Top 25 Betting Recap

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 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.

It's going to be a topsy-turvy week in the Top 25. We had Shoe-gate in Durham, with Zion Williamson's Nike blowing out and the likely first-round pick in the NBA going down with an injury. As such, Duke (24-3 SU, 16-11 ATS) was routed at home by North Carolina (22-5 SU, 17-8-2 ATS) in the first installment in 'Battle of the Blues' at Cameron Indoor Stadium. For those Blue Devils fans in attendance, it wasn't $2,500-4,000 well spent, eh? Carolina has won and covered three in a row since their loss to Virginia (24-2 SU, 19-7 ATS) on Feb. 11. The 'under' has cashed in four straight for the Tar Heels, too.

 Tennessee  (24-3 SU, 13-12-1 ATS) still has just three losses overall on the season, but they have suffered two losses in the past three. LSU (22-5 SU, 15-11-1 ATS) got them 82-80 in overtime on Baton Rouge on Saturday, as it was party time at The Chimes after the game. The Volunteers failed to cover for a fourth consecutive game, while the 'over' is 3-1 during the same span. After playing great defense for most of the season, Tennessee has been dinged for 82 or more in two of the past three. They're allowing just 68.0 PPG on the season.

Speaking of the Tigers, if you bet their games, hopefully you have a strong heart. Three of the past six have resulted in overtime, and four of the past nine were not decided in regulation. Hopefully you like 'over' results, too, as the total has gone over in three straight for LSU, and 12 of the past 15.

It was a rough week for Nevada (25-2 SU, 16-9-1 ATS), as they lost to old nemesis San Diego State (18-9 SU, 15-11 ATS) in Southern California, scoring a season-low 57 points. Their previous low mark was 67, and they had scored 72 or more in 24 of their 27 games. They failed to cover against Fresno State (19-8 SU, 16-9-1 ATS), but they did at least scratch out a win. The 'under' has connected in four straight for the Wolf Pack. They'll have another big test at Utah State (22-6 SU, 14-13 ATS) later this week.

Kansas (20-7 SU, 12-15 ATS) hasn't been the same since going down with a season-ending wrist injury which required surgery. This team is looking more and more like a one-and-done, or possible Round of 32 team, but not much else. Texas Tech (22-5 SU, 12-14-1 ATS) emasculated the Jayhawks by a 91-62 score on Saturday, the worst conference loss under Bill Self, largest since 2006. Now, the third-place Jayhawks face Kansas State (21-6 SU, 16-11 ATS) in a key battle this week in Lawrence.

Villanova (20-8 SU, 17-11 ATS), Louisville (18-10 SU, 14-12-2 ATS) and Iowa State (19-8 SU, 14-11-2 ATS) each had 0-2 SU weeks, and are likely to take a tumble in the rankings, perhaps out of the Top 25. The Cardinals have lost four of the past five straight-up, and they have failed to cover three straight and they're 1-4 ATS over the past five. The 'under' is also 4-0 in the past four, and 7-2 in the past nine. I-State is trending in the wrong direction, too, losing three of the past four, while going 1-5 ATS across the past six. The 'over' has connected in seven of the past nine for the Cyclones.

On the outside of the Top 25 looking in, Cincinnati (23-4 SU, 12-15 ATS) scratched out two more victories, but they have failed to cover in four straight/ The 'under' is 4-1 in the past five for the Bearcats. Wofford (24-4 SU, 14-11 ATS) was technically ranked No. 27 last week, and they could climb into the Top 25 after another strong week. The Terriers have covered six of the past seven, and they're a team no one is going to want to see in the postseason.

VegasInsider Staff

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