Butler is a small favorite on the road Friday night against Wright State.
We expected to see a bit of a down season for the Butler Bulldogs, and with their decline, an accompanying slip in general for the Horizon League. What was expected to help make up for Butler's drop-off was a bit more out of Detroit, plus continued progression by Cleveland State and the consistent threat from Valparaiso.
The Vikings and Crusaders have done their part mostly, and the Bulldogs are starting to get things together, but the Titans have imploded and rank among the most disappointing groups of college talent this campaign.
Several of those teams, along with the suddenly-hot Wright State Raiders, are part of a light Friday night college basketball betting slate.
Butler at Wright State (+2, 115½)
Friday, Jan. 6, 7:00 p.m. (ET) ESPNU
Ervin J. Nutter Center, Dayton, OH
A good theme song for Brad Stevens and the Bulldogs to this point in the season might be John Hiatt's Slow Turnin'. Butler (8-7 SU, 2-8-2 ATS) is still playing pretty good defense, limiting opponents to less than 63 points per game which is good enough to rank in the top 25 percent of the nation. But Stevens has yet to have anyone step up on the offensive end to help make up for the two big stars from the past two years, Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack.
There are some signs that the rebuilding is starting to come around, however, with a current three-game win streak and the club's only spread covers of the season in that span. Wins on this little trip to Wright State followed by a trek to Detroit could be huge confidence builders for the Bulldogs who are just 1-4 in true road games (1-3-1 against the spread).
Things are also beginning to look up for Billy Donlon and Wright State (8-8 SU, 7-6 ATS). Following a 4-8 start, that included early defeats to Ohio State and Florida, the Raiders have won and covered each of the last four games. The long-range shooting has been a big part of the win streak; Wright State has sunk 25-of-61 attempts (40.9%) from 3-point land the past three games, well above the 31.7 percent prior to that.
Julius Mays has led the way during the Raiders' four-game winning run, averaging 21 points in the stretch following a very hot-&-cold beginning to the campaign.
Wright State is presently tied with Milwaukee atop the Horizon League standings, each with a 3-1 mark. Butler comes in 2-1 in conference play, and the schools split last year's two matchups, each winning at home. The Raiders' 69-64 win over the Bulldogs here in Dayton came with Butler laying four points.
Valparaiso at Detroit (-6, 151½)
Friday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN3
Calihan Hall, Detroit
Cue up Detroit Breakdown by the J. Geils Band to set the tone for the Titans (7-9 SU, 5-8 ATS). The season got off on the wrong foot with suspensions for Eli Holman and Chris Blake, plus Nick Minnerath was lost for the season to a knee injury in November.
Holman has returned to help out, especially on the boards, and Blake could be getting close to finally seeing some game action. No official return has been announced regarding Blake, but he has been practicing with the team the past couple of weeks.
Detroit (1-3 Horizon League) has gotten good play out of guards Chase Simon and Ray McCallum, but this is a very bad shooting squad from outside which is allowing defenses to play off the perimeter and choke the Titans closer to the paint.
It's not like Valparaiso (9-6 SU, 5-7 ATS) is lighting it up from 3-point land as well, and the Crusaders definitely aren't making friends with bettors except those who have been fading Bryce Drew's crew. Valpo has dropped seven straight against the spread, winning just three of those games outright.
The Crusaders, who sit 2-1 in HL standings, beat Detroit all three meetings last season, including an 88-78 triumph in the quarterfinals of the conference tourney played in Milwaukee.