Top 25 Betting Recap

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Each week until March Madness we'll take a look at how the Top 25 fared from college basketball, but straight up and against the number, while also taking a look at their upcoming schedule.

Before we get started, a big thank you for reading all season! Hopefully you have been cashing some winners along the way, and this column has played at least a small part.

Ohio State (24-8 SU, 15-15 ATS) is a difficult team to figure. They have been nearly unstoppable at home, they won many key conference games on the road and they were sailing along as the No. 2 seed entering play in the Big Ten Tournament. However, they met their kryptonite, Penn State (21-13 SU, 17-12-1 ATS) in their opening game of the conference tourney. It turned out to be the only game for the Buckeyes, as they lost 69-68 to the Nittany Lions, falling to 0-3 SU/ATS this season against the boys from Happy Valley. They were 24-5 SU/15-12 ATS against everyone else. It's a good thing these teams won't likely meet again this season barring a Final Four matchup, at least it's good for Ohio State.

Like the Buckeyes, Michigan State (29-4 SU, 15-16-2 ATS) did not come away with the Big Ten title. Sparty was shown the door by rival and eventual champ Michigan (28-7 SU, 22-11-1 ATS), who helped their resume the most in the first Big Ten tournament to be played in New York City. The Wolverines entered last week looking like at a seed anywhere from No. 5 to maybe No. 7 in the NCAA Tournament. Now, they might have risen up as high as the two line, or perhaps they're now sitting as a solid three. Coach Beilein's group toppled Purdue (28-6 SU, 15-17-1 ATS) in the title game for the third consecutive cover, and eighth in the past nine outings. The Wolverines have certainly been a friend at the bettor's window lately.

The Big Ten was the only major conference to have its conference tournament this past weekend, and that's because of a scheduling conflict at Madison Square Garden with the Big East Conference. 

Duke (25-6 SU, 19-10 ATS) and North Carolina (22-9 SU, 16-13-1 ATS) were still hashing things out in the ACC regular season, with the Blue Devils locking up the No. 2 seed in the conference tourney behind No. 1 seed Virginia (28-2 SU, 18-8-1 ATS). The Blue Devils won the second installment of the Battle of the Blues, 74-64, and that set off the annual celebration in the quad with a bonfire in Durham. Don't look now, but Coach K's group has suddenly covered six of their past seven, while also going 6-1 SU during the span. On the flip side, Coach Roy's club is on an extended ugly streak, losing two in a row, while failing to cover three straight, and they're a very ordinary 6-5 SU/5-6 ATS over the past 11, and 10-7 SU/8-8-1 ATS across the past 17.

Rhode Island (23-6 SU, 15-11-1 ATS) picked a poor time for their worst stretch of play this season.  The Rams have dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season, and they're just 1-4 ATS across the past five outings. In fact, the offense is averaging a dismal 59.5 PPG in the two-game losing streak, a far cry from their 76.4 PPG average, which ranks 99th in the nation. URI likely has sunk as low as the five- or six-line with their results lately, but they could climb a bit higher if they are able to secure the A-10 Championship. A poor showing in the conference tourney could have them slipping even further.

Middle Tennessee (24-6 SU, 16-11 ATS) fell out of The Associated Press Top 25 after a loss to Marshall (21-10 SU, 17-11 ATS), a team they certainly do not want to see in the Conference USA Tournament. The Thundering Herd are 2-0 SU/ATS against the Blue Raiders this season. MTSU is looking for a conference three-peat, and they will kick off their tournament Thursday against the winner of the eight-nine matchup between Florida International (14-17 SU, 15-9-1 ATS) and Southern Mississippi (14-17 SU, 13-13 ATS). The Blue Raiders were 1-0 SU/0-1 ATS vs. FIU, a road overtime win Jan. 4, and 2-0 SU/ATS vs. USM during the regular season.

Cincinnati (27-4 SU, 16-11-1 ATS) is playing like a two-seed, and they stuck another feather in their cap with a regular-season finale victory against Wichita State (25-6 SU, 19-10 ATS) on the road Sunday, 62-61. The Bearcats have rattled off four wins in a row, avenging a 76-72 loss at home to the Shockers on Feb. 18. The loss seemed to serve as an alarm clock, and they haven't lost since heading into the AAC Tournament. They're back to playing defense during their winning streak, as the 'under' is 3-1, while going 8-4 across their past 12. The 'under' is also 4-0 in neutral-site games for the Bearcats this season, something to remember as we get into conference tournament play.

Going into conference tourneys, here are some key notable ATS numbers on neutral sites:

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