation, to rise to the occasion with a stronger effort here. He ended up with 15 points and 11 assists in the first matchup, but shot just 3-for-9 and committed five turnovers. Jeffrey Carroll (17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg) had committed five turnovers too, finishing with nine points and six boards off the bench. He's scored 19 or more points in seven of nine games since, becoming one of the Big 12's most improved players. Underwood feels his Cowboys didn't compete the way they're capable of and is looking forward to some redemption, especially since he's changed up his defense, pressuring less. These are the two highest-scoring teams in the league, averaging 87.6 and 87.5, respectively.

Santa Clara at Gonzaga

The top-ranked team in the country gets the nod for No. 8 over matchups from the ACC, SEC and Big East, because it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs continue to respond to being saddled with No. 1. The Broncos lost at home against Gonzaga on Jan. 19 88-57, but they're more dangerous than they showed in that game. Top guard Jared Brownridge is the best player in the league who isn't on one of the West Coast's top two teams, while head coach Herb Sendek has upgraded the defense to where they allowed 45 points last time out at Portland, holding foes to fewer than 70 point in eight of the last 10. Santa Clara will need to overcome a lack of size that contributed to them being carved up on the boards 42-23 as the Zags bigs feasted inside. Brownridge went 6-for-12 from 3-point range and scored 23 points, but his teammates shot 3-for-13 from beyond the arc and 11-for-36 from the field as a whole. The Bulldogs have only failed to cover three times in its last 16 games, a run that dates back to late November. It has won 15 straight games by double-digits and has won its 11 West Coast Conference games by an average of 26.4 points.

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

No. 24 Purdue at No. 17 Maryland

No. 17 Maryland is off to its best start in program history with three freshmen in the starting lineup and looks to remain atop the Big Ten when it hosts 24th-ranked Purdue on Saturday afternoon. The Terrapins have won seven straight and are deadlocked with Wisconsin for first place in the conference after what coach Mark Turgeon said was a gut-check win at Ohio State on Tuesday.

First-year standouts Justin Jackson, Anthony Cowan and Kevin Huerter combined for 42 points in the victory over the Buckeyes for Maryland, which has not lost since Jan. 1 against Nebraska at home. The Terrapins must produce another big effort against Purdue, which has won four of its last five games after rolling to an 80-59 triumph against Northwestern on Wednesday. The Boilermakers are one of the most dangerous 3-point shooting teams in the nation and boast five players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore forward Caleb Swanigan. The 6-9 Swanigan is second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.8 ) and first in rebounding (12.9) while shooting 55.2 percent from the field.

TRENDS:

* Boilermakers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
* Terrapins are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Over is 6-0 in Boilermakers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Over is 4-1 in Boilermakers last 5 games following a ATS win.

No. 11 Virginia at Syracuse

Fresh off an epic comeback victory, Syracuse will face another team it has victimized with a memorable rally when it hosts No. 11 Virginia on Saturday. The Orange saved their season with a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory at North Carolina State on Wednesday and will be playing the Cavaliers for the first time since storming back from 16 points down in last year’s Midwest Regional final to shock the top seeds.
Virginia has won six of its past seven games and turned its attention to Syracuse after thrashing in-state rival Virginia Tech 71-48 at home Wednesday. "I haven't thought about it (until) you brought it up right now, and now my heart's pounding,” senior guard London Perrantes told reporters of the reunion with the Orange after a heartbreaking 68-62 loss last season. The result vaulted Syracuse, the No. 10 seed, to the Final Four and a Top 25 ranking to open this season, but the Orange only now are starting to live up to that billing. The 100-93 overtime win against the Wolfpack was their first on the road all season and gave them three victories in a row for the first time since a 4-0 start.

