Tuesday's Best NCAAB et
Xavier Musketeers at Georgia Bulldogs (-4.5, 138)
An NCAA Tournament bubble would likely burst for the loser of this late-season resume builder.
And the Musketeers appear to be streaking at the like time. Behind the standout play of guard Tu Holloway, Xavier has won eight of its past nine games and is 5-4 ATS over that span. The only straight up loss for the team from Cincinnati during that span was a 66-62 setback to Charlotte that saw Holloway make a mere 3 of 17 shots from the floor.
For the season he is averaging 20.8 points, five rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. The team is 13-2 when he cracks the 20-point mark.
“It’s fun to watch him play,” forward Kenny Frease said. “It’s fun to play with him.”
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are just 3-3 SU and 2-4 ATS over their past six games and have struggled to shutdown elite guards for other teams. In the team’s most recent game, an overtime win against lowly Auburn, Georgia let guard Earnest Ross go off for 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting. For the season, Ross entered the game averaging just 13.2 points per game.
On top of all that, the team also has been battling a flu bug making its way through the roster.
"We picked up some kind of virus [on] a tough trip to Arkansas," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "Taking nothing away from Auburn, but we just didn't look like ourselves, some of us, on Saturday. ... I don't think it'll last too long, so hopefully we'll be fine by Tuesday night."
Pick: Xavier
NCAA Odds Preview: Xavier at Georgia Bulldogs
By: Willie Bee
It's been a trying year for Mark Fox and the Georgia Bulldogs, picked before the season as a possible contender in the SEC East behind Florida and Kentucky. The Bulldogs looked all of that in early January when they ran their record to 12-2 with an upset win at home over then-No. 11 Kentucky, 77-70, as five point home 'dogs.
The shine has dulled since then as Georgia has floundered with a 4-4 mark on the floor and against the spread. Fox and his hounds will get another chance to impress some folks Tuesday night when they face a pretty fair Xavier Musketeers squad out of the Atlantic 10.
Somehow this game wound up as part of ESPN's Rivalry Week schedule, with the tip from Stegeman Coliseum in Athens broadcast on ESPNU a little after 4 p.m. (PT).
Tuesday's battle would have fit better during Bracket Buster week. Both teams come into this one with 16-6 straight-up marks and losing records against the spread. Georgia is 8-10 versus the number with Xavier 7-13. The Musketeers are 56th on the KenPom chart that ran through this past Saturday, with the Bulldogs down two rungs at No. 58.
Increasing the game's importance is the fact that despite who wins on Tuesday, both teams will be dependent upon the other to finish the year strong to make the victory mean something to the NCAA Tournament selection committee.
The contest is especially important for a mid-major like Xavier. Chris Mack's team has a few wins over teams like Butler, Seton Hall, Temple, Dayton and Richmond that will help them. But that one loss at Charlotte on Feb. 2 to stop a seven-game run left a mark. The Musketeers gave the Florida Gators a hard time about six weeks ago, and tapping a second SEC contender on the road would be sweet.
The X Men did rebound from the disappointing defeat at the 49ers with a win this past Sunday versus St. Louis. The Musketeers blew a seven-point halftime lead and relied on just a pair of hot hands in the second half to come away with the 76-68 win.
Tu Holloway scored 20 points in the second half and Mark Lyons added 10 for all but 15 of Xavier's offense in the final 20 minutes. It was Xavier's 37th-straight home win against a conference foe and sixth of the Musketeers' last seven games to go 'over.'
Georgia is riding a two-game streak on the floor but with two red numbers at the NCAA odds window in wins over Auburn at home in OT this past Saturday and at Arkansas three days before that. The wins followed losses at home to Florida, a very tough 104-91 double-overtime defeat on Jan. 25, and at Kentucky who got even for the earlier road upset with a 66-60 win at Rupp Arena on Jan. 29.
The Bulldogs' home-court advantage in the game is huge, no doubt, and the pressure is clearly on both teams. I still like Xavier plus the points in this one in a game that finishes in the 138-140 point range.
Georgia returns to SEC play when the Bulldogs next head to Columbia to meet the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. Xavier remains on the road with a huge A-10 game on Sunday at Duquesne.
