College basketball betting: No. 1 a precarious perch
College basketball betting: No. 1 a precarious perch
College hardwood rankings will see their fourth No. 1 team of the year, and third in as many weeks once the weekend slate comes to an end. Wake Forest's flameout to Va Tech on Wednesday spoiled their 16-0 start and opens the door for Duke to climb to the top spot. As volatile as the rankings have proven, if you're not a Blue Devils fan, don't worry as they're bound to be knocked from the spot as well.
We’d better get used to this. Wake Forest is no longer undefeated, having lost 78-71 to Virginia Tech (+13) on Wednesday. West Virginia added to the carnage on Thursday by thumping Georgetown (-5) 75-58. Such is life in the ACC and the Big East. Both these elite conferences are featured in this weekend’s betting tripleheader.
No. 23 Baylor at No. 5 Oklahoma
Saturday, Jan 24, 4:00 p.m. (ET)
But first, the Big 12, where the Sooners (18-1 SU, 8-6 ATS) are ranked No. 5 in the coaches' poll. That might be a little kind – Ken Pomeroy has OU at No. 14 in efficiency among the Division I teams, with only the No. 42 overall defense and one of the lesser-used benches in the nation. Still, Oklahoma is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in conference action. Blake Griffin is an absolute gem at forward with 22.3 points and 13.6 rebounds per game; Griffin also draws 8.2 fouls per 40 minutes, third in college behind UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough (9.2) and Missouri’s Leo Lyons (8.4)
Baylor (15-3 SU, 6-4 ATS, No. 29 Pomeroy) has a much worse defense at No. 96 in the nation, but the amazing Bears offense masks that blemish. They’re No. 3 in effective field-goal percentage at 56.8, hitting at high frequencies from both 2-point range and behind the arc. Baylor is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS against the Big 12 and coming off a strong 83-65 victory at Kansas State (-3½) that was fueled by nine 3-pointers by sophomore guard LaceDarius Dunn. Oklahoma is No. 203 in the country at perimeter defense with 34.5 percent of opponents’ treys finding the bottom of the net.
No. 3 UConn at No. 19 Notre Dame
Saturday, Jan 24, 7:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Huskies (17-1 SU, 5-7 ATS, No. 8 Pomeroy) started the season at No. 2 in the polls; they’ve climbed back to No. 3 since losing to the Hoyas (+7), but they failed to cover in their last three straight. Those were some big spreads, though.
UConn is 0-5 ATS when laying more than nine points and 5-2 ATS otherwise. This is the tallest team in Division I, and also one of the least likely to take a 3-point shot. Their 7-foot-3 center, Hasheem Thabeet, is good for 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while playing strong defense.
It’s the UConn offense that’s going to cause problems for Notre Dame (12-5 SU, 4-7 ATS, No. 44 Pomeroy). This overrated team (also No. 19 in the AP poll) has some inside bulk of its own in 6-foot-10 Luke Zeller, and the Irish have the best player on the court in 6-foot-8 forward Luke Harangody (24.8 points, 12.9 rebounds per game). But Notre Dame is ranked No. 162 in the nation in defensive efficiency with very few turnovers or blocks. The good news for Irish supporters is that this game is being played in South Bend, where Notre Dame is magically delicious at 8-0 SU and 2-1 ATS.
Georgia Tech at No. 9 Clemson
Sunday, Jan 25, 7:45 p.m. (ET)
The Tigers (16-2 SU, 5-7-1 ATS, No. 23 Pomeroy) have lost two in a row SU and ATS, but look at the competition: Wake Forest and North Carolina. Clemson hasn’t beaten the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill ever – that’s a 54-game losing streak. But the Tigers are still a tough nut to crack in the ACC. They have balance on both sides of the ball and excel at creating turnovers, getting the ball on 25.3 percent of their opponents’ possessions, or No. 19 in Division I.
Georgia Tech (9-9 SU, 4-10 ATS, No. 103 Pomeroy) is in the ACC basement, having lost all five conference games at 1-4 ATS. Their style of play is similar to UConn’s, except that the Huskies actually put the ball in the basket. The Jackets are No. 338 out of 344 Division I teams in free-throw shooting at an abysmal 59.4 percent. No wonder they struggle against the betting odds. Having said that, Tech’s last two games went to overtime before they lost SU and ATS to N.C. State (-4) and Boston College (+2½).
