Week 13 NCAA basketball betting preview
By: Willie Bee
About the only thing that came from the college basketball season's 12th week is a stronger foothold for the Ohio State Buckeyes atop the rankings.
Seven of last week's AP top 10 suffered a bruise to their loss columns, including a pair from the Big East that each fell twice, Syracuse and Villanova. For the Orange, it was the second consecutive week to lose twice. The two losses by 'Nova left the Wildcats in a bit of a tailspin with defeats in three of their last four contests.
Brigham Young's euphoria over handing previously fourth-ranked San Diego State its first loss was short-lived when the Cougars dropped Saturday's game at New Mexico, the third-straight season to lose at The Pit in Albuquerque.
No. 2 Pittsburgh's perfect run in the Big East came to an end with a rare home defeat, falling 56-51 to No. 15 Notre Dame. No. 5 Connecticut dropped a 79-78, double-overtime game at home to Louisville and Duke suffered its second loss of the season when the Blue Devils, 8½-point favorites, were upset Sunday by St. John's at Madison Square Garden.
Ohio State will definitely hold the No. 1 ranking, with Kansas a likely candidate to move up to second. How the dominoes fall after that pair is anyone's guess. Pitt, SDSU, Texas and Duke would get my votes from 3-6 if I had a vote.
Whether or not the season's 13th week will prove just as unlucky for high-ranked squads remains to be seen. Here's where the most recent top 10 from the AP poll will be in action the next seven days.
1. Ohio State (22-0 SU, 10-9 ATS)
Both of the Buckeyes' games this week will be previewed here at Don Best, beginning with Thursday's (Feb. 3) home matchup with Michigan. Ohio State closes the week next Sunday with a pre-Super Bowl broadcast on ESPN at Minnesota. The Buckeyes won and covered both meetings with the Gophers last season, including a 90-61 rout in the Big Ten Tournament Championship. Both games also went 'over' the total.
2. Pittsburgh (20-2, 8-9)
Having already bounced back from last Monday's loss to the Irish with a narrow 65-62 win at Rutgers on Saturday, Pitt has but one game on its slate this week, Saturday's home tilt with Cincinnati.
3. Duke (19-2, 10-10)
The Blue Devils return to ACC play on Wednesday (Feb. 2) when they travel to Maryland. Duke topped the Terps earlier this season at home, 71-64, failing to cover the 14½-point spread. Mike Krzyzewski's crew closes the week at home versus NC State. Those two also met already with the Blue Devils taking a 92-78 victory as 10½-point favorites.
4. San Diego State (21-1, 13-7)
Steve Fisher's squad is on the road Wednesday at Colorado State who is currently just a game behind the Aztecs and BYU Cougars at the top of the MWC standings. SDSU will then return home to host TCU on Saturday, having already beaten the Horned Frogs in Ft. Worth earlier this season, 66-53, as 10-point chalk.
5. Connecticut (17-3, 10-4)
One of this week's biggest matchups will be previewed at Don Best when the Huskies host Syracuse on Wednesday. It's the only regular season meeting between the two rivals, with 'Cuse taking a 72-67 home win as 11-point chalk last season in the only matchup. UConn closes the week Saturday at Seton Hall.
6. Kansas (20-1, 9-10)
The Jayhawks hit the Big 12 highway for a pair of games at Texas Tech on Tuesday (Feb. 1) and Nebraska on Saturday. Kansas won the three combined meetings with the two schools last season, beating the NCAA odds in the lone game versus Tech and going 0-1-1 ATS at the window in the two battles with the 'Huskers.
7. Texas (18-3, 13-3)
Rick Barnes' club begins the week Monday with a key matchup at Texas A&M. It's been seven years since the Longhorns beat the Aggies in College Station. Texas then returns home to host Texas Tech on Saturday. The 'Horns ran their win streak over the Red Raiders to five with an 83-52 win in Lubbock about three weeks ago.
8. Villanova (17-4, 11-7)
The Wildcats will be home for a pair of contests this week as they look to snap out of a two-game losing skid. Jay Wright's bunch first takes on Marquette on Wednesday before West Virginia comes to Philly on Saturday.
9. Syracuse (18-4, 7-13)
Following their Wednesday battle at UConn, the Orange remain on the road with Saturday's game at South Florida. The last trip 'Cuse made to Tampa saw the Orange escape with a 59-54 triumph as seven-point favorites.
9. Brigham Young (20-2, 8-10)
Wyoming is next up for the Cougars who trek to Laramie on Wednesday to take on a Cowboys team that has dropped five straight. BYU will then return home to Provo to host UNLV on Saturday.