Tuesday's Best NCAAB Bet
Kansas Jayhawks at Colorado Buffaloes (8, N/A)
The Jayhawks have no problem beating the Buffaloes – but it’s usually not easy. Kansas is 10-0 in its past 10 meetings with Colorado, but is just 4-6 ATS over that span and a mere 1-5 ATS since 2008.
It doesn’t help Kansas that this instalment of the Buffaloes is one best in recent memory. Led by stud guard Alec Burks and his 19.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, the team is amassing a solid NCAA Tournament resume thanks to a phenomenal 10-0 home record.
"I think we are really starting to get a feel for each other on the floor," Buffalo coach Tad Boyle said. "We're executing at a pretty high level offensively right now, we're shooting the ball well and we're sharing the ball. I think offensively we've made some great strides."
The team will have to keep making strides to upset the Jayhawks. Kansas is 4-0 on the road this year, including wins over Baylor, Iowa State, Cal and an overtime victory at Michigan. However the team is just 2-2 ATS in those games and is coming off an 11-point home loss to Texas, the team’s first setback this season.
"It's a big game, but it's just one game," Kansas coach Bill Self said of the loss to Texas. "In the second half, (Texas was) terrific. Of course, we helped them be terrific. We give up 51 points in our building in a half. They deserve the outcome that they got today. We've got to rebound ... and hopefully not let one become two."
Pick: Colorado
Ohio State hosts Purdue
By: Adam Markowitz
There are only two teams in the entire country that enter this week with a bagel in their loss column, and one of the two is going to be on the ropes on Tuesday night in one of its biggest games of the season.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face off with the Purdue Boilermakers in a nationally televised NCAA basketball betting affair on ESPN. Tip-off from Value City Arena in Columbus, OH takes place at 6:00 p.m. (PT).
Purdue plays some absolutely fantastic defense, and it is going to need every bit of that defensive intensity to be able to hold down the No. 1 team in the country on its home court on Tuesday. The Boilers are allowing just 59.4 PPG this year, though that average is up thanks to an average of 64.9 PPG in Big Ten play.
On the other side of the court, the key is going to be getting some help for JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore. It goes without saying that these two stars are going to have to shine and shine brightly in order to get through this game, as they are both averaging 18.0+ PPG this year. Lewis Jackson came up with a huge 19-point performance against the Michigan State Spartans over the weekend, while both Ryne Smith and John Hart have shown some promise to get the job done as well as the third scorer.
However, when you're talking about the standard right now in college basketball betting action, you have to talk about Ohio State. What is there not to like about head coach Thad Motta's team? The Bucks are putting up 79.0 PPG this year and outscoring their foes by almost 22 points on the average night. They shooting 49.5 percent from the field as a team, ranking No. 4 in the land, are one of the handful of teams that can boast that they shoot at least 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, and are holding teams to just 41.3 percent from the field shooting on the other side of the court.
The only real question is whether this team has the depth to be able to compete in games like this. Jared Sullinger, David Lightly and Jon Diebler all went the distance against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Assembly Hall in Champaign over the weekend, and they are all averaging over 30 minutes per game this year.
The good news is that these three, along with William Buford, are all clearly NBA players that are just playing in collegiate jerseys for the time being as they prep for the big time. Sullinger was a superstar against Illinois on Saturday, scoring 27 points and hauling in 16 boards. He is the team's leading scorer at 17.9 PPG and leading rebounder at 10.2 RPG, one of just a handful of men that are averaging a double-double per night in the country.
Purdue has found itself winning a lot of games in this series of late, going 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS over the course of the last four meetings. However, if you go back much further than that, there is a real question about whether these two squads belong on the same court. Since 2000, the Buckeyes are 15-5 SU and 15-4-1 ATS against the Boilermakers, and they hope to continue that dominance on Tuesday night.
For those looking into betting the NCAA basketball odds on the 'total,' the 'under' is 3-0-1 in the last four clashes in this series.
NCAA Betting Preview: Kansas at Colorado
By: Joe Freda
The No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks have a 1-4 spread record in their last five games, with the ‘under’ going 3-2. Bill Self’s squad heads west for Tuesday’s duel against the Colorado Buffaloes, who return home after dropping two straight road contests.
