Breaking Down Big Monday
By Judd Hall
This week’s edition of Big Monday brings us two of the nation’s best teams. It also gives us a pair of programs that we’re used to seeing being up in the rankings, but are having a fairly lean year. Let’s take a quick look at both battles on the hardwood.
West Virginia at Connecticut – 7:00 p.m. EST
West Virginia (21-5 straight up, 10-15 against the spread) might be in the Top 10 as of this writing, but a pair of losses to ranked teams like the Wildcats and Panthers shows they may not be ready for the big time.
The Mountaineers did fire right back with consecutive wins on the road against Providence and at home versus Seton Hall. Bettors taking Bob Huggins’ club in the last two tests have walked away with ripped up tickets. Nobody should be surprised by that since they are only 3-8 in their last 11 games.
Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones both led West Virginia with 16 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds. Jones is averaging 13.7 points per game, while Ebanks has scored 12.1 PPG this season.
Connecticut (16-11 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) hasn’t had the season that they thought they would have at this point. They could pin some of the blame on losing Jim Calhoun on the bench for a little bit. That would make sense as the Huskies are 2-1 SU and ATS since he returned from his medical leave on Feb. 11.
The Huskies had their hands full in the first-half in Piscataway against Rutgers with just a 31-28 halftime lead. Bettors were able to come back strong on UConn for a second-half play as a 3 ½-point favorite for the final period. And Calhoun’s club helped out by outscoring the Scarlet Knights 45-30 in the second-half to win 76-58.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened this game as a pick ‘em.
West Virginia has fared well in true road affairs at 6-3 SU, but 4-5 ATS for our concerns. The ‘over’ is a solid 6-3 in those contests.
The home court has been an advantage for UConn as they’re 13-3 SU in Storrs this season. Gamblers haven’t thought much of the Huskies at home this year with a 5-9 ATS mark. The ‘over’ is only 7-6 as well.
If recent history will repeat itself, then the ‘Neers are the play. The road team has won and covered the last two meetings between these clubs. The ‘over’ has been a safe play to make as it’s 5-2 in the past seven head-to-head matchups.
Oklahoma at Kansas – 9:00 p.m. EST
I think we all knew that Oklahoma (13-13 SU, 9-14 ATS) would have a rough first year without Blake Griffin. Yet, this was not as bad as we thought the Sooners would have it. Oklahoma has dropped four straight games both SU and ATS.
The expectation for the Sooners was that Willie Warren would help make a difference after coming back from mononucleosis. He did score 18 points coming off of the bench in OU’s 77-67 setback last Wednesday. Warren never made the floor on Saturday against Kansas State in an 83-68 beating. Although, I’m not sure he would have done a damn bit of good considering they shot 43 percent from the field after winning the rebounding battle (33-26). Even worse is that they had 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
Kansas (26-1 SU, 10-13 ATS) hasn’t looked back after its 76-68 loss on the road to the Volunteers on Jan. 10. Since that defeat, the Jayhawks have won 12 straight games. The bettors that have backed them since that setback have gotten used to eating Top Ramen as they’re 4-7-1 ATS.
LVSC is expecting a blowout as they’ve listed Kansas as a heavy 21 ½-point home “chalk.”
Even though OU has been pretty good over the past few years, KU has been the better team when they’ve faced off. The Jayhawks are on a 5-0 SU run, covering in the last three games. In fact, the home team is 7-3 SU and ATS over since the 2001-2002 campaign.
Oklahoma is only 1-9 SU and 2-7 ATS when playing in true road tests this season.
Kansas has gone a pristine 16-0 SU in Lawrence this season. Yet they’re just 6-7 ATS in those games at home that were on the board. The ‘over’ is 7-5 as far as totals players are concerned.
vegasinsider.com
Ranked teams to follow on Big Monday
Doug Upstone
West Virginia and Kansas are both highly ranked teams as they have been all year and both will be in action Monday night looking to hang on to their lofty status. Because their seems to be no great teams in college basketball, there are a number of very good clubs that can still improve and each will be looking to do just that with the NCAA bids coming out in less than three weeks. Sports bettors can review what kind of progress each is making.
West Virginia at Connecticut
Coaches in all sports will often talk about moving on to the next game, not dwelling too long on a win or loss. However, anyone who has ever spoken to a coach of any kind will know these fellows have long memories and think about the what if possibilities all the time. Coach Bob Huggins team is only one game behind second place Villanova in the loss column starting tonight and could do 30 minutes reciting all the ways the Mountaineers (21-5, 11-14 ATS) could have avoided two point loss to Notre Dame, one point loss to Syracuse and double overtime defeat to rival Pittsburgh, which really would have placed them in the thick of Big East race. But Huggins like most coaches will revert to task at hand at Connecticut and West Virginia is 6-3 and 4-5 ATS on the road.
It still looks like an outside shot, yet Connecticut (10-14-1 ATS) has renewed hope for NCAA berth with a victory. The Huskies have two imposing road wins over Rutgers and Villanova and four more victories takes them to 20-11 and a semi-final appearance in the Big East tournament would place them in excellent position. UConn is 6-1 ATS off a SU win and guard Kemba Walker has ignited this club and former starter Alex Oriakhi has been a spark off the bench. The return of Jim Calhoun has helped also, for Huskies team that is 13-3 at home (5-9 ATS).