Pearl returns for NCAA match at Kentucky
By: Adam Markowitz
Head coach Bruce Pearl was suspended for the first eight games of the SEC betting season for the Tennessee Volunteers. He'll be back on the sidelines Tuesday night at Rupp Arena, where the boys from Rocky Top will take on the Kentucky Wildcats in a nationally televised NCAA basketball wagering war.
Tip-off from Lexington, KY will take place at 6:00 p.m. (PT) in this clash that can be seen on the ESPN family of networks.
We've already spoken about Pearl and his suspension for offseason violations with the Vols, but this isn't the first time that he has coached the team this year. He was with the team for a 72-61 loss at the hands of the Connecticut Huskies, as well as for a 104-84 win over the Memphis Tigers in this calendar year.
Of course, there isn't a little road win this year with Pearl on the sidelines, as the only victory that was even close was an 83-76 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers on a neutral court (that "neutral court" was in the Steel City at Consol Energy Arena).
Though it's going to be great to have Pearl back on the sidelines on Tuesday, this isn't a game that revolves around who is making the trip to Lexington, but about who might not. Scotty Hopson is still up in the air right now after missing back-to-back games with a sprained left ankle. Hopson is the Vols' leading scorer at 16.5 PPG, and without him in the lineup the Volunteers only have four players that are averaging more than 4.0 PPG.
Keep an eye on Tobias Harris one way or the other on Tuesday. Harris scored 19 points and had 11 assists in the loss at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the final game of Pearl's SEC suspension this past Saturday. The 6-foot-8 freshman out of Dix Hills, NY, has been a monster this year, averaging 14.8 PPG and 7.7 RPG.
Is it just us, or does it seem like there is something that is just a little bit wrong with the Wildcats? Kentucky is going to be an NCAA Tournament team for certain, but if you took away the name "Kentucky" and perhaps replaced it with "Vanderbilt" or "South Carolina," we wouldn't be all that sure.
UK was dropped twice last week on the road against the Florida Gators and Ole Miss Rebels, falling to 1-4 this year in the SEC both SU and against the college basketball odds on the road.
Part of the problem is that Doron Lamb and Darius Miller have really fallen off in these big time SEC battles. Lamb only scored five points in the loss to the Gators in Gainesville, while Miller has now had consecutive games without reaching double figures on the stats ledger, something that he did with regularity earlier this year.
Instead, the pressure is really shifting to Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones. These two youngsters are combining to average 35.4 PPG year and shoulder the load of the Kentucky offense in their freshman campaigns, and they are the heart and soul of this team. When they're not at their best though, it really doesn't seem like the 'Cats have much of a chance of scratching their foes.
The good news for head coach John Calipari and company is that they really have dominated the NCAA basketball betting proceedings against UT of late. The Wildcats are 15-4 SU and 11-8 ATS dating back to 2002, and have only lost straight up twice to the Vols at home since the mid-1990s.
Kentucky has also covered five straight as the hosts. The last meeting between these teams resulted in a very lopsided 74-45 win for the Wildcats in the 2010 SEC Tournament.
College Basketball Knowledge
Indiana is 3-4 in last seven games but is 0-5 on Big 11 road (2-3 as road dog) losing away games by 4-12-9-1-14 points. Purdue won last three series games by 14-3-19 points; their 78-75 win here LY was its first in last six visits to Indiana. Double digit home favorites are 4-9 vs spread in Big 11 games. Purdue covered four of its five Big 11 home games.
Xavier is 8-5 outside Atlantic 14, losing 71-67 at home to Florida (-2) of SEC; Musketeers won eight of last nine games, but lost last road game, at Charlotte. Georgia is 3-2 at home in SEC, with last two hme games going OT. A-14 road underdogs of less than 7 points are 11-9 vs spread in non-league games; SEC home favorites of 5 or less points are 8-5.
Princeton won last three games vs Penn by 3-7-12 points; Tigers have a game lead over Quakers/Harvard- this is big game in league where regular season champ goes to NCAAs. Single digit favorites are 6-8 vs spread in Ivy League games, 5-5 at home. Penn is 3-1 in Ivy but this is their first road game. Princeton is 4-0 in Ivy, with wins by 18-4-4-15 points.
DePaul (+16.5) lost 76-60 at Cincinnati Dec 28, their third loss in last four series games; Blue Demons are 0-10 in Big East, 1-6 vs spread last seven games- they're 1-4 as home dog, losing by 2-11-20-30-25 points at home. Bearcats are 1-4 on Big East road, with only win at St John's by a hoop. Big East home underdogs of 7+ points are 3-5 vs spread.
