Tuesday's Best NCAAB Bets
No. 9 UConn Huskies at No. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-5.5)
It’s been a tough road for the Irish already. Last week the AP Top 25 poll and five teams from the Big East ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation and Notre Dame will have already played three of those clubs after Tuesday.
UConn is coming off a 66-61 comeback overtime win over South Florida on Friday that saw them trail by nine with 11 minutes left before the Huskies’ star junior guard Kemba Walker came to the rescue by scoring 11 points down the stretch to push the game to an extra session.
Walker finished with 24 points and eight assists, but Jim Calhoun’s switch to a zone defense in the second half was just as pivotal in the victory.
"I can't think of the last time that we went 10 straight minutes in a zone. I really can't," Calhoun told reporters. "It could be a decade. I can't even remember, and I don't forget many basketball games. That saved us."
The zone might be the best way for UConn to defend Notre Dame. The Irish had problems with Syracuse’s 2-3 zone in Saturday’s 70-58 loss to Syracuse as an 8-point underdog.
Pick: UConn
No. 5 Pitt Panthers at Providence Friars (+6)
The Pitt Panthers felt pretty good about holding Kemba Walker to 31 points in a 78-63 win over UConn as a 7.5-point favorite on Dec. 27. The way they see it, Walker got his, but it took him 27 shots to get there while the rest of the team shot only 27 percent.
"Shooting percentage is key in defending him as obviously he's a very big part of what they do on offense,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon told reporters after the game. “One of our goals also was to keep him off of the free-throw line, which we did pretty effectively, especially in the first half."
Pitt may go with a similar game plan on Tuesday against the Friars and Marshon Brooks, who is averaging more than 23 points per game. The Friars have lost 13 straight Big East games coming into Tuesday’s matchup and just dropped their first game of the season in front of their home crowd over the weekend, falling 67-65 to St. John’s.
The Panthers should send Friars fans home unhappy again in this one.
Pick: Pitt
Razorbacks, Longhorns part of NCAA odds slate
By: Adam Markowitz
The NCAA basketball betting season has moved to conference play for the most part, but before we get there in the Big 12 we still have some more business to tend to. Old conference rivals collide at the Frank Erwin Events Center in a nationally-televised NCAA basketball odds duel as the Texas Longhorns play host to the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Arkansas might be a 10-2 team this year, but there is still a long way to go to prove that this is a team worthy of consideration for the NCAA Tournament. "Major conference" wins against the Seton Hall Pirates and Oklahoma Sooners are nothing to write home about, and there really isn't any other bulk on this slate. The two teams anywhere near this quality that the Hogs have run up against so far this year are the Texas A&M Aggies and UAB Blazers, both of which beat the Arkansas.
Rotnei ClarkeThis is also the first legitimate road game of the year for Arkansas, and it comes in a nasty location to engage in a college hoops affair. The play of the Razorbacks offense, which has averaged 76.3 PPG, must be spot on. Shooting 45.0 percent from the floor as this team is averaging is a must, while a free-throw percentage of 67.8 percent just isn't going to cut it.
Rotnei Clarke and Delvon Johnson are the two stars you need to watch out for on this team. Clarke is shooting a blistering 40.4 percent from beyond the arc this year, and is accounting for 14.3 PPG. Johnson is the team's only other double-digit scorer at 10.2 per game, but he is also the team's leading rebounder (8.8 RPG), and is the top defensive man in the post as well (49 blocks).
For the Longhorns, this is old hat. Texas has already beaten Michigan State on the road and the North Carolina Tar Heels on a neutral court. This is a game that the 'Horns must not show any complacency though, as Texas has the Connecticut Huskies coming up over the weekend in one of the biggest non-conference tussles of the year.
Sophomore Jordan Hamilton continues to be the tremendous stud for Rick Barnes' club. He is averaging 19.8 PPG and 7.2 RPG to lead the way offensively, and he is the catalyst for a Texas team that is very young and poised to have a huge impact on the college basketball betting world for possibly several years to come.
Tristan Thompson, in his first year in Austin, is averaging 12.0 PPG and 8.1 RPG, while his counterpart on the inside, Gary Johnson is averaging 11.7 PPG and 7.3 RPG.
Texas has one of the best defensive teams in the country as well, holding squads to just 36.5 percent shooting from the field, ranking No. 8 in the land. Teams are only averaging 62.9 PPG against UT.
The Hogs have met the Longhorns three times since 2006. Arkansas is just 1-2 SU, but it has beaten the NCAA basketball odds in all three duels. The only victory came in Little Rock two seasons ago. Last year, Texas won this tussle 96-85 on the road, but failed to cover the 14-point spread.
College basketball Knowledge
Illinois State lost its last four visits to Indiana State 10-4-5-7 points, as home side won seven of last eight series games. Redbirds lost first two MVC games, both by 11 points- they're 1-2 as an underdog this season. Sycamores are 4-1 against the spread as a favorite this year. MVC home favorites are 4-2 against the spread.
Pitt won seven of last eight games vs Providence- they lost last visit to this building two years ago, but won by 27-8 in previous two visits. Big East home underdogs are 2-0 vs spread in league play. First true away game for Panthers, who beat Maryland/Texas on neutral floors. Friars are 0-2 in Big East play, losing to St John's by 2, at Syracuse by 7.
