Posted on 1/15/2008 9:29:16 AM

NCAA Betting News – LSU Tigers Have Lost Their ATS Growl

By Eric Williams

The LSU Tigers, once one of the most formidable basketball programs in the nation, are now a struggling team, built mostly around young players, that is taking their lumps while learning the collegiate game.

In the process, LSU is offering college basketball bettors some of the best value anywhere by failing to cover their spreads at an eye-opening pace.

Not only are the Tigers ranked dead last in the SEC with a dismal 7-9 straight up (SU) record, but their 2-8 ATS (against the spread) and similar 2-8 O/U (Over/Under) record show just how mightily the Tigers are struggling.

LSU is 0-3 in both, ATS and O/U wagers at home, while recording a 2-3 ATS mark away from home and a 0-5 record in O/U road wagers.

The bad news for LSU – and the great news for bettors – is that the Tigers don’t appear as if they’re going to improve any time soon.

Following the Tigers’ most recent loss, a solid 74-71 defeat at the hands of No. 16 Mississippi, head coach John Brady was prompted to say, “We are not a deep ball club right now. I’m having to play six guys due to injuries and other circumstances. We haven’t shot the ball well. We will take what we did today and try to build on it.”

With upcoming matchups against Auburn (9-5 SU, 3-4 ATS), Vanderbilt (16-1 SU, 8-8 ATS)), Arkansas 12-3 SU, 4-6 ATS), Auburn again and Alabama (11-5 SU, 3-5 ATS), the Tigers could be in for even more trouble.

The Tigers have just three players averaging double figures in scoring, led by freshman shooting guard Marcus Thornton, (17.6 ppg) and fellow freshman, forward Anthony Randolph, (13.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg).

LSU has struggled immensely on offense, averaging just 68.7 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting from the field, statistics that rank 191st and 213th, respectively. The Tigers are also one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in the nation, averaging just 9.1 offensive boards per game, good for 243rd in the country.

LSU has beaten only one, (Arkansas), of the upcoming four teams on their schedule in their last contest and could very well be looking at a similar 1-4 stretch in their next five contests.

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