NCAAB News and Notes Sunday 2/1

CINCINNATI vs. VILLANOVA
Cincinnati is 6-19 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games on the road
Villanova is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games at home
Villanova is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games

PENN STATE vs. MICHIGAN STATE
Penn State is 4-10-1 ATS in its last 15 games when playing Michigan State
Penn State is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games when playing Michigan State
Michigan State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Michigan State is 22-3 SU in its last 25 games at home

SAINT JOSEPH'S vs. DAYTON
Saint Joseph's is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Dayton
Saint Joseph's is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Dayton
Dayton is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Dayton is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

CANISIUS vs. RIDER
Canisius is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Canisius is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
Rider is 3-6-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Canisius
Rider is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Canisius

IOWA vs. ILLINOIS
Iowa is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing Illinois
Iowa is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Illinois
Illinois is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

LOYOLA vs. FAIRFIELD
Loyola is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Fairfield
Loyola is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Fairfield
Fairfield is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Fairfield is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home

SOUTH FLORIDA vs. ST. JOHN'S
South Florida is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
South Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
St. John's is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
St. John's is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games

VIRGINIA vs. DUKE
Virginia is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Virginia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Duke is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Duke's last 5 games at home

MISSOURI STATE vs. CREIGHTON
Missouri State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Missouri State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Creighton is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Creighton is 18-2 SU in its last 20 games at home

PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE
Portland State is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Montana State
Portland State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montana State
Montana State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Montana State is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Portland State

Sunday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards

For gamblers looking to whet the appetite with a little action before the Super Bowl, there’s several college hoops games offering an opportunity to get the day started the right way. Let’s take a look at a couple of the early-afternoon contests before exploring a few Bonus Nuggets, such as Bobby Knight being interested in the Georgia job.

**Virginia at Duke**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Duke (18-2 straight up, 10-8-1 against the spread) as a 21-point favorite with a total of 148. As of early this morning, most betting shops had the Blue Devils at 22 with a total of 145.

--Duke is hoping to bounce back from Wednesday’s 70-68 loss at Wake Forest as a two-point road favorite. Kyle Singler had 22 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort. Gerald Henderson finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

--Virginia (7-9 SU, 5-6 ATS) has lost four in a row, including last Saturday’s 73-62 loss to FSU as a one-point home underdog. This slide has probably put fourth-year head coach Dave Leitao on the hot seat in Charlottesville.

--Although the Wahoos have lost four of their five true road games, we should note their 4-1 spread record in those contests.

--Duke is unbeaten in 12 home games with a 5-5-1 spread record.

--UVA has lost 12 in a row at Cameron Indoor Stadium. However, the Cavaliers are 7-1-1 ATS in the last nine trips to Durham.

--The ‘under’ is on an incredible 8-1 run for Duke. The Blue Devils have seen the ‘under’ go 13-5 overall, 8-3 in their home games.

--The ‘under’ is 5-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings between these long-time ACC adversaries.

--FSN will have the telecast at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Iowa at Illinois**

--LVSC opened Illinois (17-4 SU, 10-5-1 ATS) as a 12 ½-point favorite with a total of 118. As of early this morning, most sports books still had the Illini at 12 ½.

--Bruce Weber’s team is enjoying an excellent bounce-back season after going 16-19 last year. With that said, the Illini are coming off their worst performance of the season in a 59-36 loss at Minnesota as a one-point underdog. Illinois made just 15-of-51 shots (29.4%) from the field and nobody scored in double figures.

--Iowa (12-9 SU, 8-7 ATS) has lost seven of its last 10 games, including Thursday’s 71-56 home loss to Michigan St. as a 6 ½-point underdog. Jeff Peterson had a team-high 14 points for the Hawkeyes.

--Iowa is 5-5 ATS in 10 games as an underdog. The Hawkeyes have been double-digit underdogs just once this year, losing 75-53 at Purdue as 12 ½-point ‘dogs.

--Illinois is 1-2 ATS in three games as a double-digit favorite this year.

--The ‘under’ has been a winner in five consecutive Illinois games. The Illini have seen the ‘under’ go 10-5 overall, 5-1 in their home games. Meanwhile, Iowa has watched the ‘under’ go 8-7 overall.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--According to Furman Bisher of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bobby Knight would take the Georgia job if offered it. What an unfathomable coup that would be for Georgia AD Damon Evans if he can make it happen.

--If I’m Alabama AD Mal Moore, I’m trying to hire Knight before UGA can.

--I think Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight needs to win a lot more games before he starts acting like his Dad did during his tenure at Indiana. That episode yesterday in getting ejected was a little much for my taste.

--A few days ago, Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com reported that Evans was hot for VCU's Anthony Grant before Felton led the Dawgs to their improbable run at last year's SEC Tournament.

--Marquette's guard-oriented team led by Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews and Dominic James is starting to remind me of Arizona's 1997 squad. Of course, that 'Zona squad had Miles Simon, Mike Bibby and Jason Terry and beat Kentucky in overtime to win the national championship. McNeal's stats in Saturday's 94-82 win over Georgetown as a six-point favorite: 26 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots.

