College basketball handicapping – Injuries to guards threatens top teams
March Madness betting fans know the effect that injuries can play on college basketball handicapping. There are a few players who are hobbling into the NCAA Tournament, and in particular, the point-guard position has been hit hard. We’ve already seen what losing Dominic James has done to Marquette and its March Madness odds, so let’s look at some other players who are questionable heading into the “Big Dance”.
College basketball handicapping – sorting through the point guard injuries
- Lawson’s toe could spell doom for Tar Heels
- Collison’s tailbone could derail Bruins
- Pitt’s Fields struggles through groin, back ailments
Ty Lawson, North Carolina
The Tar Heels are still big favorites to win the South region with March Madness odds of -150, but there is a big question mark surrounding the status of Lawson, the junior guard who won the ACC’s Player of the Year award. Lawson jammed his toe prior to the Tar Heels’ victory in their regular-season finale against archrival Duke and, while he still played very well against the Blue Devils, he probably aggravated it even worse in that game.
Lawson was held out of the ACC tournament and the Tar Heels lost to Florida State in the semifinals, while also struggling in their quarterfinal win over Virginia Tech. Lawson makes the Tar Heels’ No. 2-ranked offense go with his speed and ability to penetrate, and since North Carolina is only average defensively, it depends on its ability to outscore opponents. Lawson could miss the opener against 16th-seeded Radford and, while it shouldn’t be costly, the Tar Heels will need him to reach the Sweet 16.
Darren Collison, UCLA
The Bruins need their senior point guard, as Collison sparks the team at both ends of the court. Collison fell and hurt his tailbone in the regular-season finale against Oregon. He didn’t miss any time but maybe should have sat out the Pac-10 tournament. The Bruins lost to rival USC in the semifinals after beating Washington State, and Collison’s numbers were awful over the two games: 4-of-18 shooting, 1-of-8 from long range, with eight assists and eight turnovers, seven of which came in the USC game.
UCLA is ranked behind Pittsburgh, Duke and Florida State in the East’s sportsbook odds at +700 as a No. 6 seed, and the Bruins have a tough first-round opponent in Virginia Commonwealth. If Collison is less than 100 percent, college basketball handicapping fans could see the Bruins make an early exit.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh
The Panthers are favored to emerge from the East with sports betting lines of +150 but, without Fields, their chances could take a serious hit. The senior guard has had nagging back and groin injuries over the second half of the season, and they may have played a part in Pitt’s 74-60 loss to West Virginia in the Big East quarterfinals. Fields was 3-of-10 with seven assists, but he also had an uncharacteristic five turnovers, his second-highest total of the year.
Fields is second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, and his ability to take care of the ball and distribute it to Big East co-Player of the Year DeJuan Blair and Sam Young is crucial to the Panthers’ success. While doing your college basketball handicapping, keep your eyes and ears open for news on Fields.
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Washington Tucker was practically raised at Rucker Park. Though a freak knee injury cost him a major college basketball scholarship, his “sixth-sense” on the hardwood has translated into a spectacular career in basketball handicapping. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
