Tuesday's Best NCAAB Bet
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-2.5, 143.5)
The NIT can be a very tough tournament to handicap, especially when you’re looking at teams dealing with the disappointment of missing out on the NCAA Tournament.
But the Colorado Buffaloes pushed that heartache aside and now find themselves in the NIT semifinal at Madison Square Garden.
"One of my concerns when we didn't make the NCAA tournament was that we weren't going to be able to put a stamp on, make our mark on the season we had," Javon Coney told ESPN. "This has been the year where we turned the corner as a program.”
Coach Tad Boyle has done a great job getting his team up for this tournament and the Buffaloes look like a program to watch out for next season.
First though, we’ll see Colorado’s offensive attack on display against Alabama’s tough defense. This one could go down to the wire but we’ll take the points and think about a moneyline bet on the Buffs.
Pick: Buffaloes
NIT Betting Preview: Wichita State vs. Washington State
Washington State vs. Wichita State (-3, 142)
THE STORY: Wichita State aims to continue its surprising postseason run when the fourth-seeded Shockers meet No. 2 seed Washington State in the NIT semifinals on Tuesday in New York City. Wichita State boasts a balanced scoring attack with a 10-man rotation, while Washington State is paced by junior guard Klay Thompson, the nation’s ninth-leading scorer with 22.2 points per game.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (22-12): Thompson scored 17 points, and host Washington State advanced with a 69-66 overtime victory over Northwestern last Wednesday. DeAngelo Casto, who was reinstated hours before gametime after being suspended briefly for a violation of team rules, finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. The junior forward has scored in double figures in 10 of his last 11 games. Brock Motum scored 13 points against the Wildcats, while Reggie Moore and Faisal Aden added 11 apiece. Thompson, the school’s all-time single-season scoring leader, shot just 3 of 15 from beyond the arc in his last two games. Washington State opened NIT play with home wins over Long Beach State and Oklahoma State after losing to Washington in the first round of the Pac-10 tournament. The Cougars finished sixth in the Pac-10 with a 9-9 record.
ABOUT WICHITA STATE (27-8): Gabe Blair scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and Wichita State held off visiting College of Charleston 82-75 last Wednesday in the NIT quarterfinals. J.T. Durley added 14 points for the Shockers, who led by 19 with less than eight minutes to play. Graham Hatch averaged 12.5 points in the first two NIT games, more than doubling his season average of 5.6. Wichita State, which finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 14-4 record, beat Nebraska and Virginia Tech in the first two rounds. The first MVC school to make the semifinals of the NIT since Bradley won it in 1982, Wichita State is shooting 26 of 60 (43.3 percent) from 3-point range in three NIT games. The Shockers’ three non-conference losses all came to NCAA tournament Sweet 16 teams (Connecticut, San Diego State, Virginia Commonwealth).
TRENDS:
Over is 10-1 in Washington State's last 11 neutral-site games.
Washington State has covered in three of its last four overall.
Each of Wichita State's last three have played over.
UP NEXT: The winner advances to the NIT championship game to face either Alabama or Colorado at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday.
PREDICTION: Wichita State 73, Washington State 69 – Looking for a key statistic? It might be rebound margin, with the Shockers leading the MVC at plus-7.9, while Washington State ranked eighth in the Pac-10 at minus-1.3. Wichita State’s depth could also play a role, although the Cougars’ bench stepped up against Northwestern. Washington State needs Casto to dominate inside in order to reach the NIT championship game for the first time in school history.
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-2, 143.5)
THE STORY: Two of the most controversial teams left out of the NCAA tournament, Alabama and Colorado have harnessed their disappointment and turned it into positive momentum by marching through the NIT bracket to make their way to Madison Square Garden. But one team's run will end Tuesday, as the two top seeds square off in the NIT semifinals. The SEC West champion Crimson Tide and the Buffaloes, who beat Kansas State three times this season, thought they had proven enough to get into the 68-team NCAA tournament field, and now they're trying to add more evidence in favor of their arguments by locking down a spot in the NIT championship game.
