2012 College Basketball Top 10 Teams and Saturday Free Picks

College Basketball – Top 10 Team Updates and Free Saturday Game Picks

With March fast approaching, if you haven’t already done your homework, or made any College Basketball bets in the Sportsbook, then this should be a crash-course in what’s going on. I’ve also included some free picks on Saturday’s biggest games. You’re welcome.

Top 10 Update

1. Kentucky Wildcats (23-1)
It’s no secret that Kentucky is the team to beat, especially since their entire starting lineup is slated to be drafted in the first round of the 2012 Draft.
That doesn’t meant they’re a good bet. The Wildcats are an atrocious 9-14-1 ATS this season and are getting overpriced TOTALS, which explains their 8-15-1 record in O/U. Though they’re a can’t-miss team to watch, they’re a stay away play in betting no matter what.

2. Syracuse Orange (23-1)
The upstarts from upstate are at it again with another fellow named Melo. This time it’s Fab Melo, a big 7-footer who’s 255 pounds and averaging 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. Those numbers don’t pop, but Syracuse’s betting reputation is already picking up steam since they’re 15-9 ATS this season.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (20-3)
In my eyes, the Buckeyes are one of the best defensive teams in the country and the play of Jared Sullinger is making NBA scouts water at the mouth. They’re overachieving to a certain extent, and their attention to defense is what has steadied them to a 12-7 ATS record this season because they can stifle big scoring by shutting opponents down completely.

4. Missouri Tigers (21-2)
Does anyone expect this to last? Does it make you feel better they’re the second best three-point shooting squad in the country?

5. UNC Tar Heels (20-3)
I personally love Harrison Barnes but after watching the Tar Heels crumble at home against Duke in the biggest game of their season, I’m starting to back away slowly. UNC’s already nerve-wracking 11-12 ATS record was enough to make me turn away to begin with…but after that loss to Duke I’m betting against them in big games until they prove otherwise.

6. Baylor Bears (21-2)
Unlike Robert Griffin III, the athletically superior and physically freakish Perry Jones III is not playing to his all-world potential. The Bears were a hyped team heading in to the season, and they’re delivering to a certain extent but at 7-10 ATS I’d eggshell this one. The oddsmakers are watching this team, and setting harsh lines that the Bears aren’t faring well against.

7. Kansas Jayhawks (19-4)
As always, Kansas is in the hunt. And like always, Kansas is getting smothered by the oddsmakers as one of the biggest public betting teams in the country. Inflated lines have led to a 12-10-1 ATS record for the Jayhawks.

8. Florida Gators (19-4)
Look out! It’s the Florida Gators again! Florida falls to the same fate as Kansas. If they’re doing well, they’re a great team to bet against because they’re just 9-9-1 ATS this season. People are going to bet like they’re a star studded team, but they’re not even close and they’ll struggle against mammoth lines all year.

9. Murray State Racers (23-0)
You know what they say about the Ohio Valley Conference? Yep! It sucks. That partly explains Murray State’s inexplicable undefeated season, but the oddsmakers caught on. This team is just 8-8-2 ATS and are a far better road bet, where they’re 5-2-1 ATS this season.

10. Duke Blue Devils (19-4)
My favorite part about watching Duke games this year is that announcers can’t help but say Austin Rivers’ entire name. The Spawn of Doc may not have been as good as advertised, but he is coming on strong as we barrel in to March Madness. Maybe all his early season troubles were jitters. Kid is nasty.

But as a big public bet (probably the biggest) Duke is going to get bad lines all season. Single digits is the way to go. Duke is just 4-6 ATS in their past 10 games, but three of those spread victories came against single digit lines.

BIG WEEKEND MATCHUPS

Connecticut Huskies at #2 Syracuse Orange
The oddsmakers are adjusting to how people bet, and idiots are still playing UConn in the sportsbook like they have Kemba Walker. Listen, Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond are top-5 worthy picks, but this team stinks and smart betting crowds know it. UConn is just 7-12 ATS this season and are also 1-6 ATS when playing on the road. That’s great news for the Orange, and even better news for people willing to back the second best team in the country on what will be a tighter home line than usual.

#6 Baylor Bears at #4 Missouri Tigers
Baylor is a horrific bet at home, which might be a God-send since they’re on the road against Missouri. Truth be told, the Tigers are a much better team than you’d expect them to be, but they also don’t have anyone on the roster that can hope to defend Perry Jones. Missouri can get the ball running, but if Baylor’s smart they’ll slow the game down and let the 6-foot-11 Jones take over. Missouri has just three players at or over 6-foot-8. The Bears will get a good road line, and Missouri won’t be able to cover it.

#12 Michigan State Spartans at #3 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Spartans are running right in to a Nut House where the Buckeyes are 9-3 ATS. You can tell where I’m going with this College Basketball bet. Michigan State is a lukewarm 4-3 ATS when travelling and are just not capable of cracking this defense.