Home side is 10-1 in last 11 UConn-Notre Dame games; Huskies are 1-4 in last five visits here, losing by 6-4-6-8 points. Big East home favorites of 8 or less points are 4-1 vs spread. UConn is 11-1, but lost at Pitt by 15 in its only road game- they're 2-1 as underdogs. Notre Dame is 12-2, losing last game at Syracuse- they're 3-2 as a favorite.
Minnesota won four of last five games vs Indiana, with three of wins by 8 or less points; Hoosiers are 1-4 in last five visits here, losing by 5-19-8-23 points. Minnesota lost its first two Big 11 games- they're 1-5 vs spread in last six games as favorite. Big 11 home favorites are 3-2-1 vs spread. Indiana is 0-3 against the spread as an underdog.
Northern Iowa lost its first two MVC games by total of 3 points; UNI is 12-2 in last 14 games vs Evansville, winning last seven played here by 13-18-3-11-13-7-19 points. Purple Aces are 2-4 vs spread as underdogs, losing by 34 at Wichita in MVC road opener. UNI is 2-3 as favorite, and is having trouble scoring- they haven't scored 70+ against a D-I team.
Creighton won 10 of last 12 games vs Missouri State, winning last five in Omaha by 3-22-21-24-4 points; Bluejays won last six games, taking first two MVC games by 11-16 points- they're 9-1 at home, losing to BYU. Missouri State won its last four games, with a win at Northern Iowa. MVC home teams are 6-4 vs spread in league play.
Home side won last five Drake-Wichita State games; Bulldogs lost five of last six visits here, with losses by 11-5-23-16-23 points. MVC home favorites are 4-2 vs spread, 2-1 if laying double digits. Wichita won first two MVC games by 34-16 points- they've won six games in row, are 3-2 as favorite. Drake is 2-2 as road dog, losing away games by 48-11-16.
Bradley lost first two MVC games by 14-16 points; they're 2-7 in last nine games overall and 4-8 in last dozen games vs Southern Illinois, 3-2 in last five played here. Salukis are 1-3 on road, losing by 22 at Illinois, 7 at Western Kentucky, 14 at Drake. MVC home teams are 4-2 against the spread if spread is 4 points or less.
Colorado State won tourney in Cancun, but then got beat by Hampton at home Saturday, very puzzling loss. Rams swept Wyoming by 10-16 points; LY; home team is 9-5 in last 14 series games, Cowboys are 3-2 in their last five visits here. Wyoming is 0-3 on road, losing at No Colorado by 14, South Dakota by 10, Cal-Irvine by 15 points.
West Virginia lost its first two Big East games, giving up 80 ppg, so this is big game for them, against DePaul team they've beaten four times in a row by 12-12-19-16 points. Double digit favorites are 2-3 vs spread in Big East play. Mountaineers are 2-6 as a favorite. DePaul covered five games in row- they lost first two league games by 16-11 points.
Ohio State won six of last seven games vs Iowa, winning last four in row none by more than 10 points; Buckeyes are 2-4 in last six visits here, with wins by 2-8 points in last two visits. Iowa is 1-2 as a dog this year, losing at home by 10 to Illinois in its Big 11 opener. OSU won by 18 at Indiana in its Big 11 opener. Big 11 home underdogs are 1-3 vs spread.
Texas won two of last three games vs former conference rival Arkansas by 11-4 points; young, talented Longhorns won their last five games, are 11-2, 2-2 as a favorite. This is first true road game for Arkansas squad that is 10-2, losing by 9 to Texas A&M, 5 to UAB. Big 12 double digit favorites are 17-13 vs spread. SEC double digit underdogs are 2-3.
Tips and Trends
UCONN Huskies at Notre Dame Fighting Irish
HUSKIES: UCONN is 11-1 SU this year and ranked 9th in the nation. Despite that success, the Huskies have found Big East play to be far more challenging. A double digit loss to Pitt and an OT win over South Florida has made this team realize just how tough conference play is. The Huskies are 4-2 ATS overall this season. UCONN has won 4 of the past 5 meetings against Notre Dame SU. The Huskies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. The Huskies are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. UCONN is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following an ATS loss. The Huskies are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games against the Big East.
Huskies are 13-3 ATS last 16 games following a SU win.
Under is 5-2 last 7 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - None Reported.
Projected Score: 69 (SIDE of the Day)
FIGHTING IRISH: (-5.5) Notre Dame is ranked 15th in the nation thanks to a 12-2 SU record. The Fighting Irish are proving to be one of the best teams in the Big East conference, and in the entire nation. The Irish are a perfect 9-0 SU at home this year. Last season, Notre Dame held UCONN to just 50 points, ultimately winning both SU and ATS as 1.5 favorites. The Irish have played 4 of their past 7 lined games as the listed underdog. The Fighting Irish are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 games against a team with a winning SU record. The Fighting Irish are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games overall. Notre Dame is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a winning road record. The Fighting Irish are 12-5-1 ATS in their last 18 games following an ATS loss. Notre Dame is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games. The Fighting Irish are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 Tuesday games.
Fighting Irish are 9-1 ATS last 10 games against the Big East.
Under is 17-4 last 21 home games against a team with a road winning percentage greater than .600%.
Key Injuries - F Carleton Scott (hamstring) is doubtful.
Projected Score: 68