TV: 9 p.m. EST, ESPN2
TRENDS:
- Buffaloes are 5-2 ATS in their last seven neutral-site games as underdogs.
- Crimson Tide are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.
- Over is 5-0 in Buffaloes' last five overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Crimson Tide's last five vs. Big 12.
PREDICTION: Alabama 71, Colorado 69 — In a classic matchup of a strong defensive team and an explosive offensive team, the Crimson Tide can keep their season alive if they can control the pace and keep the Buffaloes from running.
NIT Betting Preview: Shockers, Cougars collide
By: Willie Bee
While the NCAA Tournament was busy deciding its Final Four, the last quartet remaining in the 2011 National Invitation Tournament was waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
The wait ends Tuesday night when the Wichita State Shockers and Washington State Cougars take to the floor at Madison Square Garden. ESPN2 begins its broadcast at 4:00 p.m. (PT).
Wichita State is a 2½-point favorite with the total at 142. The Shockers have failed to cover five of the last eight games in which they were giving up points. Washington State is 5-4-1 versus the odds this season when installed as the underdog.
Both teams were undoubtedly disappointed in not reaching the NCAA Tournament, though neither has played as if it was unhappy to be part of the NIT's 32-team field. Some of that could be due to the Cougars and Shockers playing five of six games on their home courts.
Washington State (22-12 straight up, 18-13-1 against the spread) has been in Pullman for all three of its tourney contests, improving its Beasley Coliseum record to 11-4 on the season. The Cougars finished the regular season 9-9 in the Pac-10 standings, winning six of their nine home games in conference play.
Seeded second in the NIT, Wazzu opened with wins and covers against Long Beach State (85-74) and Oklahoma State (74-64). The Cougars reached the NIT Final Four with a 69-66 triumph in overtime versus Northwestern last Wednesday. Favored by four, they built a 14-point lead in the first half only to let the cushion dwindle away to nothing at the end of the second half.
The Cougars only managed five points in overtime, but that was enough to eke out the win over the Wildcats who went cold on the offensive end with just one field goal to show on their overtime scorecard. Klay Thompson scored four of Washington State's OT points, leading the Cougars in scoring (17), rebounding (9) and assists (4) in the win.
Northwestern's Michael Thompson scored a game-high 18 for the Wildcats who never found their range from three-point land, missing 28 of the 38 bombs they put up.
Klay Thompson tops the Cougars in scoring with a 22.0 per game average. The junior guard is right on that in the tournament with 21.0 PPG. Brock Motum brought his 'A' game to the NIT with a 12.7 per game average, five points above his season mark.
Wichita State (27-8 SU, 16-14 ATS) fell short of the NCAA Tournament when the Shockers lost the Missouri Valley Championship to Indiana State. Nebraska, Virginia Tech and College of Charleston would've probably preferred facing the Sycamores instead of 4-seed Wichita State.
Gregg Marshall's crew opened NIT play with an easy 76-49 romp at home versus Nebraska while laying six points. The Shockers then headed to Blacksburg to meet 1-seed Virginia Tech, returning to Wichita with a 79-76 overtime win as 5½-point road 'dogs.
Back home in Koch Arena, Wichita State clinched a trip to New York City with last Wednesday's 82-75 triumph against Charleston. The Shockers built a 22-point lead midway through the second half; a 13-7 run by COC in the last two minutes left Wichita bettors a point shy of the eight-point spread.
Four Shockers reached double figures for the game led by Gabe Blair's 16 points. It was the first time since Feb. 12 that Blair scored more than eight points in a contest, the 6-foot-8 senior averaging just 6.5 PPG for the year.
Both the Shockers and Cougars should be at full strength for Tuesday's battle with neither team listing any injury concerns. The winner will square off in the NIT Final on Thursday against the victor in the Alabama, Colorado contest that follows the Shockers and Cougars matchup.