TRENDS:

* Cavaliers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Orange are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 overall.
* Over is 5-0 in Orange last 5 overall.
* Road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

Pittsburgh at No. 21 Duke

With a critical stretch of games approaching, Duke will have head coach Mike Krzyzewski back on the sideline when it hosts Pittsburgh in an ACC matchup Saturday. The 21st-ranked Blue Devils are beginning a three-game homestand that will include visits from North Carolina and Clemson next week, but they’ll first have to contend with the struggling Panthers, who have dropped seven straight.
The Blue Devils went 4-3 during Krzyzewski’s leave of absence following back surgery, but they’ve won two straight since he reportedly called a team meeting at his house and banned players from wearing team apparel until their performance improved. “I got a chance to watch a lot of tape,” Krzyzewski told the Washington Post. “I felt like I was one of the assistants, the lead scout.” He had to be more pleased with what he saw the past two games, as Duke followed an 85-83 win at Wake Forest with an 84-74 victory at Notre Dame to move back above .500 in ACC play. Pittsburgh has been much improved in its past two contests, dropping a tight 67-60 decision to Clemson and a heartbreaking 80-78 loss at North Carolina after being embarrassed by 55 points at home against Louisville on Jan. 24.

TRENDS:

* Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Blue Devils are 2-11-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a ATS win.
* Under is 12-1 in Panthers last 13 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 8-1 in Blue Devils last 9 overall.
* Over is 10-1 in Blue Devils last 11 vs. Atlantic Coast.

Georgia at No. 20 South Carolina

No. 20 South Carolina opened SEC play with five straight victories before losing to Kentucky, but are rolling again with a three-game winning streak entering Saturday’s home contest with Georgia. The Gamecocks feature one of the top defenses in the nation, holding opponents to 60.9 points per game and limiting the opposition to 63 points or fewer in five of their past seven contests.

South Carolina never trailed in Wednesday’s 88-63 victory at LSU, getting 17 points each from Duane Notice and P.J. Dozier. Georgia is trying to revive its postseason hopes after dropping three of four games, beating Texas on Jan. 28 before an inspired performance fell short in overtime Tuesday at Kentucky. J.J. Frazier and Yante Maten combined for 45 points, while Derek Ogbeide scored a career-best 18 points and a career high-tying 13 rebounds. The Gamecocks snapped a four-game losing streak to Georgia with a 67-61 road victory Jan. 4, a physical game in which 51 fouls were called.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Gamecocks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Bulldogs are 8-1 ATS in the last 9 meetings in South Carolina.
* Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in South Carolina.

Iowa State at No. 2 Kansas

After surviving the toughest stretch of games during his 14-year tenure at Kansas, coach Bill Self can’t even enjoy the moment due to multiple offcourt incidents involving his players. With allegations surrounding star freshman Josh Jackson the most recent to surface, the No. 2 Jayhawks will try and stay focused and pull off a 52nd consecutive win at Allen Fieldhouse when dangerous Iowa State comes calling Saturday.

In the last 10 days Self’s crew was knocked off in Morgantown by West Virginia but rebounded with a road win over No. 4 Kentucky and a home triumph over No. 5 Baylor in a battle for the top spot in the Big 12 Conference. However, during this period, sophomore forward Carlton Bragg was suspended indefinitely and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and several players were listed as witnesses for an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl in the dorm that houses the Jayhawks basketball team. On Wednesday, Jackson and reserve guard Lagerald Vick were identified as persons of interest in an alleged felony vandalism of a car on Dec. 9 whose owner was likely a victim of an assault by Vick in 2015. Self, who told reporters last week his club has had trouble focusing on basketball due to the turmoil swirling around the program, said through a prepared statement that he was unable to comment on a 2015 investigation that found Vick likely hit a female student multiple times.

TRENDS:

* Cyclones are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Jayhawks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.
* Over is 4-0 in Cyclones last 4 road games.
* Under is 7-0 in Jayhawks last 7 overall.
* Over is 8-1 in the last 9 meetings in Kansas.

No. 7 Louisville at Boston College

Louisville coach Rick Pitino talked about trying to find "silver linings" with any injury after his team's most recent victory, and it appears he might have found one after losing his top two point guards for the foreseeable future. Behind the recent scoring surge from sophomore Donovan Mitchell, the seventh-ranked Cardinals eye a seventh win in their last eight outings Saturday when they visit Boston College.