Kansas suffered its first loss of the season in Saturday’s 74-63 setback as a seven-point home favorite against the Texas Longhorns. The Jayhawks were held to 35.9 percent field shooting, while being outrebounded, 40-33.
Jayhawks guard Tyrel Reed notched a team-high 17 points, draining 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. The senior added two of his squad’s five steals, while failing to log an assist for the first time in 10 games.
Reed’s mate Marcus Morris grabbed a team-high seven boards, while finishing with 16 points. The junior forward added three assists and one block.
The battle’s combined 137 points ducked ‘under’ the ‘total’ of 144½. Both squads united to sink 36-of-49 free throws.
Kansas is 4-3 ATS in its seven games away from home, with the ‘over’ also going 4-3. Morris and Co. have put up a sizable 82.9 PPG in that span.
Colorado’s latest defeat came in Saturday’s 67-60 loss as a 3½-point road favorite against the Oklahoma Sooners. The Buffaloes connected on a meager 1-of-10 from three-point land, while allowing the Sooners to hit 52.2 percent from the field.
Colorado’s Alec Burks and Cory Higgins each finished with a team-high 15 points. The duo also united for 13 boards and five assists.
Buffaloes guard Andre Roberson piled in 10 points from the bench, hitting 4-of-5 from the field. The freshman added four rebounds and two steals.
The tight affair’s combined 127 points plunged below the ‘total’ of 143. Colorado edged out Oklahoma in boards, 29-28, while recording 22 fouls.
The Buffaloes are 4-1 ATS in their first five ‘board’ home dates, with the ‘over’ also cashing at 4-1. Tad Boyle’s troops have allowed 69.6 PPG in that stretch.
Colorado is 5-1 ATS in its last six matchups against the Jayhawks, with the ‘under’ also going 5-1.
Kansas notched a 72-66 overtime win as a 14-point road favorite in last February’s visit to Colorado. The Jayhawks held the Buffaloes to 37.5 percent field shooting, while both squads struggled with free throws, uniting to sink 28-of-55.
Tuesday’s tip is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PT), with ESPN3.com providing television coverage.
Both squads will be off for three days, resuming action as part of Saturday’s college hoops slate. Kansas returns home to face the Kansas State Wildcats, while Colorado visits the Baylor Bears.
Tuesday's NCAAB Tips
By Brian Edwards
With apologies to BYU’s Jimmer Fredette, Jared Sullinger is the best player in college basketball this season. That’s what we know after watching Sullinger rally unbeaten and top-ranked Ohio State to a 73-68 win Saturday at Illinois.
The Illini had the Buckeyes in trouble, leading 70-62 with less than 12 minutes remaining. Bettors backing the Bucks, who were laying 3½, were in big trouble. But then Sullinger started to dominate on his way to scoring 27 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
Thad Matta’s team turned the eight-point deficit to a seven-point lead and held on for the five-point win with free throws. Just 48 hours later, Ohio St. is back home tonight to take on Purdue.
Most betting shops had Ohio St. listed as an eight-point favorite as of Monday night. One offshore book had 131 ½ for a total. The Boilermakers, who are 6-1 in the Big Ten, can pull into a first-place tie with a win over the 7-0 Bucks.
Syracuse has suddenly lost back-to-back games going into Tuesday’s home game vs. Seton Hall. Jim Boeheim’s team needs a victory to remain a front-runner to garner a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Most books have installed the Orange as a 13½-point favorite at the Carrier Dome.
Florida has a one-game lead in an SEC East that has six teams separated by a total of 1½ games. The Gators can stay on top of the standings with a win Tuesday at Georgia.
Mark Fox has UGA on the rise and on track to draw its first NCAA Tourney invite since Dennis Felton’s 2008 team made the most improbable run in SEC Tournament history. I was skeptical about the selection of Fox, who was previously at Nevada, but former AD Damon Evans nailed it with this hire.
Say what you want about Evans, but his biggest hire is looking like a home run to me.
Let’s take a closer look at UF-UGA, Purdue-OSU and more.
Florida at Georgia
Most books are listing Georgia (14-4 straight up, 7-7 against the spread) as a 2 ½-point favorite.
