Game of the day: Texas at Kansas State
By Nick Parsons
The week in college basketball starts off strong with a key Big 12 matchup when the top ranked Texas Longhorns visit No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats.
The Longhorns maintained their undefeated record with a narrow 72-67 overtime victory over Texas A&M, while the Wildcats bounced back from their loss to Missouri with two impressive conference wins.
The last time these two teams met was on a neutral court during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 conference tournament last year. Texas won 61-58.
Road test
Texas came out of the gates weak against Texas A&M and found itself down at home by nine at the half.
"I'm so tired, man,'' senior Damion James, who struggled in the first half, but led to the team to a comeback win with 28 points 12 rebounds, told reporters after the game. "Their team played so hard. They came out and punched us in the mouth." “They came out and punched us in the mouth, but we didn‘t retaliate until the second half.”
The Longhorns will have to have a stronger first half since they don’t have the benefit of being at a home and head into hostile Bramlage Coliseum, which some claim to have the “angriest crowd in America”. Kansas State head coach Frank Martin is 40-5 at Bramlage.
Strangely, the road team has had the advantage in the series lately. Kansas State won in overtime in Austin last year and Texas won the year before at Bramlage despite 30 points from Michael Beasley.
The Longhorns are 3-2 overall at Bramlage under head coach Rick Barnes.
Foul behavior
KSU has been a little too slap happy in its last few games. Martin told vented to reporters about his team’s foul count following the win over Colorado.
“That’s becoming a common theme with our basketball team,” Martin told the Kansas City Star. “We commit most of them. It’s a shame. We didn’t foul earlier in the year, now all of a sudden all we do is foul. It’s bad defense, bad basketball. It’s gotta stop.”
Kansas State has finished with 30 or more fouls in each of its last three games.
Keys to the game
Both teams are averaging over 80 points a game, but the end result will probably be defined on the defensive end.
One key for Kansas State will be stopping Dexter Pittman who had 19 points and 20 rebounds against the Wildcats last year. Texas A&M did a good job of containing Pittman by limiting him to four points with double and triple teams in the low post. But Pittman remained a force on defense recording six blocks against the Aggies.
Kansas State has four players averaging double figures but Texas will put its focus on guards Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente. Pullen is averaging 19.7 points per game, while Clemente put in a 44-point performance in Austin last year.
Free throw shooting also looks to be a key factor with both teams ranking near the bottom in the nation in free throw percentage. Kansas State went to the line 54 times in its most recent win against Colorado and shot above its season average. Pullen is also averaging 7.3 fouls per 40 minutes.
Trends
The Longhorns are 7-6 ATS this season but they have failed to cover the spread in their last four games.
Kansas is an outstanding 8-3-1 ATS this year, but oddsmakers appear to be catching on. The last game against Colorado ended with a push. The Wildcats are also 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 games in this series.
Both teams are a combined 15-8 on totals this year. Texas is ranked second in points scored per game while Kansas State sits at 10th. Still last time these two sides played, they combined to finished 18.5 points under the total.
(5) Syracuse (17-1, 11-3 ATS) at Notre Dame (14-4, 7-4-1 ATS)
The Orangemen will try to make it five straight wins when they travel to South Bend, Ind., to take on Notre Dame in a Big East matchup.
Syracuse lost its first game of the season back on Jan. 2 at home against Pitt, but has since rallied to win four in a row (SU and ATS), including Saturday’s 72-71 upset win at West Virginia as a five-point underdog. The Orange are a perfect 6-0 (SU and ATS) on the road this season as their defense has dominated, allowing just 69.7 points per game on 36.9 percent shooting.
The Irish fell at Cincinnati on Saturday 60-58 but cashed as five-point underdogs. Even with that loss, Notre Dame has won five of seven overall (4-1-1 ATS) and last time it was at home was Jan. 9 when it edged West Virginia 70-68 as a 4½-point pup. The Irish are 12-1 in front of the home fans (5-2 ATS) where they put up 86.9 ppg, shooting 52.6 percent from the floor.