Betonline.com opened West Virginia as one-point favorite with total of 135. The Mountaineers have won and covered four of previous six games, nonetheless is 3-6 ATS on the year after covering the spread and is 8-3-1 OVER away from Morgantown. Connecticut has covered the spread the last four times they have taken on clubs that win better than 60 percent of road games and are 4-0 OVER to start a new work week.
The Huskies have been howling with a 6-2 ATS mark vs. the Teers.
Oklahoma at Kansas
Kansas (26-1, 10-13-1 ATS) is trying to sweep the Big 12 this year with its talented club and has three remaining games that will put them to the test, however that doesnt begin until Feb.27, as they figure to have little resistance against Oklahoma (13-13, 9-14 ATS). The Jayhawks may not always play their best, but master recruiter and motivator Bill Self always finds a reason for the team or individual players to test themselves to perform at a higher level. The high flying Jayhawks are 19-5 ATS when they score 81 or more points in a game over the last two years.
To say it has been an eventful campaign in Norman, is like saying the Mid-Atlantic States have seen a little snow the last few weeks. Losing streaks, selfish play, underachieving players, suspensions, you name it, coach Jeff Caple has been going up and the emotional elevator all season. If there has been a bright spot on dismal year, it has been the late maturation and emergence of freshman guard Tommy Mason-Griffin. Opposing teams have picked up on Mason-Griffin is a deadly three-point shooter and been forced to account for him, opening up areas in the lane for the Sooners to have easier shoots. Oklahoma will need him and others since they are 13-25 ATS as an underdog the last few years.
Kansas has covered the spread just once on last seven tries, though could have on at least two other occasions, opening up big leads against large numbers and coasting to victory. The Jayhawks are 21.5-point favorites with total of 149 and are 16-5 ATS in last 21 Monday assignments. It will be intriguing to see what kind of fight Oklahoma actually has as the basketball program, since they have mirrored their football brethren from this past season and are 15-36-3 ATS on the road.
Kansas has swept six straight over the Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse with .500 spread record and own the nations longest home winning streak at 57 games and the UNDER is 6-2 in Lawrence for Boomer Sooners last eight visits.
NCAAB News and Notes
Information on Monday's college basketball games........
Huge game for UConn as far as NCAAs go; Huskies scored 80 ppg in winning last two games, but they're 2-3 in last five at home. Teams split last four series games, but Mountaineers lost last two visits here, by 30-8 points. Big East home underdogs of 5 or less points are 5-9 vs spread. West Virginia lost two of last three games, but is 5-2 on Big East road.
Injury-riddled Oklahoma had fire in team hotel Sunday night; they're 2-7 in last nine games, losing last four by 1-21-10-15 points. Sooners are 1-5 as Big 12 road underdog, losing away games by 31-3-10-17-21-10 pts. Kansas is 2-4 as home favorite, winning home games by 26-6-19-11-14-20 pts. Big 12 home favorites of more than 13 points are 3-9 vs spread.
Chattanooga lost last five games, by 12-8-24-9-6 points; they're 3-4 at home, 2-1 as home underdog, losing home games by 19-24-24-9 points. Davidson won six of last eight games, is 4-3 on SoCon road, 1-2 as road favorite, winning away games by 11-5-4-3 points. SoCon home dogs of 5 or less points are 6-7-1 against the pointspread.
Appalachian State won last five games, covered last six; this is their 3rd game in last five days, against Elon team they drilled 89-65 (-11) back on Jan 13 (was 37-34 at half). Underdogs are 7-1 vs spread in ASU's away games- State is 1-3 as SoCon road favorite. Elon is 9-2 vs spread in last 11 games; they're 7-5 as SoCon underdog, 2-2 as a home underdog.
Georgia Southern lost five of last six games but covered nine of last 12; Eagles are 4-3 as SoCon road underdog, losing away games by 9-25-14-24-15-10-29 points. Samford lost six of last seven home games, is 1-5 as home favorite, with only home wins by 24-6 points. Double digit home favorites are 5-13 vs spread in SoCon games this season.
Breaking Down Big Monday
By Judd HallThis week’s edition of Big Monday brings us two of the nation’s best teams. It also gives us a pair of programs that we’re used to seeing being up in the rankings, but are having a fairly lean year. Let’s take a quick look at both battles on the hardwood.
West Virginia at Connecticut – 7:00 p.m. EST
West Virginia (21-5 straight up, 10-15 against the spread) might be in the Top 10 as of this writing, but a pair of losses to ranked teams like the Wildcats and Panthers shows they may not be ready for the big time.
The Mountaineers did fire right back with consecutive wins on the road against Providence and at home versus Seton Hall. Bettors taking Bob Huggins’ club in the last two tests have walked away with ripped up tickets. Nobody should be surprised by that since they are only 3-8 in their last 11 games.
Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones both led West Virginia with 16 points apiece and combined for 15 rebounds. Jones is averaging 13.7 points per game, while Ebanks has scored 12.1 PPG this season.
Connecticut (16-11 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) hasn’t had the season that they thought they would have at this point. They could pin some of the blame on losing Jim Calhoun on the bench for a little bit. That would make sense as the Huskies are 2-1 SU and ATS since he returned from his medical leave on Feb. 11.
The Huskies had their hands full in the first-half in Piscataway against Rutgers with just a 31-28 halftime lead. Bettors were able to come back strong on UConn for a second-half play as a 3 ½-point favorite for the final period. And Calhoun’s club helped out by outscoring the Scarlet Knights 45-30 in the second-half to win 76-58.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened this game as a pick ‘em.
West Virginia has fared well in true road affairs at 6-3 SU, but 4-5 ATS for our concerns. The ‘over’ is a solid 6-3 in those contests.
The home court has been an advantage for UConn as they’re 13-3 SU in Storrs this season. Gamblers haven’t thought much of the Huskies at home this year with a 5-9 ATS mark. The ‘over’ is only 7-6 as well.
If recent history will repeat itself, then the ‘Neers are the play. The road team has won and covered the last two meetings between these clubs. The ‘over’ has been a safe play to make as it’s 5-2 in the past seven head-to-head matchups.
Oklahoma at Kansas – 9:00 p.m. EST
I think we all knew that Oklahoma (13-13 SU, 9-14 ATS) would have a rough first year without Blake Griffin. Yet, this was not as bad as we thought the Sooners would have it. Oklahoma has dropped four straight games both SU and ATS.
The expectation for the Sooners was that Willie Warren would help make a difference after coming back from mononucleosis. He did score 18 points coming off of the bench in OU’s 77-67 setback last Wednesday. Warren never made the floor on Saturday against Kansas State in an 83-68 beating. Although, I’m not sure he would have done a damn bit of good considering they shot 43 percent from the field after winning the rebounding battle (33-26). Even worse is that they had 14-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
Kansas (26-1 SU, 10-13 ATS) hasn’t looked back after its 76-68 loss on the road to the Volunteers on Jan. 10. Since that defeat, the Jayhawks have won 12 straight games. The bettors that have backed them since that setback have gotten used to eating Top Ramen as they’re 4-7-1 ATS.
LVSC is expecting a blowout as they’ve listed Kansas as a heavy 21 ½-point home “chalk.”
Even though OU has been pretty good over the past few years, KU has been the better team when they’ve faced off. The Jayhawks are on a 5-0 SU run, covering in the last three games. In fact, the home team is 7-3 SU and ATS over since the 2001-2002 campaign.
Oklahoma is only 1-9 SU and 2-7 ATS when playing in true road tests this season.
Kansas has gone a pristine 16-0 SU in Lawrence this season. Yet they’re just 6-7 ATS in those games at home that were on the board. The ‘over’ is 7-5 as far as totals players are concerned.
vegasinsider.com
hi Blade iam new with all the online betting,, do you have any suggestion about the SB,, i mean is which book are you recomended? thanks
I like both of these books and play at both, wide variety of bets and you will find different numbers at both books rather than plain vanilla lines, both have a nice signup offer at this time which always helps.
WVU, UConn hook up
By SBGGlobal.com
Bet West Virginia at Connecticut
Connecticut is still on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in, but there is still some hope as the Huskies have won two straight college basketball betting games, beating #3 Villanova last Monday and winning 76-58 against Rutgers on Saturday. There are four games left for the Huskies and they may need to win them all to make the tournament. A win on Monday against West Virginia would be a major step.
West Virginia is 3 point favorite at SBG Global with total of 134 ½.
The Huskies are 6-8 in the Big East standings and it may take a winning conference record to get into the NCAA tournament. "Two road wins, that's big for us," Kemba Walker said. "We're desperate, to be real with you. We have to win. We just want to win. At this point, we've got to win." Jerome Dyson led the Huskies with 20 points. Walker had 16 points while Gavin Edwards and Stanley Robinson each had 11 points.
Connecticut has won two straight for the first time since late January. "That's a very good win for us," head coach Jim Calhoun said. "Obviously, any win is a good win for us. But to get back after not being able to win a road game, and then to come back and win back-to-back games, we couldn't be happier."
The Huskies will have to handle a West Virginia team that is ranked in the Top 10. They beat Seton Hall 75-63 on Saturday but nearly blew a 19-point lead. West Virginia is now 10-4 in the Big East but head coach Bob Huggins was not happy the team nearly gave the game away. "It just continues to rear its ugly head," Huggins said.
West Virginia is 5-7 against the spread on the road this college basketball betting season while the Huskies are just 5-9 ATS at home. The Mountaineers are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings against Connecticut. The Huskies have won eight of the last ten outright against the Mountaineers. Last year the Huskies won 61-55 at West Virginia.
Four of the last five West Virginia games have gone 'over' the total. Eight of their last eleven road games have gone 'over.' Four of the last five Connecticut games have gone 'under.' In this series, four of the last five have gone 'over' the total.