Alabama takes on Colorado in NIT betting action
By: Adam Markowitz
While the big boys in the big dance are all headed into the Final Four this weekend, the NIT is just getting revved up with its Final Four as well.
Madison Square Garden will be the site for the Tuesday night clash between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Tip-off is set for approximately 6:25 p.m. (PT), and the game can be seen nationally on ESPN2 following the other half of the NIT semifinals, Wichita State and Washington State.
Colorado stormed through three games in Boulder to reach this point, and it definitely has proven worthy of being here in the NIT's version of the Final Four. The offense has come alive again, putting up at least 81 in all three efforts. That gives the Buffs a scoring average of 83.7 PPG over the course of their last nine games, including the NIT and the Big XII Tournament.
This is still one of the best offenses nationally, ranking No. 11 in the land at 80.1 PPG for the season. CU is shooting 47.5 percent from the field as a team, and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. It also makes teams pay at the charity stripe, where it ranks No. 5 in the land at 77.6 percent as a team.
Alec Burks has been on absolute fire of late. Since the Big XII Tournament, he has averaged 25.5 PPG and 8.2 RPG, and he also has 14 steals to show for his work defensively. Burks and Cory Higgins are the two machines that really make the train go in Boulder, combining to score 36.6 PPG for the season.
Just like Colorado, Alabama is licking wounds sustained by being left out of the NCAA Tournament by beating the snot out of teams in the NIT. None of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, New Mexico Lobos and Miami Hurricanes stood a chance of coming into Tuscaloosa and winning, and the Tide have a 2-0-1 mark on the NCAA basketball odds to show for it.
JaMychal Green hasn't had the best tournament in the world with the 14 points he scored against Miami last week was his best performance of the NIT, but he could be rejuvenated by the decision he made to come back to Tuscaloosa for his senior season. Green is averaging 15.4 PPG, and he is the man that really has to step up to the plate to bring this team to a championship level in this tournament.
Keep a close eye on Senario Hillman as well. Hillman is one of the bench players that is often used to spot 12-15 minutes per game, but in this tournament, he has been used and used extensively, and he has been very effective. Hillman put up 17 against the 'Canes in the 15-point romp, and he has averaged 11.0 PPG in this tournament, over four points per game more than his scoring average for the season.
This should be quite the interesting contrast between these two sides, as Colorado obviously loves to get up and run, while Alabama is holding teams under 60 PPG for the season. The oddsmakers seem to be a bit puzzled about what to do with these two teams that saw their bubbles burst two Sundays ago, as they have lined the Tide at minus two. The 'total' has been set at 142½.
College Basketball Knowledge
Washington State was 5-7 in last 12 games before winning three in row at home in NIT; Coogs are leaving Pacific time zone for first time in '11. Wazzu covered four of last six as an underdog. Wichita State is 12-4 in its last 16 games; they've played at Hawai'i/San Diego/LSU this year, so trip to Big Apple shouldn't phase them much. Pac-10 road underdogs of 5 or less points are 6-9 against spread. MVC single digit road favorites are 4-5 vs spread.
Colorado won six of its last seven games, losing by 7 to Kansas in Big 12 tourney; Buffs' last five games went over total- they lost at Georgia by 9 in their only game vs an SEC foe. Alabama won five of last six games- they lost by 8 at Oklahoma State, its only game vs a Big 12 opponent. Four of their last five games went over. Tide played at Seton Hall back in November, so they've been in Big Apple area already. Big 12 dogs of 3 or less points are 8-6 vs spread. SEC faves of 4 or less points are 7-10.
NIT Semifinal Preview
VegasInsider.com
Bettors have a pair of games to wager on tonight in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Washington State and Wichita State will collide in the lid-lifter at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.
Most betting shops are listing the Shockers as three-point favorites with a total of 142. Gamblers can back the Cougars to win outright for a plus-135 payout (risk $100 to win $135).
