Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites.
College basketball teams playing the slowest tempo:
— Wagner
— Virginia
— Air Force
— Minnesota
— North Texas
— Seton Hall
Quote of the Day
“I mean, they’ve been kicking everybody’s ass. So I’m fortunate enough to, again, just to be on a team that’s rolling like that. And whatever I can do to help, that’s what I’m here for.”
Jamal Adams, on why he signed recently with the Detroit Lions
Wednesday’s quiz
Who was coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers before Mike Tomlin?
Tuesday’s quiz
John Calipari led UMass to the Final Four in 1996.
Monday’s quiz
Bills’ QB Josh Allen played his college football at Wyoming
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Wednesday’s Den: Wrapping up a busy night of basketball…….
— Rough night for the ACC; their teams went 1-8 against the SEC in their annual challenge, with Clemson’s win over Kentucky the only bright spot.
— Clemson 70, Kentucky 66
Clemson F Schieffelin was 4-20 from floor, also had 20 rebounds.
Clemson is 8-1, with three top 100 wins.
Kentucky is 7-1, splitting two top 100 games.
— Arkansas 76, Miami 73
Miami led this game by 7 with 6:51 left to play.
Arkansas was 11-23 on arc, Miami 9-29.
I’m still a little amazed that Kentucky didn’t want Calipari to coach anymore.
— Missouri 98, California 93
Cal Bears led 51-33 at halftime.
Mizzou was 32-44 inside arc, 3-9 outside arc, 25-38 on foul line.
Cal is an ACC team, by the way. No idea why, but they are.
Mizzou is off to a 7-1 start, after going 0-18 in SEC last year.
— Ole Miss 86, Louisville 63
7-1 Rebels shot 65% inside the arc.
Ole Miss was 8-20 on arc, Louisville 5-30
This was Louisville’s 4th top 60 game in the last seven days.
— Oklahoma 72, Georgia Tech 61
Tech led this game 34-30 at halftime.
Oklahoma was 26-30 on foul line, Tech 12-18.
Sooners are 8-0, with three top 100 wins, plus this win.
— South Carolina 73, Boston College 51
Gamecocks were 10-19 on the arc, BC was 2-15.
Opponents are shooting 44.6% inside arc vs Carolina (#39)
Eagles are shooting 46.3% inside arc (#298) vs schedule #284.
— Famous birthdays, December 4th:
Jeff Bridges, 75
Bernard King, 68
Lee Smith, 67
Frank Reich, 63
Marisa Tomei, 60
Jeff Blake, 54
Blake Snell, 32
Paul Blackburn, 31
Jackson Holliday, 21
— Clemson won the last eight times they played in the ACC football championship game; last time they lost was in 2009, 39-34 to Georgia Tech.
— Michigan 67, Wisconsin 64
Wolverines are off to a 7-1 start, after going 8-24 LY.
Michigan is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time (#14 in country).
— Iowa 80, Northwestern 79
Hawkeyes outscored Northwestern 12-5 over the final 1:43
Iowa led 38-21 late in the first half.
— Villanova 68, Cincinnati 60
Wildcats get their first top 100 win in four tries.
Villanova was 14-17 on foul line, Bearcats 6-11.
Cincinnati is 6-1, but they’ve played schedule #308.
— Army 103, LeMoyne 100 3OT
Army led by 14 with 5:07 left in regulation.
Teams combined to shoot 18-70 on the arc; no bueno.
LeMoyne’s subs outscored Army’s bench, 35-5.
— Murray State 63, Evansville 61
Purple Aces shot 55% inside arc, but never led this game.
Murray State starts five seniors; three of them played 38:00+.
Evansville is 3-5; this was their first loss by less than 11 points.
— Cavaliers 118, Wizards 87
Washington is 2-17; they’ve lost 15 games in a row.
Wizards are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games.
Washington’s last win was October 30th. Oy.
NCAAB Dunkel Wednesday, December 4
NCAAB Wednesday, December 4 Trend Report
2024-25 college basketball
Five of Wednesday’s best college basketball games:
Baylor @ UConn (-1.5)
Baylor (5-2)
KenPom rating: 23
Tempo: 291
Experience: 15
Continuity: 243
Baylor split its four top 100 games.
Bears gave up 101-77 points in losses (Gonzaga/Tennessee).
Baylor is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time (#16)
Baylor is rebounding 39.5% of its missed shots (#10)
Bears’ best win: 99-98 (2 OTs) over #20 St John’s
UConn (5-3)
KenPom rating: 25
Tempo: 249
Experience: 210
Continuity: 110
UConn went 0-3 at Maui Classic, losing by 2-1-18 points.
UConn’s best win is over #311 Sacred Heart.
At Maui, opponents shot 29-55 on arc against them.
Alabama @ North Carolina (-2.5)
Alabama (6-2)
KenPom rating: 10
Tempo: 4
Experience: 22
Continuity: 65
Alabama is 6-2 vs schedule #9 (4-2 vs top 100 teams)
Alabama lost only true road game, 87-78 at Purdue.
Crimson Tide is shooting 60.3% inside arc (#14)
Alabama went 2-1 in three games in Las Vegas over weekend.
North Carolina (4-3)
KenPom rating: 16
Tempo: 8
Experience: 71
Continuity: 84
UNC went 1-2 at Maui, giving up 90-85-94 points.
Tar Heels are 1-3 vs top 100 teams.
Carolina’s best win: 92-90 over Dayton in Maui.
Two top 10 teams in tempo; should be a track meet.
Marquette @ Iowa State (-5.5)
Marquette (8-0)
KenPom rating: 9
Tempo: 76
Experience: 133
Continuity: 12
Marquette is 8-0, with three top 50 wins.
