Those betting following the NCAA basketball odds by BetUs should be on alert for an upset on Saturday afternoon in New York City at Madison Square Garden, where St. John’s has made a name for themselves this season by taking down top teams, and they’ll have another chance this weekend when No.4 Pittsburgh comes to town.
Pitt is 2-3 straight up and against the spread in their last five trips to the Garden, although those two wins have come in their two previous visits in 2008 and 2010. The Panthers are also a stellar 6-2 ATS away from home, and they’ve won their last three at West Virginia, Villanova and at home against South Florida without leading scorer Ashton Gibbs, who is expected to come back for this game.
The Red Storm are 5-6 ATS at home this year, but they’re rolling with five wins in their last six games and guard Dwight Hardy has been at the heart of that run with 33 points against UConn, 18 at Cincinnati and another 28 points at Marquette. The Red Storm have beaten Georgetown, Notre Dame, Duke (who was then the top team in the nation) and the aforementioned Huskies at the Garden this year, and they fear no one. Coach Steve Lavin may be in line for Big East Coach of the Year as he has resurrected the Red Storm, and along with the resurgence of the Knicks, it’s fun to be a basketball fan in New York City again.
It’s tough to figure who will be favored in this game, given St. John’s play at home this season, but the Panthers are an experienced, hard-nosed team who will grind their opposition down. Having Gibbs back in the lineup gives them their best offensive weapon, and the matchup of Gibbs against Hardy will be fun to watch. Don’t be surprised if this ends up being the best game of the NCAA basketball weekend.
