NCAAB News and Notes Wednesday 1/6

Wednesday's Tips
By Brian Edwards

Bettors have a doubleheader on ESPN2 tonight, including once-beaten Duke taking on Iowa St. in the Windy City. Also, top-ranked Kansas is in action against a feisty team from out of the Ivy League in Cornell.

Can Tennessee overcome the absence of Tyler Smith and three others vs. Charlotte? Will Rutgers cover a huge double-digit number in Morgantown? Should Marquette be favored against Georgetown? Let’s break down the ESPN2 games and then try to answer the aforementioned questions.

**Memphis at Syracuse**

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Syracuse (13-1 straight up, 7-3 against the spread) as a 10½-point favorite. However, as of early this morning, most betting shops had the Orange reduced to a nine-point ‘chalk.’

Jim Boeheim’s team is in bounce-back mode after suffering its first loss of the season this past Saturday. Pittsburgh went into the Carrier Dome and captured an 82-72 win over the ‘Cuse as an 11-point road underdog.

Wesley Johnson, a transfer from Iowa St. who sat out last year, has been a huge addition for Syracuse. Johnson is scoring a team-high 17.1 points per game and also leads the Orange in blocked shots (2.2 per game).

Memphis (10-3 SU, 2-5 ATS) has failed to cover the spread in its last four lined games. The Tigers lost a 66-59 decision to Tennessee as 2 ½-point home favorites on New Year’s Eve. They bounced back by thumping Houston Baptist 93-52 in a non-lined affair Sunday. Roburt Sallied paced the winners with 20 points and six rebounds.

Memphis is also getting huge production from a transfer, Elliot Williams, who is scoring at a 19.7 points-per-game clip. The sophomore guard averaged 4.2 PPG at Duke last season.

Syracuse has won nine of its 10 home games, posting a 3-3 spread record.

Memphis has only played on true road game and it wasn’t in any sort of environment that can compare to the Carrier Dome. The Tigers won 83-71 at Arkansas-Little Rock but failed to hook up their backers as 17-point favorites.

Memphis cashed tickets in its lone underdog spot this season. The Tigers went into Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17 and nearly upset top-ranked Kansas in a 57-55 loss. They took the money as 10 ½-point underdogs, as Williams scored a game-high 21 points for Josh Pastner’s squad.

The ‘over’ is 4-2 overall for the Orange, 2-0 in its home games. The ‘under’ is 4-3 overall for the Tigers, but they have seen the ‘over’ go 2-1 when leaving home (two neutral-site games).

When these teams met at Memphis last season, the Orange collected a 72-65 win as a nine-point road underdog.

ESPN2 will have television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Duke at Iowa State**

Speaking of Duke and Iowa St. in terms of their players who have transferred, they will collide tonight in Chicago. LVSC opened the Blue Devils as 10-point favorites, but they were 13-point ‘chalk’ as of late Tuesday night.

Duke (12-1 SU, 8-4 ATS) was dominant in its ACC opener Sunday night, trouncing Clemson 74-53 as an 11½-point home favorite. The Blue Devils limited the Tigers to just 12 points in the first half. Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith scored 22 points apiece.

Iowa St. (10-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) started the season 6-0 before losing three straight games. Since then, the Cyclones have responded with four consecutive victories, going 2-1 ATS in three lined assignments. They are off an 82-75 win Sunday over Houston in double overtime. ISU backers picked up a miracle cover laying 6 1/2 points, while the 157 combined points stayed ‘under’ the 165-point tally.

Iowa St. has only been an underdog once, losing 82-63 at California while catching eight points. The Cyclones’ two other losses came to Northwestern and Northern Iowa by five combined points.

Duke has thrived at neutral-court venues this year, winning all three of its games over Arizona St., UConn and Gonzaga. The Blue Devils covered in those games – all at MSG – and the ‘under’ was also a winner each time.

Coach K’s team is 6-3 ATS in nine games as a double-digit favorite. Duke’s only loss came at Wisconsin by a 73-69 count as a 4 ½-point road ‘chalk.’

