The Bum's College Hoops For February Rated Games -Trends - News !!

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAB
Dunkel

Tuesday, February 16


Vanderbilt @ Mississippi State

Game 541-542
February 16, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Vanderbilt
66.863
Mississippi State
68.462
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Mississippi State
by 1 1/2
150
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Vanderbilt
by 4
144
Dunkel Pick:
Mississippi State
(+4); Over

Toledo @ Central Michigan

Game 521-522
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Toledo
56.936
Central Michigan
62.107
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Central Michigan
by 5
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Central Michigan
by 2
151
Dunkel Pick:
Central Michigan
(-2); Under

Florida @ Georgia

Game 543-544
February 16, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida
68.028
Georgia
65.511
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida
by 2 1/2
140
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida
Pick
134
Dunkel Pick:
Florida
Over

Wake Forest @ Pittsburgh

Game 501-502
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Wake Forest
56.335
Pittsburgh
64.881
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 8 1/2
156
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
by 11
151 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Wake Forest
(+11); Over

Eastern Michigan @ Ohio

Game 523-524
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Eastern Michigan
54.806
Ohio
62.798
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio
by 8
149
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio
by 5 1/2
157
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio
(-5 1/2); Under

Ole Miss @ Texas A&M

Game 545-546
February 16, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ole Miss
62.414
Texas A&M
74.354
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas A&M
by 12
137
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Texas A&M
by 8 1/2
144
Dunkel Pick:
Texas A&M
(-8 1/2); Under

Richmond @ Davidson

Game 503-504
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Richmond
58.269
Davidson
56.668
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Richmond
by 1 1/2
169
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Davidson
by 2
163
Dunkel Pick:
Richmond
(+2); Over

Illinois-Chicago @ Youngstown State

Game 525-526
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Illinois-Chicago
40.580
Youngstown State
48.714
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Youngstown State
by 8
159
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Youngstown State
by 5 1/2
152
Dunkel Pick:
Youngstown State
(-5 1/2); Over

Rutgers @ Illinois

Game 547-548
February 16, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rutgers
46.860
Illinois
63.066
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Illinois
by 16
135
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Illinois
by 14 1/2
141 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Illinois
(-14 1/2); Under

Northwestern @ Purdue

Game 505-506
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Northwestern
58.263
Purdue
74.158
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Purdue
by 16
126
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Purdue
by 11 1/2
132 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Purdue
(-11 1/2); Under

Detroit @ Northern Kentucky

Game 527-528
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
56.027
Northern Kentucky
52.557
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 3 1/2
166
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Detroit
by 1 1/2
160 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(-1 1/2); Over

Iowa State @ Baylor

Game 549-550
February 16, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Iowa State
65.702
Baylor
69.584
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baylor
by 4
166
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baylor
Pick
161 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Baylor
Over

West Virginia @ Texas

Game 507-508
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
West Virginia
68.385
Texas
72.895
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas
by 4 1/2
130
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Texas
by 1
137 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Texas
(-1); Under

South Florida @ East Carolina

Game 529-530
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Florida
51.074
East Carolina
55.301
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
East Carolina
by 4
130
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
East Carolina
by 6 1/2
137 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Florida
(+6 1/2); Under

UNLV @ Air Force

Game 551-552
February 16, 2016 @ 9:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
UNLV
57.963
Air Force
46.989
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
UNLV
by 11
142
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
UNLV
by 6 1/2
135
Dunkel Pick:
UNLV
(-6 1/2); Over

South Carolina @ Missouri

Game 509-510
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Carolina
65.864
Missouri
56.620
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Carolina
by 9
152
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Carolina
by 6
144 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Carolina
(-6); Over

Michigan @ Ohio State

Game 531-532
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Michigan
67.530
Ohio State
65.961
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan
by 1 1/2
134
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio State
by 1
139
Dunkel Pick:
Michigan
(+1); Under

Valparaiso @ Cleveland State

Game 511-512
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Valparaiso
63.479
Cleveland State
46.018
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Valparaiso
by 17 1/2
125
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Valparaiso
by 14 1/2
117
Dunkel Pick:
Valparaiso
(-14 1/2); Over

Rhode Island @ Virginia Commonwealth

Game 533-534
February 16, 2016 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rhode Island
60.985
Virginia Commonwe
66.344
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Virginia Commonwe
by 5 1/2
143
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Virginia Commonwe
by 8 1/2
135 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Rhode Island
(+8 1/2); Over

Buffalo @ Akron

Game 513-514
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Buffalo
52.922
Akron
57.806
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Akron
by 5
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Akron
by 10
151
Dunkel Pick:
Buffalo
(+10); Under

Troy @ South Alabama

Game 535-536
February 16, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Troy
46.990
South Alabama
45.480
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Troy
by 1 1/2
147
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Alabama
by 4
141 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Troy
(+4); Over

Creighton @ Butler

Game 515-516
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Creighton
65.175
Butler
69.175
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Butler
by 4
145
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Butler
by 5 1/2
152
Dunkel Pick:
Creighton
(+5 1/2); Under

Kansas State @ TCU

Game 537-538
February 16, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas State
64.443
TCU
57.484
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas State
by 7
124
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas State
by 4
130
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas State
(-4); Under

Ball State @ Miami (Ohio)

Game 517-518
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ball State
51.132
Miami (Ohio)
52.275
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami (Ohio)
by 1
129
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ball State
by 3
122
Dunkel Pick:
Miami (Ohio)
(+3); Over

Bowling Green @ Northern Illinois

Game 539-540
February 16, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Bowling Green
47.331
Northern Illinois
55.763
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northern Illinois
by 8 1/2
132
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northern Illinois
by 6
139 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Northern Illinois
(-6); Under

Western Michigan @ Kent State

Game 519-520
February 16, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Western Michigan
49.986
Kent State
51.051
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kent State
by 1
149
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kent State
by 5
143
Dunkel Pick:
Western Michigan
(+5); Over

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mountainers (20-5) at Longhorns (16-9)
Date: February 16, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

As if an opportunity to stay atop the Big 12 standings wasn't incentive enough, West Virginia also gets a chance for some payback.

The 10th-ranked Mountaineers can avenge two of their three league losses in a crucial week that begins with Tuesday night's visit to No. 24 Texas.

After raising expectations by winning their first four conference games - including an impressive home victory over then-No. 1 Kansas - the Mountaineers received a reality check with a 56-49 home setback to the Longhorns on Jan. 20, four days after a narrow loss at Oklahoma.

West Virginia (20-5, 9-3 Big 12) has responded by winning five of six in Big 12 play to tie the Jayhawks for first place and move one game up on the third-ranked Sooners, who'll visit Morgantown on Saturday.

