Articles by Cappers Picks related to online college basketball betting, and handicapping live ncaab matchups.
Marquette (12-3) is coming off a loss where they blew a 17-point lead and lost to 9th ranked Georgetown and things get tougher in this game facing the top ranked Syracuse team (16-0) that is the 12th highest scoring teams in the nation and is at home.
Kansas State (11-2) has already beaten a ranked team this season, but in their Big 12 opener they were throttled losing to Kansas 67-49 and things do not get any easier against an undefeated Missouri (14-0) squad that is the 2nd highest scoring team in the nation and leads the nation in FG%.
Time/Date: 1:30 PM EST Saturday, January 7, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Missouri -1
Over/Under: O/U 146.5
No 6 Missouri Tigers vs. No. 22 Kansas State Wildcats Preview
In their last games Missouri crushed Oklahoma 87-49 in their Big 12 opener while Kansas State lost to Kansas 67-49.
So far this season Mizzou is 6-3 ATS with an O/U record of 6-3 and KSU is 5-4 with an O/U record of 5-4.
There is no way the Wildcats can get into a high-scoring game with the Tigers’ as they must slow down the game and win the battle of the boards. KSU ranks 12th in the nation in rebounding while Mizzou only ranks 177th.
The Tigers are led by the great backcourt duo of Marcus Denmon (18.8 ppg) and Kim English (15.9 ppg), who are both shooting over 50% from the floor and combined to score 43 points in the easy win over Oklahoma. KSU has their work cut out for them in this game against these 2 and they must not allow them to get in the lane and take easy shots. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
G Rodney McGruder (12.7 ppg) is the leading scorer for the Wildcats and must get over the Kansas game were he was only 5/14 from the floor.
One key player in this game is KSU F Jamar Samuels, who is the 2nd leading scorer for the Wildcats and leading rebounder (7 rpg). He has to help out in the scoring department, but rebounding may be more important.
In the Kansas game KSU was killed on the glass getting out-rebounded 48-24 and they only shot 31.6% from the field. To say they cannot let that happen again is a tad of an understatement.
KSU has not beaten Mizzou since the 2008-2009 season.
Betting Trends
Mizzou is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games, 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
Kansas State is e 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. loss, 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and they have an Over record of 9-3 in their last 12 home games.
Jason’s Pick: Mizzou has not covered the spread in their last 7 games facing Kansas State in their house, but that trend will not continue. The Tigers are simply too athletic and even though Fred Bramlage Coliseum is a tough place for opponents’ to play Mizzou will win this game and cover the spread.
Last year Temple visited Duke and was beaten 78-61. Now, it is the Blue Devils turn to travel to Philadelphia and take on the Owls.
Syracuse had lots of negative publicity early in the year, but the team hasn’t let it hurt their play on the court at all.
The Kohl Center will be buzzing on Tuesday as No. 11 Wisconsin hosts No. 17 Michigan State in a Big Ten clash with both teams looking to get an early jump in the conference standings.
The No. 9 Connecticut Huskies will look to push their current win streak to eight when they tip off against a Pirates team that will be looking to improve 2-1 in Big East play after a big win over West Virginia the last time out.
No. 2 Ohio State opened Big 10 play with big victory of Northwestern, and will now set their sights on adding to the Hoosiers misery after they were upset by Michigan State on Wednesday.
While the Louisville Cardinals began their Big East campaign with a shocking loss to the No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas, the Wildcats lit it up in Lexington as they destroyed Lamar for its 43rd straight home victory.
Wednesday’s college hoops slate is a pretty big one, but there isn’t a bigger matchup on the card than this one. Two top 15 teams will square off in Waco as Mississippi State takes on the Baylor Bears.
Bo Ryan’s Badgers are right around the top of the Big Ten every single year. Wisconsin’s solid fundamental play is a testament to their coach’s game plan. Nebraska is in its first year in the Big Ten.