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Saturday NCAAB Prime Matchups

Saturday NCAAB Prime Matchups

The college basketball sportsbook is brimming with NCABB betting action and, as always, Saturday is the best day to bet on college basketball.  This Saturday, Jan. 21, brings a number of excellent matchups for gamblers to make money with.

#1 Syracuse, #2 Kentucky and #3 Baylor are all in action on Saturday.  Keep reading below for potential betting lines as well as an analysis of each game.

Alabama Crimson Tide (13-4) at #2 Kentucky Wildcats (18-1)

When:  Jan. 21 at 12:00 pm EST

Potential Betting Line:  Kentucky -10

Analysis:  13 and 4 Alabama is 3 and 1 ATS in their last 4 games.  Not only is the Crimson Tide 3 and 1 ATS, but they’re also 5 and 1 straight up in their last 6 games.  ‘Bama’s D hasn’t allowed more than 59 points in those last 6 contests.  The Tide is, however, coming off of a 52 to 56 loss to Mississippi State in their last.

A 4-point loss in their last game could be a good or bad sign.  In that game, forward JaMychal Green had 14 points and 4 boards.  Green’s going to have to be much better than that if ‘Bama has any hopes of beating Kentucky.

But, for hoops handicappers, Alabama won’t have to beat Kentucky in this game.  The Wildcats are an incredibly awful 4-13-1 ATS this season overall.  They are 2-9-1 against the spread at home.  They did just cover a spread against Arkansas, in an 86 to 63 victory, on January 17, but will they be able to carry that over against an Alabama team with one of the best defenses in NCAAB?

Probably not.  ‘Bama allows, on average, only 56 points per game, 36.8% from the floor, and 26% from behind the three-point line.  Because I expect the betting line to be north of 10 points in this one, Alabama is the team to back.  There’s a good chance that the Tide’s defense frustrates Kentucky and keeps the Wildcats from covering the number.   

Pick:  Alabama Crimson Tide

#5 Missouri Tigers (17-1) at #3 Baylor Bears (17-1)

When:  Jan. 21, 2:00 pm EST

Potential Betting Line:  Baylor -3.5

Analysis:  Missouri is on a roll.  They’ve won three games in a row versus Iowa State 76 to 69, Texas 84 to 73 and Texas A&M 70 to 51.  The Tigers covered the spread in all three games.

Missouri has one of the best offenses in college basketball.  The Tigers average 83 points per game, are ranked 4th in NCAAB, and shoot a fantastic 50.7% from the field.  The Tigers shoot a decent 40% from behind the three-point line.  Guard Marcus Denmon leads the team in scoring average, but Missouri’s success against Baylor will be determined by the play of 6’8” Ricardo Ratliffe.  The huge 240 lb power forward is averaging 14 points and 7 boards per game.  Ratliffe will be counted on to clog up the middle and keep Baylor player Quincy Acy from having a monster game.  Acy only averages 12 points per game, but he’s got the talent to drop 30 and grab 12 boards on any given Saturday afternoon.

Even if Ratliffe shuts down Acy, the Bears might not slow down because 6’ 11” Perry Jones III might be better than Acy.  Perry Jones III is averaging 14 points and close to 8 boards per game.  Acy and Jones III pose a serious dilemma for Ratliffe and the Tigers.  Throw in yet another 10 points + forward per game in Quincy Miller and all of a sudden it becomes apparent that the Baylor Bears are going to dominate the lane in this contest.

Baylor figures to cover a less than 4 point spread against the #5 Missouri Tigers at home on Saturday without any issues in NCAA College Basketball betting.  

Pick:  Baylor Bears

#1 Syracuse Orange (17-1) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-8)

When:  Jan. 21, 6:00 pm EST

Potential Betting Line:  Syracuse -14

Analysis:  Syracuse showed up as a 13.5 point favorite against 12 and 7 Providence earlier in January.  So, I’m thinking that they go off as a close to a 14 point favorite versus Notre Dame on the road on Jan. 21. 

The Orange is 4 and 0 against the spread in their away games this season.  Not only did they cover the 13.5 points against Providence on the road, but they’ve also covered a 9 point spread against Villanova on the road, a 14.5 point spread against DePaul on the road, and a 7 point spread against ACC North Carolina State on the road.  Obviously, the #1 ranked team in the nation, with Scoop Jardine, Fab Melo and Kris Joseph all healthy and playing at a high level, will be difficult to beat on Saturday, but does Notre Dame have any shot of covering a likely 14 to 16 point spread as a home dog?

I don’t think so.  Notre Dame is 3-8-2 ATS overall and only 2-1-2 ATS at home this season.  They’re a decent team, well-coached, and will be fired up to play on Saturday, but they have absolutely nobody on the team that matches up with Syracuse’s three-headed monster of Jardine, Melo and Joseph.

Unless two of Syracuse’s top three players have a worse than off day on Saturday, the Orange should roll in this contest.  I like Syracuse to make it 5 and 0 ATS on the road this season by covering a close to 14 point spread against Notre Dame on Jan. 21. 

