Gman,
I spent a lot of money at local bookies betting college hoops years ago, because I didn't understand how Vegas set the lines. It doesn't mean I am a good capper now, but at least I understand the basic principles of setting a line.
With hundreds of games each week, it is impossible for Vegas to look at every game. What is done, is set a power ranking for each team, then a value for how each team plays at home. Then the computer takes over and shoots out the spread based on the rankings and home court values.
When a team constantly beats the spread at home, a.k.a Tenn, Flo State, N C State, it is beacause Vegas is behind on placing the correct value on their home court, and Vegas may go thru a whole season without ever getting the value correct. It is difficult to change the power ratings by any significamnt number because it would screw up the number when these Monsters at home go on the road, where most don't do as well
If one would go back and check Tenn record at home, against kentucky, you will find an 80% cover by Tenn over a 40 year period. I have seen Tenn + huge numbers, like 7, 8 , 9, absolutely kick the crappolla out of Kentucky, SU as huge dogs, but, only at home. It is one of the biggest rivalries in college hoops, imo. When Kentucky TOPPED off Rupp Arena years ago and became the largest on-cmpus arena in the U S, Tenn anounced that very day, they were building their own, only with a capacity a few hundred more then Kentucky. Civil War stuff
Years ago I followed two teams closely, both when they were on te road. Northwestern and Colorado, Conference games only. Over a 12 year period, Northwestern failed to cover 85% of the time on the road and Colorado, in the days of the Big 8, covered only an average of 1 1/2 games each year, playing 7 away games.
There are still teams out there performing as Colo and N W did, the trick is finding them. We all know about the Monsters at home, Tenn, NCS and Flo State, and Colorado isn't too bad either.
If sanyone wants to share info on lines, or how they set their own, feel free to join in. I am sure we all can learn something.
Chicago Bob