College Basketball Handicapping Articles

2015 West Coast Conference Tournament Expert Picks and WCC Betting Odds
by Robert Ferringo - 3/2/2015

“He’s cut! The Russian’s cut!” The famous line from Rocky IV was apropos for West Coast Conference basketball after BYU’s somewhat shocking upset over Gonzaga last Saturday. The Bulldogs had been 17-0 in league play this year and had won 41 straight home game. They had long ago clinched their third straight regular-season conference title and looked unbeatable by any team in this league. But the Cougars’ upset dealt a significant blown to Gonzaga’s air of invincibility heading into March and the WCC Tournament.

2015 Horizon Conference Tournament Expert Picks and Betting Odds
by Robert Ferringo - 3/2/2015

Unleash The Madness. The Horizon League Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 3, and is one of the first conference tournaments to begin play this month. Like the remaining conference tournaments, the Horizon plays a one-and-done, winner-take-all tournament with the league’s one and only bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Tuesday
by Alan Matthews - 3/2/2015

It's time for your updated Sportsbook.ag odds on whether Kentucky will run the table through the NCAA Tournament. An impressive win Saturday over ranked Arkansas has “yes” that UK will finish with a zero in the loss column at +150. “No” is -185. Tuesday is a big night because it's Kentucky's final true road game of the season as the Cats visit a good Georgia team. I'd argue this will be UK's toughest game until probably the Sweet 16. Here's a look at that matchup and two others that caught my eye.

Arizona Wildcats Odds to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament with Picks and Predictions
by George Monroy - 3/2/2015

The Arizona Wildcats seem to have found their stride after slow start to the college basketball season and are now in a position to win the Pac-12 title and grab a No. 1 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats suddenly jumped near the top of the national title odds picture after a surprising loss by Wisconsin and a few lackluster performances from the other top schools in the nation.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Sunday
by Alan Matthews - 2/28/2015

Can you believe that this Sunday is the second-to-last one of college basketball's regular season? I certainly can't. Only two weeks until Selection Sunday. With Wisconsin's loss earlier this week to Maryland, I think the Badgers' chances of getting a No. 1 seed are all but gone -- barring a collapse down the stretch by Virginia, Duke or Gonzaga. Kentucky will be a No. 1 no matter what. The Badgers can wrap up the Big Ten regular-season title Sunday as they try to avoid their first losing streak of the season. Here's a look at that matchup and two others that caught my eye.

College Basketball Odds and Analysis: Saturday Preview
by Robert Ferringo - 2/27/2015

March is right around the corner, boys and girls, so buckle up and get ready for a 31-day thrill ride that will serve as the final chapter for another college basketball campaign. But before we get to March, February has one more trick up its sleeve: the biggest regular-season college basketball day of the season tips off on Saturday, Feb. 28 and this month has saved its best for last.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Saturday
by Alan Matthews - 2/27/2015

There were dozens of nice matchups to choose from on a huge Saturday of college basketball action. But as usual I will look at Kentucky's march to history as the Cats face a ranked team for the first time since winning at Louisville in their nonconference finale. UK's unbeaten odds have taken a slight shift since their win Tuesday. The Wildcats are now +180 at Sportsbook.ag to run the table all the way through the Big Dance and -225 not to. Here's a look at that game and two other Top-10 teams potentially on upset alert Saturday.

Wisconsin Badgers Odds to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament with Picks and Predictions
by George Monroy - 2/26/2015

The Wisconsin Badgers recently stumbled against No. 14 Maryland and suffered their third loss of the season. The blemish could drop the squad in the AP rankings, where it was sitting in the fifth spot, but might not sway the oddsamakers as Wisconsin was already receiving the second-best championship odds in the nation.

Duke Blue Devils Odds to Win the 2015 NCAA Tournament with Picks and Predictions
by George Monroy - 2/26/2015

Jahlil Okafor, the Duke Blue Devil freshman, has been nothing short of dominant this year, even though a recent ankle injury will limit him during the final weeks of the season. Duke is in position to grab a No. 1 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament but still must face North Carolina to end the regular season and may still have to play No. 2 Virginia in the ACC tournament. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, however, believes that the squad can win a national title no matter what position they end up in once the tournament begins.

