Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Friday 11/30/18
Friday’s games
Michigan State is 7-0 vs Rutgers in Big 14 play, winning their three visits here, by 20-31-10 points. Spartans lost in OT at Louisville Tuesday; they’re 5-2 vs schedule #53, with four of seven games vs top 60 teams- their best wins are over UCLA by 20, Texas by 10. MSU is experience team #94 that is making 42.4% of its 3’s. Rutgers is 5-1 vs schedule #246; Scarlet Knightx are #311 experience team that won as an 11-point road underdog at Miami Wednesday. Rutgers is forcing turnovers 23.5% of time, but also turning it over themselves 22.3% of time.
Mississippi State held off Dayton 61-59 LY, after being up 15 at the half; Dayton was just 9-16 on foul line in turnover fest (Dayton 26, MSU 24) that State led by 21 early in 2nd half. Bulldogs are 5-1 vs schedule #298; they’re forcing turnovers 21.3% of time but making just 29.8% on arc- they’re #15 in country in MC, which is good. Dayton lost its last two games in Atlantis after a 4-0 start; Flyers are experience team #262 that starts two sophs, two seniors- they were held to 59-54 points in their two losses, shooting combined 11-38 on arc.
South Carolina snuck past Coastal Carolina 80-78 LY, after trailing by 5 with 7:23 left; USC outscored Chanticleers 22-10 on foul line. Coastal is 2-3 vs schedule #239; they’re experience team #259 that lost both its top 200 games, by 5 at Tulane, 6 at Northern Kentucky. South Carolina is 3-3 vs schedule #312 after losing last game by 20 at home to Wofford; Gamecocks are #199 experience team that is playing pace #33 and subbing a lot (#53 in bench minutes), but USC is 0-3 vs teams in top 200, 3-0 vs teams outside top 200. Coastal is ranked #196.
Appalachian State is 0-4 vs D-I teams (schedule #5), with two non-D-I wins; ASU is experience team #136 (#20 in MC)that has turned ball over 22.8% of time while playing pace #68- they’ve made 40.6% of their 3’s, even with an 0-4 record. East Carolina is 4-4 vs schedule #347, losing last two games by 3-9 points; Pirates are shooting just 26.9% on arc. ECU is experience team #332 that subs a lot (minutes #28); they’re 0-2 vs teams in top 200, losing by point at home to JMU, by 25 at Georgia Tech.
Pitt beat Duquesne 16 of last 17 years, losing two years ago; LY Pitt won by 12 in Dambrot’s first year as Dukes’ coach. Duquesne is 4-1 vs schedule #24 this year; Dukes lost by 11 at Notre Dame in there only top 100 game. Duquesne is experience team #343 whose bench is playing minutes #48- they’re forcing turnovers 23% of time. Pitt is experience team #299 that is 6-1 vs schedule #341- they lost last game 69-68 at Iowa Tuesday- Panthers are starting three freshmen and two juniors. Duquesne is starting a freshman and three sophs.
Central Michigan is 4-1 vs schedule #344; they’re experience team #43 that isn’t subbing much (bench minutes #325). Chippewas lost by hoop to Weber State in their only top 200 game, on a neutral court in the Bahamas. CMU is forcing turnovers 24.7% of the time. TCU is 4-1 vs #281 schedule; they beat MAC’s Eastern Michigan 87-69 in their last game Monday. Horned Frogs are starting two freshmen, two seniors- they’re shooting 58.8% inside arc. Last four years, Big X teams are 3-3 vs spread when playing a MAC opponent.
Iowa beat Wisconsin last two years, by 2-18 points; Badgers won three of their last four visits to Iowa City. Wisconsin is 6-1 vs schedule #45; their only loss was by 7 to Virginia in finals of the Atlantis tourney. Badgers are experience team #202 (#24 in MC) who start three sophs and three seniors. Iowa is experience team #244 that is also #30 in minutes continuity- they’re playing pace #59 and are #2 team in country at getting to foul line. Iowa starts three juniors, no seniors- they held off Pitt 69-68 in last game, holding Panthers to 22 second half points.
Minnesota is 5-1 vs schedule #99, with only loss 68-56 at Boston College in last game Monday. Gophers are experience team #181 whose eFG% is #226- they aren’t shooting ball well, but they do have pair of top 100 wins on a neutral court, over Texas A&M/Washington. Oklahoma State is 4-2 vs schedule #95; Cowboys are experience team #308 that is forcing turnovers 22.3% of time, but also turning ball over themselves 22.1% of time. OSU won two of three games down at Disney World last weekend, beating #49 LSU Sunday for their best win this season.