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College Basketball

Monday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
It does not get much bigger than this for ESPN’s Big Monday double-header of betting action in college basketball.

The early game pits two of the top teams in the ACC against one another with Duke going on the road to face Miami. Later in the Big 12, Kansas will square off against West Virginia in Morgantown.

No. 7 Duke at No. 18 Miami, FL. (ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Duke -3, 154.5

Betting Matchup

Duke should remain secure in the top 10 of the national rankings this week following routine romps over Pittsburgh on the road last Wednesday and Wake Forest at home on Saturday both straight-up and against the spread as a heavy double-digit favorite on the closing betting line. The total stayed UNDER in both of those wins and it has stayed UNDER in three of the Blue Devils’ last three games. They are currently 15-2 SU on the year with a 10-6 record ATS, including a 2-3 start ATS in ACC play.

Freshman forward Marvin Bagley III continues to tear things up for Duke with 30 points or more in three of his last four starts. He is averaging a team-high 22.5 points per game while also leading the way in rebounds with 11.7. The Blue Devils have five players scoring at least 12 PPG as part of a 93.2-point scoring average that is ranked second in the nation. They are also ranked second in both assists (19.9) and rebounds (44.1) per game.

The Hurricanes come into Monday night’s showdown at 13-3 SU and 8-6 ATS after dropping two of their last three games both ways. They are just 2-4 ATS in their last six games with the total going OVER in three of their last five outings. Saturday’s 72-63 loss to Clemson as 5 ½-point road underdogs went OVER the 133-point closing line. Miami returns home on Monday night with an even 2-2 record ATS in four previous home games this season.

Guards’ Lonnie Walker and Anthony Lawrence each scored 16 points against Clemson with freshman Chris Lykes adding 13 points off the bench, but Miami could never overcome a four-point deficit at the half. The Hurricanes are way down the list in Division I when it comes to scoring with 73.1 PPG, but they remain one of the top defensive teams in the nation with a points-allowed average of 60.7.

Betting Trends

-- The Blue Devils are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 road games, but they fall to 7-16-1 ATS in their last 24 Monday games. The total has gone OVER in six of their last seven games on the road.

-- The Hurricanes have gone 8-20-1 ATS in their last 29 games following a SU loss and they are 2-6 ATS in their last eight home games against a team with a SU winning record on the road. The total has stayed UNDER in eight of their last 10 ACC games.

-- Head-to-head in this ACC tilt, the underdog has been able to cover or force a PUSH in 11 of the last 15 meetings. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five meetings.

No. 12 Kansas at No. 2 West Virginia (ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: West Virginia -4.5, 158

Betting Matchup

Following a loss to Texas Tech to start the New Year, Kansas has won its last three Big 12 games SU including a tight 73-72 victory against in-state rival Kansas State on Saturday as a 12 ½-point home favorite. The Jayhawks also failed to cover in a five-point victory at home against Iowa State as 16-point favorites as part of a sketchy 4-6 record ATS over their last 10 games. The total stayed UNDER 150 points against Kansas State after going OVER in their previous four games.

While Kansas has not been blowing the doors off the lesser competition it has faced so far in conference play, it remains one of the most potent scoring teams in the nation with an average of 85.8 PPG. Senior guard Devonte’ Graham scored 23 points in Saturday’s win and his 18.4-point scoring average is the highest among five Jayhawks with 10 or more points a night.

The Mountaineers’ run to the top of the national rankings has been put on hold following Saturday’s 72-71 loss to No. 8 Texas Tech as 4 ½-point road underdogs. It was their first loss in Big 12 play following four SU wins as part of an overall record of 15-2. After covering in that loss, West Virginia is an even 7-7 ATS with the total staying UNDER in its last four outings. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of 16 games this year.

Senior guard Jevon Carter led all scorers in Saturday’s loss with 28 points while going 5-for-9 from three-point range. The Mountaineers’ leading scorer (16.8 PPG) has been inconsistent in conference play with a combined 11 points in recent victories against Kansas State and Baylor. West Virginia, as a team, is averaging 82.1 PPG and shooting 43 percent from the field.

Betting Trends

-- The Jayhawks have covered in seven of their last eight road games and they are 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games played on Monday. The total has gone OVER in six of their last seven Big 12 games.

-- The Mountaineers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven Monday games and they are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a SU winning record. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven home games.

-- The home team in this Big 12 battle is 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five meetings in West Virginia.

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