Eagles won only true road game, 78-74 at #30 Maryland.
Marquette is forcing turnovers 25.2% of time (#3)
Eagles are shooting 61.7% inside arc (#5)
Iowa State (5-1)
KenPom rating: 7
Tempo: 101
Experience: 37
Continuity: 38
Iowa State’s only loss was 83-81 to #1 Auburn in Maui Classic.
Cyclones have top 100 wins over Dayton, Colorado.
Iowa State is forcing turnovers 23.6% of time (#9).
Cyclones are shooting 61.1% inside arc (#7)
Kansas (-4.5) @ Creighton
Kansas (7-0)
KenPom rating: 6
Tempo: 96
Experience: 2
Continuity: 117
Kansas has three top 40 wins (schedule #54)
This is Jayhawks’ first true road game.
Kansas has neutral court wins: Michigan State, Duke.
Jayhawks are shooting 61.1% inside arc (#8)
Creighton (5-3)
KenPom rating: 53
Tempo: 86
Experience: 51
Continuity: 130
Creighton is 0-3 vs top 50 teams, losing by 11-18-4 points.
Bluejays’ best win: 80-76 over #83 Notre Dame.
Creighton lost two of three games in Las Vegas last weekend.
52.1% of their shots have been 3’s, but they’ve made only 31.4% (#241)
Auburn @ Duke (-2.5)
Auburn (7-0)
KenPom rating: 1
Tempo: 161
Experience: 17
Continuity: 39
Auburn is 7-0, with four wins vs teams rated #31 or better.
This is their first true road game.
Auburn is shooting 65.7% inside arc (#1)
Opponents are shooting 42.8% inside arc (#22)
Duke (5-2)
KenPom rating: 4
Tempo: 224
Experience: 160
Continuity: 254
Duke lost two of its three top 100 games.
Duke’s best win: 69-55 at #29 Arizona.
Blue Devils have #4 eFG% defense in country.
Duke’s two losses were by 5-3 points (Kentucky/Kansas)
Armadillo Sports
2024-25 college basketball
Five of Wednesday’s best college basketball games:
Baylor @ UConn (-1.5)
Baylor (5-2)
KenPom rating: 23
Tempo: 291
Experience: 15
Continuity: 243
Baylor split its four top 100 games.
Bears gave up 101-77 points in losses (Gonzaga/Tennessee).
Baylor is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time (#16)
Baylor is rebounding 39.5% of its missed shots (#10)
Bears’ best win: 99-98 (2 OTs) over #20 St John’s
UConn (5-3)
KenPom rating: 25
Tempo: 249
Experience: 210
Continuity: 110
UConn went 0-3 at Maui Classic, losing by 2-1-18 points.
UConn’s best win is over #311 Sacred Heart.
At Maui, opponents shot 29-55 on arc against them.
Alabama @ North Carolina (-2.5)
Alabama (6-2)
KenPom rating: 10
Tempo: 4
Experience: 22
Continuity: 65
Alabama is 6-2 vs schedule #9 (4-2 vs top 100 teams)
Alabama lost only true road game, 87-78 at Purdue.
Crimson Tide is shooting 60.3% inside arc (#14)
Alabama went 2-1 in three games in Las Vegas over weekend.
North Carolina (4-3)
KenPom rating: 16
Tempo: 8
Experience: 71
Continuity: 84
UNC went 1-2 at Maui, giving up 90-85-94 points.
Tar Heels are 1-3 vs top 100 teams.
Carolina’s best win: 92-90 over Dayton in Maui.
Two top 10 teams in tempo; should be a track meet.
Marquette @ Iowa State (-5.5)
Marquette (8-0)
KenPom rating: 9
Tempo: 76
Experience: 133
Continuity: 12
Marquette is 8-0, with three top 50 wins.
Eagles won only true road game, 78-74 at #30 Maryland.
Marquette is forcing turnovers 25.2% of time (#3)
Eagles are shooting 61.7% inside arc (#5)
Iowa State (5-1)
KenPom rating: 7
Tempo: 101
Experience: 37
Continuity: 38
Iowa State’s only loss was 83-81 to #1 Auburn in Maui Classic.
Cyclones have top 100 wins over Dayton, Colorado.
Iowa State is forcing turnovers 23.6% of time (#9).
Cyclones are shooting 61.1% inside arc (#7)
Kansas (-4.5) @ Creighton
Kansas (7-0)
KenPom rating: 6
Tempo: 96
Experience: 2
Continuity: 117
Kansas has three top 40 wins (schedule #54)
This is Jayhawks’ first true road game.
Kansas has neutral court wins: Michigan State, Duke.
Jayhawks are shooting 61.1% inside arc (#8)
Creighton (5-3)
KenPom rating: 53
Tempo: 86
Experience: 51
Continuity: 130
Creighton is 0-3 vs top 50 teams, losing by 11-18-4 points.
Bluejays’ best win: 80-76 over #83 Notre Dame.
Creighton lost two of three games in Las Vegas last weekend.
52.1% of their shots have been 3’s, but they’ve made only 31.4% (#241)
Auburn @ Duke (-2.5)
Auburn (7-0)
KenPom rating: 1
Tempo: 161
Experience: 17
Continuity: 39
Auburn is 7-0, with four wins vs teams rated #31 or better.
This is their first true road game.
Auburn is shooting 65.7% inside arc (#1)
Opponents are shooting 42.8% inside arc (#22)
Duke (5-2)
KenPom rating: 4
Tempo: 224
Experience: 160
Continuity: 254
Duke lost two of its three top 100 games.
Duke’s best win: 69-55 at #29 Arizona.
Blue Devils have #4 eFG% defense in country.
Duke’s two losses were by 5-3 points (Kentucky/Kansas)