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West Virginia Struggling With Marquette Next Up
There’s a usual light Friday night in college basketball betting, but a couple of contests could decide the MAAC champion and there’s even a rare Big East battle with a top-10 team.
With the major conferences mostly in hiatus until Saturday, it’s an opportune time to look at the latest mid-major rankings from CollegeInsider.com. Note a number of these teams are on ATS streaks, both good and bad, with two of them in action Friday night. Harvard hosts Princeton in the Ivy League, while Iona welcomes Fairfield in the MAAC (featured below).
TEAM ATS TREND
1) Murray State 3-0
2) Wichita State 5-0
3) Creighton 1-5
4) Gonzaga 2-8-1
5) Middle Tennessee 1-4
6) Long Beach State 3-0
7) Harvard 3-1
8) Saint Mary's 0-5
9) Drexel 3-3
10) Iona 2-4
Marquette Golden Eagles at West Virginia Mountaineers
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
This is the only Friday game from a major conference and the first meeting between the teams this season. Marquette is 4-0 ATS in the last four, but only one coming in Morgantown. The ‘under’ is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall.
The Golden Eagles (23-5 SU, 14-10-1 ATS) are up to No. 10 in the nation after a 4-game winning streak (4-0 ATS). They’re 11-3 ATS in their last 14 overall, 6-1 ATS away. The offense has really jelled the last four games (86.3 PPG), with the ‘over’ 5-0 in the last five.
Forward Davante Gardner (knee) is questionable after missing six games, but Marquette might not need him. That’s because senior guard Darius Johnson-Odom (18.7 PPG) and forward Jae Crowder (17.1 PPG) continue to shine. The former is averaging 22.8 PPG over the last four games and the latter 26.3 PPG over the last three.
The Mountaineers (17-11 SU, 13-12 ATS) have been as bad lately as Marquette has been good. They’re 2-6 SU in their last eight after starting the Big East season at 5-2 SU. The ATS mark has similarly gone downhill at 2-7 ATS in the last nine. This is a huge game for their NCAA tournament hopes as they’re on the proverbial bubble.
Butler Bulldogs at Valparaiso Crusaders
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
This is the final regular season game for both teams. Valparaiso has already clinched the Horizon League regular season title at 13-4 SU. Butler has made a strong push and is now a half-game ahead in second at 11-6 SU. The top-2 teams get a double-bye in the conference tourney.
The Bulldogs (18-12 SU, 9-16-2 ATS) have had a crazy season after making the NCAA title game the last two years. They’re peaking at the right time at 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in the last five. Scoring has been up over that span (65.3 PPG) with an already stingy defense even better (52.6 PPG). Butler should be the far more motivated team on Friday.
The Crusaders (20-10 SU, 12-14-1 ATS) have gotten a great first year from coach Bryce Drew as they were predicted to finish in the middle of the conference. They have faded down the stretch a bit at 2-2 SU and 0-4 ATS, even needing OT to beat bottom dweller Loyola (IL) 66-62 as 11½-point home favorites on Tuesday.
Valparaiso won the first meeting this year, 77-71 (OT) at Butler as 5½-point ‘dogs way back on December 3. The Crusaders are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings overall, including winning at home last year, 85-79 (OT again) as 2-point ‘dogs.
Fairfield Stags at Iona Gaels
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
This is a crucial game out of the MAAC in addition to Loyola (MD) at Rider at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2. Iona leads the conference with a 13-3 SU record, with Fairfield and Loyola (MD) both a game back at 12-4 SU.
The Stags (17-11 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) are the top defensive team in the MAAC (60.5 PPG). They’re 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven conference games, surrendering just 52.9 PPG with the ‘under’ 5-2. They did lose a BracketBusters contest at Horizon League Milwaukee (67-63) as 2-point underdogs last Saturday.
The Gaels (22-6 SU 11-13-2 ATS) are the top scoring team in the nation (83.1 PPG). Points scored (86.3 PPG) and allowed (77.7 PPG) have both increased the last six games with the ‘over’ 5-1. They’re 0-3 ATS in their last three home games, despite winning them all. Two of the pointspreads were over 20 points.
Iona won the first meeting this year, 71-62 as 2-point road favorites on January 27. Fairfield was 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in the prior three meetings, covering the last one played in New Rochelle, New York, 74-69 loss as 6-point ‘dogs.
