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Big 11 tournament
Northwestern just 2-3 last five games, with both wins over dreadful Michigan; Wildcats lost twice to Illinois, 78-66 at home, 84-48 at Illinois on Feb 23, as 21-pt dog. Illini lost for first time in last game; they're 6-9 as Big 11 fave, but three of last four wins were by 20+.
Indiana-Minnesota being touted as play-in game for the fourth NCAA slot out of Big 11; teams split home tilts, with Gophers winning 70-65 Jan 26, Indy 71-56 Feb 12. Hoosiers won four of last five games; they are 7-1 as big 11 fave. Minnesota won its last four games.
Iowa won last four games, but are 2-4 as Big 11 dog, and lost at home to Michigan State, 75-64, as 3-point home dog Feb 5, in first game after Pierce was let go; they're now 5-5 without him. Spartans won eight of last nine games; 12 of their 13 league wins are by 11+ pts.
Ohio State was flat as pancake yesterday, rallied from large deficit to beat woeful Penn State, after their big win over Illinois; they lost twice to Wisconsin this year, 72-66, 64-56, and are 3-3-1 as Big 11 dog. Badgers won last three games, by 8,2 and 12 points.
ACC tournament
Clemson is 6-2 as road dog, but they got slugged twice by North Carolina, 77-58 at Littlejohn (was 27-27 at half), 88-56 at UNC. Tigers beat Maryland for third time yesterday, while Heels had day off. Carolina won last six games, but covered just two of last seven tilts.
Pundits are assuming Georgia Tech will beat Hokies, but Va Tech went to Atlanta and beat Wreck, 70-69, as 18-pt dog Jan 22, and Hokiesa are higher-seeded team here. Ga Tech is 1-5 vs spread in last six games that followed a win. Hokies covered four of last five.
Virginia lost five of last six games, failing to cover four of last five; they had tough win over Miami last night, now face rested Duke squad that beat Cavs 80-66 as 17-pt fave on Jan 16. Duke covered 10 of its last 13 games and is 7-5 as ACC favorite this season.
Big 12 tournament
Missouri lost seven of nine Big 12 road games, but is 6-2 in last eight games overall; they came from behind to beat Sooners 68-65 in OT Feb 12. Oklahoma won its last six games (5-1 vs spread); they're 6-7 as fave in leagues. Mizzou played Thursday, Sooners didn't.
Iowa State won ten of last 12 games after 0-5 start in Big 12; they're 5-4 on Big 12 road, 6-3 as Big 12 dog and own 81-68 win over Tech in Ames. Red Raiders lost four of last seven games, covered one of last eight but they won first game in this event last three years.
Kansas State won four of last five games, but last time they beat Jayhawks, Reagan was President; their only loss in last five games was 72-65 at Lawrence, after a 9-pt loss in first meeting. Kansas lost four of its last six games (0-6 vs spread) and Lankford has gimpy ankle.
Colorado lost six of last seven games (2-5 vs spread); they're 5-12 in league, 5-4 as road dog, as four of their last six losses are by nine or more points- they lost by 18 to Cowboys, 104-86 in their game this year. OSU lost three of last four games, covered two of last seven.
SEC tournament
Last five Ole Miss games were decided by six or less points- they're 4-5 as a SEC road underdog, but lost twice to Alabama this year, 66-58 at home Jan 22, and 71-45 at Bama Feb 12. Tide is 9-2 as SEC fave' they won three of last four games. Rebels' win yesterday is just their third in last thirteen games.
Mississippi State beat Florida 71-57 in Starkville as a 1.5-pt fave Feb 1; Bulldogs won four of last five games but covered just two of last eight away from home. The Gators beat Kentucky Sunday, their fourth win in row and six of last seven games. Gators won at least one game in six of last seven SEC tournaments.
Tennessee is 5-1 vs spread last six games, 7-1 as road dog in SEC play; they lost twice vs Kentucky this year, 84-62 at home, 73-61 on Senior Night in Rupp. Vols are 8-4 overall as SEC dog. Kentucky is 4-2 in last six games after 10-0 start; they're 6-2 (5-3 vs spread) in its first game of the SEC tourney the last eight years.
Auburn lost five of last seven games, but pulled upset over Vandy last night; six of their last seven losses are by 12+ points. LSU covered last eight games and is 13-3 vs spread in league play- they beat Auburn twice this season, 90-69 at home, 77-64 on the plains.
Atlantic 12 tournament
St Joe's won seven of last eight games (6-2 vs spread); they're 9-3 as A-12 fave, and beat Xavier 67-59 as a 2-pt home favorite Jan 29. Host Musketeers won eight of last ten games; they beat St Joe's in this event last year, giving Hawks their first loss of season.
