Bodog Beat

The Memphis Tigers look to get back to the NCAA final in 2008. (AP Images)

Underdogs had it good during the first week of the college basketball season. True, they got creamed 12-59 SU, but handicappers enjoyed this assortment of cupcakes at 38-32-1 ATS.

There’s one big problem with applying that trend to Monday night’s matchup between the A-10’s UMass Minutemen (25-11 SU, 17-15-1 ATS last year) and the C-USA’s Memphis Tigers (38-2 SU, 18-20-2 ATS), the runners-up to Kansas at March Madness 2008. The Minutemen are in their first year under coach Derek Kellogg, who has installed a new dribble-drive motion offense that will take some time for his players to learn and execute.

UMass (+5) is coming off an 80-73 loss to Southern Illinois at the Coaches vs. Cancer tourney. The No. 13 Tigers destroyed Fairfield 90-63 as 21-point home faves in their season opener; superfrosh Tyreke Evans had a monster game with 19 points in 24 minutes off the bench. Derrick Who?

Get your NCAA basketball odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!