NCAAB WRITE-UP
Wednesday, November 24
College Basketball Knowledge
Cleveland State is 5-0 already, winning by 6 at UL-Lafayette in its only road game so far; Vikings have all five starters back from 16-17/8-8 club from LY. Akron is 1-1 vs D-I teams, beating Youngstown by 7 at home, losing by 8 at Dayton. MAC favorites are 4-10 vs spread in non-league games. Horizon underdogs of 4 or less points are 5-1.
Drexel is 2-0 with pair of road wins, at Loyola (75-72), Penn (77-56)-- Dragons have four starters back from 16-16/11-7 team. Rhode Island is 3-2, 2-2 as favorite- this is their fourth game in six nights. Rams held off Drexel 80-79 in LY's meeting in Philly. A-14 single digit home favorites are 4-3 vs spread. CAA single digit road underdogs are 4-6.
Ill-Chicago won three of last four games vs Central Michigan, as Central lost last two visits here, 77-67/84-62. Chippewas lost last three games, by 7-3-6 points; they've got three starters back from 15-15/9-7 squad. UIC is 2-2 after upsetting Rhode Island 74-68 in last game. MAC road underdogs of less than 20 points are 10-2 against the spread.
Middle Tennessee lost three of last four games, losing by 5-7-2 points; they're 1-2 as a favorite. Evansville lost by 13 at Indiana Sunday- they were up at the half. Aces have four starters back from 9-21/3-15 team. MTSU has two starters back from LY. MVC home favorites are 3-6 vs spread. Sun Belt single digit road underdogs are 4-9 vs spread.
Home side won seven of last eight Utah-Utah State games, as Utes lost last four visits here, by 2-3-26-5 points. Utah is 3-0 this year, but this is their first road game. State is 2-1, with wins by 12-13 points; they've got four starters back from 27-8 team. WAC home favorites are 5-2 vs the spread. MWC road underdogs are 3-2 against the spread.
LMU lost two of three on eastern trip; they're 0-3 vs D-I teams, losing by 2-2-10 points. Lions have four starters back fron 18-16/7-7 team that has higher expectations this year. Cal Poly lost to Monterey Bay, then at Montana State; they've got four starters back from 12-19 team. Dogs from Big West are 7-14 vs spread, 0-2 at home.
Oregon State lost last two games, to Seattle/Texas Southern, typical for team with nine frosh/sophs. Charlotte is 2-3, losing to Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb; they've got four starters back from LY, but coach is new. A-14 road underdogs are 8-2 vs spread this season. Home favorites from Pac-10 are 12-6 vs spread, 4-3 if single digit favorite.
USC is 3-2, losing to Rider/Bradley on eastern swing. Trojans still don't have their PG eligible (Dec 16). Fullerton is 1-3; three of their four games were decided by four or less points. Big West road underdogs are 7-12 vs spread, 2-7 if spread was 9+ points. Pac-10 home favorites are 12-6 vs spread, 8-3 if double digit favorite.
VCU is 3-0, with all three wins by 13+ points; they've won at depleted Wake Forest by 21. Rams have four starters back from 27-9 team. Vols are 3-0, winning by 20-9-4 points; Tennessee lost 4 starters from LY's 28-9/11-5 team- this is their first road trip of year. SEC faves are 6-16 against the spread so far this season.
Villanova is 4-0, UCLA 3-0, with no wins by less than 10 points, but neither side has been tested yet. Bruins have 4 starters back from LY's 14-18/8-10 disaster. Wildcats has three starters back from 25-8 team. Villanova more familiar with NYC site. Big East single digit favorites are 6-8 vs spread. Pac-10 teams are 28-8 SU, 1-2 vs spread as the dog.
Virginia lost by 42 to Washington Monday, then beat Oklahoma by 18 yesterday; Cavaliers have two starters back from LY and are rebuilding. Wichita State has four starters (3 juniors and a senior) back from LY's 25-10 team- they're future is now. ACC road teams are 6-8 vs spread when spread is 7 or less points. MVC teams are 6-12 away from home.
Tough for Washington to bounce back after emotional loss to Kentucky last night, but Michigan State isn't playing well either (tied at half with Chaminade Monday). Teams playing third day in row favors team with better rebounding that doesn't shoot 3's. Huskies were -13 on boards vs young Kentucky team, bad omen for matchup with physical Spartans.
UConn is getting carried by very hot guard Walker, who has 61 points in two games. Huskies didn't lead at the half in either game so far this week. Kentucky has jumped out to early leads in both games; 6-8 Jones is real deal, averaging double digit rebounds in first four games. SEC favorites are 6-16 vs spread this season. Big East underdogs are 5-3.