Top 25 Betting Recap
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
It's the final week before March Madness kicks off, so we'll take a final look at how the Top 25 fared from college basketball, both straight up and against the number.
Kansas (28-3 SU, 11-17-1 ATS) won the Big 12 Conference in the regular season, but they obviously have much bigger goals in mind. They'll face the winner of Wednesday's 8-9 game between Texas Christian-Oklahoma. The Jayhawks swept the Sooners this season, winning both games by an average of 10.5 points. However, they failed to cover in either outing. They actually fared a bit better against the Horned Frogs, going 2-0 SU/1-1 ATS while winning by an average of 12.5 PPG. The 'over' also cashed in both meetings with TCU, while the 'under' hit in two meetings with Oklahoma.
Iowa State (20-10 SU, 15-12 ATS) will meet Oklahoma State (20-11 SU, 16-9-1 ATS) in the 4-5 game on Thursday, and that one might be the most highly-anticipated game of the entire early-round games. These teams just met Feb. 28 in Ames, and the Cyclones edged the Cowboys by an 86-83 score. OK State held on for the cover at most shops as a 3 1/2-point underdog. The Cyclones swept the season series, also winning 96-86 in Stillwater back on Jan. 11 as 3 1/2-point 'dogs. Both meetings went 'over', and the over is a perfect 6-0 in the past six for Iowa State.
Miami-Florida (20-10 SU, 10-18 ATS) limps into the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on a two-game losing streak. They'll square off against wounded, yet still very dangerous Syracuse (18-13 SU, 13-13 ATS) in the 8-9 matchup at noon on Thursday. These teams met just once in the regular season with the Orange routing the Hurricanes 70-55 as 2 1/2-point underdogs in the Carrier Dome on Jan. 4. Syracuse enters just 2-4 ATS in their past six outings, but they have been a favorite at the betting window for total bettors. The 'over' is 11-0-2 in their past 13 games overall, although they're meeting with the Hurricanes went 'under'.
Wisconsin (23-8 SU, 13-15 ATS) pumped the brakes on a three-game losing streak, getting untracked in a 66-49 win over Minnesota (23-8 SU, 18-11 ATS). These teams could very well meet again in the Big Ten Tournament Final, although that's a long way off at this point. The Badgers will await the winner of the 7-10 matchup between Iowa-Indiana. The Badgers might want another crack at the Hawkeyes, as Iowa nipped them 59-57 at the Kohl Center just last week, winning as 12-point underdogs. Wisconsin swept the season series with Indiana, going 1-1 ATS. Wisconsin enters on a 6-3-2 'under' streak dating back to Jan. 24, including their loss to Iowa and most recent win over Indiana.
Defending champion Villanova (28-3 SU, 16-14 ATS) will kick off their postseason run on Thursday against the winner of the 8-9 matchup between St. John's-Georgetown. The Wildcats won each meeting against the Red Storm by 13 points, going 1-1 ATS. They also swept the season series against the Hoyas, going 1-1 ATS, covering the regular season finale in D.C. by an 81-55 count as 8 1/2-point favorites. The 'under' cashes in each meeting against Georgetown.