Minnesota (16-14)
+8, o/u 136
at Cincinnati (20-12), 9 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
It’s the Big 10 vs. the Big East when the Minnesota Gophers challenge the Cincinnati Bearcats Tuesday night in an NIT second-round game in the Queen City.
Minnesota struggled through its Big 10 schedule this season, going 5-11 and finishing 10th. The Gophers then beat Michigan but lost to Iowa in the conference tournament.
Cincinnati went 8-8 in the Big East this season, finishing in 8th place. The Bearcats then lost their first Big East tournament game to Syracuse.
The Gophers have won two of their last three games, including a 73-58 win over Wake Forest last Wednesday as 3-point home chalk in their NIT first-round game.
The Bearcats have also won two of their last three games after beating Charlotte 86-80 last Friday as 7-point home favorites in their NIT first-rounder.
Minnesota is 11-12 against the spread this season, 2-8 straight up and 4-6 ats on the road and 9-8 ats as underdogs.
Cincinnati is a wallet-lightening 10-18 vs. the number this season, 15-4 straight up but 5-10 ats at home, and 5-11 ats as favorites.
Cincinnati is 2-6 against the spread this season when giving eight or more points. Minnesota is 2-3 ats when getting eight or more points.
The Gophers shoot just 33% from 3-point range and 67% from the line, but they do own a +3 rebounds per game margin.
Cincy shoots just 32% from beyond the arc but 75% from the line. They also hold opponents to just 41% shooting from the field but own a –1 rebounds per game margin.
The Bearcats start three seniors; Minnesota starts two seniors, a junior, a soph and a frosh.
The Sagarin PREDICTOR ratings at usatoday.com rank Cincinnati 31st at 84.3, Minnesota 82nd at 79.6. The RPI at NCAAsports.com ranks the Bearcats #40, the Gophers #83.
The over is 18-11 in Cincinnati games this season, but 10-14 in Minnesota games.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: There's no doubt that Cincinnati is the better and more athletic team here. That doesn't mean that covering an eight point spread will be easy thought. The difference between a good handicapper and a bad one is the ability to decipher what SHOULD happen and what CAN happen. Minny is playing good ball and CAN cover this spread. We like the Golden Gophers here getting the eight. Good luck!
