Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Monday 11/19/18
Destin, FL tourney
South Dakota State won its first two D-I games by 5-17 points, then lost at Florida Gulf Cozst by 8; Jackrabbits start a frosh, soph and three seniors- 6-9 Daum is best player in Summit League. State is shooting 38.6% on arc, but is in bottom 10 in country at forcing turnovers. Tulane lost by 11 at Florida State, beat Coastal Carolina by 5; Green Wave starts two frosh and a soph- they are #322 experience team in country. Summit favorites are 2-2 this month; AAC underdogs are 7-4.
Cayman Islands tourney
Georgia beat couple of stiffs, lost by 4 at Temple to open Crean era; Dawgs start three sophs, turned ball 20 times (-9) in Temple game- they’ve turned ball over 22.5% of time. Georgia’s bench is playing most minutes of any bench in country. Illinois State won two of first three games, losing 100-89 at Belmont; Redbirds start four seniors, are #30 experience team in country. ISU’s best win is over Florida Gulf Coast by 8. SEC favorites are 3-2 away from home; MVC underdogs are 4-8.
St Bonaventure allowed 80-88 points in upset losses to Bucknell/Niagara; their only win is over a stiff by 31. Bonnies start two frosh; their only senior is a sub- they’re #328 experience team that is shooting 28.1% on arc. Georgia State is in Caymans; they lost at Montana ten days ago, so they get around; start two juniors, two seniors, are #57 experience team is shooting only 41% inside arc, 57.6% on foul line. Panthers beat ETSU by 6, Mercer by a hoop. Sun Belt favorites are 6-4 vs spread; A-14 underdogs are 4-5 away from home.
Virgin Islands tourney
Kansas State is 4-0, with only top 200 victim #130 Penn; K-State played three starters 34:00+ in yesterday’s win over the Quakers. Wildcats start three seniors, two juniors- they’re #29 experience team that is jumping way up in class here. K-State beat Missouri 66-42 in last meeting, three years ago. Mizzou has a new coach, more talent than back then; Tigers start two frosh, a soph and two seniors- they played only two guy score than 27:00 in 69-63 win over OSU. Big X favorites are 8-12 vs spread; SEC underdogs are 4-5.
Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas
Iona plays seven juniors, two frosh, one senior- he starts; Gaels lost 90-83 at New Mexico Tuesday, now they’re in Vegas- they forced 22-20 turnovers in splitting first two games. One of Iona’s starters got tossed off team after slugging an assistant coach. Long Beach is 0-3 vs D-I teams because they play buy games to pay their coach’s inflated $alary; 49ers start a junior and three seniors- they’re #22 experience team. Beach’s bench plays 7th-most minutes in nation. MAAC favorites are 1-1 this month; Big West underdogs are 8-8 away from home.
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Utah State is 4-0 vs schedule #324 (three stiffs); Aggies have new coach, are playing lot of guys (#16 in bench minutes)- they’re starting two frosh and a soph. USU has held teams to 33.8% inside arc (#3). St Mary’s is 3-0 vs weak part of their schedule (#263); Gaels are experience team #287- they made 43.5% of their 3’s , and they have a 73-58 win in tough New Mexico State arena. WCC favorites are 5-0 vs spread away from home; Mountain West underdogs are 4-4. Both of these teams visit Las Vegas every year, so no big deal there.
Arizona State is off to a 3-0 start, beating two stiffs and Cal-State Fullerton in double OT (#308 schedule); ASU is #291 experience team that starts three sophs and a frosh. Mississippi State is also 3-0, vs schedule #297 (three stiffs); Bulldogs have forced turnovers 27.3% of time (#7)- they start two sophs, two seniors, but are #15 in minutes continuity in country. MSU is making only 27.8% of its 3-pointers this season. SEC favorites are 3-2 away from home; Pac-12 underdogs are 1-3.
Barclays Center, Brooklyn
VCU is 3-0 with best win over #165 Bowling Green; Rams are forcing turnovers 28.9% of time (#2 in country), but against schedule #298. VCU is shooting just 27.8% on arc, turning ball over 22.7% of time- they start two sophs, three juniors, are #227 experience team. Temple started out out 4-0 in Dunphy’s last season with win over Georgia; Owls are #38 in minutes continuity- they’re forcing turnovers 24.2% of time. Temple starts starts two sophs, two seniors. A-14 underdogs are 4-5 away from home; AAC favorites are 9-10.
Sprint Center, Kansas City
USC is off to a 2-1 start, beating two stiffs, losing by 4 to Vandy at home. Trojans start three juniors and a senior- they’re #185 experience team that is playing pace #58. USC’s eFG% defense is #9 in country early this season. Texas Tech is 3-0 vs 2nd-easiest schedule in country so far; Red Raiders start three seniors but are #268 in minutes continuity, which is why they’ve scheduled easy to this point. Tech games have been played at pace #311. Big X favorites are 8-12 vs spread; Pac-12 underdogs are 1-3.
Maui Classic
Last three years, underdogs are 6-3 vs spread in first round of Maui Classic
Auburn won its first two D-I games by 43-22 points; their 88-66 win over Washington is their best win of season. Tigers are #38 experience team that forced turnovers 28% of time so far, but they’ve only played two D-I games. Auburn starts three juniors, one senior. Xavier has new coach, is off to 2-1 start, losing last game 77-68 at home to Wisconsin. Xavier’s last two foes shot 26-49 behind arc against them. Musketeers start two sophs, two seniors, have protected ball well so far. SEC favorites are 3-2 away from home; Big East underdogs are 2-5.
Duke has been in Maui Classic five times and won tourney all five times. Duke beat Kentucky by 34 in their opener and some have already crowned them 2019 champs; Blue Devils are #340 in experience, starting four freshmen- their only two seniors are stiffs. San Diego State is #237 experience team that played two stiffs (#344 schedule) to open season; this is a huge step up in competition for them. Aztecs lost by 19 to Duke in 2nd round of NCAA’s four years ago. ACC favorites are 6-3 away from home; Mountain West underdogs are 4-4.
Arizona beat three stiffs (schedule #342) to open its season; Wildcats are #221 experience team that won all three of its games by 21+ points, but this is big step up in competition. Arizona is starting two seniors and a junior transfer. Iowa State is off to a 3-0 start with a 76-59 win over Missouri; Cyclones are #274 experience team (#326 in MC); they start two frosh, two seniors- their bench hasn’t played much, which could be problem here, playing three games in three days. Big X teams are 1-6 vs spread away from home; Pac-12 teams are 4-5.
Gonzaga is 3-0, beating two stiffs and Texas A&M by 23; Zags are #159 experience team that better not look ahead to Arizona/Duke next two days. Gonzaga is missing a starter with an injury; they’re starting two sophs, two juniors. Illinois lost its last game when its PG (7 assists in first game) got a concussion during a gameday walk-thru; I’m assuming he plays here. Illini is #310 experience team, starting two forth and a soph. WCC favorites are 5-0 vs spread away from home; Big 14 underdogs are 4-1.
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