Game Of The Day: Michigan State at Texas
By RICKY DIMON
No stage fright
Although the season is barely one month old, both Michigan State (9-2, 3-7 ATS) and Texas (10-0, 6-2 ATS) should be well-prepared for another showdown between two Final Four hopefuls.
“It’s a big game for us,” said Spartan senior Raymar Morgan (10.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg). “It’s going to be on the big stage. That’s why we come here. Play the best and you’ll be the best. Michigan State has built that tradition.”
The Spartans are also building an impressive non-conference resume before they begin for Big Ten action. MSU has already faced Gonzaga (won 75-71), Florida (lost 77-74) and North Carolina (lost 89-82), so Tom Izzo’s squad is certainly battle-tested.
Texas is also no stranger to the spotlight. The Longhorns are coming off a 103-90 victory over North Carolina on Saturday in what was the first basketball game in the new Cowboys Stadium, played in front of 38,052 fans. They also boast wins over Iowa (85-60), Pittsburgh (78-62) and USC (69-50).
“Today just got us ready for what's to come,” explained UT senior Damion James (16.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg) after Texas outgunned the Tar Heels.
Reason to worry?
Michigan State rolled past IPFW 80-58 on Saturday, but the Spartans ran into some trouble in the form of 6-foot-6 swingman Deilvez Yearby. The IPFW senior wreaked havoc on MSU by posting career-highs in points (25) and rebounds (15).
Izzo is concerned that a pair of athletic Longhorns—James, 6-7, and Gary Johnson, 6-6—will do similar damage to the Spartans on Tuesday.
“What scares me about what Yearby did to us is that James and Johnson are a lot more muscular and play a lot like Yearby did,” Izzo noted. “We’re going to have to shore up our defense at that position.”
Dexter on Showtime
The Spartans will also have their hands full with Texas center Dexter Pittman (14.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg). Having enjoyed a solid but unspectacular season through his team’s first nine games, Pittman positively erupted against North Carolina. The senior scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end of the floor.
Pittman stands at 6-10 and 290 pounds. Michigan State has just two players taller than 6-8 on its roster (Garrick Sherman and Anthony Ianni) and the pair is averaging a combined 14.9 minutes per game.
“Our big guys will get their eyes opened when Pittman bows them in the chops one time,” Izzo commented. “If there’s anything they’re not used to, they’re going to have to get used to it quick. We’re going to have to be soldiers down there.”
Texas and Michigan State share one common opponent so far this year; North Carolina. Against the Spartans, UNC enjoyed a +2 rebounding margin while the Longhorns outrebounded the Tar Heels by 20.
Little big men
Whatever MSU lacks in size, it makes up for with stellar and experienced guard play. Junior Kalin Lucas (16.1 ppg, 4.5 apg) leads the Spartans in scoring, has more than twice as many assists as turnovers and is making 42 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Juniors Chris Allen and Durrell Summers both average more than 10 points per contest. Sophomore Korie Lucious is not asked to shoulder much of the scoring load, but he sports a remarkable assist-to-turnover ratio (48 assists, 15 turnovers through 11 games).
“We haven't lost to them since I've been here, and I don't plan to start now,” Lucas said of the Longhorns. “But it'll be a dogfight. And if we start well, we can't get satisfied. We've got to stay on our toes.”
Trends
Texas has lost and failed to cover in its past three games against Michigan State dating back to 2006. In last season’s tilt at the Toyota Center in Houston, the Spartans prevailed 67-63 thanks in part to 14 points from Durrell Summers.
The Spartans are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games against opponents from the Big 12. However, they are 1-4 ATS in their last five non-conference games and 1-4 ATS in their last five games overall. MSU is also 0-5 ATS in its last five games against teams with winning records.
The Longhorns are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against teams with winning records and 6-1 ATS in their last seven home games.
Neither Michigan State (5-4 O/U) or Texas (4-3 O/U) have been particularly strong over/under plays this season. The over, however, is 4-1 in MSU’s last five road games. The over is also 4-1 in UT’s last five non-conference games and last five games overall.
(9) Michigan State (9-2, 3-7 ATS) at (2) Texas (10-0, 6-2 ATS)
The unbeaten Longhorns look to topple their second Top 10 opponent in 72 hours when they welcome ninth-ranked Michigan State to the Erwin Events Center.
