Betting news, trends, odds and predictions for from various handicappers and websites for Wednesday 3/11/20
NCAA Basketball Wednesday's Betting Preview and Odds for ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten Matchups
David Schwab
Play in the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten conference tournaments highlight this Wednesday night’s NCAAB betting board with a trio of early round matchups.
Starting in the ACC, the Boston College Eagles face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Next up in the Big 12, the Iowa State Cyclones take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Rounding out Wednesday night’s betting action in the Big Ten, the Nebraska Cornhuskers square-off against the Indiana Hoosiers.
ACC Tournament Round Two Matchup
Boston College Eagles vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
TV-Time: ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Greensboro Coliseum
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Opening Odds: Notre Dame -9.5, Total 140.5
Betting Matchup
Boston College earned an opening round bye at 7-13 straight-up in ACC play. The No. 10 seed comes into this game with a SU five-game losing streak while going 1-4 against the spread. The total has also gone 'over' in four of the five losses. The Eagles are 13-18 SU overall with a 14-17 record ATS.
One of those recent losses came against the Irish on Feb. 26 in a tight 62-61 loss as 5 ½-point home favorites. They beat Notre Dame 73-72 as 12 ½-point road underdogs in early ACC play.
The Irish earned the No. 7 seed with an even 10-10 SU record in ACC play. They went 4-2 SU over their last six games with a 2-5 record ATS in the last seven contests. The total stayed 'under' in three of their final four regular season games.
Notre Dame (19-12 SU, 17-14 ATS) got a big effort from TJ Gibbs in the season finale against Virginia Tech with 22 points. The Irish are averaging 74.1 points per game this season.
Betting Trends
-- The Eagles are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games played in March. The total has gone 'over' in four of their last five Wednesday games.
-- The Irish have an 11-9 record ATS this season closing as favorites. The total has gone 'over' in 10 of their last 15 games overall.
-- Notre Dame is 9-1 SU in the last 10 games in this series with Boston College holding a slight 6-4 edge ATS. The Irish have covered in three of the last four meetings with the total going 'over' in four of the last six games between the two.
Big 12 Tournament Round One Matchup
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
TV-Time: ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Sprint Center
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Opening Odds: Oklahoma State -5, Total 142.5
Betting Matchup
Iowa State opens the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 9 seed in a 10-team field. It won just five of 13 conference games straight-up as part of a 12-19 record on the year. After beating Oklahoma State 89-82 on Jan. 21 as six-point home favorites, the Cyclones were on the wrong side of a 73-61 road loss as 7 ½-point underdogs in the rematch on Feb. 29.
This was part of a 1-5 SU slide to close out the regular season while going 1-4-1 against the spread. The total has gone 'over' in six of their last eight games.
Oklahoma State is listed as a favorite against Iowa State in the Big 12 tourney.
Oklahoma State is listed as a favorite against Iowa State in the Big 12 tourney. (AP)
The seventh-seeded Cowboys (17-14 SU, 14-17 ATS) closed things out with a trio of SU wins to improve to 7-11 in Big 12 play. They did post six SU victories in their last eight games while going 5-3 ATS to finish strong. The total went also went 'over' in five of the eight games.
Guard Thomas Dziagwa and senior forward Cameron McGriff each scored 19 points in a season-ending 81-59 romp over Texas. McGriff led the Cowboys in scoring this season with 12.2 points a game.
Betting Trends
-- The Cyclones have a 3-8-1 record ATS in their last 12 games and they are 2-14-1 ATS this season closing as underdogs.
-- The Cowboys covered in two of three neutral-site games this season and they have a 5-1 record ATS in their last six games in March.
-- Iowa State has the 7-3 SU edge in its last 10 games against Oklahoma State and it has gone 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings. The total has stayed 'under' in four of the last five games between the two.
Big 10 Tournament Round One Matchup
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
TV-Time: Big Ten Network, 8:25 p.m. ET
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Opening Odds: Indiana -13.5, Total 144
Betting Matchup
With just two SU wins in 18 conference games, the Cornhuskers are the 14th and final seed for the Big Ten Tournament. They dropped the two-game season series to Indiana straight-up, but they did cover in a mid-December 96-90 loss as heavy 17 ½-point road underdogs. Both games went 'over' the total. Nebraska’s (7-24 SU, 13-18 ATS) last SU win was against Iowa on Jan. 7. It has failed to cover in nine of its last 11 games with the total going 'over' in four of the last seven games.
