NCAAB News and Notes Thursday 3/5

BOWLING GREEN vs. MIAMI (OHIO)
Bowling Green is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
Bowling Green is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
Miami (Ohio) is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Bowling Green
Miami (Ohio) is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Bowling Green

BUFFALO vs. KENT STATE
Buffalo is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Buffalo is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games
Kent State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Buffalo
Kent State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Buffalo

OHIO vs. AKRON
Ohio is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Akron
Ohio is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Akron
Akron is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Akron is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

PROVIDENCE vs. VILLANOVA
Providence is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Providence is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Villanova is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Providence
Villanova is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Providence

SAINT JOSEPH'S vs. TEMPLE
Saint Joseph's is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games
Saint Joseph's is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Temple is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Saint Joseph's
Temple is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing Saint Joseph's

TENNESSEE vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
Tennessee is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing South Carolina
Tennessee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing South Carolina
South Carolina is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games
South Carolina is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games

INDIANA STATE vs. DRAKE
Indiana State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Drake
Indiana State is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Drake
Drake is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Drake is 12-6 SU in its last 18 games at home

STANFORD vs. ARIZONA STATE
Stanford is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Stanford is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Arizona State is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Stanford
Arizona State is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Stanford

DAYTON vs. XAVIER
Dayton is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dayton's last 6 games
Xavier is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Dayton
Xavier is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Dayton

ILLINOIS vs. PENN STATE
Illinois is 17-6 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Illinois's last 15 games
Penn State is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Illinois
Penn State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Illinois

FRESNO STATE vs. BOISE STATE
Fresno State is 2-10-1 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Boise State
Fresno State is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Boise State
Boise State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Fresno State
Boise State is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games at home

MISSOURI STATE vs. WICHITA STATE
Missouri State is 2-7-2 ATS in its last 11 games
Missouri State is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Wichita State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Missouri State
Wichita State is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing Missouri State

CS NORTHRIDGE vs. UC DAVIS
CS Northridge is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games on the road
CS Northridge is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
UC Davis is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
UC Davis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home

LOUISIANA TECH vs. IDAHO
Louisiana Tech is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Idaho
Louisiana Tech is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Idaho
Idaho is 3-5-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Idaho is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

SAN JOSE STATE vs. NEVADA
San Jose State is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Nevada
San Jose State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Nevada
Nevada is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games
Nevada is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

UC RIVERSIDE vs. SANTA BARBARA
UC Riverside is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Santa Barbara
UC Riverside is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Santa Barbara is 3-7-1 ATS in its last 11 games when playing UC Riverside
Santa Barbara is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing UC Riverside

LONG BEACH STATE vs. CAL POLY
Long Beach State is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Long Beach State is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Cal Poly is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against Long Beach State
Cal Poly is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Long Beach State

CALIFORNIA vs. ARIZONA
California is 3-18 SU in its last 21 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 8 of California's last 11 games when playing Arizona
Arizona is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against California
Arizona is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against California

OREGON vs. USC
Oregon is 9-2-1 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against USC
Oregon is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against USC
USC is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home
USC is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games

OREGON STATE vs. UCLA
Oregon State is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing UCLA
Oregon State is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing UCLA
UCLA is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Oregon State
UCLA is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oregon State

NCAAB Today

Notes on the best of today's games.

St Joe's lost five of last six games, with three of five losses by 1 or 2 pts; they lost 61-59 to Temple Feb 12 in first meeting, shooting 34.5% from floor. Hawks are 2-2 as A-14 road dog, with losses by 11-7-2 pts- this road trip is busride crosstown. Temple lost last two games, but is 4-2-1 as A-14 home favorite, winning home games by 7-25-27-6-27-14 points.

Villanova led Providence by 15 at half in first meeting, hung on to win at Dunkin' Donuts Center 94-91 (-2.5), as Friars were 17-40 from the arc. Wildcats are 10-2 in last 12 games, but 2-4 vs spread in last six; they are 4-3 as Big East home favorite, with all six home wins by 10+ pts. Friars are 4-4 on Big East road- three of four losses by 18+ (3-3 as road dog.)