The Mountaineers bounced back from losing last week's rematch with Kansas by yielding their fewest points in a Big 12 game in Saturday's 73-42 rout of TCU, with their trademark press defense inducing 26 turnovers that led to 26 points.

West Virginia, the Division I leader in steals (10.4) and takeaways (19.1) per game, wasn't able to create such chaos in its last meeting with Texas (16-9, 7-5), averaging a conference-low 10.9 giveaways. The Longhorns had just eight in the first matchup while holding the Mountaineers to 33.3 percent shooting and a season low in points.

That game was part of a seven-game stretch from Jan. 16-Feb. 6 in which Texas limited opponents to 60.6 points per game and a 37.0 percent field goal rate. The Longhorns weren't as stifling in recent road losses to Oklahoma and No. 13 Iowa State, two of the conference's top offensive teams.

The Cyclones shot 55.4 percent and scored 49 second-half points to pull away for an 85-75 win Saturday. Texas was outscored 48-34 in the paint with center Prince Ibeh limited to 19 minutes by foul trouble.

"With the current makeup of our team, we need him to play more than 19 minutes," coach Shaka Smart said.

Ibeh has emerged as one of the Longhorns' most important players with Cameron Ridley sidelined since mid-December by a broken foot, leaving Texas short on size and often deficient on the glass. The Longhorns have been outrebounded by 2.6 per game in Big 12 play, an area West Virginia will look to exploit.

The Mountaineers also top Division I in offensive rebounding percentage (41.5) and ended the TCU game with a 50-35 advantage on the boards. Devin Williams notched his league-high 11th double-double and is averaging 14.0 points and 12.0 rebounds over his last five.

"He continues to get better and better," coach Bob Huggins said. "(Saturday), he got going too fast and missed some shots, but he is one of the premier rebounders in this league. I think if you're premier in our league, you're premier in the country."

West Virginia also received a boost from Jonathan Holton's reinstatement from a four-game suspension as he totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists off the bench. The senior forward had 10 points and 14 rebounds against the Longhorns last month and has shot 71.9 percent from the field over his last four.

The Mountaineers struggled badly at the foul line in the previous matchup, making just 8 of 23 attempts. Their 66.1 free throw percentage exceeds only Texas' 65.1 among Big 12 teams.

Texas fell two games out of first place with last week's losses but has a chance to gain ground with four of its next five at home, including games with Oklahoma and Kansas. The Longhorns are 12-1 at Erwin Center and have won seven straight conference games there dating back to last season.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Wildcats (17-9) at Boilermakers (20-6)
Date: February 16, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

A second-half collapse may have ended Purdue's slim chance at a Big Ten title, but a return to Mackey Arena should be just what they need to bounce back.

The No. 17 Boilermakers look to extend their home dominance Tuesday night and send Northwestern to a fifth straight road loss.

Purdue (20-6, 8-5) was impressive while beating No. 8 Michigan State 82-81 in overtime last Tuesday, but followed that win by surrendering the final 11 points in a 61-56 loss at Michigan on Saturday. The Boilermakers missed all six of their shots in the final 2:13 to fall three games back of first-place Iowa with five to play.

"We missed some shots, they missed some shots, but then they just finally hit them when it counted," said forward Caleb Swanigan, who had 14 points. "We felt like we could have put it away a little bit earlier, but we weren't playing as hard as we should have been."

Purdue hasn't had that problem at home, winning 20 of 21 and five straight while averaging 81.4 points on 48.3 percent shooting, including 42.9 from beyond the arc.

The Boilermakers, however, fell 74-65 to Northwestern in the most recent matchup in West Lafayette on March 9, 2014.

The Wildcats (17-9, 5-8), though, have lost 13 straight against ranked opponents, including eight on the road.

"It's going to be a tough environment. They have a great home court. Very physical team," coach Chris Collins said. "We have to come out and play to our strengths and hopefully not allow their crowd to get going so it leads to big spurts, and the game gets away from you.

"It's going to be important for our guys to be ready to go from the start."

Northwestern has followed a five-game slide by winning two of three after a 58-56 home victory over Illinois on Saturday - its lowest scoring output in a win this season.

"You just try to stay engaged, stick to the game plan and make plays defensively (when you're not scoring)," guard Tre Demps said. "You know the scouting report, follow the scouting report and try not to worry about it."

Purdue's scouting report starts with 7-foot center A.J. Hammons, who leads the team with an average of 14.5 points and ranks second in the Big Ten with 2.7 blocks and third with 8.0 rebounds.

Hammons has put up 19.4 points, 8.8 boards and 4.0 blocks per game over his past five at home - a big reason why Purdue has averaged 31.6 points in the paint in that stretch. He scored 16 and pulled down nine rebounds in a 68-60 win at Northwestern on Jan. 31, 2015.

"They're a power team. They're an inside-out team. You don't see that as much any more," Collins said. "If those guys are allowed to catch the ball with two feet in the paint, they're going to foul a bunch of guys out and we're going to be in trouble."

Northwestern should also be wary of guard Rapheal Davis, who had 15 points and seven boards in the last matchup. However, he's coming off one of his worst efforts of the season, scoring four points on 1-for-5 shooting Saturday after matching his career high with 24 against the Spartans.

Demps is averaging 21.3 points over the last four games after scoring 18 on Saturday. He had that many in the last meeting with Purdue, and he's averaging 15.7 while sinking 8 of 20 from 3-point range over the past three.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cyclones (18-7) at Bears (18-7)
Date: February 16, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Iowa State played two players off the bench for a combined 20 minutes against Baylor five weeks ago and folded down the stretch in a high-scoring defeat at home.

Starters like Georges Niang and Monte Morris still are the catalysts for the 13th-ranked Cyclones, but the recent suspension of Jameel McKay helped some regular reserves emerge.

Iowa State looks to win back-to-back games for the first time since late last month by dealing the 25th-ranked Bears a fourth consecutive home loss in Big 12 play Tuesday night.

Coach Steve Prohm suspended McKay two games for an unspecified violation of team rules on Feb. 6, forcing Marquette transfer Deonte Burton into the starting lineup. Burton scored 11 points in a win at Oklahoma State that night before finishing with a season-high 20 in Wednesday's overtime loss at Texas Tech.

McKay returned for Saturday's 85-75 win over then-No. 24 Texas and scored eight points, but Prohm still started Burton, who finished with 10. Burton hadn't started all year prior to the last three and scored two points in seven minutes of 94-89 loss to Baylor (18-7, 7-5) on Jan. 9.

Guard Jordan Ashton also has seen his minutes increase over the last three, combining for 63 after playing 80 the entire season prior to that stretch.

"We don't really talk about our depth at all. We just try to keep them fresh, keep them focused," Prohm said. "This league is so tough to where ... guys are going to have expanded roles and that's what we have."

