CBB Betting Info. 3/12

[TheGame]

ACC Trends and Angles


Venue: Verizon Center - Washington, DC


Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 10-2 SU, 5-6-1 ATS
Over/Under: 8-4
Saturday, Mar. 12
Championship
Matchup Records Skinny Projection


No. 1 North Carolina
Overall: 27-6 SU, 15-17-1
Totals: 17-16-1 O/U


No. 2 Virginia
Overall: 26-6 SU, 17-13 ATS
Totals: 11-19 O/U


No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Virginia (ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET)
---


TBD
TBD

[TheGame]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Big East Trends and Angles


Venue: Madison Square Garden - New York, NY


Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 6-2 SU, 5-3 ATS
Over/Under: 6-2
Saturday, Mar. 12
Championship
Matchup Records Skinny Projection


No. 1 Villanova
Overall: 29-4 SU, 15-16-1 ATS
Totals: 17-14-1 O/U


No. 3 Seton Hall
Overall: 24-8 SU, 22-9 ATS
Totals: 14-17 O/U


No. 1 Villanova vs. No. 3 Seton Hall (FOX, 5:30 p.m. ET)
The Wildcats look to repeat as back-to-back conference tournament champs, which would complete a second straight double Big East title for Jay Wright's program. Kris Jenkins led the way with 21 points in a 76-68 win against Providence, taking advantage of First-Team All-Big-East forward Ben Bentil landing in foul trouble and showing off his own versatility. The Friars managed to cover as 8.5-point favorites, so 'Nova has only covered two of its last seven. Center Daniel Ochefu played just 15 minutes off the bench after reaggravating an ankle sprain and playing just 13 minutes in the win over Georgetown. He's the only regular taller than 6-foot-8 on the Villanova roster. The third-seeded Pirates have played from ahead for most of this tournament in wins over Creighton and Xavier, holding off late rally bids. Seton Hall has now won 11 of 13 games. Guards Khadeen Carrington (25 ppg) and Isaiah Whitehead (22 pts, 8.5 rebs, 7 asts) are locks for All-Tournament team through two games. They lost a pair of January meetings (72-63, 72-71) against Villanova, but did cover each time. The 'over' has prevailed in eight consecutive 'Nova games and five straight for Seton Hall.


Villanova 76
Seton Hall 70

[TheGame]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Pac-12 Trends and Angles


Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena - Las Vegas, NV


Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 10-0 SU, 6-3-1 ATS
Over/Under:8-2


Saturday, Mar. 12
Championship
Matchup Records Skinny Projection


No. 1 Oregon
Overall: 27-6 SU, 18-12 ATS
Totals: 13-17 O/U


No. 2 Utah
Overall: 25-7 SU, 15-14 ATS
Totals: 16-13 O/U


No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 2 Utah (FS1, 10:00 p.m. ET)
The Pac-12 put on the best on Friday night in Vegas, which includes anything that went down on the Strip. The Ducks survived an epic meltdown that allowed Arizona to force OT when Chris Boucher inexplicably threw an errant inbounds pass underneath his own basket with less than a second remaining. Dwyane Benjamin returned from a toe injury suffered earlier in the game to supply a momentum-altering 3-pointer in the extra session. Elgin Cook was also hobbled but finished with a game-high 22 points and should join Benjamin in being good to go here. Utah also survived its semifinal, quite literally getting a last-second buzzer-beating layup from Lorenzo Bonam to force OT in a game Cal appeared to have won. Center Jakob Poeltl then took over the OT, finishing with 29 points and 11 rebounds as the Utes won 82-78, covering as 2.5-point favorites. Utah has won nine straight, going 7-2 ATS during that stretch. Oregon has won seven consecutive games, but is just 4-3 ATS in that stretch. The 'under' has prevailed in five of the last six Utes games. The Ducks won both regular-season meetings by double-digits, covering in games that each went under the posted total.


Oregon 71
Utah 70

[TheGame]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Big 12 Trends and Angles


Venue: Sprint Center - Kansas City, MO


Overall Betting Results
Favorites/Underdogs: 7-1 SU, 4-4 ATS
Over/Under: 3-5
Saturday, Mar. 12
Championship
Matchup Records Skinny Projection


No. 1 Kansas
Overall: 29-4 SU, 20-11 ATS
Totals: 11-19 O/U


No. 2 West Virginia
Overall: 26-7 SU, 20-10 ATS
Totals: 13-16 O/U


No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 West Virginia (ESPN, 6:00 p.m. ET)
The Mountaineers survived to play in their first-ever Big 12 Championship when Buddy Hield's double-clutched buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt was deemed to come after the clock hit 0.0, preserving a 69-67 win. West Virginia almost paid the ultimate price for Bob Huggins foolishly not having Jonathan Holton miss a free-throw at game's end, which would have left the Sooners no time for heroics. The free-throw did cover a 1.5-point spread. Sophomore guard Jevon Carter scored a season-high 26 points, hit six of nine 3-point attempts and helped hold Hield to just six points on 1-for-8 shooting. WVU pressure forced 21 Sooner turnovers and has been responsible for its first-ever Big 12 Tournament wins over both TCU and OU. Kansas cruised past K-State and was throttling Baylor 64-48 with just 1:51 left before Bill Self pulled his starters and the Bears ran off a 16-5 run to steal the cover. Despite the meltdown, the Jayhawks have still covered 10 of their last 13 games, all victories, and seem poised to be the No. 1 overall seed if they can win their first Big Tournament since '13. They lost in last year's Big 12 title game to Iowa State. Kansas only lost three conference games, the first of which came at West Virginia on Jan. 12. It avenged the defeat in the most recent meeting, winning at home 75-65 on Feb. 9.


