College Hoops Heating Up
With another Super Bowl in the books, college basketball betting volume will start to increase, as it does every year in early February. Not only is there no more football action, but now is when things begin to get real interesting in the college b-ball scene.
Here are a few games from Saturday’s schedule that bettors are paying close attention to.
Michigan Wolverines at No. 1 Connecticut Huskies
The nation’s top team will play the host to a Michigan Wolverine program that used to be a powerhouse (where have you gone Fab Five?), but are now trying to stay relevant in their conference.
UConn, sporting an impressive 21-1 straight up record, have not been overly reliable laying the points at home, as they are only 5-5 against the spread in their 10 home starts. But today’s opponent has been a dreadful team to back on the road. The Wolverines have stumbled their way to a 1-6-1 ATS mark when they’ve had to travel.
Does Michigan have what it takes to pull off the upset…doubtful, but covering the big number is in the cards.
No. 15 Memphis Tigers at No. 18 Gonzaga Bulldogs
This is one of the higher profile matchups on tap for a big Saturday of college basketball betting. Both of these teams are looking to go very deep in the March Madness tourney.
As Conference USA’s top team, Memphis has a 19-3 record SU and are a profitable11-8-2 ATS overall.
When they’ve traveled this season they haven’t been a profitable venture for bettors, as they’ve only managed to cover the spread twice in six tries (although they are 5-1 SU on the road).
The ‘Zags are second in the WCC with a 16-4 record SU and 10-8 ATS overall. As usual, they are a tough team to play at home. So far this season they’ve posted a 7-4 ATS mark on their own court, going 11-2 straight up in those games.
The two teams have met four times since 1998 with Memphis holding a 3-1 edge SU and Gonzaga holding a 3-1 edge ATS.
This will be one of the better games of the weekend.
No. 20 Syracuse Orange vs. No. 16 Villanova Wildcats
Another Top 25 matchup on Saturday’s sked sees two teams from the Big East going head-to-head with Syracuse playing Villanova at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.
The Wildcats have a game in hand on their conference rival and a win would provide more of a cushion.
‘Nova is 18-4 SU and 11-7 ATS overall.
Syracuse is 18-5 SU but only 9-10 ATS overall.
Being in the same conference, the two have met early and often but are, in the words of Cosmo Kramer, “even Stephen”.
In 20 meetings since 1997, the two have split the series straight up going 10-10 and are 5-5-1 on the Over/Under in the last 11 tilts.
Villanova holds a slight edge against the spread covering 11 out of the last 20 meetings between the two.
These are only three of the bigger matchups to watch for this weekend.
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