Pitino was forced to rely more heavily on backup Tony Hicks to run the offense after starter Quentin Snider was lost to a hip injury for approximately 2-3 weeks in Louisville's win over Duke on Jan. 14, but Hicks lasted only three games after that before succumbing to a hand injury expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks. The run on injuries has forced Mitchell to shift over from shooting guard and the results have been dramatic of late, as he was named ACC Player of the Week last week after averaging 28.5 points, five rebounds and four assists in a pair of blowout wins. "Donovan is getting a chance to play his normal position, which is point guard, and you always look for a silver lining in any injury, and he's got a chance to work at that, which I think will pay a huge dividend down the road," Pitino said after Louisville routed North Carolina State 85-60 on Sunday. The Eagles have dropped six straight and lost their fourth in a row by single digits Tuesday, falling 85-80 at home against Wake Forest.

TRENDS:

* Cardinals are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Eagles are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Under is 5-1 in Cardinals last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
* Over is 4-0 in Eagles last 4 overall.

Kansas State at No. 3 Baylor

Third-ranked Baylor begins the second half of Big 12 play a game behind first place Kansas after losing to the No. 2 Jayhawks 73-68 on Wednesday night at famed Allen Fieldhouse. The Bears, who already have a Feb. 18 rematch with Kansas in Waco circled on their calendar, will try to avoid a letdown after the tough loss when they host Kansas State on Saturday afternoon.
"One day we'll win up here," Baylor coach Scott Drew told the Waco Tribune after the Bears fell to 0-15 all-time at Kansas. "Just not this year." Baylor has plenty of company in that regard considering Kansas extended its winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse to 51 in a row. But Baylor can still earn a share of a Big 12 title by winning out and defeating the Jayhawks in the rematch at the Ferrell Center where they've won 13 straight games. "The beauty of the Big 12 is every game counts the same, you play everybody twice," Drew said. "We're trying to improve each day and make sure in March we're playing our best basketball. But we have to be better in the second half to win conference."

TRENDS:

* Bears are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Over is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Over is 6-0 in Bears last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
* Underdog is 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

No. 25 Xavier at No. 22 Creighton

Little did Xavier know when Creighton lost its starting point guard to a torn left ACL in their first meeting on Jan. 16 that it would be dealing with the exact same situation less than two weeks later. Two of the top teams in the Big East continue their quest to overcome season-ending injuries to their floor generals Saturday when the 25th-ranked Musketeers hit the road and try to avoid a regular-season sweep against the 22nd-ranked Bluejays.

Maurice Watson Jr. entered the rivals' first meeting averaging a Division I-high 8.8 assists per game, but the Creighton standout injured his knee while converting a three-point play of the Bluejays' 72-67 comeback victory. Xavier's Edmond Sumner suffered the same fate on a three-point play 13 days later in an 82-77 win at St. John's, but the team dodged another bullet in Wednesday's 72-70 triumph over Seton Hall, as Big East leading scorer Trevon Bluiett fought through an early foot injury to power the Musketeers to a second straight win. As a result, Creighton junior Tyler Clement, who did not play at all Jan. 16, and Xavier freshman Quentin Goodin, who was held scoreless in five minutes of action in the same game, hope to continue capably filling the voids left behind by Watson and Sumner. In order for the Bluejays to increase their one-half game lead over the Musketeers for second place in the league standings, they will need to find a way to contain Bluiett, who is averaging 27.3 points and 6.5 rebounds in the four games since the teams' first meeting.

TRENDS:

* Musketeers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Bluejays are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Over is 4-1 in Musketeers last 5 road games.
* Over is 9-2 in Bluejays last 11 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Over is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
* Musketeers are 0-6 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

No. 5 Arizona at No. 13 Oregon

Allonzo Trier has returned just in time for fifth-ranked Arizona, which heads into Saturday’s Pac-12 showdown against No. 13 Oregon in Eugene riding a 15-game winning streak. The dynamic Trier is playing in his fifth game this season but has already proven to be a difference-maker for the Wildcats, who hold a one-game lead in the Pac-12 race over the Ducks.

