re: LSU MBB are favorites vs a ranked opponent

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Can you explain this a little better?

LSU was a +11.5 dog at A&M, but won by 15.

Now they’re -3 favorites

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The sportsbooks generally have their own predicative power ratings which are a numerical analysis. Ole Miss's power rating number is probably about 1.5 - 2.5 points higher than LSU's. That means on a neutral floor, OM would be a 1.5 - 2.5 favorite. But homecourt advantage is BIG in college basketball. Generally worth anywhere from 3-6 points. And that homecourt advantage isn't strictly tied to just how raucous of a home atmosphere to you have. It's simply that winning games in another teams' gym is tough. That's why home underdogs in CBB is usually a really good bet. Unranked home teams beat ranked away teams pretty regularly.

So if OM's power rating number is, say, 9.0 and LSU's is 7.5, you give LSU an additional 4.5 points for being at home and the spread is LSU (-3)

Or to put it in simpler terms. The predictive data suggests OM isn't as good as their record indicates. On the flip side, that data suggests A&M is better than their record indicates. I tend to agree. The only WTF result in A&M's first 4 games is the LSU loss. I think A&M just wasn't prepared and LSU beat them at their own game (rebounding). Since that time A&M has played a brutal schedule. They lost at Auburn in a game that was much closer than the final total suggests (one score game in the final 1:00). They beat UK at home and then lost by 1 last night @ Arkansas...a very though place to play.