Betting on the Big East College Basketball 2011-2012 (Preview)
Carrie Stroup here and it’s time to start thinking about betting on Big East College Basketball 2011-2012. We have your preview.
The Big East may be the deepest conference in the nation, with four elite
teams and up to six others that will be vying for a berth to the big dance.
Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Georgetown will also
feature some of the top freshmen the country has to offer, making the
conference must-watch TV. Although many betting the Big East will favor the Huskies to win the
conference after winning the title last season, Syracuse is the smart Big
East play with the most balanced squad.
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Syracuse
2. Louisville
3. Pittsburgh
4. Connecticut
5. Marquette
6. Georgetown
7. Villanova
8. Cincinnati
9. St. John's
10. Notre Dame
11. West Virginia
12. South Florida
13. Seton Hall
14. Rutgers
15. DePaul
16. Providence
SYRACUSE ORANGE
2010-11 SU Record: 77% (27-8)
2010-11 ATS Record: 46% (15-18)
2010-11 Over (Total): 45% (14-17)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 15/1
The Orange bring back most of their team from last year that disappointed
relative to their talent. Leading scorer Kris Joseph and the starting
backcourt of Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche form a solid nucleus. Although
they will miss Rick Jackson who averaged a double-double, top recruit Rakeem
Christmas, a shot-blocking presence in the lane, should help fill that void
for them. He and fellow McDonald's All-American guard Michael
Carter-Williams headline another strong recruiting class for Jim Boeheim.
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
2010-11 SU Record: 71% (25-10)
2010-11 ATS Record: 61% (19-12)
2010-11 Over (Total): 41% (13-19)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 18/1
Although Louisville's leading scorer from last season in Preston Knowles is
gone, Rick Pitino should have no problem finding somebody to score on this
team. Sharp-shooter Kyle Kuric and the backcourt of Peyton Siva and Chris
Smith all averaged over nine points per game. Freshman Wayne Blackshear has
an NBA-body at 6-foot-5, and is one of the best natural scorers in the class
of 2011. Add him and fellow top recruit, power forward Chane Behanan to a
team that finished tied for third in the conference last year, and this will
be a well-coached powerhouse that nobody will look forward to playing.
PITTSBURGH PANTHERS
2010-11 SU Record: 82% (28-6)
2010-11 ATS Record: 52% (15-14)
2010-11 Over (Total): 46% (13-15)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 20/1
Like Syracuse and Louisville, Pitt has a decent remaining core and brings in
a few top freshmen to bolster the lineup. The gem is Canadian center Khem
Birch, who will be instrumental in keeping the Panthers a top rebounding
squad. Last season, Pitt was eighth in the nation with 39.8 boards per
contest. And, fans need not worry about their backcourt with Ashton Gibbs
returning for his senior season after knocking down 3.3 treys per game,
making him a preseason favorite for Big East Player of the Year.
CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
2010-11 SU Record: 78% (32-9)
2010-11 ATS Record: 66% (23-12)
2010-11 Over (Total): 41% (14-20)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 20/1
The Huskies have four returning starters, but are missing the most important
piece from their 2011 National Championship winning squad, Kemba Walker.
UConn still has Jeremy Lamb (16.2 PPG in NCAA Tournament) and Alex Oriakhi
(11 double-doubles), and Jim Calhoun received a big boost when Andre
Drummond committed in August. The best center in the class of 2011 keeps the
Huskies in the top tier of the Big East, rounding out four teams that could
make their way into the nation's top-10.
MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES
2010-11 SU Record: 60% (22-15)
2010-11 ATS Record: 58% (18-13)
2010-11 Over (Total): 33% (10-20)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1
Even though the Golden Eagles are not in the same class as the top four Big
East teams, they are strong and should be tourney bound. Senior Darius
Johnson-Odom (15.8 PPG) should lead Marquette in scoring again on a team
that has returning talent like Jae Crowder (11.8 PPG), but is void of top
freshmen joining the mix.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS
2010-11 SU Record: 66% (21-11)
2010-11 ATS Record: 48% (15-16)
2010-11 Over (Total): 43% (12-16)
Returning Starters: 1
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1
If the Hoyas truly contend in this year's Big East, it will be due to a
talented group of freshmen, led by small forward Otto Porter. With senior
Jason Clark the only double-digit scorer remaining (12.0 PPG), Georgetown
and head coach John Thompson III will have to come up with a new offensive
game-plan for this season.