Notre Dame has won three of the last four meetings between these two (SU and ATS), including two straight at home in 2007 and 2008. The road team is on a 10-3 ATS roll, with Syracuse going 5-2 ATS in its last seven trips to South Bend. Also, the underdog is 9-4 ATS in those 13 meetings.
The Orangemen are on ATS runs of 21-6 overall, 11-2 in Big East play, 5-0 on the road, 16-5 after a straight-up win and 5-0 on the road against teams with winning home records. Notre Dame is on ATS surges of 4-1-1 overall, 4-1 at home, 4-0-1 after a straight-up loss and 3-1-1 against Big East teams, but it is just 1-7-1 ATS in its last nine on Monday.
Syracuse has topped the total in 10 of 13 games after a spread-cover, seven of 10 conference games and 19 of 26 after a straight-up win. The Irish have gone over the posted price in five of six at home and seven of nine overall, but they’re also on “under” runs of 8-3 in Big East action, 8-2 following a spread-cover and 12-2 at home against teams with winning road records. In this rivalry, the “over” has hit in five straight contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SYRACUSE
(1) Texas (17-0, 7-6 ATS) at (13) Kansas State (15-2, 8-3-1 ATS)
After narrowly preserving their perfect season Saturday, the Longhorns will try to extend their season-long winning streak when they visit Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., to take on Big 12 rival Kansas State.
Texas needed overtime Saturday to edge Texas A&M 72-67, coming nowhere near covering as a 14½-point home favorite. Damion James had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Longhorns, but no other starter managed more than five points or three rebounds. Texas has failed to cover in four consecutive games, including trips to Arkansas on Jan. 5 (winning 96-85 as 14-point favorites) and at Iowa State on Wednesday (90-83 as eight-point favorites).
Kansas State went to Colorado on Saturday and prevailed 87-81 but pushed as a six-point favorite. In their last home contest, the Wildcats blew out Texas A&M 88-65, easily cashing as nine-point favorites to improve to 10-0 at Bramlage Coliseum this season. K-State puts up 83.9 ppg at home and limits the opposition to 61.3 points a game and 37 percent shooting.
The road team has won four straight in this rivalry, but Texas scored a 61-58 win in the Big 12 Conference tournament last March, pushing as a three-point favorite. Kansas State won the regular-season matchup last season, scoring an 85-81 road win in overtime, cashing as a 10½-point underdog. The Wildcats have cashed in seven of the last nine meetings, and the underdog is on an 8-0-1 ATS run in those nine contests.
The Longhorns are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 Monday contests, but otherwise they are on pointspread slides of 0-4 overall, 2-8-1 on the road, 6-20-2 in Big 12 action and 1-8-1 on the road against teams with a winning home record. Kansas State is on ATS surges of 7-1-1 overall, 4-0 at home and 5-1-1 after a straight-up win, but the Wildcats have failed to cover in five straight Monday outings and are 6-18-3 ATS in their last 27 conference games.
Texas has stayed below the total in 11 of 15 on Monday, but it has gone “over” the total in four straight on the road, five of seven overall and 15 of 21 after a straight-up win. Kansas State is on “over” runs of 8-3 overall, 8-3 at home and 4-0 at home against teams with winning road records. Conversely, the “under” is 3-0-1 in the last four series meetings played in Manhattan.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Canisius Golden Griffins vs. Fairfield Stags
The Canisius Golden Griffins and the Fairfield Stags will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Arena at Harbor Yards.
Team records:
Canisius: 9-9 SU, 10-6 ATS
Fairfield: 12-5 SU, 4-7 ATS
Canisius most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Rider are 2-8
After playing Manhattan are 2-8
After a win are 4-6
Fairfield most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Marist are 3-7
After playing Siena are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Canisius is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Canisius is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Canisius's last 5 games when playing Fairfield
Canisius is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Fairfield is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
Fairfield is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Canisius
Fairfield is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Canisius
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Fairfield's last 5 games when playing Canisius
Next up:
Canisius home to Rider, Friday, January 22
Fairfield at Marist, Thursday, January 21
Manhattan Jaspers vs. Siena Saints
The Manhattan Jaspers and the Siena Saints will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at Times Union Center.