Niang scored 22 points, Morris had 21, six assists and four steals and Abdel Nader had 20 in the last meeting with Baylor, but the Cyclones (18-7, 7-5) blew an 11-point second-half lead as the Bears went with a nine-man rotation and shot 52.3 percent.

Baylor coach Scott Drew understands containing Niang and Morris - who leads the nation with a 5.15 assist-to-turnover ratio and is tied with Bears guard Lester Medford for the Big 12 lead in assists at 7.0 per game - is a priority, but he's noticed other Cyclones being more involved.

Niang and Morris scored 24 points apiece against the Longhorns on Saturday.

"Burton has stepped up, Morris is really shooting the ball well and they have guys who have increased their production," Drew said. "It's a better team and a deeper team than it was at the beginning (of Big 12 play)."

Johnathan Motley finished with career highs of 27 points and 13 rebounds off the bench in last month's win over Iowa State in a showcase of Baylor's depth, but it has regressed lately, especially at home.

The Bears have dropped three of four overall and three straight home conference games after being routed 84-66 by Texas Tech on Saturday. Tied for the Big 12 lead coming into February, Baylor is now deadlocked with Texas and the Cyclones for fourth in the conference.

"I think you have to credit the Big 12," Drew said. "It's tough to win on the road (in league play), but that doesn't mean you're going to win at home. Each game is a dog fight."

Baylor has won the last three meetings with Iowa State and the last two matchups at home, but Niang believes the Cyclones are getting back on track now that McKay is back in the fold. They've gone 2-3 since a four-game winning streak from Jan. 16-25.

'I just feel like the last couple of games, we really didn't have the will to win,' Niang said. 'We used that motivation. When you want it that bad, you're going to pull it out.'

[StarDust Bum]

CBB ATS

CBB > (535) TROY@ (536) S ALABAMA | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play AGAINST TROY against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 3 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (-14.6 units)

CBB > (551) UNLV@ (552) AIR FORCE | 2016-02-16 21:30:00 - 2016-02-16 21:30:00
Play ON UNLV against the spread in Road games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games
The record is 21 Wins and 5 Losses for the since 1992 (+15.5 units)

CBB > (547) RUTGERS@ (548) ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 21:00:00 - 2016-02-16 21:00:00
Play AGAINST ILLINOIS against the spread in All games on Tuesday nights
The record is 1 Wins and 10 Losses for the last three seasons (-10 units)

CBB > (537) KANSAS ST@ (538) TCU | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play AGAINST TCU against the spread in Home games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 54 Wins and 104 Losses for the since 1992 (-60.4 units)

CBB > (551) UNLV@ (552) AIR FORCE | 2016-02-16 21:30:00 - 2016-02-16 21:30:00
Play ON UNLV against the spread in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+8.8 units)

CBB > (517) BALL ST@ (518) MIAMI OHIO | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST BALL ST against the spread in All games as a favorite
The record is 1 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (-8.9 units)

---------------------

CBB MONEYLINE

CBB > (529) S FLORIDA@ (530) E CAROLINA | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST S FLORIDA using money line in All games in all games
The record is 6 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.9 units)

CBB > (529) S FLORIDA@ (530) E CAROLINA | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST S FLORIDA using money line in All games in all lined games
The record is 6 Wins and 27 Losses for the last two seasons (-23.9 units)

CBB > (535) TROY@ (536) S ALABAMA | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play AGAINST TROY using money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15 or more games
The record is 4 Wins and 18 Losses for the last three seasons (-17.7 units)

CBB > (515) CREIGHTON@ (516) BUTLER | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST CREIGHTON using money line in All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 5 Wins and 16 Losses for the last two seasons (-17.25 units)

CBB > (535) TROY@ (536) S ALABAMA | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play AGAINST TROY using money line in All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 1 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-10.25 units)

CBB > (543) FLORIDA@ (544) GEORGIA | 2016-02-16 21:00:00 - 2016-02-16 21:00:00
Play AGAINST FLORIDA using money line in All games in road games
The record is 4 Wins and 14 Losses for the last two seasons (-15.5 units)

CBB > (539) BOWLING GREEN@ (540) N ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play ON N ILLINOIS using money line in All games after scoring 80 points or more
The record is 9 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+9.85 units)

CBB > (519) W MICHIGAN@ (520) KENT ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST W MICHIGAN using money line in All games on Tuesday nights
The record is 1 Wins and 7 Losses for the this season (-9.9 units)

CBB > (501) WAKE FOREST@ (502) PITTSBURGH | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST PITTSBURGH using money line in Home games after a conference game
The record is 8 Wins and 11 Losses for the last three seasons (-22.05 units)

----------------------

CBB FIRST HALF

CBB > (513) BUFFALO@ (514) AKRON | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play ON BUFFALO ?>in the first halfin Road games in February games
The record is 11 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+11 units)

CBB > (511) VALPARAISO@ (512) CLEVELAND ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play ON VALPARAISO ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a losing record
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+9 units)

CBB > (507) W VIRGINIA@ (508) TEXAS | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play ON TEXAS ?>in the first halfin All games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15 or more games
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the this season (+9 units)

CBB > (513) BUFFALO@ (514) AKRON | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play ON BUFFALO ?>in the first halfin Road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game
The record is 9 Wins and 0 Losses for the last three seasons (+9 units)

CBB > (519) W MICHIGAN@ (520) KENT ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST KENT ST ?>in the first halfin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 4 Wins and 16 Losses for the this season (-13.6 units)

CBB > (505) NORTHWESTERN@ (506) PURDUE | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play ON PURDUE ?>in the first halfin All games in February games
The record is 8 Wins and 0 Losses for the last two seasons (+8 units)

CBB > (525) IL-CHICAGO@ (526) YOUNGSTOWN ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play AGAINST IL-CHICAGO ?>in the first halfin All games versus the first half line in all games
The record is 15 Wins and 38 Losses for the last two seasons (-26.8 units)

CBB > (539) BOWLING GREEN@ (540) N ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play ON N ILLINOIS ?>in the first halfin All games after scoring 80 points or more
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the last three seasons (+9.9 units)

--------------------

CBB TOTALS

CBB > (547) RUTGERS@ (548) ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 21:00:00 - 2016-02-16 21:00:00
Play OVER RUTGERS on the totalin All games against conference opponents
The record is 11 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+9.9 units)

CBB > (539) BOWLING GREEN@ (540) N ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play OVER BOWLING GREEN on the totalin Road games against conference opponents
The record is 21 Overs and 4 Unders for the last three seasons (+16.6 units)

CBB > (501) WAKE FOREST@ (502) PITTSBURGH | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play UNDER WAKE FOREST on the totalin Road games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game
The record is 0 Overs and 8 Unders for the this season (+8 units)

CBB > (531) MICHIGAN@ (532) OHIO ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play OVER MICHIGAN on the totalin All games after allowing 60 points or less
The record is 8 Overs and 0 Unders for the this season (+8 units)

