Tuesday's Best NCAAB Bet
Kent State Golden Flashes at Colorado Buffaloes (-9, 153)
You can’t blame the Golden Flashes for being pretty pleased about their run in the NIT so far. They became the first team to win its first two games on the road since the tournament switched back to 32 teams in 2007.
And they had to overcome some adversity in a 72-68 win over Fairfield as a 5.5-point underdog on Sunday. Starting point guard Michael Porrini was forced to leave the game with five minutes remaining when he had his bell rung on a screen.
''We're resilient and tougher than any team I've had as a head coach,'' KSU coach Geno Ford told reporters. ''Here we are at the end of the game without our best player and have guys step right in and keep us from missing a beat. No one on this team is afraid to compete or lay it on the line.''
Word has it that Porrini should be OK to go Tuesday against Colorado, but the Golden Flashes will need a huge game to stay within striking distance here. We’re not counting on it considering the roll the Buffaloes are on right now.
Pick: Buffaloes
College Basketball Knowledge
Colorado won five of last six games, losing only to Kansas by 7 in Big 12 tournament; their last four games went over total. Buffs beat K-State three times, also beat Texas here, so they should be in NCAAs, not here. Kent State lost MAC title game in OT, their only loss in their last seven games. Double digit home favorites from Big 12 are 15-11. MAC road underdogs of from 9-20 points are 18-5 against spread outside MAC.
Ohio won seven of its last nine games, covered last five tries if as a dog. Bobcats won first round game by point at Marshall, despite going 2-9 at foul line, 5-18 from arc. Single digit road underdogs from MAC are 16-15 vs spread. East Tennessee State won 10 of last 13 games at one point in December, they played eight straight road games- they beat Dayton and Mississippi State. Buccaneers are 2-3 this season as a favorite.
Veteran Iona squad won 10 of last 11 games, laying egg in MAAC final against St Peter's; Gaels opened season with 73-72 loss at MAC champ Kent State, team that won two of three vs Buffalo this season. Bulls are 3-1 in last four games, already winning at Quinnipiac/Western Michigan in this event- five of their last seven games stayed under total. MAAC home favorites of 7 or less points are 6-4 against the spread this year.
Santa Clara lost to WCC rival San Francisco twice this season, 74-67 at home Jan 8, then 68-62 in this gym Feb 5. Broncos won five of last six games, but lost last three true road games, by 6-9-10 points- this is their first true road game since Feb 17. Dons won five of last six, winning at Hawai'i in last game late Saturday night. Underdogs are 8-6 vs spread this season in WCC games where pointspread was 4 or less points.