Wednesday's Best NCAAB Bets
No. 22 Texas Longhorns at No. 12 Michigan St. Spartans (-5.5, 141)
The Spartans weren’t happy about the one-game suspension coach Tom Izzo served for violating NCAA rules after the school employed someone that was associated with a possible recruit. The Spartans took out their frustrations on the Prairie View A&M Panthers with a 91-50 beatdown on Saturday.
Izzo was pleased with the performance from the outside looking in, but will need to get right back at it Wednesday as the Spartans continue their tough non-conference schedule.
MSU hasn’t covered the last two times the club saw a pointspread, though Izzo doesn’t feel like any problems his team has had so far stem from a lack of talent.
"I think this will be arguably the best team we've brought in here in a few years," Izzo told reporters. "I think it's the most talented team that we might've played all year so far, as far as NBA basketball athlete talent."
The Spartans hope to have a healthy lineup against Texas after Korie Lucious aggravated an ankle injury and Keith Appling whacked his head in the first half of Saturday’s win and didn’t return.
Texas is coming off an impressive 78-76 win at North Carolina as a 3.5-point underdog, but will have its hands full against an inspired MSU club.
Pick: Michigan State
No. 21 Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 10 Missouri Tigers (1.5, 148.5)
If Illinois was looking to build some momentum with a matchup against UIC ahead of Wednesday’s Braggin’ Rights game against the Tigers, so much for that.
The Illini dropped a 57-54 decision to the Illinois-Chicago Flames on Saturday, stunning coach Bruce Weber.
“You talk about a lump of coal for Christmas — we got that,” Weber told reporters. “We had an edge early in the season, but we’ve slipped a little. It looks like we have lost our sense of urgency.
“We had too many guys who didn’t play well Saturday.”
That much is for sure. The Illini were pegged as 16.5-point favorites in that game, which turned out to be the third consecutive game that they failed to cover the number.
After the latest loss Weber’s crew showed up to Sunday’s practice early and stayed late after to try to get past it, but it’s going to take more than a few extra minutes on the floor to make that much of a difference.
Mizzou reinstated suspended starting point guard Michael Dixon on Tuesday so he should be available, though coach Mike Anderson wouldn’t say if he would start.
This is going to be a grind-it-out battle.
Pick: Under
Texas treks to Michigan State for NCAA odds clash
By: Joe Freda
The No. 18 Texas Longhorns picked up their third straight win in Saturday’s 78-76 thriller as 3 ½-point dogs against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Greensboro. Rick Barnes’ squad puts its streak on the line again in Wednesday’s road test against the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans, who have scored at least 83 points per game in their five home contests.
Longhorns guard Cory Joseph hit a clutch jump shot with six seconds left for Saturday’s win. The freshman guard finished with a season-high 21 points, playing a team-high 35 minutes.
Texas’ Jordan Hamilton notched 24 points and 10 rebounds, logging his second double-double in three games. The Longhorns’ leading scorer (19.4 PPG) drained 4-of-7 from three-point land while adding two assists.
The tight battle’s combined 154 points jumped above the NCAA odds ‘total’ of 147, ending a 3-0 ‘under’ streak in Texas’ three prior board games. Both squads united to sink 28-of-39 free throws, while the Longhorns outrebounded North Carolina, 39-33.
Texas improved to 3-1 ATS in its four road games, with the ‘total’ splitting at 2-2. Hamilton and Co. have put up 72.5 PPG in that span.
Michigan State enjoyed a non-board spanking in Saturday’s 90-51 home win against the Prairie View A&M Panthers. The Spartans connected on 50 percent of their field buckets, while hitting 18-of-22 from the foul line.
Spartans guard Durrell Summers piled in a season-high 25 points. The senior hit 5-of-7 from beyond the arc while finishing with six boards.
Michigan State’s Kalin Lucas notched a team-high eight assists en route to logging 10 points. The Detroit native added a season-high three steals, while grabbing three rebounds.
Lucas and Co. held Prairie View A&M to a stingy 32.7 percent shooting from the field, while outrebounding the Panthers, 40-30.
Michigan State is 2-2 ATS in its four board games at home, with the ‘total’ also an even 2-2. Tom Izzo’s troops have allowed 58.2 PPG in that stretch.
The Spartans are 3-1 ATS in their last four meetings against Texas, with the ‘under’ also cashing at 3-1.
The Longhorns won last December’s battle between the foes, 79-68, as 9 ½-point home favorites. Texas hit 56.1 percent of its shots from the field, including Hamilton’s 4-of-6 from three-point land. Lucas and Summers finished with 11 points each for Michigan State.
Wednesday’s tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PT), with ESPN2 providing the national television coverage.
