While college betting fans patiently wait for this year?s extended football bowl season to get underway starting with the first five matchups on Saturday, Dec. 16, they can also turn their attention to college basketball this weekend with a number of great games to bet on at their favorite online sportsbook starting this Friday night and running right through Sunday.
Friday- South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Network, 8 p.m.)
The Jackrabbits, out of the Summit League are off to a straight-up 9-4 start while going 6-3 against the spread in games with a posted betting line. They have gone 4-2 ATS in six games as underdogs including SU victories against Iowa and Mississippi. South Dakota State faced No. 3 Wichita State on Dec. 5 and covered as an 18.5-point underdog in a 95-85 loss. It is averaging 82.4 points per game while holding opponents to an average of 73.3 points.
Colorado comes into Friday?s game at 7-3 SU, but it has dropped three of its last four outings including a 69-59 loss to San Diego on Tuesday as an 8.5-point home favorite. The Buffaloes are 4-5-1 ATS with the total staying UNDER in three of their last four games. They have failed to score more than 70 points in three of those four games and overall they are averaging 73.7 PPG which is well down the list in Division I ball. McKinley Wright IV has been the team?s leading scorer with 15.3 PPG.
Saturday- Syracuse Orange at Georgetown Hoyas (CBS, 12:30 p.m.)
Syracuse renews this old Big East rivalry with a SU 8-1 run to start the year, but it falls to 3-4 ATS. Its lone loss of the season came against Kansas in a 76-60 setback as 9.5-point underdogs. The total has stayed UNDER in five of seven games. The ACC?s Orange have gotten a big effort from Tyus Battle as their leading scorer with 20.7 PPG while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Defense remains this team?s top strength with a points-allowed average of just 61.7, which is ranked 17th in the nation
The Big East?s Hoyas are off to a perfect 8-0 SU start while winning seven games on their home court. They have failed to cover in their last four outings closing as heavy double-digit favorites and the total has stayed UNDER in three of those games. Georgetown has a trio of players scoring in double figures led by Jessie Govan?s 20.6 PPG. He is connecting on an impressive 63.0 percent of his shots from the field and he also leads the team in rebounds (13.0).
Sunday- No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers (ESPN, 3 p.m.)
The Tar Heels? lone SU loss of the year against nine victories came against Michigan State 63-45 on Nov. 26 as two-point underdogs. They have gone 6-3 ATS after covering in three of their last four games. The total has gone OVER in six of the nine games with a posted betting line. North Carolina, out of the ACC remains one of the best balanced teams in the nation with a scoring average of 88.1 points complementing the 10th-most assists (19.1) and the fifth-most rebounds (44.8) among D-I programs.
The SEC?s Volunteers have earned their spot in the national rankings with a SU 7-1 (4-2 ATS) start that includes an early victory against Purdue as eight-point underdogs and a seven-point win against the ACC?s Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Dec. 3 as 5.5-point favorites. Sophomore guard Lamonte Turner led the way against the Yellow Jackets with 24 points, including nine from three-point range. Grant Williams remains Tennessee?s leading scorer with 16.1 PPG.
--DAVE SCHWAB
Friday- South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Colorado Buffaloes (Pac-12 Network, 8 p.m.)
The Jackrabbits, out of the Summit League are off to a straight-up 9-4 start while going 6-3 against the spread in games with a posted betting line. They have gone 4-2 ATS in six games as underdogs including SU victories against Iowa and Mississippi. South Dakota State faced No. 3 Wichita State on Dec. 5 and covered as an 18.5-point underdog in a 95-85 loss. It is averaging 82.4 points per game while holding opponents to an average of 73.3 points.
Colorado comes into Friday?s game at 7-3 SU, but it has dropped three of its last four outings including a 69-59 loss to San Diego on Tuesday as an 8.5-point home favorite. The Buffaloes are 4-5-1 ATS with the total staying UNDER in three of their last four games. They have failed to score more than 70 points in three of those four games and overall they are averaging 73.7 PPG which is well down the list in Division I ball. McKinley Wright IV has been the team?s leading scorer with 15.3 PPG.
Saturday- Syracuse Orange at Georgetown Hoyas (CBS, 12:30 p.m.)
Syracuse renews this old Big East rivalry with a SU 8-1 run to start the year, but it falls to 3-4 ATS. Its lone loss of the season came against Kansas in a 76-60 setback as 9.5-point underdogs. The total has stayed UNDER in five of seven games. The ACC?s Orange have gotten a big effort from Tyus Battle as their leading scorer with 20.7 PPG while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Defense remains this team?s top strength with a points-allowed average of just 61.7, which is ranked 17th in the nation
The Big East?s Hoyas are off to a perfect 8-0 SU start while winning seven games on their home court. They have failed to cover in their last four outings closing as heavy double-digit favorites and the total has stayed UNDER in three of those games. Georgetown has a trio of players scoring in double figures led by Jessie Govan?s 20.6 PPG. He is connecting on an impressive 63.0 percent of his shots from the field and he also leads the team in rebounds (13.0).
Sunday- No. 7 North Carolina Tar Heels at No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers (ESPN, 3 p.m.)
The Tar Heels? lone SU loss of the year against nine victories came against Michigan State 63-45 on Nov. 26 as two-point underdogs. They have gone 6-3 ATS after covering in three of their last four games. The total has gone OVER in six of the nine games with a posted betting line. North Carolina, out of the ACC remains one of the best balanced teams in the nation with a scoring average of 88.1 points complementing the 10th-most assists (19.1) and the fifth-most rebounds (44.8) among D-I programs.
The SEC?s Volunteers have earned their spot in the national rankings with a SU 7-1 (4-2 ATS) start that includes an early victory against Purdue as eight-point underdogs and a seven-point win against the ACC?s Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Dec. 3 as 5.5-point favorites. Sophomore guard Lamonte Turner led the way against the Yellow Jackets with 24 points, including nine from three-point range. Grant Williams remains Tennessee?s leading scorer with 16.1 PPG.
--DAVE SCHWAB
