NCAAB WRITE-UP
Saturday, February 27
Information on the best of Saturday's college basketball games........
Erratic Georgetown lost two of last three home games; they've won five of last six games vs Notre Dame- Irish lost last three visits here by 1-18-19 points. Hoyas are 3-4 as Big East home favorites. Double digit home favorites are 11-16-1 vs spread in Big East games this season. Irish lost three of last four games, but three losses were by total of six points.
St John's (+8.5) lost 63-53 at Pitt Jan 28; Red Storm led by 4 at half, but shot just 33% from floor. Johnnies lost four of last five home games, are 1-3 as Big East home dogs. Panthers won four of last five games, but lost four of last five at home. Big East home underdogs of less than 3 points are 5-2-1 vs spread. Pitt won last four in series by 26-24-23-10 points.
Michigan (-1.5) shot 56% in 73-64 home win vs Ohio State Jan 3, but Turner was hurt then; Wolverines are 3-7 in last 10 games, but are 4-0 as Big 11 road underdog, losing away games by 6-6-10-15 points. Ohio St. won 11 of last 12 games- they're 4-3 as Big 11 home favorite. Home favorites of 11+ points are 8-11 vs spread in Big 11 games this season.
Old Dominion (+2.5) lost 70-58 at VCU Feb 6, going -7 in turnovers (16-7), but Monarchs are 4-0 in CAA since, and are 3-4-1 as CAA home favorite, winning home games by 21-2-11-23-16-19-16-11 points. Rams lost three of their last four road games. Home faves of 6 or less points are 10-16 against the spread in CAA games this season.
Tennessee (+10) lost 73-62 at Kentucky Feb 13, shooting 38% from the floor, 6-23 from arc; Vols are just 2-3 in last five games, but are 5-1 in its SEC home games, losing to Vandy. Wildcats won their last eight games (5-1 vs spread in last six); they're 5-1 on SEC road, losing only at South Carolina. Home underdogs of 3 or less points are 2-6 vs spread.
Illinois won 11 of last 12 games vs Minnesota; Gophers lost last five in this gym by 28-24-10-9-11 points- they lost five of last six road games, losing by 19-7-3-22-3 points. Illini won six of last eight games, are 1-3 as Big 11 home favorite, winning home games by 6-17-1-2-5 points. Home favorites of 4 or less points are 5-7 vs spread in Big 11 games.
Home side won five of last six Vandy-Arkansas games; Commodores are 0-3 in last three visits here, losing by 9-12-5 points. Vandy won four of last five games, with last three decided by total of 8 points. Home teams are 4-11 vs spread in SEC games when the spread in 2 or less points, no matter who is favored. Arkansas won its last four home games.
Alabama (+7) lost 74-67 at Ole Miss Feb 6, after leading by 20 at half; Tide lost six of last seven games- they're 3-3 at home in SEC. Rebels are 2-5 in last seven games, and were down 20/12 points in the wins. Home favorites of 2 or less points are 2-6 vs spread in SEC games. Rebels lost last three visits to Coleman Coliseum by 6-3-21 points.
Northern Iowa held Illinois State to 38% from floor, outscored them by 13-1 on foul line in 59-44 win in Normal Jan 9; Panthers get C Eglseder back from suspension here; they're 5-3 as MVC home favorite, winning home games by 19-8-2-22-16-3-3-18 points. Home favorites from 8-10 points are 8-2 vs spread. Redbirds won their last six games.
Home team won last 11 Aggie-Longhorn games; Texas lost last five trips to Texas A&M by 11-3-18-17-15 points. A&M (+14) lost 72-67 in OT at Texas Jan 16, after leading by 9 at half; Aggies covered last eight in a row, are 5-1 at home in Big 12, losing only to #1 Kansas. Longhorns are 2-4 in last six on road. Last four A&M games were decided by 5 or less.
California (+4) won 78-70 at Arizona State Jan 28, shooting 51% from floor, 8-20 from arc; last home game for four Cal senior starters- they're 5-1 in last six games, wrap up #1 seed in Pac-10 tourney with win here. ASU won four in row, six of last seven games; favorites covered their last five on road. Pac-10 home faves of 6+ points are 12-21 vs spread.
BYU covered last four games, is 6-1 since losing 76-72 at New Mexico Jan 27 (+1); Cougars are 4-3 as MWC home favorite, winning in Provo by 4-44-15-13-20-43-14 points. Single digit home favorites are 9-11 vs spread in Mountain West games this season. New Mexico won last 12 games-- their last loss was 74-62 January 9 at UNLV.
Georgia is 10-3 vs spread in SEC games, winning four of last five home games; they lost 87-71 at Florida Jan 27 (+10), with -10 turnover ratio. Florida won five of last six SEC games; they're 3-3 on SEC road. Home teams are 4-11 against spread in SEC games when the spread in 2 or less points, no matter who is favored. Florida is 12-1 in last 13 series games.
Home team won five of last six Kansas-Oklahoma State games; Kansas lost two of last three visits here, but is is 13-0 in big 12, but just 1-7 vs spread in last eight games, 2-3-1 as road favorites, winning away games by 12-23-2-6-12-5 points. Home underdogs of 6 or less points are 5-10 vs spread in Big 12 games. Faves are 6-0 vs spread in OSU home tilts.
Home team won six of last seven Maryland-Virginia Tech games; Terps lost last three visits to Blacksburg by 10-1-3 points. Maryland won six of last seven games; they're 3-3 on ACC road. Hokies are 6-0 at home in ACC; after laying egg in Boston Wednesday, they need high profile win like this. Home teams are 2-6 in ACC games where spread is less than 2.
Arizona is 8-4 in last 12 games vs Stanford; Wildcats lost last two trips to Maples by 4-16 points, but beat Stanford 76-68 Jan 28 (-6). Cardinal lost last two home games, scoring 60-61 points; 3-1-1 as a Pac-10 home favorite. Arizona lost three in row, five of last six games. Home favorites of 3 or less points are 8-4 against the spread in Pac-10 games.
Troy won four in row, seven of last eight games; their last six wins were all by 6 or less points, or in OT; Trojans are 1-4 as a Sun Belt road dog, losing away games by 14-2-15-18 points. Arkansas State is 7-1 at home in Sun Belt, winning at home by 8-15-2-2-11-17-7 pts. Home favorites of 4 or less points are 12-8 vs spread in Sun Belt games.
Missouri (-4.5) was 28-43 from foul line in 74-68 win over Kansas State Jan 9 (K-State was 20-30; both teams had 20+ turnovers). Tigers won five of last six games, are 1-1 as Big 12 underdog. Wildcats won last six games, are 2-2 as home favorite, winning home games by 23-9-17-4 pts. Home favorites of 6 or less points are 13-8 vs spread in Big 12 games.
Villanova is 7-2 in last nine games vs Syracuse, winning three of last four visits here (last two by 10-17 points); Wildcats lost two of last three on road; they're 2-1 as an underdog. Syracuse is 2-4-1 as Big East favorite at home, winning in Dome by 17-5-17-17-5 points. Home favorites of 6 or less points are 8-20 against the spread in Big East games.
Washington (-9) outscored Wazzu 56-34 in second half of 92-64 home win vs Coogs Jan 30, but Huskies are just 1-5 on Pac-10 road, with its only win at Stanford. State lost six of last eight games, is 3-6 as a Pac-10 dog, 0-2 at home. Pac-10 home underdogs are 7-9 vs spread; the biggest home dog in any Pac-10 game this season was 7 points, a low number.
