Top 25 Betting Recap

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 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.

Ohio State (18-5 SU, 11-10 ATS) didn't handle success very well. They were hurtling up the rankings, winning seven in a row to get up to No. 13 in The Associated Press Top 25 since a loss on a neutral court Dec. 23 against North Carolina (16-6 SU, 11-9-1 ATS). However, they barely held off Nebraska (16-8 SU, 16-6 ATS) by a 64-59 count as 11 1/2-point favorites. After escaping that one, they were unable to avoid the upset bug when Penn State (15-8 SU, 9-9-1 ATS) paid a visit to the Schottenstein Center. They have two more games at home before their showdown onb Feb. 7 at Purdue (21-2 SU, 14-8 ATS). They'll also get a chance at revenge against the Nittany Lions on  Feb. 15 in Happy Valley.

Also from the Big Ten, Michigan (17-6 SU, 13-8-1 ATS) made it to the Top 25 last week, but as quickly as they appeared they bowed out. They did give the Boilermakers a nice run as 11-point underdogs in West Lafayette, but they came up short by a 92-88 margin. While they have lost twice in the past three games, including each of their past two road outings, they're 9-3-1 ATS across their past 13 contests dating back to Dec. 4 in their loss in Ohio State. The 'over' result snapped a three-game 'under' run for the Wolverines, too.

Rhode Island (17-3 SU, 11-6-1 ATS) has won 12 consecutive outings dating back to Dec. 6, taking the Atlantic 10 from from just another conference to the national spotlight. Unfortunately for the Rams, and their legitimacy, all other teams in the A-10 have at least six straight-up loss, and all but one school have eight or more setbacks already this season. The Rams are an impressive 12-0 SU at home this season, and 9-0 in their conference. All other teams have at least three losses. They're 8-2 ATS over the past 10 outings, including 3-1-1 ATS in their past five on the road. The Rams might very well continue winning well into the NCAA Tournament before they face their next real test.

Auburn (19-2 SU, 14-5 ATS) sits at the top of the heap in the SEC, and not many people saw that coming before the season began. The Tigers continue winning, and they're an impressive 11-0 SU at home while posting a 7-1 mark inside the conference so far. Only Florida (15-6 SU, 11-9 ATS) has less than three losses in the conference (6-2). The Tigers and Gators will meet each other on Feb. 24 in Gainesville. Auburn has covered seven of their past eight games, and they're 4-0 ATS in their four home conference battles so far. They're 3-1 ATS in their three road SEC games, too, so the Tigers are here to stay.

Speaking of teams here to stay, Virginia (20-1 SU, 14-4 ATS) continues to roll right along. Not only are they winning, but they're covering, too. The Cavaliers topped a pair of Top 25 teams with a dominating 25-point win against Clemson (17-4 SU, 10-8 ATS) last Tuesday, and they grinded out a 65-63 road win at Duke (18-3 SU, 12-7 ATS) for their 12th straight win and their fifth consecutive cover. They're also an impressive 14-3 ATS across their past 17 outings, too. Not only are the Hoos dominant against the number, total bettors love UVA, too. The 'under' has cashed in five in a row, eight of the past nine and 13 of their past 15 outings.

Cincinnati (19-2 SU, 10-7-1 ATS) continues to sit atop the American Athletic Conference with a perfect 8-0 record, two games clear of second place Wichita State (17-4 SU, 9-10 ATS), the league's newcomer. The Bearcats haven't been as great overall against the number this season, at least until lately. They have covered back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 12-16, and just the third time overall this season. They have yet to cover in three straight outings, either, so keep that in mind when Houston (16-4 SU, 9-7 ATS) strolls into the Queen City on Wednesday.

North Carolina (16-6 SU, 11-9-1 ATS) suffered a pair of losses this past week, and that will knock them down the rankings. They'll face another difficult matchup at Clemson, although they have dominated the Tigers over the years. The Tar Heels won last season at Littlejohn Arena in overtime, and of coure they're 59-0 all-time at home against the Tigers. UNC is 8-1-1 ATS in the past 10 meetings in this series, including 4-0 ATS in their past four visits to the Upstate. The favorite is also 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight battles in this series.

VegasInsider Staff

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