(11) Butler (1-0, 0-1 ATS) at Northwestern (1-0 SU and ATS)
Butler, which entered this year with its highest preseason ranking in school history, makes the trek to Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill., for a non-conference battle with the Wildcats.
The Bulldogs, who went one-and-done in last year’s NCAA Tournament, tipped off the season with Saturday’s 73-62 home win over Davidson, falling short as a 14-point favorite. It was Butler’s fifth consecutive ATS setback dating to February. Long known for its defense, Butler has limited 17 of its last 20 opponents – including eight of the last nine – to 63 points or fewer, with 12 of those 17 scoring less than 60 points.
Northwestern ended last year with three straight losses, including an opening-round NIT setback to Tulsa, but started off strong with Friday’s 77-55 rout of Northern Illinois as a 14-point home favorite. Like Butler, the Wildcats are a strong defensive team, allowing less than 70 points in seven straight games and 15 of the last 18.
These squads met last year in Indianapolis, and Butler eked out a 57-53 home win, pushing as a four-point favorite.
Despite their ongoing 0-5 ATS slump, the Bulldogs are on positive ATS runs of 35-15-1 in non-conference play, 3-0-1 against the Big Ten and 7-2-1 on Wednesday. Northwestern is 4-1 ATS in its last five at home and 7-3-1 ATS in its last 11 non-league contests, but otherwise the Wildcats are in ATS funks of 0-3-1 against Horizon League opponents, 1-4 after a spread-cover, 7-15-1 on Wednesday and 0-6 when coming off a victory of more than 20 points.
Although an outstanding defensive squad, Butler is on “over” streaks of 9-3 overall, 5-1 on the road, 4-0 in non-conference games and 9-2 after a non-cover, but the under is 5-2 in the Bulldogs’ last seven against Big Ten opposition. Also, the over for Northwestern is on streaks of 3-1-1 overall, 19-7-1 at home, 3-1-1 in non-league games and 7-0 on Wednesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NCAAB News and Notes
Wednesday, November 18
-- Brown (+12) lost 76-74 at Rhode Island LY, after leading by four at half; Bears beat St Francis by 4, lost at Va Tech by 14. URI has three starters back from 23-11 team; this their season opener. Ivy road dogs are 5-3 against the spread. Atlantic 14 favorites are 7-1, 5-1 at home.
-- Western Michigan (+4) lost its opener 86-80 at Detoit, as Titans shot 51% from floor; Broncos (+12) lost 79-62 at VCU last year. MAC dogs are 2-3 vs spread, 0-1 at home. VCU has four starters back from 24-10 team; they do have a new coach. CAA favorites are 0-1 against spread.
-- Central Michigan (+11) lost 75-65 at Ill-Chicago LY, game Chippewas led by hoop at half; CMU has three starters back from 12-19 team that went 7-9 in MAC- they lost opener to Princeton. UIC has three starters back from 16-15 team. Horizon road teams are 2-8 against the spread.
-- Cincinnati struggled to beat Prairie View 69-62 in opener; they've got four starters back from 18-14 team (8-10 in Big East). Toeldo brought in seven new players to help three departed starters from LY's 7-25 wreck. Big East home favorites are 4-8 vs spread. MAC road dogs are 2-2.
-- Cornell has all five starters back from LY's 21-10 Ivy champ; Big Red won 71-67 (+7) at Alabama Saturday, making 10-18 from arc, shooting 50% for game. UMass (+3.5) lost opener 84-67 at Central Florida, with Knights shooting 55%. A-14 teams are 10-3 against spread this season.
-- Kent State lost three starters from 19-15 team (10-6 in MAC); they beat Youngstown 82-74 LY, after being down 7 at half. This is already fourth game for Kent (2-1 last weekend, losing in OT Sunday). Penguins have four starters back from 11-19 teamp- they lost by 26 at Xavier.
-- Northwestern's best player is out for year; they won opener 77-55 vs No. Illinois (-14), still have three starters back from 14-17 team (8-10 in Big 11). Wildcats lost 57-53 at Butler LY. Bulldogs have all five starters back from 26-6 team-- they won season opener by 12 over Davidson.
-- Utah lost its opener 94-87 at home to Idaho (Vandals shot 10-21 from arc, 22-33 from line); Utes lost by hoop at Utah State LY. Aggies won 66-60 at Weber State in opener (-4), holding Wildcats to 33% from floor. WAC home favorites are 1-3. Utes have eight new players this season.
-- Nebraska (-10) beat Saint Louis 71-57 LY in Lincoln; Huskers return only one of top five scorers from LY, with nine players who have never played a D-I game before last week. Billikens beat SE Missouri 59-41 in opener, holding SEMo to 27% shooting. A-14 teams are 10-3 vs spread.
-- UNLV (-1) won 64-57 at Nevada LY after being down hoop at half; Rebels lost three starters back from 21-11 team that went 4-7 in last 11 games. Nevada shot 53% in opener, beating Montana State by 14- they have three starters back from LY (21-13). WAC underdogs are 2-3.
-- Cal-Irvine has three starters back from 12-19 team that started season 1-9; Anteaters lost by 47 at Texas Sunday, shooting 27%, getting beat on boards by 21. LMU (+10) lost opener 90-87 at Boise, then lost by a point at Montana (64-63), despite outrebounding the Grizzlies by 14.
-- Georgia Southern has three starters back from 8-22 team that got LY's coach fired; Eagles allowed 78 ppg LY. Florida has three starters back from 25-11 team that missed NCAAs for second year in row; they beat Stetson by 28 in opener. SoCon road underdogs are 6-4 against spread.
-- Manhattan (-10.5) beat Princeton 76-66 LY; Jaspers have three of the starters back from 16-14 team (8-8 in MAAC)- they beat NJIT 70-58 in opener. MAAC road underdogs are 4-1 against spread. Princeton has all five starters back from 13-14 team, an improvement over '08's 6-23.
-- SE Missouri coach Nutt used to be coach at Arkansas State (189-186 in 14 years); this is his first year with SEMo (lost by 18 at Saint Louis in opener). ASU lost three starters from 13-17 team that lost its last 10 games. They have solid recruiting class, but only five returnees.