Current streak:
Manhattan has lost 2 straight games.
Siena has won 8 straight games.
Team records:
Manhattan: 7-10 SU, 6-7 ATS
Siena: 14-4 SU, 10-6 ATS
Manhattan most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Iona are 6-4
After playing Canisius are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6
Siena most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Loyola are 6-4
After playing Fairfield are 9-1
After a win are 8-2
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Manhattan's last 5 games when playing Siena
Manhattan is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Siena
Manhattan is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Manhattan is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Siena is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Siena is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Siena is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Manhattan
Siena is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Manhattan
Next up:
Manhattan home to Iona, Friday, January 22
Siena home to Loyola, Thursday, January 21
UNC Wilmington Seahawks vs. Virginia Cavaliers
The UNC Wilmington Seahawks and the Virginia Cavaliers will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at John Paul Jones Arena.
Virginia continued its surprising play with a one-sided 75-57 win over Miami at John Paul Jones Arena Saturday.
Virginia covered as a 2.5-point home favorite while the final score PUSHED with the 132-point total.
Current streak:
UNC Wilmington has lost 3 straight games.
Virginia has won 7 straight games.
Team records:
UNC Wilmington: 6-11 SU, 7-8 ATS
Virginia: 11-4 SU, 7-3 ATS
UNC Wilmington most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Georgia State are 7-2
After playing Northeastern are 4-1
After a loss are 4-6
Virginia most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Wake Forest are 4-6
After playing Miami are 3-4
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of UNC Wilmington's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of UNC Wilmington's last 5 games on the road
UNC Wilmington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
UNC Wilmington is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Virginia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
UNC Wilmington at Georgia State, Wednesday, January 20
Virginia at Wake Forest, Saturday, January 23
Syracuse Orange vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Syracuse Orange and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Joyce Center.
Syracuse held off West Virginia for a thrilling 72-71 victory on Saturday, as 5-point underdogs. That game's 143 points went UNDER the posted total of 145.
Brandon Triche shot 6-for-8 from the field with 16 points and six assists in leading the way.
Notre Dame was defeated 60-58 by Cincinnati on Saturday, as 5-point underdogs. The teams played UNDER the posted total of 145.5.
Tim Abromaitis had 16 points from 5-for-10 shooting in that loss.
Current streak:
Syracuse has won 4 straight games.
Team records:
Syracuse: 17-1 SU, 10-3 ATS
Notre Dame: 14-4 SU, 7-4-1 ATS
Syracuse most recently:
When playing on Monday are 7-3
Before playing Marquette are 2-1
After playing West Virginia are 4-6
After a win are 9-1
Notre Dame most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing DePaul are 6-4
After playing Cincinnati are 2-2
After a loss are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Syracuse is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 17-1 SU in its last 18 games
Syracuse is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Notre Dame is 18-1 SU in its last 19 games at home
Notre Dame is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games
Notre Dame is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Syracuse
Notre Dame is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Syracuse
Next up:
Syracuse home to Marquette, Saturday, January 23
Notre Dame home to DePaul, Saturday, January 23
Towson Tigers vs. Saint Joseph's Hawks
The Towson Tigers and the Saint Joseph's Hawks will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Hagen Arena.
Current streak:
Saint Joseph's has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Towson: 4-12 SU, 6-6 ATS
Saint Joseph's: 5-11 SU, 4-9-1 ATS
Towson most recently:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing Northeastern are 5-5
After playing Delaware are 1-9
After a win are 2-8
Saint Joseph's most recently:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Dayton are 8-2
After playing St. Bonaventure are 6-4
After a loss are 2-8
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Towson State's last 7 games
Towson State is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Towson State is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Saint Joseph's is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saint Joseph's last 6 games
Saint Joseph's is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Saint Joseph's is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games
Next up:
Towson State home to Northeastern, Wednesday, January 20
Saint Joseph's home to Dayton, Saturday, January 23
Rider Broncs vs. Iona Gaels
The fans at Hynes Athletics Center will be treated to a game between the Rider Broncs and the Iona Gaels when they take their seats on Monday.