As the New Year approaches, college basketball dishes up an anticipated Big East opener between the No. 12 Georgetown Hoyas who vaulted four spots in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, and the No. 4 Louisville Cardinals this Wednesday on ESPN2.
How will the Pittsburgh Panthers respond to a shocking loss this past week? Pitt was rolling along in the top ten before falling at home to unranked Wagner. The Panthers must put the pieces together quickly as they travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame Tuesday night.
The West Virginia Mountaineers have been pretty solid in the early part of their season.
When they lost to Kent State some might have panicked prematurely but other than that the only blemish on their record is a loss to Mississippi State away from home. This team may not be as good as it has been in the past but it will have plenty of chances to steal some impressive wins against top teams in conference play. Still their toughest test of the year might be against a highly ranked Baylor team.
WVU features a great inside-outside duo in forward Kevin Jones and guard Truck Bryant. Jones is having a super season averaging 20 points and 11 rebounds while Bryant has increased his scoring all the way to 16ppg. Against Baylor it is going to be important for both to play well, especially Jones who might find it difficult battling all the size the Bears have up front. The rest of the squad will have to chip in too but it is this duo that gives the Mountaineers a chance against top teams.
Baylor
Baylor is taking their momentum from the gridiron and applying it to the hardwood…and then some. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Bears are a perfect 10-0 this season and if they can get into Big 12 play unscathed they have a great chance of having a season for the ages. There is a lot of talent on this team and with every game they seem to be figuring out how to play together. This club has a very high ceiling.
One of the reasons that ceiling is so high is because their best player, Perry Jones, is just scratching the surface of his potential. He is possibly the top pick in next year’s draft and has definitely stepped up his game. Perhaps watching a few from the sidelines to start the season sharpened his focus. The only thing holding his numbers back might be the fact that Baylor is playing few close games and they have amazing depth up front with Quincy Acy and freshman Quincy Miller. As long as their guards are steady this team should continue to soar.
Spread Pick:
O/U Pick:
Score Prediction: Baylor 74 – West Virginia 64
The border battle between Illinois and Missouri will take place again tonight. Illinois had dominated this series for years, but the Tigers have won the last two meetings.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Memphis Tigers vs. Georgetown Hoyas
7:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Georgetown -5
Over/Under: 145
The Memphis Tigers are loaded with potential, but this young team has struggled to find its way over the last two years. Georgetown was discounted by many people after losing a lot of top talent at the end of last season, but the Hoyas have put together a very nice season thus far. These two teams already met once this year, and it was Georgetown who came out on top in an overtime thriller. Will the sequel be as good as the first matchup?
Will Barton has become the main man for the Memphis offense. Barton is averaging 20.7 points per game, and he is shooting 55% from the floor. Tarik Black is the team’s best post presence, but he continues to struggle with foul problems. Black is only averaging 22 minutes per contest because of constant foul trouble. The team needs him to stay in the game, because he is their best post player and shot blocker. Joe Jackson is maturing at the point guard spot, but he needs to be a little better on the defensive end. Memphis is giving up 75 points per game defensively.
Georgetown has nine players averaging at least 13 minutes per game. The team’s depth has really helped them this season. Jason Clark is the veteran leader of this team, and he is also their leading scorer. Clark averages 15.5 points per game, and he is shooting 90% from the free throw line. Hollis Thompson has stepped up in a big way so far this year. Thompson is knocking down 50% of his shots from beyond the arc. Henry Sims has been with Georgetown for four years, and he was never much of a scorer until this season. Sims is the team’s best post presence, and he averages 12.6 points per game. The Hoyas have been great defensively this year. Georgetown is giving up only 57.5 points per contest.
Memphis is pushing the pace in a big way this year, and they aren’t playing much defense either. I think this one goes over the total, and I expect another close game.
Prediction: Georgetown 78 Memphis 73
Alabama (8-3) started the season on fire winning their first 7 games, but they have lost 3 of their last 4 games to fall out of the top 25.
