NCAAB
Write-Up
Saturday, February 19
Pitt won last five games, are 6-0 on road in Big East, with last three wins on road by 3-5-3 points; Panthers won last five games vs St John's, with wins in last two visits here by 24-7 points. Big East home underdogs of 5 or less points are 6-3-1 vs spread. St John's won last four conference games, covered four of their last five games as an underdog.
Tennessee lost three of last four games, beating South Carolina by 6 in last game. Georgia is 5-6 in its last 11 games, but won last two road games. Vols (+5) won 59-57 in Athens Jan 18, its 12th win in last 13 games vs Dawgs, who lost last seven visits here, by 24-10-13-11-16-31-9 points. SEC home favorites of 6 or less points are 6-10 vs spread.
Home team won last five Notre Dame-West Virginia games; Irish lost to WVa in last two Big East tourneys, and lost last two visits here by 1-11 points. Big East home favorites of 4 or less points are 15-11 vs spread. Irish won their last seven games- they're 2-3 as a Big East dog. WVa lost three of last four games- they're 2-4 as a favorite in Big East games.
Texas won six of last seven games vs Nebraska, beating Huskers LY by 40 in Austin- their last two visits here were decided by total of 4 points. Huskers are 4-1 at home in Big 12, with only loss by 20 to Kansas; they are 3-2 as Big 12 dog. Texas is 11-0 in Big 12, winning road games by 31-11-15-20-16 points. Big 12 home dogs of less than 7 points are 9-6.
Iowa State (+10) lost 87-54 at Missouri Jan 22, its sixth loss in row vs Tigers, who won three of their last four visits here, with wins by 22-14-2 points. Big 12 home underdogs of 5 or less points are 9-5 vs spread. Mizzou is 0-5 on Big 11 road, allowing 86 ppg. Cyclones lost last eight games (2-6 vs spread), losing at home by 5-9-1-6 points.
Home side won last eight Washington-Arizona games; Huskies lost last last four visits here by 30-20-9-17 points, but won 85-68 (-10) at home in first meeting this year. Arizona is 7-0 since that game (6-1 vs spread), covering last three as home favorite. Pac-10 home favorites of 5 or less points are 4-6 vs spread. U-Dub won last three games, by 32-11-17, but they're just 4-4 on road in Pac-10- they're Pac-10 dog for first time.
Colorado State (+12) shot 56% from floor, upset UNLV 78-63 on Strip Jan 19; Rams are 2-14 in last 16 vs Rebels, who are 5-1 in last six visits here, with wins by 2-8-17-3-2-8 points. State won five of last six, is 4-2 at home in MWC. MWC home teams are 4-9 vs spread in games where spread is 4 or less points. UNLV covered once in last eight games.
San Francisco (+10) upset Gonzaga 96-91 at home Jan 22, with a 27-15 edge at foul line; Dons lost last seven visits here, by 42-2-3-16-8-34-6 points. USF's Blackwell (flu) didn't play in Thursday's win at Portland. WCC home favorites of 9+ points are 6-11 vs spread. Zags won last five WCC games, are 3-3 as WCC home fave. Dons are 4-1 as a road dog.
Illinois (-4.5) beat Michigan State 71-62 Jan 18; Spartans were 7-26 on arc. Illini lost last four visits here, by 6-10-6-10 points. State lost six of last eight games- three of their last four wins came in OT. Illinois is 1-4 in last five road games, 4-6 in last 10 games overall. Big 11 home faves of 5 or less points are 12-5-1. Home side is 7-2 in last nine series games.
Charleston won its last five games (4-0-1 vs spread), winning game two nights ago. Vermont is 22-5, a solid defensive team (foes shoot 31.6% on arc); they've won last 10 games. Catamounts are 1-2 vs top 100 teams, winning at Iona, losing by 16 to UConn, 28 to BYU. SoCon favorites are 4-10 against the spread in non-conference games, 2-4 at home.
Missouri State won its last four games; they're 3-1 as an underdog so far this year, are dog here for first time since Jam 9. Horizon League home favorites of 8 or less points are 8-4 vs spread out of conference; MVC road dogs of 3 or less points are 6-4. Valparaiso won nine of last ten at home, but is 1-3-1 vs spread in last five games as a favorite.
George Mason won/covered its last 12 games, with last eight wins all by 14+ points, but Patriots lost last five Bracket Buster games. CAA road teams are 27-12 out of conference in games where spread is less than 8 points; MVC non-league home underdogs are 1-5. Northern Iowa is 1-3 in last four games, but they've won six of their last seven at home.
Utah State/St Mary's both had ugly road losses recently; Aggies won 18 of last 19 games; they're 1-1 as dog this season. St Mary's is 1-5-1 in its last seven games as favorite- they beat WAC's New Mexico State by 20 Dec 22. WCC home faves of less than 6 points are 8-3 vs spread; WAC single digit road underdogs are 7-5. Loser here slides closer to bubble.
