College Basetball: S. Florida vs. Villanova
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 7:00 ET (Broadcast on ESPNU)
Round One battle in the Big East Conference Tournament
BULLS: South Florida might just be the best team in the nation that has lost 8 of their last 9 SU. Such is life in the Big East Conference, the toughest conference in the nation top to bottom. The Bulls are just 9-22 SU this season, yet are 15-13-1 ATS. South Florida has been a profitable team to wager on this year because they are underrated and have a never say die mentality. South Florida is 1-1 SU and 2-0 ATS in true road games this year against BYU and Texas Tech. Despite going 3-15 SU in conference play, the Bulls were 10-8 ATS. South Florida averages just 61.7 PPG, which places them in the bottom 40 in the country. C Augustus Gilchrist is the only South Florida player averaging double digits in PPG this year, as he's averaging 13.2 PPG. F Ron Anderson is averaging 7.1 PPG and a team high 6.5 RPG this year. The Bulls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss, and 12-4-1 ATS in their last 17 neutral site games as an underdog. The Bulls are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 neutral site games.
Bulls are 8-3 ATS last 11 games following a SU loss; Under is 8-3 last 11 games against the Big East Conference.
South Florida basketball keeps making strides [Florida Sun Sentinel]
WILDCATS: (-10, O/U 127) Villanova has dominated South Florida through the years, and they are hoping that trend continues tonight. The Wildcats have lost their last 4 games SU to end the season. The Wildcats are 21-10 SU and 11-16-1 ATS overall this year. Villanova played UCLA and Tennessee in neutral court situations, as they went 1-1 both SU and ATS. The biggest reason the Wildcats have been losing of late is because their typically prolific offense has gone awry. 4 different Wildcats average double figures in PPG this year, led by G Corey Fisher. Fisher is averaging a team high 15.5 PPG this year. F Antonio Pena is averaging 10 PPG and a team high 7.3 RPG this season. 4 different players started every game for Villanova this year. The Wildcats are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against a team with a winning percentage below .400%. Villanova is 5-17 ATS in their last 22 games following an ATS loss. The Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 neutral site games as the listed favorite. Villanova is 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games following a SU loss. The Wildcats are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as the listed favorite overall.
Wildcats are 1-11 ATS last 12 games overall. Under is 10-4 last 14 games following a SU loss.
Injuries: G Corey Stokes (hamstring) is questionable.
Another preview of the game [Philly.com]
Projected Score: Villanova 64, S. Florida 60
Related Reading: True Big East Conference Tournament Odds [Pregame.com]
Comments . . .
What handicapping factors are most important in this game?