College Basketball Betting: Weekly Big East Handicapping Report
by Dave Schwab - 2/25/2015

As the month of February comes to a close, the No. 6 Villanova Wildcats continue to build their case for one of the top seeds in next month’s NCAA Tournament with a current nine-game winning streak. Bettors who have gotten on this money train over the past five weeks have cleaned up behind a perfect 9-0 record against the spread as well. Both No. 23 Butler and No. 25 Providence continue to cling to a spot in the current national rankings, but keep an eye on the surging Georgetown Hoyas to possibly make their way into next Monday’s updated AP Top 25.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Thursday
by Alan Matthews - 2/25/2015

Only four ranked teams in action on Thursday, and all four should have little trouble winning, although I suppose Memphis could knock off visiting No. 21 SMU. Thus, I'm taking a look at three unranked NCAA Tournament bubble teams on Thursday's schedule. All three are at home against teams they should beat -- and they will need to with the regular season coming to a close a week from Sunday. Neither Temple nor Purdue nor Stanford is winning its conference tournament, so only an at-large bid will get them in. Here's a look.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Wednesday
by Alan Matthews - 2/24/2015

I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that I will include Kentucky in this space anytime the Wildcats take the court because they are far and away the most interesting story of the 2014-15 season. And on your updated Kentucky unbeaten odds (through NCAA Tournament) at Sportsbook.ag, that UK does it is down to +200 and not is -250. UK shouldn't have much trouble on Wednesday at struggling Mississippi State, but it might be a bit of a trap. Here's a look at that matchup and two others that caught my eye.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Tuesday
by Alan Matthews - 2/23/2015

Did you realize that Notre Dame has never won the NCAA Tournament? I would have thought maybe one of those Digger Phelps clubs had. In fact, the Irish haven't even made the Final Four since 1978, the club's only trip to the national semifinals. That was so long ago that there was still a third-place game then -- Notre Dame lost it to Arkansas. This year's Irish are off to their best 28-game start since the 1973-74 squad was 25-3. Yet they are +6000 long shots to win it all on Sportsbook.ag. Here's a look at their game and two others that caught my eye on Tuesday.

College Basketball Betting: Weekly Schedule Spot Fade Picks
by Aaron Smith - 2/23/2015

It's time for the 11th edition of the schedule spot fade plays weekly article in college basketball. Yet another bad week last week for the fade plays. Idaho State was a winner for those who took it at +13 on BetOnline's opening lines, but the Bookmaker opening line was +11, and that is how we are grading these plays. Cal Poly was a solid winner. UNC Wilmington fell apart in the second half. Maryland won but failed to cover the number. Butler was in a good spot, but they were freight trained by an impressive Xavier team on Saturday.

NCAA Basketball Handicapping: Wisconsin Badgers a Serious Title Contender?
by Trevor Whenham - 2/22/2015

The NCAA Tournament this year is shaping up in the eyes of many as a coronation for the ridiculously-loaded Kentucky Wildcats. Being contrary by nature, I am on the ongoing search for teams that legitimately have a chance to knock off John Calipari’s squad. The problem is that there just aren’t many out there. Duke gets the most attention. In many ways, though, Wisconsin and their older, experienced roster may have the best chance of anyone.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Sunday
by Alan Matthews - 2/21/2015

Many believe the Big Ten is rather down this season outside of Wisconsin, yet the conference could lead the nation potentially with eight bids to the NCAA Tournament. Part of that number might depend on what happens in Sunday's matchup between bubble teams Michigan State and Illinois. The Illini are 12-1 at home, their best start there under Coach John Groce. Illinois is attempting a home-and-home sweep of the Spartans for the first time since 2006.

College Basketball Odds for Saturday with Preview and Analysis
by Robert Ferringo - 2/20/2015

Who is mailing it in and who is making a move? That’s one of the important questions to focus on over the final two weeks of the college basketball regular season. Some teams are honing in on a postseason run, whether it be their conference championships or an invitational tournament. Other teams can’t wait for this long, cold, disappointing season to be over, and they show no signs of coming together to make some noise in March.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Saturday
by Alan Matthews - 2/20/2015

Top-ranked Kentucky isn't the only team that can go unbeaten in conference play this season. If No. 3 Gonzaga wins at Saint Mary's on Saturday night, then the Zags should run the table in the West Coast Conference, including the conference tournament. That should be enough for the top seed in the West Region considering Gonzaga's only loss was in overtime at Arizona. Currently the Zags are the fifth-favorites at Sportsbook.ag to win the national title at +1400. Here's a look at their game and two others that caught my eye on Saturday.

NCAA Basketball Betting 3-Point Play: Three Interesting Opening Lines Thursday
by Alan Matthews - 2/18/2015

I'm taking a look at three games involving NCAA Tournament bubble teams on Thursday's schedule. I use ESPN's Bracketology for my guide not because I'm an ESPN homer -- honestly the network irritates me at times -- but because Joe Lunardi is usually dead on with his projections. He currently has Purdue among the "First Four Out." Here's a look at the Boilers' big game against rival Indiana and two others that caught my eye.

College Basketball Betting: Weekly Big East Handicapping Report
by Dave Schwab - 2/18/2015

The No. 6 Villanova Wildcats have been the team to beat in the Big East all season long, and they took a huge step towards locking up the regular season title with last Saturday’s 68-65 victory against Butler as two-point road favorites. This completed the season sweep of the Bulldogs while opening up a two-game lead in the standings with the tiebreaker in hand. Butler remains the only other nationally-ranked team in this conference coming in at No. 19 in the AP’s latest Top 25.