Monday's Tip Sheet
March 1, 2015
It is the month of March and Big Monday on ESPN takes on a whole new meaning for a couple of nationally ranked teams looking to finish-up their last few regular season games on a strong note. First in the ACC, No. 2 Virginia will look to lock-up the regular season conference title when it goes on the road to face Syracuse. Later in a huge showdown in the Big 12, No. 16 Oklahoma with battle it out against No. 12 Iowa State to keep its title hopes alive.
No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers at Syracuse Orange (ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Virginia -6
Virginia continues to roll its way through the ACC with a straight-up 15-1 record in conference play, but it is just 2-7-1 against the spread in its last 10 outings. The Cavaliers hammered Virginia Tech 69-57 this past Saturday, but they could not cover as 19 ½-point home favorites. The total went OVER the closing 116 ½-point line in that game after staying UNDER in five of their previous six contests. The loss of junior guard Justin Anderson has taken a chunk out of Virginia’s offense, which has averaged just 60.5 points per game in its last six outings, but the Cavaliers have dialed-up an already stingy defense by holding teams to 48 PPG during this same stretch.
The Orange have alternated SU wins and losses in their last eight games while going 3-5 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last six games. This past Saturday, Syracuse lost to Duke 73-54 as a 12-point road underdog to fall to 9-7 SU in the ACC with a 4-11-1 record ATS. Sophomore Tyler Roberson led the way in a losing effort against the Blue Devils with 16 points, but senior forward Rakeem Christmas continues to lead the Orange with 17.8 PPG while pulling down 9.2 rebounds a game. Syracuse is averaging 68.7 PPG and it is giving-up an average of 63.3 points on the other end of the court.
Betting Trends
-- The Cavaliers are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 road games, but they are just 2-7 ATS in their last nine games following a SU win. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last six games on the road.
-- The Orange are 7-19-2 ATS in their last 28 conference games and they are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games against a team with a SU winning record. The total has stayed UNDER in 19 of their last 28 home games against a team with a SU winning record on the road.
-- Syracuse is 2-1 SU in three previous meetings, but Virginia holds a 2-1 edge ATS by covering in the last two matchups. The total has stayed UNDER in two of the three games.
No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones (ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET)
Opening Odds: Iowa State -4
Oklahoma is now just one game in back of Kansas in the Big 12 standings after going 8-1 SU in its last nine contests, but ATS it has failed to cover in its last four contests. This past Saturday, the Sooners beat TCU 67-60 as 11 ½-point home favorites. The total stayed UNDER the closing 135 ½-point line against the Horned Frogs and it has now stayed UNDER in seven of their last 10 games. Junior guard Buddy Hield continues to light things up with 21 points in Saturday’s win and on the year he is averaging a team-high 17 PPG. Oklahoma is averaging 72.4 PPG and it is shooting 44.6 percent from the field.
The Cyclones have stumbled down the stretch with back-to-back losses (SU and ATS) to Baylor and Kansas State as favorites in both contests. They are now an even 4-4 SU and ATS in their last eight outings and the total has stayed UNDER in three of their last five games. Iowa State is ranked 11th in the nation in scoring with 79.1 PPG and it is shooting an effective 48.2 percent from the field. Junior forward Georges Niang has been a force this season with 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists a game. All told, the Cyclones boast five different players scoring in double figures.
Betting Trends
-- The Sooners have failed to cover in five of their last seven road games, but they are 5-1 ATS in their last six games played on a Monday. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five games on the road.
-- The Cyclones are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a SU loss; however they have covered in five of their last seven home games against a team with a SU losing record on the road. The total has gone OVER in 10 of their last 14 games against a team with a SU winning record overall.
-- The favorite in this matchup has gone 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings and the total has gone OVER in five of the last six games played at Iowa State. Oklahoma won the first meeting this season with a 94-83 victory as a 5 ½-point home favorite. The total went OVER the closing 149 ½-point line in that game.