Big Monday Tip Sheet

Big Monday Tip Sheet

The Big East and Big XII dominate this week’s Big Monday schedule on ESPN with a pair of quality matchups. Both tilts feature programs that sit atop their respective leagues, while the other squads are looking to turn their seasons around. Let’s get to it…
Marquette Golden Eagles at Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 7:00 p.m. EST

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the line for this contest with the Fighting Irish as three-point home favorites. They also set the total up at 156.

--Marquette (17-2 straight up, 7-6-1 against the spread) stayed perfect in Big East play by taking down the Blue Demons on Jan. 24, 79-70. While it was a good win for the Golden Eagles, they failed to cover the spread as 16 ½-point home favorites. Part of the reason for the close finish is due to DePaul shooting 75 percent from the free throw line, compared to the 58 percent Marquette shot at the charity stripe.

--Despite the discrepancy at the free throw line, the Eagles got huge efforts out of three of their best players. Jerel McNeal scored 21 points to lead his club, but he was like a glove on defense by stealing the ball six times. Lazar Hayward put up 16 points with 17 rebounds and Wesley Matthews pulled down six boards and 20 points himself.

--The Fighting Irish fought hard against Connecticut last Saturday night by trailing just 30-29 at halftime. Unfortunately for Notre Dame (12-6 SU, 4-8 ATS), Luke Harangody’s 24 points and 15 rebounds just weren’t enough as they fell to the Huskies, 69-61. Even worse for bettors is the fact that the Irish failed to cover as two-point home pups. It was the fourth straight game that they didn’t cover the number.

--Notre Dame has done well to win outright at home, posting a 9-1 record SU. Yet gamblers have been wise to fade them at the betting shops as they’ve gone just 2-3 ATS in board affairs. The ‘under’ is 3-1 for the Irish at South Bend.

--The Golden Eagles have enjoyed the road for the most part by going 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS this season. The ‘under’ is 4-2 for Marquette as well.

--This has been a decidedly one-sided battle in recent years as the Eagles are 6-3 SU and ATS since 1997. The ‘over’ is on a 5-0 run between these clubs.
Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys – 9:00 p.m. EST

--The good folks at LVSC installed the Sooners as four-point road favorites with the total coming in at 148.

--The Sooners continue to dominate the Big XII landscape by throttling Baylor as seven-point home favorites, 95-76. And to nobody’s surprise, Oklahoma (19-1 SU, 9-6 ATS) rode Blake Griffin’s coattails to this win. Griffin scored 20 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and had four assists as he continues to pad his Player of the Year resume.

--Oklahoma State (13-5 SU, 5-6-1 ATS) needed an extra period against the Cornhuskers, but they still found a way to win as a 2 ½-point road underdog, 76-74. James Anderson paced the Cowboys by scoring 18 points and eight rebounds. Something the ‘Pokes were able to do really well was spread the wealth as five of their eight players that played last Saturday scored at least 10 points.

--Oklahoma has played extremely well away from Norman this year with a 7-1 record SU and 5-3 ATS. Bettors have seen the ‘under’ go 5-2 for the Sooners on the road as well.
--The general public has seen the Cowboys play great at home as evidenced by them going 9-1 SU. The wagering public, on the other hand, have seen them go just 3-2 ATS and see the ‘under’ boast the same record in games that were on the board.

--Oklahoma State might have a more storied program; the Sooners have dominated the recent rivalry. Oklahoma has won six of the last eight games outright, covering the number in four of them with one push. The ‘under’ is on a 4-0 run in this matchup.