Manhattan vs. WVU Prediction
Following their first loss of the season, will West Virginia roll tonight when it hosts Manhattan at 7:00PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Mountaineers are 25.5-point home favorites versus the Jaspers after opening as a 23-point favorite. As for the total, the number hit the board at 148 and that’s where it currently sits.
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Manhattan is off to a 2-3 start to the season, with wins over Hofstra and, in the Jaspers’ most recent game, over Detroit 84-81 in overtime. The Jaspers’ losses came at Temple, at home against Winthrop and on the road against Bucknell. They’re led by Zavier Turner, who is averaging 19.4 points per game and 3.0 assists, as well as Zane Waterman, who is pulling down 7.4 rebounds per contest.
The Mountaineers saw their perfect 4-0 start vanish to the same Temple squad that beat Manhattan, 81-77 as a 12.5-point favorite on neutral court. The only other lined game that West Virginia played in was an 89-57 victory as a 9-point favorite against Illinois the night before losing to the Owls. Nathan Adrian is off to a nice start for the Mountaineers, averaging 13.2 points per game with 4.0 assists per contest and 7.8 rebounds per game.
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OUR PREDICTION: I fully expect West Virginia to be motivated and focused coming off its first loss. The point spread is high, but Manhattan hasn’t faced this level of competition yet and the Mountaineers will be jacked up to play on their home court. WVU is 18-6 against the spread in its last 24 home games and has covered in seven of its last 10 dating back to last season. The Jaspers, meanwhile are 2-5 against the number in their last seven games coming off a win and are 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus a team with a winning record.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREDICTION: WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS -25.5