NCAAB
Write-Up
Wednesday, December 22
Drexel won last six games, is 8-1 with wins at Louisville/Northeastern; Dragons are 3-0 vs spread as underdog; they're 3rd-best team in country on defensive boards- Louisville win was only game they've played vs a top-80 team. Syracuse is 12-0, but just 2-7 vs spread as favorite, with home wins by 22-19-11-3-20-6-6 points in lined games.
Michigan State hasn't played in 11 days; they were struggling until then, beating Oakland by a point after 14-point loss to Syracuse; Spartans are 8-3 playing #24 schedule, but they're just 2-6 as a favorite. Texas is 2-2 against teams ranked in top 61; they beat Michigan State by 11 LY, after losing to the Spartans the previous three years by 2-6-4 points.
10-0 Central Florida has only two wins over teams ranked higher than #115 UMass; they beat Florida by 3, Miami by 6. Knights beat UMass 84-67 at home in LY'sseason opener. UCF has played #299 schedule; they use lot of guys. UMass lost last three games after 6-0 start, losing at home to Maine and by 25 to Seton Hall in last game.
This is first road game of year for Lousivlle squad that played first ten games in new arena; they beat Western Kentucky 102-75 LY, avenging 68-54 loss from year before. Cardinals are 9-1 playing #202 schedule. WKU lost five of last seven games; they're 0-3 vs spread as underdogs this season. Louisville is 4-4 vs spread when they're favored.
Missouri beat Illinois by 13 LY, ending 7+-year series skid on a neutral court in St Louis; Tigers are 10-1 playing #231 schedule; they went OT with only two top 100 teams they played (Georgetown/Vandy). Illini is 4-1 vs teams ranked in top 81, but they lost their last game to #212 UIC. Mizzou PG Pressey is out for this game with broken finger.
First true road game for Kansas squad that won three neutral court tilts and is 3-0 vs Pac-10 squads, winning by 8-1-2 points; Jayhawks beat Cal LY by 15 at home; they covered one of last five games as a favorite. Cal Bears are 6-4 playing #10 schedule in country; they're 2-3 as a dog, losing home games to San Diego State by 20, Southern Miss by 2.
Xavier is 7-2, losing only true road game by 11 at Miami OH; they went 2-1 on neutral court in Virgin Islands, losing final by 9 to Old Dominion. Musketeers are 1-1 as underdogs. Gonzaga is 6-5 playing #16 schedule in country; they're 2-1 as a favorite. Musketeers are 0-4-1 vs spread in their last five games.
Georgia Tech just upset Richmond in Bahamas, now makes weird trip to Albany to play Siena (game was homecoming for senior sub who since quit team). Tech is 0-2 in true road games, losing at Northwestern by 20, Kennesaw State by 17. Siena is 1-4 at home, 3-6 overall, 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing by 7 at Minnesota, by 13 at home to Butler.
Mississippi State suspended star recruit Sidney for this game; PG Bost isn't eligible until SEC play starts, which is why Bulldogs are 7-3 even though they've played only one team ranked in top 140, losing by 31 to Va Tech. Washington State is 8-1, losing at home by 5 to Kansas State. Coogs have won pair of road games, at Fresno State and Santa Clara.
Utah won four of last five games; they're 1-2 on road, losing at Utah St by 17, Michigan by 11, winning by 8 at Bradley. Utes are one of tallest teams in country. Butler is 6-4 playing #18 schedule in country; they're 3-1 as favorite- this weekend will be their 6th-8th games on road. Butler hammered Stanford by 33 last game, after losing three of previous four.
Indiana is 9-2 but lost only two road games, by 12 at Boston College, by 19 at Kentucky; those are also only top 100 teams they've played (faced #304 schedule so far). 7-3 Northern Iowa is 1-2 vs top 100 teams, losing at Syracuse by 22, Iowa by 12, beating Iowa State by 6. Indiana is 3-0 vs spread as a favorite this season.
New Mexico is 9-1 playing #244 schedule, losing by 25 at Cal, winning at So Illinois/New Mexico State; Lobos are 5-1-1 vs spread as favorite. Colorado won last five games, is 7-3 playing #330 schedule, with losses to San Francisco/Harvard; Buffs are 0-3 away from Boulder, losing by 9-2-16 points- they're 0-2 as an underdog.
Florida State is 3-0 on road, winning by 24-23-11 at stiff teams, beating LMU 74-63 on way out to Hawai'i; Seminoles are 3-1 as favorite- they are 9-2 playing the #248 schedule, part of why they are #1 in blocked shots, #2 in defensive efficiency. Hawai'i is 6-0 at home, with wins over Montana State/Cal State-Fullerton and Central Michigan.