Tennessee was up 43-28 at half in first meeting, hung on for 82-79 win at home vs South Carolina team that shot 58% in that game but turned it over 22 times. Gamecocks are 7-0 at home in SEC, 4-2 as home favorite. Vols lost three of last four road games, allowed 75+ points in last four games overall, but won the last two, averaging 80 ppg.

Kent (+2.5) lost 64-53 at Buffalo Jan 21; Golden Flashes are just 1-4 vs spread in last four games as favorite-- five of their last six games were decided by five or less pts, but Kent is 4-2 as home favorite, winning at home by 24-22-8-13-4 pts. Buffalo lost four of last five games; they are 4-0 as MAC road dog, winning five of seven SU on road in MAC play.

Bowling Green won nine of last 11 games, covering seven of last nine-- they're 6-1 on MAC road, 3-1 as road dog, but lost 67-60 in first game vs Miami, as Hawks shot 54% from floor. Miami lost four of its last six games, but is 7-4-1 as MAC favorite, 4-2-1 at home, winning home tilts by 13-5-28-18-18 points. MAC home favorites are 34-26 vs spread.

Dayton (+2.5) upset Xavier 71-58 Feb 11, but lost its PG in that game, and split four games since; Flyers are 3-1 as A-14 road dog- underdog is 9-3 vs spread in their last dozen games. Xavier won last couple games, by 18-14 points, after losing three of previous four- they're 5-2 an A-14 home favorite, with five of their seven home wins by 18+ points.

Arizona lost last three games, by 2-16-5 points; they lost 69-55 at Cal in Pac-10 opener Jan 2 (+4.5). Wildcats are 4-0 as Pac-10 home fave, with home wins by 15-17-9-10-7-12 points. Bears lost four of last five away games; they're 2-3 as Pac-10 road dog, losing away games by 6-15-11-11 points. News of NCAA investigation ominous for Arizona's future.

Arizona State (+1.5) won 90-60 at Stanford Jan 2, shooting 59% from floor; Sun Devils lost their last two games, both in OT, but they are 3-3 as Pac-10 home favorite, winning home games by 31-18-7-12-2 points. Cardinal lost five of last six, eight of last 10 games; they're 2-3 as a road dog in Pac-10, with five of seven road losses by eight or less points.

Oregon won last two games, by 8-10 points, after 0-14 start; USC lost three in row, six of last seven games after 6-3 start; only one of Trojans' seven Pac-10 wins is by more than 12 points, but that was 83-62 win at Oregon Jan 2, game that was tied at half. Ducks are 1-6 as Pac-10 road dog, losing away gamea by 15-18-3-29-7-22-19 points.

UCLA (-14.5) won 69-46 at Oregon State Jan 2 (was 37-16 at the half); Bruins are 5-2 as Pac-10 home favorite, winning home games by 23-15-9-34-16 points, losing to Arizona St, Washington St. Beavers won three of last four games, are 3-4 as Pac-10 road dog, losing away games by 31- 17-18-10 points. UCLA split last six games, winning last two by 5-4 pts

Penn State (+9) won hideous 38-33 game at Illinois two weeks ago, with Illini shooting 30% with no foul shots taken at home. Lions won despite shooting 29% from floor- they're 3-2 as Big 11 home favorite; six of its eight Pac-10 home games were decided by five or less points. Illini won last three road games; they're 8-1 in Big 11 if they allow 57 pts or less.

Missouri Valley Tournament
Home side won both Drake-Indiana State games this year, with Bulldogs turning ball over total of just 14 times in two games. State was 2-23 from arc in first game, 11-25 in second. Drake went 4-9 in its last 13 games, is 2-6 vs spread in last eight games as favorite. Sycamores won six of last seven games after 2-10 start- they covered last seven games as a dog.

Home side won both Missouri State-Wichita State games; Bears led both games at half, and shot 58% from floor in game they lost. Missouri State lost nine of last 11 games; they're 4-7-1 vs spread as MVC dog. Wichita State is 9-4 in last 13 games after starting 0-6 in Valley- they're 1-5 as a Valley favorite. MVC favorites are an even 40-40 vs spread this season.

Thursday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards

We learn more and more as the days until Selection Sunday dwindle. We learned – with a little more emphasis – what we’ve known all year long about the SEC last night. And that’s to say that the league is as bad as it has been since expanding to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina in 1992.

