Non-Conference Play
By Tom Grassi
Sportspic.com
The onset of another season of college basketball handicapping means assessing how schools have done in non-conference matchups, since virtually all the contests through the remainder of 2013 are of that variety.
Some schools use this stretch of contests to test their teams, as well as get them ready for conference play, against a number of quality opponents. In contrast, there are others that simply schedule a collection of lesser teams that will build up the confidence of its squad, while also helping to guarantee a number of wins.
The list below looks at the 11 schools that have done the best when facing a non-conference foe over the past three seasons, based on a minimum of 20 games in order to provide a solid sample size. Butler and Arizona are tied for 10th place in this group:
North Dakota State: 19-7
Appalachian State: 14-6
Washington State: 27-12
Michigan: 26-12-1
Wyoming: 23-11
Tulane: 14-7
Oregon State: 15-8-1
Georgetown: 18-10
Jacksonville State: 14-8
Butler: 26-15-2
Arizona: 26-15
Four schools have been the most consistent among this collection of teams, managing to finish above .500 against the Las Vegas betting line in each season. Those schools are North Dakota State, Washington State, Wyoming and Tulane, with North Dakota State having put together excellent back-to-back seasons against the pointspread the last two years with a 15-4 mark.
Three of the schools (Michigan, Butler and Arizona) should be watched to see if what happened during the 2011-12 campaign occurs again. That year, each of the schools were coming off a strong season versus the Las Vegas betting line, but proceeded to either finish at or below .500 in this select category. The trio would all rebound last year with strong non-conference efforts in regard to sports handicapping.
In addition, Butler’s situation with a new coaching staff in place is especially reason enough to pay attention. The architect of the team’s rise to consecutive appearances in the national title game, Brad Stevens, left over the summer to take the helm of the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Three other schools: Oregon State, Georgetown and Jacksonville State, are all in danger of dropping off this list with another season like last year. During the first two seasons that are featured here, all three schools covered their non-conference tilts at a better than 70 percent rate. Last season, each of the schools finished with a losing record in this area, with Georgetown’s 2-6 mark bringing up the rear.
The final school in this group, Appalachian State, is looking to continue the success it’s enjoyed over the past two years, when it covered the pointspread in 10 of 12 non-conference affairs.
Given that this collection of games takes up nearly half of the college basketball season, it’s important to discern between conference and non-conference matchups, since the strength of some conferences can be open to question. Playing these games is often the best litmus test to answer that query.
By Tom Grassi
Sportspic.com
The onset of another season of college basketball handicapping means assessing how schools have done in non-conference matchups, since virtually all the contests through the remainder of 2013 are of that variety.
Some schools use this stretch of contests to test their teams, as well as get them ready for conference play, against a number of quality opponents. In contrast, there are others that simply schedule a collection of lesser teams that will build up the confidence of its squad, while also helping to guarantee a number of wins.
The list below looks at the 11 schools that have done the best when facing a non-conference foe over the past three seasons, based on a minimum of 20 games in order to provide a solid sample size. Butler and Arizona are tied for 10th place in this group:
North Dakota State: 19-7
Appalachian State: 14-6
Washington State: 27-12
Michigan: 26-12-1
Wyoming: 23-11
Tulane: 14-7
Oregon State: 15-8-1
Georgetown: 18-10
Jacksonville State: 14-8
Butler: 26-15-2
Arizona: 26-15
Four schools have been the most consistent among this collection of teams, managing to finish above .500 against the Las Vegas betting line in each season. Those schools are North Dakota State, Washington State, Wyoming and Tulane, with North Dakota State having put together excellent back-to-back seasons against the pointspread the last two years with a 15-4 mark.
Three of the schools (Michigan, Butler and Arizona) should be watched to see if what happened during the 2011-12 campaign occurs again. That year, each of the schools were coming off a strong season versus the Las Vegas betting line, but proceeded to either finish at or below .500 in this select category. The trio would all rebound last year with strong non-conference efforts in regard to sports handicapping.
In addition, Butler’s situation with a new coaching staff in place is especially reason enough to pay attention. The architect of the team’s rise to consecutive appearances in the national title game, Brad Stevens, left over the summer to take the helm of the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Three other schools: Oregon State, Georgetown and Jacksonville State, are all in danger of dropping off this list with another season like last year. During the first two seasons that are featured here, all three schools covered their non-conference tilts at a better than 70 percent rate. Last season, each of the schools finished with a losing record in this area, with Georgetown’s 2-6 mark bringing up the rear.
The final school in this group, Appalachian State, is looking to continue the success it’s enjoyed over the past two years, when it covered the pointspread in 10 of 12 non-conference affairs.
Given that this collection of games takes up nearly half of the college basketball season, it’s important to discern between conference and non-conference matchups, since the strength of some conferences can be open to question. Playing these games is often the best litmus test to answer that query.
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