Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Sunday 12/9/18
Sunday’s games
Alabama lost its last two games, blowing 21-point halftime lead to UCF in last game; Crimson Tide is experience team #273 that is 5-3 vs schedule #116- they’re 2-2 vs top 100 teams. Arizona won its last three games, is 7-2 vs schedule #81; they’re experience team #206 whose two losses are both to top 10 teams (Gonzaga, Auburn). Wildcats beat UConn 76-72 LW in their only true road game. Alabama lost 88-82 at Arizona LY, after leading by 6 early in 2nd half; Tide shot 37% inside the arc. SEC home favorites are 18-19 vs spread; Pac-12 road underdogs are 3-4.
Virginia made 10-23 on arc, was +7 in turnovers (12-5) in 76-67 win at VCU LY; VCU is 7-2 vs schedule #125; they’re experience team #225 that is forcing turnovers 24% of time. Rams are turning ball over 21.7% of time, are making only 29.4% of their 3’s. Cavaliers are 8-0 this season with three top 100 wins (Dayton,Wisconsin, Maryland)- they’re forcing turnovers 24.2% of time while playing slowest tempo in country, and making 40.2% of their 3’s. ACC home favorites are 24-20 vs spread; A-14 road underdogs are 9-8.
Ball State had 16 offensive boards in 82-72 home win over Evansville Nov 24; Cardinals scored 1.21 ppp. Ball is 5-3 vs schedule #29, winning last four games, last two at IUPUI, Loyola; Cardinals are turning ball over 21.4% of time, but making 38.3% of their 3’s. Ball starts three juniors, two seniors. Evansville is 2-4 vs schedule #106; Purple Aces are experience team #197 that is trying to play faster (tempo #19)- they’re 2-0 at home. MAC favorites are 11-11 vs spread away from home, 5-4 in true road games; MVC home underdogs are 4-4.
Saint Louis was only 12-22 on foul line in 63-60 loss to Oregon State in Portland LY; Billikens led by 9 early in 2nd half. SLU split its last four games after a 4-0 start; Billikens are experience team #136 that is turning ball over 21.7% of time, but is 2-1 vs top 100 teams, beating Butler, Seton Hall, losing to So Illinois. Beavers are 6-1 vs schedule #235, splitting pair of top 100 games (ODU/Missouri). OSU is #50 in MC; they’re they’re defensive eFG% is #51. A-14 home favorites are 17-15 vs spread; Pac-12 road underdogs are 3-4.
San Diego is 6-2 vs schedule #116 after upsetting San Diego State Wednesday, a huge win for them; Toreros are experience team #5 that is 4-0 vs teams outside top 100, winning by 17-19-18-4 points. Northridge is 2-5 vs schedule #288; they’re in a total rebuild, with a new coach and experience team #347. Matadors start two frosh and a sophomore; they’re 1-2 vs WCC teams this fall, beating Pepperdine Monday, losing by 15 at LMU, by 3 at home to Portland. WCC home favorites are 14-6 vs spread; Big West road underdogs are 16-11.
Purdue is 2-3 in its last five games after aa 4-0 start; Boilers are 0-2 in true road games losing by point at Florida St, by 19 at Michigan. Purdue is experience team #200 that starts two sophs and a junior. Texas is 0-3 since upsetting North Carolina Nov 22; Longhorns’ last two losses were at home to Radford/VCU, two of Smart’s old assistants. Texas is experience team #248 that is making only 28.9% of its 3’s- their last two losses were by total of four points. Big 14 favorites are 16-9 vs spread away from home, 3-4 in true road games; Big X underdogs are 4-8.
Iona lost five of its last six games, losing last two by 24-29 points; Gaels are #305 in MC; they’re turning ball over 21.3% of time, making 30.5% on arc. Iona is 0-4 vs top 200 teams, 2-1 vs everyone else; Columbia is #250 that got its first win in seven D-I games Friday, beating #335 Bryant by 22. Lions’ last three losses are by total of four points; they’re making 39.5% of their 3’ (#26). Iona starts four juniors and a senior, but it is a team cobbled together with transfers. MAAC favorites are 1-6 vs spread, 1-3 at home; Ivy League road underdogs are 10-7.
St John’s is 8-0 vs schedule #324; they’re experience team #141 that has four wins by 4 or less points. Red Storm is forcing turnovers 22.5% of time, making 38.2% of their 3’s- they don’t sub a lot (#350 in bench minutes). Princeton is 3-3 vs schedule #318; Tigers are experience team #133 (#68 in MC) that is 0-2 vs top 200 teams, losing by 15 at Lehigh, by 10 at home to St Joe’s. Princeton plays tempo #276. Big East home favorites are 9-18 vs spread; Ivy League road underdogs are 10-7.
Gonzaga is 9-0 vs schedule #52; their bench is thin (bench minutes #317) because of couple of injuries, but Zags have four top 50 wins and should have crowd edge in neutral Phoenix arena. Zags’ eFG% is #3 in country; they’re shooting 61.4% inside arc. Tennessee 5-1 vs schedule #130; they’re experience team #48 (#10 in MC) whose only loss was by 6 in OT to Kansas on a neutral floor. Vols are forcing turnovers 20.3% of time. WCC favorites are 12-6 vs spread on neutral floors, 4-4 in favored; SEC teams are 17-17, 6-8 if an underdog.
Old Dominion beat Fairfield 82-77 in OT LY, after blowing 9-point lead with 4:01 left; Stags made 13-30 on arc that day. ODU won its last four games overall after a 2-3 start- Monarchs are experience team #155 whose defensive eFG% is #7 in country. ODU is 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with wins by 25-18-23 points. Fairfield lost six of its last seven games, losing last two by total of four points; Stags are experience team #303 that is making 39.3% of its 3’s. C-USA home favorites are 6-9 vs spread; MAAC road underdogs are 11-16.
Wofford beat Coastal Carolina last two years by 1-6 points; Terriers made 14-25 on arc in 87-81 win at Coastal LY. Wofford is 4-3 vs schedule #5, with three non-D-I wins; they lost by 25 at Kansas Tuesday. Terriers are experience team #139 (#28 in MC); all three of their losses are to top 40 teams. Chanticleers lost four of their last six games; they’re 4-4 vs schedule #256. Coastal is experience team #231 that is 1-3 in true road games, with losses by 5-6-6 points. SoCon home favorites are 4-2 vs spread; Sun Belt road underdogs are 16-11.
North Dakota held Milwaukee to 34.1% inside arc in 63-60 UND road win Nov 10, their only D-I win in five tries; Hawks lost their last four games, are turning ball over 23.3% of time vs #191 schedule. UND was held to 54-56 points in its last two games. Milwaukee is 2-7 vs schedule #189, losing last three games, all by 14+ points. Panthers lost two games in Ireland LW; they’re shooting only 29.2% on arc. they start three juniors and a senior, but don’t play like it. Summit League home favorites are 6-4 vs spread; Horizon League road underdogs are 16-20.
Washington State is 5-2 vs 2nd-easiest schedule in country; Coogs are experience team #126 that is 5-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with four of five wins by 14+ points. Montana State hasn’t played in 12 days; Bobcats are 1-6 vs D-I teams (schedule #46) with five losses by 19+ points. MSU is turning ball over 23.5% of time; Pac-12 home favorites are 18-15 vs spread; Big Sky road underdogs are 6-21. Last two years, Pac-12 teams are 11-9-1 vs spread when playing a Big Sky opponent.