The Cornhuskers recently suspended guards’ Dachon Burke and Cam Mac indefinitely. Burke shows up as 'out' for Wednesday’s game.
A late-season slide sent Indiana spiraling down the standings to 9-11 SU in conference play and 19-12 overall. Saturday’s 60-56 loss to Wisconsin as 2 ½-point home favorites was the Hoosiers’ eighth SU loss in their last 12 games. They went 5-9 ATS during the same span with the total staying 'under' or ending as a 'push' in five of their final six regular season games.
Indiana has failed to reach the 70-point mark in six of its last seven contests. It is now averaging 70.9 points a game overall.
Betting Trends
-- The Cornhuskers are 0-5 ATS in their last five March games and the total has stayed UNDER in four of their last six games played on a Wednesday.
-- The Hoosiers have gone 11-10 ATS when closing as favorites this season and the total has stayed UNDER in 13 of their last 20 games overall.
-- Even with the earlier loss, Nebraska has won three of the last five meetings SU with a 4-1 record ATS. The total went OVER in three of those five games.
NCAAB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Wednesday, March 11
ACC tournament, Greensboro
Clemson lost three of its last four games, finished 9-11 in ACC; they get 36.7% of their points on arc (#44), but are making only 31.5% of their 3’s (#265). Tigers are young (experience team #243). Miami lost three of last four games; their last two wins were in OT; ‘canes are outside top 200 in eFG%, on both offense/defense. Miami won by 5 in OT at Clemson New Year’s Eve, after trailing by 10 with 8:48 left; ‘canes won seven of last ten series games. Clemson is 3-8 in last eight ACC tourneys; Miami went WL in this event five of last six years.
Pitt snapped seven-game skid with win over Wake Forest Tuesday; four guys played 34:00+. Five of their last seven losses were by 10+ points. Panthers shoot 29.8% on arc (#323), have #337 eFG% in country. Pitt went WL in this event three of last four years; NC State beat Pitt 77-73 at home Feb 29, after trailing by 7 with 10:10 left. Wolfpack won last nine series games, with last five wins all by 6 or fewer points. State is 3-4 in last seven games overall; they’re 3-5 in last five ACC tourneys, but they won first tourney game six of last eight years.
North Carolina had stress-free win last nite; Tar Heels won four of its last five games overall after starting out 3-13 in ACC- they’ve got #300 eFG%. UNC made 11-26 on arc, won 92-79 at Carrier Dome Feb 29; Tar Heels won last eight games with Syracuse, beating Orange by 19 in ACC tourney two years ago. Syracuse won three of last five games, was 10-10 in ACC; opponents are getting 39.7% of their points on arc (#8). Tar Heels are 12-4 in last six ACC tourneys; since joining ACC, Syracuse is 3-5 in conference tourney.
Notre Dame/Boston College split pair of one-point decisions this year, with road team winning both games. Irish are 13-1 vs BC in ACC meetings; Eagles blew a 10-point lead in game they lost to ND two weeks ago. Irish won four of last six games, went 10-10 in ACC; they get 39.2% of their points on arc (#17). BC lost its last five games, four of them by 14+ points; Eagles can’t shoot (#303 eFG%), don’t defend well (#229 eFG%). Boston College is 4-8 in its last eight ACC tourneys; ND is 9-4 the last five years, winning first game all five years.
Pac-12 tourney, Las Vegas (T-Mobile Arena)
Oregon State was disappointing 7-11 in Pac-12, despite being continuity team #24; they split last ten games, have #97 eFG%, but make only 32.3% of their 3’s (#220). Beavers play a slow (#300) pace. Utah lost five of its last seven games; they were 7-11 in Pac-12, 7-2 at home, 0-9 on road- their last road win was a neutral court win over Kentucky Dec 18, on this floor. OSU/Utah split home wins this season; they split last 12 meetings. Utah lost in first round last three years, by 3-2-12 points; Beavers are 2-7 in last seven Pac-12 tourneys.
Washington is 0-7 in Pac-12 games decided by 5 or fewer points; once their PG flunked out, they fell apart, but they swept their Arizona road trip LW and looked good. Arizona lost four of last five games; they start three freshmen (experience team #306) and it showed recently- Huskies/Arizona split pair of road wins TY; UW won 69-63 in Tucson five days ago. Washington won four of last seven series games. Arizona lost in first round of LY’s tourney, after going 17-5 in previous eight tourneys, winning three of them; Huskies are 4-8 in last eight tourneys.
