Monday’s Tip Sheet

As the college basketball regular season continues to grind to a close in anticipation of this year’s conference tournaments, there are a trio of games on Monday night in both the ACC and the Big 12 that could have a big impact on the final standings.

Getting things started as part of ESPN’s Big Monday, the No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers will be on the road against Syracuse. Later that night in Lubbock, No. 11 Texas Tech will play host to the Texas Longhorns in the first Big 12 clash. As a bonus betting game in that same conference, No. 16 Kanas State will be on the road against TCU.

No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers at Syracuse Orange (ESPN , 7:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Virginia -7, Total 121

Betting Matchup

The Cavaliers head into the final week of the regular season tied with North Carolina for the lead in the ACC at a straight-up 14-2. They started their current six-game winning streak with a eight-point win against the Tar Heels on Feb. 11 as one-point road underdogs. Virginia (26-2 SU, 21-7 ATS) is 5-1 against the spread during this same span with the total staying UNDER in four of the six games. By holding Pittsburgh to just 49 points in Saturday’s 24-point win at home, the Cavaliers’ points-allowed average stands at 54.1.

With Saturday’s 79-54 romp over Wake Forest as a 7 ½-point road favorite, Syracuse moved to 10-6 SU in ACC play as part of a 19-10 record overall. The Orange have covered the closing spread in four of their last six games with the total staying UNDER in five of those contests. They have a 4-2 record ATS in their last six home games. Junior guard Tyrus Battle scored 21 points against Pitt on Saturday and the defense did the rest to secure the win. He leads the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game.
Betting Trends

-- The Cavaliers have gone 18-7-1 in their last 26 games played on Monday. The total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in four of their last five games against a team with a SU winning record.

-- The Orange are 1-4 ATS in their last five games following a SU win with the total staying UNDER in four of their last five home games.

-- The underdog has covered the closing spread in four of the last five meetings with the total staying UNDER or ending as a PUSH in the last four meetings in Syracuse.

Texas Longhorns at No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders (ESPN, 9:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Texas Tech -8, Total 131 ½

Betting Matchup

Texas moved to 5-4 SU in its last nine games with Saturday’s 86-69 upset against Iowa State as a slight one-point home underdog. The Longhorns have gone 8-1 ATS during this same span with the total going OVER in five of their last seven games. They are an even 8-8 SU in Big 12 play as part of an overall record of 16-13. Texas is 6-3 ATS this season on the road. Back on Jan. 12, it lost to Texas Tech at home 68-62 as a 1 ½-point favorite. Jase Febres put up a career-high 26 points in Saturday’s win with the Longhorns’ leading scorer Kerwin Roach II out of the lineup due to an ongoing suspension.

The Red Raiders are tied with Kansas State for the lead in the Big 12 at 12-4. They have won their last seven games SU while going 6-1 ATS with Saturday’s 81-66 victory against TCU as four-point road favorites. The total has gone OVER in Texas Tech’s las four outings. It is 24-5 SU (13-15-1 ATS) overall with a SU six-game winning streak on its home court. Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver is averaging a team-high 17.9 PPG and he has exceeded that average in four of his last five games.

Betting Trends

-- The Longhorns are a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last four road games and the total has gone OVER in their last four games coming off an ATS win.

-- The Red Raiders have a 4-1 record ATS in their last five home games with the total going OVER in four of those games.

-- The road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings and the total has gone OVER in the last three games between the two.

No. 16 Kansas State Wildcats at TCU Horned Frogs (ESPN2, 9:00 p.m. ET)

Opening Odds: Kansas State -1, Total 131 ½

Betting Matchup

Kansas State (22-7 SU, 16-13 ATS) remains in contention for the Big 12 regular season title with Saturday’s 66-60 victory at home against Baylor. The Wildcats failed to cover as 6 ½-point home favorites to slip to 2-3 ATS over their last five games. The total stayed UNDER 127 points in that win and it has stayed UNDER in three of their last four contests. Dean Wade had the hot hand against Baylor with 20 points with senior guard Barry Brown Jr. adding 10 points to the winning cause. Brown leads the Wildcats in scoring with 15.1 PPG, but he has only scored a combined 24 points in his last three starts.

The Horned Frogs only have one win (SU and ATS) in their last six games after coming up well short in Saturday’s loss to Texas Tech. They are 6-10 SU in conference play with a 5-11 record ATS. The total has gone OVER in seven of TCU’s last 10 games overall and it is 1-4 ATS in its last five games at home. Coming into this game, it is 18-11 SU overall with a 14-15 record ATS. The Horned Frogs are averaging 75.5 PPG, but they are giving up an average of 70.9 points on defense. Last week, they gave up 104 points in an overtime loss to West Virginia.

Betting Trends

-- The Wildcats have covered in eight of their last 11 games following a SU win. The total has stayed UNDER in four of their last five Monday games.

-- The Horned Frogs are 1-5 ATS in their last six games coming off a SU loss and the total has gone OVER in seven of their last 10 games played on Monday.

-- Kansas State won the first meeting this season 65-55 as a four-point home favorite to improve to 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. The total has stayed UNDER in the last four matchups.