Sunday's Best NCAAB Bet
Maryland Terrapins at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+3, 139.5)
Terrapins forward Jordan Williams has been destroying the opposition this year, averaging 17.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game with his massive, 6-foot-10, 260-pound frame. He has been a force down low all season for Maryland, owning the paint by stringing together 13 straight games with a double-double.
However, that string was surprisingly snapped in a recent blowout of Virginia. Despite logging 32 minutes in the victory, he finished with a mere four points and six rebounds as he picked up a pair of fouls and committed two turnovers. The reason? He was harassed all night by Cavaliers 7-foot center Assane Sene.
The Yellow Jackets can offer a similar matchup problem for Williams with 6-foot-11, 258-pound center Brian Miller. His 4.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game won’t scare anyone. But his 1.9 blocks a game and massive size is enough to help neutralize the Terrapins’ only inside presence. In two games against Georgia Tech last year, Williams averaged just eight points and nine rebounds, including one foul out.
If Williams Struggles, only guard Cliff Tucker, the team’s sixth man, averages double figures at 11.7 points per game. Maryland is also a bad 3-point shooting team. The Terrapins are 167th nationally from beyond the arc, making a mere 34.4 percent of their attempts.
"In ACC play, teams aren't going to let Jordan win games by himself," said Tucker.
But who else will consistently help him?
Pick: Georgia Tech
Blue Devils, Red Storm meet at MSG
By: Willie Bee
Steve Lavin and the St. John's Red Storm asked for it. An amazingly tough 10-game stretch comes to an end at Madison Square Garden this Sunday when Lavin's lads take up arms – and legs and brains – with Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils.
Tip should come a few minutes after 10 a.m. (PT) with CBS providing the broadcast.
St. John's (11-8 straight up, 6-11 against the spread) opened Big East play with a couple of tough, well-played road wins at West Virginia and Providence. When the Red Storm followed up on that with an upset versus then-No. 13 Georgetown, 61-58 as two-point pups, they had everyone's attention.
Since then, things have fizzled to put it nicely. St. John's enters this one 1-5 both SU and ATS in its six matchups following the win over the Hoyas at the start of January, and Lavin's inauguration into the Big East continues.
Georgetown exacted revenge for the Jan. 3 loss when the Hoyas took it to the Red Storm this past Wednesday at Verizon Center in DC, 77-52. Favored by 7½, Georgetown continued its surge with a third-straight win both straight up and against the spread while dumping St. John's to its third consecutive loss on the floor and at the window.
Duke (19-1 SU, 10-9 ATS) is coming off its fourth consecutive win following its only setback of the season at Florida State a couple of weeks ago. The Blue Devils blasted Boston College on Thursday evening, 84-68, just missing the 17-point chalk cover. The 'over' 150 cashed for Duke backers, leaving bettors 11-8 to the high side of the NCAA odds.
Nolan Smith topped the Duke box score with 28 points, making good on 10 of his 20 field goal attempts (1-for-3 from beyond the arc). Seth Curry added 20, hitting five of his seven from three-point range.
The Blue Devils also picked up 10 steals in the win over the Eagles, four by Miles Plumlee in 14 minutes off the bench. That was about all the Duke bench contributed, however, with no scoring added to the attack by the non-starters.
The Red Storm played a decent game for the final 20 minutes last season when they traveled to Durham in December 2009 to face the Blue Devils. Closing as a 17-point underdog, St. John's battled back from a 16-point halftime disadvantage for the cover in the end when Duke left the floor with an 80-71 triumph.
The season before that, St. John's also covered in a 76-69 loss to Duke who was 14-point chalk. Again it was a second-half surge that provided the winning tickets for Red Storm backers, with the Blue Devils owning an 11-point lead at the half.
This is a game that Duke probably catches a break by playing in the Garden as opposed to having to take on the Red Storm on their campus at Casa Carnesecca. St. John's would certainly stand a better chance for the outright upset on its own floor instead of a big stage like MSG where Duke has played and won before (as in that 76-69 win in Feb. 2009).
Both of the previous meetings went over with room to spare, but in the 136-139 range. I expect this one to open in the mid-140s at least and still lean to the high side in advance of the numbers coming out with Duke scoring 80+ at the end.
Duke will return to ACC action with a trip to Maryland on Groundhog Day. The Blue Devils then host their triangle rivals North Carolina State (Feb. 5) and North Carolina (Feb. 9).
St. John's heads back into Big East play for one game on Feb. 2 when Rutgers comes to Carnesecca Arena before skipping right back off the conference slate with a trip west to face UCLA on Feb. 5.
Game of the day: Duke at St. John's
THE STORY: Two of the winningest programs in NCAA history square off before an expected sellout crowd in a Sunday afternoon showcase at Madison Square Garden. Duke is fourth on the all-time victory list, St. John's seventh.