--Tennessee dominated Florida from start to finish in last night’s 79-63 win as a 3 ½-point favorite. Bruce Pearl is now 6-1 against Billy Donovan. During the telecast, ESPN's Dick Vitale said he "didn't think there was an SEC team this year that could finish in the top eight of the Big East." I guess Dickie V forgot about Tennessee's wins over Marquette and Georgetown.

Saturday's Biggest Winners:
1-Tennessee (destroying Florida)
2-South Carolina (winning at Kentucky)
3-Marquette (working Georgetown)
4-Missouri (spanking Baylor)
5-Boston College (edging Va. Tech)

Saturday's Biggest Losers:
1-Mississippi St. (losing at home to Ole Miss for first time in a decade)
2-Miami (falling at Maryland)
3-Stanford (embarrassed at UCLA)
4-Auburn (losing at home to a slumping Vandy squad)
5-Kentucky (losing at home to South Carolina on last-second shot)

--South Carolina's Darrin Horn has to be the SEC's leading candidate for Coach of the Year honors. The Gamecocks, who haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2004, are 16-4 after Devan Downey's last-second shot lifted them past Kentucky on Saturday at Rupp Arena. The 'Cocks have a non-conference road win over Baylor and have now beaten Florida and Kentucky. There's no shame in a three-point loss at Tennessee and a home loss to Clemson. The two bad losses came at LSU by double digits and by two to College of Charleston in overtime.

vegasinsider.com.

NCAAB Today

Notes on today's games.

Road team is 7-1 vs spread in Michigan State's Big 11 games; Spartans are 7-1 in league, 0-3 aa home favorites, losing to Northwestern, winning the other two games by 9-6 points- they won 78-73 at Penn State Jan 14 (-5) after leading at half by 13. Lions won last three games, are 2-2 as a dog, 1-1 on road, losing road games by 4 at Wisconsin, 20 at Minnesota.

Dayton won its last five games (1-4 vs spread), dog is 6-0 vs spread in their A-14 games; Flyers are 0-3 as home favorite, winning twice by one point, and by 12. St Joe's is 5-0 in A-14, allowing 54.5 ppg in road wins by 11 at St Bonaventure (-4.5), 10 at Richmond (+2). Hawks have two OT wins at home in league- they led those games by 17-16 at the half.

Cincinnati won four of last five games, allowing 57.8 ppg in those four wins; they're 2-2 on Big East road, 1-2 as road dog, losing at Marquette by 34, Providence by 9, beating DePaul, St John's. Villanova upset Pitt at home in last game, their third win in four tries; Wildcats are 1-1 as a home favorite, losing to Louisville by a point, beating Pitt, St John's.

South Florida may be 2-6 in Big East, but they're 3-1 vs spread as road dog, losing by 13 at Pitt, 3 at West Virginia, 26 at Louisville, winning at DePaul. St John's is also 2-6, 1-1 as a favorite; Red Storm split its four Big East road games, beating Notre Dame by 6, Rutgers by 11, losing to UConn, Cincinnati. Home side is 6-2 vs spread in St John's games.

Duke lost in last second at Wake Forest in last game; they're 2-1 as home favorite, beating Va Tech by 25, NC State by 17, Maryland by 41. Road team is 5-0 vs spread in Virginia's ACC games; Cavaliers are 3-0 as road dog, losing by 3 at Va Tech, 6 at Maryland, winning in OT at Ga Tech- they're allowing 80.4 ppg in their ACC games.

Illinois was held to 36 points in last game; they're 5-3 in Big 11, 4-0 as a home favorite, winning home games by 31-15-18-7 points, allowing just 50.3 ppg at home. Iowa lost five of last six games, scoring 56 ppg in last three losses; Hawkeyes are 2-2 as road dog, losing by 3 at Ohio State, 15 at Michigan, 22 at Purdue, 4 at Penn State.

Creighton is 1-4 vs spread in game following a win; they're 1-4 as a home favorite, winning by 12-1-11 points, but they've lost twice at home, to No Iowa, Drake. Bluejays shot 37% or less in three of last five games. Missouri State is 2-8 in MVC, 2-3 as road dog, losing road games by 18- 5-14-12-11. In last four games, Bear foes took 114 FTs, Bears took 57.

Rider (-4) got whacked 84-66 at Canisius Jan 15, which was Griffs' first MAAC win after an 0-6 start; Broncs are 1-3 as home favorite, losing to Rider Friday, winning other three home games by 3-1-11 points. Griffs are 4-2 vs spread as MAAC road dog, losing away games by 18-24-11-3 6-18 points, winning at Marist. Fourth straight road game for Canisius.

Loyola won its last six games, winning at Rider Friday, their third road win in row; Greyhounds take ball to hoop- in last four games, Loyola is 86-115 from foul line (opponents are 65-96). Fairfield (+1) won 63-60 at Loyola Jan 9 (+1), in game where both sides shot less than 38%. Stags snapped three-game skid when they beat Marist at home Friday.

Portland State is 6-2 in Big Sky after losing at Montana Wednesday, the first road loss in four road games for Vikings, who won by 12-1-14 pts in previous three away games. Montana State is 3-1 at home in Big Sky, losing only by 10 to improved Northern Colorado. Bobcats defend well on the arc; their last three opponents are 8-36 on 3-pointers.