UGA is 9-1 SU and 3-4 ATS at home inside Stegeman Coliseum. The Dawgs are playing their third straight game in Athens. They lost to Tennessee on Brian Williams’ buzzer-beating putback Wednesday and then bounced back with a 86-64 win over Mississippi St. Gerald Robinson and Travis Leslie were the catalysts against MSU. Robinson scored 17 points to go with five assists, five rebounds and three steals. Leslie had 17 points, six rebounds four assists and a pair of steals.
Florida (15-4 SU, 6-9 ATS) improved to 4-1 in SEC play by trouncing Arkansas 75-43 Saturday as a nine-point home favorite. Kenny Boynton knocked down four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 20 points. Chandler Parsons grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out five assists. Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin both chipped in with 13 points apiece.
Billy Donovan’s team has won outright in three games as an underdog this year. The Gators have wins at FSU, at Xavier and at Tennessee (in overtime).
Georgia has only been a single-digit favorite three times, each at home. The Dawgs are SU but just 1-2 ATS in those situations. They beat Colorado and covered, edged UAB but didn’t cash and lost outright to Tennessee.
Totals have been an overall was for both teams (7-7). UGA has seen the ‘under’ go 4-3 in its seven home games with a total.
The ‘over’ is 5-0-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings between these bitter rivals. Georgia has beaten UF in the last two games at Stegeman, including last year’s 78-76 win. Trey Thompkins led the winners with a team-high 20 points to offset Chandler Parsons’ brilliant performance. Parsons scored 29 points and also had six rebounds and six assists.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Purdue at Ohio State
Most books opened Ohio State (20-0 SU, 9-8 ATS) as an eight-point favorite.
Ohio St. has won its 14 home games but is just 5-6 ATS. The Buckeyes have been single-digit ‘chalk’ twice, covering the spread both times in victories at FSU and at Illinois.
Purdue (17-3 SU, 11-6 ATS) is led by JaJuan Johnson, who hit the game-winning bucket in Wednesday’s 63-62 win over Penn State. Then on Saturday in West Lafayette, E’Twaun Moore scored a game-high 26 points in an 86-76 win over Michigan State. Johnson added 20 points in the win over the Spartans, who disappointed their supporters as 6 ½-point road underdogs.
Sullinger is battling Fredette and Kemba Walker for National Player of the Year honors. The freshman sensation is averaging 17.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
The road team won both head-to-head meetings last season. Purdue won a 60-57 decision in Columbus as a 3½-point road ‘dog. Johnson paced the Boilermakers with 24 points.
The ‘over’ is 9-7-1 overall for the Boilers, 3-1 in their four Big Ten road games.
The ‘over’ is 9-8 overall for Ohio St., but the ‘under’ is 7-4 in its home games.
ESPN will provide television coverage at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
Notre Dame went into Pitt on Monday and upset the Panthers 56-51 as a 10½-point underdog. The Irish hooked up money-line backers with a plus-500 payout (paid $500 on $100 wagers). Ben Hansbrough was dynamite with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds, while Carleton Scott added 16 points and nine boards.
West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins has suspended Casey Mitchell indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules. The Mountaineers play Wednesday at Louisville.
Arkansas will take on Auburn tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU. Most books opened the Razorbacks as 14½-point home favorites with a total of 129.
VegasInsider.com
College Basketball Knowledge
NC State beat Clemson 59-57 in ACC tourney LY, ending 5-game skid in series; Wolfpack lost its last two visits here, by 16-12 points. Home side is 5-0 SU in Clemson's ACC games; Tigers won both their games at Littlejohn, by 7-25 points. NC State is 0-2 on ACC road, losing by 9 at BC, 13 at FSU. ACC home favorites of 8 or less points are 7-5-2.
Home side won last six Richmond-Dayton games; Spiders lost last four visits here, by 5-3-18-6 points. Underdogs are 4-1 vs spread in Dayton's A-14 games, with Flyers winning by 6-34 points at home. Visitor is 5-0 vs spread in Richmond's league games; Spiders won road games by 19-16 points. Atlantic 14 home favorites of 6 or less points are 3-8 vs spread.