CBB > (539) BOWLING GREEN@ (540) N ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 20:00:00 - 2016-02-16 20:00:00
Play OVER BOWLING GREEN on the totalin Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 18 Overs and 3 Unders for the last three seasons (+14.7 units)

CBB > (511) VALPARAISO@ (512) CLEVELAND ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play UNDER VALPARAISO on the totalin All games as a favorite vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 4 Overs and 17 Unders for the this season (+12.6 units)

CBB > (511) VALPARAISO@ (512) CLEVELAND ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play UNDER CLEVELAND ST on the totalin Home games revenging a road loss vs opponent
The record is 0 Overs and 9 Unders for the last three seasons (+9 units)

CBB > (547) RUTGERS@ (548) ILLINOIS | 2016-02-16 21:00:00 - 2016-02-16 21:00:00
Play OVER RUTGERS on the totalin All games after a conference game
The record is 10 Overs and 1 Unders for the this season (+8.9 units)

CBB > (505) NORTHWESTERN@ (506) PURDUE | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play UNDER NORTHWESTERN on the totalin All games when the first half total is 60.5 to 65.5
The record is 2 Overs and 12 Unders for the this season (+9.8 units)

CBB > (525) IL-CHICAGO@ (526) YOUNGSTOWN ST | 2016-02-16 19:00:00 - 2016-02-16 19:00:00
Play UNDER YOUNGSTOWN ST on the totalin All games after 3 or more consecutive losses
The record is 2 Overs and 14 Unders for the last three seasons (+11.8 units)

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


RICH at DAV 07:00 PM

RICH +3.5


WVU at TEX 07:00 PM

WVU +2.5 BEST BET


SCAR at MIZZ 07:00 PM

SCAR -7.5


BUFF at AKR 07:00 PM

BUFF +8.0


BALL at M-OH 07:00 PM

BALL -1.5


WMU at KENT 07:00 PM

WMU +4.0


TOL at CMU 07:00 PM

TOL +1.5 BEST BET


EMU at OHIO 07:00 PM

EMU +4.0 BEST BET


UIC at YSU 07:00 PM

UIC +6.5 BEST BET


DET at NKU 07:00 PM

NKU +2.0 BEST BET


USF at ECU 07:00 PM

ECU -6.0


CRE at BUT 07:00 PM

CRE +5.5 BEST BET


NW at PUR 07:00 PM

PUR -11.5


VALP at CLEV 07:00 PM

CLEV +14.5


WAKE at PITT 07:00 PM

WAKE +11.5


URI at VCU 07:30 PM

VCU -9.0

[StarDust Bum]

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BGSU at NIU 08:00 PM

NIU -5.5 BEST BET


KSU at TCU 08:00 PM

TCU +4.5


TROY at USA 08:05 PM

USA -2.5


ISU at BAY 09:00 PM

ISU +3.5 BEST BET


RUTG at ILL 09:00 PM

O 143.5 BEST BET


VAN at MSST 09:00 PM

VAN -3.0


MISS at TAM 09:00 PM

MISS +9.5 BEST BET


FLA at UGA 09:00 PM

UGA +1.5


UNLV at AFA 09:30 PM

AFA +8.0

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hawkeyes (20-5) at Nittany Lions (12-13)
Date: February 17, 2016 6:30 PM EDT

Iowa is back in sole command of the Big Ten, but that could quickly change if it becomes Penn State's next upset victim.

The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes blew out the Nittany Lions earlier this month and will seek another dominant performance Wednesday night.

Iowa (20-5, 11-2) moved one game ahead of Indiana and Maryland on Sunday with a 75-71 victory against last-place Minnesota. Peter Jok hit a 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining to give the Hawkeyes enough breathing room en route to finishing with 27 points, two shy of his career high.

Jarrod Uthoff shook off an 0-for-7 start from the floor to register 24 points along with a career-high 15 rebounds and six blocks. He became the third Big Ten player in the last 20 years with at least 20 points, 15 boards and five blocks in a game.

"We understand we're going to go through hard-fought games like this, physical games. We're trying to make sure we have our minds mentally right each and every day," guard Anthony Clemmons told the school's official website. "Whenever you get a win in this league, it's a big win. It makes you that much closer to your ultimate goal."

Iowa has lost two of three on the road with both defeats coming against its closest pursuers in the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes will play three of their final five games away from home with trips to Ohio State and Michigan. Penn State (12-13, 3-9) would appear to serve as their easiest matchup of that bunch, but the Nittany Lions knocked off then-No. 22 Indiana 68-63 in their latest home game Feb. 6.

They failed to build on that victory Saturday, falling 70-54 at Nebraska for their fifth defeat in six games.

Penn State also lost 73-49 at then-No. 5 Iowa on Feb. 3. The Hawkeyes limited Penn State to 30.4 percent shooting - a season low for any opponent - and a 1-for-20 performance from 3-point range.

Nittany Lions coach Patrick Chambers is hoping for a better showing in a more familiar setting. Penn State is averaging 69.2 points at home compared with 58.6 on the road.

"Being home and knowing the rims and knowing the arena like we do, I hope it gives us confidence that we can succeed, and we can go on a little bit of a run here to finish out the season," Chambers said. "Typically, our teams finish strong. They become the best teams they can be in February. I'm banking on that still."

The Nittany Lions, 8-3 on their own floor, have lost in each of the last three visits from Iowa but took the Hawkeyes to overtime in an 81-77 defeat last season.

Iowa has claimed five of the past six overall matchups with the lone defeat coming in last year's Big Ten tournament.

Penn State leading scorer Brandon Taylor (16.5) had 24 points in the upset over Indiana to match his best effort in Big Ten play. He had a more pedestrian 15 at Iowa - the only Nittany Lions player in double figures - but also grabbed 11 rebounds.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orange (18-8) at Cardinals (19-6)
Date: February 17, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

Eight wins in nine games have given Syracuse a strong case to return to the NCAA Tournament a year after a self-imposed postseason ban that should sound awfully familiar to Louisville.

The Orange look to stay hot Wednesday night as they visit the 18th-ranked Cardinals, whose own voluntary exclusion from tournament play could wind up helping out Syracuse.

Syracuse (18-8, 8-5) opened the ACC schedule with four straight losses but has suddenly won five in a row. That turnaround has the Orange in good shape to make the tournament after missing out last season through a self-imposed suspension stemming from an NCAA investigation.

"A lot better place," guard Trevor Cooney said of the team's recent mindset. "It all comes down to winning games and we're winning games now."

After sweeping a three-game homestand against unranked opponents, Syracuse returned to the road Sunday with a 75-61 win at last-place Boston College.

