Posted on
1/15/2008 11:25:05 AM
NCAA Basketball Top 25 Betting – No. 8 Georgetown at No. 18 Pittsburgh
By Eric Williams
Say what you want about the limited offensive skills of Georgetown Hoyas center Roy Hibbert, just don’t say it to the University of Connecticut basketball players who were forced to watch as Hibbert drained a game-winning three-pointer against them on Saturday to help the Hoyas, (13-1 SU, 5-6 ATS, 4-7 O/U) pick up a huge 72-69 victory against their longtime Big East rivals.
The Hoyas will be facing Pittsburgh Panthers team that may not be the Hoyas’ equal defensively, but is much more diverse offensively.
Pittsburgh, (14-2 SU, 8-3 ATS, 5-6 O/U) beat another Big East team, Seton Hall, 84-70 on Saturday and would seem to be more than ready for their matchup with the Hoyas though they will be without point guard Levance Fields and small forward Mike Cook and are relying on four freshman to play major minutes in their respective absences.
The Hoyas are fifth in the nation in scoring defense, limiting their opponents to a measly 55.9 points per game on an atrocious 35.4 percent mark from the field, good for second in the nation. Offensively, Georgetown averages 73.6 points per game on a blistering 51.6 percent shooting mark from the field, good enough to give them the fourth-best shooting percentage in the country.
The Panthers average 78.9 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting and limit their opponents to just 62.8 points per game on 39.0 percent shooting, numbers that rank them 63rd and 33rd in the nation respectively.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NCAAB Betting Free Pick.
Key Hoyas Trends
The Hoyas are 4-1 ATS in their last five games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Hoyas are 14-4-2 ATS in their last 20 vs. Big East.
The Hoyas are 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Key Panthers Trends
The Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.
The Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600.
The Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last six games overall.
Key Totals Trends
The Under is 6-1 in Hoyas last seven road games.
The Under is 5-1 in Hoyas last six road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The Over is 6-0 in Panthers last six home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
The Over is 4-0 in Panthers last four home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Hoyas are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings in Pittsburgh.
The Hoyas are 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
The Road team is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Analysis: The only reason I’m going with the Hoyas tonight is because of their experience – and size in the low post. Though Hibbert is not what I’d call a big scorer, the Panthers have absolutely no one on their roster that can stop him or keep him off the glass. Take the Hoyas to cover the spread in a close one.
NCAAB Free Picks: Georgetown 70 Pittsburgh 65
07:00 PM EST NCAAB Betting Odds
Georgetown -3½ -110
Pittsburgh +3½ -110
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