Kansas 73
West Virginia 67

[TheGame]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

NCAAB


Notes for Saturday's games..........


Big 14 tournament (Indianapolis)
Michigan State won its last seven games, all by 12+ points; they waxed Ohio State by 27 Friday, using only one guy more than 27:00. Maryland is 3-4 in its last seven games overall; they lost 74-65 Jan 23 at Michigan State; Terps led by 4 early in second half; Maryland made 13-22 on arc in 97-86 win over Nebraska Friday- three Terps played 31:00+. State is 12-3 in its last 15 conference tourney games, winning it in 2012, 2014.


Atlantic 14 tournament (Brooklyn)
St Joe's beat GW Friday after being down 16 in first half; Hawks used three guys 33:00+- Bembry played whole game. St Joe's beat Dayton in only meeting this year, 79-70 at home Feb 17- Flyers were 8-31 on arc that night. Dayton beat Richmond easily Friday; no one played more than 28:00; since '05, Flyers are 2-7 in second conference tourney game. St Joe's won eight of its last 12 conference tournament games.


VCU beat Davidson twice this year, both by 10 points; Rams won first meeting 79-69 in Charlotte, racing out to 29-7 lead, then 70-60 at home 10 days ago, shooting 66% inside arc (1-14 outside it). VCU were 1-16 on arc Friday in 85-70 win over UMass- they used three guys 31:00+, were 26-32 on foul line. Wildcats needed OT to beat Bonnies 90-86, as three Davidson guys played 41:00+- they turned ball over only 5 times.


AAC tournament (Orlando)
UConn won epic 4-OT game Friday, making 60-footer at buzzer of third OT; Huskies played five kids 43:00+- two played 54:00. UConn split its last six games; they lost twice to Temple this year, 55-53 at home on Jan 5 (went 4-20 on arc), 63-58 on road Feb 11 (led by 12 with 5:51 to play). Owls won easily Friday, their 10th win in last 12 games. Huskies are 13-3 in conference tourneys last five years. Temple is 3-5 the ast six years in conference tourneys, after winning tourneys from '08-'10.


Conference USA tournament (Birmingham)
Old Dominion won its last seven games, winning last three days, all by 12+ points; Monarchs lost 64-61 at home to Middle Tennessee Jan 16, going 3-16 on arc. ODU plays 5th-slowest tempo in nation; they used four guys 32:00+ Friday. Blue Raiders won last five games, are 15-4 in last 19- they won Alaskan Shootout in fall, but are 4th-worst team in the country on foul line (60.5%). LY, Middle was team that lost playing its fourth day in row, losing to UAB by 13 in this game.


Big East tourney (NYC)
Villanova won 12 of last 13 games, with only loss by 7 at Xavier Feb 24. Wildcats shot 57.5% inside arc in win over Providence Friday- they used only two kids more than 28:00. Seton Hall is 11-2 in last 13 games, with both losses to Butler; Pirates turned ball over 25 times Friday but hung on to beat Xavier 87-83. Hall is 11-2 in last 13 games but lost twive to Villanova this year, 72-63 on road Jan 6 (Villanova was 26-32 on line), 72-71 at home Jan 20 (Pirates led by 2 with 2:28 left).


Big 12 tournament (Kansas City)
Kansas is 15-3 in last six Big X tourneys, since losing in first round back in '09; they won last 13 games; five of its last seven wins were by nine or less points. West Virginia won its last six games, surviving Oklahoma Friday, when Hield's game-winning shot was just after horn- WVU split with Kansas this year, beating Jayhawks 74-63 at home Jan 12 (WV had 33-13 edge on line), losing 75-65 in Lawrence Feb 9, as Jayhawks shot 67% inside arc. West Virginia was 5-20 on the arc that might. .


MAC tournament (Cleveland)
Buffalo is 9-2 in last 11 games Bearden played (they went 0-3 with him out of lineup); he had 13 assists, 2 turnovers last two nights. Bulls lost to Akron twice this year, 75-71 at home Jan 5 (Bulls led by 5 with 6:24 left), 80-70 at Akron Feb 16 (Bulls were up 13 in first half). Bulls made 14-27 on arc in 88-74 win Friday; two kids played 37:00. Akron won its last five games; they shot 69% inside arc vs tired BG Friday. Since '07, Zips are 22-6 in MAC tourney, winning it three times.


ACC tournament (Washington DC)
North Carolina won six of its last seven games, hammering teams by 17-31 last two days; UNC lost 79-74 at Virginia two weeks ago; Cavaliers outscored Tar Heels 18-7 on foul line. Virginia won its last five games; they've won six of last seven games in ACC tournament. Carolina hasn't won ACC tourney since 2008; Virginia won it two years ago. Cavaliers beat Miami by 5 Friday; both teams shot 55%+ inside arc. Virginia had only two guys play more than 23:00.


Big Sky tournament (Reno)
Since 2010, home team is 13-0 in Weber State-Montana regular season games, but Griz is 4-0 vs Weber in Big Sky tourney, beating Wildcats by 3 in OT LY. Weber won nine of last 10 games; they needed OT to beat North Dakota Friday- they were 14-36 on arc, 14-23 inside it. Couple of starters played 40:00+; four played 31+. Montana won eght of its last 10 games; they lost 60-54 at Weber two weeks ago in only meeting this year-- Weber outscored the Griz 20-8 on the foul line.


Mountain West tournament (Las Vegas)
San Diego State hasn't won Mountain West tourney since '11, losing in final three of last four years; Aztecs are no lock for NCAAs this season, but are 18-2 in MW this year, splitting pair with Fresno. Aztecs won at home 73-67 in OT Jan 19, then got upset 58-57 in Fresno Feb 10, after Aztecs led by 11 in second half. Bulldogs won last seven games, have veteran guards, but best scorer Harris doesn't look in shape (7-23 in win Friday) and Fresno is playing for third night in row.