Pick:  Syracuse Orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

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Syracuse and Ohio State Headline Saturday Free Hoops Picks

Week 5 College Basketball Free Picks

BetUS college basketball betting buffs will be up to their eyeballs in roundball action this Saturday, thanks to this fun-filled trio of expert NCAA picks.

The top-ranked Syracuse Orange, No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and fourth-ranked Louisville Cardinals will all be on court on Saturday looking to add another victory to their respective win totals while taking another step toward shoring up their respective NCAA Tournament standings, even at this early juncture of the season.

Let’s get started with our College Basketball betting free picks as the No. 2 Buckeyes on the road at South Carolina.

No. 2 Ohio State at South Carolina – Saturday 12:00 PM ET
The Buckeyes (8-1) were beaten handily by Kansas in its 78-67 road loss last Saturday but average a stellar 80.8 points per game offensively, so really, there aren’t many teams in the nation that possess that kind of scoring power. The Buckeyes are limiting its opponents to a paltry 56.0 points per contest. South Carolina (3-5) beat Clemson on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak, but the fact of the matter is that the Gamecocks are clearly not in the same class as the Buckeyes. Even on the road, this is a game that the Buckeyes should – and will – win handily. Keep it simple and play the Buckeyes to win outright! I also like Ohio State to cover the spread if the line stays under double digits.

Memphis at No. 4 Louisville – Saturday 4:00 PM ET
The Memphis Tigers (5-3) had their modest three-game winning streak snapped in its 76-72 loss to Murray State the last time out, but averages a whopping 81.1 points per game this season despite giving up nearly as many defensively (72.1 ppg). Louisville (9-0) remained unbeaten by laying a huge 80-58 smackdown on mediocre Farleigh Dickinson in its last contest. I’m going to urge BetUS college basketball bettors to keep it simple and back Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals in this home contest, based mostly on the fact they they’ve gone 8-0 on their home floor this season and have too much depth with five players averaging at least nine (9.0) points per game this season.

No. 1 Syracuse at N.C. State – Saturday 6:30 PM ET
It’s nice to see Jim Boeheim having success after having to deal with the fallout from assistant head coach Larry Fine’s allegations and I just don’t see them losing this road game to an NC State team that has given up a whopping 86 points in two of their three losses this season. While the Wolfpack have a whopping five players that all average double figures in scoring, I believe their lack of defense will cause them to lose this Week 5 College Basketball contest outright.

Duke, Kentucky Headline This Weekend’s College Basketball Betting

College Basketball Free Picks – Week of December 10

The weekend round of NCABB betting serves up some exceptionally big matches, namely the top two sides Kentucky and Ohio State at Indiana and Kansas, respectively. Also on the menu is Washington vs. No.5 Duke, amongst several others.

Although bookies are yet to go to press with odds and lines on these blockbuster matchups, there is no reason why we can’t already begin speculating. So, without too much fuss, let’s get started with the lowdown to kickstart another sensational weekend of College basketball betting at BetUS Sportsbook.

No.1 Kentucky at Indiana
Game Time: 5:15 PM EST Saturday December 10, 2011 (ESPN, ESPN 3)

Analysis: Kentucky is rolling through the season on an impressive (8-0, 0-0 SEC) which includes important wins over No.11 Kansas and No.5 UNC, the latter of which was a hard fought 73-72 nail biter earlier this week. The Wildcats aim to make it nine in a row when they hit the road for the first time this season but the Indiana Hoosiers loom large, undefeated this term with a similar 8-0, 0-0 Big Ten record and are also looking to extend their form to nine in a row.

In many respects, these two teams are evenly matched with an 8-0 SU mark; however, there is a slight difference and that is the Hosiers clinched two road victories already this season while the Wildcats are yet to be tested on the road. Betting trends reveal an interesting stat and that is that the Hosiers boast a perfect 4-0-0 ATS while the Wildcats are 3-4-0 ATS in their last ten games.

Free Betting Pick: Kentucky Wildcats to win; Indiana Hosiers to cover

No.2 Ohio State at Kansas
Game Time: 3:15 PM EST Saturday December 10, 2011 (ESPN, ESPN 3)

Analysis: Ohio State takes an impeccable 8-0, 0-0 Big Ten record to No.13 Kansas where they’ll be looking to improve form to nine straight wins. Kansas Jayhawks (6-2, 0-0 Big 12) however are enjoying a three-game winning streak at home. In fact, they are yet to lose a game at home, winning all six to date. So the only question that must be asked: can they maintain home form at the expense of the hot Buckeyes? The fact that Ohio State is yet to be tested on the road does give them room for optimism. Although Kansas has lost to ranked opponents twice this season – 75-65 to No.2 UK and 68-61 to No.6 Duke – both defeats were relatively close and that makes an upset win over Ohio State not entirely improbable.  Granted a long shot bet yet. Interesting stats to note: over and above the 6-0 SU mark at home, the Jayhawks are 4-2 ATS at home this season.

