College Teams you Should Bet on – Valparaiso at Butler

Valparaiso Crusaders (6-15 SU, 8-10 ATS) at Butler Bulldogs (18-1 SU, 11-5-1 ATS)

BetOnline NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Odds: BUTLER -17, Total 121.5

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* VALPO has lost four of its last five games SU

* VALPO has covered one of its last five games

* VALPO has lost its last six road games SU

* BUT is 8-2-1 ATS in its last 11 games

* BUT has won its last ten games SU

* BUT has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* BUT has won its last 14 home games SU

Also…

* BUT has won nine of the last ten meetings SU

* VALPO has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings

* BUT has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings

Butler has been on a roll since its conference season began, and has run up some very impressive scores in the process of creating a lot of distance between itself and the competition. They’ve lost just two games against the number in conference play thus far.

Matt Howard, who had a such a great freshman season a year ago, can’t miss from the field, shooting 67% over the last eight games. Shawn Vanzant came off the bench to score 20 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee, indicating more playing time could be in store for the sophomore from Tampa. In that game, which was against a team that was one of the Horizon League’s contenders, the Bulldogs, who made 15 three-point shots, allowed only four baskets from outside of four feet, which is kind of amazing. Milwaukee shot just 24% overall in the 78-48 Butler victory.

Perhaps the previous meeting between these teams can be instructive. That contest was won 75-62 by the Bulldogs, with Valpo hoisting up a lot of three-pointers but not making many of them (just 32%). Brandon McPherson had 22 points for the Crusaders, but he’s out for the season with a knee injury which required surgery and will in fact be applying for a medical redshirt.

That severely reduces scoring options for Homer Drew’s club, which is looking for someone dependable to join Urule Igbavboa, who is the only double-digit producer. No luck just yet. Inasmuch as they are not making nearly as many three-pointers as they did a year ago, this is a team that is easier to defend and will have problems making up big deficits. Defensively-stout Butler (37.7% shooting allowed) seems to be in a mood lately to create those big deficits on the part of opponents.

At the Hinkle Fieldhouse, where they have won fourteen straight games, we like the rested (five days to prepare) Bulldogs, the 17-point favorite in the BetOnline NCAA college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: BUTLER -17 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)