College Hoops Monday Night Betting Preview
by Charles Jay
Big Favorites Face Tough Task Covering Spreads on Monday Night
A few big time teams are playing tonight and all of them face huge college basketball betting spreads.
That’s to be expected as teams won’t be in the middle of competitive games until later this week when the Big Ten and ACC face off in the Big Ten/ACC challenge.
The NCAAB betting odds on those games should be easier to deal with, but in the mean time bettors will need to stick with betting some big time favorites or underdogs on Monday night.
Let’s take a look at three interesting Monday night games.
Miami of Ohio Red Hawks vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Tip-off: 7:00 pm EST
Betting Line: Kentucky -19
Analysis: Kentucky is loaded, of course, but in their first game of the season against Morehead State the Wildcats failed to cover a 20 ½ point spread when winning 75 to 59. The Wildcats have a ton of talent and Coach John Calipari will make it work eventually but will they do enough to cover a 19 point spread against a somewhat tough Miami of Ohio team?
Actually, yes. Even though the Red Hawks only lost by 11 points to the Kentucky in 2006 the last time these two teams faced each other, that was 2006 and this is 2009. This Miami of Ohio team lost to Towson 82 to 71 in their last game.
Miami of Ohio has no shot against Kentucky and should get routed tonight.
Pick: Kentucky at -19
Pennsylvania Quakers vs. Villanova Wildcats
Tip-off: 7:00 pm EST
Betting Line: Villanova -23 ½
Analysis: The Wildcats from the Big East, Villanova, beat the hell out of Frederickson in their first game of the season 84 to 61. The odds makers didn’t feel it was necessary to create a wagering line for that game.
They believe it is necessary in this game, but Penn isn’t the worst team in the world. The Quakers did lose by 25 points to the underrated Penn State Nittany Lions in their first game of the season, but he jury is still out on how good Villanova is this year. ‘Nova could certainly win this game by a ton of points, but they’re a Big East team and Big East teams like to take their time putting up points.
The Wildcats should score less than 70 again which means that covering a 23 ½ point spread isn’t going to be all that easy.
Pick: Pennsylvania at +23 ½
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Duke Blue Devils
Tip-off: 4:00 pm EST
Betting Line: Duke -28
Analysis: The Blue Devils beat North Carolina Greensboro 96 to 62 as a 31 point favorite in their first game of the season. Four of Duke’s five starters scored in double figures in that game.
Coast Carolina beat Charleston 70 to 59 in their first game of the season. Duke is favored by a lot of points in this game and should win easily, but Coastal Carolina has a pretty good front line player in Joseph Harris who put up 20 points and 17 rebounds in that victory over Charleston. The Chanticleers could keep this game within the number.
Pick: Coastal Carolina at +28