Tyler Lydon led the way with 20 points off the bench, giving him an average of 16 while making 65.4 percent from the floor over the last three games. The freshman forward was averaging 6.7 and shooting 37.3 percent over the previous 10.

Lydon is the Orange's most efficient 3-point shooter, connecting on 44.7 percent of his 76 attempts.

"I practice that a lot," Lydon said. "We definitely focus on that a little knowing I can shoot it and stretch the floor."

Michael Gbinije is also capable of that, making 39.6 percent from long range while leading the team with an average of 17.4 points. He converted 3 of 6 3s and finished with 18 points, six assists and five rebounds in a 69-59 win over the Cardinals on Feb. 18.

Syracuse has won its last two visits to Louisville, most recently when the Cardinals were ranked No. 1 and both teams were in the Big East on Jan. 19, 2013.

That loss was the first of three straight for Louisville (19-6, 8-4), which is on the verge of matching that for the first time since.

The Cardinals followed a 72-65 loss at Duke on Feb. 8 with Saturday's 71-66 defeat at Notre Dame. They're 1-2 since announcing their self-imposed postseason ban in response to the investigation surrounding major recruiting violations from 2010-14.

Louisville's absence from the ACC tournament, which gives double byes to the top four teams, could benefit the Orange. North Carolina leads the conference with Miami right behind, while the Cardinals are one of four ACC teams with four league losses.

Since coach Rick Pitino expressed his objections to the ban earlier this month, he was more concerned with the correlation between Louisville's 39.7 percent shooting and the lack of defensive effort against the Fighting Irish.

"This team has one major flaw that they have to get over. If they miss a shot, they put their head down and they don't think about defense," Pitino said. "That's probably the No. 1 hurdle we have to get over this year."

Perhaps getting back to the comforts of the KFC Yum! Center can give Louisville a spark. The Cardinals are 15-1 there, beating opponents by an average of 28.6 points while hitting 50.5 percent from the floor.

Damion Lee connected on 8 of 12 field goals while scoring 24 points in a 71-65 over then-No. 2 North Carolina on Feb. 1. However, the senior guard came one point short of that total while going 7 for 28 over the past two games, scoring a team-high 13 points Saturday.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Wildcats (22-3) at Owls (16-8)
Date: February 17, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

College basketball's top-ranked team playing a non-conference game in mid-February certainly seems odd. Villanova struggling to win it - even against an unranked foe - wouldn't be so strange.

The nation's No. 1 takes on the American Athletic Conference's No. 1 and a longtime rival Wednesday night when the Wildcats visit surging Temple, which can likely assure itself of an NCAA Tournament bid by pulling off the upset.

The nationally televised game is part of ESPN's rivalry week.

"When we had the offer from ESPN to schedule this and play it this late in the year, we really thought that on the road, at Temple, in February, that it isn't going to get any tougher than that," coach Jay Wright told Villanova's official website. "We'll see where we are as a team.

"I just think it's a great test. We look at it like you can't play a tougher opponent anywhere in the country."

Counterpart Fran Dunphy is just as eager for the showdown at Temple's Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, about 15 miles from Villanova.

"It's a spectacular opportunity in that they are the No. 1 team in the country, a city school that's been a terrific program over the years and recently has had phenomenal success," the Owls coach said. "It's a great opportunity for our team, our fans, and the challenge will be great."

It's a pretty big one for Villanova, too. The Wildcats (22-3) can clinch the outright Big 5 crown for a third consecutive season, but Temple (16-8) could share it by winning Wednesday. Villanova is 3-0 in the annual intracity series, the Owls are 2-1 and both enter on five-game winning streaks.

Though Temple's run may be less impressive because it came against AAC schools, the Owls have won three straight over Top 25 opponents. However, only one is currently ranked (No. 21 SMU), and Temple is 1-4 against the power conferences, so it could use a statement win to steer well clear of the NCAA Tournament bubble despite leading the AAC at 10-3.

Villanova leads the Big East by two games but is coming off a subpar effort at home against the conference's worst team. The Wildcats led by one at halftime Saturday in a hard-fought 73-63 win over St. John's, which has lost a Division I-worst 16 straight.

"I don't think there was any added pressure," point guard Ryan Arcidiacono said of playing as No. 1. "... That's something we don't even think about or talk about."

Wright was unhappy with his team's 15 turnovers, a total the Wildcats have reached in four of the past six games.

"Our value of the basketball and taking care of the basketball, it's been a problem for us," Wright said. "We have been sloppy with the ball."

Freshman Jalen Brunson had a season-worst seven turnovers, and now the son of former Temple star Rick Brunson gets his first taste of this near century-old rivalry.

The Wildcats dominated the last two meetings, winning by a combined 39 points as they shot 52.7 percent while limiting the Owls to 35.5.

Quenton DeCosey had 18 points in both games but shot 9 for 33. He's averaged 20.2 points during Temple's five-game win streak.

The Owls are 11-0 when shooting at least 40 percent, while the three teams that beat the Wildcats shot 46 percent or better.

As for Villanova's offense, perimeter players Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, Brunson and Arcidiacono remain the focus. However, they've all been somewhat inconsistent lately, so they may continue dumping the ball down to Daniel Ochefu after he had a career-high 25 points against St. John's.

The Wildcats are 34-2 when the 6-foot-11 senior scores in double figures.

He'll go up against Owls senior Jaylen Bond, who had his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday's 77-65 win over South Florida.

"I think we match up with them pretty well," Temple guard Josh Brown said. "... We're just gonna treat it like every other game, but the No. 1 ranking definitely has a factor."

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cornhuskers (14-12) at Hoosiers (20-6)
Date: February 17, 2016 8:30 PM EDT

Indiana lost its share of the Big Ten lead after faltering once again on the road but will get to play its next two games on its own floor.

The No. 22 Hoosiers could get back into first place by remaining unbeaten at home Wednesday night against Nebraska and getting some help.

Indiana (20-6, 10-3) fell one game behind Iowa with an 88-69 loss at No. 8 Michigan State on Sunday, its third in four road games. The Hoosiers shot 37.7 percent and have connected at 37.1 percent in back-to-back losses outside Bloomington.

They're the Big Ten's best shooting team at home - 53.9 percent in 14 games - and among the national leaders with a 90.6-point average.

Indiana topped No. 4 Iowa 85-78 in its latest game at Assembly Hall on Thursday. The Hawkeyes play Wednesday at Penn State, which knocked off the Hoosiers 68-63 in its most recent home game Feb. 6.

Another Nittany Lions upset would open the door for Indiana.

"We need to be better, and we were much better (against Iowa)," Hoosiers coach Tom Crean said. "Now we turn around and get ready to play Nebraska."

Indiana won 79-69 at Nebraska on Jan. 2 and could use another win over the Cornhuskers (14-12, 6-7) before a difficult closing stretch. The Hoosiers will face three Top 25 teams in their final four games, including Iowa and fellow Big Ten contender Maryland, ranked sixth.