ISU is led by junior center Craig Brackins, who is averaging 17.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He has four double-doubles and has scored in double figures in 12 of 13 games. Brackins blocked a season-high six shots in a win over Chicago St.

Totals have been a wash for Duke (6-6) in its 12 games with totals. However, the ‘under’ is 3-1 in the Blue Devils’ last four outings.

The ‘over’ is 4-3 overall for Iowa St.

Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

Texas stayed unbeaten with last night’s 96-85 win at Arkansas as a 14-point road favorite, avenging last season’s loss in Fayetteville. Although the Longhorns prevailed by a double-digit margin, this game was tied 48-48 at intermission and the Hogs pulled to within 84-81 in the final two minutes. Courtney Fortson made his season debut for the Razorbacks after his suspension was lifted. He gave Arkansas a huge lift and it’s debatable how the game would’ve turned out had he not suffered from calf and groin cramps throughout much of the second half. Nevertheless, Fortson had 19 points and seven assists.

Remember when Arkansas used to have no problem filling old Barnhill Arena during the early days of Nolan Richardson’s illustrious tenure? Richardson’s incredible success led to the construction of Bud Walton Arena in 1993. Barnhill only held 10,000, while Bud Walton seats more than 19,000. Still, the newer and bigger area stayed packed on Richardson’s watch. When things started to go south for the Razorbacks in 2002, Richardson challenged long-time AD Frank Broyles to “pay him his money” that was owed on his contract and fire him if the results weren’t good enough. Broyles ended up doing just that and Nolan was bitter for many years. As I watched the Hogs play an unbeaten and second-ranked Texas team last night, I couldn’t help but notice all the empty seats in the crowd. Of course, I realize the Hogs have struggled this year, so empty seats have been common. But that’s my point. On that frustrating day in 2002 after a tough loss at Kentucky in the bowels of Rupp Arena, Richardson felt unappreciated and frustrated. He certainly didn’t go about communicating it in the right way, thus leading to his pink slip. But time tells the truth. And in the time since Arkansas got rid of Nolan Richardson, its basketball program has gone to hell. At least if comparing it to Nolan’s teams that included some of college basketball’s all-time greats like Corliss Williamson, Todd Day, Scotty Thurman and Corey Beck. Richardson’s general premise in Lexington that day was this: You can’t find anybody better than me to coach men’s basketball at Arkansas. As evidenced by just one victory in four NCAA Tournament games since he left in 2002, Nolan was right. And he was right by a mile.

LVSC opened KU as a 20-point favorite vs. Cornell tonight. As of early this morning, the Big Red was a 22-point ‘dog at most books. Don’t be shocked if Cornell hangs around in this contest. Steve Donahue’s team is 12-2 SU and 8-3 ATS with its lone losses coming vs. Seton Hall and at Syracuse. The Big Red has wins at Alabama, at UMass and vs. St. Joe’s. They’ll need senior guard Louis Dale to return to the lineup. Dale, who averages 9.7 points and 5.2 assists per game, has missed back-to-back games with a sprained ankle and is listed as “questionable.”

Rutgers is a 19-point underdog tonight at West Virginia. The Scarlet Knights are 4-1 ATS in their last five games with the lone non-cover coming in a 65-58 loss to Cincinnati as five-point home 'dogs. WVU is 2-5 ATS as a double-digit 'chalk' this year.

According to multiple reports, Ohio State star Evan Turner could return to the court as early as tonight's home game against Indiana. Turner has missed the Bucks' last six games after breaking two bones in his lower back. He was initially expected to be out at least two months.

vegasinsider.com

(17) Wisconsin (12-2, 8-4 ATS) at (10) Michigan State (11-3, 4-9 ATS)

Today’s lone matchup of Top 25 teams comes from the Breslin Events Center in East Lansing, Mich., where the 10th-ranked Spartans look to end Wisconsin’s six-game winning streak.

