Free College Basketball Predictions - February 20, 2009
We grabbed just over one unit last night as we finished 3-2 on the college hardwood. Last night's winner bumped us to +13.3 units over the last six weeks while hitting 65-50, good for 57%. Today we are back on campus with four more premium picks including a 5-unit play!
Today's NCAA Basketball Picks:
Game: Illinois State at Niagara (7:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Illinois State +2.5 (-110) (risk 5 to win 4.6)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 140 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Redbirds were a hot team to open the season with a perfect 14-0 mark, but then stumbled to go 5-5. It wasn't as bad as it looked however, as two of the losses came in OT, and none of the other three were by more than six points. They are now again playing good and have now won five of their last six, three of which were on the road. Niagara is chasing Siena in the MAAC, and saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end in their last game. That streak is a bit misleading as no team was ranked above No. 168 in the RPI. They have played superb vs. cupcakes but the fact is that this Niagara team has not beaten a team all year in the RPI top 100 (they are 0-3). The Redbirds are a much better team, and I like them with the points here as well as the OVER. Niagara hoists 23 three point attempts per game and Illinois State is 12-4 OVER vs. teams that average 21+ long range shots per game. The Redbirds are also 8-1 OVER this season when coming off a game in which they allowed 60 points or less. Niagara is 15-5 OVER the past three seasons after allowing 80+ in their last game. Take the dog and the OVER here.
Game: V C U at Nevada (9:00 PM Eastern)Pick: 3 units on V C U +1 (-110) (risk 3 to win 2.7)Pick: 3 units on Game Total OVER 137.5 -110 (risk 3 to win 2.7)
The Nevada Wolfpack has been on the stage during the NCAA Tournament for a few years, and is a team that had a five-year run of averaging over 25 wins a season. This team is a far cry from what they have put on the floor in the recent past. They have already lost six games at home, and it took them four years to lose seven games prior to this season. They have yet to take down a team with an RPI of higher than No. 131 (VCU No. 78). Against RPI top 130 teams, The Wolfpack are just plain bad, having posted a dismal O-6 SU record. VCU is on their way to another 20+ win season. Eric Maynor will be the best player on the court as he brings 23 points per game and six assists per game into this contest. VCU is the better team in this one getting a point. I also like the OVER here. VCU is 22-11 OVER the past three seasons in road games while Nevada is 9-1 OVER followoing a game in which 125 or fewer points were scored. I'm going with VCU and the OVER in this one.
Results: 1-2
NCAA Basketball Picks Resources:
Check out the last five NCAA Basketball Picks Newsletters:
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-February-19-2009
I am hard pressed to understand why the Colonials rate as the choice here. They jumped out to a 6-2 start with some real creampuffs, but have been humbled since going 1-12, with the lone win coming ag...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-February-18-2009
N. Illinois has managed just one road win all season and that was at Alaska Anchorage. They are starting to play better as they are coming off a win and two straight covers for the first time since mi...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-February-17-2009
While Eastern Carolina has played tough at home, the road has not been their friend. They have managed just a 3-7 mark on the road, but when you look at the three wins, none have come against anything...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-February-16-2009
A huge heavyweight battle between the Pitt Panthers and the UConn Huskies takes shape tonight in Connecticut. This game definitely has No. 1 seeding ramifications for the NCAA Tournament attached to i...
NCAA-Basketball-Picks-February-15-2009
Number 22 Illinois squares off vs. Indiana on CBS in this early game. I like the road team to win big. The Illini have covered five of the last six games played against Indiana including a 76-45 drubb...