George Washington went to Temple and routed Owls, as 4-pt dog 74-58 on Feb 5; 11 of 12 GW wins in its league are by nine or more pts. Temple won five of last seven games; they're 12-0 in A-12 if they score 59 or more pts, 0-5 if they don't. GW is 7-2 on road in A12 games, 6-3 vs spread last nine games overall.
Big East tournament
Mountaineers won eight of last ten games, covered six of last seven but got drilled 84-46 in Big East opener at Villanova Jan 5. Villanova won last seven games, with six of the seven by 6+ pts. Villanova is 6-3 on Big East road, 8-5 as league favorite.
UConn won last ten games, covering eight of last nine; they're 11-4 as Big East fave, beating Syracuse twice, 74-66 in dome, 88-70 at home, when they exploded inb second half. Syracuse is 5-5 last ten games; they're 4-10 vs spread in their last fourteen games. UConn is 6-1 in its second Big East tourney game, last 7 years.
Conference USA tournament
Louisville won seven in row and 16 of last 17, but they covered three of last ten games. UAB won its last five games, with four of the five by five or less pts; they're 6-3 in road league games, 3-0 as C-USA dog. Blazers lost 77-73 at home to Louisville as 7-pt dog Feb 5.
Memphis is so erratic, its hard to handicap any of their games; they're 7-3 at home in league, but 2-4 in last six games overall. South Florida upset Houston, Cincinnati last two night; how much is left in their tank? Bulls are 8-3 vs spread last 11 games; they lost 73-67 at home to Memphis in pick 'em game Jan 19.
MAC tournament
Buffalo won seven of last eight games and covered 11 of last 15; they're 13-7 in league, Western Michigan is 12-7. Western Michigan split its last 14 MAC games after 5-0 start; they split pair of games vs Bulls, as the visitor won both games. Bulls are 7-2 vs spread in Big East road games.
Miami, Ohio split pair of close home wins, with Miami winning 59-57, then losing 61-57 in Athens. Bobcats won four of last five games, are 5-5 on MAC road, as Red Hawks are 4-6 away from home, and just 2-3 in last five overall. Lot of parity in MAC this season.
Mountain West tournament
Utah is 14-1 in Mountain West, but covered just two of eight league games; they won both games vs UNLV, 70-52 at home, 57-53 on Strip. Utes 5-2 as road fave. Rebels won last five road games, covered seven of last eight overall, and five of last seven as as underdog.
New Mexico won ten of last 11 games and seven in a row, all by 11+ pts- they drilled San Diego State twice 88-71 in Pit, 78-61 at Cox Arena. Aztecs ended skid at six games last night; they're 5-3 as MWC road dog; their last three losses are all by 12+ points.
WAC tournament
UTEP won last six games by average of 11 pts; they're 6-3 vs the spread last nine games; Rice also won their last six games, and have two senior stars- with Nevada losing last night, winner of this game will be heavy fave to win conference tourney in neutral game Saturday.
Fresno lost five of last eight games and covered three of last 13, but they rallied for OT win last night, before Boise upset host Nevada. Boise is 5-3 in its last eight games, 5-1 vs spread in last six; teams split home court wins this year, with Fresno winning by 7, Boise by 14.
Pac-10 tournament
Arizona won nine of last ten games, covered last six in a row; they swept Beavers this year, 92-83, 91-70; as Cats are only team to beat OSU in Corvallis. Arizona is 12-6 as Pac-10 favorite, 6-3 on road; they covered 10 of last 14. Eight of ten OSU losses are by 8+ pts.
Washington won five of last six games- 10 of their 15 Pac-10 wins are by nine or more pts. Stanford won a tough game vs Wazoo late last night; they lost 76-73 in Seattle Jan 2, then whacked Huskies 77-67 six days ago on Farm. Huskies also had tough win last night, as they blew 15-pt halftime lead, then beat Arizona State.
Big West tournament
Utah State is 13-5 in Big West; all 13 wins are by 10+ pts, with last 11 wins by 16+; they split with Fullerton, losing 64-60 there, winning 84-60 at home. Titans won 11 of last 13 games (10-3 vs spread); they're 7-1 in its last eight tries as Big West dog. Aggies didn't play last night, while Fullerton had relatively easy win vs UCSB
Pacific is 18-0 in Big West, 4-3-1 as road fave, 9-7-1 overall in league; they won last 22 games overall, and swept Northridge, 75-61 at home (trailed by one at the half), 66-62 at CSUN. Matadors covered five of last six games; they're 3-2 as Big West underdog this year.
Today's Tips:
NC State, +5-- Wolfpack lost 55-53 to Wake five nights ago, when Paul hit game-winning shot after his sucker punch on Hodge earlier in game was unnoticed by officials. Wake then suspended Paul for this game, so Pack gets its revenge here, as senior Hodge should have big game for NC State squad that has won five of its last seven games. 30 sendeks on NC State, +5.