Pac-12 tournament (MGM, Las Vegas)
Oregon is 8-2 in Pac-12 tourney last three years; they won seven games in row overall, needed OT to beat Arizona Friday- four Ducks played 37+ minutes. Oregon beat Utah twice this year, 77-59 on road Jan 14- Poeltl was held to 7 points, then 76-66 at home Feb 7 (Ducks shot 56% inside arc, held Poeltl to 13). Utah held off Cal in OT last night; they've won nine games in row since loss in Eugene- three Utes played 38:00+ in last night's win. These teams won two of last three Pac-12 tourneys.


Big West tournament (Anaheim)
Hawai'i lost twice to Long Beach this year, losing 74-72 on road a week ago tonight- Rainbows led by 8 with 5:30 left. 49ers won 78-64 Jan 30 on islands, with 47-28 edge on boards. Hawai'i is 4-1 in this tourney last two years, after being 1-8 before then; Rainbows won nine of last ten on mainland, with one loss last week. Long Beach won 11 of last 12 games; they avenged pair of loss to Irvine with win Friday. 49ers played three guys 32:00+ last night.

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Saturday’s Betting Notebook
By Brian Edwards
— Michigan and Indiana served as an excellent appetizer for Friday’s shenanigans in conference tournaments from coast to coast. We saw just about everything you can witness in a day of watching hoops. There were blown leads, backdoor covers, buzzer-beaters from beyond half court and off the glass, coaching debacles, complete no-shows, heartbreakers, overtimes and even one four-OT thriller. IU, the Big Ten regular-season champ, was in a tight battle with Michigan to start the day at noon Eastern. The Hoosiers, who closed as 7.5-point favorites at most books, appeared to create a tad bit of separation when they went ahead 66-61 with 2:26 left on a Troy Williams layup. With an and-one opportunity to potentially go ahead six, bettors on IU had to feel decent about their chances. However, Williams missed the free throw, Michigan secured an offensive rebound after a miss at the other end and took advantage when Duncan Robinson converted a three-point play the hard way. Robinson’s heroics trimmed the deficit to two at the 1:50 mark. After trading a bucket for a pair of free throws, IU’s Yogi Ferrell made just 1-of-2 at the charity stripe. Down three, Robinson tied the game with a trey at the 53-second mark. When IU committed a turnover, the Wolverines were able to hold the ball for the last shot. Derrick Walton kicked to Kameron Chatman in the corner and he buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. When the refs went to review the clock, they put 0.2 seconds back on but it wouldn’t matter. Michigan collected a 72-69 win, hooking up money-line backers with a +320 payout (paid $320 on $100 wagers).
— Michigan has to feel great about its at-large hopes after the win over Indiana, but it can remove all doubt with a win today in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. John Beilein’s team will take on the Purdue Boilermakers, who were 7.5-point favorites as of early Saturday morning. Matt Painter’s team blasted Illinois 89-58 as an 11.5-point favorite to advance to the semifinals.
— The other Big Ten semifinal will pit Maryland against Michigan State There was no early line as of early this morning. The Terrapins captured a 97-86 win over Nebraska as eight-point ‘chalk.’ They led by as many as 25, only to allow the Cornhuskers to get within six and ahead of the number with 1:37 remaining. Tim Miles’s team would get no closer, though, and the Terps closed the game with five straight free throws. Jake Layman scored 26 points and Diamond Stone finished with 23 points and eight rebounds. Melo Trimble scored 16 points, handed out eight assists and pulled down seven rebounds.
— Michigan State made quick work of Ohio State for the second time in a week, cruising to an 81-54 win to end any hopes of an NCAA bid for the Buckeyes. The Spartans took the cash easily as 13-point favorites. They have now covered the spread in 12 consecutive games. These teams met once during the regular season, with Tom Izzo’s team winning a 74-65 decision over Maryland as a four-point home favorite at Breslin Center on Jan. 23. Michigan State is 11-1 SU and 12-0 ATS since then, suffering its only loss by one in overtime at Purdue. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
— The ‘over’ is 8-2 in Michigan State’s last 10 games.
— Texas A&M advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals by capturing a 72-66 win over Florida. Wagers on the side and total were completely determined by when gamblers placed their bets. Most spots opened the Aggies as four-point favorites with a total of 140. But most shops closed Texas A&M as a favorite of 5.5 or six points. The total closed anywhere from 136 to 137.5 points. Tyler Davis led the winners with 15 points and eight rebounds. Danuel House also had 15 points, but he was 5-of-20 from the field and took a terrible shot early in the possession leading by four with less than a minute remaining. UF would cut the deficit to two on a pair of free throws by Kasey Hill with 30 ticks left. But the Aggies made a pair of free throws and then forced a turnover that led to a run-out layup to seal the deal.
— Texas A&M will take on LSU today at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. William Hill opened the Aggies as seven-point favorites, while several offshores had the total at 150 on the send-out. The Tigers beat Tennessee 84-75 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated. Playing its third game in as many days against a fresh LSU squad, UT simply ran out of gas in the final five minutes. LSU took advantage and covered as a 4.5-point favorite.