Stanford is bubble team, badly needs this win; Cardinal got swept in Oregon LW, but won four of last six overall, wound up 9-9 in Pac-12, are shooting 37.2% on arc (#24). Cal Bears went 7-11 in Pac-12; they’re experience team #230 that is shooting only 45.2% inside arc (#326). Cal is 1-12 away from Berkeley, with lone win at Wazzu. Stanford/California split pair home wins TY; Cardinal is 9-5 in last 14 series games, winning by 18 in last Pac-12 tourney meeting, two years ago.Cal is 5-9 in last nine Pac-12 tourneys; Cardinal is 2-5 in last five tourneys.
Colorado stumbles into Pac-12 tourney on a 4-game skid, but supposedly are still safely in field of 68. Buffaloes are 9-1 in Pac-12 when it allows less than 70 points, 1-7 when they allow 70+. Washington State lost six of its last seven games, was 6-12 in Pac-12- they’ve got #333 eFG% in country, making 45.4% of shots inside arc (#323). Buffs pulled away from WSU 78-56 in only meeting TY on Jan 23; Buffs won 13 of last 17 series games. Colorado won first Pac-12 tourney game the last nine years; Coogs are 0-10 in this event the last decade, losing 84-51 to Oregon LY.
Big East tourney, Madison Square Garden
Georgetown swept St John’s TY, by 1-21 points, but they draw true road game here in tourney opener. Hoyas won five of last seven series games, but lost by 11 to Red Storm in this event two years ago. Hoyas are 0-3 in last three Big East tourneys, losing by 1-11-16 points; St John’s is 6-11 in this event since ’04, going WL the last three years. Georgetown lost its last six games overall, losing last game by point to Villanova. St John’s went 5-13 in Big East after a 11-2 pre-conference slate; they scored 91-88 points, beat Creighton/Marquette in last two home tilts.
Xavier swept DePaul TY, by 8-11 points; Musketeers won 11 of last 12 series games, Xavier won its first conference tourney game 15 of last 17 years; Blue Demons are 1-9 in last nine Big East tourneys, 0-5 in last five. Xavier is squarely on bubble; they’re 3-4 in last seven games, finished 8-10 in Big East, winning four of last six games away from home. Musketeers have #37 eFG% defense but they struggle on offense. DePaul went 3-15 in Big East after a 12-1 pre-conference mark; Blue Demons force turnovers 22.3% of time (#33) but have #256 eFG% in country.
Big 14 tourney, Indianapolis
Minnesota swept Northwestern TY, by 9-26 points; teams split last 16 meetings, with Gophers winning last three. Minnesota lost six of its last eight games, went 8-12 in Big 14; they’ve got #22 eFG% defense. Gophers’ last three losses were by total of eight points. Northwestern went 3-17 in Big 14 but won two of last three games; Wildcats have #291 eFG% in country, shooting 31.3% on arc (#273), 46.9% inside arc (#275). Last nine years, Minnesota is 4-5 in its first Big 14 tourney opener; Wildcats are 5-14 in last 14 tourneys, 4-10 in first round games.
Atlantic 14 tournament, Brooklyn
George Mason went 5-13 in A-14 after an 11-2 pre-conference mark (NC sked #340); Patriots turn ball over 20.2% of time (#263), have #270 eFG%. St Joe’s went 2-16 in A-14 and they were down 21 in one of the wins; Hawks have #309 eFG% offense, #311 eFG% defense. Mason beat St Joe’s 62-55 at home Feb 22, after trailing 17-6 early on; Patriots won five of last six series games, with lone loss in that stretch in A-14 tourney two years ago. Mason won its first A-14 tourney game 10 of last 14 years; Hawks are 12-7 last nine years, winning it twice, but Martelli is gone.
Fordham went 2-16 in A-14 this season, but swept George Washington, winning by 5-11 points; Rams are 9-45 in A-14 last three years- they don’t sweep people much. Fordham has #346 eFG%; they’re 8-22, a bad team. Colonials lost last five games, four of them by 10+ points; they’re experience team #303. Fordham won its last three games with GW, after losing previous nine series games. Fordham lost its first tourney game the last four years, by 15-11-6-2 points; GW won its first tourney game the last six years.