BPI: Bettor Power Index #20 – #16
Provided by professional sports bettor PayneInsider
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#20 – KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (19-8) BIG12 AP Poll: NR, Coaches Poll: NR
Frank Martin has put Kansas State on the map since his arrival in 2006 as an assistant. Many disagree with his on-court demeanor, but you can’t dispute the fact that he’s a master recruiter and gets non-stop effort from his guys. Many were down on K-State this season but failed to realize that their horse, Rodney McGruder, was hampered with injuries during their lull (later became public knowledge). When gauging teams with impact freshman, you must account for larger adjustment gaps as they continue to improve throughout the course of a season. This is the case with freshman guard, Angel Rodriguez – and their top player off the pine in Thomas Gipson. The Big 12 is absolutely loaded this year, so back to back wins on the highway against Baylor and Missouri are extremely impressive in addition to their 6 big time wins against my Top 50. Don’t look now, but if the Wildcats reel off 5-straight conference wins to close out the regular season that momentum should carry over to March.
Next Big Game: 2/25 Vs. Iowa State Cyclones
#19 – CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (22-6) PAC12 AP Poll: NR, Coaches Poll: NR
I will admittedly tell you the Cal Bears are one team that has the sharpest sports betting minds mystified. There hasn’t been much movement on California all season as we’ve been extremely reluctant to move them past this spot. Mike Montgomery’s boys are effective on the offensive end, sharing and shooting the ball well – they can knock down shots with the best of them. Despite Cal in the drivers seat to win a power conference, they unquestionably have that “soft” west coast feel to them. The Bears have struggled just about every time they’ve stepped up in competition including; a near 40-point shellacking at the hands of the Missouri Tigers. They’re 0-3 against my top 50, so it will be pertinent to close out the season 3-0 on the highway and bring home the Pac-12 crown.
Next Big Game: 2/26 @ Colorado Buffaloes
#18 – FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES (19-7) ACC AP Poll: 15, Coaches Poll: 16
“Coach Ham” has had his fair share of naysayers over the years, but what he’s doing by competing at a football school in a basketball conference is something you must respect. Florida State’s quickly become one of the ACC’s elite over the last three seasons, and they’ve continued that run in 2012 having trounced North Carolina by 33 and stunned Duke in Cameron. Leonard Hamilton seems to grow seven-footers on a tree in his back yard, and those bigs’ are the reason why FSU is one of the best defensive teams in the country. They block a ton of shots, rebound well, and with timely shooting from Snaer and Dulkys this team is a match up nightmare. This Noles team is looking to make history by winning their first ever ACC regular season title in school history – and fortunately for garnet and gold they control their own destiny. Regardless if they accomplish that tall feat, Florida State has managed to pick up 3 huge wins against my Top 50 – and if they can win the ACC title they will earn themselves at the very least a 3-seed when it comes time to dance in March.
Next Big Game: 2/23 Vs. Duke Blue Devils
#17 – BAYLOR BEARS (22-5) BIG 12 – AP Poll: 13, Coaches Poll: 14
At the college level recruiting is king and nobody does it better than Scott Drew. His Bears lack discipline and his in-game strategies leave a lot to be desired. However, when you have the horses it tends to camouflage deficiencies. Baylor finds itself in no man’s land right between the public that overvalues them, and sharp bettors that undervalue them. The Bears are in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball and have 7 wins against my top 50 – so they definitely rise to the occasion. Speaking with a lot of other sharp minds, they tend to think Baylor is in a lower tier between 20 and 25, but for me, the Bears have crushed that level of competition going 6-1 against teams ranked 25 to 50 in my power rankings. The question I have about Baylor is their mental wherewithal and there just seems to be something missing. They continually collapse down the stretch shooting themselves in the foot and never seem to make “the right play.” Baylor must improve on their efficiency and fundamentals if they want to make that leap to becoming elite. If they do, this team can beat anybody in the country.
Next Big Game: 3/3 @ Iowa State Cyclones
#16 – GEORGETOWN HOYAS (20-5) BIG EAST – AP Poll: 9, Coaches Poll: 8
John Thompson, III has another solid team on his hands this season. The Hoyas just do things the right way by playing a specific brand of basketball with a team first approach – and that allows Georgetown to always be in the discussion. Despite the Big East being down this season, 10 wins and counting is nothing to be ashamed of in a power conference. After losing to Kansas by a few buckets in November, Georgetown reeled off 11-straight victories including; Memphis twice, Louisville, Alabama, and Marquette. The Hoyas have gone 3-2 against my top 25 and have 6 wins against my top 50, they even took Syracuse to the brinks of extinction at the Carrier Dome but came up short in overtime – this ball club is well tested. The Big East tournament will be wide open this year and teams like Georgetown can position themselves nicely for March if they cut the nets down at Madison Square Garden.
Next Big Game: 2/27 Vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The teams you’re still wondering about…
#38 – LONG BEACH STATE 49ERS
#43 – MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE BLUE RAIDERS
#44 – ARIZONA WILDCATS
#58 – NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS
#66 – DENVER PIONEERS
#73 – TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
#345 – GRAMBLING STATE TIGERS
Friday I will be back to reveal teams #11 – #15!
Missed teams #21 – #25? Click here to see yesterday’s list