Both squads will be off for eight days, resuming action on college basketball’s Dec. 31 schedule. Texas will host the Coppin State Eagles, while Michigan State remains home to open its Big Ten schedule against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
College Basketball Knowledge
Drexel won last six games, is 8-1 with wins at Louisville/Northeastern; Dragons are 3-0 vs spread as underdog; they're 3rd-best team in country on defensive boards- Louisville win was only game they've played vs a top-80 team. Syracuse is 12-0, but just 2-7 vs spread as favorite, with home wins by 22-19-11-3-20-6-6 points in lined games.
Michigan State hasn't played in 11 days; they were struggling until then, beating Oakland by a point after 14-point loss to Syracuse; Spartans are 8-3 playing #24 schedule, but they're just 2-6 as a favorite. Texas is 2-2 against teams ranked in top 61; they beat Michigan State by 11 LY, after losing to the Spartans the previous three years by 2-6-4 points.
10-0 Central Florida has only two wins over teams ranked higher than #115 UMass; they beat Florida by 3, Miami by 6. Knights beat UMass 84-67 at home in LY'sseason opener. UCF has played #299 schedule; they use lot of guys. UMass lost last three games after 6-0 start, losing at home to Maine and by 25 to Seton Hall in last game.
This is first road game of year for Lousivlle squad that played first ten games in new arena; they beat Western Kentucky 102-75 LY, avenging 68-54 loss from year before. Cardinals are 9-1 playing #202 schedule. WKU lost five of last seven games; they're 0-3 vs spread as underdogs this season. Louisville is 4-4 vs spread when they're favored.
Missouri beat Illinois by 13 LY, ending 7+-year series skid on a neutral court in St Louis; Tigers are 10-1 playing #231 schedule; they went OT with only two top 100 teams they played (Georgetown/Vandy). Illini is 4-1 vs teams ranked in top 81, but they lost their last game to #212 UIC. Mizzou PG Pressey is out for this game with broken finger.
First true road game for Kansas squad that won three neutral court tilts and is 3-0 vs Pac-10 squads, winning by 8-1-2 points; Jayhawks beat Cal LY by 15 at home; they covered one of last five games as a favorite. Cal Bears are 6-4 playing #10 schedule in country; they're 2-3 as a dog, losing home games to San Diego State by 20, Southern Miss by 2.
Xavier is 7-2, losing only true road game by 11 at Miami OH; they went 2-1 on neutral court in Virgin Islands, losing final by 9 to Old Dominion. Musketeers are 1-1 as underdogs. Gonzaga is 6-5 playing #16 schedule in country; they're 2-1 as a favorite. Musketeers are 0-4-1 vs spread in their last five games.
Georgia Tech just upset Richmond in Bahamas, now makes weird trip to Albany to play Siena (game was homecoming for senior sub who since quit team). Tech is 0-2 in true road games, losing at Northwestern by 20, Kennesaw State by 17. Siena is 1-4 at home, 3-6 overall, 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 7 at Minnesota, by 13 at home to Butler.
Mississippi State suspended star recruit Sidney for this game; PG Bost isn't eligible until SEC play starts, which is why Bulldogs are 7-3 even though they've played only one team ranked in top 140, losing by 31 to Va Tech. Washington State is 8-1, losing at home by 5 to Kansas State. Coogs have won pair of road games, at Fresno State and Santa Clara.
Utah won four of last five games; they're 1-2 on road, losing at Utah St by 17, Michigan by 11, winning by 8 at Bradley. Utes are one of tallest teams in country. Butler is 6-4 playing #18 schedule in country; they're 3-1 as favorite- this weekend will be their 6th-8th games on road. Butler hammered Stanford by 33 last game, after losing three of previous four.
Indiana is 9-2 but lost only two road games, by 12 at Boston College, by 19 at Kentucky; those are also only top 100 teams they've played (faced #304 schedule so far). 7-3 Northern Iowa is 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing at Syracuse by 22, Iowa by 12, beating Iowa State by 6. Indiana is 3-0 vs spread as a favorite this season.
New Mexico is 9-1 playing #244 schedule, losing by 25 at Cal, winning at So Illinois/New Mexico State; Lobos are 5-1-1 vs spread as favorite. Colorado won last five games, is 7-3 playing #330 schedule, with losses to San Francisco/Harvard; Buffs are 0-3 away from Boulder, losing by 9-2-16 points- they're 0-2 as an underdog.
Florida State is 3-0 on road, winning by 24-23-11 at stiff teams, beating LMU 74-63 on way out to Hawai'i; Seminoles are 3-1 as favorite- they are 9-2 playing the #248 schedule, part of why they are #1 in blocked shots, #2 in defensive efficiency. Hawai'i is 6-0 at home, with wins over Montana State/Cal State-Fullerton and Central Michigan.