Late in the college basketball season, it seems that home teams have a huge home court advantage against nonconference opponents. LMU and VCU both covered at home yesterday. I will be leaning on home teams Saturday in these nonconference matchups. Will list a few that I like after I finish handicapping the games.
Here are the games that I see lining up for good plays on the home teams:
Cleveland St. -3
South Dakota St. -7
VMI -4
SIU Edwardsville -4
McNeese St. =5
Nicholls St. +7
Northwestern St. +1
Missouri St -5
UMKC +1.5
Illinois St. -6
- Here are the five-year overall conference records for the principals:
OVC: 14-28 ATS (4-6 ATS in 2009, 5-5 ATS in 2008)
Big West: 14-15 ATS (4-5 in 2009, 5-2 previous)
Horizon: 26-18 ATS (4-5 in 2009; 4-5 in 2008)
Missouri Valley: 28-20 ATS (7-3 in 2009, 7-2 in 2008)
Metro: 20-21 ATS (5-5 in 2009, 5-5 in 2008)
MAC: 24-32 ATS (2-10 in 2009, 4-5 in 2008)
Colonial: 29-18 ATS (8-4 in 2009, 6-6 in 2008)
WAC: 16-19 ATS (3-6 in 2009, 1-6 in 2008)
It’s interesting to note that the WAC had gone 10-3 ATS in 2006 and 2007 before its 6-16 collapse the last three years (4-12 L2).