CBB Sharp Report: Pros Betting Columbia-Boston College, LSU-Houston

We're 24 hours away from Thursday Night Football and 72 hours away from college football bowl action. But that doesn't mean sharps and squares are going light tonight.

With 11 NBA games and eight college basketball games on tap, Wednesday is all about betting hoops.

After breaking down the college basketball board using Sports Insights’ Sportsbook Insider Pro betting tools, I’ve pinpointed two games that sharps are focusing on: Columbia vs. Boston College (7 p.m. ET) and LSU vs. Houston (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

Columbia at Boston College

7 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: Columbia (moved from +16 to +12)

Of all the college hoops games tonight, this one has seen the biggest, sharpest line movement.

Columbia enters this contest with a 3-6 record, while home favorite Boston College is 6-2. Normally, this would be a layup for the public.

However, recreational bettors see a massive spread and don't know which way to go.

Boston College opened as a 16-point favorite. Betting percentages are split right down the middle, yet the Eagles have fallen from -16 to -12. In a vacuum, a line shouldn't move at all if the bets are even.

Columbia is only getting 50% of bets but 79% of dollars. This huge bets vs. dollars split indicates big wagers on the road dog, with $5 recreational bets backing the Eagles.

According to Sports Insights' Bet Signals, wiseguys steamed Columbia at +15 and +13.5, causing the line to plummet.

LSU at Houston

9 p.m. ET

Sharp angle: LSU (+6.5 to +3.5) and Over (137 to 142)

We're seeing a classic Pros vs. Joes matchup in the most heavily bet game of the night.

Undefeated Houston (8-0) opened as a 6.5-point favorite on its home court. Despite receiving 67% of bets, the Cougars have fallen from -6.5 to -3.5.

Why would the oddsmakers drop the line to give public Houston backers a better number and easier shot at covering? Because pros got down hard on LSU (7-2) at +5.5 and +4, triggering market-wide reverse line movement.

The Tigers are only getting 33% of bets but 69% of dollars, further evidence of smart money grabbing the points, not laying them.

Wiseguys are also hammering the over/under. It opened at 137 and even though 57% of bets are going Under, the total has risen to 142.

Goodfellas steamed the over three separate times: Over 138.5, 139 and 141.5. This heavy influx of money from respected players created big liability which forced the bookmakers to jack the total up to 142.