George Mason won its last six games vs NC-Wilmington, winning first meeting this year 80-52 (-15.5) Dec 4. Patriots won/covered nine games in row- they're 8-2 as CAA favorite, 3-1 on road, with wins by 26-2-20-16 in last four road games. CAA home underdogs of 7+ points are 6-2 vs spread. UNCW is 3-5-1 against spread as a CAA dog, 0-1 at home.
Central Michigan won four of last five games vs Buffalo, splitting last four visits here, but Chippewas lost four of last five games, are 1-4 as a road dog, losing away games by 7-9-3-20-13 points. Buffalo won six of last seven games; they're 2-3 as home favorite, winning last four at home by 3-25-11-23. MAC home underdogs of 9+ points are 7-6 vs spread.
Underdogs are 6-0 vs spread in Northern Iowa's MVC road games, with Panthers 3-3 SU; UNI (-11.5) beat Evansville 65-53 Jan 4, its 11th win in last 12 series games. Panthers won four of last five visits here, with wins by 8-13-3-11 points. Home teams are 2-7 vs spread in MVC games where spread is two or less points. Aces are 6-2 in their last eight games.
Drake (+10.5) lost 73-57 at Creighton Jan 1, its third loss in last four in series; Bulldogs are 4-3 at home in Valley, 2-1 as home dog. Bluejays lost their last four road games by total of 16 points; dogs covered four of their last five games. MVC home underdogs are 8-10 against the spread. Three of last four Drake games were decided by three or less points.
Wichita State (-5.5) won 74-64 in Carbondale Jan 23, after trailing by 8 at half, Shockers' third win in row over SIU; Wichita won five games in a row, covering last four. Southern Illinois lost its last five games; they're 2-4 as MVC road dog, losing away games by 14-13-20-4-17 points. MVC double digit home favorites 6-9-1 against the spread. Shockers are 4-3 as an MVC home favorite, winning at home by 24-19-10-20-17.
Clemson won four of last five games vs Boston College, winning its last three at home by 20-22-16 points; Tigers are 4-0 as ACC home favorite, winning by 7-25-10-18 points at home. BC is 3-1 as road dog, losing its last three away games by 1-16-16 points. ACC home favorites of more than 8 points are 6-8 vs spread. Tigers gave up 49.8 ppg last 4 games.
San Diego State (-11) won 71-62 at Utah Jan 8, its third win in row vs Utes (by 2-7-9 points); Aztecs are 2-2 as home favorite, winning home games by 6-13-39-7 points. Double digit favorites are 6-9 vs spread in MVC, 4-6 at home. Utah covered its last three road games; they're 2-2 SU on MWC road, losing by 8 at Air Force, by 13 at UNLV.
Tips and Trends
Indiana Hoosiers at Purdue Boilermakers
HOOSIERS: Despite losing 2 of their last 3 games SU, Indiana is excited about closing out this season. The Hoosiers have become far more competitive this season, with their last 2 SU losses as perfect examples. Each of their past 2 SU losses have been by a single point, to Iowa and Michigan St. The Hoosiers are 12-12 SU and 9-9 ATS overall this year. Indiana is 0-7 SU and 3-4 ATS in true road games this season. The Hoosiers are 5-5 ATS as the listed underdog this year. Indiana has revenge on their minds tonight, as they've lost each of the past 3 meetings SU to Purdue. Indiana hopes F Christian Watford can play tonight, as he leads the team with 17 PPG and 5.8 RPG this season. G Verdell Jones III is averaging 12.4 PPG and a team high 3.3 APG this season. The Hoosiers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Indiana is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games. The Hoosiers are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600%.
Hoosiers are 4-0 ATS last 4 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%.
Over is 4-0 last 4 road games.
Key Injuries - F Christian Watford (hand) is questionable.