The Badgers have rebounded nicely from a surprising four-point overtime loss at Wisconsin-Green Bay, ripping off six straight wins of nine points or more. That includes opening Big Ten play with a pair of blowout victories over Ohio State (65-43 as a six-point favorite on New Year’s Eve) and Penn State (63-46 as a five-point chalk on Sunday). Wisconsin (5-1 ATS during its winning streak), has yielded 63, 42, 58, 43, 43 and 46 points during its run, and it now ranks fifth in the nation in scoring defense at 56.4 ppg.

Michigan State tipped off the conference campaign with Saturday’s 91-70 rout of No. 25 Northwestern, easily covering as a 5½-point road chalk to end a 1-6 ATS slide. The Spartans are 5-1 SU in their last six games, with the lone setback being a 79-68 loss at No. 2 Texas as a 9½ -point underdog on Dec. 22. While the Badgers excel on defense, Michigan State sports a solid scoring unit that has produced at least 68 points in every game this year, including 80 or more eight times (four times in the last five games). Tom Izzo’s team averages 82.4 ppg (50.7 percent shooting).

The Spartans pummeled Wisconsin 61-50 in last year’s lone meeting, covering as an eight-point home favorite. The host has won eight consecutive regular-season meetings (7-1 ATS) between these teams going back to the 2004-05 season. Most recently, Michigan State has covered in five of the last seven battles overall (including in the conference tournament), and the favorite is 7-3 ATS in the last 10.

In addition to their 5-1 ATS surge overall, the Badgers have cashed in 13 of their last 18 games on Wednesday and five of their last seven against opponents with a winning record. Conversely, Michigan State is in a slew of pointspread slumps, including 2-6 overall, 1-4 at home, 1-7 against winning teams, 1-3-1 on Wednesday, 3-8 after a SU win and 0-4 after a spread-cover. The Spartans have yet to cash in back-to-back games this year.

For Wisconsin, the under is on runs of 5-0 overall, 7-1 on the highway, 8-1 in Big Ten action, 35-16-1 after a SU win and 37-15 after a spread cover, though 10 of its last 14 Wednesday contests have topped the total. Michigan State has stayed low in nine of 12 conference contests and five of seven against winning teams. Lastly, the under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings between these rivals and 5-2 in the last seven in East Lansing.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Memphis (10-3, 2-5 ATS) at (7) Syracuse (13-1, 7-3 ATS)

Syracuse returns to the court for the first time since losing its first contest of the year when it hosts the Tigers at the Carrier Dome in a non-conference clash.

Memphis has followed up a six-game winning streak by going 3-2 SU in its last five (0-3 ATS in lined action). The victories came against cupcakes Southeast Missouri State (87-57), Indiana-Purdue (87-67) and Houston Baptists (93-52), while the losses were to UMass (73-72 as a whopping 14-point neutral-site chalk) and 14th-ranked Tennessee (66-59 as a 2½-point home favorite). Besides Tennessee, the Tigers have faced only one other ranked opponent this year, losing a nail-biter to No. 1 Kansas 57-55, but easily covering as a 10½-point underdog in Kansas City. Memphis has averaged just 62 ppg in its three losses, compared with 83.2 ppg in its 10 wins.

After a perfect non-conference season, Syracuse stumbled in its Big East debut Saturday, falling 82-72 to Pitt as a huge 11-point favorite. It was the first time all year the Orange were held under 75 points, as they’ve scored 80 or more 11 times, 90 or more five times and reached triple digits twice. For the season, Jim Boeheim’s group is putting up 86.6 ppg on 53.7 percent shooting, figures that rank fourth and first in the nation, respectively.

Syracuse traveled to Memphis in December 2008 and shocked the Tigers 72-65 as a nine-point road underdog, four years after beating them 77-62 as a 2½-point chalk at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Since cashing against top-ranked Kansas, Memphis has gone 1-5 ATS in lined action. However, the Tigers are on positive pointspread rolls of 4-0 on Wednesday and 14-5 against winning teams. Meanwhile, despite the loss to Pitt, Syracuse is on ATS runs of 16-5 overall, 10-3 at home, 9-3 in non-conference play, 12-5 versus winning teams, 4-1 after a SU loss, 5-1-1 after a double-digit home defeat and 4-1 after a non-cover.