Wichita St. (27-8 straight up, 16-15 against the spread) advanced to NYC thanks to an 82-75 win over Charleston as an eight-point home favorite. The Shockers appeared poised to cash tickets for a third straight game when they led Bobby Cremins’ team by 23 points in the second half, but then Andrew Goudelock exploded with a barrage of 3-pointers to lead his team to a backdoor cover.
Gregg Marshall’s squad took the cash in the first two rounds of the NIT, mauling Nebraska 76-49 as a six-point home favorite on March 16. David Kyles came off the bench to bury four 3-pointers en route to scoring a team-high 13 points.
Then in the second round, Wichita St. went on the road and beat Va. Tech 79-76 in overtime. WSU won outright as a 5 1/2-point underdog, hooking up money-line backers with a payout in the plus-200 range.
Gabe Blair led WSU’s balanced attack with 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals, two assists and one blocked shot. J.T. Durley added 14 points and Toure Murry scored 11 points and dished out five assists.
Washington St. (22-12 SU, 18-13-1 ATS) beat up on Long Beach St. and Oklahoma St. by double-digit margins to advance to the NIT quarterfinals. The Cougars would need overtime to dispose of Northwestern by a 69-66 count, failing to collect the money as four-point home ‘chalk.’
Klay Thompson played 43 minutes, tallying 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. DeAngelo Casto had a suspension for this game lifted at the last minute and his 11 points and eight rebounds proved to be pivotal.
Wazzu has been an underdog 11 times this year, posting a 5-5-1 spread record. As a single-digit favorite, Wichita St. compiled an 8-7 ATS mark.
The ‘over’ is 18-14 overall for Washington St. this season.
The ‘under’ had cashed in five straight games for the Shockers until the ‘over’ suddenly came alive and hit in their first three games of the NIT. For the year, Wichita St. has watched the ‘over’ go 16-15 overall.
Alabama (24-11 SU, 17-13-1 ATS) and Colorado will square off 30 minutes after the first game at MSG. ‘Bama has cruised to three comfortable wins in the NIT, dominating Coastal Carolina (68-44), New Mexico (74-67) and Miami (79-64) .
The Tide is 2-0-1 ATS during its three-game winning streak, but bettors that bet ‘Bama early on the day of the New Mexico win also got a spread-covering victory since the line only move to seven in the hours before tip-off. In the win over Miami, Trevor Releford led the way with a game-high 22 points.
The freshman point guard was also the catalyst against the Lobos, producing 20 points, six assists and six rebounds. If Releford can improve his perimeter jumper in the off-season, he’ll be one of the SEC’s premier PGs in 2011-2012.
Alabama junior power forward JaMychal Green recently announced that he’ll be returning for his senior campaign. He informed second-year head coach Anthony Grant last Wednesday after the Tide sent the Hurricanes home. Green was suspended for three games in December but since his return, ‘Bama has won 20 of its last 26 games.
Colorado (24-13 SU, 16-14 ATS) has won eight of its last 10 games, including an 81-74 win over Kent St. in the NIT quarterfinals. The Buffaloes failed to cover the number, however, as 10½-point favorites.
Alec Burks scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists against the Flashes. The sophomore guard will be the best player on the court tonight and could be playing his final game for the Buffs. That’s because he’s currently listed as the No. 8 pick of the first round in this summer’s NBA Draft (per nbadraft.net).
Cory Higgins is CU’s second-leading scorer, averaging 16.1 points per game. He scored 25 points in his team’s 88-74 win over Texas Southern in the NIT opener and went for 22 in a 89-72 victory over Cal in the second round.
Most spots have installed 'Bama as a two-point favorite with a total of 143. CU is plus-115 on the money line (risk $100 to win $115).
Colorado owns an 8-7 spread record in 15 games as an underdog, while Alabama has gone 6-1-1 ATS as a single-digit favorite.
The ‘over’ has hit in four of Alabama’s last five games and is 17-13-1 for the season. Meanwhile, Colorado has watched the ‘over’ has cash at a lucrative 20-10 overall clip.
vegasinsider.com.