There is a ‘Super Saturday’ in college basketball betting with five huge games on ESPN, just one day before the Super Bowl.
The major conferences are right around the halfway point in their league schedules, and this is a dangerous time to get tripped up, especially with seven of the top-10 Coaches Poll teams playing on the road.
The only top-10 team at home on Saturday is the No. 4 Missouri Tigers, and they have to face No. 8 Kansas.
No. 2 Syracuse Orange at St. John’s Red Storm
12:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Orange (22-1 straight up, 14-8 against the spread) get back center Fab Melo, who missed the last three games due to academic issues. Melo only scores 7.2 PPG, but he’s their leading rebounder (5.7) and shot-blocker (3.0). They had their only loss without him, 67-58 at Notre Dame on January 21. Scoring also dipped to 60.3 PPG the last three games (1-2 ATS), the ‘under’ 5-0 in the most recent outings.
The Red Storm (10-12 SU, 8-11 ATS) have had their own big loss this year with coach Steve Lavin out since November due to cancer treatments. This freshman dominated lineup has played better the last three games (2-1 SU, 3-0 ATS). Team scoring is way up the last four (79.3 PPG) versus the season average (67.6 PPG). That’s helped the ‘over’ go 4-0.
Syracuse has won the last six meetings against St. John’s, covering the last four.
No. 6 (tie) Baylor Bears at Oklahoma State Cowboys
1:45 p.m. (ET) on ESPN3
Baylor (20-2 SU, 7-8 ATS) has won three straight after consecutive losses to highly ranked squads, at Kansas (92-74) and home to Missouri (89-88). Covering spreads has still been difficult at 1-2 ATS in the last three and 3-6 ATS in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys (11-11 SU, 10-10 ATS) are looking for another home upset after beating then No. 2 Missouri, 79-72 as 8½-point ‘dogs on January 25. That improved their home mark to 8-2 SU (3-5 ATS). The problem in this game could be on the glass. Oklahoma State is last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (-3.6), while Baylor is third (+5.2).
Oklahoma State got killed at Baylor (106-65) on January 14, but is 4-0 SU and ATS the last four home games against the Bears.
No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers
2:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
Ohio State (19-3 SU, 11-6 ATS) has seen all three of its losses come on the road. The first was at Kansas (78-67) with Jared Sullinger injured, with the latter two in the Big Ten at Indiana (74-70) and Illinois (79-74). The Buckeyes have played well since Illinois, 4-0 SU and ATS including a 79-45 blowout at Nebraska.
Wisconsin (18-5 SU, 12-8 ATS) is 7-3 SU in the conference, tied with Michigan and only a half-game behind Ohio State (7-2 SU). The Badgers have won six straight (3-3 ATS) since losing 59-41 at Michigan on January 8. The Buckeyes are easily the toughest team in this current stretch.
Wisconsin beat then No. 1 Ohio State in Madison last year (71-67), and also 65-43 the prior year when OSU was ranked No. 15.
No. 6 (tie) North Carolina Tar Heels at Maryland Terrapins
4:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Tar Heels (19-3 SU, 11-10 ATS) have won four straight games, the last three coming after losing guard Dexter Strickland (knee) for the year. They most recently failed to cover large spreads in wins versus Georgia Tech (93-81) and at Wake Forest (68-53), and depth could be an issue down the stretch.
The Terrapins (13-8 SU, 7-9-1 ATS) are 11-2 at home at the Comcast Center, but just 3-5-1 ATS. They had another marquee home matchup with Duke on January 25, losing 74-61 as 10 ½-point ‘dogs. Guard Terrell Stoglin (21.8 PPG) is the main scorer. He had 61 points the last two games versus Virginia Tech (73-69 win) and at Miami (90-86 OT loss). Both were covers.
Maryland is 3-0 SU and ATS the last three home games against North Carolina. The ‘over’ is 6-0 in the last six meetings overall.
No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats at South Carolina Gamecocks
6:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Wildcats (22-1 SU, 7-14-1 ATS) have won 14-straight games and are even covering spreads lately at 3-0 ATS in the last three. The defense has stepped up the last three games (46 PPG), with two of them on the road at Georgia (57-44) and LSU (74-50). The ‘under’ is 9-0 outside of Rupp Arena this year.
South Carolina (9-12 SU, 8-8 ATS) ranks 11th in the SEC in scoring at 63 PPG, almost 15 PPG lower than Kentucky (77.8 PPG). The Gamecocks are 1-6 SU in the conference (4-3 ATS). They’ve covered their last three and also at Kentucky on January 7, a 79-64 loss as huge 21-point ‘dogs.
The ‘under’ is 3-0 in the last three meetings between the teams in South Carolina. Kentucky won (67-58) and covered last year, but was upset (68-62) as the No. 1 team the year before.
No. 9 Murray State Racers at Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN3
Murray State (22-0 SU, 8-8-2 ATS) is the only undefeated team in Division I and the only top-10 team outside the six major conferences. The Racers are a perfect 10-0 SU in the Ohio Valley, but 0-5-1 ATS in their last six.
Tennessee Martin (3-21 SU, 6-13 ATS) has lost 12 straight overall, the last 11 in the conference (3-8 ATS). That include a 78-54 loss at Murray State before Christmas, failing to cover the 22 ½--point spread.
Murray State has won the last six meetings (4-2 ATS) against Tennessee-Martin overall. The ‘under’ is 6-1 in the last seven.
No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks at No. 4 Missouri Tigers
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Jayhawks (18-4 SU, 11-10 ATS) beat Oklahoma (84-62) at home on Wednesday after getting upset at Iowa State (72-64) on Saturday. The Iowa State game went ‘under’ the 143 ½-point total and is now 9-0 in Kansas’ road plus neutral site games this year.
The Tigers (20-2 SU, 10-6-1 ATS) have had some tough road games the last two weeks, winning at Baylor (89-88) and Texas (67-66), but losing at Oklahoma State (79-72). They’re happy to return home to Mizzou Arena where they’re a perfect 12-0 SU this season (5-2 ATS).
Kansas is 6-1 SU and 6-0-1 ATS in the last seven meetings between the teams.