MetroBet dishes out the latest odds and gives out advice on a pair of games on the college basketball slate for Tuesday night.
Auburn Tigers (-8) at South Carolina Gamecocks
Moneyline: Tigers -355, Gamecocks +295
Betting Total: 155 points
Time (Eastern), TV: 6:30 p.m., SECN
The 16th-ranked Auburn Tigers (13-4) appear to be head-and-shoulders better than the South Carolina Gamecocks (9-8), but eight points is a lot to give with a road team in college basketball. A play in the totals market is advised instead.
Trends indicate that the Over is the way to go despite the high listed total of 155 points. South Carolina, which allows over 72 points per game (166th in the country), has seen four of their last five games and eight of their last 10 home games exceed the number.
Meanwhile, the Over has cashed in three straight tilts involving Auburn, including their narrow 82-80 home loss to Kentucky on Saturday. The Tigers have eclipsed 80 points in five of their last six contests, reaching the nineties three times in that span. Senior guard Bryce Brown, Auburn’s top scorer at 16.9 points per game, has recorded 22 or more points in three of his last four contests.
The Tigers’ defense allows just over 67 points per game overall, but on the road, that figure swells to 73. In the last nine meetings between these programs, the Over has cashed six times.
Prediction: Tigers win, 86-76
The play: Tigers vs. Gamecocks Over 155 points
Minnesota Golden Gophers at Michigan Wolverines (-12.5)
Moneyline: Golden Gophers +650, Wolverines -1000
Betting Total: 137.5 points
Time (Eastern), TV: 7 p.m., BTN
The fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines (17-1), fresh off a 10-point loss to Wisconsin over the weekend, should be able to bounce back against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-4) at the friendly confines of the Crisler Center on Tuesday night. The spread is large, but so is the gulf in talent.
Michigan’s leading point producer is freshman forward Ignas Brazdeikis at just 14.8 points per game, so they’re not overwhelming other teams with their offense. The Wolverines’ stifling team defense, third in the country at just over 57 points per game allowed, is what wins them games.
Minnesota’s leading scorer, junior guard Amir Coffey (15.7 points per tilt), has struggled in the shooting department of late, going 5-for-24 over his last two games (20 points combined). It’s hard to envision him getting back on track against Michigan. The Gophers’ offense toils as a whole away from home, tallying just 62 points per contest. That contrasts starkly with their overall number (74.3).
Expect a solid all-around effort from John Beilein’s guys off their first loss of the year.
Prediction: Wolverines win, 73-57
The play: Wolverines -12.5