Free Betting Pick: Kansas Jayhawks to win

Washington at No.5 Duke
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST Saturday December 10, 2011 (CBS)

Analysis: Washington Huskies are off to a mediocre 4-3, 0-0 Pac-12 start on the season, a run of form that doesn’t bode well for their date with No.5 Duke( 8-1, 0-0 ACC), particularly as it is compounded by a two-game losing streak and a 1-3 SU in their last four games. To say the Huskies are no-hopers to win at Duke is to state the obvious.  Duke recently rebounded from a devastating 85-63 defeat to OSU with an 87-64 routing of CSU at home and now they are looking to continue winning form against a seemingly hapless Washington. Betting trends to take in stock: an overall 3-3-0 ATS for Washington, which includes a 1-2 ATS on the road; compared to an overall 4-5-0 ATS that includes a 4-4 ATS at home for Duke.

Free Betting Pick: Duke to win convincingly

Week 3 College Basketball Free Picks

This Week College Basketball Returns to the Basics

The weekend ushers in a round of college basketball betting that ball fans shouldn’t miss namely Florida vs. Syracuse and Vanderbilt vs. Louisville on Friday and UNC vs. Kentucky and Marquette vs. Wisconsin on Saturday.

Here is a quick preview of these games to get you started thinking of where to place your bets once betting lines are put to press at BetUS.com.pa.

No.9 Florida vs. No.3 Syracuse: Florida Gators (5-1, 0-0 SEC) take on the undefeated Syracuse Orange (7-0, 0-0 Big East) on Friday, a game that should be interesting to tune into. Syracuse is after an impressive 84-48 routing of EMU and is looking to make it 8 wins in a row. Can the Gators halt them in their tracks?  Form is encouraging as the Gators are riding a four-game winning streak since dropping their second game of the season to OSU, 81-74. Moreover, they are third overall this season in points per game and 8th overall in rebounds per game.

Important betting trends to keep in mind: Florida is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road and the total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida’s last 5 games on the road. Syracuse is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games and  5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.

Pick: If a team were to hand Syracuse its first defeat of the season, Florida is a good bet to bet on accomplishing the upset.

No. 19 Vanderbilt vs. N.6 Louisville: The 19th ranked Vanderbilt is faced with a tough ask on Friday: to attempt to hand No. 6 Louisville its first defeat on the season. Vanderbilt is a solid 5-2, 0-0 SEC on the season but the Louisville loom large with an unblemished 6-0, 0-0 Big East record.  The task becomes more difficult considering that Vanderbilt is after a heartbreaking 82-70 OT defeat to No.11 ran Xavier Musketeers.

Several recent betting trends are encouraging for Vanderbilt however including that they are 6-1-1 ATS in the last 8 games on the road and 5-2 SU in the last 7 games on the road. Still this is Louisville’s game to lose and given that they are 5-0 SU in the last 5 games and 5-0 SU in the last 5 games at home, they do appear to be the better bet.

Pick: Louisville to extend winning form

No.5 UNC vs. Kentucky: The fifth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels rebounded nicely after dropping their first game on the season, 90-80 to UNLV, with a crunch 60-57 win over No.7 Wisconsin. That narrow victory couldn’t have come at a better time than before a big date with top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats, who are an irreproachable 6-0, 0-0 SEC on the season and dubbed as the faves in markets across the board.  

Worthwhile betting trends to note: Kentucky is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing North Caroline and 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing North Carolina. On the flipside, North Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road and the total has gone UNDER in 16 of North Carolina’s last 22 games on the road Pick: With both teams going into this clash on a wave of optimism this game should be the weekend’s main course. Expect a tight and competitive battle between these two teams with UNC potentially pulling off the unthinkable.

No.16 Marquette vs. No.7 Wisconsin: The Marquette Golden Eagles take a perfect 6-0, 0-0 Big East record to Kohl Centre where they’ll take on the seventh-ranked Wisconsin Badgers 6-1, 0-0 Big Ten, hoping to extend their run of form to seven in a row. And the prognosis for the Marquette Golden Eagles seems to be rather encouraging, if you ask me. Why? Because the Badgers are after their first defeat on the term. Granted it was a narrow 60-57 road defeat to UNC but the combination of travel and defeat can take its toll, even on such a good team as Wisconsin so obviously is.

Historically, the Golden Eagles haven’t fared well against Wisconsin, boasting a meagre 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Wisconsin. But it might be time to beef up that stat and the opportunity is there for the taking.

Pick: Undoubtedly, Wisconsin is a good bet to win but methinks Marquette could give them a good run for their money in NCAA College Basketball betting.

Start The NCAAB Betting Season With These Free Picks

Four NCAAB Picks to Start the Season Off Right

The 2011-12 NBA season may or may not take place with the league’s two opposing sides still firmly entrenched in what looks like a winless battle, but at this point, who cares?

College basketball is back in a big way and BetUS roundball bettors everywhere can get their 2011-12 betting seasons off to a solid start thanks to the always bettor-friendly management at BetUS.

That’s right hardwood gamblers, thanks to this in-depth betting breakdown on several of college basketball’s top regular season openers that all get the underway with Friday night tip-offs, collegiate roundball gamblers will get four great chances to cash in.