The Spartans have ripped off four straight victories, all against weak competition (Wofford, The Citadel, Oakland and Indiana-Purdue/Fort Wayne). Even though all four were double-digit routs by an average of 19.5 points per game, Michigan State went just 1-3 ATS, and it has now failed to cover in four of five overall and seven of 10 lined outings this season.
Michigan State has faced three teams currently ranked in the Top 25, beating Gonzaga 75-71 as an 11½-point home favorite, then losing to Florida 77-74 as a 3½-point neutral-site chalk and falling to North Carolina 89-82 as a 1½-point road underdog.
Texas faced its stiffest test of the season Saturday and passed with ease, crushing North Carolina 103-90 as a seven-point chalk in a game played at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Four players scored 20 points or more in the victory – with Damion James (25 points, 15 rebounds) and Dexter Pittman (23 points, 15 rebounds) registering double-doubles. Also, the Longhorns actually got outshot 48 percent to 41.4 percent, but they had a huge 56-36 rebounding edge and they made 24 of 34 free throws, while the defending champs went 11-for-19 from the charity stripe.
These national powers have faced off each of the last three years, with Michigan State going 3-0 SU and ATS. That includes last year’s 67-63 victory as a 5½-point underdog in a game played at the Toyota Center in Houston. The SU winner has covered in all five meetings between these schools dating to 1999.
The Spartans have scored at least 72 points in 10 of 11 games this year and are averaging 82.5 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting. They’ve also held seven opponents to 62 points or fewer and are yielding 65.1 ppg (38.3 percent).
The Longhorns have won every game by double digits, with Saturday’s 13-point win over UNC being their narrowest victory of the season. Texas is are putting up 87.2 ppg on 50.5 percent shooting – scoring 103, 104 and 107 in three of the last four – while surrendering just 57.4 ppg (33.3 percent). The Tar Heels became just the second team to score more than 62 points against the ‘Horns, who have held five opponents to 54 points or less.
In addition to its current 1-4 ATS slump, Michigan State has failed to cover in five straight games against opponents with a winning record and it is 5-16-2 ATS in its last 23 Tuesday outings. However, Tom Izzo’s squad is 15-5 ATS in its last 20 after a non-cover, and including its recent success against Texas, the Spartans are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 against Big 12 opponents.
The Longhorns are on positive pointspread runs of 8-2 overall (all in non-conference play), 6-1 at home, 7-1 against winning teams, 6-2 after a SU win, 4-1 after an ATS triumph and 20-8-1 on Tuesday.
Michigan State has topped the total in four of five road games, and Texas is on “over” surges of 4-1 overall, 4-1 on Tuesday and 7-1 after a spread-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS and OVER
Cal (6-3, 4-4 ATS) at (1) Kansas (10-0, 4-3 ATS)
Cal faces its toughest task of the season when it travels to Allen Fieldhouse for a battle with the undefeated and top-ranked Jayhawks.
The Golden Bears are coming off consecutive blowout victories over Iowa State (82-63 as an eight-point home favorite on Dec. 5) and Pacific (79-54 as a six-point road chalk on Dec. 9). Cal has tallied at least 70 points in every game this season, and its last five victories have come by margins of 34, 32, 21, 19 and 25 points. However, all three of the Bears’ defeats have come against teams currently ranked in the Top 25: 95-73 loss to Syracuse in a pick-em game in New York; 76-70 to Ohio State as a 3 ½-point underdog in New York; 86-78 at New Mexico as a 5½-point road underdog.
Kansas fended off pesky Michigan on Saturday, winning 75-64 but falling way short of covering as a 20-point home favorite. Marcus Morris (23 points, 10 rebounds) was one of four Jayhawks to score in double figures, and Kansas shot 52.1 percent, held Michigan to 35.8 percent and had a 37-29 rebounding edge, but it missed on 13 of 19 three-point tries.
The Jayhawks have annihilated nine of their first 10 opponents, the only close contest being a 57-55 victory over Memphis as a 10½-point favorite on a neutral court in St. Louis, Mo. The Jayhawks’ other nine victories have been by margins of 36, 50, 30, 37, 67, 12, 35, 25 and 11 points. Also, Kansas has the nation’s longest home winning streak at 48 games.
These teams last met in 2005 on a neutral court in Kansas City, Mo., with the Jayhawks winning 69-56 as a 3½-point favorite. Kansas also beat the Bears 80-67 as a 7½-point chalk in 2002.
