West Virginia at Pittsburgh
By Judd Hall
The football season is over, the NBA is on its All-Star break and the NHL is going to a few weeks off for the Olympics. Yet Friday night is still set with a great matchup on the college hardwood as the Backyard Brawl is set to go between the Panthers and Mountaineers at 9:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.
West Virginia (19-4 straight up, 10-13 against the spread) comes into this game primed for a let down slump after falling as a five-point home favorite to the Wildcats on Feb. 8, 82-75. There are numerous reasons for Bob Huggins to be upset with his team’s performance outside of not being refilled on his single-malt against Villanova. They shot 41 percent from the field, while they allowed the ‘Cats to hit 57 percent. And we can’t forget that the Mountaineers drained 18-of-32 of their free throws. But the biggest issue WVU has been its dependence on Da’Sean Butler.
Butler has averaged 17.1 points in his senior season in Morgantown. On Monday night, however, he scored 13 points, which was his lowest total since Jan. 16 versus Syracuse. Incidentally, that was the last time the Mountaineers were on the wrong side of the score.
Pittsburgh (18-6 SU, 10-8-2 ATS) was looking for anything to bring them out of a funk that saw them lose three out of four Big East games to end January. The Panthers appear to have turned the corner, winning two straight, covering the lone match that was on the board.
While Pitt had no problems in a 77-53 beatdown of Robert Morris, it was the 83-58 victory over the Pirates as a 4 ½-point home fave that showed they were back. Besides the fact the Panthers put up the most points they had all year, they were hitting shots from the field effectively (52 percent) and 20 of their 31 total buckets.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has deemed this a match too close to call by making the Mountaineers one-point road favorites.
The recent history of this rivalry has been tilted towards Pittsburgh with a 6-4 SU mark, but 5-5 ATS. The ‘under’ was 7-3 in those last 10 matchups.
Out of the last seven meetings of these teams, the home squad is 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS.
The Panthers have been tough to beat on their home court, as evidenced by a 13-1 SU and 5-4-2 ATS.
West Virginia is 5-2 SU and 3-4 ATS in its seven true road games of the season. Bettors should also note that the ‘over’ hit in four of those seven contests for the Mountaineers as well.
Other Looks…
Normally you have a few other games to take a gander at in college hoops, but Fridays are designated for the mid-majors. The positive side to that is the Ivy League’s top club is ranked and rolling through conference foes. Let’s look at their fixture.
Cornell at Pennsylvania – 7:00 p.m. EST
The Big Red are worth the hype, getting medieval on the Ivy League with an average score of 80-55 in their last four league games. Cornell should keep it up against the Quakers as a 17-point road “chalk.” Bettors shouldn’t have any fear in taking the Big Red as they’ve won four straight against Penn, covering the spread in the last two. The ‘over’ is a solid total play as it’s 4-1 in the last five.
vegasinsider.com
Top 25 Matchups
By Matt Fargo
West Virginia Mountaineers (4) at Pittsburgh Panthers (23)
A rare top 25 matchup takes place on Friday night in the rematch of the Backyard Brawl. The first meeting in West Virginia saw the Mountaineers win by 19 points, sending Pittsburgh to its fourth loss in five games but it was the extracurricular activities that made the headlines. There were a couple small scuffles as well as fans throwing objects onto the floor at one point. Even after they were told to refrain from throwing things, Pittsburgh assistant Tom Herrion was tagged with a coin under his right eye. “We knew they had a rowdy crowd,” Pittsburgh’s Jermaine Dixon said. “But the best part is that we get to play them up at our place in a couple days.”
Pittsburgh recovered and blew out Seton Hall in its next game by 25 points and then it picked up a non-conference win over Robert Morris by 24 points, the 28th consecutive win against the Colonials. Those wins should provide some confidence to a team that was 5-0 and leading the Big East at one point but is now 7-4 and in need of a big win. This looks to be a great revenge spot for the Panthers who are 13-1 at home including 4-0 in the Big East although this will be the biggest home test yet. Let’s not forget that the Panthers are the only team to hand Syracuse a loss this season.
West Virginia knows it will be coming into a hostile environment but it has been solid this season, going 7-2 in true road games. The losses came at Purdue by 15 points and then by just a bucket at Notre Dame and it will no doubt be ready on Friday. The Mountaineers know what they are going to run into but they are coming off a home loss against Villanova on Big Monday and they will want their own sort of bounce back as well. West Virginia has followed up all of its losses with a win the next time out and has not lost back-to-back games since early February of last season.