Heading up this quartet of free NCAAB picks is the whopper of a matchup between preseason No.1 North Carolina and near-perennial national title contender Michigan State.

Following that contest, we’ve got a trio of picks on the ensuing nationally top-ranked quartet, featuring No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Ohio State and last but not least, defending national champion and fourth-ranked Connecticut. All in all it’s a great start to Week 1 of NCAAB Betting.

Michigan State vs. No. 1 North Carolina 7:00 PM ET
Carrier Classic at San Diego, Ca,
TV: ESPN, ESPN3

The Scoop: The Michigan State Spartans (19-15 SU,  11-21-1 ATS, 13-20-1 O/U) and North Carolina Tar Heels (29-8 SU, 16-17-1 ATS, 14-19-1 O/U) will make history when they square off in the first college basketball game to not be played on land.

The two big-time hoops programs will hook up on Friday night on board the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in a contest that has the top billing in the nation, but one that may not be as close as many observers expect.

Larry Izzo’s Spartans took a huge tumble last season from the preseason No. 2 to being unranked and suffering a first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State will count on its best player Draymond Green to carry them, but the fact of the matter is that the Spartans will face a Tar Heels team that is absolutely brimming with talent. North Carolina has a legitimate Player of the Year candidate in gifted forward Harrison Barnes and took off after the midseason point last year after inserting smart point guard Kendall Marshall into the starting lineup.

Joining those two in the starting lineup is blossoming seven-footer Tyler Zeller and talented 6-10 forward John Henson, making this prime time regular season opener likely more of a mismatch than anything.

Zeller averaged 15.7 points to lead the Tar Heels last season, but the highly-touted Barnes came on late in a big way and will undoubtedly have more of a leadership role this season.

Carolina finished second in the nation in rebounding a year ago and that will be a huge advantage for the Heels as they get off to an encouraging start in this one.

No NCAA basketball odds are posted for this contest, but I like Roy William’s boys to hand the Spartans a loss that approaches double digits.

Michigan State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games while North Carolina has posted a stellar 7-2 ATS mark in their last nine games against Big Ten opponents.

NCAAB Pick: North Carolina 82 Michigan State 72

 

Marist at No. 2 Kentucky 7:00 PM ET
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
TV: ESPN3

The Scoop: The Marist Red Foxes (6-27 SU,  14-15 ATS, 14-14 O/U) are going to get served up as chopped liver to the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (29-9 SU, 16-16-1 ATS, 11-19-1 O/U) when the two schools take to the court for their regular season openers in their first ever meeting.

Marist is extremely pitiful, having gone 6-27 a year ago while Kentucky features a Player of the Year candidate in multi-talented sophomore forward Terrence Jones, not to mention a ton of pure talent.
 
The Wildcats have national title hopes after reaching the Final Four a year ago and incoming freshmen, Marquis Teague, Mike Gilchrist, Kyle Wiltjer and Anthony Davis will allow this team to remain elite all season long.

Expect the Wildcats to win this ‘scrimmage’ by somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 points, though it should be known that Marist has gone 5-2 ATS over its last seven games while Kentucky has gone 1-3-1- ATS in its L/5 home games.

NCAAB Pick: Kentucky 94 Marist 60

 

Wright State at No. 3 Ohio State 9:00 PM ET
Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: ESPNU

The Scoop: The Wright State Raiders (19-14 SU, 14-15-1 ATS, 18-12-1 O/U) had a solid season last year to finish fifth in the Horizon League, but that isn’t going to help them in this regular season opener against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (34-3 SU, 18-16 ATS, 19-14 O/U), like most early season mismatches between powerhouse programs and their much smaller brethren.

The Raiders do have some size in the frontcourt with big men Johan Mpondo and A.J. Pacher, but not nearly enough to deal with gifted sophomore forward/center Jared Sullinger, a legitimate Player of the Year candidate.

The Buckeyes won 24 straight games at one point last season and hit the NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. Despite falling short in their quest to take home the hardware, Ohio State is back in a big way starting with Sullinger.

Senior guard William Buford is also on the short list of layers that have a legitimate shot to win either the Naismith and Wooden award collegiate awards, giving the Buckeyes at least two future pro players on its roster.

Sullinger is down from 290 to 265 pounds and reports say he looks even more unstoppable in the low post than he did a year ago when he led the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding.

Wright State has put together a solid 5-1 ATS mark in their last six games against non-conference opponents but Ohio State has gone 7-3 ATS in their L/10 games overall.

NCAAB Pick: Ohio State 76 Wright State 67

 

Columbia at No. 4 Connecticut 7:00 PM ET
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
TV: ESPNU

The Scoop: The Columbia Lions (15-13 SU, 9-8 ATS, 7-9 O/U) averaged more points per game last season than they had in the previous 18 years, but that fact isn’t going to help them much in their regular season opener against the fourth-ranked defending national champion Connecticut Huskies (32-9 SU, 23-12 ATS, 14-20 O/U) in this contest.

UConn will be led this season by gifted sophomore shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, but also have a ‘beastly’ player in 6-8 freshman forward DeAndre Daniels, a player the Lions won’t be able to stop with his multi-faceted game.

