Top 25 Betting Recap

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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.

Oklahoma (12-2 SU, 12-1-1 ATS) continues to roll right along, posting covers in nine consecutive contests. The only time they failed to cover was a 20-point paddling from Wisconsin (11-4 SU, 8-7 ATS) on a neutral-site court back on Nov. 22 as 5 1/2-point underdogs. In addition, the 'under' has connected in five of the past six games for the Sooners. As far as the Badgers, it's been all downhill since that victory against OU, as they're just 6-4 SU and 4-6 ATS over the past 10 outings.

 The news out of Kansas (12-2 SU, 6-8 ATS) over the weekend wasn't good. They'll be without center Udoka Azubuike after an MRI revealed torn ligaments in his right hand during an injury in practice Friday. As a result, the Jayhawks got worked over at Iowa State (12-2 SU, 8-4-2 ATS), a team almost certain to join the Top 25 in the upcoming week. The Cyclones have won five in a row and they have covered three straight, and they should have some staying power with their next game against a ranked opponent on Jan. 16 at Texas Tech (13-1 SU, 5-9 ATS).

Speaking of the Red Raiders, they have won three in a row since a neutral-site setback against Duke (12-1 SU, 9-4 ATS) on Dec. 20. However, Texas Tech has failed to cover four in a row and seven of the past eight outings. The 'under' is also 3-1 in the past four, and 5-2 across the past seven outings.

As far as the Blue Devils, they did nothing to hurt their No. 1 ranking in a holiday break week on campus. They pushed aside Clemson (10-4 SU, 4-10 ATS) by 19 points for their fourth consecutive cover. It was a rare 'over' result in the 87-68 victory, as the 'under' was 5-0-1 in the past six games entering play, and 9-2-1 in the past 12 contests.

Perhaps I am just old, but how interesting is it that Houston (15-0 SU, 10-4-1 ATS) and N.C. State (13-1 SU, 11-3 ATS) are ranked right next to each other at No. 18 and 19? Seeing those two teams doing well reminds me of Dereck Whittenberg, Hakeem Olajuwon and Jim Valvano, as these schools met for the 1983 national title. The Wolfpack have won seven in a row since a four-point loss at Wisconsin on Nov. 27, and they have covered seven of their past eight. It appears to be clear sailing for the Cougs, as they have won all 15 games they've played while covering eight of the past 10. UH doesn't have a game on the remaining schedule against an opponent currently ranked inside the Top 25.

TOP 25 RESULTS
Rank Team Past Week (SU, ATS) Last 10 ATS Upcoming Week Schedule
1 Duke 1-0, 1-0 7-3 at Wake Forest, at Florida State
2 Michigan 2-0, 2-0 4-6 at Illinois, Northwestern
3 Tennessee 1-0, 1-0 5-4-1 at Missouri, at Florida
4 Virginia 2-0, 2-0 8-2 at Boston College, at Clemson
5 Kansas  1-1, 0-2 4-6 TCU, at Baylor
6 Nevada 1-1, 1-1 5-4-1 San Jose State, at Fresno State
7 Gonzaga 2-0, 2-0 7-3 Pacific, at San Francisco
8 Michigan State 2-0, 2-0 8-2 Purdue, at Penn State
9 Florida State 1-1, 0-2 2-7-1 Miami (Fla.), Duke
10 Virginia Tech 2-0, 1-1 6-4 at Georgia Tech
11 Texas Tech 2-0, 0-2 3-7 Oklahoma, at Texas
12 Auburn 1-0, 1-0 4-5-1 at Mississippi, Georgia
13 Kentucky 0-1, 0-1 5-5 Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
14 Ohio State 1-1, 0-2 4-6 at Rutgers, at Iowa
15 North Carolina 2-0, 2-0 5-4-1 at N.C. State, Louisville
16 Marquette 1-1, 1-1 7-3 at Creighton, Seton Hall
17 Mississippi State 1-0, 1-0 5-5 at South Carolina, Mississippi
18 N.C. State 2-0, 2-0 8-2 North Carolina, Pittsburgh
19 Houston 2-0, 2-0 8-2 at Temple, Wichita State
20 Buffalo 2-0, 2-0 7-2-1 Toledo, Miami (Ohio)
21 Indiana 1-1, 0-2 4-6 at Maryland, Nebraska
22 Wisconsin 1-1, 1-1 4-6 Purdue
23 Oklahoma 1-1, 2-0 9-1 at Texas Tech, TCU
24 Nebraska 0-2, 1-1 6-3-1 Penn State
25 Iowa 1-1, 1-1 4-6 at Northwestern, Ohio State