Tag: ncaa basketball

Utah State at St. Mary’s odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Utah State Aggies at St. Mary’s Gaels sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The Utah State Aggies (7-0) head to Moraga, Calif. to tangle with the St. Mary’s Gaels (5-1) at McKeon Pavilion at 11:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Utah State-St. Mary’s odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Utah State at St. Mary’s: Three things you need to know

1. Utah State G Sam Merrill has been filling up the stat sheet this season, racking up 16.6 points per game while shooting a robust 51.1% from behind the 3-point line this season.

2. St. Mary’s has posted a 172-22 record at McKeon Pavilion across the past 11 seasons, but they already have a loss there this season. The Gaels fell to unranked Winthrop by a 61-59 count back on Nov. 11 as 19.5-point favorites.

3. These teams met on a neutral-site court on Nov. 19, 2018, and it was Utah State embarrassing St. Mary’s by an 80-63 score. Merrill posted 23 points with eight assists and four rebounds.

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Utah State at St. Mary’s: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:55 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Utah State 73, St. Mary’s 68

Moneyline (ML)

UTAH STATE (+145) is a strong value on the road against unranked St. Mary’s (-176). The Aggies are off to a 7-0 start, while the Gaels had a near-miss at Wisconsin and the Winthrop setback. They’re a good team, but USU is just playing better.

Against the Spread (ATS)

UTAH STATE (+3.5, -110) won against LSU and North Texas to win a tournament in the Bahamas, and it’s a respectable 4-2 against the spread across the past six games. The LSU win was by two points, while the Aggies’ other six games have all been decided by eight or more points.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 134.5 (-115) is the way to go in this solid matchup. While SMC plays a deliberate style, Utah State will be off and running. I expect both teams to be at or around 70 points, with the total going Over in the final couple of minutes with frequent fouls and free throws helping the total inch over.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Michigan coach Juwan Howard impressed fans with this selfless act during game

Juwan Howard showed off his leadership skills in a cool way during win.

Former Michigan great Juwan Howard was always seen as a leader during his playing days with the Wolverines and then throughout his lengthy NBA career.

And it looks like those skills are going to help him be successful in his first year as head coach of the Wolverines. Michigan moved to 5-0 with a big win over Iowa State in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas on Wednesday. The victory sets up a date with No. 6 North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day.

Howard’s leadership was on full display when he went out of his way to help wipe some sweat off the court.

He grabbed a towel and got down on his hands and knees, which is something you don’t normally see a coach do:

Twitter loved it:

 

No. 1 Duke lost to Stephen F. Austin on a wild walk-off layup at the buzzer and fans were in awe

Stephen F. Austin with a walk-off at Duke.

No. 1 Duke suffered its first loss of the season in stunning fashion Tuesday as the Blue Devils lost an overtime stunner at the buzzer to Stephen F. Austin, 85-83, in an absolutely wild ending at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Stephen F. Austin was able to secure a loose ball under Duke’s basket and then senior forward Nathan Bain drove the ball the length of the floor and banked in a layup just as the buzzer sounded.

It’s easily the biggest win the history of Stephen F. Austin. The team never backed down from Duke down the stretch of regulation and throughout overtime before this layup won it:

WOW.

Fans couldn’t believe it:

Bill Walton has been on absolute fire at the Maui Invitational

Bill Walton is having some fun in Maui.

It’s only November but Bill Walton is already in midseason form at the Maui Invitational.

The Hall of Famer is calling the games with his usual ESPN partner, a very patient Dave Pasch, and of course he has been going off on some wild tangents while sitting courtside in Maui.

Walton, who continues to travel the world to see his favorite band, The Grateful Dead, perform, has long done things in his own, unique way. He seems to be very high on life and enjoying calling the great game of basketball, a game that he has loved since he was just a little kid.

I know there are a lot of fans who can get annoyed with Walton’s tangents during games but come on, it’s November and he’s in Maui living the dream. Let the man have some fun.

