Friday's Best NCAAB Bets
Cleveland State Vikings at Butler Bulldogs (-6, 132)
Can the Bulldogs rebound against one of the most surprising teams in the country? Not if Vikings guard Norris Cole has anything to say about it.
The senior guard is doing just about everything for the Vikings this season, averaging 20.9 points, 4.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. In two games against Butler last season, he averaged just 14 points and shot a meager 8-of-24 from the field. But this summer he spent dozens of hours shooting jumpers to up his scoring average nearly four points per game more than last year.
"We go as Norris goes," CSU head coach Gary Waters said.
And Butler has done little to recapture last season’s magic. The team is just 10-5 and is coming off an absurd, 76-52 loss at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, snapping the team’s 22-game Horizon League win streak. In the loss, Panthers sophomore guard Kaylon Williams posted a triple-double – 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists – as Butler had no answer for him.
If Butler can’t shut down Williams, how will it have any answer for Cole? It won’t.
Pick: Cleveland State
Evansville Purple Aces at Missouri State Bears (-16)
The Bears have a pretty simple key to maintaining momentum after a 24-12 season last year: better communication on screens.
Missouri State demonstrated their improved defensive ability earlier this week when the underdogs rallied from a 29-20 halftime deficit at Creighton to post a 67-55 win over the Blue Jays. Coach Cuonzo Martin credited the team’s halftime adjustments and commitment to call out and switch on screens as the team’s biggest reason for picking up the big road win. Not a bad accomplishment for a team that went 1-17 in Missouri Valley League action the past two years.
"In years past, we had never gotten over the hump in road games," center Will Creekmore said. "We had defensive breakdowns and little things that killed us.
Today we were solid with key stops and executing on plays down the stretch."
Overall, the Bears are ranked 53rd nationally by allowing an average of just 62.3 points per game.
Pick: Bears
College Basketball Knowledge
10-5 Butler lost twice as double digit favorite, but have still won six of last seven games; Bulldogs beat Cleveland State twice LY, by 9-11 pts. Vikings lost last five visits to Hinkle Fieldhouse, by 29-25-5-2-9 points. Cleveland State won/covered all four of its Horizon games this season. Horizon home faves are 8-4 vs spread, 5-1 if spread is 8 or less points.
Northern Iowa won last four games vs Indiana State by average score of 66-55, winning last two played here by 7-9 points; Panthers are 1-5 in true road games, with only win by 4 at TCU- they've lost three road games by either 1 or 2 points. Sycamores won first two MVC home games by 14-15 points-- they're 3-4 as an underdog.
Home side won last five Wichita State-Illinois State games; Shockers lost last three visits to Normal by 21-15-15 points, but Redbirds lost their first three MVC games, by 11-11-15 points- they've lost three of their last five home games. Wichita won its last six games, winning first two in MVC action by 34 over Evansville, 16 at Bradley.
Bradley is 7-3 in its last ten games vs Drake, winning last three by 2-8-2 points; Braves are 3-2 in last five visits here- five of last eight in series were decided by 1 or 2 points. Bradley lost first three MVC games, by 14-16-8 points- they're 0-3 in true road games, losing by 1-35-14. MVC home favorites are 6-3-1 vs spread. Drake is 2-1 as a favorite.
Missouri State won eight of last ten games vs Evansville, winning four in row by average score of 67-58; Aces lost last six visits to Springfield by 3-52-21-38-3-10 points- they're 1-5 in true road games, losing by 34-12 in its two MVC road games. Double digit favorites are 3-1-1 vs spread so far in MVC play. Bears are 3-0 in MVC, winning by 1-11-12 pts.
Creighton won its last five games vs Southern Illinois, with three of last four decided by 2 points or in OT; Bluejays won last two visits here by 22-5ot points. Creighton had 6-game win streak snapped by Missouri State in last game; Jays are 1-3 in true road games. Salukis won five of last seven games, upsetting No Iowa in MVC home opener.
Valparaiso is 6-0 vs Youngstown State in Horizon play, winning three in this gym by 19-8-4 points; Crusaders are 2-1 in league, with all three on road- they're 3-1 at home vs D-I teams, losing by 18 to Purdue- they are 2-4 as a favorite. Penguins are 1-3 in Horizon, losing by 9-15-30 points. Home teams are 12-7 vs spread in Horizon play so far this season.
Siena won its last nine games vs Canisius, with one win by less than 12 points, winning by 18-28-4-12 in last four visits here; Saints upset Iona in last game-- they're 2-4 in true road games, winning at Northeastern by 16, at Rider by 13. Canisius is 0-3 in MAAC, losing by 9-10-8 points, all on road- they're 2-1 against spread as an underdog.
Loyola won five of last seven games vs Manhattan, winning last four in this gym by 19-19-4-6 points; Greyhounds are 1-4 on road, with only win by 6 at Morgan State- they're 2-2 as a favorite. Manhattan lost its last 11 games after 2-0 start, losing first three MAAC games by 29-17-10 points- they're 3-7 as an underdog.
St Peter's won three of its last four games vs Iona, with LY's two games won by total of three points; Peacocks won four of last five visits here, winning by 4-2-3-2 points. Iona lost three of last four games, losing to Vermont/Siena, not great losses. Double digit favorites are 4-1 vs spread in MAAC games this year. St Peter's is 3-1 as an underdog.
Fairfield won four of last five games vs Marist, with wins by 2-5-9-20 points; Stags lost four of last five visits here, with only win 70-50 LY. Stags won nine games in row after 1-3 start; they're 3-2 on road, winning by 17 at Siena, 11 at Holy Cross, 2 at Savannah State. Marist is 5-6 as an underdog- they've won two of their three MAAC games.
Rider won three of last four games vs Niagara, winning by 3-1-8 points; only one of the four games was decided by more than 4 points. Broncs won last four games, by 20-9-10-14 points- they're 2-3 as a favorite this season. Niagara is awful, losing 10 of last 11 games- they're 0-3 so far in MAAC, losing by 8 at Marist, 24 at Iona, 22 at Fairfield.