Connecticut Huskies at No. 14 Georgetown Hoyas
Wednesday, 2/1/12, 7:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: Georgetown -3.5
Current Betting Line: Georgetown -3.5
Opening Total: 126.5
Current Total: 126.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Connecticut enters on a three-game losing streak and will look to bounce back from a 50-48 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as nine-point home favorites. The Huskies have also gone “under” the total in five of the past six games. Freshman guard Ryan Boatright’s return might lift the program’s offensive production down the stretch, as he rejoined the team after missing three games due to an NCAA investigation. He scored just six points in 30 minutes versus the Fighting Irish, but is a capable scorer. Connecticut is 17-6 ATS as an underdog over the last two-plus seasons.
The Huskies have allowed opponents to shoot just 36.9 percent from the floor this season, including a 37.4 percent mark during Big East play, which leads all conference teams. Connecticut is really searching for answers on a roster that’s played incredibly selfish after the school captured a national title during the 2010-11 campaign. “Right now, we just don’t have very good leadership in the backcourt,” commented Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun.
Georgetown had its three-game win streak snapped in a 72-60 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers as one-point road underdogs Saturday, while going “over” the posted total of 128.5. The Hoyas are 10-1 at home during the 2011-12 campaign and have won three straight in front of the home fans in this particular series. Offensively, the team managed to shoot just 36.7 percent from the field last time out, which could spell trouble against one of the best defensive teams in the country. “Their defense was very good,” stated Hoyas head coach John Thompson III about Pittsburgh. Georgetown is 2-7 ATS versus conference opponents this year.
The Hoyas never led against the Panthers and will need to do a much better job on the boards to remain competitive Wednesday night. Leading scorer Jason Clark will also need a bounce-back performance, scoring just nine points and missing all five shots from beyond the arc. Senior center Henry Sims is another player to watch, averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while also dishing off a team-best 3.47 assists per game. He had 10 points and finished with five assists against the Panthers.
Bettors will likely back the Huskies due to their 4-0 ATS mark as a road underdog of 6.5 points or less, while the Hoyas are 3-9 ATS following a straight-up loss.
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