Current streak:
Iona has won 3 straight games.
Team records:
Rider: 10-9 SU, 6-9 ATS
Iona: 12-6 SU, 6-6 ATS
Rider most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Canisius are 5-5
After playing Saint Peter's are 3-7
After a loss are 7-3
Iona most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Manhattan are 3-7
After playing Niagara are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
Rider is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Iona
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Rider's last 5 games when playing Iona
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Rider's last 6 games
Rider is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iona's last 5 games
Iona is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iona's last 5 games when playing Rider
Iona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Rider
Next up:
Rider at Canisius, Friday, January 22
Iona at Manhattan, Friday, January 22
Niagara Purple Eagles vs. Marist Red Foxes
The Niagara Purple Eagles and the Marist Red Foxes will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at McCann Field House.
Current streak:
Niagara has lost 3 straight games.
Marist has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Niagara: 10-9 SU, 7-10-1 ATS
Marist: 1-16 SU, 5-4 ATS
Niagara most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Saint Peter's are 5-5
After playing Iona are 10-0
After a loss are 7-3
Marist most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Fairfield are 5-5
After playing Loyola are 6-4
After a loss are 1-9
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Niagara's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Niagara's last 6 games when playing Marist
Niagara is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Niagara is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Marist's last 6 games
Marist is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Niagara
Marist is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Niagara
Marist is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Niagara
Next up:
Niagara home to Saint Peter's, Friday, January 22
Marist home to Fairfield, Thursday, January 21
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
The fans at Murphy Center will be treated to a game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders when they take their seats on Monday.
Current streak:
Western Kentucky has won 2 straight games.
Middle Tennessee has lost 2 straight games.
Team records:
Western Kentucky: 11-5 SU, 6-9-1 ATS
Middle Tennessee: 8-10 SU, 4-7 ATS
Western Kentucky most recently:
When playing on Monday are 10-0
Before playing Troy are 4-3
After playing Florida International are 10-0
After a win are 6-4
Middle Tennessee most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Louisiana-Monroe are 3-2
After playing Florida Atlantic are 6-1
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Western Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Middle Tennessee
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Western Kentucky's last 5 games when playing Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Western Kentucky is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Middle Tennessee
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Middle Tennessee's last 5 games when playing Western Kentucky
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Middle Tennessee's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Middle Tennessee's last 5 games when playing at home against Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games at home
Next up:
Western Kentucky at Troy, Thursday, January 21
Middle Tennessee at Louisiana-Monroe, Thursday, January 21
Texas Longhorns vs. Kansas State Wildcats
The Texas Longhorns and the Kansas State Wildcats will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Bramlage Coliseum.
Damion James scored 26 points on Saturday as Texas pulled out a 72-67 overtime win over Texas A&M.
The Longhorns failed to cover the 14.5-point spread in that contest, while the combined score fell UNDER the night's posted total (152.5).
Kansas State clawed their way to a tough 87-81 victory over Colorado on Saturday. Kansas State failed to cover the 6-point spread, while the 168 points made it OVER the posted total of 154.
Jacob Pullen had 18 points and six rebounds for Kansas State, while Denis Clemente added 15 in the win.
Current streak:
Texas has won 17 straight games.
