NCAAB Games to Watch
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
College basketball fans will get their first real taste of conference play this week when the Big East and Big Ten begin their conference schedules with a number of key matchups. This week also provides a final chance to see some of the other top schools in the country butt heads against one another in a non-conference matchup before the start of their conference play right after the New Year.
The following is a brief look at the top matchups for each day this week along with a few facts and figures to help handicap the games.
Tuesday, December 27
No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Wisconsin extended its recent winning streak to five games this past Friday with a 79-45 romp over Mississippi Valley State as a 29-point home favorite. The Badgers are now 11-2 straight up on the year and 8-2 against the spread. The total has stayed ‘under’ in eight of their 10 games. Wisconsin is 3-1 ATS in four previous road games this season.
Nebraska comes into this game at 8-3 SU, but just 3-4 ATS. It is just 1-4 ATS in its last five games and 1-3 ATS in four home games. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of the seven games. The Cornhuskers are ranked in the bottom third of Division I in both points (66.8) and rebounds (34.6) per game.
Wednesday, December 28
No. 17 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. No. 7 Baylor Bears
The Bulldogs have reeled-off 11 straight victories ever since an ugly 68-58 loss to Akron as nine-point home favorites on Nov. 9. They are now 12-1 SU and 7-5 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in seven of the 12 games. Mississippi State is averaging 77.2 points a game and shooting 47.8 percent from the floor.
Baylor brings a spotless 12-0 SU record into this game and a 4-1 record ATS. The Bears are ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring with 79.6 points a game and shooting 50.2 percent from the field. Defensively, they have held their opponents to just 59.3 points per game.
Thursday, December 29
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. No. 10 Marquette Golden Eagles
Vanderbilt is 3-3 SU in its last six games including overtime losses to both Xavier and Louisville. It is 8-4 SU overall and 4-4 ATS. John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor have combined for 28.5 points and 8.5 rebounds to lead the Commodores.
Marquette has climbed to No. 10 in the country with an 11-1 record SU, but it is just 3-5-1 ATS overall and 0-2-1 ATS at home. These two teams met last year with the Golden Eagles coming-up one-point short in a 77-76 loss as seven-point road underdogs.
Friday, December 30
No. 8 Missouri Tigers vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
Missouri remained perfect on the year with a 78-74 victory over Illinois last Thursday as a seven-point home favorite. It is now 12-0 SU and 5-2 ATS. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of the seven games. The Tigers are ranked second in the country in both points per game (87.1) and field-goal percentage (51.9).
Old Dominion, out of the Colonial Athletic Association, is off to a 6-6 start SU and is 3-5 ATS. Last season, the Monarchs lost to Missouri 81-58 as eight-point road underdogs. Earlier this season, they covered as 19 ½-point underdogs in a 62-52 loss to then-No.2 Kentucky.
Saturday, December 31
No. 4 Louisville Cardinals vs. No. 3 Kentucky Wildcats
Louisville is a perfect 12-0 SU this season but just 1-4-1 ATS in its last six games and 4-4-1 ATS overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of the nine games. The Cardinals are averaging 73.2 points a game and are ranked ninth in the nation in rebounds with 41.2 a game.
Kentucky comes into this in-state rivalry at 11-1 SU, but just 3-7-1 ATS. The total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of its 11 games. Last season the Wildcats crushed the Cardinals 78-63 as three-point road underdogs. The total stayed ‘under’ the 141-point line.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 18 Indiana Hoosiers
The Buckeyes cruised through the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 12-1 record SU (4-4 ATS). Their only setback was a 78-67 loss to then-No.13 Kansas as 1.5-point road underdogs on Dec. 10. Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger leads the team with 16.2 points and 9.2 rebounds a game. As a team, the Buckeyes are averaging 78.6 points a game.
Indiana has been one of the biggest surprises this season with a perfect 12-0 start SU including a stunning 73-72 upset of then-No.1 Kentucky as a 5 ½-point home underdog. The Hoosiers are 7-0 ATS overall and 4-0 ATS at home this season. They are averaging 84.5 points a game and shooting 51.4 percent from the floor.