UConn may not have electrifying point guard Kemba Walker running the show anymore, but they’ve still got more than enough talent to win this game handily.

Columbia could very well cover the NCAA college hoops betting line if their recent trends mean anything at all. The Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last half-dozen games against Big East opponents and a bankroll-boosting 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games against non-conference opponents.

UConn is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games but has ironically recorded a polar opposite 1-10 ATS mark in its L/11 games played on a Friday.

Still, I like UConn to win this matchup by double digits.

NCAAB Pick: UConn 80 Columbia 64

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State of the NCAAB Union…After One Week

NCAAB Betting Preview – Week 1

The College Basketball betting season is underway, something basketball betting enthusiasts –particularly NBA fans – can set their sights on while the NBA lockout brouhaha continues into its fifth month with no end in sight. Frankly, the entire NBA season is doubtful so if you are looking for some hoops, this is it!  Besides – News Flash: it is significantly easier to make a profit on College basketball betting than it is on NBA betting. Now that is something to get excited about.

ACC Basketball

The Atlantic Coast Conference is widely acknowledged as the most competitive with some quality teams in the mix, namely the Duke Blue Devils (+250 to win the ACC), Florida State Seminoles (+650 to win ACC) and North Carolina Tarheels (-175 to win ACC). A side note: it’s worth mentioning that every single team in this conference is off to a winning start so far this season, none having dropped any of its games.
True to preseason predictions, all three aforementioned teams lead the ACC Pack. Of this triplet the #1 ranked Tarheels register as the faves to win the National title across many betting platforms (tipped at +300 at BetUS). This is because last season’s five starters that carried the team to the Elite 8 have returned. Many expect the Tarheels to take it further this season.

The No.6 Duke Blue Devils are always tied to the University of North Carolina Tarheels; currently, Duke is 1st overall in the ACC table. But it is early yet and remains to be seen whether Duke can maintain on this positive upward trend. (Duke is tipped at a large +1200 to win the NCAA title and that is telling.) 

The season only just got underway and in Duke’s case, this is a team in rebuild after losing stars Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler to graduation. Therefore, everything rests on the shoulders of incoming young talent, namely the second highest ranked recruit in ESPN’s Top 100, Austin Rivers. Three straight wins is a good start for a team in rebuild nonetheless.

Finally, the No.24 Florida Seminoles is a team to watch. A team ethos built on solid defence (ranked No.1 in the nation) they appear to be poised to build on last season’s blocks and put forward a strong case to move up the ranks. They aren’t however a team looked upon favourably for the NCAA title, seeing that they are currently trading at a whopping +10000.

BIG TEN

After a rather stellar 34-3 season last year, the Ohio State Buckeyes are the hot faves (tipped at -125) to win the Big 10 Conference and one of several short-odds-on favourites to win the NCAA title this season at +800, a price that practically leaps off the page if you are looking for value on your money and a steal if they actually do pull it off.

Michigan State, tipped at +350 to win the Big Ten Conference, is not living up to its hype so far with two straight losses to open the season but that could be down to jitters. Still, if this trend continues, the team that many pre-season forecasts picked as a potential Cinderella Team is in danger of falling spectacularly off the mark.

Meanwhile, #17 Michigan and # 13 Wisconsin, tipped at +500 each, are 2-0 to start the season and for all intents and purposes bent on climbing the ranks. Neither team has the air of a National champion but that doesn’t mean they won’t try to muscle their way up the ranks.

SEC

No.2 Kentucky strikes an attractive pose on paper; they are the hot faves to win the SEC title and a serious looking short-odds-on fave at +350 to win the NCAA title. They should get stiff competition within their conference from Florida (+250 to win SEC), Vanderbilt (+500 to win SEC) and Alabama (+800 to win SEC) but if they come through on market expectations they could be another steal play in the broad spectrum of the league.

Bet on NCAA basketball with BetUS where you’ll find cutting-edge odds and lines on each and every college basketball game this season and much, much more.

Start The NCAAB Betting Season With These Free Picks

Four NCAAB Picks to Start the Season Off Right

The 2011-12 NBA season may or may not take place with the league’s two opposing sides still firmly entrenched in what looks like a winless battle, but at this point, who cares?

College basketball is back in a big way and BetOnline roundball bettors everywhere can get their 2011-12 betting seasons off to a solid start thanks to the always bettor-friendly management at BetOnline.

That’s right hardwood gamblers, thanks to this in-depth betting breakdown on several of college basketball’s top regular season openers that all get the underway with Friday night tip-offs, collegiate roundball gamblers will get four great chances to cash in.

Heading up this quartet of free NCAAB picks is the whopper of a matchup between preseason No.1 North Carolina and near-perennial national title contender Michigan State.

Following that contest, we’ve got a trio of picks on the ensuing nationally top-ranked quartet, featuring No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Ohio State and last but not least, defending national champion and fourth-ranked Connecticut. All in all it’s a great start to Week 1 of NCAAB Betting.

