posted January 10, 2009 at 06:00 EST in NCAA B Free Picks
College Hoops Weekend Picks
by Charles Jay
BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Matchup:
Louisville Cardinals (10-3 SU, 6-7 ATS) at Villanova Wildcats (3-2 SU, 5-6 ATS)
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia -- Noon ET
Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* LOU has covered two of its last eight games
* LOU has won eight of its last ten games SU
* LOU has covered seven of its last nine road games
* LOU has won six of its last nine road games SU
* VILL has won 13 of its last 15 games SU
* VILL has won 13 of its last 14 home games SU
Louisville is trying to pull out of a pointsprad funk. The Cards have scored consecutive wins over Kentucky (74-71) and South Florida (71-57) but the Villanova game, played at the unfriendly Wachovia Center, might be the most challenging of the year. The Wildcats are seeking some revenge for last year's 68-54 loss suffered at Freedom Hall, and this year Jay Wright is pleased with some of the balance his offense is getting. Sure, Scottie Reynolds is the acknowledged headliner, and exploded for 40 points against Seton Hall four days ago, but Dante Cunningham, who's scoring 17 ppg on 54% shooting, is providing the inside element that stretches defenses. We're still not convinced Louisville's star players aren't overly focused on NBA paychecks right now.
JAY'S PREDICTION: VILLANOVA BY 6
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BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Matchup:
Providence Friars (11-4 SU, 4-7 ATS) at Georgetown Hoyas (10-3 SU, 5-4 ATS)
Verizon Center, Washington DC -- 1 PM ET
Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* PROV has won seven of its last eight games SU
* PROV has covered three of its last nine road games
* PROV has lost nine of its last 11 road games SU
* GEO has won eight of its last nine home games SU
* PROV has covered six of the last nine meetings
Providence has gotten some impressive balance from its team, with seven players averaging between 8.7 and 13.9 points per game. This is a true ensemble cast, and coach Keno Davis, who truly worked wonders last year at Drake had nine contributors coming back for the Friars. It is Providence's bad luck that it is in the talent-rich and deep Big East, where it will be fighting for an at-large tournament berth, where placement in most any other major conference would make them a contender. Even though we recognize their thirst for a win, It is altogether possible that the Hoyas, who are just coming off games against U-Conn, Pitt and Notre Dame, with Syracuse and Duke upcoming, will get caught in a bit of a "sandwich" here. Providence has enough talent to step through, or at least make a game of it.
JAY'S PREDICTION: GEORGETOWN BY 2
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BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Matchup:
Oregon State Beavers (6-7 SU, 4-5 ATS) at Arizona Wildcats (10-5 SU, 7-8 ATS)
McKale Center, Tucson, AZ -- 4 PM ET
Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* OSU has won five of its last seven games SU
* OSU has lost 19 of its last 25 games SU
* OSU has lost 15 of its last 16 road games SU
* ARIZ has covered two of its last six games
* ARIZ has played six of its last nine games UNDER the total
* ARIZ has covered five of its last six home games
Barack Obama will undoubtedly have a smoother transition into office than the indoctrination his brother-in-law Craig Robinson will have into Pacific 10 play. Sure, the Beavers handled USC last Sunday in a game where the Trojans defense went to sleep, but these Beavers have come up woefully short against both UCLA (69-46) and Arizona State (69-38) in the early going, and in that latter contest they surrendered 65% shooting. You don't want to go cold in the McKale Center, where the Wildcats are a different team than the feeble bunch that has lost double-digit decisions on the Pac-10 trail thus far. Chase Budinger may have broken out of his slump with 20 points against Oregon on Thursday, while no one on the Beaver side can deal with Jordan Hill (18 ppg, 12 rpg). The Beavers will try to slow things down, but that won't work against the talented 'Cats
JAY'S PREDICTION: ARIZONA BY 23
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BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Matchup:
Ole Miss Rebels (9-5 SU, 4-6 ATS) at Florida Gators (13-2 SU, 3-5 ATS)
O'Connell Center, Gainesville, FL -- 6 PM ET
Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* MISS has won 15 of its last 22 games SU
* MISS has covered two of its last six road games
* MISS has lost five of its last six road games SU
* MISS has played five of its last seven road games OVER the total
* FLA has won its last seven games SU
* FLA has covered one of its last six games
* FLA has won and covered six of the last seven meetings
The Rebels are banged up, losing three key players, including top scorer Chris Warren. The game they have won lately have been on the basis of defense, but that has been against the likes of Alabama State, Florida A&M and Nicholls State. That won't cut it against this Florida crew, which is now finding the range, hitting 50% or better in each of its last three games. David Huertas has had to shoulder the lion's share of the scoring duties for Ole Miss in Warren's absence, and you can bet Billy Donovan will have a scheme worked out to deal with him. There are few successful matchups for Nick Calathes, Florida's 6'5" sophomore guard who can shoot and dish. We remember the revenge angle too, as the Rebels took an 89-87 decision last season.
JAY'S PREDICTION: FLORIDA BY 24
(Charles Jay makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)