— Kentucky rolled past Alabama 85-59 as a 13-point favorite. The Wildcats also covered the spread for first-half bets as seven-point ‘chalk.’ They are now 7-4 ATS in their last 11 games as double-digit favorites. Jamal Murray led the way against the Crimson Tide with 23 points and four assists. Alex Poythress finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, draining 4-of-5 from 3-point range.
— UK will face Georgia in the second SEC semifinal at around 3:30 p.m. Eastern today. These teams played once during the regular season with the ‘Cats coasting to an easy 82-48 win as 13-point favorites. Mark Fox’s team played from behind nearly all night Friday against South Carolina, which was playing without star Michael Carrera due to a hip injury. UGA didn’t take its first lead of the game until late in the second half. Trailing by two at crunch time, J.J. Frazier found himself double-teamed out near half court with 7-8 seconds left on the shot clock. The lightning-fast junior point guard still had his dribble, though, and somehow sliced through both defenders, maneuvered into the lane and made a wild floater in traffic to tie the game with 24 seconds remaining. On S-Carolina’s ensuing possession, Sindarius Thornwell tried to penetrate but Frazier tapped the ball away and then secured the loose ball in a scramble before being fouled with 2.1 seconds left. Frazier made the first free throw to put the Bulldogs in front before Fox wisely called his last timeout. As he and every other coach should always do in this situation (keep in mind that Frank Martin was out of timeouts), Fox instructed Frazier to miss the second free throw on purpose while making sure to hit the rim. In this scenario, the opponent is forced to heave a 75-80 footer. If Frazier were to make the second free throw, South Carolina would’ve had the same chance Oklahoma would get about 20 minutes later (more on this below). Instead, the Gamecocks made a pass after rebounding Frazier’s miss and didn’t get a shot off. UGA beat South Carolina for the third time this year, 65-64, as a 1.5-point underdog. Frazier finished with 20 points one night after scoring 28 in a win over Mississippi State. Yante Maten added 17 points and 12 boards.
— Iowa State. pulled out an improbable backdoor cover in its loss to Oklahoma on Thursday. It was Baylor’s turn to pull the same trick Friday night at Sprint Center in Kansas City. Scott Drew’s team trailed by 16 with 1:50 left, yet it was able to cut the deficit to three with eight ticks left. Kansas would prevail by a 70-66 count, but Baylor posted an improbable backdoor cover as a 7.5-point underdog. The Jayhawks face West Virginia in the Big 12 finals tonight at 6:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
— I’ve always been a big fan of Bob Huggins and will remain so for a long time (if not forever). With that said, I lost a lot of respect for his coaching acumen late Friday night in KC. Jaysean Paige’s midrange jumper with 11.1 seconds remaining put West Virginia up 68-67 on Oklahoma. After a miss by OU’s Christian James, Jonathan Holton snared the rebound and was fouled with 1.8 left. Twenty minutes before in a similar situation, Mark Fox’s coaching savvy was on full display when he directed J.J. Frazier to miss as described above. Huggins did no such thing. Hell, it didn’t even occur to him. After Holton missed the first free throw, he made the second. Big mistake! Now OU can throw the ball down the court without dripping clock. The Sooners inbounded to Buddy Hield, who took two quick dribbles and went into the air at half court. A WVU defender caused Hield to lean a little in mid-air before releasing the shot, which kissed home off the glass. The refs counted it to give Oklahoma the win. But in real-time, I didn’t think Hield got the shot off, just as I had thought Thursday on Wade Baldwin’s buzzer shot for Vanderbilt. As Brent Musberger and Fran Fraschilla went nuts and Hield jumped into the crowd and celebrated, I tweeted, “I don’t think he got it off in time.” Moments later, Musberger recognized the refs going to look at the replay. After a long delay, the shot was waved off to give WVU a 69-67 win as a 1.5-point favorite. Jevon Carter scored a game-high 26 points in honor of his late grandmother on her birthday. The Mountaineers will be underdogs to KU in their first appearance in the Big 12 Tournament finals.
— Providence and Villanova squared off in the first Big East Tournament semifinal Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. One night after dropping 38 points on Butler, PU’s Ben Bentil fouled out with 9:40 remaining and only three points. But his dismissal from the game with PU down 11 seemingly ignited his teammates. The Friars went on a 12-3 run to cut the Wildcats’ lead to two with 6:59 remaining. But Ryan Arcidiacono (15 pts., seven boards, four assists and two steals) and Kris Jenkins (21 pts.) were too much for the Friars, who nonetheless covered the number as 8.5-point underdogs.
— Villanova will collide with Seton Hall in tonight’s Big East finals at MSG in NYC. The Pirates improved to 11-2 ATS with eight outright wins in their last 13 games as underdogs by beating Xavier, 87-83. Kevin Willard’s squad hooked up money-line backers with a +190ish return. Khadeen Carrington led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Isaiah Whitehead finished with 20 points, eight assists and five boards. The Hall is in the Big East Finals for the first time since 1993 during the P.J. Carlesimo Era. This game will tip at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Fox Sports 1.
