Sign In $
College Basketball

Sunday’s Tip Sheet

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Sports bettors will have to wait one more week for Super Bowl LII, but this Sunday’s betting action in college basketball gets a fast start out of the gate.

The No. 1 team in nation aims to stay on top as part of a trio of games featuring a Top 10 program getting tested on the road.

No. 1 Villanova at Marquette (FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Wildcats -8, Total 162

Betting Matchup

The Wildcats are on a three-game roll for bettors with a trio of double-digit covers in their last three outings. The latest win came against Providence 89-69 on Monday as 15 ½-point favorites at home. Villanova is 6-1 straight-up (4-3 against the spread) in Big East play as part of an overall record of 19-1. The total has stayed UNDER in four of its last five games. There are six players averaging at least 10 points as part of the team’s 87.9-point scoring average. However, the Wildcats will be without senior guard Phil Booth (11.6 points) for the near future with an injured hand.

Marquette stumbled against Butler and Xavier on the road as part of a 1-2 record SU and ATS in its last three games. It has already lost to Villanova this season 100-90, but still covered as a heavy 16-point road underdog. The Golden Eagles return home at 9-3 SU this season with a 4-7 record ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in five of their last six home games. Sophomore guard Markus Howard scored 37 points in the first meeting against Villanova and he just posted 33 points in Wednesday’s loss to Xavier.

Betting Trends

-- The Wildcats have failed to cover in five of their last six Sunday games and the total has stayed UNDER in seven of their last 10 games played on this day.

-- The Golden Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last six games coming off a SU loss and the total has stayed UNDER in five of their last seven Sunday games.

-- Head-to-head in this Big East rivalry, the favorite is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 meetings and the total has gone OVER in four of the last five meetings at Marquette.

No. 6 Michigan State at Maryland Terrapins (CBS, 1:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Spartans -5, Total 144 ½

Betting Matchup

Michigan State improved to 6-2 SU in conference play with back-to-back victories against Indiana at home and Illinois on the road as a double-digit favorite in each game. It is an even 4-4 ATS with the total going OVER in three of the last four games. The Spartans are averaging 85.3 PPG and they are 22nd in the nation at the other end of the court in points allowed (64.1). However, that latter average has expanded to 73 points allowed over their last five games. Michigan State is also one of the best rebounding teams in the nation with 42.3 a game.

Maryland is now 4-5 SU in the Big Ten following Monday’s 71-68 loss to Indiana as a slight 1 ½-point road underdog. The total has stayed UNDER in its last three games. The Terrapins (15-7) are also 4-5 ATS in conference play as part of an overall record of 11-7 ATS. They have been a winning bet at home this season at 8-2 ATS. Sophomore guard Anthony Cowan remains the team’s leading scorer with 16.4 PPG while also leading the way in assists (4.8).

Betting Trends

-- The Spartans are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games and the total has gone OVER in eight of their last 10 games following a SU win.

-- The Terrapins have covered in five of their last six games following an ATS loss and the total has stayed UNDER in 11 of their last 16 home games against a team with a SU winning record on the road.

-- The underdog in this matchup has covered in eight of the last 11 meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five games between the two.

No. 3 Purdue at Indiana (FOX, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Boilermakers -10 ½, Total 143

Betting Matchup

It would be hard to find a team hotter than Purdue right now with a SU 16-game winning streak including a perfect 9-0 start in conference play. The Boilermakers dropped to 5-4 ATS in the Big Ten after failing to cover as 10 ½-point home favorites in Thursday’s 92-88 victory against Michigan. The total went OVER 136 points in that game after staying UNDER in their previous six outings. Purdue is 17th in the country in scoring with 85.1 PPG and 15th in the national rankings when it comes to points allowed (63.4).

The Hoosiers have lost two of their last three games SU with a 1-1-1 mark ATS after coming up just short in Wednesday’s 73-71 loss to Illinois on the road in a game that ended as a PUSH. The total went OVER 143 ½ points in that loss after it had stayed UNDER in seven of their previous eight games. Indiana is 5-4 SU (5-3-1 ATS) in the Big Ten as part of an overall record of 12-9 SU (10-9-2 ATS). One injury of note; the Hoosiers lost sophomore forward De’Ron Davis for the season with a torn Achilles. He was third on the team in both points (9.6) and rebounds (4.3).

Betting Trends

-- The Boilermakers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games coming off a SU win and the total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five road games.

-- The Hoosiers have gone a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five games coming off a SU loss and the total has stayed UNDER in eight of their last nine Sunday games.

-- The road team has covered in three of the last four meetings with the other game ending as a PUSH. The total has gone OVER in four of the last six meetings.

College Basketball News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•