Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Saturday 11/9/19
Saturday’s college basketball
Charleston won its opener 74-55 over SC-Upstate despite making only 3-18 on arc; Cougars have won 75 games the last three years- they lose three starters from LY’s 24-9 team that went 12-6 in CAA, shooting 56.3% inside arc, #9 in country.Georgia State won 68 games the last three years but has a new coach (former Siena coach Lanier); they lose their top four scorers from LY’s 24-10 team that lost to Houston in first round of NCAA’s. CAA teams are 7-3 SU in last ten games vs Sun Belt teams (5-4 ATS when favored).
Nebraska has only one player who was on the team LY; they’re in a total rebuild in Hoiberg’s first year as coach. Cornhuskers lost their home opener 66-47 to Cal-Riverside, going 6-26 on arc (UCR was 12-25). 7 of 11 guys Nebraska played were frosh/sophs. Southern Utah has four starters back from LY’s 17-17 team that went 9-11 in Big Sky; they’re hoping for a top 5 finish in Big Sky this year. Big 14 teams are 8-3-1 ATS in their last dozen games vs Big Sky opponents.
Kansas State pulled away from North Dakota State 67-54 in its opener, after trailing 22-21 at half; Wildcats start two juniors, two seniors. UNLV played only seven guys more than 3:00 in their 86-71 opening win over Fort Wayne; Rebels won’t be able to run as much as they want to until they improve their depth, but they do start three juniors, two seniors. Big X teams are 9-6 ATS in their last 15 games vs Mountain West opponents.
South Alabama is only team in country with five returning players who’ve averaged 10+ ppg for their career. USA starts five seniors and another one comes off bench; they split their last four games with Southern Miss, losing 71-67 LY in Hattiesburg, despite making 14-28 on arc. USM lost four starters and its coach after LY’s 20-13 team lost in the CBI first round. Sun Belt teams are 17-8 ATS in their last 25 games against Conference USA opponents.
Northern Iowa beat Old Dominion 58-53 in their home opener despite making only 6-31 on arc; UNI starts two juniors, two seniors, has four starters back from LY’s 16-18 team that went 9-9 in MVC. Panthers are only 46-50 last three years. Northern Illinois has senior PG who averaged 20+ ppg the last two years, one of only four returning players in country who can say that. NIU has 3 starters back from LY. MAC teams are 17-13 ATS in their last 30 games vs Valley teams.
Oklahoma has no seniors, starts two frosh and a soph; they beat UTSA 85-67 in their opener after being tied at half. Sooners has only four players back from LY, but three of them were starters- three guys transferred out of Norman, which indicates bad chemistry LY. Minnesota was 13-29 on arc in its opener, an easy win over a stiff; Gophers start three sophs. Last four years, Big X teams are 25-18 ATS when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Iowa State scored 110 points in its opener, making 13-35 on arc; Cyclones start two sophs, two seniors after losing three starters from LY’s 23-12 team that lost to Ohio State by 3 in first round of NCAA’s. Oregon State starts three juniors, two seniors; they beat Cal-Northridge 87-67 in their opener, going 22-31 on foul line. Two of their starters are sons of the team’s coaches. Last four years, Big X teams are 18-17 ATS when playing a Pac-12 opponent.
Purdue shot 59.5% inside arc in its 79-57 win over Green Bay in their opener; Boilers lost three starters from LY’s 26-10 team- with Edwards gone, they’’ll have to replace a lot of shots. Purdue shot 37.4% on arc LY (#44 in country). Texas made 11-25 on arc in its 72-68 win over Purdue LY; Longhorns have no seniors in their rotation this year, starting three juniors and a freshman. Last four years, Big X teams are 25-18 ATS when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Cal-Irvine won its opener by 3 at San Diego after trailing by 15 in 2nd half; Anteaters start four seniors who won 70 games the last three years- they were #44 team in experience LY. Anteaters held opponents to 40.9% inside arc LY, #1 in country- they had #5 defensive efficiency in country. Pepperdine lost its opener 87-71 at Cal after leading by a hoop at the half; Waves start three juniors and a senior; Cal scored 1.29 ppp against Pepperdine, shooting 60% inside arc.
BYU lost 90-81 at San Diego State LY when Aztecs made 12-26 on arc. Cougars have new coach after Rose had 14 consecutive winning seasons but won less than 20 games LY for first time. BYU won its opener 76-58 over Fullerton, making 11-24 on arc; Cougars start three seniors, but are missing big man Childs for first eight games this season. San Diego State made only 12-26 foul shots in winning its opener by 35; they start two juniors, two seniors.
Maryland won its opener 95-71 ver Holy Cross despite making only 5-27 on arc; Terrapins have four starters back from LY’s young (experience team #349) that lost four of its last six games- they started four sophs in the Holy Cross win. Rhode Island has all five starters back from LY’s 19-15 team that went 9-9 in A-14. Despite that, URI still has only two seniors. Big 14 teams are 14-5-1 ATS in their last 20 games against A-14 opponents.
Long Beach State lost its opener by 4 at UCLA Tuesday, making 8-16 n foul line in game they led by 5 with 5:04 left; 49ers lost three starters from LY’s disappointing 15-19 team that went 8-8 in a sluggish Big West. Long Beach is starting three sophs, two juniors this year. San Diego lost its opener by 3 at home to Irvine, blowing a 15-point 2nd half lead; Toreros lost four starters from LY’s 21-15 team that lost to Memphis in a first round NIT game.
Oregon has rebuilt its team again after LY’s 25-13 team sprinted into the Sweet 16 on a 10-game win streak before losing by 4 to Virginia. Ducks have lost three starters from LY; they’re starting three seniors, but brought in seven new players, and figure to be way more cohesive in February than they are now. Boise State had its first losing season in seven years LY; Broncos have three starters back from LY, when teams shot 52% inside the arc against Boise (#257).