I got a lot of traction from an article I put together around mid-season that detailed the key stats, trends, and systems regarding NFL rematches. With divisional teams playing twice annually against their biggest rivals, the rematch, or in half the cases, revenge aspect of the second-time around games takes on unique importance.
The same can be said in college basketball, where most conference schedules pit league opponents against each other two times every season. It can become three times when you add conference tournament action into the mix. Naturally, some teams fare better than others when facing a team they’ve already played, albeit due to coaching adjustments made or a variety of other reasons. With that in mind, this piece is dedicated to uncovering the best and worst rematch teams in the country recently, as well as some other top trends and systems that you can employ as the calendar turns to February, a month synonymous with rematches in college hoops.
There is a lot to be sorted out yet in terms of the conference races, and the bids forthcoming to the annual postseason tournaments. What will clarify this picture the rest of the way? For the most part, it will be the rematches between conference rivals. In most cases, teams have faced a good percentage of their league foes already. There is plenty of game film to be digested as well. How will teams adjust the second time around? Does it matter if they won or lost the opening game? Are there certain teams that are better in late-season rematches when favored or when playing at home, etc? Are there any specific scenarios when it’s better to back teams in revenge mode? This article will answer all of those questions and much more.
The months of February and March are always the biggest for betting college basketball, both because of football wrapping up and because bettors are much more familiar with the teams now than they were earlier in the season. Using this rematch info should help give readers a leg up in the handicapping process, as it is an important part of what happens the rest of the way.