NCAAB
Wednesday, March 13
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Big East tournament: Round 2 betting preview
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Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Providence Friars (+3, 123)
Cincinnati used a runner-up finish in the Big East tournament last season as a springboard to a run to the regional semifinals in the NCAA Tournament. One year later, the ninth-seeded Bearcats may need another strong showing in the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden, starting Wednesday in a second-round matchup against No. 8 seed Providence, to rest easy on “Selection Sunday." Cincinnati began the season 12-0 and rolled to a 6-3 start in conference play, but a lackluster offensive effort caused the team to drop six of its final nine games.
The first of the Bearcats’ six setbacks during their second-half fade came Feb. 6 at Providence, which reversed a 2-7 start in Big East play to finish at .500 in the conference. The Friars, who played 15 games decided by fewer than six points, went 4-1 in such games during their strong close to the season. The winner of this game plays Georgetown in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Bearcats are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Friars are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 neutral-site games.
Seton Hall Pirates vs. Syracuse Orange (-12, 127)
Although No. 20 Syracuse and Seton Hall remain alive in the Big East tournament, both teams are coming off forgettable performances entering Wednesday’s second-round matchup in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The fifth-seeded Orange held the top spot in the conference for much of the season, but an anemic offense down the stretch led to a 1-4 spell, culminating in Saturday’s 61-39 loss at Georgetown – the fewest points scored by a Jim Boeheim-coached team in his 37-year tenure at the school.
The 12th-seeded Pirates are dealing with their own offensive woes, but overcame an eight-point deficit late in regulation Tuesday to edge South Florida 46-42 in overtime in a first-round game. The game was the second-lowest scoring result in tournament history while the win was only Seton Hall’s second since defeating the Bulls on Jan. 23 – a stretch during which it has scored 55 or fewer points seven times. The winner of this contest will play No. 19 Pittsburgh – the fourth-seed – in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Pirates are 3-11 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
* Orange are 2-7 ATS in their last nine neutral-site games.
St. John's Red Storm vs. Villanova Wildcats (-4.5, 126)
Teams headed in opposite directions meet in the second round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday when seventh-seeded Villanova plays No. 10 seed St. John’s. The Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament hopes appeared to be fading in mid-February, but a 4-2 finish – including a home victory over top-seeded Georgetown that halted the Hoyas' 11-game win streak – likely solidified their tournament resume. They collected three victories over top-five opponents during the Big East schedule.
The Red Storm have lost four straight since coach Steve Lavin suspended leading scorer D’Angelo Harrison for unspecified reasons and six of seven overall. While five of those six losses have been to ranked foes, St. John’s is averaging 53.3 points and shooting 35.5 percent – including 10.9 percent from beyond the arc – in Harrison’s absence. The winner of this contest plays Louisville in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Red Storm are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-8, 128)
Notre Dame triggered the first of two long losing streaks for Rutgers with a narrow victory in their only meeting back in January. Another such win Wednesday in the second round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden by the Fighting Irish will give them a win in their first game of the tournament in five consecutive years. Notre Dame will begin its final tournament run Wednesday after receiving approval from the Big East to move to the ACC in most sports beginning next season.
But before the sixth-seeded Irish can even think about advancing to the semifinals of the Big East tournament for the fourth straight year, they’ll need to get through the 11th-seeded Scarlet Knights, who nearly defeated them at home on Jan. 19. The loss to Notre Dame began a 1-11 stretch before Rutgers secured victories at Seton Hall to conclude the regular season and against DePaul to open the conference tournament. The winner of this contest will meet No. 13 Marquette – the third-seed – in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Scarlet Knights are 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
* Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Underdog is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Wednesday, March 13
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Big East tournament: Round 2 betting preview
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Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Providence Friars (+3, 123)
Cincinnati used a runner-up finish in the Big East tournament last season as a springboard to a run to the regional semifinals in the NCAA Tournament. One year later, the ninth-seeded Bearcats may need another strong showing in the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden, starting Wednesday in a second-round matchup against No. 8 seed Providence, to rest easy on “Selection Sunday." Cincinnati began the season 12-0 and rolled to a 6-3 start in conference play, but a lackluster offensive effort caused the team to drop six of its final nine games.
The first of the Bearcats’ six setbacks during their second-half fade came Feb. 6 at Providence, which reversed a 2-7 start in Big East play to finish at .500 in the conference. The Friars, who played 15 games decided by fewer than six points, went 4-1 in such games during their strong close to the season. The winner of this game plays Georgetown in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Bearcats are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings.
* Friars are 7-20 ATS in their last 27 neutral-site games.
Seton Hall Pirates vs. Syracuse Orange (-12, 127)
Although No. 20 Syracuse and Seton Hall remain alive in the Big East tournament, both teams are coming off forgettable performances entering Wednesday’s second-round matchup in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The fifth-seeded Orange held the top spot in the conference for much of the season, but an anemic offense down the stretch led to a 1-4 spell, culminating in Saturday’s 61-39 loss at Georgetown – the fewest points scored by a Jim Boeheim-coached team in his 37-year tenure at the school.
The 12th-seeded Pirates are dealing with their own offensive woes, but overcame an eight-point deficit late in regulation Tuesday to edge South Florida 46-42 in overtime in a first-round game. The game was the second-lowest scoring result in tournament history while the win was only Seton Hall’s second since defeating the Bulls on Jan. 23 – a stretch during which it has scored 55 or fewer points seven times. The winner of this contest will play No. 19 Pittsburgh – the fourth-seed – in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
* Pirates are 3-11 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
* Orange are 2-7 ATS in their last nine neutral-site games.
St. John's Red Storm vs. Villanova Wildcats (-4.5, 126)
Teams headed in opposite directions meet in the second round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday when seventh-seeded Villanova plays No. 10 seed St. John’s. The Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament hopes appeared to be fading in mid-February, but a 4-2 finish – including a home victory over top-seeded Georgetown that halted the Hoyas' 11-game win streak – likely solidified their tournament resume. They collected three victories over top-five opponents during the Big East schedule.
The Red Storm have lost four straight since coach Steve Lavin suspended leading scorer D’Angelo Harrison for unspecified reasons and six of seven overall. While five of those six losses have been to ranked foes, St. John’s is averaging 53.3 points and shooting 35.5 percent – including 10.9 percent from beyond the arc – in Harrison’s absence. The winner of this contest plays Louisville in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
* Red Storm are 1-5 ATS in the last six meetings.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-8, 128)
Notre Dame triggered the first of two long losing streaks for Rutgers with a narrow victory in their only meeting back in January. Another such win Wednesday in the second round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden by the Fighting Irish will give them a win in their first game of the tournament in five consecutive years. Notre Dame will begin its final tournament run Wednesday after receiving approval from the Big East to move to the ACC in most sports beginning next season.
But before the sixth-seeded Irish can even think about advancing to the semifinals of the Big East tournament for the fourth straight year, they’ll need to get through the 11th-seeded Scarlet Knights, who nearly defeated them at home on Jan. 19. The loss to Notre Dame began a 1-11 stretch before Rutgers secured victories at Seton Hall to conclude the regular season and against DePaul to open the conference tournament. The winner of this contest will meet No. 13 Marquette – the third-seed – in the quarterfinals.
TRENDS:
* Scarlet Knights are 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
* Under is 6-2 in the last eight meetings.
* Underdog is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
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