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College Basketball

Monday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
ESPN’s Big Monday in college basketball kicks things off with a in-state ACC rivalry between No. 4 Virginia and No. 22 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The backend of this doubleheader is a Big 12 battle between Kansas State and the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown.

As a bonus matchup on Monday night in the Big Ten, Illinois will be on the road in Madison to face the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers.

No. 4 Virginia Cavaliers at No. 22 Virginia Tech Hokies (ESPN, 7:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Virginia -5, Total 122

Betting Matchup

The Cavaliers had their hands full against Notre Dame on Saturday in a tight 60-54 win at home as heavy 16 ½-point favorites. They improved to 10-2 straight-up in ACC play with both losses coming against Duke.

Virginia slipped to 1-4 against the spread in its last five games with the total staying UNDER in four of those contests. With the exception of those two losses to the Blue Devils, the Cavaliers’ defense has not allowed more than 65 points in any of its other 10 conference games.

Virginia Tech came up well short in its first game against its bitter in-state rival on Jan. 15 in a 81-59 road loss to Virginia as a 7 ½-point underdog. It has been an up and down ride ever since with a SU 6-3 record over its last nine games while going just 4-8-1 ATS in 13 ACC matchups.

The total went OVER 130 points in Saturday’s 70-64 win against Pittsburgh as six-point road favorites. It has gone OVER in four of the Hokies’ last six games. They are only allowing an average of 61.1 points per game.

Betting Trends

-- The Cavaliers have gone 8-1 ATS in nine road games this season and the total has stayed UNDER in three of their last five games played on the road.

-- The Hokies are 13-1 SU at home this season with an 8-6 record ATS. The total has gone OVER in eight of those 14 home games.

-- Virginia as a SU 7-3 record against the Hokies in the last 10 meetings, but Virginia Tech has the slight 6-4 edge ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in six of those 10 games.

No. 18 Kansas State Wildcats at West Virginia Mountaineers (ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Kansas State -8, Total 132

Betting Matchup

Kansas State is still holding down the top spot in the Big 12 by a half game at 9-3 SU, but it is coming off a 78-64 loss to Iowa State on Saturday as a 2 ½-point home favorite. This was just its second loss in its last 11 games both SU and ATS. The total went OVER 131 points in Saturday’s setback and it has gone OVER in the Wildcats’ last five outings.

They are 19-6 SU overall with a 14-11 record ATS. This includes a 5-8 record ATS on their home court. Senior forward Dean Wade left the game against Iowa State with a foot injury. He is the team’s second-leading scorer (13.6 PPG) and its leading rebounder with 6.6 a game.

West Virginia remains tied for last in the conference standings at 2-10. This includes a 71-69 road loss to Kansas State on Jan. 9 as a four-point underdog. More recently, the Mountaineers were hammered by Kansas 78-53 as heavy 14 ½-point road underdogs.

The total stayed UNDER 144 ½-points in Saturday’s loss and it has stayed UNDER in four of their last six games. West Virginia is 1-6 both SU and ATS in its last seven games. It has failed to score at least 70 points in seven of its last nine contests.

Betting Trends

-- The Wildcats are 6-3 ATS on the road this season and the total has gone OVER in six of those nine games.

-- The Mountaineers have failed to cover in three of their last five games at home with the total going OVER in three of those five contests.

-- West Virginia has won eight of the last nine meetings SU before this year’s road loss to Kansas State. The Mountaineers have covered the closing number in six of its last 10 games against the Wildcats.

Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers (FOX Sports 1, 8:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Wisconsin -11 ½, Total 135

Betting Matchup

Illinois extended its current SU winning streak to four games with Thursday’s 63-56 road win against Ohio State as an eight-point underdogs. It has been able to cover the closing number in four of its last six games with the total going OVER or ending as a PUSH in four of those contests.

The Fighting Illini are 10-15 SU overall with a 6-8 record in the Big Ten. They have gone 2-6 SU and 5-3 ATS on the road this season.

The Badgers are coming off back-to-back losses (SU and ATS) to Michigan on the road and Michigan State at home to fall to 9-5 SU in conference play. They are 17-8 SU overall with a 14-11 record ATS. The total stayed UNDER 131 ½ points in Tuesday’s 67-59 loss to the Spartans and it has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in 10 of Wisconsin’s last 11 games.

It also stayed UNDER 137 ½ points in the Badgers’ 72-60 road win against Illinois on Jan. 23 as 4 ½-point favorites. With 20 points against Michigan State, senior forward Ethan Happ has now scored at least 18 points in three of his last four starts.

Betting Trends

-- The Fighting Illini have covered in four of their last five games closing as underdogs. The total has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in five of their last eight road games.

-- The Badgers are 10-3 SU at home this season and they have covered in three of their last four games in Madison. The total stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in each of their last four home games.

-- Wisconsin has dominated this series over the past 10 meetings at a perfect 10-0 SU while covering in nine of those matchups. The total went OVER in six of the 10 games

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