Trier, a sophomore guard who missed the season’s first 19 games while serving a PED-related suspension, scored 18 points in Thursday’s 71-54 win over Oregon State and has averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists off the bench in four games since his return. “He gives them depth and an experienced perimeter player,” Oregon coach Dana Altman told reporters. “He gives them another weapon. We are going to have our work cut out for us because I don’t know how we are going to get them slowed down. They have always been good on defense and they are a good offensive team this year.” The Wildcats will be facing a sellout crowd in Eugene, where the Ducks extended their home winning streak to 39 games with Thursday’s come-from-behind 71-70 victory over Arizona State. Forward Dillon Brooks, averaging a team-high 15.8 points in league play, scored Oregon’s final 12 points as the Ducks avoided their second straight loss.

TRENDS:

* Wildcats are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 road games.
* Ducks are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 overall.
* Under is 4-1 in Ducks last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.

Connecticut at No. 14 Cincinnati

Connecticut has won three games in a row for the first time this season but will be facing a team with a much more impressive streak when it travels to No. 14 Cincinnati on Saturday. The American Athletic Conference-leading Bearcats have won 13 consecutive games and 21 straight at home.

Cincinnati’s run nearly came to an end Wednesday night at Tulsa, but senior guard Troy Caupain scored five of his 15 points in the final minute to help the Bearcats escape with a 57-55 victory. It was the team’s third two-point victory during its streak, although it also has won four games by more than 30 points during the hot stretch. The injury-ravaged Huskies were playing with six healthy regulars last week, but that didn’t stop them from stringing together their best stretch of the season. "Three games, three wins in a week with six guys, that's my definition of perseverance," coach Kevin Ollie told reporters after a 78-68 win over Tulane on Saturday.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
* Bearcats are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
* Over is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 overall.
* Over is 7-0 in Bearcats last 7 home games.
* Huskies are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings in Cincinnati.

Oklahoma State at No. 12 West Virginia

The first time Oklahoma State faced West Virginia this season, the Cowboys lost by 17 to kick off a six-game losing streak to open Big 12 play. Five weeks later, Oklahoma State is back from the dead with four straight wins, but Saturday's road date against the 12th-ranked Mountaineers will provide its toughest test yet.

West Virginia ranks seventh in the nation in points scored (87.6), while Oklahoma State is eighth (87.5), although the teams have different levels of offensive balance. The Mountaineers have five players averaging between 9.4 points and 12.2 points, while the Cowboys have two dynamic scorers in Jawun Evans and Jeffrey Carroll. Evans, Carroll and the other Oklahoma State guards must take care of the ball against a West Virginia squad that records 12 steals per game and forces turnovers at a rapid pace. Evans committed five turnovers in the first meeting, while West Virginia's Jevon Carter had four steals to go with 15 points and six assists.

TRENDS:

* Cowboys are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Mountaineers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 4-1-1 in Cowboys last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 9-1-1 in Mountaineers last 11 overall.
* Favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
* Cowboys are 0-7 ATS in the last 7 meetings.

No. 18 St. Mary’s at San Diego

Saint Mary's tries to maintain focus as it defeats inferior West Coast Conference competition between Gonzaga meetings and must keep its head on straight for two more games beginning with Saturday's contest at San Diego. The No. 19 Gaels hung on for a 74-70 victory at Pacific on Thursday for their fifth straight victory and 14th in the last 15 games and can taste the opportunity that comes Feb. 11 when they try to exact revenge from the No. 1 Bulldogs for a 79-56 loss Jan. 14.