TV: 1 p.m ET, CBS
ABOUT ST. JOHN'S (11-8, 4-5 Big East, 7-11 ATS): Coming off a 77-52 loss to Georgetown on Wednesday, St. John's is facing its eighth straight top-25 opponent (2-5); St. John's has the second-toughest schedule in the nation, according to rpiratings.com. Coach Steve Lavin's experienced but undersized Red Storm start four seniors and 6-7 freshman forward Dwayne Polee II, the tallest regular along with Justin Brownlee (13.2 ppg). Dwight Hardy, a 6-2 guard, has averaged a team-high 14.5 points while shooting .897 from the foul line.
D.J. Kennedy's scoring is down (10.7 ppg after averaging 15.1 last season), but the 6-5 guard leads St. John's in rebounding (5.8). Kennedy has been effective against Duke; in three previous meetings (all St. John's losses), Kennedy averaged 18.0 points and 5.3 rebounds, shooting .567 from the field.
ABOUT DUKE (19-1, 6-1 ACC, 10-9 ATS): The defending national champions are ranked No. 3 in both major polls, matching the best start in program history. Reserve Seth Curry (8.3 ppg) scored a season-high 20 points Thursday in an 84-68 victory over visiting Boston College that extended Duke's nation-best home winning streak to 31.
Nolan Smith is on pace to become the first player to lead the ACC in scoring average (20.5) and assists (5.7); he is also averaging 4.6 rebounds. Smith is filling the point guard slot in the absence of injured freshman Kyrie Irving. Sophomore Mason Plumlee is averaging 8.8 rebounds, reaching double figures the past five games.
WHO'S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Duke 6-11 sophomore Ryan Kelly continues to sizzle. He hit 20 of 26 (.769) from the field over the past four games, making 18 straight during one span. His season average is 7.1 points. Georgetown held St. John's to a season-low .339 from the field as Hardy managed just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
KEY STATISTIC: 3-point shooting, where there's a 15-point difference in the teams' average production. St. John's is making 4.1 per game, second-fewest among the 16 Big East teams, at a .312 clip. Duke leads the ACC, averaging 9.1 treys a game and shooting .401.
RECENT HISTORY: It's all Duke lately. The Blue Devils have beaten St. John's seven straight times, lead 14-5 dating to 1938 and have won 10 of their last 14 games against Big East opponents. The Blue Devils are 20-6 at Madison Square Garden under coach Mike Krzyzewski; St. John's is 392-260 (.601) all-time at the Garden.
LOOK AHEAD: Duke visits Maryland on Wednesday and hosts North Carolina State on Saturday. St. John's hosts Rutgers on Wednesday at Carnasecca Arena in Queens, then jumps back into the national spotlight at UCLA on Saturday, facing the program that Lavin coached the previous seven years.
LAST WORD: The names and the setting promise excitement, even if the expected mismatch develops. Outmanned St. John's could make things interesting if early momentum gets the home crowd going, though the veteran Blue Devils aren't likely to get too rattled.
TRENDS:
* Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings in St. John's.
* Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
* Blue Devils are 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings.
* Underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
Tips and Trends
Duke Blue Devils at St. Johns Red Storm
BLUE DEVILS: (-8.5, O/U 143) The defending national champions are making a strong case for being the 2nd ranked team in the nation when the latest polls are released. Duke continues to win at an alarming rate, as they are 19-1 SU and 10-9 ATS overall this season. The Blue Devils are 4-1 both SU and ATS in true road games this year. Duke is 0-1 ATS as the listed favorite between 6.5 and 9 PTS this season. G Nolan Smith leads the Blue Devils in scoring this year, averaging 20.5 PPG. The Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. Duke is 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 Sunday games. The Blue Devils are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 games following an ATS loss. The Blue Devils are 4-12-1 ATS in their last 17 games against the Big East Conference. Duke is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Blue Devils are 4-1 ATS last 5 non-conference games.
Over is 4-0 last 4 games against the Big East.
Key Injuries - G Kyrie Irving (toe) is out.
Projected Score: 81 (OVER-Total of the Day)
RED STORM: St. Johns has hit a rough patch, as they've lost 5 of their last 6 games SU. The Red Storm were dynamic during non conference play, but have really struggled during Big East play. Perhaps a game against a non conference opponent will change their recent results. The Red Storm is 2-6 ATS in non conference games this season. G Dwight Hardy leads St. Johns in scoring this year, averaging 14.5 PPG. St. Johns is 11-8 SU and 7-11 ATS overall this season. The Red Storm are 6-3 SU and 3-5 ATS in home games this year. St. Johns is 2-5 ATS as the listed underdog this season. The Red Storm are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Sunday games. St. Johns is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a SU loss of more than 20 points. The Red Storm are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. St. John's is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games. The Red Storm are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss.