— North Carolina smashed Notre Dame by a 78-47 count as a 7.5-point favorite to advance to the ACC Tourney finals. The Tar Heels will meet Virginia at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The Cavaliers nearly blew a spread cover due to uncharacteristic misses at the charity stripe in the final minute. UVA controlled its semifinals showdown against Miami from the opening jump, yet the Hurricanes made it interesting late, especially for our purposes. In fact, a UM layup with three seconds left cut the deficit to three. Fortunately for UVA backers like me, UM fouled immediately and Malcolm Brogdon drained both of the ensuing free throws. Brogdon’s makes gave the Cavs a 73-68 win as four-point ‘chalk,’ but their backers didn’t cash until a Miami half-court heave was off the mark at the horn.
— Virginia beat UNC 79-74 as a 2.5-point home favorite on Feb. 27. The 153 combined points sailed ‘over’ the 137-point total. Brogdon dropped 26 points on the Tar Heels.
— How did we wait this long to get to the AAC Tournament?! UConn and Cincinnati squared off with the Bearcats looking for a third win this season over the Huskies, who are on the proverbial bubble and almost certainly had to have a win to keep their at-large hopes alive. Those hopes seemed completely dashed when Cincy’s Kevin Johnson drained a deep trey from the left wing with 0.8 seconds left in the third overtime. But the Bearcats were too busy showboating when the game wasn’t over. Therefore, Jalen Adams was able to get a running start, catch the inbounds pass and get a clean look at about a 60-footer. Adam’s shot went off the glass and in to force a fourth extra session. What?! For a minute, I thought we might have the makings of a challenger for the best game ever in ANY conference-tournament game (with apologies to Maryland-N.C. State in 1974), which obviously was the six-OT thriller won by Syracuse over UConn in 2009 at MSG. But the Huskies went to work in the fourth OT and pulled away for a 104-97 win as two-point underdogs. Daniel Hamilton had 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the winners. In the losing effort, Troy Caupain tallied 37 points, 10 boards, three steals and five assists without a turnover in 56 minutes of playing time.
— UConn will face Temple at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2. Most spots had the Huskies favored by three early this morning. Five UConn players logged 43 minutes or more against the Bearcats, so fatigue will be an issue. Hamilton played 55 minutes, Sterling Gibbs went for 54 and Rodney Purvis was on the floor for 49 minutes.
— I mentioned a no-show earlier, remember? That honor goes to Tulsa, which went into the AAC quarterfinals on the bubble and needing a win over Memphis. Josh Pastner had never won an AAC Tourney game previously, but that changed Friday. The Tigers destroyed the Golden Hurricane from start to finish in an 89-67 shellacking as five-point underdogs. You know, that sort of beatdown couldn’t get dealt to a better guy than Frank Haith. Here’s to you, Frankie!
— So what does Memphis get next? How about 10th-seeded Tulane? Come again?! That’s right, Tulane is still alive. Even though CBSSports.com’s Gary Parrish reported early Friday that Tulane coach Ed Conroy was about to taste a pink slip, that dismissal hasn’t taken place yet. Conroy’s team beat Houston 72-69 as a 12.5-point underdog to advance to the AAC semifinals. Hey, just up the road in Baton Rouge a few months ago, Les Miles was on his way out the door at LSU. I tell you what, Mr. Conroy. You beat Memphis today and my money says you’ll still be the Green Wave’s coach next week and next year. And if you pull a Dennis Felton circa 2008 SEC Tournament and win the AAC and get to the NCAA Tourney (minus the tornado and venue switch like that ’08 weekend in Atlanta), your AD will be handing you an extension offer in the next two weeks.
— How late did the action go into this morning at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. By the time Utah knocked off California 82-78 as a 2.5-point favorite in overtime, it was 2:36 a.m. Eastern. The Utes forced OT thanks to Lorenzo Bonam’s driving layup that barely beat the buzzer to tie the game. Jakob Poeltl scored five of his game-high 29 points in OT.
— Utah will face Oregon in the Pac-12 finals at 10:00 p.m. Eastern tonight on Fox Sports 1. The Ducks inexplicably needed an extra session to dispose of Arizona. The Wildcats, who trailed by as many as 17 in the second half, hit a three to pull within one with 0.8 seconds left. Then the Ducks threw the inbounds pass right to UA’s Mark Tollefsen. They did what?! Tollefsen goes straight up but misses at the buzzer. But wait….there was a whistle. Really?! Yes, Oregon fouled him. With a chance to win at the line, Tollefsen missed the first, only to make the second to force the extra session. Nevertheless, Dana Altman’s team won 95-89 in OT in a pick ‘em affair, but only after taking months (if not years) off of Altman’s life.
— John Calipari announced Friday that sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis will turn pro after this season.
— What a day of college basketball – an all-timer for sure!

