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.

We're winding down the regular season, and the pressure isn't too much for some teams, while a few other Top 25 teams have been wilting in a big way. One of those previously highly-ranked teams that are in freefall is Nevada (26-3 SU, 16-11-1 ATS) was humming right along until Feb. 20 at San Diego State (19-10 SU, 16-12 ATS). They lost that game by eight, and lost again this past week against Utah State (24-6 SU, 16-13 ATS) in Logan over the weekend. The Wolf Pack are suddenly looking mortal away from home, and they have failed to cover each of the past four. A lack of defense is particularly concerning, as they have yielded 77.0 points per game (PPG) over the past two, more than 10 points over their season average (66.7 PPG). They have a rematch with the Aztecs coming up this week, and probably could use a big win before heading into the postseason.

 Maryland (21-9 SU, 15-14-1 ATS) has dropped two in a row, and three of the past five. A pair of losses to Michigan (26-4 SU, 17-13 ATS) is no embarrassment, but a 17-point loss at Penn State (12-17 SU, 13-14-2 ATS) certainly isn't going to wow the NCAA Tournament committee when it's time to dole out seedings. The Terps are just 5-6 SU in their past 11 games overall, and 2-5 SU/ATS in the past seven games either on the road or on a neutral-site court. Also in the Big Ten, Wisconsin (20-9 SU, 14-14-1 ATS) has been a .500 team over the past six outings, and they're 0-5-1 ATS during the span. They'll meet the equally disappointing Hawkeyes of Iowa (21-8 SU, 12-17 ATS), who have suddenly forgotten how to cover a spread. The Hawkeyes are 1-3 SU over the past four outings, and they have failed to cover six straight and eight of the past 10 contests.

Marquette (23-6 SU, 18-11 ATS) is feeling the pressure of March, falling to a mediocre Creighton (16-13 SU, 14-14 ATS) side for their second consecutive loss and non-cover. The Golden Eagles are crumbling, going just 4-3 SU and 3-4 ATS across the past seven outings, too. The only thing that has been consistent for Marquette has been the 'under', hitting in six of the past eight contests.

Cincinnati (25-4 SU, 12-17 ATS) has won five in a row since a 65-58 loss at Houston (27-2 SU, 19-9-1 ATS) on Feb. 10. The Bearcats failed to cover in that game, however, and that touched off an 0-6 ATS skid heading into the new week. The 'under' has connected in four in a row for Cincy, however, and the under is 6-1 across the past seven. Houston lost to UCF (25-4 SU, 12-17 ATS), as the Golden Knights have squeezed into the picture for a potential at-large NCAA Tournament bid. The Cougars had no answers for 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall, and the Knights will now set their sights on Cincinnati this week.

One team not struggling straight-up or against the number is Wofford (26-4 SU, 16-11 ATS) of the SoCon, as they have wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, and could have done enough in the regular season to nail down an at-large bid even if they stumble next week and fail to lock down an automatic bid. The Terriers went 18-0 on conference play, and they have covered eight of their past nine outings. The only losses for the Terriers came against North Carolina (24-5 SU, 17-10-2 ATS) in the season opener Nov. 6, at Oklahoma (18-11 SU, 18-8-3 ATS) on Nov. 18, at Kansas (22-7 SU, 13-16 ATS) on Dec. 4 and at Mississippi State (21-8 SU, 15-14 ATS) on Dec. 19. That loss to the Bulldogs was their last setback. They also have resume-building wins at South Carolina (14-15 SU, 12-16 ATS), as well as a pair of wins by an average of 29.5 points vs. UNC Greensboro (26-5 SU, 13-15-1 ATS), a team ranked 33rd in RPI, as well as a sweep against Wofford (24-6 SU, 11-16 ATS), a SoCon team which previously appeared in the Top 25.

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