Marquette (9-3, 3-3 ATS) at (6) West Virginia (10-0, 4-5 ATS)
Marquette looks to knock off its second Top 25 opponent this season when it travels to the Coliseum in Morgantown for a clash with the undefeated Mountaineers in the Big East opener for both teams.
The Golden Eagles capped the non-conference portion of their schedule with a pair of blowout, non-lined home wins over North Florida (78-51 on Dec. 19) and Presbyterian (102-62 on Sunday). Prior to devouring those cupcakes, Marquette has lost three of four, including a 72-63 loss to then-No. 20 Wisconsin as a 5½-point road underdog, its only true road game to date. The Eagles’ only other battle against a ranked foe was a 79-65 blowout victory over then-No. 15 Michigan as a 1½-point underdog in a preseason tournament in Florida.
West Virginia survived its second scare in a seven-day stretch on Saturday, outlasting Seton Hall 90-84 in overtime to remain unbeaten, covering as a four-point road favorite. The previous Saturday, the Mountaineers blew a 19-point second-half lead at Cleveland State and barely held on for an 80-78 win as a hefty 15½-point road chalk. In between, Bob Huggins’ squad topped Ole Miss at home 76-66, but came up short as an 11½-point favorite. West Virginia is 5-0 at home (1-3 ATS), outscoring visitors by an average of 22.4 ppg (73-51.6).
The home team is 4-0 SU and ATS in the four Big East meetings between these teams, all of them double-digit blowouts and all taking place in the past four seasons. Last year, Marquette cruised to a 75-53 win as a 1½-point chalk, as the winner and favorite have easily cashed in all four head-to-head clashes, which were decided by margins of 19, 18, 15 and 22 points.
West Virginia is 2-5 ATS in its last seven home games going back to last season and 1-4 ATS in its last five Tuesday outings.
Marquette is on “over” streaks of 5-2 on the road, 5-2 in Big East play and 6-2 after a SU win, but the under is 5-1 in its last six Tuesday contests. Also, the Mountaineers are riding “under” stretches of 5-2 at home, 10-4 in conference, 13-3-1 on Tuesday and 8-2 after a spread-cover. Lastly, the past two clashes between these schools have stayed below the posted price.
ATS ADVANTAGE: WEST VIRGINIA
(20) Texas Tech (10-1, 5-1 ATS) at (19) New Mexico (12-1, 9-2-1 ATS)
New Mexico tries to bounce back from its first setback of the season when it returns to The Pit in Albuquerque for a non-conference battle with the Red Raiders in the day’s only matchup between Top 25 teams.
Texas Tech followed up its first defeat – an 85-83 loss at Wichita State as a six-point underdog – with a 100-87 rout of Stanford a week ago tonight. The Red Raiders cashed as a seven-point home favorite, their fifth straight spread-cover. Over its last five games, Tech is averaging 87.2 ppg (51.3 percent shooting) but allowed 77.4 ppg (42.8 percent).
Unranked to start the season, the Lobos climbed all the way to No. 13 in the national polls after winning their first 12 games, but the bubble burst in Wednesday’s shocking 75-66 road loss at Oral Roberts in a non-lined game. Including a 66-61 home win over Creighton 10 days ago, New Mexico has scored 66 points in consecutive games after tallying more than 80 points in nine of their previous 10 games.
These regional rivals have squared off five times this decade, including the last three years in a row, with Texas Tech winning four of the five contests and New Mexico going 3-1 ATS in the last four. The host has taken the last three clashes and is 4-1 ATS in the last five, including the Lobos’ 80-63 rout as a five-point home favorite in 2007 followed by the Red Raiders’ 86-78 win as a 1½-point home chalk in 2008.
In addition to its 5-0 ATS run overall, Texas Tech has cashed in five of six on the road and five of six against teams with a winning record, but the Raiders are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 on Tuesday. New Mexico is on pointspread rolls of 11-2-1 overall, 34-16-1 at home, 34-16-2 in non-conference lined games, 5-1 against the Big 12 and 5-0 after a SU loss.
Texas Tech carries nothing but “over” trends, including 30-10-2 overall, 19-7 as a visitor, 9-1-1 in non-league play, 4-0 versus the Mountain West, 13-3 after a SU win and 18-7-1 after a spread-cover. Also, the over is 3-1 in the Lobos’ last four lined outings and 4-0 in the Lobos’ last four versus Big 12 opponents. Lastly, the past two meetings in this rivalry easily went over the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NEW MEXICO and OVER
NCAAB News and Notes
Tuesday, December 29
Information on the best of Tuesday night's college hoop games........