It was great when he shared his plans for after the Michigan State-Georgia game:

He gave some lessons on ants after finding out Georgia’s Anthony Edwards goes by the nickname “Ant Man”:

He had this incredible breakdown of Kansas. Stick around for when he asks Pasch “what’s your name again?”:

He also had this wild chat with Pasch about Disney CEO Bog Iger and direct deposits:

This bit about the last name Nixon was pretty good:

And there was this during the UCLA-Chaminade game:

He had this keen observation regarding SportsCenter:

And he found out how extended families work:

Never change, Bill Walton.

 

Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Michigan State Spartans sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (5-0) lock horns with the Michigan State Spartans (3-1) at the Lahaina Civic Center in Hawaii at 5:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Virginia Tech-Michigan State odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State: Three things you need to know

1. Michigan State PG Cassius Winston has been everything as advertised this season, averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 assists per game.

2. Virginia Tech SG/SF Landers Nolley II leads the Hokies with 20.2 points per game, including a 30-point outburst in the Nov. 5 opener at Clemson. Four of the team’s top five scorers are freshmen for head coach Mike Young.

3. These teams last met Nov. 22, 2013, with Sparty coming away with a 96-77 victory.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Virginia Tech vs. Michigan State: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Michigan State 78, Virginia Tech 62

Moneyline (ML)

Michigan State is a -588 favorite. This number is far too chalky with a $10 bet returning a profit of just $1.70. Save your money for the spread.

Against the Spread (ATS)

MICHIGAN STATE (-9.5, -110) is the more battle-tested team, already having faced the likes of Kentucky, Duke and Seton Hall. The Spartans won’t be fazed by Virginia Tech (+9.5, -110), a team with much less experience.

The Hokies have played only one notable team thus far, the opener at Clemson. This will be a tremendous measuring stick game, but we’ll find out how far they are from being a contender.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 132.5 (-115) is the play, although hopefully, Michigan State finds the iron at Lahaina much more kind than on the mainland. Sparty ranks 280th in the nation during the early going in 3-point shooting, hitting just 29.5% from behind the arc. On the flip side, Virginia Tech ranks 11th from 3-point range, and it’s fifth by 3-point defense.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Duke-California odds: Blue Devils big favorites at MSG

Previewing Thursday’s Duke Blue Devils vs. California Golden Bears sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball matchup analysis

The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (4-0) and California Bears (4-0) hook up in the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. We analyze the Duke-California odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Duke vs. California: Three things you need to know

1. The Blue Devils are back at Madison Square Garden for the second time already this season, as they topped Kansas 68-66 Nov. 5 to win outright as a 2.5-point underdog.

2. Duke has posted a 3-1 ATS mark, but it failed to cover last time out against Georgia State in a 74-63 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium Nov. 15.

3. Cal is also 3-1 ATS in its four outings, and it also failed to cover last time out, narrowly escaping defeat as 15-point favorites against Prairie View A&M, 54-50.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Duke vs. California: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 88, California 66

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline listed at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

DUKE (-19.5, -110) is much deeper than California (+19.5, -110) as it has four players averaging double-digit points. G Tre Jones leads the way with 17.0 PPG and 5.8 APG, while C Vernon Carey Jr. has posted 14.8 PPG, newcomer G Cassius Stanley has 13.0 PPG and 1.8 SPG and F Matthew Hurt has racked up 10.8 PPG.

Cal has G Matt Bradley going for 20.0 PPG, but then it is a steep drop-off after that, with just two others in double-digits – and just barely. Bradley has averaged 3.0 turnovers per game, too, and that’s an area Cal has had some trouble. The Bears have 59 turnovers to 46 assists, including a negative ratio for Bradley. That might fly against the Prairie Views of the world, but not against Duke.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER (136.5, –106) is the play of the night in this one, even though the under is 5-2 in Duke’s past seven neutral-site games and 5-1 in Cal’s past six neutral-site battles. The Blue Devils are rolling up 84.0 PPG in four contests, while Cal is averaging 75.5 PPG in its four games. This won should be well in excess of the total.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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BAMA BEAT: Alabama-Furman basketball game recap (Ep. 270)

Cecil Hurt and Hunter Johnson break down the Alabama basketball team’s second win of the 2019 season, which came against Furman.

