What Bettors Need To Know: Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
By Nick Parsons
Feeling a bit sad and depressed with no Monday NFL action? Yes we all are.
Thankfully the Big East saves us with a tough college basketball showdown when Pittsburgh visits Cincinnati on ESPN.
Pitt comes into the game with only two losses at 12-2 and is 5-5-2 against the spread, while the Bearcats are 10-3 SU, 4-5 ATS and are undefeated at home. Both are coming off recent quality wins over ranked teams. Pitt handed Syracuse its first loss and Cincinnati beat UConn 71-69 in late December.
Filling the Void
The Panthers came within one win of reaching the Final Four last year and most predicted a significant drop because of the losses of DeJuan Blair, Sam Young and Levance Fields.
While the trio is gone, Pitt has maintained its tough-it-out mentality that has served the team so well over the years.
“The game was decided with physical play," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after the loss to the Panthers. "We weren't as physical as we had to be. And Pitt is a tremendous defensive team."
Several underclassmen are also helping out with the transition period for Pitt, most notably sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs. He leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg) and is a lights out shooter. He nailed 37 straight at the charity strip, good for a school record.
Brooklyn Story
Cincinnati finished 8-10 in conference play last season and hasn’t been to an NCAA Tournament since 2005, but appears to be back, thanks in part to super frosh Lance Stephenson. The Brooklyn product has been on everyone's radar since he was 12 years old and he hasn’t disappointed.
He notched 21 points in a coming out party against the Huskies. Two of those points came at the line with 0.7 seconds left for the 71-69 win. It was the playground legend's first taste of Big East basketball and he came through in the clutch.
“He’d like to bite your head off if he could,” Rutgers junior Jonathan Mitchell said of Stephenson after guarding him in the following game. “That’s just the mentality he has, coming from where he came from. He’s just one tough kid.”
Keys to the game
The sour taste left after the Panthers fell to a rebuilding Indiana team seems to have disappears thanks to the recent five-game win streak. The Panthers play UConn following Monday’s match against Cincy, so Pitt backers might worry about a look-ahead spot.
Senior guard Jermaine Dixon will likely get the assignment of slowing down Cincy’s Stephenson. Dixon worked over Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson last week.
“He wouldn’t let me breathe at all today,” the pro prospect, who finished with 19 points, told reporters of Dixon after the game. “He was right in my jersey."
Assuming Dixon is able to minimize Stephenson, Pitt's biggest worry will be limiting Yancy Gates. The sophomore forward is averaging 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and he could present matchup problems for Pitt's inexperienced front court.
Trends
The Bearcats have been one of the best under teams this season going 2-6 on totals. The two games that did go over were close games against tough teams, Xavier and UCONN.
Pitt is 5-5-2 ATS for the season but is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six games.
NCAAB News and Notes
Monday, January 4
Information on the best of Monday's college hoop games........
Pitt shot 67% from floor in 85-69 win vs Cincinnati LY; Panthers won at Syracuse Saturday- their 5th win in row and 8th in last nine games-- that was their first true road game this season. Cincinnati is also 2-0 in Big East; they're 2-2-1 vs spread as underdog. Home favorites are 4-5 vs spread in Big East games this season.
Utah State swept Louisiana Tech 50-37/60-52LY, holding Tech under 39% in both games; Aggies are 2-4 on road, losing at New Mexico State by 3 in WAC opener- their other road losses are by 1-3-13 points. WAC underdogs are 3-1 vs spread in league play. Bulldogs won last six games, with wins over Murray State, at Houston, Nevada.
Mississippi State won at Houston/San Diego in only true road games; they've won eight games in row overall, are 5-2-1 vs spread as favorite. Western Kentucky is 1-2 vs SEC teams, beating Vandy, losing at LSU by 11, at South Carolina by 18. SEC road favorites are 10-10 vs spread in non-league games; Sun Belt home dogs are 2-10.
Home side won both UCSB-Riverside games LY; Gauchos lost here by a hoop, won at home by 13. UCSB lost six of last seven games; they lost Big West opener by hoop at Irvine, their 4th road loss in row, losing by 12-27-21-2 points. UCR snapped 4-game skid by ralling from down 7 at half to beat Long Beach State in OT Saturday.
Cal-Irvine beat Cal Poly twice LY, 64-57/80-63; Anteaters are 3-1-1 vs spread as favorite this year, but just 2-3 SU in last five games. Cal Poly is playing Big West opener; they lost last three games by 48-4-7 points; they're 1-7 on road, 3-3 as road dog, losing away games by 11-18-9-25-9-48-7 points. Underdogs covered first three Big West conference tilts.
Harvard won last four games vs D-I opponents, covered last five lined games; they're 5-2 on road, 3-1 vs spread as a fave. Ivy League favorites are 9-2 vs spread in non-league games, 4-0 on road; WCC underdogs are 24-29 vs soread, 8-7 at home. Santa Clara is 2-3 SU in last five games-- they're 4-4 against the spread as an underdog this year.
Road team won both Nevada-New Mexico State games LY; Wolf Pack won here in OT, lost by hoop at home. Nevada is 0-5 on road, losing by 13-9-7-3-6 points- their loss at La Tech Saturday was just second in last seven games. Aggies won last five games, upsetting Utah State by three in WAC opener. Underdogs covered three of first four WAC games.
Fairfield lost to Niagara twice LY, 75-50 here, 83-76 at home; Stags are 3-0 in MAAC, winning by 9-13-6 points, allowing just 53.7 ppg- they are 3-1 vs spread as an underdog. Niagara is 2-1 after Iona upset them in last game; Eagles are 3-9 vs spread as a favorite. MAAC home favorites are 3-8 against the spread in conference play.
Siena snuck by 3-10 Mt St Mary's in OT Saturday; Saints are 3-0 in its MAAC games, winning by 13-22-11 points- they're 2-4 on road, losing at Temple-St John's-Ga Tech-No Iowa. Saints swept Loyola LY, 75-68/ 73-60. Greyhounds is 1-2 in MAAC, beating Rider by hoop Saturday in game they led by 17 at half. MAAC home underdogs are 1-2 vs spread.
Iona is 4-1 on road after upsetting Niagara Saturday; Gaels beat Canisius twice LY, 69-58 at home, 78-77 (2ot) here. Iona won five of its last six games, with only loss to UConn. Canisius lost six of its last nine games; they're 1-2 in MAAC, with all three games at home, losing by 14-6 pts. Griffins are 2-3 against the spread as a favorite.
Marist got its first win in 12 games when they upset Manhattan in last game; Red Foxes are 3-0 vs spread as MAAC underdog, losing by 9-4 points to Fairfield/Rider. Home team won both Marist-St Peter's games LY, with Foxes winning 60-54 at home, losing 72-62 here. Peacocks are 1-2 in MAAC, with visiting team covering all three games.
Home side won both Manhattan-Rider games LY, with Broncs winning 76-73 at home, losing 73-68 here; Rider is 1-2 in MAAC,losing by 22 at Siena, 2 at Loyola, after beating Marist at home by 4. Manhattan lost to 0-11 Marist Saturday; this is its first home game in 38 days. Jaspers lost five of their last seven games overall.
North Carolina is 1-3 away from home, beating Ohio State by 4, losing at Kentucky/Texas and to Syracuse in NYC. ACC road faves are 20-14 vs spread out of conference. Charleston is 7-6, 4-6 outside SoCon, losing by 17 at Tennessee, 39 at Clemson in games vs big-name teams. SoCon underdogs are 27-34 vs spread in non-league games, 6-4 at home.