Memphis has topped the total in eight of its last 10 games against Big East opponents, but is otherwise on “under” stretches of 15-7 overall, 6-2 on the road and 15-6 after a SU win. The Orange are 5-1-1 “under” in their last six against Conference USA squads, but they otherwise sport “over” streaks of 11-3 overall, 8-3 at home, 5-1 in non-conference play and 4-1 both after a SU and ATS defeat. Finally, the under is 2-0-1 in the three meetings between these schools since 2002.

ATS ADVANTAGE: SYRACUSE

(12) Georgetown (11-1, 5-3 ATS) at Marquette (9-5, 4-4 ATS)

The Hoyas face easily their toughest true road test of the season when they trek to the Bradley Center in Milwaukee for a Big East battle with Marquette.

Georgetown has ripped off three straight wins – including two to start off conference play – since suffering its first setback of the season on Dec. 19 (61-57 home loss to Old Dominion). On Sunday, the Hoyas went to DePaul and trashed the Blue Demons 67-50 as a nine-point favorite. They’ve allowed just one opponent (Harvard) to score more than 66 points this year, holding foes to 57.5 ppg on 37.8 percent shooting. Georgetown is 3-0 in true road games this year, but those came against Tulane, Savannah State and DePaul.

The Warriors have started the Big East season with two heartbreaking losses, first falling to No. 6 West Virginia 63-62 as a 12½-point underdog on Dec. 29, then returning home Saturday and losing 74-72 to No. 8 Villanova as a one-point ‘dog. Marquette has faced four Top 20 opponents since the day after Thanksgiving, going 1-3 SU and ATS, but three of those games were on the road. The Warriors started out 6-0, but are 3-5 since (3-2 at home).

Marquette swept last year’s season series against the Hoyas, winning 94-82 as a six-point home favorite and 78-72 as a 3½-point road ‘dog. Since the Warriors joined the Big East, the teams have split six meetings, with Marquette holding a slim 3-2-1 ATS edge. The winner is 5-0-1 ATS in those six contests.

The Hoyas have cashed in four straight lined road games and are 19-7-2 ATS in their last 28 Wednesday outings, but they’re also in ATS funks of 5-17 in Big East play, 3-7-1 after a SU win and 6-20-1 when coming off a spread-cover. In fact, Georgetown has covered in consecutive contests just once since January of last year, a stretch of 28 lined games. Marquette is 3-8-1 ATS in its last 12 after a defeat and 2-7 ATS in its last nine lined home games.

Georgetown sports “under” trends of 4-1 overall, 21-10 on the highway, 5-1 in Big East action, 4-0 after a victory and 41-19 after an ATS triumph. The under is also 4-1 in Marquette’s last five home games. On the flip side, the last four matchups between these schools have jumped over the total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

NCAAB News and Notes

Wednesday, January 6

Information on the best of Wednesday's college hoop games........

Home side won last eight Wisconsin-Michigan State games; Badgers lost last four visits here by 13-9-9-11 points, but they're 4-1 overall in last five series games, beating State twice in Big 11 tourney. Badgers won last six games, winning by 17 at Penn State last game- their losses are by 13-4 points this year. Big 11 home favorites are 4-2 vs spread.

VCU/Drexel both playing third game in five nights; Rams won last six in series, hammering Drexel 75-46 here LY. Underdogs are 11-4 vs spread in CAA games, 3-1 at home. VCU won eight of last 10 games but is 1-2 in CAA, losing by 5 at home to Northeastern Monday. Drexel snapped three-game skid with win at Georgia State Monday; they're 2-1 in CAA.