LSU, seemingly on the come with a 10-game winning streak that wrapped up the SEC regular-season title, lost at home to a mediocre Vandy squad. Florida lost at Mississippi St. in a game the Gators really needed.

Most appalling, especially in Big Blue Country, was a nauseating performance by Kentucky at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats, who won 68-45 at Georgia in January, lost 90-85 to the Dawgs as 17 ½-point home favorites. Before UGA's 90-point explosion in Lexington, it had been scoring just 60.5 points per game in SEC action.

(Random Paragraph: I told all of you UK fans to be careful for what you wished for in running Tubby Smith out of town. Like I’ve said for years, Smith is one of the top-five coaches in America. Billy Gillispie, on the other hand, is not one of the premier coaches in the SEC. And he’s a jerk.)

Unless Kentucky wins at Florida this weekend and makes it to the SEC Tournament finals in Tampa, it will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991, when the school was serving out the final year of probation dating back to the Eddie Sutton Era and the scandal involving Chris Mills.

The Gators need to beat Kentucky and also do damage in Tampa or they will miss the Big Dance for a second straight year after going to nine consecutive Tournaments on Billy Donovan’s watch.

What else? Well, we’ve got a trio of televised tilts to break down, and we’ll get to the rest in Bonus Nuggets.

**Providence at Villanova**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Villanova (24-6 straight up, 15-11 against the spread) as an 11-point favorite with a total of 161. As of late this morning, most books had ‘Nova at 10 ½ with a total of 159.

--Villanova bounced back from a loss to Georgetown by trouncing Notre Dame 77-60 Monday as a 2 ½-point road underdog. Scottie Reynolds ripped the Irish’s defense for 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-7 from 3-point land. He also grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and had a pair of steals.

--Jay Wright’s team owns a 4-5 spread record in nine games as a double-digit favorite. The Wildcats are 13-2 SU and 6-5 ATS at home this season.

--Providence (18-11 SU, 11-14 ATS) is a member of the ‘last-four-in-or-last-four-out’ club, which basically means a win at Villanova would be a monster step toward an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. The Friars have won back-to-back games both SU and ATS, including a stunning 81-73 win over then-top-ranked Pitt.

--Keno Davis’s team has a 1-3 spread record in four double-digit underdog spots.

--Villanova has won six in a row against Providence, cashing tickets at a 5-1 ATS clip. The ‘over’ is 5-1 in those six encounters.

--The ‘under’ is 14-12 overall for the Wildcats, 7-4 in their road games. Meanwhile, the Friars have watched the ‘over’ go 13-11 overall.

--ESPN2 will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Illinois at Penn State**

--LVSC opened Illinois (23-7 SU, 14-10-1 ATS) as a two-point ‘chalk’ with a total of 119. As of late this morning, most spots had the Illini at 1 ½ with a total of 117 ½.

--Penn State (20-9 SU, 12-9-1 ATS) has won 14 of its 17 home games, posting a 5-4-1 ATS mark in the process.

--Bruce Weber’s team is coming off a 74-66 loss Sunday as a two-point home favorite. Mike Tisdale had 15 points and five rebounds in the losing effort.

--Penn St. won a 61-58 decision Saturday over Indiana, but the Lions didn’t come anywhere close to covering the 14-point number at home.

--When these schools met in Champaign-Urbana on Feb. 18, PSU captured an ugly 38-33 victory as a 9 ½-point underdog. Taylor Battle scored a game-high 11 points for the winners.

--PSU has a lucrative 8-1-1 spread record in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these Big Ten rivals.

--Illinois has watched the ‘under’ go 16-8 overall, 11-3 in its last 14 games.

--The ‘under’ is 13-8-1 overall for PSU, 6-3-1 in its home assignments.

--Tip-off is slated for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Dayton at Xavier**

--LVSC opened Xavier (23-5 SU, 14-10-2 ATS) as a 10-point favorite with a total of 128. As of late this morning, most books still had the Muskateers at 10 with the total in the 130-131 range.

--Dayton (24-5 SU, 11-13 ATS) snapped a two-game slide by beating Temple 70-65 Saturday as a 2 ½-point home favorite. Chris Wright scored a team-high 20 points.

