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In this article every week, we'll be reviewing some of the top college basketball games of the day to see how we can beat Vegas. Today's slate of games includes five mid-major games.
Wednesday's 2-3 record left a bad taste in the mouth seeking more, having missed out on 2 games by a half-point each. As teams make their last pitch for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the key is to evaluate momentum and motivation properly.
Here are some of the top college basketball expert betting picks for Saturday, February 29. Let me know your thoughts, and follow me on Twitter @fredetterline. All game times below are Eastern Standard Time.
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Saint Francis-PA @ Robert Morris - 1:00 pm
In what is shaping up to be the Northeast Conference regular-season title game, Saint Francis travels the two hour trip from Loretto to Moon, PA. The Red Flash have won eight consecutive games, including dispatching of Bobby Mo handily two weeks ago. While Robert Morris leads the all-time series 15-11, the Red Flash have won the last nine games in this series, a dominant run that dates back to January 2016. St. Francis will be aiming to score at a heightened pace, while the Colonials typically like the scores of their games to end up in the fifties and sixties.
Robert Morris is running in the opposite direction at the moment. After an 11-2 start to conference play, the Colonials have lost three of their past four. If this game comes down to the wire, don't be surprised if Coach Andy Toole has a few tricks up his sleeve to help take the win - the Colonials are 64-41 in games decided by five points or less during Toole's tenure in Moon. Senior guards Sayveon McEwen, Josh Williams and forward Yannis Mendy will be honored for Senior Night.
Pick: St. Francis PK
Iona @ Niagara - 1:00 pm
The Iona Gaels have represented the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons. Despite Coach Tim Cluess' absence this season on medical leave, the Gaels have managed to come back from a 2-7 start to the season to find themselves at 11-13, and with a 9-8 record in conference play. The Gaels are led by their quartet of seniors in guards EJ Crawford, Isaiah Ross, and Asante Gist, and forward Tajuan Agree. Niagara won the January matchup between these teams, but Iona has made significant strides since that game and appears to have the momentum with six wins in their last seven games.
Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy once said, "The MAAC is the best league there is. Every team is the same. Every game is super competitive. One of these years, I swear, every single team in the league is going to finish 9-9." That quote embodies Niagara's season as the Purple Eagles have won a game against each of the teams that reside in the top-5 places in the MAAC standings. According to advanced metrics, Niagara has a sub-300 defense, and a below-average offense.
Pick: Iona -3
Delaware @ North Carolina-Wilmington (UNC-W)- 7:00 pm
Coach Martin Ingelsby directed Delaware to its first 20-win season since the 2013-2014 season, which ended in an NCAA Tournament appearance that season. This year's Fightin' Blue Hens have a deep roster, with star senior guard Nate Darling shouldering the majority of the scoring load. Junior guard Ryan Allen and junior forward Dylan Painter, a Villanova transfer, provide Coach Ingelsby with 2 proven options on offense. Delaware has yet to lose three consecutive games all season.
This season has turned into a season that the Seahawks would like to forget. Head Coach CB McGrath was fired mid-season, star point guard Kai Toews left the team after 13 games to return to his native Japan to start his professional career, and the Seahawks find themselves with a 10-20 record. UNCW has dropped the last five games with Delaware, including a 14-point loss earlier this season.
Pick: Delaware first half -2
Belmont @ Tennessee State - 8:30 pm
Despite replacing coach legend Rick Byrd and several key contributors, the Belmont Bruins find themselves in a 3-way tie for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) with Murray State and Austin Peay. The hyper-efficient Belmont offense is orchestrated by new Coach and former Belmont graduate Casey Alexander, who took the Lipscomb Bison to the NIT finals a season ago. The Bruins' greatest threat on offense is 6-foot-11 sophomore center Nick Muszynski who scored 23 points in Thursday's win over Tennessee Tech. Muszynski is joined by a band of emerging sophomore guards in Adam Kunkel, Grayson Murphy and Tate Pierson who have helped Belmont to an OVC-best 80.6 points per game in conference play.
Tennessee State Head Coach Brian Collins was a former player for Belmont in the early 2000-s. Collins' Tennessee State Tigers are tied for sixth place in the OVC and sport an impressive 11-2 record at home, with the two losses coming to Murray State and Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers dropped the first game in Nashville between these teams by 23 points, and they may struggle to keep up with Belmont's high-powered offense.
Pick: Belmont -8
Eastern Washington @ Northern Colorado - 9:00 pm
Eastern Washington is on a nice stretch, having won 10 of their last 12 games. The Eagles have produced on offense, averaging over 80 points per game in conference play. The team is led by Mason Peatling and Jacob Davison, who are scoring nearly 19 and 18 points per game, respectively in conference play. The Eagles won the first matchup between these teams at home, but now face an improved and rolling Bears squad in a game that could ultimately decide the Big Sky regular-season title.
The Northern Colorado Bears are in the midst of a five-game winning streak and have taken the lead in the Big Sky Conference. The Bears sport an impressive 11-2 record at home, and are the top-rated Big Sky school in the NCAA's NET rankings at 100th. Senior guard Jonah Radebaugh will be playing his final home game at the Bank of Colorado Stadium, and this game has important implications. Northern Colorado's five turnovers per game ranks fifth-best in the nation.
Pick: Under 148
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