VILLANOVA WILDCATS
2010-11 SU Record: 64% (21-12)
2010-11 ATS Record: 40% (12-18)
2010-11 Over (Total): 46% (13-15)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1
With Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes having graduated, the Wildcats backcourt
will look radically different this season and need a way to replace the 139
three-pointers they combined to make. Freshman recruit Tyrone Johnson will
be instrumental in doing just that, who should take over the reins at point
guard from game one to join Maalik Wayns (13.8 PPG) in the backcourt.
CINCINNATI BEARCATS
2010-11 SU Record: 74% (26-9)
2010-11 ATS Record: 55% (16-13)
2010-11 Over (Total): 36% (10-18)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1
The Bearcats were decent last season, going 26-9 and 11-7 in the Big East.
Forward Yancy Gates (11.9 PPG) and guard Dion Dixon (11.6 PPG), the team's
two leading scorers from last season, are both back for their senior seasons
and an NCAA Tournament berth is definitely in the conversation for this
team.
ST. JOHN'S RED STORM
2010-11 SU Record: 64% (21-12)
2010-11 ATS Record: 45% (14-17)
2010-11 Over (Total): 55% (16-13)
Returning Starters: 0
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 50/1
Nobody knows what to expect from the Red Storm this season after making it
to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 last season and losing
10 seniors. Although their highly-rated recruiting class has been hurt by
three of the recruits being declared academically ineligible for the first
semester, they Johnnies still add six strong bodies (including two junior
college transfers) that give them the potential to be dangerous.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
2010-11 SU Record: 79% (27-7)
2010-11 ATS Record: 57% (17-13)
2010-11 Over (Total): 54% (14-12)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1
The Fighting Irish will sorely miss Ben Hansbrough (18.4 PPG), but they
still have forward Tim Abromaitis (15.4 PPG) to keep them steady in this
transition year for head coach Mike Brey.
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
2010-11 SU Record: 64% (21-12)
2010-11 ATS Record: 43% (13-17)
2010-11 Over (Total): 48% (13-14)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 75/1
A team coached by Bob Huggins will always be competitive, especially one
with forward Kevin Jones (13.1 PPG) on it. But with six raw freshmen, the
Mountaineers will have a tough time sticking with the top guns in the Big
East.
SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS
2010-11 SU Record: 30% (10-23)
2010-11 ATS Record: 53% (16-14)
2010-11 Over (Total): 52% (15-14)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 300/1
Many have the Bulls pegged to be in the cellar of the Big East this season
after a 3-15 conference finish last year, but they could surprise some under
the leadership of senior forward Augustus Gilchrist (13.4 PPG), a top player
in the conference.
SETON HALL PIRATES
2010-11 SU Record: 42% (13-18)
2010-11 ATS Record: 48% (14-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 31% (8-18)
Returning Starters: 3
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 300/1
The Pirates will miss their top two scorers from last season, Jeremy Hazell
and Jeff Robinson, but they still have senior forward Herb Pope (9.8 PPG,
7.9 RPG), an elite forward who can rebound and block shots with the best of
them.
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS
2010-11 SU Record: 47% (15-17)
2010-11 ATS Record: 54% (14-12)
2010-11 Over (Total): 50% (13-13)
Returning Starters: 2
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 300/1
The lone bright spot on the Rutgers squad this season will be local New
Jersey recruit Myles Mack who should develop into one of the best point
guards in the conference over time.
DePAUL BLUE DEMONS
2010-11 SU Record: 23% (7-24)
2010-11 ATS Record: 48% (14-15)
2010-11 Over (Total): 57% (16-12)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 100/1 (Field)
Forward Cleveland Melvin (14.3 PPG) is a force to be reckoned with entering
his sophomore year, but he won't get the help he needs to turn DePaul into a
contender.
PROVIDENCE FRIARS
2010-11 SU Record: 47% (15-17)
2010-11 ATS Record: 39% (11-17)
2010-11 Over (Total): 62% (16-10)
Returning Starters: 4
Odds to win 2012 NCAA Championship: 300/1
The Friars should expect to spend the year in the Big East cellar, trying to
figure out how to replace the scoring production of Marshon Brooks (24.6
PPG).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