Louisville won last five games vs Providence, beating Friars 73-55 in Big East tourney LY; Cardinals won last two visits here by 8-5 points. Big East home underdogs are 1-5 vs spread. Cardinals won five of last six, but are off loss to Kentucky in rivalry game; they're 0-2 on road, losing at UNLV, Kentucky. Friars are 9-5, splitting last four games.

Syracuse (+7) won 72-65 at Memphis LY, after trailing by eight at half; Orangemen are 13-1 after losing at home to Pitt Saturday; they're 5-3 vs spread as a fave. Tigers are 10-3, losing to Kansas by 2, Tennessee by 7 and UMass by 1- they're 1-1 on road. Big East home favorites are 22-23 vs spread in non-conference games. C-USA road underdogs are 15-18.

Richmond won its last eight games vs Duquesne, with five wins by four or less points; Spiders are 2-4 on road, winning at Florida/Bucknell, but losing at WmMary/VCU/South Carolina/Wake- they're 3-1 vs spread as a favorite. Duquesne lost two of last three games; they're 0-4 vs top 100 teams-- Richmond is currently ranked #52.

Marquette beat Georgetown twice LY, 94-82/78-72; Hoyas are 1-2 here in Big East play. Eagles lost first two conference games by total of three points (West Virginia/Villanova)- they have rematch with Villanova three days from now. Hoyas are 3-0 on road, winning by 17 at DePaul, 16 at Tulane, 19 at Savannah. Big East home favorites are 4-6 vs spread.

UConn won last six games vs Seton Hall, winning here by 22-12 points; Huskies covered five of last six in series. Pirates lost last three games, by 6-7-6 points, to WV/Syracuse/Va Tech, all good teams. UConn is 3-5 as a favorite this year- nine of their 10 wins are by 9+ points. Seton Hall is 1-2 as an underdog. Pirates come close a lot, can't get over the hump.

Home team is 11-1 in last 12 Northern Iowa-Southern Illinois games, as Panthers won here 59-51 LY, their first win in last six visits here. Salukis won six of last seven games, losing only MVC road game, at Illinois State by 7. UNI won last 10 games, is 3-0 in Valley, winning by 8-19-8 pts. Favorites are 10-3 vs spread in MVC games so far this season.

Duke won its last six games, taking last four by average of 27 points, but they lost only true road game, 73-69 at Wisconsin. Blue Devils are 7-4 vs spread as a favorite. Iowa State is 10-3, winning last four games; they are 0-1 as dog, losing by 19 at Cal. ACC road faves are 20-16 vs spread in non-league games. Big 12 underdogs are 17-14 vs spread, 3-0 at home.

Not sure how USC will react to news they won't be playing postseason ball this year; home side won last nine USC-Stanford games, as Trojans lost last six visits here by 10-9-2-15-6-12 points. Stanford lost four of last five games, losing Pac-10 opener by 26 at Cal. USC won last eight games, but they're 0-2 on road, losing by 19 at Texas, 26 at Ga Tech.

UNLV won five of last six games vs BYU, losing three of last four trips to Provo; favorite covered nine of last 11 series games. Rebels are 11-2, but haven't played in 12 days since losing to USC in finals at Diamond Head- they're 3-0 on road, 2-0 as underdog. BYU won last seven games, winning by 30 at Arizona, scoring 91-110-99 in last three games.

UCLA won nine of last ten games vs Cal, with Bears' only win as 14-pt dog in '07 Pac-10 tourney; Bruins won last five visits here, but they are 6-8, ranked 150th (last in Pac-10) losing 84-73 at Notre Dame in only road game- they're 3-2 as underdog. Home favorites are 2-6 vs spread in Pac-10 games this season. Cal is 7-1 vs spread as a favorite.

1-12 Marist is playing third game in five nights after 61-49 loss Monday to St Peter's; Foxes are 4-1 vs spread as dog. Princeton is 7-4 with four wins in row, winning by 8 at St Joe's in last game; they're 3-3 on road. Ivy League favorites are 9-3 vs spread in non-league games, 4-1 on road. MAAC underdogs are 14-12 against the spread.