Basketball Handicapping : USC Effectiveness at Stanford 2/25

• 25 February 2016

One should not underestimate the effects of being the road team for college basketball handicapping!  Tonight is a matchup on the West Coast that could have many people on auto click for their sports investment.  However before you hit password confirm, take a step back and evaluate the situation.  USC (19-8) at Stanford (13-12) has been pegged as only a -2 1/2 point road favorite on the Trojans.  This was deemed insufficient as the sharps moved the line towards the home team to – 1 1/2 for USC.  Let us see which way the winds of profit should blow into for this one.

Teams have struck at the Trojan interior defense as an exploit.  Utah had Jakob Poeltl to pound the paint and almost score at will.  Alas the Cardinal do not have the services of Reid Travis who is out with injury.  Unless the role players on the front line and especially the center position have career games, Stanford will be hurting to score a lot of points this evening.

Effects of Desperation and Home Court

USC should expect a better defensive effort than usual from Stanford.  A lot of it has to do with energy and with the Cardinal about to slide off the map for an NIT bid, the coaching staff will have their team energized.  However, does saying you are going to do a thing stop a dual threat on the court?  Jordan McLaughlin can not only score in his guard role but distribute the ball well.  This type of dual threat is difficult to deal with by teams just willing the defense to play better.

Momentum of the Trjoans losing three of their last four is a great concern.  At Arizona and against Utah are understandable.  Especially the Utes with a weapon that exposes USC as a second round exit team in the NCAA’s at best.  This team is 3-5 on the road and just 8-6 in the PAC 12.  All that being put on the table sees the spread going the wrong way.  USC should be the road favorite and by quite a bit more.  Talent is there as well as their own worry of getting to 20 wins.  Wager the Trojans – 1 1/2 bolster the bankroll tonight at 10 PM.