Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for from various handicappers and websites for Wednesday 12/5/18
Wednesday’s games
Ohio State won seven of last eight gams with Illinois, losing 75-70 in last visit here couple years ago. Teams split last six meetings played here. Buckeyes are 7-1 this season (vs schedule #170) with road wins at Creighton, Cincinnati- they lost 72-62 at home to Syracuse. OSU is experience team #250 that is playing slow (#308) pace- they won Big 14 opener by 20 over Minnesota. Illini lost six of its last seven games; they’re experience team #306 that is 2-6 vs schedule #6, so they overscheduled. Illinois is 2-6 despite making 40.4% of its 3’s, forcing turnovers 24.8% of time.
Illinois State edged Ill-Chicago 71-70 LY, despite shooting 13-28 on line, 4-21 on arc; Redbirds are experience team #22 that is 5-3 vs schedule #166. ISU is 4-1 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with only loss 80-68 on neutral floor to #120 Georgia- they lost their only road game 100-89 at Belmont. Redbirds start four seniors, one junior. Ill-Chicago is 2-5 vs schedule #60; Flames are 2-1 at home, losing to Loyola Chi by 9 in last game. UIC starts four juniors and one freshman; their defensive eFG% so far is #194, not very good.
Texas won 71-67 at VCU LY, in Shaka Smart’s return to his old home; Longhorns blew 19-point 2nd half lead before winning game at the end. Longhorns lost their last two games after a 5-0 start; they’re experience team #245 (MC #71) that has played schedule #99- they’re forcing turnovers 23.3% of time, but are shooting just 29.3% on arc. VCU is 6-2 vs schedule #187; they are experience team #226 whose bench plays #14 minutes in country. Rams’ defensive eFG% in #3 in country; they force TO’s 23.5% of time, are 1-2 vs top 100 teams- best win was over #76 Temple.
Oklahoma State won three of last four games with Tulsa, beating Hurricanes last two years, by 12-4 points; they won 71-67 at Tulsa two years ago. OSU is 4-3 vs schedule #61; they’re #308 experience team that lost road games by 2 at Charlotte (led by 24 at one point), at Minnesota by 7. OSU is 3-1 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with wins by 22-12-20 points. Tulsa lost three of last four games; they’re 5-3 vs schedule #325- they lost both their top 100 games by 10 points each, to Nevada/Southern Illinois in Las Vegas. Tulsa’s best win is over #222 Cal Baptist.
Villanova beat Temple the last five years, all by 16+ points; Wildcats are 6-2 vs schedule #148- they’re experience team #195 (#254 in MC) that is turning ball over 20.8% of time while playing one of 10 slowest tempos in country. Villanova’s two best wins are by 19 over Oklahoma State, 6 over Florida State. Temple is 7-1 vs schedule #214, winning last three games while scoring 77.3 ppg; Owls are experience team #115 (#38 in MC) that is forcing turnovers 22.6% of time- they won their only top 100 game so far, by hoop at #89 Missouri.
Nebraska won six of last eight games with Minnesota, sweeping Gophers by 10-6 points LY. Cornhuskers lost four of last five games in Williams Arena. Nebraska is 7-1 this season vs schedule #198; they’re experience team #62 whose defensive eFG% is #2 in country. Huskers are 3-1 vs top 100 teams, with only loss 70-52 to Texas Tech on a neutral floor. Minnesota lost two of last three games after a 5-0 start (schedule #32); they lost Big 14 opener by 20 at Ohio State Sunday. Gophers are starting two freshmen and two seniors.
Wyoming was 6-25 on arc in 80-64 loss at South Carolina LY; both teams are struggling so far this season. Wyoming is 2-6 vs schedule #217; they’re experience team #166 (#299 in MC) that lost by 19 to Oregon State, 12 to Boston College in its only top 100 games. Cowboys lost at home to Northern Colorado last game, which isn’t good. South Carolina is 4-3 vs schedule #323; Gamecocks are experience team #219 whose bench plays #55 minutes. This is Carolina’s first true road game; they’re 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 13-17-35 points.
Cal State-Fullerton won 88-80 at Loyola Marymount LY, going 26-31 on foul line in game where both teams had 20+ turnovers. Fullerton is 1-5 vs D-I teams this year (#56 schedule), with two non-D-I wins; they’re #44 in experience (#9 in MC)- this is their first home game against D-I team this season. Titans start three juniors, two seniors- they’re guard-heavy. LMU is 6-1 but lost its last game 82-58 at UCLA; Lions are experience team #126 and they’re trying to play like Virginia, but they’re turning ball over 21.9% of time, while forcing TO’s 23.4% of time. Lions are 3-1 vs top 200 teams, beating Georgetown, UNLV, Ohio U.
San Diego State won 11 of last 12 games with San Diego, beating Toreros last two years by 9-10 points; Aztecs are #223 experience team (#75 in MC) that is 5-2 vs schedule #127- they’re 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 100, with all four wins by 10+ points. Aztecs’ only two losses are both top top 20 teams (Duke, Iowa State). Toreros are experience team #6 that is 5-2 vs schedule #167- their bench plays bottom 10 minutes in country. San Diego is 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 3 at Washington, 7 at Ole Miss- they beat Colorado by 4 at home.
SMU beat TCU two of last three years. Mustangs won four games in row vs stiffs this season after a 2-3 start; they’re experience team #170 that is 6-3 vs schedule #344- forcing turnovers 22.3% of time while playing pace #334. SMU lost to Lipscomb at home by 6 in its only top 100 game; Mustangs’ bench is playing minutes #313. TCU is 5-1 vs schedule #304, all home games; they’ve experience team #207 whose eFG% is #8 in country. Horned Frogs start two juniors, two seniors; they’re shooting 59.9% inside the arc so far this season.
Gonzaga beat Washington last three years, by 16-27-27 points. Zags are 8-0 vs schedule #68; they’re experience team #147 whose eFG% is #2 in country. Zags’ bench is playing #299 minutes because they’re down couple of guys. Gonzaga has five top 100 wins, three top 50 wins- they started two sophs, two juniors in 103-92 win at Creighton in their last game. Washington won five of last six games they’re 1-2 in top 100 games, losing by 22 at Auburn, 2 vs Minnesota on a neutral floor. Huskies’ are #39 experience team, #1 team in country in minutes continuity.
Portland State beat Portland last two years, by 5-2 points, after losing previous five series tilts; State is #71 experience team whose subs are playing minutes #7- they’re shooting 13% behind arc, worst in country- their eFG% is 2nd-worst in country. PSU is 1-3 vs D-I teams with three non-D-I wins; they’ve played schedule #66 so far- starting two sophs, two seniors, they’re a bit over-scheduled. Portland is 3-4 vs schedule #296; they’re experience team #323 that lost its last two games, by 23-24 points. Nine of their 11 players are freshman/sophs.
Weber State turned ball over 21 times (-9) in 83-71 loss at Fresno State LY; Wildcats are 3-2 vs schedule #199 this year, winning last game 113-103 (+4) at home over BYU Saturday. Weber is experience team #231 that is playing pace #28- they start two juniors, two seniors. Fresno State is 4-2 vs schedule #82; Bulldogs are #17 experience team (#271 in MC) that starts three seniors, two juniors- they’re shooting 40.1% on arc- their only two losses are both to top 50 teams. Weber was held under 70 points in both their losses; they’re 3-0 scoring 78+ points.