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

StatFox Super Situations™ – FoxSheets
CBB | MARYLAND at MICHIGAN ST
Play Against – Underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points (MARYLAND) excellent team – shooting >=45% with a defense of <=42% on the season, after a game making 13 or more 3 point shots 29-8 since 1997. ( 78.4% | 20.2 units ) 3-2 this year. ( 60.0% | 0.8 units )

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

StatFox Super Situations™ – FoxSheets
CBB | MICHIGAN at PURDUE
Play On – Neutral court teams (MICHIGAN) excellent ball handling team – committing <=12 turnovers/game, after 4 straight games committing 11 or less turnovers 240-153 since 1997. ( 61.1% | 66.4 units ) 24-16 this year. ( 60.0% | -4.5 units )

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

StatFox Super Situations™ – FoxSheets
CBB | CONNECTICUT at TEMPLE
Play Under – Neutral court teams where the first half total is 55.5 to 60.5 after having won 4 of their last 5 games, playing with one or less days rest
203-121 since 1997. ( 62.7% | 69.9 units )
5-6 this year. ( 45.5% | -1.6 units )

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Big Ten Conference Tournament Semifinals Betting Preview
Michigan shocked No. 1 seeded Indiana in their quarterfinal and will meet another stiff test in the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday. The other semifinal will feature the Michigan St. Spartans, who destroyed Ohio St., against Maryland.
Tournament to be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Michigan Wolverines vs. Purdue Boilermakers (-7.5, 143)
* The Wolverines entered this event very much on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but they strengthened their resume with a 72-70 overtime win against Northwestern in the second round Thursday and again with Friday’s thrilling 72-69 victory over top-seeded Indiana. Sophomore Kameron Chatman, who averaged seven minutes and 2.8 points entering Friday’s contest, nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds remaining to send Michigan to its sixth conference tournament semifinal appearance. Zak Irvin (11.8 points) poured in a game-high 17 points against the Hoosiers and has led the Wolverines in scoring in each of their three upsets over ranked league opponents this season, including a season-high tying 22 in a 61-56 home victory versus the Boilermakers on Feb. 10.
* Purdue easily squashed its first opponent with a potent mix of dominant inside play and prolific 3-point shooting in its first game of the Big Ten tournament. Buoyed by a combined 37 points and 23 rebounds from its large frontcourt of 7-0 A.J. Hammons, 7-2 reserve Isaac Haas and 6-9 Caleb Swanigan, Purdue drilled a school-tournament record 13 3-pointers in Friday’s 89-58 quarterfinal rout of No. 10 Illinois, which edged fifth-seeded Iowa a day earlier. Haas (26.8) and Hammons (24.7) entered Friday ranked first and second, respectively, in the Big Ten in points per 40 minutes and only enhanced those marks on a combined 13-of-15 effort from the field, with Haas tallying 16 points in 18 minutes and Hammons posting 10 points in 17 minutes.
Betting Stats:
Michigan – 22-11 SU, 16-15 ATS, 19-11-1 O/U
Purdue – 25-7 SU, 16-11-1 ATS, 15-13 O/U
Trends:
* Wolverines are 1-6-1 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
* Boilermakers are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
* Under is 4-1 in Wolverines last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Boilermakers last 5 vs. Big Ten.
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Maryland Terrapins vs. Michigan St Spartans (OFF)
* Maryland advanced to the semifinals for the second straight year after holding on for a 97-86 win against No. 11 seed Nebraska Friday. The hot-shooting Terrapins knocked down 13 3-pointers and set a new single-game tournament record for most points and hope to use that momentum to take down the surging Spartans. Jake Layman knocked down six 3-pointers en route to a season-high 26 points as all five starters finished in double figures in the win over Nebraska. Diamond Stone added 23 points and eight rebounds in his first Big Ten Tournament appearance while Melo Trimble scored 16 points to go along with eight assists against the Cornhuskers.
* The Spartans are one of the hottest teams in the nation as they have won 11 of their last 12 games and have beaten Ohio State three times in less than three weeks after cruising past the Buckeyes 81-54 in the quarterfinals Friday. Michigan State has won 10 of its last 12 Big Ten Tournament games, including a 62-58 triumph over Maryland in the semifinal stage last season. Denzel Valentine showed why he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year as he racked up 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the win over Ohio State. Eron Harris added 12 of his 13 points in the second half while Deyonta Davis added 12 points and seven rebounds against the Buckeyes.
Betting Stats:
Maryland – 25-7 SU, 14-16-1 ATS, 12-18-1 O/U
Michigan St – 27-5 SU, 22-9 ATS, 16-15 O/U
Trends:
* Terrapins are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
* Spartans are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 vs. Big Ten.
* Under is 6-0 in Terrapins last 6 games following a ATS win.
* Over is 8-2 in Spartans last 10 vs. Big Ten.

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Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

SEC Conference Tournament Semifinals Betting Preview
The SEC is on to the semifinals with a pair of fantastic matchups Saturday afternoon. No. 1 Texas A&M will take on Ben Simmons and the LSU Tigers in the opening semifinal while No. 2 seed Kentucky will battle No. 6 Georgia.
Tournament to be played at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
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Louisiana State Tigers vs. Texas A&M Aggies (-7.5, 149)
* A lot would still have to go right for LSU to sneak back into the NCAA Tournament picture, beginning with an upset of top-seeded Texas A&M in the SEC tournament semifinals Saturday. Freshman star Ben Simmons (19.4 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists) grabs much of the attention, with good reason, but it was fellow freshman Antonio Blakeney (12.8 points) who carried the Tigers with 22 points against Tennessee. Blakeney is one of the players LSU is counting on to step up and fill the void left by Keith Hornsby’s season-ending internal injury, as is Josh Gray (5.4 points), who contributed 11 points in a starting role Friday.
* The Aggies don’t need a strong performance this weekend to punch their ticket, but they have designs on their first conference tournament title since winning the 1987 Southwest Conference tourney. Texas A&M didn’t have an easy time putting away Florida, needing a late 7-0 run to pull away for a 72-66 victory – the Aggies seventh in a row. The Aggies have an impressive freshman of their own in center Tyler Davis (11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds), who collected 15 points and eight rebounds against the Gators. Davis has grown into a nice complement to Texas A&M’s bevy of perimeter scorers, including 6-7 wings Danuel House (15.3 points) and Jalen Jones (15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds), who present matchup problems for most opponents.
Betting Stats:
LSU – 19-13 SU, 11-18 ATS, 13-16 O/U
Texas A&M – 25-7 SU, 14-11-2 ATS, 11-16 O/U
Trends:
* Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
* Aggies are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Southeastern.
* Under is 11-1 in Tigers last 12 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 11-1 in Aggies last 12 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats (OFF)
* The sixth-seeded Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed South Carolina 65-64 on Friday when J.J. Frazier tied it with a late basket, and came up with a steal and was fouled with 2.1 seconds left before delivering the winning free throw. The Bulldogs are making their third straight appearance in the semifinals and need to spring an upset to be considered for an NCAA Tournament berth, but will probably have to win the tournament to reach the Big Dance. Frazier, a junior guard, scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half Friday and averages a team-best 16.6 points – 22.9 in his last seven games. Sophomore forward Yante Maten (16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds) recorded 17 points and 12 boards against South Carolina – his 13th consecutive game scoring in double figures.
* Kentucky appears to be peaking at the right time as it meets Georgia on Saturday in the semifinals of the SEC tournament in Nashville, Tenn., and has a hot player on its hands in 6-5 freshman guard Jamal Murray. The second-seeded Wildcats crushed No. 10 seed Alabama in Friday’s quarterfinals behind 23 points from Murray, who has scored at least 21 points in 11 consecutive games – averaging 25.2 during that span to raise his season number to 20.1 points per game. The Wildcats do not possess the depth of last season’s team that nearly went undefeated but remain potent with players such as 5-9 sophomore guard Tyler Ulis (16.6 points, 7.3 assists), the SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
Betting Stats:
Georgia – 19-12 SU, 18-13 ATS, 17-14 O/U
Kentucky – 24-8 SU, 16-16 ATS, 17-14-1 O/U
Trends:
* Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Southeastern.
* Over is 6-1 in Bulldogs last 7 vs. Southeastern.
* Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 neutral site games.