9-0 Purdue has date with unbeaten West Virginia Friday; Boilers swept Iowa LY, winning 75-53 at home, 49-45 here (-6). Purdue won 73-65 at Alabama in its only road game this season. Hawkeyes are 5-7 with three losses by 14+ points; they're 1-5 against the spread as an underdog.
West Virginia got blitzed 75-53 at veteran Marquette team LY'; four of those Marquette starters are gone now- Eagles are 9-3, losing only road game 72-63 at Wisconsin- they're 2-1 as an underdog. Mountaineers had OT win at Seton Hall Saturday, blowing 10-point lead in last 0:50- their lack of true point guard hurts them in putting games away.
Rhode Island is 9-1, 3-1 on road, losing by hoop at VCU, winning by 21 at Brown, 10 at Davidson, 11 at Boston College. URI is ranked 67th in KenPom ratings; #122 is best team 6-6 Drexel beat. Five of six Dragon losses are by 7+ points. Drexel is third-worst ranked team URI played so far this season. Dragons are 0-4 if they allow more than 63 points.
Xavier (+3) won 80-70 at LSU LY, after trailing by one at half; Xavier's last three games were decided by total of eight points- they're 5-3 vs the spread as favorite this year. Tigers are 8-3, 0-3 away from home, losing by 26-19-2 points on neutral or semi-away courts. LSU is 1-2 as a dog this season. Xavier is just 4-4 SU in its last eight games.
Underdog covered eight of last 11 Bradley-Drake games, with three of last four decided by 1 or 2 points. Drake is 5-1 in season's first meeting. Braves are 2-4 in last six visits to Des Moines, with three of last four decided by three or less points. Drake lost its last three games by a total of nine points. Bradley lost four of its last six games.
Home side won six of last eight Wichita-Illinois State games; Shockers lost three of last four visits to Normal, losing last two years by 21-15 points. Redbirds are 9-2, playing 336th-ranked schedule (out of the 347 D-I teams; 1-2 vs top 100, #85 best opponent). 58th-ranked Wichita is 11-1, winning last nine games; they're 2-0 on road, winning by 15-21.
Southern Illinois won 10 of last 13 games vs Indiana State, but ISU won two of last three visits to Carbondale; underdogs covered six of last eight series games. Salukis are 6-2, winning last two games by a total of three points- they're 2-3 as a favorite. Sycamores are 2-1 on road, losing by 11 at LSU, winning at both Arkansas State (77-72), Toledo (55-54).
Missouri State is 8-3 in last 11 games vs Evansville, but lost three of last four visits to Roberts Stadium; faves are 6-3-1 vs spread in series. Bears are 10-1, losing last game in OT at Arkansas, their only loss in four road games. Aces are 5-4, playing 328th-ranked schedule, but lost 64-60 to Butler (#33) best team they've played this season (Mo State is #65).
Northern Iowa's 69-66 win at Creighton LY was its first in last 11 series games; Panthers are 1-5 in last six visits to Omaha, losing by 11-1-11-8-24 points. Creighton is 5-6; Nebraska is best team they beat. UNI is 9-1, 3-0 on road, winning at Denver (71-65), Iowa State (63-60), No Dakota (64-41). Panthers have all five starters back from a 23-11 team.
New Mexico (+2.5) lost 86-78 at Texas Tech LY; 12-1 Lobos lost their last game at Oral Roberts- they're 8-0 at home, with wins over Creighton (66-61), Cal (86-78), La Tech (81-52). 10-1 Tech split two road games, winning by 10 at TCU, losing 85-83 at Wichita State- they've got three wins vs Pac-10 teams and also beat TCU of the Mountain West.
Home side won both Penn State-Minnesota games LY, with Lions losing 79-59 in this gym (+6.5); State is 6-4 with only one loss by more than 3 points- they're 2-0 as an underdog. Gophers are 9-3, winning last five in a row; they're 5-3 vs spread as a favorite. Minnesota was held to 65 or less points in its three losses. PSU held 10 of 12 foes to 66 or less pts.
Seton Hall lost in OT to West Virginia Saturday after trailing by 10 with 0:50 left; Hazell scored 41 despite going 4-19 from arc; he could give the Syracuse 2-3 zone trouble. Orange waxed Hall twice LY, 100-76/89-74; they're 12-0, but this is their first true road game (3-0 on mostly neutral courts). Pirates lost by 6 to WVa and 6 to Temple.
Siena (+5.5) won 75-74 at St Joe's LY, after being down five at half; the Saints are disappointing 7-4 this year; Iona/Northeastern are their best wins (ranked #132/122; Hawks are #165). St Joe's lost six of last seven games but are over-scheduled (played 40th-best schedule so far); they're 0-3 on road, losing by 8 at Rider, 12 at Cornell, 23 at Minnesota.