- Sep 10, 2018
- 17,915
- 20
- 38
DUKE DOES CARE ABOUT OFFENSE
The Duke Blue Devils have been filling up the bucket, ranking third in the country with 82.9 ppg. On Tuesday, the Cameron Crazies welcome the Pittsburgh Panthers to Durham.
Pitt ranks a respectable 54th in the country in defensive efficiency but hasn't played anyone with as much offensive talent as Duke. The Panthers will be punished down low by 270-pound Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. who's averaging 16.9 ppg on 59 percent shooting.
With the Blue Devils owning an average first-half scoring margin of plus-13.1 points at home, and the Panthers having an average first-half scoring margin of minus-6.1 on the road, back Duke on the first-half spread.
BANK ON BUCKETS
Alabama heads to LSU on Wednesday in an SEC battle between two of the highest-scoring programs in the nation. The Crimson Tide are fourth in the country with 82.8 ppg while the Tigers rank 11th with 79.6 PPG.
Bama also ranks outside the Top-300 in scoring defense, surrendering 76.6 ppg, and plays at the fourth-fastest pace in the country. You might remember the 46-41 shootout between LSU and Alabama during the football season. Well, don't be surprised if their basketball programs come out with just as much firepower. We're leaning towards the Over on what will be a high total.
WE'RE NUMBER ONE!
In a season full of surprises, the Baylor Bears are currently ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. On Wednesday, the Bears head to Ames to take on the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Cyclones have perhaps the most underrated star in college basketball in point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who leads the team with 15.7 points, 7.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Haliburton is an efficient scorer that shoots 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. However, he wasn't efficient in ISU's first meeting against Baylor two weeks ago. Haliburton went just 2 for 12 for six points in that game and Iowa State was held to 55 points.
Baylor has rolled to victories over quality opponents like Kansas, Texas Tech, Butler, Villanova and Arizona and hasn't lost a game since November 8. The Bears held four of those schools below 60 points and allow just 58.6 ppg on the season. Take the Under on Iowa State's team total.
MID-MAJOR TO WATCH: RHODE ISLAND (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS, 8-11 O/U)
The Rams received six votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll. They have won six games in a row thanks in large part to a solid defense that ranks 38th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. On Tuesday the Rams take to the road to play against the George Mason Patriots.
The Patriots have dropped six of their last eight games. Although they drubbed the Rams 84-67 the last time these teams met a year ago, George Mason has lost key players from that squad. Rhode Island, on the other hand, has returned almost every starter from last year and could have revenge on its mind.
NATIONAL TITLE ODDS
After a weekend with few surprises, the odds to win the National Championship haven't done much shifting. The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to tumble down the rankings after losing to Minnesota at home last Thursday. The Buckeyes managed to save face with a win over Northwestern on Sunday but have still lost six of their last eight contests.
The unranked Buckeyes are still +2,800 to win the title, with books giving them better odds than 17-2 Florida State (+3,000), which is currently at No. 5 in the AP poll. The Seminoles face the Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday while Ohio State doesn't play until the weekend.
BETTING TRENDS
? Last week, Seton Hall covered the spread against Providence a home, winning by nine points as a 8.5-point favorite. The Pirates are now 8-1 ATS at home and host DePaul this Wednesday. These teams last met on December 30, with Seton Hall winning 74-66 on the road.
? Houston Baptist has been the best Over bet in the country, going 14-3 O/U and going Over the total in seven of its last eight games. On Wednesday, the Huskies host Incarnate Word and although the total will likely be very high, it might be worth taking - especially when you consider that Houston Baptist plays at the fastest pace in the country and that these sides combined for an incredible 229 points in their previous meeting last March.
? This weekend saw an interesting trend among teams playing on the road. On Saturday and Sunday, away teams went 16-3 ATS in SEC, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 play. However in ACC and Pac-12 contests, road teams went just 3-10 ATS.
The Duke Blue Devils have been filling up the bucket, ranking third in the country with 82.9 ppg. On Tuesday, the Cameron Crazies welcome the Pittsburgh Panthers to Durham.
Pitt ranks a respectable 54th in the country in defensive efficiency but hasn't played anyone with as much offensive talent as Duke. The Panthers will be punished down low by 270-pound Duke center Vernon Carey Jr. who's averaging 16.9 ppg on 59 percent shooting.
With the Blue Devils owning an average first-half scoring margin of plus-13.1 points at home, and the Panthers having an average first-half scoring margin of minus-6.1 on the road, back Duke on the first-half spread.
BANK ON BUCKETS
Alabama heads to LSU on Wednesday in an SEC battle between two of the highest-scoring programs in the nation. The Crimson Tide are fourth in the country with 82.8 ppg while the Tigers rank 11th with 79.6 PPG.
Bama also ranks outside the Top-300 in scoring defense, surrendering 76.6 ppg, and plays at the fourth-fastest pace in the country. You might remember the 46-41 shootout between LSU and Alabama during the football season. Well, don't be surprised if their basketball programs come out with just as much firepower. We're leaning towards the Over on what will be a high total.
WE'RE NUMBER ONE!
In a season full of surprises, the Baylor Bears are currently ranked No. 1 in the AP poll. On Wednesday, the Bears head to Ames to take on the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Cyclones have perhaps the most underrated star in college basketball in point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who leads the team with 15.7 points, 7.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Haliburton is an efficient scorer that shoots 50 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. However, he wasn't efficient in ISU's first meeting against Baylor two weeks ago. Haliburton went just 2 for 12 for six points in that game and Iowa State was held to 55 points.
Baylor has rolled to victories over quality opponents like Kansas, Texas Tech, Butler, Villanova and Arizona and hasn't lost a game since November 8. The Bears held four of those schools below 60 points and allow just 58.6 ppg on the season. Take the Under on Iowa State's team total.
MID-MAJOR TO WATCH: RHODE ISLAND (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS, 8-11 O/U)
The Rams received six votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll. They have won six games in a row thanks in large part to a solid defense that ranks 38th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency according to KenPom. On Tuesday the Rams take to the road to play against the George Mason Patriots.
The Patriots have dropped six of their last eight games. Although they drubbed the Rams 84-67 the last time these teams met a year ago, George Mason has lost key players from that squad. Rhode Island, on the other hand, has returned almost every starter from last year and could have revenge on its mind.
NATIONAL TITLE ODDS
After a weekend with few surprises, the odds to win the National Championship haven't done much shifting. The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to tumble down the rankings after losing to Minnesota at home last Thursday. The Buckeyes managed to save face with a win over Northwestern on Sunday but have still lost six of their last eight contests.
The unranked Buckeyes are still +2,800 to win the title, with books giving them better odds than 17-2 Florida State (+3,000), which is currently at No. 5 in the AP poll. The Seminoles face the Virginia Cavaliers on Tuesday while Ohio State doesn't play until the weekend.
BETTING TRENDS
? Last week, Seton Hall covered the spread against Providence a home, winning by nine points as a 8.5-point favorite. The Pirates are now 8-1 ATS at home and host DePaul this Wednesday. These teams last met on December 30, with Seton Hall winning 74-66 on the road.
? Houston Baptist has been the best Over bet in the country, going 14-3 O/U and going Over the total in seven of its last eight games. On Wednesday, the Huskies host Incarnate Word and although the total will likely be very high, it might be worth taking - especially when you consider that Houston Baptist plays at the fastest pace in the country and that these sides combined for an incredible 229 points in their previous meeting last March.
? This weekend saw an interesting trend among teams playing on the road. On Saturday and Sunday, away teams went 16-3 ATS in SEC, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 play. However in ACC and Pac-12 contests, road teams went just 3-10 ATS.