After this game, they face in-state rival and No. 17 Purdue at home Saturday.

Having Yogi Ferrell end his shooting funk could be a huge momentum boost. The Hoosiers' leading scorer has gone 8 of 34 from the floor in his last three games and 4 of 21 from 3-point range.

Ferrell shot 1 for 6 beyond the arc and 3 for 10 overall while finishing with nine points at Michigan State.

"I think he pressed a little bit tonight. I think he pressed a little bit in the Iowa game too, no question about it," Crean said. "It's probably just a matter of trying to make too many things happen."

Ferrell made 8 of 13 shots, including 4 of 5 on 3-pointers, while scoring 24 points at Nebraska. He also had seven assists, and freshman Thomas Bryant added 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

The Hoosiers connected at 54.9 percent and went 9 of 18 from beyond the arc in their second straight win in the series. Indiana had taken all four home meetings until a 70-60 loss in March 2014.

Nebraska has dropped its two road games since upsetting then-No. 11 Michigan State 72-71 on Jan. 20. The Cornhuskers lost 89-74 at then-No. 21 Purdue on Jan. 30 and 72-61 at Wisconsin last Wednesday.

They bounced back with a 70-54 victory against Penn State on Saturday, with Andrew White III scoring a career-best 35 points. White, averaging a team-leading 17.6 points, was dealing with a cold and a minor ear infection while second-leading scorer Shavon Shields missed a second straight game because of a concussion.

Shields' status is unclear for this game.

"The coaches tell me I'm the guy, that I have to lead the team now," White said.

White, a transfer from Kansas, had 16 points and six rebounds in last month's loss to Indiana. Jack McVeigh, averaging 4.9 points, matched a career high with 16.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Hokies (13-12) at Hurricanes (20-4)
Date: February 17, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Of Miami's final six regular-season games, four straight will come against teams currently in the Top 25. Struggling Virginia Tech provides the bookends for that daunting stretch.

The first of which is Wednesday night, when the surging No. 11 Hurricanes can remain perfect at home in the ACC by handing the Hokies a fifth straight road defeat.

One game behind league leader and fifth-ranked North Carolina, Miami (20-4, 9-3) has won four in a row and seven of eight since dropping back-to-back games at then-No. 13 Virginia and Clemson last month. Following this contest, the Hurricanes visit the Tar Heels on Saturday, then host the seventh-ranked Cavaliers, No. 18 Louisville and travel to No. 19 Notre Dame before closing the regular season at Virginia Tech (13-12, 5-7) on March 5.

"We know the margin for error is very, very small," Miami assistant coach Chris Caputo said. "We have a very difficult stretch coming up here in ACC play."

Though the Hurricanes won last season's three meetings with the Hokies by an average of 13 points, they're hardly looking ahead. Especially after winning both of last week's games by two points each.

After a putback by point guard Angel Rodriguez with 1.4 seconds left gave Miami a 65-63 home victory over Pittsburgh last Tuesday, it squandered an 11-point halftime lead before winning 67-65 at Florida State on Sunday.

"In league play it's so competitive that you can be playing pretty well and it can come down to one or two possessions - whether it's home or away," Caputo said. "But I think our group has had a good focus and lock-in."

Though Miami shot 38.2 percent Sunday, it made 53.5 percent of its attempts in home wins over then-No. 24 Duke and the Irish before hitting 45.1 percent against Pitt. Undefeated in 10 home games since being stunned 78-77 by Northeastern on Nov. 27, the Hurricanes are looking to go 7-0 there in conference play for the second time in four seasons.

"(Miami is) so good," said Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams, whose team allowed the Hurricanes to shoot 51 percent in last season's 76-52 road defeat. "Great experience, per position. Playing at very high level. We'll have problems from the very beginning."

Virginia Tech has lost four road games during its current 1-6 stretch. That slump started with an 83-81 loss at Notre Dame on Jan. 20, and the Hokies also fell in overtime at Syracuse on Feb. 2. They haven't played since shooting a season-low 35.6 percent in last Tuesday's 67-49 defeat at Virginia.

"The teams that our playing well at this time of year can win games on the road," said Williams, whose squad has allowed 48.1 percent shooting while dropping five of six on the road in the ACC.

Miami's Sheldon McClellan (16.3 ppg) scored 20 despite going 4 of 14 from the field Sunday, but went 7 of 10 and finished with 21 points in last season's home win over the Hokies.

Virginia Tech's Zach LeDay shot 50 percent and averaged 18.4 points in 10 games prior to scoring seven on 1-of-7 shooting and dealing with foul trouble at Virginia. Talented freshman Chris Clarke (10.6 ppg) scored 11 after missing 12 games with a broken foot.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sun Devils (14-12) at Wildcats (21-5)
Date: February 17, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

Arizona's chances at a Pac-12 three-peat are suddenly revived thanks to a return to the type of play at home that led to its recently fallen streak there.

The 12th-ranked Wildcats hope to extend their new run at McKale Center with a sixth straight home win over rival Arizona State on Wednesday night.

Arizona (21-5, 9-4) was in danger of falling out of the conference race early when a 4-4 start was capped by an 83-75 home loss to then-No. 23 Oregon on Jan. 28, snapping the Wildcats' nation-high 49-game winning streak in Tucson.

The Ducks, though, dropped back-to-back games last week while Arizona continued its run of five straight by opening a three-game homestand with victories of 81-75 over UCLA on Friday and 86-78 over then-No. 23 USC on Sunday.

'We expect ourselves to be at the top and competing for the title,' leading scorer Ryan Anderson said. 'This is what we have done the last couple of years, this is what we plan to do this year.'

Arizona earned outright Pac-12 titles with only five total league losses the last two seasons, even while splitting four games against Arizona State (14-12, 4-9). The Wildcats, though, won the last five meetings in Tucson and took the first this season 94-82 in Tempe on Jan. 3.

"This is a necessary step in us being able to say that we in fact are competing for (a conference title)," coach Sean Miller said of Wednesday's matchup.

Miller says its a slight defensive improvement that has fueled Arizona's run. In the Wildcats' first eight conference games, opponents averaged 77.4 points on 44.2 percent shooting while turning the ball over 10 times per game.

Since, opponents are averaging 70.4 points on 41 percent shooting with 12.6 turnovers per game. Arizona State is the third-worst shooting team in Pac-12 play at 41.9 percent while averaging 75.5 points.

The Wildcats average 83.8 points in conference play, shy of only Washington's 85.5, while shooting a league-best 49.7 percent. Helping is the addition of Allonzo Trier, who has played the last three games after missing a month with a broken hand.

The freshman standout was just hitting his stride before the injury, averaging 19.5 points over a four-game stretch. Although he's shooting 35.7 percent while averaging 13 points since his return, Trier's presence adds much-needed depth.