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Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

ACC Conference Championship Game Betting Preview
Virginia Cavaliers vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (OFF)
The dominance missing from North Carolina’s performance most of the season may be appearing just in time to end the Tar Heels’ eight-year ACC title drought – and potentially serve as a springboard to the Final Four. The Tar Heels roll into Saturday’s ACC championship game against Washington, D.C., against Virginia following a 31-point rout of Notre Dame in Friday’s semifinal, a display illustrating just how difficult North Carolina could be for opponents in the NCAA tournament.
“We didn’t play great offensively, but our defense is peaking,” guard Marcus Paige told reporters after scoring 16 points, highlighting a dominant display that moved the Tar Heels to the cusp of their first league tournament crown since 2008 and most likely a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA tournament. Standing in the way are the Cavaliers, whose current five-game winning streak started with a five-point home victory over North Carolina on Feb. 27. Malcolm Brogdon again sparked Virginia in its 73-68 semifinal victory Friday over Miami (Fla.), scoring 24 points to bring the Cavaliers a victory away from their second ACC tournament title in three years and potentially a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. “We know how good UNC is,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett told the media, “and we’ll need to be at our best.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3
BETTING STATS:
Virginia – 26-6 SU, 17-13 ATS, 12-18 O/U
North Carolina – 27-6 SU, 15-17-1 ATS, 17-16 O/U
POWER RANKINGS:
Virginia Cavaliers (-16.95) – North Carolina Tar Heels (-15.85) = Virginia -1.1
ABOUT VIRGINIA (26-6):
The Cavaliers have been models of efficiency on both ends of the floor, ranking second in the nation in scoring defense (59.6) while leading the ACC and ranking in the top 10 nationally in field-goal percentage and 3-point shooting. Brogdon is one of the ACC’s best, averaging 18.8 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 88.3 percent from the free-throw line. Virginia shot 52 percent from the field against the Hurricanes, topping 50 percent for the third consecutive game and fourth time in its past seven contests.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (27-6):
Paige has struggled with his shooting all season – going 9-of-33 from the field in his final three regular-season games – but he hit 4-of-7 from 3-point range Friday and sparked a crippling 24-0 run with eight points. The Tar Heels have won four in a row and six of seven overall, forcing 17 turnovers Friday in holding the Fighting Irish to 30 percent shooting from the field. Forward Brice Johnson’s streak of five consecutive double-doubles ended Friday (12 points, seven rebounds in 15 minutes due to foul trouble), but the senior leads North Carolina in scoring (16.7 points) and rebounds (10.6).
TRENDS:
* Cavaliers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Tar Heels are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 9-1 in Cavaliers last 10 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Tar Heels last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record

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Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Big 12 Conference Championship Game Betting Preview
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Kansas Jayhawks (-5, OFF)
Win or lose in Saturday’s Big 12 Tournament championship game, top-ranked Kansas already has locked up the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 seed in the eyes of many national analysts. But that doesn’t mean senior Perry Ellis or his Jayhawks’ teammates necessarily plan on taking it easy against West Virginia in the title tilt at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
“I think (winning the tournament) is real important just from a team standpoint and getting a lot of momentum going forward,” Ellis said in a post-game news conference Friday after top-seeded Kansas held off Baylor 70-66 in the semifinals to notch its 13th straight win overall. “All of our guys are trying to win this.” Ellis scored a game-high 20 points as the Jayhawks overcame a 21-point first half – their lowest-scoring of the season – to shoot 46.2 percent from the field, outrebound the Bears 44-32 and advance to their 12th title game in 20 Big 12 tourneys. No. 8 and second-seeded West Virginia, meanwhile, will be playing in its first Big 12 championship after surviving a replay-nullified half-court heave at the buzzer by Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield to win the second semifinal 69-67.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
BETTING STATS:
West Virginia – 26-7 SU, 20-10 ATS, 13-16-1 O/U
Kansas – 29-4 SU, 20-11 ATS, 11-19-1 O/U
POWER RANKINGS:
West Virginia Mountaineers (-14.95) – Kansas Jayhawks (-17.6) = Kansas -2.65
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (26-7):
The Mountaineers came to Kansas City without a win in their first three Big 12 tourney appearances, but have routed TCU 86-66 and withstood a late Oklahoma comeback to reach their first conference championship game since the 2010 Big East final. It was West Virginia’s sixth straight win overall, and not surprising, the team’s pressing defense played a key role, forcing the Sooners into 21 turnovers and holding Hield, the Big 12 Player of the Year, to a season-low six points on 1-of-8 shooting. On the other side of the stat sheet, guard Jevon Carter scored a season-high 26 points and joins leading scorers Jaysean Paige (14.1) and Devin Williams (12.8) as three of six Mountaineers averaging at least 9.2 points per outing.
ABOUT KANSAS (29-4):
The Jayhawks didn’t exactly win going away Friday as Baylor cut a 16-point deficit with 1:51 remaining to three points in the final 10 seconds against the Kansas reserves, giving coach Bill Self something to focus on entering the title tilt. Ellis hit 7-of-15 field goals and all six of his free throws to notch his fourth straight 20-point game and up his team-leading scoring average to 16.7. Guards Frank Mason III (13.4 points), Wayne Selden Jr. (13.1) and Devonte’ Graham (11.2) also are averaging double digits for the Jayhawks, who rank in the top 10 nationally in field-goal (49.4) and 3-point (42.2) percentage.
TRENDS:
* Mountaineers are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. Big 12.
* Jayhawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
* Under is 5-1 in Mountaineers last 6 neutral site games.
* Under is 6-1-1 in Jayhawks last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