There’s a usual light Friday night in college basketball betting, but a couple of contests could decide the MAAC champion and there’s even a rare Big East battle with a top-10 team.
With the major conferences mostly in hiatus until Saturday, it’s an opportune time to look at the latest mid-major rankings from CollegeInsider.com. Note a number of these teams are on ATS streaks, both good and bad, with two of them in action Friday night. Harvard hosts Princeton in the Ivy League, while Iona welcomes Fairfield in the MAAC (featured below).
TEAM ATS TREND
1) Murray State 3-0
2) Wichita State 5-0
3) Creighton 1-5
4) Gonzaga 2-8-1
5) Middle Tennessee 1-4
6) Long Beach State 3-0
7) Harvard 3-1
8) Saint Mary's 0-5
9) Drexel 3-3
10) Iona 2-4
Marquette Golden Eagles at West Virginia Mountaineers
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
This is the only Friday game from a major conference and the first meeting between the teams this season. Marquette is 4-0 ATS in the last four, but only one coming in Morgantown. The ‘under’ is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall.
The Golden Eagles (23-5 SU, 14-10-1 ATS) are up to No. 10 in the nation after a 4-game winning streak (4-0 ATS). They’re 11-3 ATS in their last 14 overall, 6-1 ATS away. The offense has really jelled the last four games (86.3 PPG), with the ‘over’ 5-0 in the last five.
Forward Davante Gardner (knee) is questionable after missing six games, but Marquette might not need him. That’s because senior guard Darius Johnson-Odom (18.7 PPG) and forward Jae Crowder (17.1 PPG) continue to shine. The former is averaging 22.8 PPG over the last four games and the latter 26.3 PPG over the last three.
The Mountaineers (17-11 SU, 13-12 ATS) have been as bad lately as Marquette has been good. They’re 2-6 SU in their last eight after starting the Big East season at 5-2 SU. The ATS mark has similarly gone downhill at 2-7 ATS in the last nine. This is a huge game for their NCAA tournament hopes as they’re on the proverbial bubble.
Butler Bulldogs at Valparaiso Crusaders
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
This is the final regular season game for both teams. Valparaiso has already clinched the Horizon League regular season title at 13-4 SU. Butler has made a strong push and is now a half-game ahead in second at 11-6 SU. The top-2 teams get a double-bye in the conference tourney.
The Bulldogs (18-12 SU, 9-16-2 ATS) have had a crazy season after making the NCAA title game the last two years. They’re peaking at the right time at 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in the last five. Scoring has been up over that span (65.3 PPG) with an already stingy defense even better (52.6 PPG). Butler should be the far more motivated team on Friday.
The Crusaders (20-10 SU, 12-14-1 ATS) have gotten a great first year from coach Bryce Drew as they were predicted to finish in the middle of the conference. They have faded down the stretch a bit at 2-2 SU and 0-4 ATS, even needing OT to beat bottom dweller Loyola (IL) 66-62 as 11½-point home favorites on Tuesday.
Valparaiso won the first meeting this year, 77-71 (OT) at Butler as 5½-point ‘dogs way back on December 3. The Crusaders are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings overall, including winning at home last year, 85-79 (OT again) as 2-point ‘dogs.
Fairfield Stags at Iona Gaels
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
This is a crucial game out of the MAAC in addition to Loyola (MD) at Rider at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2. Iona leads the conference with a 13-3 SU record, with Fairfield and Loyola (MD) both a game back at 12-4 SU.
The Stags (17-11 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) are the top defensive team in the MAAC (60.5 PPG). They’re 7-0 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven conference games, surrendering just 52.9 PPG with the ‘under’ 5-2. They did lose a BracketBusters contest at Horizon League Milwaukee (67-63) as 2-point underdogs last Saturday.
The Gaels (22-6 SU 11-13-2 ATS) are the top scoring team in the nation (83.1 PPG). Points scored (86.3 PPG) and allowed (77.7 PPG) have both increased the last six games with the ‘over’ 5-1. They’re 0-3 ATS in their last three home games, despite winning them all. Two of the pointspreads were over 20 points.
Iona won the first meeting this year, 71-62 as 2-point road favorites on January 27. Fairfield was 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in the prior three meetings, covering the last one played in New Rochelle, New York, 74-69 loss as 6-point ‘dogs.
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