CBB Sharp Report: Pros Betting Ohio State-Rutgers, Three Other Wednesday Games

Wiseguys didn't get the results they hoped for last night, as their Wednesday plays went 1-2, with the lone win coming from a Baylor upset victory at home against Iowa State.

Hot, cold or treading water, the blueprint never changes for the sharps. Keep grinding and bounce back the next day.

After examining today’s stacked 31-game college basketball slate using the betting tools available at Sports Insights and The Action Network, I’ve identified four big games that the wiseguys are targeting on Wednesday night, with three starting at 7 p.m. ET, and one tipping off at 9 p.m. ET.

Betting Terms to Know

Steam Move: Sudden, drastic and uniform line movement across the market caused by an overload of sharp action from respected players.

Reverse Line Movement: When the betting line moves in the opposite direction of the betting percentages. It’s a top smart money indicator.

Line Freeze: When one side is getting heavy betting, but the line won’t budge, indicating sharp liability on the other side.

Juice: The tax or commission that bettors must pay sportsbooks in order for them to accept your wager. A -115 juice means a bettor would have to wager $115 to win $100.

Full Sports Betting Glossary 

Sharp Betting 101: How to Track Professional Betting Action

Ohio State at Rutgers

7 p.m. ET | BTN

Sharp angle: Rutgers (+6 to +5.5) and Over (131 to 133)

Sharps are getting down on both the spread and the over/under in this Big Ten showdown.

Ohio State (12-2) enters this game ranked 16th overall, while unranked Rutgers (7-6) has lost five of its past seven games. As a result, 83% of spread bets are rushing to lay the points with the road favorite Buckeyes.

However, despite receiving such overwhelming support, OSU has fallen from -6 to -5.5.

Using our Sports Insights Bet Signals, we noticed a pair of steam and reverse line moves on Rutgers, with no conflicting plays (or buyback) on OSU. The Scarlet Knights are getting 17% of bets but 49% of dollars, further evidence of sharp money in their favor.

Rutgers also fits two profitable Bet Labs PRO systems: Fade the Public in Big Conferences (57.3% ATS since 2005) and Underdogs on ATS Losing Streaks (55.6% ATS).

Goodfellas are also pounding this total. It opened at 131. Currently 55% of bets but 79% of dollars are taking the over, pushing it up to 133. We also tracked five separate steam and reverse line moves on the over, ranging from over 130.5 to Over 133.5.

La Salle at VCU

7 p.m. ET | MASN

Sharp angle: La Salle (+14.5 to +12.5)

On paper, this looks like an easy blowout win and cover for the home town.

VCU is 10-4 while La Salle is 3-10. Who cares what the spread is, chalk all day.

Not so fast, say the wiseguys.

This line opened at VCU -14.5. Spread bets are split right down the middle, but 81% of dollars are on La Salle. This heavy smart money has dropped VCU down to -12.5.

We've tracked three separate steam and reverse line moves on the road dog, with sharps hitting La Salle at +14, +13.5 and +13. The fact that wiseguys kept hitting La Salle despite the line getting worse tells you all you need to know.

Clemson at Syracuse

7 p.m. ET | ESPN

Sharp angle: Clemson (+5 to +3)

We've seen some massive line movement in this ACC showdown.

Clemson and Syracuse boast identical 10-4 records, however the Cuse name recognition and the fact they are home favorites have the public hammering the Orange.

This line opened at Syracuse -5. Currently 66% of bets are laying the points, yet the line has dropped to Cuse -3.

What caused this massive drop? Follow the money.

Clemson is only receiving 34% of bets, but 56% of dollars– indicating big sharp wagers in their favor, with $5 casual bettors backing the Orange.

The Tigers also fit the Bet Labs PRO system Money Disparity Causes Line Move (59.9% ATS since 2005).

Miami Florida at Florida State

9 p.m. ET | ESPN

Sharp angle: Over (148.5 to 149.5)

Public bettors are psychologically biased toward betting overs. Who can blame them? No one wants to sweat a low-scoring game and root for bricks, blocked shots and shot clock violations.

However, on rare occasions the public will load up on an under, creating unique value for sharps to bet an over.

That is exactly what we're seeing here.

This total opened at 148.5. Currently 71% of bets are taking the under, yet the total has risen to 149.5. Why would the oddsmakers hand out an extra half-point to public under backers?

Wiseguys hammered the over twice, first at 148.5 and then 149, triggering a pair of steam and reverse line moves that forced oddsmakers to adjust the total up to 149.5. Some books are even at 150.