Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Sunday 11/11/18
Sunday’s games— Not a lot of info to go on until teams play some games…….
Alabama beat Southern by 20 in its opener, despite turning ball over 20 times (-5). Crimson Tide has three starters back from a 20-16 that lost in 2nd round of NCAA’s. Appalachian State has four starters back from a 15-18 team that broke even (9-9) in Sun Belt LY; they start two juniors, two seniors, are picked to finish in middle of Sun Belt. ASU beat up on a stiff team in their opener. Last 3 years, SEC teams are 17-9 vs spread when playing Sun Belt teams.
Marshall won its opener 105-77 at Eastern Kentucky in a 91-possession track meet; doubtful Hofstra is going to let this game get this fast. Hofstra won its opener 59-41 vs Mt St Mary’s, in a 73-possession game; Pride start two juniors, three seniors- they had only 8 turnovers. Marshall has four starters back from a 25-11 team that won a game in NCAA’s LY; they’re expected to be near the top of C-USA. Hofstra has four starters back from a 19-12 team that ranked #136 nationally in tempo. Last 3+ years, CAA teams are 16-12 vs spread vs C-USA teams.
Central Florida has three starters back from a 19-13 team that went 9-9 in AAC; Knights beat Rider by 14 in their opener, going 25-45 on foul line, 5-22 on arc. UCF starts two juniors, two seniors. Florida Atlantic lost four starters from a 12-19 team; the coach got fired, so this is a total rebuild for the Owls.. FAU started two frosh, two seniors in its opener, an easy win over a stiff; they were only 9-33 on the arc. New coach May was a Florida/La Tech assistant, so he knows C-USA. Last 3+ years, C-USA teams are 11-10 vs spread when playing AAC teams.
Green Bay split its first two games, losing 78-74 at home to Indiana State Friday- they were 7-31 on arc vs ISU. Green Bay likes to play fast; they start four juniors, one senior; nine guys played 17:00+ vs ISU. Phoenix has three new starters but played lot of frosh off bench LW so that should pay off this year. Iowa has 90.3% of its scoring back from LY’s 14-19 team that went 4-14 in Big 14; Hawkeyes were 28-38 on foul line in their 77-63 win over UMKC in their opener. Iowa plays only one senior (he’s a sub); they start three juniors.
Rutgers beat Drexel 87-56 in last meeting two years ago; Scarlet Knights won opener this year 90-55 over FDU, making 12-20 on arc. Rutgers starts two sophs, two juniors; they’ve got there starters back from a 15-19 team that went 3-15 in Big 14- they’re picked near bottom again this year. Drexel lost its opener by 4 at Eastern Michigan; Dragons were 13-34 on arc, 8-23 inside arc vs EMU’s 2-3 zone. Drexel starts two juniors, two seniors; they lost three starters from a 13-20 team that went 6-12 in CAA. Big 14 teams are 4-3-1 vs spread in last eight games vs CAA foes.
Southern Mississippi has four starters back from 16-18 team that went 7-11 in C-USA; Eagles started three seniors, one junior in an opening 111-66 win over a stiff, ad that was with USM making only 10-34 on the arc. SMU was 9-36 on arc in its 69-58 win vs Northwestern State in its opener; Mustangs start two sophs, two seniors. SMU lost three starters from a 17-16 team that faded down stretch LY; they’re picked to finish in middle of AAC pack this year. Last 3+ years, C-USA teams are 11-10 vs spread when playing AAC teams.
Florida State pounded Florida 81-60 in its opener Tuesday; FSU starts three seniors, a junior- they’re a preseason top 20 team that has three starters back from a 23-12 team that broke even (9-9) in ACC LY- they’re picked to finish near top of the ACC. Seminoles beat Tulane 72-53 in LY’s meeting, forcing 19 (+6) Green Wave turnovers. Tulane has three starters back from LY in Year 3 of Mike Dunleavy era, but Melvin Frazier’s jump to the pros hurts this Green Wave team. Last three years, ACC teams are 12-8 vs spread when playing an AAC team.
USC beat Vanderbilt 93-89 in OT in Nashville LY; they were down 10 with 9:37 left, but USC was +10 (16-6) in turnovers and made 12-26 on arc. Trojans won their opener by 21 over Robert Morris, but were down 4 with 12:17 left- they played only one senior, are picked in top-third of Pac-12. Vanderbilt has three starters back from 12-20 team that went 6-12 in SEC; they beat Winthrop by 13 in their opener, a fast, 79-possession game. Commodores are picked to finish in middle of SEC pack. Last 3+ years, Pac-12 teams are 16-6 vs spread when playing SEC teams.
North Texas is already 3-0, beating two stiffs, and then beating Portland 78-73 last nite, when only three UNT guys played more than 27:00. Mean Green starts a freshman, two sophs even though they’ve got all five guys back from LY’s 20-18 team that went 8-10 in C-USA. UNT has four pretty good guards but are thin up front. Hawai’i has three starters back from a 17-13 team that went 8-8 in Big West. Rainbows beat that Portland team by 18 Friday, then beat up on a stiff last night. Hawai’i start two juniors, two seniors- they’re picked in middle of Big West.
East Tennessee State lost its opener 74-68 at Georgia State; they led by 4 with 7:04 left. Bucs then beat up on a stiff Friday; ETSU starts three sophs, two juniors- they were only 4-23 on arc vs Georgia State- they’re picked to finish near top of SoCon. Creighton beat Western Illinois by 11 in its opener; they were only up a hoop at half. Bluejays were 11-23 on arc; they start two sophs, two juniors but were only 9-20 on foul line. Bluejays lost three starters from a 21-12 team that went 10-8 in Big East- they’re picked to finish near bottom of Big East.
Cal-Santa Barbara won its opener at Wyoming, now ventures to North Dakota State; interesting road trip. Gauchos started a frosh, two sophs in Laramie- they were -9 (18-9) in turnovers, but shot 61% inside arc. UCSB made 12-22 on arc in LY’s 85-66 home win over the Bison; Gauchos are picked in middle of Big West pack. ND State lost its opener 73-56 at New Mexico State; they started three juniors, didn’t play any seniors. Bison has eight players back from LY but lost its leading scorer. Last 3+ years, Big West teams are 8-10 vs spread when playing Summit teams.
Ohio State got quality 64-56 win at Cincinnati in its opener; Buckeyes start two sophs, one frosh- they were up 16 and then held on late. OSU lost three starters back from a 25-9 team that won an NCAA tourney game; they’re picked to finish in middle of Big 14 pack. Fort Wayne lost its opener 96-71 at UCLA; Mastodons were 9-37- they start two juniors, two seniors. FW beat up on a D-III game Friday; they’re picked to finish near top of the Summit League. Last 3+ years, Summit League teams are 14-7-1 vs spread when playing Big 14 teams.
TCU won its opener 66-61 over a pretty good Bakersfield team; they trailed by 11 early in 2nd half. Horned Frogs have three starters back from a 21-12 team that made the NCAAs LY; they start two frosh, two seniors, which is odd. Oral Roberts lost its opener 84-50 at Missouri State; Eagles starts three juniors, one senior- they’ve got two starters back from 11-21 team that went 5-9 in Summit League. ORU was 5-28 on arc at Missouri State, then beat up on a stiff team couple days later. Last 3+ years, Big X teams are 11-6 vs spread when playing Summit teams.
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