Projected Score: 66 (SIDE of the Day)
BOILERMAKERS: (-14, O/U 137.5) Purdue is developing a pattern of playing well at home while struggling mightily on the road in conference play. Luckily for them, tonight they face Indiana at home. The Boilermakers are 18-5 SU and 12-8 ATS overall this season. Purdue is a perfect 12-0 SU and 7-2 ATS in home games this season. Purdue is 6-3 ATS as a double digit favorite this year. C JaJuan Johnson has been near unstoppable this season, as he's averaging team highs of 20.8 PPG and 7.6 RPG this year. G E'twaun Moore is averaging 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 3.4 APG for the Boilermakers this season. Purdue shares the ball well, as they average 16.6 APG this year, 17th best in the nation. Purdue has held all but 2 of their opponents under 63 PTS since Thanksgiving. The Boilermakers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games. Purdue is 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS loss. The Boilermakers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games against a team with a losing road record. Purdue is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Boilermakers are 5-1 ATS last 6 home games.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games following a SU loss.
Key Injuries - None Reported.
Projected Score: 71
Tennessee Volunteers at Kentucky Wildcats
VOLUNTEERS: The last time Tennessee faced off against Kentucky, they lost by 29 PTS SU. To say the Volunteers have revenge on their minds would be an understatement. Tennessee had won 3 straight games before losing in overtime to Alabama in their last game. The Volunteers are 15-8 SU and 11-11 ATS overall this year. Tennessee is 3-3 both SU and ATS overall this season. Tennessee has been a great underdog this season, as they are 4-1 both SU and ATS. G Scotty Hopson is unlikely to play tonight, and his absence would be a huge problem for the Volunteers. Hopson leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 PPG. F Tobias Harris is averaging 14.8 PPG and a team high 7.7 RPG this season. G Cameron Tatum is the 3rd Tennessee player averaging double figures, as he's averaging 10.5 PPG this season. The Volunteers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games against the SEC. Tennessee is 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 games following a SU loss. The Volunteers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games.
Volunteers are 5-2 ATS last 7 games overall.
Under is 5-0 last 5 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%.
Key Injuries - G Scotty Hopson (ankle) is questionable.
Projected Score: 68
WILDCATS: (-9.5, O/U 138) Kentucky has lost back to back games SU, albeit by a total of 4 PTS. The Wildcats are so young and talented, that losing close games in conference play should be expected. After all, winning close games is a learning process, something the young Wildcats simply don't have. Kentucky is 16-6 SU and 8-9 ATS overall this season. The Wildcats are currently ranked 18th in the nation heading into tonight. Kentucky is a perfect 10-0 SU and 3-2 ATS in home games this season. The Wildcats are 6-9 ATS as the listed underdog this year. F Terrence Jones is proving to be one of the best freshman in the country, as he leads Kentucky with 17.9 PPG and 8.9 RPG this year. PG Brandon Knight is averaging 17.5 PPG and a team high 3.8 APG this season. The Wildcats are 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games following an ATS loss. Kentucky is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 Tuesday games. The Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. Kentucky is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the SEC.
Wildcats are 6-2 ATS last 8 games following a SU loss.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games against a team with a winning SU record.
Key Injuries - None Reported.
Projected Score: 79 (OVER-Total of the Day)
Pearl returns tonight at UK
By Brian Edwards
Bettors have 12 games on the college hoops board Tuesday, including an intriguing non-conference matchup between Xavier and Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens.
Most books opened Georgia (16-6 straight up, 8-10 against the spread) as a 4 ½-point favorite with a total of 138. The Greek opened the Muskateers at plus-160 on the money line (risk $100 to win $160).
Mark Fox’s team has won back-to-back games but it nearly suffered a costly loss Saturday before beating Auburn 81-72 in overtime. The Dawgs failed to cover the number as 16-point home favorites.
Senior center Jeremy Price played one of the best games of his career, finishing with 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. Travis Leslie added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Trey Thompkins had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
UGA has won 10 of its 12 home games but is just 3-6 ATS in Athens. The Dawgs have watched the ‘over’ go 9-9 overall, 5-4 in their home games.
Xavier (16-6 SU, 7-13-1 ATS) has won eight of its last nine games, going 5-4 versus the number. The Muskateers bounced back from a 66-62 loss at Charlotte to beat Saint Louis 76-68 on Saturday. However, they came up short for their backers as 11-point home favorites.
Terrell Holloway, who is one of the nation’s most underrated point guards, scored a game-high 24 points against the Billikens. Holloway averages team-highs in scoring (20.5 points per game), assists (5.0 APG) and steals (1.5 SPG).