Syracuse (-7) won at Hazell-less Seton Hall 61-56 on Jan 8; Pirates were just 3-26 from arc, Orange only 17-36 at charity stripe. Syracuse lost its last two games after having been undefeated; they're 2-1 as home fave, winning by 7-12-15 points. Seton Hall are 0-3 as road dogs, losing away games by 17-19-21 points. Big East double digit home favorites are 6-7.
Buffalo was down 18 at half at Ohio Saturday, rallied to win by 5; Bulls won last three MAC games to get to 3-2, in 4-way tie atop MAC East- they're in 4-way tie atop MAC East. Home team is 5-0 SU, 4-1 against spread in Western Michigan's MAC games; Broncos won MAC home games by 7-17-2 pts. MAC home underdogs are 2-4 against the spread.
Florida lost 78-76 at Georgia LY, its first loss in last 14 games vs Dawg squad that that is 4-1 vs spread in first five SEC games; Gators are 5-1 in last six visits here, winning by 12-18-10-13-2 pts. Florida is 2-0 on SEC road games, winning both games by 5. Georgia won two of its three SEC home games. SEC home favorites of 5 or less points are 3-4 vs spread.
Toledo is awful, losing four of five in MAC; they're 1-2 as home dog in MAC, losing home games by 23-10 points, with an upset win against Western Michigan. Bowling Green is 3-2 in MAC, 3-1 as an underdog, losing road games by 17-5 points, with double OT win at Buffalo. MAC home underdogs are 2-4 against the spread. Falcons are 2-0 as favorites.
Kansas is 14-0 vs Colorado the last seven years, but needed OT to win in this gym LY; Jayhawks won last seven visits here, by 15-15-12-29-13-17-6 points. Kansas lost to Texas at home Saturday after leading by 15 early on- only one of its three Big 12 wins is by more than 5 points. Big 12 home underdogs are 4-4. Buffs are 2-0 at home in Big 12 games.
Missouri State won 12 of last 14 games vs Drake, losing two of its last three at this site; Bears' last five wins at Drake by; 1-11-5-6-18 points. MVC home underdogs of more than 4 points are 0-4 vs spread. State's last two games were both decided by a point; they're 4-1 on MVC roa, 3-2 as road favorite. Drake covered one of its last five MVC games.
Marquette is 3-2 vs UConn, splitting two games played here; average total in those five games is 158. Eagles are 6-1 vs spread in league, but they're 2-3 SU in last five, with losses by 8-1-5 points. Big East home favorites of 5 or less points are 11-4 vs spread. Huskies won/covered five games in row- they're 4-1 vs spread as an underdog.
Virginia Tech won its last three games vs Georgia Tech, by 8-5-6 points; Hokies are 4-1 vs spread in ACC games, winning at Maryland by 17 and losing/covering 64-61 at North Carolina. Single digit home underdogs are 3-0 in ACC games. Home side is 5-0 SU in Georgia Tech's ACC games, with Jackets 2-0 at home, beating Carolina by 20, Wake Forest by 35.
Ohio State used spurt in last 4:00 to escape Illinois with win Saturday, so they're still unbeaten. Five of last six OSU-Illinois games were won either by 4 or less points or in OT. Big 11 single digit home favorites are 10-5-1 vs spread. Buckeyes are 10-4 in last 14 games vs Purdue, but lost last two games played here, by 25-3 points.
Arkansas is 7-4 in last 11 games vs Auburn; home side won nine of last 12 series games- Tigers are 1-5 in last six visits here, losing by 22-36-8-20-13 points. Home side is 5-0 in Hogs' SEC games; Hogs won at home by 3-5 points. Auburn is 0-5 in SEC, losing road games by 19-24 points. SEC home favorites of 9+ points are 4-6 against the spread.
UNLV won 13 of last 15 games vs Wyoming, taking five of seven here; Rebels won in Laramie by 14-2-11-8-28 points- they are 3-3 in MWC, 1-1 on road. Cowboys lost last three games by 18-17-21 points; all four their MWC losses are by 13+ points. UNLV is 2-3 as home favorite in MVC. MWC home underdogs of 5+ points are 2-4 against the spread.