Friday's Best NCAAB Bet
Siena Saints at Farfield Stags
This game might end up putting the scorers table to sleep.
Fairfield is one of the top defensive teams in the country. Opponents are scoring just 58.1 points per game (5th nationally), making just 39.8 percent of their field goals (27th) and nailing a meager 32.2 percent of their shots from distance (76th). Heck, the team is so physical that opponents are shooting a horrendous 63.1 percent from the foul line when they do get an uncontested look.
Not surprisingly, the team has seen the under go 12-8 this season. Plus, the low-scoring Stags offense also should be somewhat subdued with the continued absence of forward Greg Nero. The senior is recovering from Mono and has contributed 5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game when healthy.
On the other bench, Siena has been greatly over valued by oddsmakers. The team has seen the under hit in 17 of 25 games and three of its past four overall.
Siena has struggled with the graduation of nearly all its star players the past two seasons and is a far cry from the perennial NCAA Tournament dark horse of the previous years.
And now the team must also deal with injuries. Key bench player Kyle Downey is averaging 6.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this season but has been hobbled by a hip injury. He is questionable for Friday’s game.
If you still don’t believe, just look at the recent history between the teams: each of the past three meetings have cashed the under.
Pick: Under
College Basketball Knowledge
Wright State (+4) lost 78-69 at Detroit Dec 4; Titans shot 59% for nite, outscored Raiders 26-12 on foul line. Wright lost last three league games by 8-2-2 points; they're 3-5 as Horizon home favorite. Single digit home favorites are 24-17 vs spread in Horizon League games. Detroit is 1-3 in last four games; they're 1-6-1 vs spread in last eight games as a dog.
Harvard (-15) was down 53-31 at half, rallied to beat Brown 85-78 Jan 12; Crimson shot 56% but had 18 turnovers- Brown was 11-23 from arc in defeat. Harvard is now tied for Ivy lead- they've won last five games, and is 4-1 on Ivy road, winning by 15-1-13-19 points. Brown covered five of last seven games. Ivy League home underdogs are 6-8 vs spread.
Yale (-6) won 69-60 at Dartmouth 13 days ago, outscoring Big Green on foul line, 21-7; Bulldogs lost three of last four games but are 3-2 as faves, winning home games by 8-1-5, with two losses. Dartmouth lost its last seven games (2-5 vs spread); they're 3-2 as road dog, losing away games by 9-31-15-7-20 points. Ivy League double digit home faves are 5-6.
Princeton is now tied for Ivy lead; they won 57-55 (-4) in Ithaca Jan 13, despite 18 turnovers, going 1-8 from arc. Cornell covered four of last five games but is 2-2 as Ivy road dog, losing away games by 4-7-1-23 points. Tigers are 2-3 as Ivy home favorite, winning at home by 18-4-4-15-3ot. Double digit home favorites are 5-6 vs spread in Ivy League games.
Penn Quakers (+1) lost 75-62 at Columbia Feb 12, despite making 51% of shots in game that was tied at half. Penn got outrebounded 34-18, but they've won both games since, allowing 60 ppg. Columbia is 2-3 on road, losing by 11-8-5 points. Single digit home favorites are 6-7 vs spread in Ivy League games. Quakers are 3-1 as an Ivy favorite this season.
Fairfield (+4.5) won 72-55 at Siena Dec 10, shooting 63% in 2nd half to pull away; Stags won 10 of last 11 games, are 5-3 as MAAC favorite at home, winning by 22-10-27-2-15-4-7 points, with loss to Rider. Single digit home favorites are 7-18-1 vs spread in MAAC games. Underdogs are 15-1 vs spread in Siena's league games; Saints are 5-1 when a dog.
St Peter's (+11.5) lost 70-52 at Iona Jan 7, shooting 35% for game- they scored only 18 points in second half. Peacocks are 7-2 in last nine games, covering three of last four as an underdog- they're 6-2 at home in league, with two losses by total of 3 points. Iona won its last five games, with wins by 20-27 in last two. MAAC home dogs of less than 4 are 5-2.
Canisius (-5) won 72-51 at Manhattan Jan 15, turning ball over only six times (+10); Griffins lost last three games overall, are 2-1-1 as MAAC favorite (5-2 SU at home) winning home games by 1-2-15-15-14 points. Jaspers are 6-1-1 vs spread in last eight games, 5-1-1 as MAAC dog on road. Double digit home favorites are 10-9-2 vs spread in MAAC play.
Niagara (+11) won 59-57 at Loyola two weeks ago, after trailing by 13 in second half; Eagles won four of last five games, covered nine of last 11. Erratic Loyola is 4-3 on MAAC road, covering one of last six as a MAAC favorite. MAAC home underdogs of less than 4 points are 5-2. Underdogs are 10-1 vs spread in Loyola's last eleven games.
Marist (+18) lost 80-66 at Rider Jan 20, game that started Broncs on its current 9-2 run; Foxes were outscored 20-3 on foul line. Rider is 7-1 on MAAC road- they're 1-8 vs spread in last nine games as favorite. Dogs are 11-1 in Rider's last 12 games. MAAC home underdogs of more than 5 points are 9-5 vs spread. Marist is 5-2 as a MAAC home underdog.