Cal is putting up 79.1 ppg while shooting 46.6 percent from the field, figures that are actually dwarfed by Kansas’ 88.8 ppg and 51.2 percent field-goal average. The Jayhawks also rate a huge edge defensively, yielding just 58.3 ppg (34.5 percent), while the Bears surrender 68 ppg (41.2 percent).
The Bears carry nothing but negative ATS trends, including 3-7 on the road, 3-7 against the Big 12, 2-6 against winning teams and 1-4 after a spread-cover. On the flip side, despite failing to cash against Michigan on Saturday, Kansas is on positive pointspread stretches of 19-7-1 overall, 35-16-1 at home, 39-17-1 against winning teams and 5-0 after a non-cover. However, the Jayhawks have come up short in six of their last seven on Tuesday and eight of 11 against Pac-10 opponents.
For Cal, the over is on runs of 38-17 overall in lined contests, 6-2 in non-conference play, 4-1 on the road, 41-15-1 after a SU win and 35-15-1 after an ATS win. The over is also 5-1 in Kansas’ last six on Tuesday, but the under is 16-5 in its last 21 against Pac-10 foes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: KANSAS
(19) Texas A&M (9-2, 5-3 ATS) at (22) Washington (7-2, 2-6 ATS)
Texas A&M plays just its second true road game of the season when it treks to the Pacific Northwest for an non-conference showdown with the 22nd-ranked Huskies at Bank of America Arena in Seattle.
The Aggies climbed a couple of spots in this week’s poll after knocking off The Citadel on Saturday 71-50 as a 16-point home favorite. Texas A&M, which rebounded from an 84-81 loss to New Mexico in Houston the previous Saturday, snapped an 0-3 ATS slide with the spread-cover. The Aggies have scored at least 66 points in every game this year, and they’re averaging 77 ppg on 47.9 percent shooting over the past five contests, while giving up 64 ppg (39.6 percent).
Washington has alternated SU wins and losses in its last five games, most recently blowing out Portland 89-54 on Saturday. The Huskies cashed as an 11-point favorite in that contest, ending an 0-5 ATS slump. Washington has tallied at least 66 points in eight of nine contests this year, averaging 84.3 ppg overall on 45.5 percent shooting. However, six of the team’s nine opponents have scored 69 points or more.
Texas A&M is 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS against opponents currently ranked in the Top 25 or ranked when the Aggies faced them, while Washington’s two losses came against current Top 25 foes (99-92 overtime loss at Texas Tech in a pick-em game; 74-66 loss to Georgetown as a two-point ‘dog on a neutral court in Anaheim, Calif.).
The only recent battle between these schools came in November 2007, with the Aggies winning 77-63 as a 4½-point favorite at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Texas A&M is on ATS upticks of 16-7 overall, 37-16 on the road, 13-5 against winning teams and 9-4 when coming off a spread-cover. Washington is on ATS slides of 1-5 overall, 1-4 at home 1-4 against the Big 12, 1-6 against winning teams and 0-4 after both a SU and ATS victory. However, the Huskies have cashed in four straight Tuesday contests.
The Aggies carry “under” trends of 5-2 overall and 9-2-1 on Tuesday, and Washington has stayed low in four of five on Tuesday and 16 of 23 against non-league competition. However, the Huskies are on “over” runs of 20-6 overall, 13-4 at home, 19-7 after a SU win and 11-1 after a spread-cover.
ATS ADVANTAGE: TEXAS A&M
Tuesday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards
Gamblers have a tasty doubleheader in college hoops tonight. The twin bill will feature the nation’s two best teams, Kansas and Texas. The Longhorns will take on Michigan State in Austin, while the Jayhawks welcome the Cal Bears into Lawrence. Let’s take a closer look at both showdowns.
**Michigan State at Texas**
--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Texas (10-0 straight up, 6-2 against the spread) as a seven-point favorite. As of early this morning, most books had the Longhorns favored by eight.
--Michigan State (9-2 SU, 3-7 ATS) has won four in a row since losing to North Carolina and Florida in a three-game stretch. However, the Spartans are still mired in a 1-4 ATS slump. They are off an 80-58 win over IUPU-Ft. Wayne as 28 ½-point home favorites. Raymar Morgan and Delvon Roe both scored 14 points apiece.
