Thursday, January 27, 2011

Which remaining home win streak has the most staying power?

No streak can last forever.

Kansas's 69-game home win streak came to a halt on Saturday thanks to a monster of a second half from Texas.

Behind the Jayhawks, after Saturday, no team in America has a streak even half as long as theirs was.

But which of the longest current runs has the most staying power for the rest of the season? Let's examine the top 10 … with odds!

1. Duke - 30 games — Next: Thursday vs. Boston College

There's a very strong chance that this streak is still intact when the 2011-12 season tips off, as the ACC is beyond down this year. Plus, the Blue Devils have only five homers remaining in league play (BC, N.C. State, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Clemson). They also host a non-con game against Temple in late February. Nothing too scary here. Odds - 5:3

2. Kentucky - 28 games — Next: Saturday vs. Georgia

The Wildcats have already flirted with fire a handful of times this season, and the SEC right now might be the most unpredictable league in America. Like Duke, they have no ranked opponents left on the schedule, but their remaining home slate (Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Florida, Vanderbilt) looks a little more dangerous. Plus, the Wildcats' youth has to be taken into account here. Odds — 6:1

3. Utah State - 26 games — Next: Feb. 2 vs. Nevada

The Smith Spectrum is quietly one of the toughest venues to visit in the country. In 12 seasons at USU, Stew Morrill has only lost at home 12 times, and only three times against WAC opponents. The Aggies are without question the class of the league this season, and this streak appears to be on more solid ground than any. Plus, it could go on for a while, as USU has a tough time getting high-level non-con competition to come to Logan. Odds — 3:2

T-4. Pittsburgh — 20 games — Next: Monday vs. Notre Dame

The fact that Pitt plays in the toughest league in the country and has reached 20 straight home wins is an accomplishment in itself. Of the Panthers' five remaining home games, four are against current Top 25 teams (Notre Dame, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Villanova). Eh … Odds — 10:1

T-4. VCU — 20 games — Next: Thursday vs. Hofstra

This one might be just as vulnerable as Pitt's. The Rams have four home games left, but they come against Hofstra, who is tied with VCU for first in the CAA, and the three teams directly below them in the league standings (Old Dominion, George Mason, James Madison). Odds — 10:1

6. Missouri State — 19 games — Next: Jan. 30 vs. Northern Iowa

It's not just the fact that the Bears are undefeated at home this season that's impressive, but it's how they've been destroying opponents there. MSU is 11-0 in Springfield, winning those games by an average margin of 16.8 points. That number was dragged down a bit on Saturday with a 67-66 victory over Creighton. The Bears' next two home games include always-dangerous Northern Iowa and Indiana State, who handed them their lone MVC loss this season. Most threatening might be the Feb. 26 finale against Wichita State, plus there's a potential home BracketBuster game the week before. Odds — 6:1

T-7. North Texas — 17 games — Next: Feb. 3 vs. Florida Atlantic

The four remaining home games for the Mean Green are a mixed bag. They'll host two Sun Belt cellar-dwellers (Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama), and two heavy-hitters (7-0 Florida Atlantic and 6-1 Denver). Odds — 10:1

T-7. St. Mary's — 17 games — Next: Feb. 3 vs. Pepperdine

No home court appears safe anymore in the WCC, but as far as the rest of this season is concerned, the safest is probably in Moraga, Calif. The Gaels host Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, struggling Gonzaga and Portland. Odds — 5:1

T-9. Ohio State — 16 games — Next: Tuesday vs. Purdue

From several accounts, despite the Buckeyes being the nation's top-ranked team, Value City Arena isn't the world's most intimidating place to visit. Add in remaining home games against four ranked foes (Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin), and this one looks to be on thin ice, too. Odds — 9:1

T-9. Temple — 16 games — Wednesday vs. Charlotte

The Owls benefit from the schedule the rest of the way. Four of their opponents (Charlotte, Fordham, St. Joseph's, La Salle) are A-10 bottom-feeders. A Feb. 17 game against Richmond is without question Temple's biggest remaining hurdle. Odds — 5:1

Three More Streaks To Watch For

San Diego State (14 games) — Viejas Arena has quickly become maybe the toughest place to play on the West Coast. Tickets for the rest of the season are all but gone, and outside of home dates with BYU, it looks like it could be a walk for the Aztecs.

Cleveland State (13 games) — The Vikings are still the second best team in the Horizon League, and Butler made them remember that with a 79-56 whipping in Indianapolis on Jan. 7. Of Cleveland State's five remaining home games, a revenge-fueled rematch with the Bulldogs on Feb. 5 will be the most difficult.

Washington (11 games) — The Huskies are finding a stride as February nears, and their toughest Pac-10 home game is out of the way after they waxed Arizona on Thursday night, 85-68. All that's left is Cal, Stanford, Washington State, UCLA and USC.

Ryan Greene covers UNLV and the Mountain West Conference for the Las Vegas Sun. Follow him on Twitter.

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