CBB weekly betting preview: Memphis faces 1st big test
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We're providing a betting breakdown of college basketball's biggest games every week. This week's slate features some intriguing matchups, including the Memphis Tigers facing their first significant test of the season against the Oregon Ducks.
Tuesday
Creighton at Michigan
A good Creighton squad meets new-look Michigan, now under the direction of former Wolverine Juwan Howard. Michigan defeated Appalachian State 79-71 in its opener thanks to 24 points from junior guard Eli Brooks. The Wolverines will have a harder time against the underrated Bluejays. Creighton returns four starters, led by all-conference guards Ty-Shon Alexander and Marcus Zegarowski. The duo combined for 37 points in Creighton's opening win over Kennesaw State.
Michigan will be around a 4-5 point favorite at home, but look for the Wolverines to have trouble defending one of the best shooting teams in the country. Don't sleep on the Bluejays this year. They'll be undervalued and should reward bettors early in the season.
Oregon vs. Memphis
It was a crazy week for Memphis basketball. First, the NCAA announced that freshman sensation James Wiseman was ineligible. Then the school filed a temporary injunction, allowing Wiseman to play until the issue is resolved. Wiseman has lived up to the hype so far by scoring a combined 45 points in routs of South Carolina State and Illinois-Chicago.
But business will pick up for the young Tigers when they face Oregon in Portland. Led by senior guard Payton Pritchard, the Ducks feature one of the most talented backcourts in the country. Oregon has already defeated Fresno State and Boise State by a combined score of 177-132 and plays the kind of stifling defense that can frustrate a young team like Memphis. Though the public will be on the underdog Tigers, lean toward the more experienced Ducks laying a couple points close to home at the Moda Center.
Wednesday
LSU at VCU
How good is VCU? The Rams are the most experienced team in the country, led by five seniors and two juniors. They're bringing back nine players who averaged more than 14 minutes per game last season. That depth and a frenetic pace will serve the Rams well in the Atlantic 10 this season, but we'll see how those qualities hold up against a bigger, more physical LSU team.
LSU lost three starters but returns five key players from last season's 28-7 squad. Toss in freshman forward Trendon Watford and the Tigers are flying under the radar a bit. Still, this is a tough early-season challenge on the road against a dangerous VCU team. Go with the Rams here as a small home dog.
Villanova at Ohio State
One of the most intriguing matchups this week pits Villanova against Ohio State. Both programs are popular picks to make a run in March, and for good reason. The Buckeyes return a plethora of talent to go along with one of the nation's top freshman classes, while Jay Wright added five-star recruits Bryan Antoine and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl to a talented Villanova roster. However, Antoine is recovering from a shoulder injury and won't be available until after Thanksgiving.
Ohio State already defeated a tough Cincinnati team by eight this season and gets the luxury of facing Villanova in Columbus. I'm high on the Wildcats but believe they will be better once Antoine is in the mix, so I'll back Ohio State as a short home favorite.
Thursday
Michigan State at Seton Hall
When the schedules came out, I was really looking forward to this game. Seton Hall is one of my sleepers to win it all this season and I was excited to see how the Pirates match up with what many believe is the best team in the country. However, Seton Hall will be playing without star guard Myles Powell, who is out with an ankle injury. The Pirates still have plenty of talent, but it's asking a lot for them to upset Michigan State without their top player, even at home. Look for the Spartans' depth to be too much here as they pull away in the second half and win comfortably.
Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.