--Rick Barnes’ team looked nasty in Saturday’s 103-90 win over North Carolina as a 6 ½-point favorite at Cowboys Stadium. Damion James scored a game-high 25 points to go with his 15 rebounds and four steals. Dexter Pittman added 23 points and 15 boards, while J’Covan Brown and Avery Bradley finished with 21 and 20 points, respectively. The 193 combined points sailed ‘over’ the 152-point total.
--Tom Izzo’s squad will be playing its third true road game. The Spartans lost 89-82 at UNC as 1 ½-point road underdogs. They won by a 69-56 count at The Citadel, but failed to cash tickets as 14-point road ‘chalk.’
--Texas guard Jai Lucas, a transfer from Florida, became eligible for the UNC game and played six minutes off the bench. Lucas did not attempt a shot, dishing out one assist and committing one turnover. As a true freshman at UF, Lucas started all 36 games and averaged 8.5 points per contest. He was a 43.5-percent shooter from 3-point range.
--James is averaging a double-double, leading the team in scoring (16.4 PPG) and rebounding (10.6 RPG). Pittman is averaging 14.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.
--Five Michigan St. players are scoring in double figures, paced by Kalin Lucas and his team-high 16.1 points and 4.5 assists per game.
--These schools are meeting for the fourth straight year. Texas has lost all three of the previous encounters both SU and ATS, including last season’s 67-63 loss to the Spartans in Houston. Goran Suton had a team-high 18 points for Michigan St., which took the cash as a 5 ½-point underdog. Gary Johnson had a career-high 20 points for the ‘Horns, who also got 15 points and 10 boards from James. Pittman was saddled with foul trouble and held to just six points on 1-of-6 shooting.
--The ‘under’ is 3-1 for Texas at home. However, the ‘over’ is 4-1 in the Longhorns’ last five games with a total (regardless of venue).
--The ‘under’ is 3-1 in the Spartans’ last four games (three at home, one on the road). However, the ‘over’ is 5-4 overall for MSU.
--ESPN2 will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
**California at Kansas**
--LVSC opened top-ranked Kansas (10-0 SU, 4-3 ATS) as a 15-point favorite, but the number was 13 at most spots early this morning.
--Bill Self’s team captured a 75-64 win Saturday over Michigan as a 20-point home favorite. The Jayhawks never got ahead of the number in their 48th straight home victory. Markieff Morris led KU with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Sherron Collins had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Cole Aldrich, who has been battling flu-like symptoms, had only five points but did pull down 11 boards.
--Since suffering back-to-back losses to Syracuse and Ohio St. at Madison Square Garden, California (6-3 SU, 4-4 ATS) has won four of its last five games, going 3-1 ATS over that stretch. The Bears have been off since beating Pacific 79-54 on Dec. 9. They easily took the cash as six-point road favorites thanks to 22 points and 10 rebounds from Patrick Christopher.
--Mike Montgomery’s team is 0-2 both SU and ATS in a pair of underdog spots this year. The Bears lost to Ohio St. 76-70 and went down 76-78 at New Mexico when they were catching 5 ½ points.
--Cal is led by senior guard Jerome Randle (19.6 PPG), who grew up playing with and against Collins, a fellow Chicago native.
-- Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
-- After losing Saturday to Richmond in Sunrise, Florida returns to the court tonight in bounce-back mode. The Gators will meet South Alabama at the O-Dome as 20-point home favorites. Billy Donovan’s team has lost to the Spiders and Syracuse following an 8-0 start that included wins over Michigan St. and FSU. The Jags, who got spanked by UF when these schools met in Jacksonville in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament, have failed to cover in seven of their last eight lined games.
--Cornell picked up another huge win last night by beating St. John’s 71-66 at MSG as a four-point underdog. The Big Red won the Holiday Festival behind a 20-point effort from Jon Jacques. Jeff Foote had 19 points and 11 rebounds for his team that improved to 9-2. Cornell’s only loss have come to unbeaten Syracuse and once-defeated Seton Hall.
--Watch out for UTEP, which spanked Oklahoma 89-74 as a 2 ½-point underdog. The Miners can score and the ‘over’ has been a winner in their last three games with a total.
--Bettors have an afternoon game to wager on at 3:00 p.m. Eastern in Honolulu. Northeastern and St. Mary's will face each other on ESPNU. LVSC had the Gaels at three on the send-out, but most spots had Saint Mary's favored by 5 1/2 early this morning.