Trier had 20 points in the first meeting against Arizona State while senior guard Gabe York made 4 of 7 3-pointers and scored 22. Sophomore guard Tra Holder led the way with 24 points for the Sun Devils in their conference-opening defeat that was part of a 1-6 start.

Arizona State has won two of its last three games, tallying its second victory over a ranked opponent with Friday's 74-67 win over the Trojans. It took a step back quickly, though, with a 78-65 loss to the Bruins two days later.

The Sun Devils shot 38.6 percent Sunday, including makes on 10 of 30 shots from inside the 3-point line.

'I felt like we were on the verge of something after Friday night and, like has happened most of the year, there's progress and there's regression,' coach Bobby Hurley said. 'We regressed again.'

Arizona State will try to improve on its 3-6 road record during a three-game trip. The Sun Devils also have a 67-54 win Dec. 5 over then-No. 18 Texas A&M on their resume, and their previous two victories over Top 25 teams came against Arizona.

[StarDust Bum]

Top Big 10 Teams
February 16, 2016

A Big 10 representative hasn't won college basketball 's national championship since 2000 (Michigan State), but Indiana got to the title game in 2002, as did Illinois (2005), Ohio State (2007), Michigan State (2009) and Michigan (2013), so they've been knocking on the door. Here's a look at some of the best of the Big 10 with the March tournaments on the horizon.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes passed their toughest tests earlier in the year, sweeping Michigan State, crushing Wichita and winning at Purdue (70-63) as a +9 dog. This team is so tough to defend, with height under the glass in 7-1 senior center Adam Woodbury and senior forward 6-9 Jarrod Uthoff (18.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

If opponents double down low Iowa has loads of three-point options in seniors Mike Gesell (8.8 ppg, 6.9 apg) and Anthony Clemmons (8.6 ppg; 3.9 apg), along with 6-6 Peter Jok. They lead the Big 10 in scoring. Four starters returned from last season so they were supposed to be good – and have been better. With an easy schedule down the stretch, they have a great shot to capture the regular season Big 10 title.

Maryland: The Terrapins have been a force all season, with a win at UConn and a close loss to North Carolina (89-81). The Maryland offense revolves around a one-two punch of 6-2 sophomore Melo Trimble (14.5 ppg) and 6-9 junior Robert Carter, though four players average in double figures.

6-11 freshman Diamond Stone (12.8 ppg) has made an already talented team better. They have been on an impressive 12-4 ATS run in Big 10 play, as well as 8-3 ATS on the road. But what to make of that late season slump? They lost at Michigan as a favorite, and got thumped by Michigan State (74-65). The rematch with Michigan comes this weekend…at home.

Indiana: The Hoosiers like to run behind senior guard Yogi (don’t call me Berra) Ferrell (17 ppg) and 6-7 junior Troy Williams (13 ppg). Their three-point shooting defense is outstanding, as well as being the top defensive rebounding team in the Big 10. It’s a deep squad with four players averaging in double figures in scoring, including 6-10 freshman Thomas Bryant (12 ppg, 5.5 rpg). They have been impressive as a dog, winning at Michigan (80-67) and topping Notre Dame (80-73). The schedule is tough these next two weeks, with showdowns against Purdue, Iowa and Maryland.

Michigan State: You need frontcourt muscle in the Big 10 and the Spartans have it with 6-10 freshman Deyonta Davis (8 ppg) and 6-9 Matt Costello, while 6-5 senior Denzel Valentine (18 ppg, 7.8 rpg) does it all, leading the Spartans with over 6 assists per contest. Davis set the school's single-game freshman record with six blocks in a 76-45 win against Northwestern.

They play tough defense for Coach Tom Izzo, topping Maryland (74-65), Kansas (79-73) and Louisville (71-67). They are the type of well coached, physical defense you don’t want to face in March.

Purdue: The Boilermakers have a big frontcourt behind 7-foot senior A.J. Hammons (14 ppg, 8 rpg), 6-9 freshman Caleb Swanigan (9 ppg, 9 rpg) and 6-7 sophomore Vince Edwards. They started 11-0 with wins over Florida (85-70) and at Pitt (72-59) before getting upended by Butler (74-68). Purdue hasn’t been tested much and lost twice to Iowa. The defense and free throw shooting, however, have been near the bottom of the Big 10 all season, and you need both when tournament play commences.

Michigan: The Wolverines have been a force all season, tops in the Big 10 in field goal and free throw shooting. They’ve been able to stay afloat despite the loss of star Carl Levert (17.6 pp) in December. Picking up the slack has been the trio of 6-8 sophomore Duncan Robinson (12 ppg), 6-6 junior Zak Irvin (10 ppg) and senior guard Derrick Walton Jr (11.7 ppg), the latter a strong rebounder and playmaker.

They had a rough stretch playing four teams ranked in the Top 20 and lost three of them, all by 9 or more points. One weakness: Michigan is at the bottom of the Big 10 in field goal shooting defense.

[StarDust Bum]

Top 25 Betting Recap
February 15, 2016


The Week of Feb. 8-14 of the 2015-16 NCAA Basketball betting season is in the books, and today, we're going to be taking a look at each of the Top 25 teams in the rankings and see how they did from an ATS perspective in this go around this past week.

(Results in parentheses represent SU Result/ATS Result)

1) Villanova (2-0 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Wildcats were heavily favored in their first two games as No. 1, and they passed both tests with flying colors. The road will get much tougher next week with a road game against crosstown rival Temple, a team which dealt SMU its first loss of the season, and a home date with Butler before a trip to Xavier Feb. 24. By the end of the month we'll know how good the Wildcats really are.

2) Maryland (1-1 SU/0-1 ATS)
The Terps ripped Bowie State in a breather game earlier in the week, but they were run out of their own gym against a lesser, but still dangerous, Wisconsin team. The Badgers ran past the Terps 70-57 to drop Maryland to just 3-4 ATS over their past seven games. One thing has been consistent for Maryland lately - the under. It has cashed in seven straight outings for the Terps.

3) Oklahoma (1-1 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Sooners likely won't fall too much further down the rankings, but after a four-point loss to Kansas Saturday, Buddy Hield and company suffered a loss for the second consecutive week, and third loss in the past month. Worse, the Sooners are 0-3 ATS over their past three, and a dismal 4-11 ATS over the past 15.

4) Iowa (1-1 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Hawkeyes hung on for a 75-71 win over Minnesota Sunday, but came nowhere near covering the spread. Still, it was good enough to stay one game up on the rest of the Big Ten. After a 12-5 ATS run from Nov. 29-Feb. 7, the Hawkeyes have failed to cover in back-to-back games for the first time since Nov. 26-27.