Red Storm are 2-8 ATS last 10 games against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Under is 9-0 last 9 Sunday games.
Key Injuries - F Rob Thomas (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 71
Sunday's College Slate
By Brian Edwards
Gamblers have 21 games on Sunday’s college hoops cards, so there are obviously winners galore to be found. A pair of scrub games will come down at noon Eastern, while the first watch-able game will feature St. John’s and Duke colliding at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Steve Lavin’s team will face the Blue Devils at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
Most betting shops opened Duke (19-1 straight up, 10-9 against the spread) as an 8 ½-point road favorite. Mike Krzyzewski’s team has won four in a row since its first loss at FSU, but it failed to cover the number in Thursday’s 84-68 win over Boston College as a 16 ½-point home favorite.
St. John’s (11-8 SU, 7-11 ATS) has lost five of its last six games both SU and ATS, including a 77-52 blowout loss Wednesday at Georgetown. If the Red Storm want to get into the bubble conversation, they desperately need a win over Duke.
The Johnnies haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2002. They are probably at least a year away, but help is on the way as Lavin has assembled one of the nation’s best recruiting classes for 2011.
Duke has been a double-digit favorite in every game this season with just two exceptions. The Blue Devils beat Kansas St. 82-68 in Kansas City as 5½-point favorites and lost at FSU, as previously mentioned, in a seven-point ‘chalk’ spot.
St. John’s has been an underdog eight times, compiling a 2-6 record both SU and ATS. The Red Storm hasn’t cashed a ticket in its last five ‘dog situations.
Duquesne (14-5 SU, 10-2-1 ATS) will put its unbeaten record in A-10 play on the line Sunday when it hosts Dayton. Most books opened the Dukes as 7 ½-point favorites.
Dayton (15-6 SU, 10-5 ATS) is in danger of falling out of the A-10 picture as it comes to Pittsburgh with a 3-3 record in league play. The Flyers are looking to bounce back from a 70-61 home loss to Richmond.
The Dukes are 5-1 ATS at home this year. Also, they have won two of the last three head-to-head meetings with Dayton, taking the cash each time.
Seton Hall (9-12 SU, 8-11 ATS) and Providence are both hoping to build off of upset victories when they collide in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Most spots opened the Pirates as four-point home favorites.
Kevin Willard’s squad went into the Carrier Dome on Tuesday and dealt out woodshed treatment in the form of a 90-68 clubbing. Seton Hall won going away as a 12½-point underdog, hooking up money-line supporters with a plus-700 payout (paid $700 on $100 wagers).
Jeremy Hazell was the catalyst in the win over the ‘Cuse, scoring 28 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. All five Seton Hall starters scored in double figures, including Jordan Theodore, who finished with 19 points, seven assists and six boards.
Providence (13-8 SU, 9-8 ATS) is going for its third straight win after beating Louisville and Villanova as a home underdog. The Friars knocked off the Wildcats by an 83-68 count as 5 ½-point home ‘dogs.
Michigan St. (12-8 SU, 6-13 ATS) is starving for a win after Thursday’s stunning 61-57 loss to Michigan as an 11-point home favorite. The Spartans have lost six in a row ATS, dropping four of those contests outright including the last three. They are now 4-4 in the Big Ten going into tonight’s home game vs. Indiana.
Most spots opened Tom Izzo’s team as an 11-point home favorite. Tip-off at Breslin Center is slated for 6:00 p.m. Eastern on the Big Ten Network.
Indiana (11-10 SU, 7-8 ATS) picked up a big win Thursday when it beat Illinois 52-49 as a four-point home underdog. Jordan Hulls led the Hoosiers with 12 of his 18 points in the second half.
The Fox Sports Network will be in Atlanta tonight where Georgia Tech (10-9 SU, 7-7 ATS) has proven to be a live home underdog recently. The Yellow Jackets are going for their fourth consecutive win at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, where they opened as three-point underdogs vs. Maryland.
Paul Hewitt’s team has won by 15 points or more during its three-game home winning streak. Ga. Tech thumped Va. Tech 72-57 as a three-point home underdog Tuesday. Iman Shumpert enjoyed a spectacular performance against the Hokies, producing a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and seven steals.
Maryland (13-7 SU, 7-8 ATS) has won back-to-back contests, including Thursday’s 66-42 win at Virginia as a four-point road favorite. Adrian Bowie paced the Terrapins with 22 points.
This game will tip at 7:45 p.m. Eastern.
The late-night game is Washington at Washington St. on FSN at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Most books opened the Huskies as four-point road favorites.
vegasinsider.com.