College basketball's best betting teams
College basketball's best betting teams
There's no question that the North Carolina Tar Heels are the top college basketball team in the country. Roy Williams' bunch accounted for all 103 first-place nods in last week's AP and ESPN/USA Today polls, and probably will again this week when the rankings come out later today. But what about the top teams when looking strictly from a betting angle, which schools go to the window most often.
College hoops will be as quiet as the proverbial mouse this Christmas – no games on the 24th or the 25th. Conference play is just around the corner, though, so let’s take this opportunity to put together some ATS-friendly power rankings.
These are my Top 10 college hoops teams for the first semester.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
The defending national champions aren’t going away nearly as quietly as expected after losing seven of their top nine players from last year. Guard Sherron Collins and center Cole Aldrich have led the Jayhawks to an 8-2 record (4-1 ATS) with a strong balance on offense and defense.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners aren’t just about football. Last month’s impressive overtime win over Purdue (-2) is the centerpiece of OU’s 11-0 (5-3 ATS) resume; Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the AP poll, while Ken Pomeroy has the Sooners at No. 9 overall with the No.8-ranked offense.
3. Duke Blue Devils
Duke (10-1 SU, 6-4 ATS) isn’t one of the three undefeated teams in the mighty ACC, but the Blue Devils are making money while playing outstanding basketball – can’t put North Carolina here at 4-5 ATS, after all. Duke is coming off Saturday’s 82-64 destruction of a very good Xavier (+6) squad.
4. Stanford Cardinal
The balance of power is shifting in the Pacific-10. Stanford has only played the No. 192-ranked schedule in Division I, but at 7-0 (5-2 ATS) is the only undefeated team left in the conference. First-year coach Johnny Dawkins studied at the feet of Mike Krzyzewski for 11 years at Duke before joining the Cardinal.
5. Butler Bulldogs
A familiar name from the mid-majors, Butler nonetheless continues to beat the betting odds at 5-2-1 ATS on a record of 9-1 SU. The Bulldogs started the season by upsetting last year’s darlings from Drake (-6), then came within an eyelash of doing the same to the NIT champions from Ohio State (-7).
6. Niagara Purple Eagles
The Eagles might not even prove to be the best team in the MAAC, but for now, they’re the top moneymakers in Division I at 8-1 ATS (8-2 SU). Niagara’s conquests this year include Monmouth-NJ (-14½) and South Florida (-5). Junior guard Tyrone Lewis has 3.3 steals per game and is connecting on 38 percent of his 3-pointers from the new arc.
7. Michigan Wolverines
Welcome back to the Blue and Maize. This former Big Ten titan is making amber waves again at 8-2 SU and a delicious 5-1-1 ATS. The Wolverines handed Duke (-9½) its only loss of the season, spurred on by coach John Beilein’s motion offense at No. 6 in the nation in efficiency. Michigan was next in line at press time to jump into the AP Top 25; Pomeroy has the Wolverines at No. 37.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini hit the ground with a thud last year after losing the Eric Gordon recruitment battle to Indiana. But coach Bruce Weber has put together an intriguing team loaded with sophomore talent, and it’s paying off so far at 10-1 SU and 5-2 ATS. The only loss was 76-74 to undefeated Clemson (+1).
9. Baylor Bears
The long climb back from 2003’s annus horribilis is nearly complete. Baylor is 9-1 SU and 3-1 ATS with victories over Arizona State (-1½) and Washington State (-3), leaving the Bears at No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 26 on the Pomeroy index. Texas Tech coach Pat Knight called this team “scary good” during the preseason.
10. Charleston Cougars
All hail the College of Charleston (9-1 SU, 4-0 ATS). The Cougars are easily the lightweights of this Top 10, coming out of the Southern Conference and playing the No. 329-ranked strength of schedule in Division I. But credit where credit is due. We’ll be watching for the Cougars in their two games against Davidson, plus their Jan. 7 non-con tilt with the Tar Heels.
