Wednesday's Best NCAAB Bets
Akron Zips at No. 20 Minnesota Golden Gophers (-15)
The Gophers are going to be without one of their top defenders for at least another game or two, but that hasn’t hurt them much so far – at least not in the win column.
Guard Al Nolen has been out of action since tests revealed a stress fracture in his foot last month. Minnesota shut Eastern Kentucky down on the perimeter on its way to a 71-58 win on Saturday, their third victory in a row, but couldn’t cover as 16-point favorites.
"Coach (Tubby Smith) was just emphasizing shutting them down," Blake Hoffarber, who scored 14 points, told reporters after the game. "Offense wasn't really clicking, so we've got to win the game playing defense."
That defense isn’t nearly as good without Nolen though. With him in the lineup Minnesota allowed just over 67 points per game while opponents hit just under 34 percent from beyond the arc. The Gophers are giving up more than 75 points on 44 percent 3-point shooting since he has been on the shelf.
Looks like too many points here even against Akron’s mediocre offense.
Pick: Zips
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at No. 22 UNLV Runnin' Rebels (-16.5)
Everything looked great for the Runnin’ Rebels as they took a 5-point lead into the half against Louisville on Saturday. They had hit seven of their 12 trey attempts and held all but one Cardinals starter off the score sheet in the opening 20 minutes.
However, it was a different story in the second frame as UNLV’s outside shooting went cold and the rest of the Cardinals woke up. Louisville came away with a 77-69 victory, marking the third straight game the Rebels couldn’t cover the number.
UNLV’s tough travel schedule that hasn’t had the team play a game at the Thomas and Mack Center in three weeks - with one neutral site game in there - could have played a role in the second half of that game, but look for the Rebels to rebound at home on Tuesday.
"We didn't do the things we have to do to win," Coach Lon Kruger said. "We'll learn from this and pay more attention to details and get back and get better."
Pick: Rebels
NCAA Odds: UNLV Rebels host Cal-Santa Barbara
By: Brad Young
Nevada-Las Vegas returns home from its first setback of the season, hosting a UC-Santa Barbara team Wednesday night that is enjoying its longest winning streak of the young season. The Rebels enter this contest having failed to cover their last three outings, but they rank third in the nation in field-goal percentage by hitting 53 percent of their shots.
UC-Santa Barbara (4-3 straight up, 5-2 against the spread) has won back-to-back contests SU and ATS after beating Santa Clara Dec. 4 as a two-point road underdog, 80-69. The combined 149 points toppled the 138-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest. The Gauchos are now 4-1 ATS their last five outings.
UCSB prevailed by shooting 44 percent (24-of-54) from the field, and 47 percent (7-of-15) from behind the arc. The Gauchos limited Santa Clara to just two field goals during an 11 ½-minute stretch in the second half.
Forward James Nunnally netted a career-high 34 points in the victory, while forward Jaime Serna contributed 11, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Guard Orlando Johnson was the only other Gauchos player to reach double digits in scoring, pouring in 16 on 5-of-14 shooting.
UNLV dropped Saturday’s contest versus Louisville as a three-point road underdog, 77-69. The combined 146 points slithered past the 145-point closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash the third consecutive contest.
The Rebels led the Cardinals at halftime, 38-33, before unraveling in the second half. UNLV finished the contest by shooting 47 percent (21-of-45) from the field, and 47 percent (8-of-17) from 3-point land. The Rebels were unable to secure the road victory after committing 18 turnovers.
Senior Tre’Von Willis paced the offense with 17 points, while guard Oscar Bellfield pitched in with 16 and five rebounds. Guard Anthony Marshall contributed nine and 11 in the setback, while forward Chace Stanback had eight and four.
UCSB is 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS the previous two encounters with UNLV, but these two schools have not met since the 2007-08 campaign. The Gauchos prevailed in 2006 as a 9 ½-point road underdog, 79-76, while the combined 155 points went ‘over’ the 135-point closing total. UCSB also won in 2007 as a four-point home underdog, 63-60, while the combined 123 points went ‘under’ the 136 ½-point closing total.
UCSB guard Justin Joyner is ‘questionable’ against the Rebels due to a shoulder injury. The Gauchos conclude a three-game road trip with Saturday’s effort versus San Diego State. UCSB is 8-2 ATS its last 10 games overall, and 7-3 ATS the previous 10 road endeavors.
UNLV follows this contest with Saturday’s home matchup versus Southern Utah before battling sixth-ranked Kansas State on a neutral court. The Rebels are 9-3 ATS their past 12 Wednesday games, while the ‘over’ is 7-3 the last 10 non-conference contests.
Wednesday’s matchup is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. PT from UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center.
College Basketball Knowledge
Central Florida is 8-0, playing #296 schedule, with only two lined tilts; they beat South Florida 65-59 (-7.5) in only game as favorite. ULL is 0-6 vs D-I teams, and also lost to Texas College- they're 1-2-1 vs spread as an underdog. C-USA home favorites of 14+ points are 0-3 vs spread. Sun Belt road underdogs of more than 16 points are 8-5.
Minnesota is 9-1, playing #56 schedule, covering once in last four games as favorite; Big 11 home favorites of 15+ points are 9-8 vs spread. MAC road dogs of 15+ points are 3-6 vs spread. Akron is 3-3 vs D-I teams, with losses by 8 at Dayton (+11), by 13 to Cleveland State (-2), by 35 at Temple (+12.5).
Auburn is terrible, losing five of seven games vs D-I teams; they're 1-1 as an underdog this year, but only one of its five losses is by more than 11 points (69-55 vs Jacksonville). South Florida lost last two games, is 5-5, 0-2 vs spread as a favorite. SEC road underdogs are 12-7-1 against spread. Big East home favorites of 12+ points are 14-16 vs spread.
UTEP is 6-2 vs #248 schedule; they're 2-3 vs spread as favorite; teams that beat Miners both held them to 61 points. UL-Monroe lost seven of nine games vs D-I teams, but covered four of its last five games as dog. Sun Belt road underdogs of more than 16 points are 8-5. C-USA home favorites of 13+ points are 3-5 vs spread.
20 years ago, Santa Barbara-UNLV was a bigtime rivalry; now, Gauchos are 5-3 but haven't played in 11 days- they're 2-1 as dog, with losses by 8 to North Dakota State, 12 at Portland, 2 at Oregon. UNLV lost its first game at Louisville Saturday; they're 4-4 vs spread as a favorite. Big West road underdogs of 16+ points are 8-4 vs spread, MWC home favorites of 14+ points are 5-3 vs spread.
Wake Forest will be well-coached, but they're 5-4 this year and having growing pains; Terrell is ?? for this game for disciplnary reasons. Wake is 2-3 as favorite this year. NC-Greensboro is 0-8, losing at Va Tech by 22, Maryland by 43 in its two games vs ACC foes. ACC home favorites of 15+ points are 8-4. SoCon road underdogs of 17+ points are 3-6.
Montana won at UCLA but is just 3-4 vs D-I teams, so have to ask how good is UCLA? Griz are 1-3 vs spread as favorites. Big Sky single digit home favorites are 2-4 vs spread. Pac-10 single digit road underdogs are 3-10 against the spread. Oregon State is 4-4, 1-2 on road, losing by 3 at Seattle, 26 at Colorado- they also lost at home to Texas Southern and Utah Valley State. Not good.