--South Carolina senior Dominique Archie will have season-ending surgery. He will apply to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. In five games this year, Archie was averaging 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest.
vegasinsider.com
NCAAB News and Notes
Tuesday, December 22
Information on the best of Tuesday's college basketball games.
Michigan State (+6) won 67-63 at Texas LY; Spartans are 8-2, losing its only road game 89-82 at North Carolina (they also lost to Florida by 3 on neutral court). Longhorns just whacked North Carolina in Dallas last game, 103-90, closest game they've had this year. Big 11 road underdogs are 12-7 vs spread. Big 12 home favorites are 20-12.
UAB is 10-1, winning last nine games, last two vs Cincinnati and South Alabama; Blazers are 5-2 vs spread as a favorite. C-USA home favorites are 19-11 vs spread. Butler snuck past Xavier 69-68 Saturday; they are 4-3 in last seven games, losing by 7 at Georgetown, on neutral court by 1-9 points to Clemson-Minnesota. Bulldogs have three road wins.
Missouri State is 10-0, with road wins at Arkansas State, St Louis and Ark-Little Rock; they upset Auburn of SEC 73-62, Tulsa 83-75. MVC road teams are 21-22 vs spread. Arkansas is 6-5, winning last four tilts, but none of victims are ranked higher than 229th; Bears are ranked 48th. SEC home teams are 25-21 against the spread out of conference.
Stanford is 5-5, losing last two games by 1-8 points; Cardinal lost by 13 at San Diego, by 8 at Northwestern- they took Kentucky to OT before losing on neutral floor. Pac-10 road dogs are 8-14 vs spread. Texas Tech lost by hoop at Wichita after starting year 9-0; they beat Washington of Pac-10 99-92 in OT in their last home game.
Cal is getting healthier, so they'll be one of better teams in Pac-10; they are 6-3, but are playing for first time in 13 days. Bears are 0-2 as a dog, losing by 22-6-8 points. Kansas is 10-0, 3-3 vs spread when favored; they beat Michigan by 11 last game after getting off to huge lead early. Big 12 home favorites are 19-12 vs spread. Pac-10 road dogs are 8-14.
LSU is 8-2; this is their first road game- their two losses were in NYC, neutral court games vs UConn (81-55), Arizona (71-52). SEC road dogs are 8-12 vs spread. Washington State is 9-2; Idaho is probably best club they've beaten. Coogs are 1-3 vs spread as favorite. Pac-10 home faves are 13-21 against the pointspread.
Portland lost four of last five games, with three losses by 18+ pts; they are 3-1 vs spread as favorite, but have to have confidence shaken after starting season 5-0. Idaho is 5-3 but hasn't played in 10 days; Vandals (+9) lost 68-65 at Portland LY- they are 2-3 on road, winning at Utah, losing by 7 at Texas Southern, 2 at Northridge, 12 at Washington State.
UCLA lost six of last seven games, is 3-7, ranked 155th, one spot ahead of Oregon State for 9th in Pac-10; Bruins are 2-3 vs spread as a favorite. Pac-10 home favorites are 13-21 vs spread. Colorado State won last four games; they're 0-3 on road, losing by 13 at Oregon, 5 at Indiana State and 7 at No. Colorado. MWC road underdogs are 10-6 vs spread.
Texas A&M is 8-2, winning only road game at SMU by 12; they lost to unbeatens West Va, New Mexico by 7-3 points on neutral floors. Big 12 road underdogs are 12-7 vs spread. Washington is 7-2, losing at Texas Tech in OT, Georgetown on neutral floor; Huskies are 2-5 vs spread as a favorite. Pac-10 home favorites are 13-21 vs spread.
St Mary's is 8-1, 5-1 at home, with no home wins by less than 15 pts (only loss by hoop to Vanderbilt); Gaels are 6-1 vs spread as favorite. WCC home favorites are 7-9 vs spread. Northeastern might be best 2-5 team in America; all seven of their games were decided by six points or less. Huskies are 2-1 as underdog. CAA road underdogs are 22-15.