"You can't ever forget it's tough to win on the road," Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett told reporters after his team recorded one field goal in the final 12 minutes before winning their 10th WCC game but first by single digits. Saturday's matchup is a contrast in taking care of the ball as the Gaels are third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.59 while the Toreros (.96) are one of three WCC teams with more turnovers than assists. San Diego is coming off a 72-53 loss to Loyola Marymount on Thursday for its third setback in four games despite a game-high 21 points from leading scorer Brett Bailey. Saint Mary's prevailed 72-60 on Dec. 31 for its sixth straight meeting in the series with freshman reserve guard Tanner Krebs scoring 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range in 18 minutes.

TRENDS:

* Gaels are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
* Toreros are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Toreros are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Under is 4-0 in Gaels last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
* Under is 5-0 in Toreros last 5 overall.
* Gaels are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.

St. John’s at No. 4 Villanova

Sometimes Jay Wright's analysis requires deep thought and well orchestrated insights, but other times - like after Wednesday's win over Providence - the Villanova coach can keep it simple. "Thank God we've got good players," Wright said after his fourth-ranked team's 27th win in 29 games - a run he hopes will continue Saturday versus visiting St. John's.

Villanova topped St. John's by 13 points last month as Donte DiVincenzo scored a season-high 19 points. The redshirt freshman made an even bigger name for himself Sunday with a game-winning tip-in against Virginia, and the Wildcats followed up that thrilling victory with a nine-point win at Providence. St. John's has won three of five since the loss to Villanova, including a 14-point win against Marquette its last time out. Bashir Ahmed delivered a career-high 23 points and continues to provide scoring support alongside the high-octane duo of Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett.

TRENDS:

* Red Storm are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
* Over is 5-1 in Red Storm last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Under is 10-1 in Wildcats last 11 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 overall.

No. 6 Kentucky at No. 23 Florida

After avoiding the first three-game losing streak in the coach John Calipari era, No. 6 Kentucky hits the road for a tough challenge against No. 23 Florida on Saturday night. The Wildcats, who were coming off losses at Tennessee 82-80 on Jan. 24 and to No. 3 Kansas 79-73 on Jan. 28, needed freshman guard Malik Monk's jumper with eight seconds left to force overtime before outlasting Georgia 90-81 on Tuesday as freshman point guard De'Aaron Fox sat out with the flu.

Senior guard Mychal Mulder and freshman forward Sacha-Killeya Jones - a pair of key reserves - also missed the Georgia game because of illness with at least Fox and Mulder expected to return Saturday. “I don’t know how many people we have sick, but the sickness is going through our team,” senior forward Derek Willis told reporters before Friday's practice. “Even away from the gym, I have friends that are getting sick. ..." The Gators sit third in the SEC - one game behind the Wildcats and No. 20 South Carolina - after crushing Missouri 93-54 on Thursday for their third straight victory and are excited about the prospects of snapping their five-game losing streak to Kentucky. "I think it'd be a huge, breakthrough win for us, if we can get it done," Florida coach Mike White told reporters. "If we play very well, we will have a chance, and that's all you can ask for. It's a healthy level of confidence and respect there."

TRENDS:

* Wildcats are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Gators are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
* Over is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Over is 6-1 in Gators last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Wildcats are 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

Santa Clara at No. 1 Gonzaga

Top-ranked Gonzaga keeps racking up the victories and now possesses the longest winning streak in school history entering Saturday's West Coast Conference game against visiting Santa Clara. The Bulldogs notched their school-best 23rd straight win when they posted an 85-75 victory at Brigham Young on Thursday and look to move closer to an undefeated regular season.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few makes sure his players don't get full of themselves with the accolades being thrown their way, but junior point guard Nigel Williams-Goss certainly doesn't mind the limelight. "It's definitely an honor," Williams-Goss said after scoring 33 points in the win over BYU. "Somebody has to be ranked No. 1, so as a competitor, why not it be you? It's not like we don't appreciate it or think it's cool to be ranked No. 1. But we just understand we can't rest our hat on that and we have to keep getting better each week." The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents by 23.2 points per game and have eight wins by 30 or more points, including an 88-57 victory at Santa Clara on Jan. 19. The Broncos are playing solid of late with five wins in their last seven games and recorded a 60-45 road win over Portland on Thursday.