Northwestern just 2-3 last five games, with both wins over dreadful Michigan; Wildcats lost twice to Illinois, 78-66 at home, 84-48 at Illinois on Feb 23, as 21-pt dog. Illini lost for first time in last game; they're 6-9 as Big 11 fave, but three of last four wins were by 20+.
Indiana-Minnesota being touted as play-in game for the fourth NCAA slot out of Big 11; teams split home tilts, with Gophers winning 70-65 Jan 26, Indy 71-56 Feb 12. Hoosiers won four of last five games; they are 7-1 as big 11 fave. Minnesota won its last four games.
Iowa won last four games, but are 2-4 as Big 11 dog, and lost at home to Michigan State, 75-64, as 3-point home dog Feb 5, in first game after Pierce was let go; they're now 5-5 without him. Spartans won eight of last nine games; 12 of their 13 league wins are by 11+ pts.
Ohio State was flat as pancake yesterday, rallied from large deficit to beat woeful Penn State, after their big win over Illinois; they lost twice to Wisconsin this year, 72-66, 64-56, and are 3-3-1 as Big 11 dog. Badgers won last three games, by 8,2 and 12 points.
ACC tournament
Clemson is 6-2 as road dog, but they got slugged twice by North Carolina, 77-58 at Littlejohn (was 27-27 at half), 88-56 at UNC. Tigers beat Maryland for third time yesterday, while Heels had day off. Carolina won last six games, but covered just two of last seven tilts.
Pundits are assuming Georgia Tech will beat Hokies, but Va Tech went to Atlanta and beat Wreck, 70-69, as 18-pt dog Jan 22, and Hokiesa are higher-seeded team here. Ga Tech is 1-5 vs spread in last six games that followed a win. Hokies covered four of last five.
Virginia lost five of last six games, failing to cover four of last five; they had tough win over Miami last night, now face rested Duke squad that beat Cavs 80-66 as 17-pt fave on Jan 16. Duke covered 10 of its last 13 games and is 7-5 as ACC favorite this season.
Big 12 tournament
Missouri lost seven of nine Big 12 road games, but is 6-2 in last eight games overall; they came from behind to beat Sooners 68-65 in OT Feb 12. Oklahoma won its last six games (5-1 vs spread); they're 6-7 as fave in leagues. Mizzou played Thursday, Sooners didn't.
Iowa State won ten of last 12 games after 0-5 start in Big 12; they're 5-4 on Big 12 road, 6-3 as Big 12 dog and own 81-68 win over Tech in Ames. Red Raiders lost four of last seven games, covered one of last eight but they won first game in this event last three years.
Kansas State won four of last five games, but last time they beat Jayhawks, Reagan was President; their only loss in last five games was 72-65 at Lawrence, after a 9-pt loss in first meeting. Kansas lost four of its last six games (0-6 vs spread) and Lankford has gimpy ankle.
Colorado lost six of last seven games (2-5 vs spread); they're 5-12 in league, 5-4 as road dog, as four of their last six losses are by nine or more points- they lost by 18 to Cowboys, 104-86 in their game this year. OSU lost three of last four games, covered two of last seven.
SEC tournament
Last five Ole Miss games were decided by six or less points- they're 4-5 as a SEC road underdog, but lost twice to Alabama this year, 66-58 at home Jan 22, and 71-45 at Bama Feb 12. Tide is 9-2 as SEC fave' they won three of last four games. Rebels' win yesterday is just their third in last thirteen games.
Mississippi State beat Florida 71-57 in Starkville as a 1.5-pt fave Feb 1; Bulldogs won four of last five games but covered just two of last eight away from home. The Gators beat Kentucky Sunday, their fourth win in row and six of last seven games. Gators won at least one game in six of last seven SEC tournaments.
Tennessee is 5-1 vs spread last six games, 7-1 as road dog in SEC play; they lost twice vs Kentucky this year, 84-62 at home, 73-61 on Senior Night in Rupp. Vols are 8-4 overall as SEC dog. Kentucky is 4-2 in last six games after 10-0 start; they're 6-2 (5-3 vs spread) in its first game of the SEC tourney the last eight years.
Auburn lost five of last seven games, but pulled upset over Vandy last night; six of their last seven losses are by 12+ points. LSU covered last eight games and is 13-3 vs spread in league play- they beat Auburn twice this season, 90-69 at home, 77-64 on the plains.
Atlantic 12 tournament
St Joe's won seven of last eight games (6-2 vs spread); they're 9-3 as A-12 fave, and beat Xavier 67-59 as a 2-pt home favorite Jan 29. Host Musketeers won eight of last ten games; they beat St Joe's in this event last year, giving Hawks their first loss of season.