Kansas State has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Texas: 17-0 SU, 8-5 ATS
Kansas State: 15-2 SU, 9-3 ATS
Texas most recently:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Connecticut are 2-1
After playing Texas A&M are 8-2
After a win are 10-0
Kansas State most recently:
When playing on Monday are 9-1
Before playing Oklahoma State are 5-5
After playing Colorado are 3-7
After a win are 9-1
A few trends to consider:
Texas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Texas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas State
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Kansas State
Kansas State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Kansas State is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas State's last 5 games when playing at home against Texas
Kansas State is 7-1-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Texas
Next up:
Texas at Connecticut, Saturday, January 23
Kansas State home to Oklahoma State, Saturday, January 23
This Monday is Really BIG
By Doug Upstone
The Texas Longhorns were voted No.1 in the rankings for the first time last week and found out how thorny that crown can be, holding on to win at Iowa State and being pushed to overtime at home by Texas A&M before surviving this past week. The next test could be the toughest, at No.13 Kansas State. Syracuse pulled the upset at West Virginia and faces a hungry Notre Dame team that always plays better at home and off a heart-breaking loss.
Syracuse at Notre Dame
Both the Orangemen and the Fighting Irish were engaged in close hard fought battles Saturday, the former emerged victorious, while the latter was beaten in the final seconds.
Syracuse held on at West Virginia 72-71, nearly blowing a 10-point lead in the final 80 seconds. That moved the Orangemen to 17-1 (11-3 ATS) on the year, as they continue to be one of the best shooting teams in the country at 53.4 percent, with the ability to score inside with Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku or the perimeter with a number of sharp-shooters from deep hitting 39.2 percent beyond the arc. This years Orangemen are much better defensively than the previous couple of years and they are 8-1 ATS after three straight games allowing a shooting percentage of 40 percent or less.
Notre Dame (14-4, 7-4-1 ATS) had a nip and tuck affair with Cincinnati, succumbing late 60-58. It was rare off-game for Luke Harangody, making just 5 or 20 shot attempts. Harangody admitted he missed shots he usually doesnt, however did take more off-balance shots than he normally does. The Big East usually doesnt leave much room for error, as coach Mike Brey explained.
I told our guys, in this league when you have a game on Monday, you cant dwell on it, Brey said after the loss. We have to get back to South Bend and get our legs under us. The Irish are 20-35 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival.
Syracuse is going off as four-point favorite and are 6-0 ATS as visitors playing against a team with a winning record this season. The total is 157.5 and the Orangemen are 9-1 OVER after a win by six points or less over the last three seasons. Notre Dame is 6-0 UNDER at home off a Big East loss since last season and 6-17 ATS in South Bend when the total is 150 to 159.5.
The Fighting Irish are 3-7 and 4-6 ATS the last 10 times the Cuse has come calling.
Texas at Kansas State
The Longhorns have played a number of very good clubs this season and has played at an extremely high level except for a couple blips here and there. This road encounter is against one of the best teams in the Big 12 who would savor the opportunity to take down one of the nations No. 1 team. One edge Texas (17-0, 8-5 ATS) has is in the frontcourt with Damion James, Dexter Pittman and Gary Johnson. Though Kansas State has solid players on the baseline, they don�t matchup well in this department. That said the atmosphere will be electric at Bramlage Coliseum, which could offset the Longhorns talent edge with the emotion of the building. Coach Rick Barnes team has been an awful team in Big 12 play with 5-16 ATS record the last two years.
The Wildcats (15-2, 9-3 ATS) will depend on their puissant backcourt of Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente. With all the talent Texas has at the guard position, they dont have two individuals that complement one another as well as this duo. Pullen can drain the three-ball and Clemente has superior court presence. Kansas State has to play their game to upset Texas and that means being disruptive on defense, where they average nearly 20 points per game off turnovers.
We understand were getting ready to walk into a buzz saw, coach Frank Martin said about facing Texas. Thats why those kids signed up and came to play for us. Those are the kinds of games they wanted to be in. The Wildcats are 8-1 ATS at home having won four of their last four games over the last three seasons.
BetUS.com has this important matchup as a Pick, with total of 162. Texas is off to their best start since 1932 and is just 1-11 ATS off a win against a conference foe and is 14-5 UNDER after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games. K-State is 7-1 ATS playing against a team with a winning record this season and is 13-4 OVER after playing two consecutive games as favorite.
These Big 12 squads have split last six meetings in Manhattan SU and against the number.