College hardwood rankings will see their fourth No. 1 team of the year, and third in as many weeks once the weekend slate comes to an end. Wake Forest's flameout to Va Tech on Wednesday spoiled their 16-0 start and opens the door for Duke to climb to the top spot. As volatile as the rankings have proven, if you're not a Blue Devils fan, don't worry as they're bound to be knocked from the spot as well.
We’d better get used to this. Wake Forest is no longer undefeated, having lost 78-71 to Virginia Tech (+13) on Wednesday. West Virginia added to the carnage on Thursday by thumping Georgetown (-5) 75-58. Such is life in the ACC and the Big East. Both these elite conferences are featured in this weekend’s betting tripleheader.
No. 23 Baylor at No. 5 Oklahoma
Saturday, Jan 24, 4:00 p.m. (ET)
But first, the Big 12, where the Sooners (18-1 SU, 8-6 ATS) are ranked No. 5 in the coaches' poll. That might be a little kind – Ken Pomeroy has OU at No. 14 in efficiency among the Division I teams, with only the No. 42 overall defense and one of the lesser-used benches in the nation. Still, Oklahoma is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in conference action. Blake Griffin is an absolute gem at forward with 22.3 points and 13.6 rebounds per game; Griffin also draws 8.2 fouls per 40 minutes, third in college behind UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough (9.2) and Missouri’s Leo Lyons (8.4)
Baylor (15-3 SU, 6-4 ATS, No. 29 Pomeroy) has a much worse defense at No. 96 in the nation, but the amazing Bears offense masks that blemish. They’re No. 3 in effective field-goal percentage at 56.8, hitting at high frequencies from both 2-point range and behind the arc. Baylor is 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS against the Big 12 and coming off a strong 83-65 victory at Kansas State (-3½) that was fueled by nine 3-pointers by sophomore guard LaceDarius Dunn. Oklahoma is No. 203 in the country at perimeter defense with 34.5 percent of opponents’ treys finding the bottom of the net.
No. 3 UConn at No. 19 Notre Dame
Saturday, Jan 24, 7:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Huskies (17-1 SU, 5-7 ATS, No. 8 Pomeroy) started the season at No. 2 in the polls; they’ve climbed back to No. 3 since losing to the Hoyas (+7), but they failed to cover in their last three straight. Those were some big spreads, though.
UConn is 0-5 ATS when laying more than nine points and 5-2 ATS otherwise. This is the tallest team in Division I, and also one of the least likely to take a 3-point shot. Their 7-foot-3 center, Hasheem Thabeet, is good for 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while playing strong defense.
It’s the UConn offense that’s going to cause problems for Notre Dame (12-5 SU, 4-7 ATS, No. 44 Pomeroy). This overrated team (also No. 19 in the AP poll) has some inside bulk of its own in 6-foot-10 Luke Zeller, and the Irish have the best player on the court in 6-foot-8 forward Luke Harangody (24.8 points, 12.9 rebounds per game). But Notre Dame is ranked No. 162 in the nation in defensive efficiency with very few turnovers or blocks. The good news for Irish supporters is that this game is being played in South Bend, where Notre Dame is magically delicious at 8-0 SU and 2-1 ATS.
Georgia Tech at No. 9 Clemson
Sunday, Jan 25, 7:45 p.m. (ET)
The Tigers (16-2 SU, 5-7-1 ATS, No. 23 Pomeroy) have lost two in a row SU and ATS, but look at the competition: Wake Forest and North Carolina. Clemson hasn’t beaten the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill ever – that’s a 54-game losing streak. But the Tigers are still a tough nut to crack in the ACC. They have balance on both sides of the ball and excel at creating turnovers, getting the ball on 25.3 percent of their opponents’ possessions, or No. 19 in Division I.
Georgia Tech (9-9 SU, 4-10 ATS, No. 103 Pomeroy) is in the ACC basement, having lost all five conference games at 1-4 ATS. Their style of play is similar to UConn’s, except that the Huskies actually put the ball in the basket. The Jackets are No. 338 out of 344 Division I teams in free-throw shooting at an abysmal 59.4 percent. No wonder they struggle against the betting odds. Having said that, Tech’s last two games went to overtime before they lost SU and ATS to N.C. State (-4) and Boston College (+2½).