George Washington went to Temple and routed Owls, as 4-pt dog 74-58 on Feb 5; 11 of 12 GW wins in its league are by nine or more pts. Temple won five of last seven games; they're 12-0 in A-12 if they score 59 or more pts, 0-5 if they don't. GW is 7-2 on road in A12 games, 6-3 vs spread last nine games overall.
Big East tournament
Mountaineers won eight of last ten games, covered six of last seven but got drilled 84-46 in Big East opener at Villanova Jan 5. Villanova won last seven games, with six of the seven by 6+ pts. Villanova is 6-3 on Big East road, 8-5 as league favorite.
UConn won last ten games, covering eight of last nine; they're 11-4 as Big East fave, beating Syracuse twice, 74-66 in dome, 88-70 at home, when they exploded inb second half. Syracuse is 5-5 last ten games; they're 4-10 vs spread in their last fourteen games. UConn is 6-1 in its second Big East tourney game, last 7 years.
Conference USA tournament
Louisville won seven in row and 16 of last 17, but they covered three of last ten games. UAB won its last five games, with four of the five by five or less pts; they're 6-3 in road league games, 3-0 as C-USA dog. Blazers lost 77-73 at home to Louisville as 7-pt dog Feb 5.
Memphis is so erratic, its hard to handicap any of their games; they're 7-3 at home in league, but 2-4 in last six games overall. South Florida upset Houston, Cincinnati last two night; how much is left in their tank? Bulls are 8-3 vs spread last 11 games; they lost 73-67 at home to Memphis in pick 'em game Jan 19.
MAC tournament
Buffalo won seven of last eight games and covered 11 of last 15; they're 13-7 in league, Western Michigan is 12-7. Western Michigan split its last 14 MAC games after 5-0 start; they split pair of games vs Bulls, as the visitor won both games. Bulls are 7-2 vs spread in Big East road games.
Miami, Ohio split pair of close home wins, with Miami winning 59-57, then losing 61-57 in Athens. Bobcats won four of last five games, are 5-5 on MAC road, as Red Hawks are 4-6 away from home, and just 2-3 in last five overall. Lot of parity in MAC this season.
Mountain West tournament
Utah is 14-1 in Mountain West, but covered just two of eight league games; they won both games vs UNLV, 70-52 at home, 57-53 on Strip. Utes 5-2 as road fave. Rebels won last five road games, covered seven of last eight overall, and five of last seven as as underdog.
New Mexico won ten of last 11 games and seven in a row, all by 11+ pts- they drilled San Diego State twice 88-71 in Pit, 78-61 at Cox Arena. Aztecs ended skid at six games last night; they're 5-3 as MWC road dog; their last three losses are all by 12+ points.
WAC tournament
UTEP won last six games by average of 11 pts; they're 6-3 vs the spread last nine games; Rice also won their last six games, and have two senior stars- with Nevada losing last night, winner of this game will be heavy fave to win conference tourney in neutral game Saturday.
Fresno lost five of last eight games and covered three of last 13, but they rallied for OT win last night, before Boise upset host Nevada. Boise is 5-3 in its last eight games, 5-1 vs spread in last six; teams split home court wins this year, with Fresno winning by 7, Boise by 14.
Pac-10 tournament
Arizona won nine of last ten games, covered last six in a row; they swept Beavers this year, 92-83, 91-70; as Cats are only team to beat OSU in Corvallis. Arizona is 12-6 as Pac-10 favorite, 6-3 on road; they covered 10 of last 14. Eight of ten OSU losses are by 8+ pts.
Washington won five of last six games- 10 of their 15 Pac-10 wins are by nine or more pts. Stanford won a tough game vs Wazoo late last night; they lost 76-73 in Seattle Jan 2, then whacked Huskies 77-67 six days ago on Farm. Huskies also had tough win last night, as they blew 15-pt halftime lead, then beat Arizona State.
Big West tournament
Utah State is 13-5 in Big West; all 13 wins are by 10+ pts, with last 11 wins by 16+; they split with Fullerton, losing 64-60 there, winning 84-60 at home. Titans won 11 of last 13 games (10-3 vs spread); they're 7-1 in its last eight tries as Big West dog. Aggies didn't play last night, while Fullerton had relatively easy win vs UCSB
Pacific is 18-0 in Big West, 4-3-1 as road fave, 9-7-1 overall in league; they won last 22 games overall, and swept Northridge, 75-61 at home (trailed by one at the half), 66-62 at CSUN. Matadors covered five of last six games; they're 3-2 as Big West underdog this year.
Today's Tips:
NC State, +5-- Wolfpack lost 55-53 to Wake five nights ago, when Paul hit game-winning shot after his sucker punch on Hodge earlier in game was unnoticed by officials. Wake then suspended Paul for this game, so Pack gets its revenge here, as senior Hodge should have big game for NC State squad that has won five of its last seven games. 30 sendeks on NC State, +5.
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