Michigan State vs. No. 1 North Carolina 7:00 PM ET
Carrier Classic at San Diego, Ca,
TV: ESPN, ESPN3

The Scoop: The Michigan State Spartans (19-15 SU,  11-21-1 ATS, 13-20-1 O/U) and North Carolina Tar Heels (29-8 SU, 16-17-1 ATS, 14-19-1 O/U) will make history when they square off in the first college basketball game to not be played on land.

The two big-time hoops programs will hook up on Friday night on board the U.S.S. Carl Vinson in a contest that has the top billing in the nation, but one that may not be as close as many observers expect.

Larry Izzo’s Spartans took a huge tumble last season from the preseason No. 2 to being unranked and suffering a first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State will count on its best player Draymond Green to carry them, but the fact of the matter is that the Spartans will face a Tar Heels team that is absolutely brimming with talent. North Carolina has a legitimate Player of the Year candidate in gifted forward Harrison Barnes and took off after the midseason point last year after inserting smart point guard Kendall Marshall into the starting lineup.

Joining those two in the starting lineup is blossoming seven-footer Tyler Zeller and talented 6-10 forward John Henson, making this prime time regular season opener likely more of a mismatch than anything.

Zeller averaged 15.7 points to lead the Tar Heels last season, but the highly-touted Barnes came on late in a big way and will undoubtedly have more of a leadership role this season.

Carolina finished second in the nation in rebounding a year ago and that will be a huge advantage for the Heels as they get off to an encouraging start in this one.

No NCAA basketball odds are posted for this contest, but I like Roy William’s boys to hand the Spartans a loss that approaches double digits.

Michigan State is 1-4 ATS in its last five games while North Carolina has posted a stellar 7-2 ATS mark in their last nine games against Big Ten opponents.

NCAAB Pick: North Carolina 82 Michigan State 72

 

Marist at No. 2 Kentucky 7:00 PM ET
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
TV: ESPN3

The Scoop: The Marist Red Foxes (6-27 SU,  14-15 ATS, 14-14 O/U) are going to get served up as chopped liver to the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (29-9 SU, 16-16-1 ATS, 11-19-1 O/U) when the two schools take to the court for their regular season openers in their first ever meeting.

Marist is extremely pitiful, having gone 6-27 a year ago while Kentucky features a Player of the Year candidate in multi-talented sophomore forward Terrence Jones, not to mention a ton of pure talent.
 
The Wildcats have national title hopes after reaching the Final Four a year ago and incoming freshmen, Marquis Teague, Mike Gilchrist, Kyle Wiltjer and Anthony Davis will allow this team to remain elite all season long.

Expect the Wildcats to win this ‘scrimmage’ by somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 points, though it should be known that Marist has gone 5-2 ATS over its last seven games while Kentucky has gone 1-3-1- ATS in its L/5 home games.

NCAAB Pick: Kentucky 94 Marist 60

 

Wright State at No. 3 Ohio State 9:00 PM ET
Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
TV: ESPNU

The Scoop: The Wright State Raiders (19-14 SU, 14-15-1 ATS, 18-12-1 O/U) had a solid season last year to finish fifth in the Horizon League, but that isn’t going to help them in this regular season opener against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (34-3 SU, 18-16 ATS, 19-14 O/U), like most early season mismatches between powerhouse programs and their much smaller brethren.

The Raiders do have some size in the frontcourt with big men Johan Mpondo and A.J. Pacher, but not nearly enough to deal with gifted sophomore forward/center Jared Sullinger, a legitimate Player of the Year candidate.

The Buckeyes won 24 straight games at one point last season and hit the NCAA Tournament as one of the favorites to win it all. Despite falling short in their quest to take home the hardware, Ohio State is back in a big way starting with Sullinger.

Senior guard William Buford is also on the short list of layers that have a legitimate shot to win either the Naismith and Wooden award collegiate awards, giving the Buckeyes at least two future pro players on its roster.

Sullinger is down from 290 to 265 pounds and reports say he looks even more unstoppable in the low post than he did a year ago when he led the Buckeyes in scoring and rebounding.

Wright State has put together a solid 5-1 ATS mark in their last six games against non-conference opponents but Ohio State has gone 7-3 ATS in their L/10 games overall.

NCAAB Pick: Ohio State 76 Wright State 67

 

Columbia at No. 4 Connecticut 7:00 PM ET
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, CT
TV: ESPNU

The Scoop: The Columbia Lions (15-13 SU, 9-8 ATS, 7-9 O/U) averaged more points per game last season than they had in the previous 18 years, but that fact isn’t going to help them much in their regular season opener against the fourth-ranked defending national champion Connecticut Huskies (32-9 SU, 23-12 ATS, 14-20 O/U) in this contest.

UConn will be led this season by gifted sophomore shooting guard Jeremy Lamb, but also have a ‘beastly’ player in 6-8 freshman forward DeAndre Daniels, a player the Lions won’t be able to stop with his multi-faceted game.

UConn may not have electrifying point guard Kemba Walker running the show anymore, but they’ve still got more than enough talent to win this game handily.

