Bet On College Basketball: Marquette vs Connecticut
UConn is the defending national champion, but the Huskies have been struggling quite a bit of late. Jim Calhoun is still away from the team, and the Huskies seem to be missing a spark.
UConn is the defending national champion, but the Huskies have been struggling quite a bit of late. Jim Calhoun is still away from the team, and the Huskies seem to be missing a spark.
There isn’t the same hatred in this game as there is surrounding the date between these two in November on the football field, but there is plenty on the line in this one.
Michigan State stunned the nation by dominating Ohio State in Columbus this past weekend.
I think many thought Villanova would struggles some this year but not this badly. Don’t let the record fool you, there is talent on this team but it seems like they are able to find ways to lose even though they often go on some serious in game runs.
Missouri has only lost two games all year, but one of those games was to Oklahoma State in Stillwater earlier this year.
North Carolina (21-4) got over their home loss to Duke with an 18-point thrashing against a ranked Virginia team in their last game and now travel to the Sunshine State to face Miami (15-8), who recently had their 5-game winning streak snapped.
Can’t believe Florida (19-6) is only slight favorite in this game against Alabama (16-8), as the Tide will be without their 2 leading scorers and rebounders with JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell both suspended.
Ohio State had its 39-game home winning streak snapped when the Michigan State Spartans came into Columbus and beat them on Saturday.
Kansas (20-5) got over a little rocky patch where they lost 2 of 3 games by winning their last 2 including beating 6th ranked Baylor.
The Syracuse Orange had a pretty good week last week knocking off Georgetown and Connecticut, the latter more easily than expected at home.
The top two teams in the Big Ten will meet Saturday evening in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State had a down year last season, but Tom Izzo’s team is much improved this year.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Michigan State vs. Ohio State
6:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -9.5
Over/Under: 127
Ohio State comes into this one at 21-3 on the year. The Buckeyes are 17-0 at home.
These two are the best rebounding teams in the Big Ten, so expect a physical battle.
This should be a good one!
Last year’s Michigan State team was loaded with talent, but they weren’t terribly coachable and the team chemistry was poor. The Spartans are clearly a more cohesive unit this season. Draymond Green is a great senior leader for this team. Green averages 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Green’s versatility makes him a tough guy to guard. Keith Appling has stepped up and given the team a very good point guard. Appling doesn’t have a great outside shot, but he excels at getting to the rim. Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne are both bruisers down low. Michigan State is first in the league in offensive rebounding.
The Spartans allow just 59.0 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Jared Sullinger is the man in the middle for Ohio State. Sullinger has slimmed down a bit this year, but he is as strong as ever. Sullinger leads the team at 17.4 points and nine rebounds per contest. William Buford has been in a slump this year, but he had a breakout game against Purdue on Tuesday night. Buford carried the team with 29 big points.
This team needs Buford to continue to play with confidence if they are going to make a run to the Final Four. DeShaun Thomas is a guy who can fill it up in a hurry when he gets hot.
Aaron Craft is a very good point guard for this team, and he is on the Bob Cousy Award list as one of the nation’s best at his position. Ohio State shoots 49% from the floor, while they hold opponents to just 39.7%. The Buckeyes allow only 56.6 points per game.
Michigan State will probably stay within the number here.
I expect an Ohio State win, but Tom Izzo’s team should be well-prepared.
Prediction: Ohio State 68 Michigan State 61
Is it possible a team ranked in the top 5 preseason might not even make the tournament?
The Maryland Terrapins hoops program is going through some lean times. It wasn’t that long ago that they were considered the third best program in the conference after Duke and UNC, but now they are closer to the middle of the pack with the Florida schools rising up.
The Big East is once again loaded with quality teams. Louisville and West Virginia are in the middle of the pack, but they are pretty good teams.
The Big Ten has been the nation’s deepest basketball conference so far this year. Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin Badgers are always an extremely tough team to beat because of their style of play.
Kansas (18-5) is looking to avoid losing 2 straight for the first time since 2006 and for that to happen they will need to beat a Baylor (21-2) team that is 11-1 at home this season and has won 4 straight.