Game of the day: West Virginia at Pittsburgh
By Lee Kostroski
In this week’s edition of our Friday game of the day, Pittsburgh has a chance to get a measure of revenge against West Virginia after losing to the Mountaineers on Feb. 3 in Morgantown.
Down in the Pitts
Pittsburgh started the season 15-2 and rose as high as No. 11 in the polls. They have since lost four of their last seven, dropping games to Georgetown, Seton Hall, South Florida and West Virginia.
Their three wins during that stretch weren’t anything to write home about either – home victories over Seton Hall, St. Johns and Robert Morris who have a combined road record of 14-20.
Unidentified flying objects
In Pitt's last meeting at West Virginia, the game was delayed several times due to unruly fan behavior. Mountaineer head coach Bob Higgins had to make an announcement over the loud speaker in an attempt to stop the Hillbillies from throwing objects on the court.
Even after that announcement, Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion was hit on the left side of his face — inches below his eye — with a quarter thrown from the stands. You can bet that the fans of Pitt will be more than their usual vocal selves for this meeting with WVU on their home court.
"I think people will want to come out for this game because we lost down there and the way it was," Pittsburgh senior Jermaine Dixon said. "I'm sure people will want to come out and watch this game. With this being a rivalry game, it's kind of big. The loss down there is definitely fueling us for this game."
Peterson Events Center should be rocking to provide a little homecourt advantage for the Panthers who are 132-8 SU and 58-38-4 ATS in their last eight seasons at home with an average margin of victory of 15.3 ppg.
Redemption game for Mountaineers
Villanova just handed West Virginia their fourth loss of the season and that ended a six-game winning streak for the Mountaineers.
That was a huge loss for West Virginia as it was just the second time in WVU's history that a Top 5 Mountaineer team faced a Top 5 opponent – the first being in December 1959 when No. 2 West Virginia faced No. 3 California.
The Mountaineers Big East title hopes took a big hit with that loss, now sitting two games behind Syracuse and Villanova.
West Virginia is 6-2 on the road this season. Their only two losses were at Purdue by 15 points and at Notre Dame by two points. They’ve won their other six road games by an average of 15.8 ppg and only one of those wins was by fewer than six points.
When bouncing back from their prior three losses this season, the Mountaineers are 3-0, winning by 34, 19, and eight points.
Dixon line
Pitt guard Jermaine Dixon has been hampered by ankle, foot and finger injuries all season.
Last week was the first time this season Dixon practiced with the team every day. Since rejoining the team on a regular basis, the Panthers are 2-0 and Dixon is averaging 16.5 ppg.
“He's a different player and we're a different team when he practices. That's clear,” said coach Jamie Dixon. “It's not a good situation to play once or twice a week and not practice."
Previous meeting
As mentioned above, these two met last Wednesday. West Virginia used a late run to get the convincing 19-point victory at home for its most lopsided victory over the Panthers in more than three decades.
In front of the third-largest crowd in WVU Coliseum history, Pitt never led and suffered its worst loss in 33 years in the basketball version of the Backyard Brawl.
Pittsburgh never led but they did cut the Mountaineers lead to just two points midway through the second half. Down 43-41 with 12 minutes to play, Pitt missed 14 of its next 15 shots and West Virginia outscored Pitt, 27-9, down the stretch to break open what had been a tight game between the two bitter rivals.
West Virginia also had a +12 edge in rebounding and held the Panthers to just 16-of-53 field goals (30.2 percent).
Trends
Pittsburgh has won the last three meetings at home vs. the Mountaineers by 11, 1 and 14 points (2-1 ATS).
West Virginia is 4-2 ATS in the last 6 meetings of this series.
The Panthers are 7-3-1 ATS in conference games this season.
NCAAB News and Notes
Information on Friday's college basketball games........
Harvard was supposed to contend for Ivy title, but losses to Princeton and Cornell ended that; Crimson lost seven of last eight games vs Yale; they've lost five of last six visits here, by 18-1-8-15-13 points. Crimson is 2-3 as an Ivy favorite. Yale covered four of its last five games; they're 3-1 as Ivy league underdog, losing games this year by 9-13-19 points.
Home side won last eight Columbia-Princeton games; Lions lost last six visits to Palestra by 23-10-4-5-11-28 points (2-4 vs spread). Lions are 2-4 in Ivy, losing only road game by 26 at Cornell- they're 0-3 vs spread as an Ivy underdog. Princeton won, covered all four Ivy games, winning by 17-13-3-16 points; they've got showdown with Cornell Saturday.
