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UConn at Cincinnati
February 6, 2014
Cincinnati (20-2 straight up, 10-7 against the spread) will put its perfect 10-0 AAC record on the line tonight when it takes on Connecticut. The Bearcats will also have a 14-game winning streak at stake vs. the Huskies.
As of early this morning, most betting shops had Cincinnati listed as a five-point home favorite.
Mick Cronin's team hasn't tasted defeat since a December 14 loss at Xavier. Cincy got its best win of the season last week when it went into Louisville and captured a 69-66 win as a nine-point road underdog. The Bearcats hooked up money-line supporters with a generous payout in the +360 range.
Sean Kilpatrick scored a game-high 28 points against U of L. The senior guard was money from the free-throw line at crunch time. Kilpatrick made all 11 of his attempts from the charity stripe, including four on his team's last two possessions. Justin Jackson returned from an ankle injury suffered at Temple two Sundays ago to play like a beast against the defending champs.
Jackson was injured and couldn't play at U of L in the Yum! Center last season, and Rick Pitino's team took advantage of Jackson's absence and dealt out a beatdown. Not last week, though. Jackson scored 11 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out three assists, blocked two shots and made a pair of steals in 37 workmanlike minutes.
After the big win at U of L, Sunday's noon tip against South Florida was a vintage letdown spot for Cincy. The Bearcats had to play South Florida to the wire before escaping with a 50-45 triumph. The Bearcats were never a threat to cover the expensive price (-15.5). Kilpatrick scored a game-high 18 points, while Jackson finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Connecticut (17-4 SU, 10-9 ATS) has won three in a row and six of its last seven both SU and ATS. The Huskies destroyed Houston by an 80-41 count to take the cash as 13-point home favorites. Shabazz Napier led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Napier is most likely on his way to earning first-team All-American honors. He hit a buzzer beater to beat Florida and leads his team in four key categories. Napier paces the Huskies in scoring (17.9 points per game), rebounding (6.0 RPG), assists (5.7 APG) and steals (1.9).
UConn has been an underdog three times this season, going 1-2 both SU and ATS. The Huskies won outright at Memphis, but they failed to cover as 'dogs in defeats vs. Louisville and at SMU.
Cincy is unbeaten in 15 home games with a 7-2 spread record. The Bearcats are 3-0 ATS as single-digit home 'chalk.'
The 'under' has been a major money maker in Cincinnati games over the last three seasons. The 'under' started 13-1 for the Bearcats this year before the 'over' emerged in back-to-back games. However, in Saturday's narrow, non-covering home win over South Florida, the 'under' was once again an easy winner.
The 'under' is on a 27-5 run in the last 32 games for Cronin's team, which ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense by allowing only 56.7 PPG. The 'under' is 8-1 in Cincy's nine lined home games this year.
The 'over' is on an 8-2 run in UConn's last 10 games with a total. The 'over' has hit in all five of its road assignments this year.
ESPN will provide the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Michigan State will take on a vastly improved Penn State team Thursday at Breslin Center. The Spartans are expecting to get senior center Adreian Payne back into the lineup after an eight-game absence due to a foot injury. Payne, who averages 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, has been upgraded to 'probable.' The Nittany Lions have won three straight games, including a stunning triumph at Ohio State last week. Most spots have installed Tom Izzo's team as a 13-point home favorite.
-- Boise State blew a 14-point lead with 13:37 left in the second half and eventually took a crushing home loss to San Diego State last night. Xavier Thames ignited the Aztecs' comeback and Dwayne Polee II finished the job with a dagger 3-pointer with four ticks remaining. BSU's Derrick Marks missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer. Steve Fisher's team won its 19th consecutive game by a 67-65 count, hooking up its backers as a two-point underdog. Thames scored 23 points for the Aztecs, who will remain a candidate for a No. 1 seed if they keep winning. As for the Broncos, their hopes of a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament went out the window with the defeat. BSU is winless in eight games against RPI Top-100 opponents.
-- I've been saying for weeks that Kevin Stallings is doing a helluva job with a depleted Vandy team that plays just six players for most part, with a seventh playing 6-8 minutes per game. Nevertheless, the Commodores have won four in a row with three of those victories as underdogs for nice money-line payouts. I was on Vandy last night and in last week's win at Georgia. The 'Dores held off Tennessee 64-60 at Memorial Gym as 5.5-point home 'dogs.
-- Wichita State stayed undefeated and took the cash in one of the toughest testers left on its regular-season slate. The Shockers went into Indiana State and seized a 65-58 win as 4.5-point road favorites.
-- Pitt avoided a three-game losing streak by beating Miami 59-55 last night in Coral Gables. The Panthers needed overtime to get out unscathed, but their backers had to rip up tickets as 5.5-point favorites.