TRENDS:

* Broncos are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
* Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 home games.
* Bulldogs are 21-5-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 12-3 in Bulldogs last 15 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Broncos are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.

No. 8 UCLA at Washington

UCLA has been in the unusual position of needing to end losing streaks this week, and the No. 8 Bruins will try to stop another when they visit Washington for a Pac-12 game Saturday night. UCLA ended a string of three straight road losses against Washington State when it topped the Cougars on Wednesday, also snapping its first two-game skid this season, and will look to end a two-game losing streak against the Huskies, both incurred last season.

This game will feature three of the best freshman in the nation in Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf of UCLA and Markelle Fultz of Washington. Ball is second in the nation in assists and No. 1 among active players at eight a game while also averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, and Leaf averages 17 points and 8.9 rebounds, both team highs, and is coming off a 32-point performance against Washington State, the second-most points ever scored by a UCLA freshman. Fultz is averaging a Pac-12-leading 23.1 points a game, which is seventh-most in the nation and tops among freshmen. Ball will likely draw the assignment of guarding Fultz in a matchup that will surely have NBA scouts watching closely.

TRENDS:

* Bruins are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
* Huskies are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.
* Over is 5-1-1 in Bruins last 7 overall.
* Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Bruins are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Washington.

Saturday’s NCAAB Game of the Day: Notre Dame at North Carolina
By Covers.com

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at North Carolina Tar Heels

No. 18 Notre Dame has tumbled from the top of the ACC into the middle of the pack with three straight losses and it doesn’t get any easier when the Fighting Irish visit 10th-ranked North Carolina on Saturday. A 17-point loss to Virginia was followed by a heartbreaking defeat at the buzzer against Georgia Tech and Notre Dame could not handle Duke in an 84-74 setback Monday.

“I love our group,” Irish coach Mike Brey told reporters after his team allowed Duke to shoot 51.9 percent from the field. “We’re getting smacked hard right now. But we’re getting smacked together.” The Tar Heels avoided a second straight loss with an 80-78 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday as junior guard Justin Jackson extended his streak of scoring at least 19 points to eight games by recording 20. North Carolina is sixth in the nation in scoring (88.0), but has yet to find consistency on the other end of the court while sitting 10th in the ACC in points-against per contest (71.4). “Some how, some way,” Tar Heels coach Roy Williams told reporters, “I’ve got to figure out a way to do a better job coaching on the defensive end of the floor.”

INJURY REPORT:

Fighting Irish - No injuries to report.

Tar Heels - F Theo Pinson (Out indefinitely, ankle)

POWER RANKINGS: Fighting Irish (-12.5) - Tar Heels (-15.2) + home court (-3) = Tar Heels -5.7

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (17-6 SU, 10-6-1 ATS, 10-7 O/U): The Irish could use a boost on the offensive end to snap them out of the slump as they stand 11th in conference games at 44.4 percent from the field and are averaging 62.7 points during the losing streak. Senior forward V.J. Beachem averaged 21.5 points the last two games to push his season mark to 14.8 – second on the team behind junior forward Bonzie Colson (15.6, team-high 10.6 rebounds). The Irish will need more from senior guard Steve Vasturia (14.1 points), who has made just 9-of-35 from the field the last four games.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (20-4 SU, 12-10-1 ATS, 9-13 O/U): Williams told reporters he thought an alien had climbed into the body of Joel Berry II at Miami (Fla.) when he went 0-for-8 from the field, but the junior bounced back to score 19 with five 3-pointers against Pitt. “Sometimes you can have all these good games and you get on a little high,” Berry said to the media. “So that was one of my lows and it kind of made me refocus.” Jackson (18.7) leads the team in scoring with Berry (15.0) - along with senior forwards Isaiah Hicks (12.8, 61.1 percent shooting) and Kennedy Meeks (12.6, 9.5 rebounds) - all contributing.

TRENDS:

* Fighting Irish are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
* Tar Heels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 6-1 in Fighting Irish last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.