--Xavier is 13-1 SU and 5-5-2 ATS at home this year.

--Xavier is in the midst of a 2-4-2 ATS slump, but it did take the cash in its last outing, a 68-54 triumph over St. Joseph’s last Thursday as 3 ½-point road ‘chalk.’ Derek Brown paced the winners with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

--Xavier had a six-game winning streak against Dayton until the Flyers beat the Muskateers 71-58 as three-point home underdogs on Feb. 11. Nevertheless, Sean Miller’s team still has a 5-2 spread record in the last seven games against Dayton.

--The ‘under’ is 13-11-1 overall for Xavier, but the ‘over’ is 6-5-1 in its home games. Meanwhile, the ‘over’ is 12-10-1 overall for Dayton.

--Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--For those of you starting to ponder future bets for the NCAA Tournament, Sportsbook.com currently (as of Wednesday afternoon) has UNC as the 3/1 ‘chalk.’ Pitt has 4/1 odds, followed by UConn (6/1) and Oklahoma (8/1).

--Even though Marquette has lost three straight games, I still like and have confidence in my team if I’m first-year coach Buzz Williams. Despite the absence of Dominic James on the court and whatever emotional toll that has taken on his teammates in the last week and change, the Golden Eagles were still right there with a chance to win in the second half vs. UConn, at Louisville and at Pitt. This can still be a Sweet 16 team.

--I like ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes for the most part but if I have to listen to him stick up for the SEC anymore this year, I might vomit.

--UAB can book its plans for the NIT after losing 70-52 at UTEP last night. Did Robert Vaden really go 0-for-17 from the field against Memphis last week?

--Three teams left for dead who are insisting that the Selection Committee take notice of their respective late-season runs: Washington St., Auburn and Northwestern. To be clear, all three teams are still on the outside looking in but if they stay hot and other things fall right, perhaps one could slip into the field.

--The Wildcats went into Purdue last night and won 64-61 as 12-point road underdogs. They improved to 17-11 overall and 8-9 in Big Ten play. Bill Carmody's team has quality wins vs. FSU, vs. Minnesota, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Ohio St. and at Purdue. If it means anything, Northwestern also had leads in the final minute of heartbreaking losses to Purdue, Illinois and Michigan (in OT), and it lost by just four to Butler early in the year.

--If I’m Billy Gillispie today, I might request multiple bodyguards. (Note to readers: I'm about to go investigate the UK chat boards for entertainment purposes, so please check back as I may add some amusing links to the chaos in Big Blue land today.)

vegasinsider.com.

Thursday Research
By Indiancowboy

Tennessee vs. South Carolina

The public likes South Carolina and why shouldn't they? The Gamecocks are 2nd in the conference, play a Tennessee team who they lost to by 3 on the road and have revenge as they are a top 50 team. SC comes off 13 point loss to Vanderbilt on the road and this is Senior night for the 'Cocks. Having said that, the line is low. On top of that, 2/3rds of the public favor SC similar to what they did when Alabama faced Auburn at home and although Bama led at the half, Auburn came storming back despite the fact that 'Bama had revenge. The public - 66% - got buried in that game. This game reminds me a lot of that and I will just stay away. Tennessee comes off a huge win over Florida on the road. A small lean on SC with revenge over the Vols here as they come off a loss on senior night, but still can't go with the public.

St. Josephs vs. Temple

It's Senior night for Temple. This team comes off a road loss to Dayton and a shocking home loss to La Salle at home. Of course, this was after they had won 5 straight. Sure, Temple at home on Senior night with revenge seems dandy, but St. Josephs does have revenge after losing 59-61 at home. St. Josephs also beat Richmond and Umass on the road Outright and lost to St. Louis by just a bucket on the road. They are used to covering the 5 point number. no thanks.

Dayton vs. Xavier

The question that begs here is how well does Xavier respond with revenge against Dayton on its respective senior night. I don't trust Xavier on the road as although they did beat St. Louis, they were shaky against competent conference teams on the road. This team lost by a decisive 13 to Dayton earlier this year and will look to get that revenge at home. Dayton comes off a big win over Temple at home and might have a bit of a let down. In short, I like Xavier to get the revenge on their senior night despite giving the points - a lean on Xavier.