February 6, 2014
Cincinnati (20-2 straight up, 10-7 against the spread) will put its perfect 10-0 AAC record on the line tonight when it takes on Connecticut. The Bearcats will also have a 14-game winning streak at stake vs. the Huskies.
As of early this morning, most betting shops had Cincinnati listed as a five-point home favorite.
Mick Cronin's team hasn't tasted defeat since a December 14 loss at Xavier. Cincy got its best win of the season last week when it went into Louisville and captured a 69-66 win as a nine-point road underdog. The Bearcats hooked up money-line supporters with a generous payout in the +360 range.
Sean Kilpatrick scored a game-high 28 points against U of L. The senior guard was money from the free-throw line at crunch time. Kilpatrick made all 11 of his attempts from the charity stripe, including four on his team's last two possessions. Justin Jackson returned from an ankle injury suffered at Temple two Sundays ago to play like a beast against the defending champs.
Jackson was injured and couldn't play at U of L in the Yum! Center last season, and Rick Pitino's team took advantage of Jackson's absence and dealt out a beatdown. Not last week, though. Jackson scored 11 points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out three assists, blocked two shots and made a pair of steals in 37 workmanlike minutes.
After the big win at U of L, Sunday's noon tip against South Florida was a vintage letdown spot for Cincy. The Bearcats had to play South Florida to the wire before escaping with a 50-45 triumph. The Bearcats were never a threat to cover the expensive price (-15.5). Kilpatrick scored a game-high 18 points, while Jackson finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
Connecticut (17-4 SU, 10-9 ATS) has won three in a row and six of its last seven both SU and ATS. The Huskies destroyed Houston by an 80-41 count to take the cash as 13-point home favorites. Shabazz Napier led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Napier is most likely on his way to earning first-team All-American honors. He hit a buzzer beater to beat Florida and leads his team in four key categories. Napier paces the Huskies in scoring (17.9 points per game), rebounding (6.0 RPG), assists (5.7 APG) and steals (1.9).
UConn has been an underdog three times this season, going 1-2 both SU and ATS. The Huskies won outright at Memphis, but they failed to cover as 'dogs in defeats vs. Louisville and at SMU.
Cincy is unbeaten in 15 home games with a 7-2 spread record. The Bearcats are 3-0 ATS as single-digit home 'chalk.'
The 'under' has been a major money maker in Cincinnati games over the last three seasons. The 'under' started 13-1 for the Bearcats this year before the 'over' emerged in back-to-back games. However, in Saturday's narrow, non-covering home win over South Florida, the 'under' was once again an easy winner.
The 'under' is on a 27-5 run in the last 32 games for Cronin's team, which ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense by allowing only 56.7 PPG. The 'under' is 8-1 in Cincy's nine lined home games this year.
The 'over' is on an 8-2 run in UConn's last 10 games with a total. The 'over' has hit in all five of its road assignments this year.
ESPN will provide the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
-- Michigan State will take on a vastly improved Penn State team Thursday at Breslin Center. The Spartans are expecting to get senior center Adreian Payne back into the lineup after an eight-game absence due to a foot injury. Payne, who averages 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, has been upgraded to 'probable.' The Nittany Lions have won three straight games, including a stunning triumph at Ohio State last week. Most spots have installed Tom Izzo's team as a 13-point home favorite.
-- Boise State blew a 14-point lead with 13:37 left in the second half and eventually took a crushing home loss to San Diego State last night. Xavier Thames ignited the Aztecs' comeback and Dwayne Polee II finished the job with a dagger 3-pointer with four ticks remaining. BSU's Derrick Marks missed a potential game-winning three at the buzzer. Steve Fisher's team won its 19th consecutive game by a 67-65 count, hooking up its backers as a two-point underdog. Thames scored 23 points for the Aztecs, who will remain a candidate for a No. 1 seed if they keep winning. As for the Broncos, their hopes of a second straight at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament went out the window with the defeat. BSU is winless in eight games against RPI Top-100 opponents.
-- I've been saying for weeks that Kevin Stallings is doing a helluva job with a depleted Vandy team that plays just six players for most part, with a seventh playing 6-8 minutes per game. Nevertheless, the Commodores have won four in a row with three of those victories as underdogs for nice money-line payouts. I was on Vandy last night and in last week's win at Georgia. The 'Dores held off Tennessee 64-60 at Memorial Gym as 5.5-point home 'dogs.
-- Wichita State stayed undefeated and took the cash in one of the toughest testers left on its regular-season slate. The Shockers went into Indiana State and seized a 65-58 win as 4.5-point road favorites.
-- Pitt avoided a three-game losing streak by beating Miami 59-55 last night in Coral Gables. The Panthers needed overtime to get out unscathed, but their backers had to rip up tickets as 5.5-point favorites.
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