Brown won four of last five games vs Dartmouth, with home team 8-1 in last nine series games; Big Green lost four in row at Brown by 3-20-26-10 points. Bears lost their last five games (1-4 vs spread) by 8-17-1-11-14 points- they're 0-2 as Ivy favorite. Dartmouth is 0-6 in Ivy, failing to cover last four games; they're 1-4 vs spread as Ivy League underdog.
Cornell won last four games vs Penn by 13-2-12-24 points; they've got showdown game with Princeton Saturday. Big Red is 6-0 in Ivy, taking only road game by 26 at Columbia- they're 4-2 as Ivy favorite. Quakers covered last three games; they're 2-2 in Ivy, with all four games on road. Ivy League home underdogs are 1-5 against the spread.
Pitt (+10) lost 70-51 at West Virginia nine days ago, shooting 30% from floor, 2-10 from arc; Mountaineers lost last four visits here by 4-14-1-11 points. Panthers are 4-1 at home in Big East, losing only to Georgetown; they're 5-1 as Big East underdog, 1-0 at home. West Virginia won four of last five games; they've won three of four Big East road games.
Siena is 14-0 in MAAC, 6-0 as road favorite, yet they're only favored by 4 points at 6-8 Niagara, which lost three of its last five home games. Eagles (+7.5) lost 83-65 at Siena Jan 9, shooting 35% (Siena led 42-41 at half); Saints outscored them 20-9 on foul line. Siena covered four of last five games. MAAC home underdogs are 6-14 against the spread.
Rider (+8) upset Fairfield 88-80 on road two weeks ago, shooting 54% for game, outscoring Stags 26-9 from line. Broncs won four of last five games, but are just 2-3 in last five at home. Stags lost by hoop at Siena Monday, but they're 2-3 in last five games, although they're 4-3 on road in MAAC. MAAC single digit home favorites are 13-20 vs spread.
Loyola (+6) lost 48-43 at St Peter's Jan 17, shooting 25% in game they led 21-14 at half; Greyhounds won last two games, covered five of last seven games- they've lost four of last five at home. Peacocks won seven of last nine games. St Peter's lost three of last four series visits here; last three series games were decided by total of eight points.
Marist lost its last 11 games, is 1-13 in MAAC, but they're 4-2 as road dog, losing away games by 9-4-12-7-19-25 points. Canisius won 72-57 at Marist Jan 9 (-5.5), their third straight series win. Griffins are 2-2 as MAAC home favorite, winning home games by 5-12-16-3 pts. MAAC double digit home favorites are 6-9 against the spread.
Iona (-2.5) held off Manhattan 56-53 Jan 22, its fourth win in last five series games; Gaels won nine of last ten games but were awful on offense last weekend, scoring 68-56 points in splitting pair of road games. Iona is 4-2 as MAAC home favorite, winning last five home games by 17-13-10-19-19 points. Jaspers are 4-2 as MAAC road underdog.
Idaho State (+12.5) lost 78-66 at Northern Colorado Jan 9; they've lost last three games by 17-3-23 points, are 3-3 at home in Big Sky, losing by 7-2-17 points- they're 4-2 as Big Sky underdog, 2-0 at home. Bears won four of last five games but are 0-7 vs spread in last seven games; they're 3-2 on Big Sky road, winning road games by 11-9-3 points.
Weber State (-1.5) won 87-62 at Northern Arizona Jan 9; Lumberjacks shot just 36% from floor. Weber won six of last seven games, are 4-1 as Big Sky home favorite, winning home games by 13-8-3-22-22 points. NAU is 3-2 as Big Sky road dog, losing away games by 17-12-7 points. Big Sky double digit home favorites are 4-8 against the spread.
Portland State (+7) got drilled 90-58 at Montana Jan 9; Griz shot 58% from floor, 7-14 from arc. Montana won, covered its last four games- they're 1-3 as Big Sky road favorite (3-3 SU)., winning away games by 1-2-20 points. Vikings are 3-1 at home in Big Sky, losing by 7 to NAU; they're 3-3 as Big Sky underdog. Big Sky home underdogs are 7-7.