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Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Big East Conference Championship Game Betting Preview
Seton Hall Pirates vs. Villanova Wildcats (-6.5, OFF)
After silencing Providence’s two stars Friday, Villanova hopes for a similar defensive effort against the 1-2 punch of Seton Hall. The top-seeded Wildcats try to win the Big East tournament for the second straight year, while the third-seeded Pirates can clinch their first tournament crown since 1993 when the teams meet at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
If there was any doubt of Villanova’s status as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats erased those concerns by topping Georgetown and Providence in its first two games at this event. Jay Wright’s team has won 12 of its last 13 games, most recently an eight-point triumph over the Friars in which Villanova limited Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil to 12 points – 26 below their combined average – on 2-of-13 shooting. “We did the best job we’ve done, I think, on two great players. That’s the best we’ve done,” said Wright, whose team turns its attention to Seton Hall guards Isaiah Whitehead and Khadeen Carrington. The sophomores combined for 43 points in Friday’s semifinal upset against second-seeded Xavier as the Pirates continued to enhance a solid NCAA Tournament resume.
TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, FOX
BETTING STATS:
Seton Hall – 24-8 SU, 22-9 ATS, 14-17 O/U
Villanova – 29-4 SU, 15-16-1 ATS, 17-14-1 O/U
POWER RANKINGS:
Seton Hall Pirates (-10.7) – Villanova Wildcats (-17.45) = Villanova -6.75
ABOUT SETON HALL (24-8):
The Pirates have won 11 of their last 13 games with the only losses in that stretch coming against Butler as they have reached the Big East tournament title game for the first time in 23 years. They were shaky down the stretch Friday but prevailed 87-83 thanks to 23 points from Carrington and 20 from Whitehead, who knocked down three 3-pointers apiece. “I feel like I’ve got the best two guards. I have total confidence in them. As long as I’ve got those two knuckleheads on the court, I feel pretty good,” said Pirates coach Kevin Willard, whose squad overcame 25 turnovers against Xavier.
ABOUT VILLANOVA (29-4):
Versatile forward Kris Jenkins led the way with 21 points against Providence – his 16th double-digit scoring effort in 17 games, a span during which he has made multiple 3-pointers 15 times. Senior center Daniel Ochefu has been dealing with a nagging ankle injury and has played a total of 28 minutes in this tournament, totaling eight points and one rebound. Jenkins and Ochefu are two of the three big men who see significant time for Villanova, which relies on an assortment of guards led by Josh Hart, who registered 15 points and 10 rebounds in each victory against Seton Hall this season.
TRENDS:
* Pirates are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 vs. Big East.
* Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Pirates last 5 vs. Big East.
* Over is 7-0 in Wildcats last 7 vs. Big East.

[Satch]

Re: CBB Betting Info. 3/12

Pac-12 Conference Championship Game Betting Preview
Utah Utes vs. Oregon Ducks (OFF)
Oregon has an eye on the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region, but first the top-seeded Ducks need to get past No. 2 Utah in Saturday’s Pac-12 tournament title game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Both teams needed overtime in Friday’s semifinals as Oregon defeated fourth-seeded Arizona 95-89 and Utah edged No. 3 seed California 82-78.
The Ducks won the league’s regular-season title after winning 11 of its last 13 games and opened the tournament with an 83-77 victory over No. 8 seed Washington before playing a dominant first half against Arizona and holding on for the victory. While Oregon is playing in the league’s tournament title game for the third time in four seasons, Utah is making its first appearance behind Pac-12 Player of the Year Jakob Poeltl, who had 29 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal win over Cal. The Utes have won nine straight games and 14 of their last 16, including an 80-72 victory over No. 7 seed USC on Thursday, but have struggled against the Ducks in recent years. Oregon swept the regular-season series and has won six in a row against Utah.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
BETTING STATS:
Utah – 26-7 SU, 16-14-1 ATS, 17-13-1 O/U
Oregon – 26-7 SU, 18-12 ATS, 13-17 O/U
POWER RANKINGS:
Utah Utes (-14) – Oregon Ducks (-15.25) = Oregon -1.25
ABOUT UTAH (26-7):
Poeltl, a 7-footer looking to become the league’s first player of the year to win the tournament title since UCLA’s Kevin Love in 2008, was held to seven points and seven boards in the Utes’ 77-59 home loss to Oregon on Jan. 14. The sophomore center was limited to 13 points and eight rebounds in a 10-point loss to the Ducks on Feb. 7 as the Utes struggled to contain forward Dillon Brooks, who recorded career highs of 30 points and nine assists. Forward Kyle Kuzma averaged 13 points in the two losses to Oregon and needs another strong outing to help draw attention away from Poeltl.
ABOUT OREGON (27-6):
Coach Dana Altman’s squad lost to Arizona by 28 points in last season’s title game but left an impression on Wildcats coach Sean Miller following Friday night’s battle. “I guess everyone has a different opinion but they’re certainly one of college basketball’s best teams,” Miller told reporters. “To me, why they’re so, so good is because of how together they are. And if you add up their individual talent, though they have some tremendous players, their whole becomes greater.” The Ducks have the talent to matchup against Poeltl in the frontcourt, where Brooks is accompanied by seniors Dwayne Benjamin, Elgin Cook and Chris Boucher.
TRENDS:
* Utes are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. Pacific-12.
* Ducks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Utes last 5 neutral site games.
* Under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.