Week 16 NCAA basketball betting preview
By: Willie Bee
Week 15 saw each of the top-4 teams in the AP add a mark to their loss columns.
Sam Peckinpah was known for movies with violence at their core. Nothing was too bloody or gory for the old filmmaker.
The last week-&-a-half of the college basketball schedule played out as if 'Bloody Sam' was calling the shots, and if the season continues in Peckinpah's mold, we shouldn't expect the good guys to win in the end.
It was only fitting that the carnage came during ESPN's BracketBuster week.
Ohio State's loss at Wisconsin on Feb. 12 ignited the tough stretch for top-ranked schools. By the time the Buckeyes suffered their second loss of the campaign eight days later at Purdue, seven of the most recent AP top-10 had suffered defeat. That number could grow to eight if Duke is upset Sunday evening after we go to press.
Kansas spit the bit in its first game after ascending to the No. 1 slot, setting the stage for Ohio State to move back to the top or opening the door for either Texas or Pittsburgh to assume the position. Neither the Longhorns nor the Panthers seemed to want the spot, however, the 3-4 teams respectively in the AP dropping conference road tilts on Saturday (Feb. 19).
So it leaves writers and coaches with a real mess to sort through with the next set of rankings. Will we see Duke rise all the way from fifth to first, assuming the Blue Devils take care of business with a big win at home Sunday evening against Georgia Tech?
Could Kansas remain on top after no other school directly behind the Jayhawks came away from Week 15's bloodbath? Is it time for voters to start throwing some love to San Diego State or BYU in advance of their Week 16 collision? And would it really matter if they simply threw out last week's polls in the same order and played the same scene again, Peckinpah style?
Here's a fast rundown of where you'll find the top teams this week.
1. Kansas (25-2 SU, 14-13 ATS)
The Jayhawks take on a couple of Big 12 South clubs this week, first hosting Oklahoma State on Monday and then traveling to Oklahoma for Saturday's contest. Kansas fell 85-77 at the Cowboys as six-point favorites last season, winning 81-68 at home versus the Sooners but failing to cash as huge 21-point chalk.
2. Ohio State (25-2, 11-13)
Life on the Big Ten road has resulted in consecutive losses for the Buckeyes, so they'll be more than happy to see their Week 16 slate strictly at home in Columbus. Ohio State welcomes Illinois to Value City Arena on Tuesday after the Illini put up a tough fight in Champaign on Jan. 22, an eventual 73-68 win for the Buckeyes (minus three). Indiana arrives in Columbus on Sunday; OSU covered a 13-point line in Bloomington on Dec. 31 with an 85-67 triumph.
3. Texas (23-4, 16-6)
Coming off their first loss since early January, the Longhorns should jump right back in the win column this Tuesday when they host Iowa State. Texas finishes the week on the road at Colorado on Saturday, a team they cracked at home last season, 103-86, missing the 21-point spread.
4. Pittsburgh (24-3, 11-11)
The Panthers will looking to maintain their two-game lead in the Big East when they host West Virginia on Thursday. The two schools met in Morgantown on Feb. 7 with Pitt a 71-66 winner in a contest that closed as a pick 'em on the NCAA odds board. Pittsburgh will close the week on Sunday at Louisville.
5. Duke (*24-2, 14-11)
The Blue Devils slip out of ACC play to host Temple on Wednesday, a game we will feature here at Don Best. Duke finishes the week off on the road in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech, a team the Blue Devils have beaten four straight.
6. San Diego State (27-1, 16-10)
Steve Fisher will have all week to prepare his Aztecs for Saturday's rematch versus BYU. The Cougars were favored by 5½ when they handed San Diego State its only loss of the season Jan. 26 in Provo, 71-58. The Aztecs have reeled off seven wins since then, going 4-3 ATS in the stretch. Brigham Young scored a 71-69 win in San Diego last season, a 'push' for bettors who got in on the closing number that favored the Cougars by a pair.
7. Brigham Young (25-2, 11-12)
Before they go to San Diego on Saturday, the Cougars host Colorado State on Wednesday. BYU won and covered as seven-point chalk in Fort Collins on Jan. 22.
8. Notre Dame (21-5, 13-9)
Their seven-game Big East streak done, the Fighting Irish will end a three-game conference road stretch Wednesday at Providence. Notre Dame will then return to South Bend to host Seton Hall, a possible look-ahead alert on that one with the Irish having games versus Villanova and Georgetown to follow.
9. Georgetown (21-6, 15-11)
The Hoyas will host Cincinnati on Wednesday and remain home for Saturday's crucial meeting with Syracuse. Georgetown beat the Orange Feb. 9 at the Carrier Dome, 64-56, as a 4½-point underdog, snapping a three-game regular season losing skid against 'Cuse.
10. Wisconsin (*19-6, 13-8)
An opportunity to sweep a pair of Big Ten rivals awaits the Badgers this week. Bo Ryan's charges will travel to Michigan on Wednesday after beating the Wolverines in Madison on Jan. 5 as 12-point favorites, 66-50. The week ends at home versus Northwestern on Sunday. Wisconsin pounded the Wildcats in Evanston Jan. 23, easily covering the one-point spread in the 78-46 rout.