Chris Mack’s team has been an underdog six times, compiling a 3-3 record both SU and ATS. The Muskateers won outright as ‘dogs at Richmond, at Rhode Island and vs. Seton Hall on a neutral court.
The ‘over’ is 12-8 overall for Xavier.
This is a rematch of a first round game in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. On that day, Xavier captured a 73-61 win as an 8 ½-point favorite, although this space vividly remembers several shaky calls by the officials that completely changed the complex of the game early in the second half.
UGA led by nine at intermission and Xavier didn’t get ahead of the number until making a slew of free throws in the final minute.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern Tuesday on ESPNU.
On ESPN at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, Purdue (18-5 SU, 12-8 ATS) will take on Indiana in West Lafayette. Most spots opened the Boilermakers as 14-point favorites with a total of 137 ½.
Matt Painter’s squad has lost two of its last three games and is mired in a 2-5 ATS slump. The Boilers have had a week off to prep for IU after losing 66-59 at Wisconsin last Tuesday. They had a one-point lead with less than a minute remaining before the Badgers closed the game on an 8-0 run to cover as five-point home favorites.
JaJuan Johnson had a team-high 23 points in the losing effort at Wisconsin.
Indiana (12-12 SU, 9-9 ATS) has played well in recent weeks, posting a 5-2 spread record in its last seven games with outright wins over Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan. The Hoosiers also took Michigan St. to overtime before losing at Breslin Center.
Tom Crean’s team lost a heartbreaker Saturday at Assembly Hall, as Iowa went into Bloomington and captured a 64-63 win as a 5 ½-point underdog. IU’s Jordan Hulls had a team-high 24 points in defeat.
Indiana has been a double-digit underdog four times this season, posting a 2-2 spread record. The Hoosiers are 5-5 ATS in 10 games as underdogs. They will be without their leading scorer Christian Watford, who will miss his third consecutive game with a broken hand. Watford averages 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
The ‘under’ is on a 4-1 run in Purdue’s last five games and is 3-1 in IU’s last four outings. However, the ‘over’ is 12-8 overall for the Boilers, 7-2 in their home games. Totals have been an overall wash (9-9) for the Hoosiers.
Purdue has won three in a row over IU, but the Hoosiers owns a stellar 8-2 spread record in the last 10 head-to-head meetings.
Bruce Pearl will return to the sidelines tonight after serving an eight-game suspension in SEC games. Without its head coach, Tennessee (15-8 SU, 11-11 ATS) went 5-3 in SEC play to leave it 1½ games behind the East division’s leader, Florida.
The Volunteers saw their three-game winning streak snapped in Saturday’s 65-60 loss to Alabama in overtime. They failed to win outright as five-point home ‘chalk.’
As of early this morning, most books were listing UT as a nine-point underdog at Kentucky. That is the richest underdog situation the Vols have faced this year. They won outright at Pitt as eight-point underdogs and own a 4-1 record both SU and ATS as ‘dogs.
Kentucky (16-6 SU, 8-9 ATS) returns home after road losses at Ole Miss and at Florida last week. The Gators won a 70-68 decision as one-point home underdogs Saturday night in Gainesville.
Brandon Knight had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists against UF. Terrence Jones added 18 points and seven rebounds.
John Calipari’s team has limped to a 2-6 spread record in its last eight games. The ‘Cats are unbeaten in 10 home games, though, going 3-2 ATS.
Tennessee’s leading scorer Scotty Hopson (16.5 PPG) is “questionable” after reinjuring his sprained ankle at Monday’s practice. Hopson sat out Saturday’s loss to Alabama.
ESPN will have the telecast from Thompson-Boiling Arena at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets
Mississippi St. head coach Rick Stansbury has suspended senior guard Ravern Johnson (17.7 PPG) indefinitely after his critical tweets of the coach following last Wednesday’s loss at Alabama. The Bulldogs won Saturday at LSU by a 58-57 count. They host Arkansas on Wednesday in a battle for second place in the SEC West.
Without star guard Ashton Gibbs, Pitt went into Morgantown last night and emerged victorious in the hoops version of The Backyard Brawl. The Panthers captured a 71-66 victory as one-point favorites at West Virginia.
As of early this morning, most books had Clemson listed as a nine-point favorite for tonight’s home game vs. Boston College.
vegasinsider.com.