College Basketball: Jimmy V Classic Offers Options for Bettors
College Basketball is under the spotlight tonight on ESPN and Sportsbook.com is the place to score a profit on each game.
Butler vs. Georgetown 7:00 ET
The Butler Bulldogs (6-2, 3-5 ATS) are no longer just a cute team that gets patted on the head for the old college try. Forward Gordon Hayward has NBA ability, and Shelvin Mack and Matt Howard are high-level college players. Coach Brad Stevens is not far from a bigger house in a high rent conference. Watch this team's defense, they give nothing away. Butler is 20-10 ATS in non-conference games over the last three seasons.
No. 15 Georgetown (6-0, 2-1 ATS) arrives in the Big Apple without a loss, playing a schedule that has helped build momentum, but has not tested the Hoyas. Georgetown's main asset is big man Greg Monroe, who doesn't necessarily dominate, but is skilled in all facets of basketball, making him the ideal player for coach John Thompson III system. It will be curious to watch how guards Austin Freeman and Chris Wright play against Butler, as neither has played consistently to this juncture. Having faced very beatable opponents, the Hoyas are 11-2 ATS away from home after four straight wins by 10 points or more.
Sportsbook.com has Butler as 2.5-point underdogs with total of 127. The 22nd ranked Bulldogs have lost eight of their last nine against Top-25 opponents and can't have Howard get in foul trouble like he did in 76 Classic, where they suffered both losses. Butler is only 1-6 ATS in last seven neutral site contests.
Without question Georgetown is the more athletic squad and they will depend on their defense that is allowing 53.2 points per game, mostly against inferior competition. The Hoyas are 5-14 ATS after playing a game as favorite and 3-13 ATS after they allowed opposing team to shoot 33 percent or less over the last three seasons.
Indiana vs. Pittsburgh 9:20 ET
Approximately 20 minutes after the first game is completed, the Hoosiers and Panthers will do battle. Indiana (3-4 SU & ATS) had believed they were going to be a great deal better this season after just six victories a year ago, however, against better competition that has not been the case thus far. The Hoosiers are far more talented than a season ago, but extremely young. Verdell Jones III has played the best of the sophomores and freshman Maurice Creek has been a dependable scorer, along with Bobby Capobianco at the four-slot. The Hoosiers lost their last game 80-68 at home against Maryland, shooting a season low 32.9 percent. They do have players with quickness, averaging nine steals a game and are 5-1 ATS after losing by 10 or more points at home.
Dating back to 2001, Pittsburgh (7-1, 2-4-1 ATS) has always had the linkage of two to three returning players, which has led to Panthers owning the most victories in the Big East in the last five years, until now. Guard Brad Wanamaker is carrying his share of the scoring load and 6'10 Gary McGhee has been a force in the paint. The Panthers still play physical brand of basketball, averaging 24 free throws a game (only 63.4 percent made) and have a +7 rebound margin. Pitt is 8-1 ATS versus teams who average nine or more steals a game over the last three seasons.
Pittsburgh is a 7.5-point favorite, with a total of 132 and is meager 8-19 ATS playing against a marginal losing team with win percentage of 40 to 50 percent.
Log on now to Sportsbook.com to bet on these and every other College Hoops game on tonight's board.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
