Iowa St. at Kansas (-8) 9:00 ET ESPNU
This is a prime example of a handicapper’s daily conundrum, featuring letdown vs. bounceback. After starting 14-0 SU, the Iowa St. season has plummeted into a 1-3 SU, 0-4 ATS debacle. Behind veteran leadership of PG Kane and the trifectas encouraged by 4th year HC Hoiberg, the Cyclones bounceback. For does the momentum continue for an ever-improving Kansas Jayhawk team, who after a 9-4 SU, 5-8 ATS preseason, has gone a perfect 6-0 SU in the toughest league in the country. That includes a victory already by a count of 77-70 at Hilton Coliseum. Choosing to follow the momentum, with the improved play of PG Tharpe offsetting that of Kane, and the talented front line of Embiid and Wiggins being a major advantage on the interior against Niang and Ejim, who drift to the perimeter. Rock, chalk Jayhawk on an Allen FH, where under 11th year HC Self, they Jayhawks are 28-12 ATS in this price range.
Arizona (-5-) at Stanford 9:00 ET ESPN2
Huge game for Stanford HC Dawkins, whose 4-3 SU ATS league mark (and job) was saved by a 79-71 OT win vs. the lowly Trojan on Sunday. Now, it is obvious that Maples will be rocking as the No. 1 Wildcats come to town. PG Randle is the real deal. As are interior forces Powell and Nastic for the Cardinal. But, that only offsets the Wildcats PG McConnell and Arizona’s own interior forces. The wings and the defense belong to the Wildcats. Johnson, Gordon, Ashley, York and the almost NBA ready Hollis-Jefferson own the wing slots. And, the Wildcats are No. 1 most of all because of a defense that allows just 57/37/29 with a total margin of 16.5 (only Iowa and Pitt are better) in rebound, assists and TOs. But before you take off the rubber band, know this about Arizona HC Miller. His Wildcats are 7-27 ATS (1-3 ATS TY) following a home conference win.
Butler at Seton Hall (-5-) 9:00 ET FS1
The loss of HC Stevens, incapably replaced by 1st year HC Miller, and a gigantic step up from the Horizon to the A10 to the Big East, has left this Bulldog panting. The record in league play is 1-7 SU, 2-6 ATS with 3 home OT losses and a towel tossing defeat at home on Saturday to St. Johns by a score of 69-52. On the highway, they have lost by 11 at Xavier, 28 at Creighton and 9 at Providence for 0-3 SU ATS. Now, they must face a Seton Hall team who since the return of injured stars, Edwin and Teague, has gone 4-0 ATS. With a recent mark of 4-1 ATS as home chalk all wins of 13 or more points, look for the healthier Pirates to continue their ascent against an overmatched visitor.
Arizona St. at California (-6) 11:00 ET ESPNU
Must give respect to the Arizona triplets of PG Carson, scorer Marshall and interior force Bachynski. But, the Sun Devils may be a bit fat after defeating Utah and Colorado at home last weekend. Their last 2 games on the PAC 12 road resulted in losses of 23 at Arizona and 15 at UCLA. Now, they must face a hungry Cal team who entered their weekend in Southern California with a 5-0 SU mark. They left with a flat tire defeat to the Trojans by 8 points and a wipeout at Pauley by 12 points. Expect far better at Haas Pavilion, where they are a perfect 9-0 SU this year and under 6th year HC Montgomery stand 49-33 ATS, including 6-3 ATS this year. Cobbs on the outside and Solomon on the inside, get the job done.