Eastern Washington (+12) won 75-73 at Montana State Jan 10, making 8 of 16 from arc, but Eagles lost six in row since (2-4 vs spread), losing its last three home games by 4-3-8 points. MSU lost three of its last four games; they're 4-2 as Big Sky favorite, 1-0 on road. Bobcats are 2-3 on Big Sky road, winning by 7 at Idaho State, 5 at Sacramento State.
Tips and Trends
West Virginia Mountaineers at Pittsburgh Panthers
Mountaineers (-2.5, O/U 126.5): West Virginia is certainly going to be playing with a chip on their shoulder for 2 main reasons tonight. They are coming off a home loss against Villanova in their last game. The Mountaineers have also lost their past 4 meetings SU in Pittsburgh. West Virginia is 19-4 SU this season, with a national ranking of 4th in the country. West Virginia has played well away from home, going 9-2 SU and 5-6 ATS in both true road games and in neutral court settings this season. The Mountaineers are 5-5 ATS as a single digit favorite this season. West Virginia is averaging nearly 74 PPG this season, and have scored 70 PTS or more in 4 consecutive league games. F Da'Sean Butler leads WVA in scoring with 17.1 PPG this season. Forwards Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks combine for 25 PPG and 16 RPG this season for WVA. Prior to their last game, WVA had held 3 of their previous opponents to 60 PTS or fewer.
Mountaineers are 6-2 ATS last 8 games following a SU loss.
Under is 8-3 last 11 vs. a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - None.
PROJECTED SCORE: 61 (UNDER - Total of the Day)
Panthers: Pittsburgh is trying to right the ship after losing 4 games SU in a stretch of 5 games. The Panthers have won back to back games SU to stand at 18-6 SU, earning themselves a #25 ranking in the nation. Today marks only the 5th time in 180 meetings between these two teams that they were both nationally ranked. Pittsburgh is 13-1 SU and 5-4-2 ATS at home this season. Pittsburgh is 4-2 ATS this season as the listed underdog, and today marks the 1st time this season the Panthers have been the listed home underdog. Pittsburgh is 7-3 ATS since the start of 2010. The Panthers have averaged 80 PPG in their 2 games since scoring only 51 PTS against West Virginia. The Panthers shot a season low 30.2% in that last meeting with West Virginia. 4 different Panthers average double digits in scoring, led by G Ashton Gibbs. Gibbs averages 16.5 PPG, including 2.2 made three pointers per game this season.
Panthers are 0-5 ATS last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 8-3 last 11 vs. a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - None.
PROJECTED SCORE: 60
Siena Saints at Niagara Purple Eagles
Saints (-3.5, O/U 147): After starting the season 6-4 SU, some experts were questioning this Siena team. The Saints answered those questions with a resounding 15 game SU winning streak that is on the line tonight. Siena stands at 21-4 SU, including a spotless league record of 14-0 SU. Siena is 7-3 SU and 7-2-1 ATS in road games this season. Siena is 7-2 ATS this season as a single digit favorite this season. The Saints won't be caught looking ahead today, considering the last time they played at Niagara they gave up 100 PTS and lost by double digits. Since the start of 2010, only 1 opponent has scored more than 70 PTS in regulation against the Saints, a span of 12 games. F Alex Franklin is one of the best players you've never heard of, leading the Saints in scoring with 16.2 PPG. Franklin shoots 58.4% from the floor, and also grabs 7.9 RPG this season.
Saints are 4-0-1 ATS last 5 road games.
Over is 22-8 last 30 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600.
Key Injuries - G Kyle Downey (foot) is out.
G Denzel Yard (academics) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 80 (Side of the Day)
Purple Eagles: Niagara has had a very up and down season this year, so it's only fitting that they stand at an even 13-13 SU entering tonight's contest against one of their biggest rivals. Niagara has really struggled in league play, going 6-8 SU this season. The Purple Eagles are 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS this season at home. Niagara is 2-3 ATS as an underdog this season, with today marking the 1st time this season they are the listed home underdog. The Purple Eagles are struggling on offense of late, only scoring more than 70 PTS once in their past 6 contests. Niagara has 5 players averaging more than 9 PPG this season, led by G Tyrone Lewis. Lewis averages 16.3 PPG, including nearly 3 three pointers made per game. Unfortunately, Lewis only shoots 36.7% from the field this season. F Bilal Benn averages 13.5 PPG and a team high 9.8 RPG this season. 4 of the 5 starters for Niagara shoot worse than 38% from the field this season.
Purple Eagles are 2-6 ATS last 8 home games.
Over is 7-3 last 10 vs. a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - None.
PROJECTED SCORE: 69