NCAAB News and Notes
Sunday, December 6
Information on the best of Sunday's college hoop games........
Clemson (-2.5) won 98-87 at South Carolina LY; Tigers lost to Illinois last game after leading 47-27 at half- they're 6-2, 2-4 vs spread as faves. South Carolina is 6-1, beating South Florida, Western Kentucky with a 85-70 loss to Miami. ACC home faves are 11-10 in non-league games; SEC road underdogs are 5-9 vs spread.
Cornell (+10.5) lost 71-67 at St Joe's LY, after leading by a point at half; Big Red is 6-2, but lost only home game by 10 to Seton Hall. St Joe's is 1-3 in last four games, losing 81-73 at Rider in their only road game. Ivy League home favorites are 3-2 vs spread in non-league games. A-14 dogs are 9-16 against the spread, 6-13 on road.
Miami beat Boston College twice LY, by 11-6 points; 'canes are 8-0 so far, with wins over South Carolina/Minnesota, but this is their first true road game. Miami has two starters back from LY, plus transfer PG from Villanova. BC is 5-2 after winning at Providence/Michigan last 2 games.
Creighton (+4.5) lost 54-52 at Nebraska LY, after leading by 13 at half; Bluejays are is 2-4 after going 0-3 on Orlando trip, allowing 75.3 ppg in those games. Nebraska is 5-1, winning by 3 at USC, losing by 14 at St. Louis. MVC favorites are 9-12 vs spread in non-league games, 5-7 at home. Big 12 road underdogs are 9-6.
UCLA is horrible, losing to Fullerton-Portland-Long Beach, plus one of their better big guys, Gordon, is now transferring. Kansas is 6-0 but in its only game vs decent foe, they struggled to beat a young Memphis squad, 57-55. Big 12 favorites are 23-12 vs spread, 11-6 on the road. Pac-10 dogs are 7-8 in non-league games.
Arizona lost three of last four games, is now 3-3 after double OT loss at home to UNLV last game; this is Wildcats' first true road game. Pac-10 road dogs are 7-8 vs spread. Oklahoma is just 4-3 after losing twice up in Alaska; they're 2-4 vs spread as a favorite. Big 12 home faves are 12-6 vs spread in non-league games.
San Diego blew 16-point halftime in loss at Riverside Friday, after they got outscored by 30 in second half of Alaskan final, so they issues on mental toughness side of things. Fresno State lost its last four games by 1-4-7-12 points. WCC favorites are 7-14 vs spread, 2-5 on road. WAC home underdogs are also 2-5 against the spread.
Villanova is 7-0 with neutral court wins over Dayton/Ole Miss, two real good wins, but this is their first true road game. Maryland is 4-2, losing by 12 to Cincinnati, 9 to Wisconsin, both in Maui. ACC underdogs are 7-6 vs spread in non-league games. You can make valid case that this is type of game that means a lot more to Maryland than Villanova.
Portland won twice in Anaheim, then lost final and got upset at home by crosstown rival Portland State last game; Pilots are 5-2, with only road win by 6 at E. Washington. Idaho is 4-2 with win at Utah; they've got four teams back from LY's 9-7 WAC squad. WCC road teams are 11-16 vs spread in non-league games. WAC home teams are 9-11.
Niagara beat Loyola twice LY, by 12-16 points, Eagles are 5-3 after they beat Manhattan by 24 in MAAC opener Friday, holding Jaspers to 38% from floor. Greyhounds are 4-3 after 70-65 loss at Canisius; they're 2-3 on road, losing by 23 at West Va, 19 at Mt St Mary's. Loyola has all of its starters back from LY's 12-20 team.
St Peter's won at Iona Friday, evening its record at 3-3, Peacocks lost to Fairfield twice LY, by 7-20 points. St Peter's is 0-2 when it gives up 57 or more points. Fairfield is 5-2 after beating winless Marist in MAAC opener by 9; they've split four road games, losing at Maryland by 29, at Hofstra by 4, winning at American-Howard.
Canisius is 4-2 after 70-65 win vs Loyola in MAAC opener; road team won both its regular season games vs Loyola LY, then Griffs won 74-68 (+1.5) over Loyola in MAAC tourney. Manhattan won three of its last four games, is 4-3 after 88-64 loss at Niagara, game they shot 38% from floor, 1-12 from arc.
Marist still hasn't played a home game; they're 0-5, with losses on road by 17-37-14-12-9 points (Rutgers is best team they've played). Foxes are 2-0 vs spread as dog in lined games. Rider is 5-2 with wins vs St Joe and at Miss State; they beat Marist twice LY, by 13-11 points. Their only losses are at Virginia (79-46), Kentucky (92-63).