Columbia could very well cover the NCAA college hoops betting line if their recent trends mean anything at all. The Lions are 5-1 ATS in their last half-dozen games against Big East opponents and a bankroll-boosting 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games against non-conference opponents.

UConn is 10-1 ATS in its last 11 games but has ironically recorded a polar opposite 1-10 ATS mark in its L/11 games played on a Friday.

Still, I like UConn to win this matchup by double digits.

NCAAB Pick: UConn 80 Columbia 64

NCAA Betting Butler vs. Connecticut the Ultimate Pick

After getting oh so so close last year, the Butler Bulldogs will try to make it happen when they take on the three-point favorite in NCAA Betting odds, the Connecticut Huskies, this Monday night at 9:23 PM ET, at Reliant Stadium, in the tourney’s big final.

NCAA Betting Lines:

Butler Bulldogs +3
Connecticut Huskies -3
O/U 128.5

I know what you are thinking: to watch Butler make the finals in two consecutive years is ludicrous, especially considering they are a small school that upset everybody two years in a row.

The Bulldogs are on a 14-game winning streak that began on Feb. 3 after losing three in a row. They weren’t even favorites to makes the elite eight and here we have them as part of the final once again. It doesn’t make any sense.

In this type of game experience is not overrated. There are not many teams that go to the finals in back-to-back years, and that will definitely be an advantage for Butler, especially in the first minutes of the game when the adrenaline is at the top.

The Bulldogs also know their success will lean on how well they can stop Kemba Walker, an overachieving Uconn junior guard who has lifted his team over his shoulders averaging 25.1 points per game during the tourney.

Keep in mind Walker averages 19 points over the past two games and Uconn was really close to getting slammed out of the competition. Of course the Huskies’ defense is another big reason why they are here.

One thing sports betting fans should consider is that the against the spread record won’t do any good here because both teams have really good stats. For example, the record on a neutral court is impressive for both with Butler standing at 10-0 ATS and Connecticut at 12-1 ATS.

One betting trend you really need to pay attention to is that UConn is 0-3 ATS after scoring 60 points or less.

Here are some other trends you might want to consider:

BUTLER is:

5-1 ATS when the total is 120 to 129.5

8-1 ATS as an underdog

11-3 ATS after a non-conference game

10-0 ATS in all tournament games

18-3 ATS when playing against a team with a winning record

UCONN is:

12-1 ATS in all neutral court games

8-2 ATS after a non-conference game

12-1 ATS in all tournament games

Simmons’ pick: Take Butler with the points, the game is going to be a close one, perhaps with a last second shot.

Final Four Predictions 2011 – A Handful of Thoughts Heading Into the Weekend

When it comes to the Final Four Predictions 2011, by now, you probably know all the obvious storylines. Can VCU or Butler continue their surprising run? Can John Calipari stay out of trouble with the NCAA? Will Kemba Walker be a one-man wrecking crew?

But here are some additional thoughts, ones that few are talking about…

Can Jim Calhoun Continue His Coaching Legacy: By now you know that while it’s been a wild ride for UConn fans on the court this season, off the court it’s been tough sledding. NCAA sanctions hit the program hard this year, and the school will lose scholarships and recruiting privileges going forward.

Still, Calhoun can somehow pull out two more wins and another National Championship, he will instantaneously be vaulted into the discussion as one of the greatest coaches ever. Calhoun is already considered elite, but getting another National Championship would make him just the second coach since John Wooden retired to get three total titles, with the other being Coach K at Duke. He’d pass Roy Williams of North Carolina and Billy Donovan of Florida, as the only other active coaches with two.

There’s a lot more on the line in the Final Four Predictions 2011 than just wins and losses. Calhoun’s legacy is on the line.

Can John Calipari Win With Freshmen: It’s the question that’s been posed since Day 1 of Calipari’s arrival in Lexington: Can you win with mostly young players?

The cynics will point to last year’s Wildcats team, led by four freshmen and a junior that got tripped up in the Elite Eight. They said that with so many young players, it’d show in the tournament, and in 2010 they were right, as Kentucky fell to a more experienced, if not more talented West Virginia squad.

Well with three freshmen in their six man rotation this season, no storyline is more interesting in the Final Four Predictions 2011 than whether the Wildcats can take home a title with so many young players. Calipari is notorious for saying, “Give me the best players, and I’ll figure out the rest.” So far, so good. It’s gotten him to the brink of a national title.

Shaka’s Last Stand: Finally, staying with coaches, we’ve got to talk about VCU’s Shaka Smart. Because right now the most talked about story in college hoops is whether or not this is the last weekend that Smart is VCU’s coach?

Now obviously Smart won’t be going anywhere unless he wants to, but many VCU fans are wondering if one of the “bigger,” schools will come calling with an open checkbook after the Rams tournament runm. The two most feasible landing spots are Missouri and NC State, both which have head coaching openings, and both which are willing to pony up whatever dough it takes to bring Shaka to town.

Will it happen? Who knows. But it’s something to keep in mind when evaluating your Final Four Predictions 2011.

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