5) Xavier (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Musketeers faced two tough road games, and split the pair. A 14-point loss at Creighton left a lot of question marks about Xavier, but a convincing 17-point win at Butler erased most of the doubt. Xavier is 10-1-1 ATS in the past 12 meetings with Butler, something to remember if they meet in the conference tournament.

6) Kansas (2-0- SU/2-0 ATS)
The Jayhawks continue their ascent back to the top of the rankings after a pair of impressive victories against West Virginia and Oklahoma. They're now 5-0 SU/ATS over the past five games, and the 'under' is 4-0 in the past four games and 9-2 over the past 11. Next up, they get a chance at revenge against Oklahoma State, a team which roughed them up by 19 in Stillwater back on Jan. 19.

7) Virginia (1-1 SU/2-0 ATS)
The Cavaliers roughed up in-state rival Virginia Tech by 18 points earlier in the week, but they were stunned on a buzzer beater at Duke against a still dangerous Blue Devils squad. UVA has still covered three in a row, and the 'under' has connected in five consecutive outings.

8) Michigan State (1-1 SU/2-0 ATS)
Michigan State punished Indiana 88-69 in Sunday's game, moving to 5-1 SU/6-0 ATS over the past six games. The 'over' is also the play for Sparty lately, hitting in four in a row. They look to keep it going against Wisconsin Thursday in a one-game week.

9) North Carolina (2-0 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Tar Heels tumbled down the rankings after a pair of losses last week. UNC recovered with a road win at Boston College Tuesday, but the 68-65 win was anything but impressive since they were favored by 20 1/2 points. They looked more like a former No. 1 team Sunday, throttling the reeling Pitt Panthers by 21 points in Chapel Hill. UNC appears to have righted the ship just in time for the first installment of the Battle of the Blues vs. Duke Wednesday.

10) West Virginia (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Mountaineers were chopped down at Kansas, but that isn't likely to affect their ranking very much. The upcoming week will be very big for West Virginia, however. They face a pair of revenge games at Texas, and home to Oklahoma. They lost straight up at home to the Longhorns by seven despite being a 12-point favorite Jan. 20, and they were nipped 70-68 at Oklahoma Jan. 16, although they did cover in that one.

11) Oregon (0-2 SU/0-2 ATS)
The No. 11 spot is one of danger. For the second straight week the 11th-ranked team went 0-2 SU/ATS. The Ducks continue to sit atop the Pac-12 standings, but two road losses at California and Stanford leaves plenty of doubt about their potential to go deep into the tournament.

12) Miami-Florida (2-0 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Hurricanes might have come up short on the gridiron against their in-state conference rivals, but Miami snuck by Florida State in Tallahassee Sunday for the cover as short dogs. They're 2-0 SU/ATS against FSU after going 1-1 SU/0-2 ATS vs. the Seminoles last season. Remember that if they meet in the ACC Tournament this season.

13) Louisville (0-2 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Cardinals imposed a self postseason ban for this season, and the team has responded with a pair of road losses at Duke and at Notre Dame. The two losses aren't bad ones in and of themselves, but with little to play for but pride, it remains to be seen where Louisville goes from here. Syracuse and Duke loom this week before tough trips to Pittsburgh and Miami. Continue to fade the Cards until they give reason to do otherwise.

14) Iowa State (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Cyclones picked up a quality win Saturday against Texas, 85-75, as Wooden Award candidate Georges Niang continues to play well. However, the Cyclones still have plenty of work to do at 2-3 SU/ATS over the past five games. A road game at Baylor is a huge measuring stick outing Tuesday.

15) Texas A&M (0-2 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Aggies are in a downward spiral, and they have two more difficult games coming up against Mississippi and Kentucky. A&M is 0-4 SU/ATS over the past four, and 1-5 SU/ATS over the past six. They continue to play well on defense, though, as the 'under' is 9-1 over the past 10 contests.

16) Southern Methodist (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Mustangs suffered their third loss of the season, and first at home, in an 82-77 setback against Tulsa Wednesday. After looking unstoppable early in the season, the Mustangs are a very regular 3-3 SU over the past six games, and 3-4 ATS over the past seven outings.

17) Arizona (2-0 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Wildcats exacted a little revenge Sunday after losing a 4OT heartbreaker at USC back on Jan. 9. While Arizona has rattled off five straight wins, but thgey have failed to cover in each of their past two home games, and three of the past four in Tucson.

18) Purdue (2-0 SU/0-1-1 ATS)
The Boilermakers split the state of Michigan this week, edging Michigan State at home Tuesday in overtime, and losing at Michigan Saturday by five. The Boilermakers are suddenly in a tailspin against the number, going 1-6 ATS over the past seven outings.

19) Dayton (2-0 SU/0-1-1 ATS)
Dayton has surged to the top of the Atlantic 10 standings with victories in nine straight outings, and 14 of the past 15. A big key to their success has been their good play on the road, as they're 5-1-1 ATS away from home this season. That run will be put to the test at St. Joseph's Wednesday.

20) Providence (1-1 SU/0-2 ATS)
The Friars put the skids on a three-game losing streak, but they failed to cover the spread in a 75-72 win against Georgetown. The 'over' has cashed in four straight games heading into their showdown at Xavier Wednesday. The Friars look for revenge after a 75-68 loss and non-cover against the Musketeers back on Jan. 26.

21) Baylor (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Bears were embarrassed at home to Texas Tech, 84-66, a loss that isn't a good look since they were a 10-point favorite. They're now 1-3 SU over their past four games, and a dismal 1-6-1 ATS over the past eight outings.

22) Kentucky (2-0 SU/2-0 ATS)
Kentucky played perhaps its most complete game of the season in an 89-62 win at South Carolina Saturday, their third straight win and cover. They entered 2-5 SU/ATS over their past seven road games, but if they can perform like they did against a good Gamecocks team, the sky is the limit on how far they can go in March.

23) Southern California (0-2 SU/1-1 ATS)
USC was unable to pull off the season sweep of Arizona, but they did move to 2-0 ATS on the season against the Wildcats, something to remember for the Pac-12 Tournament should these teams face each other again. USC is on their way out of the Top 25, but they are 3-1 ATS over the past four and playing teams tough.

24) Texas (0-2 SU/1-1 ATS)
The Longhorns were on the move in recent weeks, forcing their way into the Top 25. As quickly as they appeared, they will disappear after an 0-2 SU/1-1 ATS week. They're still a very impressive 7-1 ATS over the past eight games, and the 'under' is also 7-1. Should they fall from the Top 25, don't forget those two records.

25) Wichita State (1-1 SU/1-1 ATS)
After weeks of looking unstoppable, Wichita State has stubbed its toe in two of the past three outings, including a shocking and listless performance against Northern Iowa Saturday. One thing has been consistent for the Shockers lately, and that's the 'under' at 4-0 in the past four games.