Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for from various handicappers and websites for Wednesday 12/25/19
Wednesday's Tip Sheet
David Schwab
All eight teams in this season’s Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic take center stage on Christmas Day as the only four college basketball betting matchups on the board.
The first game of the afternoon at Stan Sheriff Center pits Portland against Ball State. Next up, Boise State will square off against UTEP. The two night games start with Georgia Tech taking on host Hawaii ahead of the tournament championship between Houston and No. 21 Washington.
Portland vs. Ball State (ESPNU, 1:30 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Ball State -8 ½, Total 133 ½
Betting Matchup
The WCC’s Pilots come into this consolation game off an 85-69 loss to Boise State on Monday as 11-point underdogs. They have now lost five of their last seven games straight-up and they have failed to cover against the spread in their last four games. Senior guard Isaiah White was held to 15 combined points his last two games as the team’s leading scorer (13.7 points).
Playing out of the MAC, Ball State lost to Washington by 21 points as a 6 ½-point underdog before dropping a tight one-point 71-70 decision against UTEP on Monday as a 2 ½-point favorite. The Cardinals are 6-6 SU and they have failed to cover in four of their last six games. They have not crossed the 70-point mark in each of their last three games.
Betting Trends
-- The Pilots are 1-7 ATS in their last eight December games and Ball State has won 16 of its last 20 games played in the month of December.
-- This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
Boise State vs. UTEP (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Boise State -2, Total 134
Betting Matchup
Boise State lost to Georgia Tech 74-60 on Sunday as a slight 1 ½-point favorite before knocking off Portland. The Mountain West’s Broncos are 7-2 ATS over their last nine games with the total staying UNDER in three of their last five contests. They are 3-1 ATS in their last four games as favorites. Derrick Alston Jr. scored 32 points in Monday’s win. The junior guard leads Boise State with 21.7 points per game.
The Miners, out of Conference USA lost to Houston and Hawaii both SU and ATS as underdogs in two previous tournament games. They are 9-3 SU overall and the total has gone OVER in four of their last five games. Junior forward Bryson Williams is averaging 20.8 PPG. He scored 33 points against Hawaii in a losing effort while shooting 50% from the field.
Betting Trends
-- The total has stayed UNDER in six of Boise State’s last seven Wednesday games. UTEP has covered in its last five games against the Mountain West.
-- The Miners are 4-1 both SU and ATS in their last five games against the Broncos.
Georgia Tech vs. Hawaii (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Hawaii -1 ½, Total 139
Betting Matchup
The ACC’s Yellow Jackets’ path to this matchup included the win against Boise State ahead of Monday’s 70-59 loss to Houston as 7 ½-point underdogs. They are just 1-4 SU in their last five games while going 2-3 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of their last eight outings. Moses Wright and Jordan Usher each scored 18 points to rally Georgia Tech past the Broncos.
The host team out of the Big West is 8-1 SU at home this season. Hawaii came up short on Monday night in a 72-61 loss to Washington as a seven-point underdog. It is 6-2-1 ATS in its last nine games with the total going OVER in seven of its last 10 contests. The Rainbow Warriors are averaging 71.3 PPG led by Senior guard Eddie Stansberry’s 17.4-point average.
Betting Trends
-- The total has stayed UNDER in six of the Yellow Jackets last seven December games. The total has stayed UNDER in four of Hawaii’s last five games against a team from the ACC.
-- This will be the first meeting between these two teams.
Houston vs. No. 21 Washington (ESPN2, 8:30 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Washington -1 ½, Total 140
Betting Matchup
The Cougars improved to 9-3 SU (6-6 ATS) with victories against UTEP, Portland and Georgia Tech both SU and ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven games after holding teams to fewer than 63 points in each of those contests. Quentin Grimes has scored a combined 41 points in his past two games. The sophomore guard is averaging 15.3 PPG.
Washington is 10-2 SU on the year with losses to Tennessee and Gonzaga. It has covered in its last three games as part of a 6-2 record ATS over its last eight games. Isaiah Stewart scored 26 points with 13 rebounds in Monday’s win against Hawaii. Jaden McDaniels (22 points) and Quade Green (21 points) had the hot hands in Sunday’s win against Ball State.
Betting Trends
-- The Cougars have lost six of their last seven against the Pac-12 SU. The total has stayed UNDER in 10 of Washington’s last 13 games played on a Wednesday.
-- These two team last met in 2004 as part of a three-season series. Washington won two of the three games SU and ATS.
821PORTLAND -822 BALL ST
BALL ST is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) after playing a game as an underdog in the last 3 seasons.
823BOISE ST -824 UTEP
UTEP is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 in the last 3 seasons.
825GEORGIA TECH -826 HAWAII
GEORGIA TECH is 10-3 ATS (6.7 Units) in road games versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 point shots/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
827HOUSTON -828 WASHINGTON
HOUSTON is 9-2 ATS (6.8 Units) after allowing 65 points or less 4 straight games over the last 2 seasons.
