Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Monday 12/31/18
Marshall lost four of its last six games, is 7-5 vs schedule #152- they’re 1-3 vs top 100 teams, with losses by 37-1-24 points and 76-72 home win vs #84 Hofstra. Thundering Herd is experience team #151 that is playing pace #7- they force turnovers 23.9% of time (#18), but their defensive eFG% is #213. Virginia plays slowest tempo in country, is 11-0 vs schedule #270; Cavaliers are experience team #209 that has #7 eFG% defense- teams are shooting only 24.4% on arc against them, worst in country. Virginia held its last four opponents to 52 or fewer points.
Providence is 9-4 vs Creighton in Big East play; teams split last six meetings, trading wins in last two Big East tourneys. Bluejays are 1-4 at Providence, with losses by 13-12-4-14 points. Favorites are 5-2 vs spread in last seven series games. Creighton is 2-3 in its last five games; Bluejays are experience team #293 that is 2-4 vs top 100 teams, with best wins over Clemson/ETSU- they’re shooting 43.1% on arc (#5), have best eFG% (60.9%) in country. Friars won seven of last eight games but hasn’t played in 10 days; they’re 2-1 vs top 100 teams, losing by 19 to Michigan.
Penn beat Monmouth 101-96 in 4 OT’s LY, in epic game where both teams took 50+ FT’s and Penn blew 15-point 2nd half lead (Hawks led by 5 in 4th OT). Quakers got crushed 77-45 at Toledo Saturday, snapping their 5-game win streak; Penn is 9-3 vs schedule #141- they’re experience team #79 that already has wins over Miami, Villanova. Monmouth is 0-12 vs #46 schedule; they’ve scored 60+ points only once in last six games. Hawks are experience team #259 that is shooting 24.5% on arc (#351), turning ball over 22.8% of time (#327).
Montana State/Northern Arizona split their last ten meetings; Bobcats are 2-3 in last five visits to Flagstaff. MSU won three of last four games after an 0-6 start vs D-I teams; Bobcats are #55 experience team that won its Big Sky opener by 30 at So Utah Saturday, making 13-26 on arc in its first win in six true road games. State scored 81+ points in all three of its D-I wins. NAU lost its last eight games, is 2-9 vs schedule #157- Lumberjacks are experience team #322 that is 2-4 vs teams ranked outside top 200- their last win was November 14 at Omaha.
Idaho is 4-2 vs Weber State in Big Sky play, winning all three meetings in Moscow, by 2-4-5 points- home side won five of the six meetings. Wildcats are 5-5 vs schedule #165, winning Big Sky opener by 12 at EWU; Weber is 3-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 8-14-12 points. Idaho lost its last five games, is 1-5 vs schedule #287; Vandals are experience team #341 that forces fewest turnovers in country (12.7% of time). Idaho is 6-34 on arc in its last couple games; they lost conference opener by 17 at home to Idaho State Saturday.
Eastern Washington won 14 of last 16 games with Idaho State, winning last three by 7-12-5 points; Bengals lost 13 of last 14 visits to EWU, winning 75-71 (+10) here three years ago. ISU is 3-5 vs schedule #55; they’re experience team #71 that won its Big Sky opener by 17 at Idaho on Saturday. State is 3-4 in true road games, with wins at Boise State/Santa Clara. EWU is 1-10 vs schedule #20; Eagles lost last seven D-I games, are shooting 29.7% outside arc (#305), 44.4% inside arc (#312). EWU is experience team #238 whose only D-I win was Nov 17.
Northern Colorado won its last three games vs Portland State, by 14-3-7 points; Bears are 3-2 in last five visits here, winning 73-59/85-78 in last two. NCU lost four of last five games, but won Big Sky opener by 5 in Sacramento Saturday; Bears are experience team #262 that doesn’t sub a lot (bench minutes #331)- are 5-1 vs teams ranked outside top 200, with only loss on a neutral floor to SIU-E last week. Portland State lost its last three games, by 19-27-5 points; they haven’t played in 11 days. Vikings are 0-6 vs top 200 teams, are shooting 21.4% on arc, worst in country.
Montana is 10-0 vs Southern Utah last six years, winning all five visits here, by 12-8-17-15-30 points. Grizzlies are 4-0 vs teams ranked outside top 200, winning by 7-27-7-13 points; they’re experience team #13 that is 6-4 vs schedule #70- they’re playing slow (#302) tempo so far this season. SUU lost five of last six D-I games, losing last two games by 42-30 points- they’re #232 experience team that is turning ball over 20.2% of time, shooting only 58.1% on foul line (#349). Thunderbirds have been without UNLV transfer Morgan the last eight games.