Top 25 Betting Recap
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
Each week until March Madness we'll take a look at how the Top 25 fared from college basketball, but straight up and against the number, while also taking a look at their upcoming schedule.
Gonzaga (26-0 SU, 18-4-1 ATS) went to Moraga and completed the regular season sweep of St. Mary's (Calif.) (22-3 SU, 11-10-1 ATS) with a 74-64 win, easily covering a four-point number. The Bulldogs are not only winning games, but they're hammering teams. They have won 18 consecutive games by 10 or more points, and they're 5-0-1 ATS over their past six outings. The last team to lose by just single digits to the Zags was Arizona (23-3 SU, 12-12-2 ATS), who fell 69-62 on an neutral-site court back on Dec. 3. It was just one of three Gonzaga games decided by three or fewer points.
Duke (20-5 SU, 10-14 ATS) won the first installment of the 'Battle of the Blues', taking down North Carolina (21-5 SU, 12-12-1 ATS) at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 86-76. The two bitter rivals will meet again Saturday, March 4 in the regular season finale at the Dean Dome. The Tar Heels are in a bit of a tailspin, losing two of their past four games while going 0-4 ATS. The 'under' is 4-0-1 in UNC's past five outings. For Duke, they appear to be past their struggles in January, rattling off five consecutive victories. While they have failed to cover in back-to-back games since a 3-0 ATS run from Dec. 3-10, the Blue Devils have been hot. It helps that they're whole again with Coach Krzyzewski back patrolling the sideline. That's bad news for the rest of the ACC, and the rest of the nation.
Wisconsin (21-4 SU, 11-11 ATS) slipped up against Northwestern (19-6 SU, 15-7 ATS) at home, as the Wildcats continue their march to a first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. You have to feel that Sunday's win against a Top 5 team in their own barn likely secured that dance ticket. You had to figure the Badgers luck was going to run out sooner or later. Since Jan. 21, three of their six games have been decided in overtime. While they had rattled off eight straight wins, four were decided by five or fewer points. The Badgers are a dismal 2-6 ATS over their past eight games, but they still have been finding ways to pull it out in the end. In Sunday's game, their luck simply ran out against a good squad.
Southern Methodist (22-4 SU, 16-4-1 ATS) ascended to the top of the American Athletic Conference with a 60-51 victory over Cincinnati (22-3 SU, 11-10-1 ATS) on Sunday. SMU is showing the nation that the Bearcats are not the only team in the AAC. The Mustangs have rattled off eight straight wins since losing 66-64 at Cincinnati back on Jan. 12. And SMU is an impressive 7-0 ATS over their past seven, and 8-0-1 ATS over the past nine. The Bearcats haven't been as automatic against the number, going 1-3 ATS over their past four overall. They're also a dismal 1-3 ATS in their past four road games.
Maryland (21-4 SU, 13-7-3 ATS) has been on fire against the spread lately, going 8-1-1 ATS over their past 10 outings. They showed some chinks in the armor with a bad 70-64 road loss as favorites at Penn State (14-12 SU, 9-15 ATS). However, the Terrapins have been at the Xfinity Center. The Terps rebounded nicely against Ohio State (15-11 SU, 18-4-1 ATS) to stop a mini two-game losing streak. Maryland is 5-1-1 ATS in their past seven at home and the 'under' is 4-1 in their past five on their home hardwood. Remember that when they return home Wednesday, Feb. 22 against Minnesota (14-9 SU, 14-9 ATS).
The game of the upcoming week might be when West Virginia (20-5 SU, 11-9 ATS) visits Kansas (22-3 SU, 7-15-1 ATS) on Monday night. The Jayhawks will be looking for redemption after an 85-69 loss at the hands of the Mountaineers in Morgantown back on Jan. 24. The Jayhawks opened as three-point favorites and it was quickly bet up to 4 1/2 as of Sunday night.