Tulsa is 8-1, losing 83-75 in only road game, at Missouri State; seven of Tulsa's eight wins are by 14+ points (Ohio U 81-80 was other). C-USA favorites are 24-18 vs spread, 5-5 on road. Nebraska is 8-2, winning at USC by 3, by 6 over Oregon State- they scored 55-61 points in losses at Saint Louis, Creighton. Big 12 underdogs are 14-7, 2-0 at home.
BYU won last five games, is 10-1, winning road games at Hawai'i by 18, 5 at Fresno State, losing by 10 at Utah State; they're 5-3 vs spread as a favorite. MWC road favorites are 4-6 vs spread. Nevada is 1-3 as a dog, losing by 13 at UNLV, 9 at VCU, 7 at No Carolina, 3 at Pacific; they've won last three games, vs stiff teams. WAC home underdogs are 4-5.
St Bonaventure (+3) lost 83-65 at Niagara LY (was down 15 at the half); Bonnies are 4-4, losing road games by 52 at Miss State, 13 at Syracuse- they're 4-1 vs spread as underdog. Niagara is 7-4, 3-5 vs spread as fave; they're playing for first time in nine days. Purple Eagles won three of last four games. A-14 road underdogs are 13-26 against the spread.
Its been 10 days since Western Carolina (+15) won 91-83 at Louisville, arguably greatest win in program history; they're 9-1, losing at Texas by 32, but also upsetting Bradley in Peoria. SoCon road dogs are 17-24 vs spread. Clemson just beat Charleston of SoCon 94-55 (-19); they beat two other SoCon teams, by 22-29 points.
College Trio on TV
By Sportsbook.com
College sports takes center stage at Sportsbook.com on Tuesday night, with a bowl game and a tripleheader of college hoops action on tap. On the hardwood, the trio of games tips off with Michigan State visiting Texas, followed by Cal at Kansas, and finally, Texas A&M visits Washington.
Michigan State at Texas
The Spartans have played an aggressive non-conference slate and have been nicked a couple of times. Coach Tom Izzo prefers to learn about as much as he can about his team as early as possible. Despite returning many of the key players from last year’s national runner up, Michigan State hasn’t played with the urgency needed, which explains why they have covered so few games this season. Izzo is working to have his club stick the gas pedal, instead of setting effort on cruise control. The Spartans are 6-0 ATS against Big 12 clubs.
While many teams schedule cupcakes, Coach Rick Barnes takes a similar method to Izzo and schedules heavy. Of course, when you have Top 10 or so talent every year, it’s much easier to feel comfortable in lining up the big boys. Texas is 29-17 ATS in home games against top caliber teams outscoring opponents by 12 or more points a game and has revenge in their hearts having lost the last two years to Michigan State.
California at Kansas
California is being thought of as the second best team in the Pac 10 this year. Considering how bad the Pac 10 is so far, that comparison isn’t even close, and look for the Jayhawks to prove it when they go head-to-head in Lawrence on Tuesday night. It’s no secret that they are tough to beat at home, but the amount by which they take care of business is what impresses me:
KANSAS is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) as a home favorite of 10 or more points over the last 2 seasons. The average score was KANSAS 85.0, OPPONENT 64.6 - (Rating = 1*). Cal has already lost three times, not coincidentally, to the three best teams it has played. Only Syracuse comes close to matching Kansas’ capability, and the Bears lost that game by 22 points. No wonder 77% of the money is on Kansas -13.
Texas A&M at Washington
It has been rather quiet in Big 12 country beyond the two behemoths Kansas and Texas on the hardwood; nonetheless, Texas A&M is proving they should at least be carried in the discussion when it comes to Top 20 teams. Defense will be the Aggies’ calling card, though different scoring options are popping up. Senior guard Donald Sloan is the main man in Aggie-land, but Coach Mark Turgeon has seen vets like Derrick Roland elevate their game and newcomers Khris Middleton and Naji Hibbert have flashed their potential from time to time. Texas A&M is 21-10 ATS away from home playing an winning club the last three seasons.
Team leaders Quincy Pondexter and Isaiah Thomas are one year older and better players from a season ago when they quite good. Coach Lorenzo Romar has a deeper bench and despite losing rebounding machine Jon Brockman to graduation, they are crashing the boards with equal aplomb. The Huskies will want faster pace and are 35-16 ATS when they score 75 to 80 points.
Washington is a 7.5-point favorite, but over 85% of bettors were backing the underdog Aggies at last check, according to the Sportsbook.com Betting Trends page.