NCAAB Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Tuesday, Dec. 20 - Butler Bulldogs vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs
It has been a rough start for Butler with just five wins in its first 12 games and an atrocious 1-6-1 record ATS. The Bulldogs did manage to upset Purdue 67-65 this past Saturday as 8½-point underdogs in easily their biggest win of the year. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of their eight games.
Gonzaga rolled over Arizona 71-60 this past Saturday as a 4½-point favorite to improve to 7-2 SU and 4-5 ATS on the year. These Bulldogs are 4-1 SU at home this season but just 1-4 ATS. The total has stayed ‘under’ in five of their nine games this year.
Wednesday, Dec.21 - Texas Longhorns vs. No.6 North Carolina Tar Heels
After opening the season 2-2 SU, Texas has reeled-off seven straight victories including an impressive 77-65 win over Temple as a 7.5-point home favorite this past Saturday. The Longhorns are now 9-2 SU overall, but just 2-4 ATS. The total went ‘over’ the 139-point line against the Owls and is now 3-3 on the year.
North Carolina comes into this game at 9-2 SU as well and is 5-5 ATS. Tonight it faces Nicholls State at home as a 37½-point favorite in what should be nothing more than a brisk tune-up for Wednesday night’s matchup. The Tar Heels are ranked sixth in the nation in points per game (85.3) and fourth in rebounds (42.5).
Thursday, Dec. 22 - No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. No.8 Missouri Tigers
Illinois lost for the first time this season this past Saturday with a 64-48 setback to UNLV as a two-point favorite. Tonight it faces Cornell as a 15 ½-point home favorite and while the Fighting Illini are 10-1 SU, they are 4-5 ATS overall and 0-3 ATS in their last three games.
Missouri made short work of an out-classed William & Mary this past Sunday with a 94-56 pasting as a 33-point home favorite. The win moved its record to a perfect 11-0 SU and 5-1 ATS. The Tigers are ranked second in the country in scoring and their 52.6 field-goal percentage is third-best in Division-I.
Memphis Tigers vs. No. 17 Georgetown Hoyas
Memphis’s roller-coaster season has taken another downturn with back-to-back losses to Murray State and No.4 Louisville in its past two games. The Tigers failed to cover as 10½-point home favorites against the Racers and salvaged a ‘push’ against the Cardinals in a 95-87 loss as eight-point road underdogs. They are 5-4 SU and 3-4-1 ATS on the year. The total has gone ‘over’ in six of their eight games.
Georgetown has risen up the ranks of the top 25 with a solid 9-1 SU start and is 4-0 ATS. The Hoyas last win in a game with a posted line came on Dec. 1 with a stunning 57-55 upset of then-No. 12 Alabama as seven-point road underdogs. The total has stayed ‘under’ in three of the four games with a line.
Friday, Dec. 23 - West Virginia Mountaineers vs. No.7 Baylor Bears
West Virginia moved to 7-2 SU on the year with an 84-64 win over Texas A&M-CC this past Saturday in a game with no posted line. The Mountaineers improved to 4-2 ATS with a 77-66 victory over Miami, Fl. the previous Saturday as seven-point home favorites. The total has gone ‘over’ in four of the six games.
Baylor continues to climb in the polls with a perfect 9-0 SU start including an 86-83 upset of BYU as a four-point road underdog this past Saturday. The Bears are 3-0 ATS and the total has gone ‘over’ in two of the games. As a team, Baylor is shooting just under 50 percent from the field.