Crash the Board: College basketball betting 2/12/20

Erik Buchinger February 12, 2020 11:34 am

Do you have an ongoing gambling addiction? Do you break things after a backdoor cover goes against you? Do you become slightly aroused when it does go your way? Of course you do, and we already have so much in common. Crash the Board is a daily preview of the college basketball betting slate with a payday bet in each article.

Welcome to Day 2 of Crash the Board, your daily look at the college basketball slate. Let’s begin with some top-25 chatter for Wednesday night.

#23 Creighton @ #10 Seton Hall

Game time: 5:30 CST
TV: FS1
Spread: Seton Hall -6
Over/Under: 146.5

Seton Hall is very good. Seton hall is very very good at covering spreads, standing at 15-7-1 against the number including 9-3-1 in their last 13 games, going 12-1 straight up in that stretch after consecutive losses to Iowa State and Rutgers in December. Creighton covered in 4 of its last 5. The total went under in 12 of Creighton’s last 14 road games.

Xavier @ #19 Butler

Game time: 5:30 CST
TV: CBSSN
Spread: Butler -5.5
Over/Under: 129.5

Xavier ain’t so good at covering the spreads overall in the 2019-20 season at 8-14-2, but they’ve covered 4 times in their last 6. The under hit in 9 of Xavier’s last 13 games. Butler started the season hot but have covered once in their last 8 games. Wild. Also, Xavier is 8-0 against the spread in their last eight games played in February. That’s a fun fact.

#3 Kansas @ #14 West Virginia

Game time: 6:00 CST
TV: ESPN+
Spread: West Virginia -1.5
Over/Under 132

How in the absolute hell does the game of the night get put on ESPN+? You’re tempting me, Disney, but I’m still not pulling the trigger. My interest in MAC wrestling isn’t strong enough for me to purchase that product. Also, the ESPN app’s preview of this game shows the preview from the last time these two played about a month ago. Excellent.

Both teams have been good against the number this season at 13-10 and things are trending in the right direction. BUT SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE. The total went under in 10 of the last 13 Kansas games and 12 of the last 16 West Virginia games. The Mountaineers won 15 consecutive games at home. Kansas won 8 in a row, won 7 of the last 8 against West Virginia and is 6-2 against the spread as a road team this season.

Alabama @ #11 Auburn

Game time: 6:00 CST
TV: ESPN2
Spread: -7.5
Over/Under: 160.5

Auburn won 3 of its last 4 games in overtime including Saturday’s wild comeback over LSU. One of Auburn’s 2 losses this season came in a blowout against Alabama about a month ago. The Tide are only 13-10 overall but holy hell do these dudes love covering spreads with an ATS record of 16-7. Having said that, Alabama is 1-4 against the number in their last 5 games.

#18 Marquette @ #15 Villanova

Game time: 7:30 CST
TV: FS1
Spread: Villanova -5
Over/Under: 145

Villanova lost 3 in a row, and Marquette won 3 in a row. The total went under in 10 of Villanova’s last 13 games, and it went over in 11 of Marquette’s last 15 games. The Golden Eagles are 15-7 against the spread this season including 6-1 in the last 7. Marquette beat Villanova 71-60 at home last month. However, I cannot bet on Marquette simply because I do not like them. I’d rather lose money than cheer for them to win.

#20 Houston @ USF

Game time: 8:00 CST
TV: ESPNU
Spread: Houston -5.5
Over/Under: 126.5

Kelvin Sampson has a good thing going at Houston, but will it be enough to beat the 5-time defending national champs in football in South Florida? The Cougars won 6 of their last 7 games and are 11-4 against the spread in their last 15 games. The under hit in 8 of their last 9. South Florida is 4-2 against the spread in its last 6, and the under hit in 7 of its last 8.

Wednesday Payday

We gave out a pick last night that didn’t exactly go to plan. Out of all the games to choose from, my big winner was Purdue -4.5 vs. Penn State, but the Boilermakers found themselves down 26 early in the second half. My boys didn’t quite make the comeback, unfortunately sending one Deceptive Speedster to the streets.

Sorry, Juice. On the bright side at least I now have a new neighbor.

Gotta be better, and we will be. The return to prominence starts with Louisville -6 at Georgia Tech. Louisville won 10 in a row including their last 5 by 7 or more. The Cardinals damn near lost to Georgia Tech at home earlier this season, so they shouldn’t be taking them lightly. Louisville won its last 9 straight games against Georgia Tech. The Cardinals are national title contenders, and Georgia Tech is 11-13. Don’t overthink this.

Let’s get it done, Rick Pitino. Yeah whatever, he hasn’t been there for a long time, but he’s still the only guy I think about when I think Louisville hoops.