There's no question that the North Carolina Tar Heels are the top college basketball team in the country. Roy Williams' bunch accounted for all 103 first-place nods in last week's AP and ESPN/USA Today polls, and probably will again this week when the rankings come out later today. But what about the top teams when looking strictly from a betting angle, which schools go to the window most often.
College hoops will be as quiet as the proverbial mouse this Christmas – no games on the 24th or the 25th. Conference play is just around the corner, though, so let’s take this opportunity to put together some ATS-friendly power rankings.
These are my Top 10 college hoops teams for the first semester.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
The defending national champions aren’t going away nearly as quietly as expected after losing seven of their top nine players from last year. Guard Sherron Collins and center Cole Aldrich have led the Jayhawks to an 8-2 record (4-1 ATS) with a strong balance on offense and defense.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners aren’t just about football. Last month’s impressive overtime win over Purdue (-2) is the centerpiece of OU’s 11-0 (5-3 ATS) resume; Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the AP poll, while Ken Pomeroy has the Sooners at No. 9 overall with the No.8-ranked offense.
3. Duke Blue Devils
Duke (10-1 SU, 6-4 ATS) isn’t one of the three undefeated teams in the mighty ACC, but the Blue Devils are making money while playing outstanding basketball – can’t put North Carolina here at 4-5 ATS, after all. Duke is coming off Saturday’s 82-64 destruction of a very good Xavier (+6) squad.
4. Stanford Cardinal
The balance of power is shifting in the Pacific-10. Stanford has only played the No. 192-ranked schedule in Division I, but at 7-0 (5-2 ATS) is the only undefeated team left in the conference. First-year coach Johnny Dawkins studied at the feet of Mike Krzyzewski for 11 years at Duke before joining the Cardinal.
5. Butler Bulldogs
A familiar name from the mid-majors, Butler nonetheless continues to beat the betting odds at 5-2-1 ATS on a record of 9-1 SU. The Bulldogs started the season by upsetting last year’s darlings from Drake (-6), then came within an eyelash of doing the same to the NIT champions from Ohio State (-7).
6. Niagara Purple Eagles
The Eagles might not even prove to be the best team in the MAAC, but for now, they’re the top moneymakers in Division I at 8-1 ATS (8-2 SU). Niagara’s conquests this year include Monmouth-NJ (-14½) and South Florida (-5). Junior guard Tyrone Lewis has 3.3 steals per game and is connecting on 38 percent of his 3-pointers from the new arc.
7. Michigan Wolverines
Welcome back to the Blue and Maize. This former Big Ten titan is making amber waves again at 8-2 SU and a delicious 5-1-1 ATS. The Wolverines handed Duke (-9½) its only loss of the season, spurred on by coach John Beilein’s motion offense at No. 6 in the nation in efficiency. Michigan was next in line at press time to jump into the AP Top 25; Pomeroy has the Wolverines at No. 37.
8. Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini hit the ground with a thud last year after losing the Eric Gordon recruitment battle to Indiana. But coach Bruce Weber has put together an intriguing team loaded with sophomore talent, and it’s paying off so far at 10-1 SU and 5-2 ATS. The only loss was 76-74 to undefeated Clemson (+1).
9. Baylor Bears
The long climb back from 2003’s annus horribilis is nearly complete. Baylor is 9-1 SU and 3-1 ATS with victories over Arizona State (-1½) and Washington State (-3), leaving the Bears at No. 24 in the AP poll and No. 26 on the Pomeroy index. Texas Tech coach Pat Knight called this team “scary good” during the preseason.
10. Charleston Cougars
All hail the College of Charleston (9-1 SU, 4-0 ATS). The Cougars are easily the lightweights of this Top 10, coming out of the Southern Conference and playing the No. 329-ranked strength of schedule in Division I. But credit where credit is due. We’ll be watching for the Cougars in their two games against Davidson, plus their Jan. 7 non-con tilt with the Tar Heels.
