Welcome Back Everyone! Today has a large slate of college games which features some premiere match-ups such as Michigan State-Virginia; Maryland-Clemson; & Indiana-Florida State. Use this article as your betting guide today as I will break down several different match-ups. I will be adding to this all afternoon! Sit back; crack open a cold one; and most importantly; enjoy!
Loyola Chicago – Chicago State – 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time
This is a match-up in which it’s obvious that Loyola Chicago will win the game by 20+ points. However; the spread at 34.5 points is pretty daunting.(Although if I was forced to make a decision I would lean Loyola (-34.5). However that won’t be my play today. In the 2019-2020 season; Chicago State averaged 61.8 PPG (ranked 345th of 353) and they gave up 81.8 PPG. (raked 352 of 353). On top of that Chicago State was ranked (210th of 353) in terms of team possessions per game. They are ranked a little higher in this category because their opponents would force them into up-tempo games due to their poor offense and defense.
Now; going to the other side of the ball with Loyola Chicago. They were ranked (331st of 353) in team possessions per game last year. This was because they would typically grind out games and win them on the defensive side. They were also ranked (22nd of 353) in all of college basketball last season in points allowed per game. (62.7) Loyola has great offensive statistics as well; as they were ranked the #5 team in all of college ball last year with team shooting percentage. Yet they only averaged 68.7 PPG. (249th of 353). All of this tells me that they play great defense and slow things down on the offensive end and get quality shots. At the end of the day; Loyola was a top 50 team in DEF efficiency as well. This is going to be an extremely difficult game for Chicago State. I don’t see them scoring more than 50 points in this one. But I also don’t see Loyola scoring more than 85 points; as they play at such a slow pace. I think that the final score will be roughly 48-80.
The Pick: Loyola (IL) / Chicago State – UNDER 139.5 Points
Rhode Island – Wisconsin – 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time
Rhode Island is a sneaky team this year as they have the ability to play toe-to-toe with some of the larger D-1 schools. This game was absolutely circled on their schedule as Wisconsin is just 1 of the three ranked teams they will be playing headed into the year. Rhode Island is coming off a very impressive season where they went (21-9). Going off that; they have had a solid start to this year as well as they sit at (3-2). They’ve played some tough competition so far as evidenced by their strength of schedule ranking (50th of 300). They took Arizona State all the way to the final few minutes. Then beat a San Francisco team by 13 who had just beaten a high ranked Virginia.
Rhode Island was ranked 57th last year in DEF efficiency. Compared to Wisconsins who ranked 80th. Wisconsin is ranked 13th in the nation at the moment and it appears that they are a dominant force once again. However; Wisconsins strength of schedule this year through 4 games is (252nd of 300). Last year Rhode Island played just 2 big-10 schools in Maryland and Purdue. Maryland finished 2nd in the big ten right behind Wisconsin. Rhode Island was able to play them extremely close in the 1st half and were able to cover at this number. (1H) They also played a very talented LSU team last season and were only down by 4 at the half. (Also covering at this number). Wisconsin is coming off a tough 2-point loss against Marquette and that will be fresh in their minds. Interestingly enough; Marquette isn’t one of the premiere defenses in the league either; as evidenced by their poor defensive rankings last year. (243rd of 353) in Point allowed per game. (Whereas their offense was ranked (29th of 253) in PPG. At the end of the day; I am going to put my money on Rhode Island to cover (+5.5) in the 1H.
The Pick: Wisconsin/Rhode Island – Rhode Island 1H (+5.5)
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