Cecil Hurt and Clint Lamb, through TideSports.com and The Tuscaloosa News, produce a podcast called “The ‘Bama Beat”, which features all the latest news and analysis surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In this episode, Hurt and Hunter Johnson break down the Alabama basketball team as they got their second win of the 2019 season on Tuesday night against Furman.

The two also discuss the Crimson Tide’s recent pickup with four-star power forward Keon Ambrose-Hylton.

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Vermont-Virginia odds: Defending champs get big test

Previewing Tuesday’s Vermont Catamounts at Virginia Cavaliers sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball matchup analysis.

The Vermont Catamounts (4-0) provide a big test for the Virginia Cavaliers (3-0) at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Vermont-Virginia odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Vermont at Virginia: Three things you need to know

1. Vermont senior big man Anthony Lamb sunk St. John’s in New York last time out, hitting a game-winning shot in the dying seconds. Overall he is averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds to lead the Catamounts.

2. Vermont is averaging just 64.8 points per game on offense while allowing 59.2 points per game defensively. As such, the Under is a perfect 4-0 to date.

3. Virginia has picked up three wins, covering twice, and the Under has connected in all three of its outings so far, too.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Vermont at Virginia: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Virginia 63, Vermont 54

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline listed at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

VERMONT (+14.5, +100) is battled tested, having recorded strong wins over St. John’s, as well as fellow mid-major powerhouses Bucknell and St. Bonaventure in their cribs already this season. The Catamounts won’t be intimidated playing at JPJ.

Virginia (-14.5, -120) has the big man Mamadi Diakite, and he is likely to neutralize Lamb somewhat. If he has his hands full, the Catamounts could make the Cavaliers work pretty hard. I expect this game to be decided in single digits.

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS. The total (113.5) is going to be super close to the number one way or the other in a defensive slog. It’s my personal rule of thumb that I try not to bet totals lower than 130 in college hoops. This is the equivalent to a 37- or 38-point number in college football. It’s just too low.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Georgia basketball signs four 2020 recruits for incoming class

The Georgia basketball team signed four 2020 recruits for its incoming class this week

The Georgia men’s basketball program recently signed four 2020 prospects, after starting the season at 2-0.

Coach Crean and the Bulldogs host Georgia Tech on Wednesday at Stegeman Coliseum, but have already inked four of their targeted recruits for next year’s team.

Mikal Starks, Jonathan Ned, Josh Taylor and KD Johnson signed with Georgia and will look to set the tone for the 2020 class, after one of the best finishes in school history in 2019.

Starks, a junior college three-star, is a native of Cocoa, Florida. The 6’0″, 180-pound point guard will bring added depth an already guard-heavy Georgia roster, which is expected to lose at least Crump and Edwards after this season.

Ned, a 6’9″, 200-pound teammate of Starks’ at Eastern Florida State, is also a three-star looking to reshape the Bulldog basketball program.

Meanwhile, Taylor is a four-star power forward out of Norcross, who signed with the Bulldogs over in-state rival Georgia Tech, Houston, LSU and more.

And last but not least, Johnson is a 6’1″, 170-pound point guard who chose Georgia over Auburn, Mississippi State and the Yellow Jackets from North Avenue. The Chatham, Virginia native comes in as a three-star, ranked No. 23 in the nation at his position.

Watch: Notre Dame Basketball Wins Fourth Straight

But with Mooney and Carmody out, Rex Pflueger took over, leading the Irish to a 63-53 victory while scoring a season-high 13 points.

Reigning ACC Player of the Week and double-double machine, John Mooney was a scratch Monday night at Purcell Pavilion when Notre Dame played host to Presbyterian.

Take out Robby Carmody who remains in concussion protocol and the lack of depth becomes visible to even the most-blind of eyes.

But with Mooney and Carmody out, Rex Pflueger took over, leading the Irish to a 63-53 victory while scoring a season-high 13 points.

Juwan Durham played the role of Mooney, pulling down 15 boards while scoring 11 himself.

Highlights:

The now 4-1 Fighting Irish have now taken four-straight contests after falling in their season-opener at top-10 North Carolina.

They try and make it five-straight Thursday when the Irish welcome a Toledo team to town that Mike Brey claims could win the MAC this season.

Catch that game Thursday on ACC Network.