827HOUSTON -828 WASHINGTON
Mike Hopkins is 9-2 ATS (6.8 Units) after 2 straight wins by 10 points or more (Coach of WASHINGTON)
NCAAB
Long Sheet
Wednesday, December 25
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PORTLAND (8 - 6) vs. BALL ST (6 - 6) - 12/25/2019, 1:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PORTLAND is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in December games over the last 3 seasons.
PORTLAND is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest over the last 3 seasons.
BALL ST is 41-64 ATS (-29.4 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 since 1997.
BALL ST is 118-160 ATS (-58.0 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
BALL ST is 13-25 ATS (-14.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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BOISE ST (7 - 5) vs. UTEP (9 - 3) - 12/25/2019, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTEP is 69-46 ATS (+18.4 Units) in December games since 1997.
UTEP is 84-48 ATS (+31.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game since 1997.
UTEP is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) when the total is 130 to 139.5 over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
UTEP is 1-0 against the spread versus BOISE ST over the last 3 seasons
BOISE ST is 1-0 straight up against UTEP over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
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GEORGIA TECH (5 - 6) at HAWAII (8 - 4) - 12/25/2019, 6:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HAWAII is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all home games over the last 2 seasons.
HAWAII is 15-5 ATS (+9.5 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
GEORGIA TECH is 70-48 ATS (+17.2 Units) after scoring 60 points or less since 1997.
GEORGIA TECH is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
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HOUSTON (10 - 3) vs. WASHINGTON (10 - 2) - 12/25/2019, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 46-31 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 46-31 ATS (+11.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
NCAAB
Dunkel
Wednesday, December 25
Portland @ Ball State
Game 821-822
December 25, 2019 @ 1:30 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Portland
44.497
Ball State
57.374
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ball State
by 13
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ball State
by 9 1/2
132
Dunkel Pick:
Ball State
(-9 1/2); Over
Boise State @ TX-El Paso
Game 823-824
December 25, 2019 @ 4:00 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Boise State
57.737
TX-El Paso
52.917
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boise State
by 5
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boise State
by 2
135
Dunkel Pick:
Boise State
(-2); Over
Georgia Tech @ Hawaii
Game 825-826
December 25, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Georgia Tech
55.655
Hawaii
56.601
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Hawaii
by 1
130
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia Tech
by 2 1/2
138 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Hawaii
(+2 1/2); Under
Houston @ Washington
Game 827-828
December 25, 2019 @ 8:30 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Houston
68.755
Washington
66.710
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 2
134
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 1
139
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(+1); Under
NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Wednesday, December 25
@ Hawai’i
Ball State lost four of its last six games, is 5-6 vs schedule #240- they lost by point to UTEP Monday. Cardinals start two frosh, two seniors; they’re making 35.4% of their 3’s (#92), getting 39.5% of their points on arc (#24).46.4% of their shots are 3’s (#22). Portland lost five of its last six games, losing by 25-16 points in first two games in this event; Pilots didn’t play any guys more than 23:00 Sunday- they’re 6-6 vs schedule #347, losing their three top 200 games by 11-25-16 points. Portland is making 40.1% of its 3’s (#11).
Georgia Tech lost four of its last five games; they’re 5-6 vs schedule #31- they’re turning ball over 23.4% of time (#327), shooting 27.2% on arc (#332)- they’re experience team #187 whose bench doesn’t play much (#318 minutes). Tech scored 58.6 ppg in their last five games. Tech lost two of three true road games, winning in OT at NC State. Hawai’i split its last four games, is 7-4 ; vs schedule #232. Rainbows are 7-1 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with loss to South Dakota. Hawai’i is making 35.4% of its 3’s (#91), getting 34.6% of its points on arc (#91).
UTEP is 5-0 at home, 1-3 on road; they’re experience team #198 that is 3-2 vs teams in top 125, with best win by 3 over New Mexico of Mountain West. Miners beat Ball State by point Monday, after being down 7 in 2nd half, surviving 23 turnovers. UTEP is 6-0 when it scores more than 63 points; they’re forcing turnovers 23.0% of time (#39). Boise State split its last six games; they’re 6-5 vs schedule #222. Broncos are experience team #8 that lost four of six games away from home, with a triple OT win at Pacific. Boise’s subs don’t play much (bench minutes #319).
Houston won seven of its last eight games after a 2-2 start; Cougars are experience team #283 whose only losses are to top 50 teams. Houston is rebounding 40.7% of its own missed shots (#2); they won first two games here this week, by 25-11 points. Washington is 10-2 vs schedule #190; Huskies are 4-2 away from home, playing one game in Toronto, one in Alaska- they’re experience team #330 that doesn’t sub much (#343 bench minutes) or use arc much- they get 54% of their points inside arc (#84). Washington won its first two games this week, by 21-11 points.