Conference play is heating up in NCAA men’s basketball, and this weekend brings some juicy NCAA Basketball betting matchups. Duke hosts #17 Miami (FL) in a game that the Blue Devils need to win to start establishing themselves as a tournament team. Duke has split its last six games, making those quality wins over Xavier, Iowa and Ohio State more of a distant memory. The Blue Devils are 9-0 at home, though, and even with Coach K gone in retirement, Cameron Indoor is a difficult place to play. TCU heads to Kansas having dropped three of their last four. After a strong start to 2022-23, and thoughts of a top-five seed in the Big Dance, the Horned Frogs are in danger of ending up on the bubble – and perhaps just in the NIT. For Friday night’s sports betting, we take a look at last year’s Cinderella (Saint Peter’s, who rolled all the way to the Elite Eight) and a Big East elite team that is struggling with a new coach (Villanova).
NCAA News: Top College Basketball Bets for January 20
Saint Peter’s Peacocks (+2.5) at Marist Red Foxes (O/U 122.5) (7:00 pm ET)
Saint Peter’s (7-11) was 5-6 after 11 games last year, but then they went on a run to take their conference tournament and go to the Elite Eight, where they would fall to North Carolina. That run this year would need to start now, as the Peacocks have dropped five in a row and are 2-7 in MAAC play. They have not won since a 67-57 home victory over Manhattan; on Sunday, they lost at home, 56-52, to Fairfield. Isaiah Dasher is the leading scorer for the team (14-1 points per game) and has had 19 ore more in two of his last five contests, but he is shooting less than 38% in this stretch. Jayden Saddler has shot 50% or better in three straight games but is only scoring 8.4 points per night. The team’s defense isn’t bad, ranked 66th nationally and permitting 64.8 points per game, but they only score 61.8, which has them ranked 350th.
Marist (7-9) has won three in a row despite being the underdog in each, including a 66-64 win at Niagara on Sunday after entering as 4 ½-point underdogs. They are now 3-4 in MAAC play, thanks to scrappy play from senior center Patrick Gardner, who has scored at least 20 points in five of his last eight contests and is averaging 18.8 points and 6.5 boards per game this season. However, Marist is just 3-5 at home this year, including a victory over Mount St. Mary’s in their last home contest. They score just 63.5 points per game (345th int he nation) while they permit 66.3 (100th). So don’t expect a lot of scoring – but expect Marist to win and cover.
Villanova Wildcats (+4.5) at St. John’s Red Storm (O/U 150.5) (7:00 pm ET)
Villanova (9-10) has dropped three of five and is 3-5 in Big East play. They beat St. John’s in their first meeting this season, rolling to a 78-63 win. The Wildcats shot 47.5% from the floor overall and 31.6% from three-point land. At the free-throw line, they were elite (94.1%). Eric Dixon had 18 points to lead Villanova, along with six rebounds and a pair of assists, and three of his teammates also hit double figures. On the year, Villanova is scoring 71.4 points per game (180th overall), and they pull down just under 32 rebounds per game. Their defense permits 69.4 points per game, which shows us that their losses have been closer than their wins.
St. John’s (13-6) has won two in a row but is tied with the Wildcats at 3-5 in league play. In their prior loss to Villanova, they only shot 36% overall and clanked 76% of their three-point shots (and missed half of their free throws). Joel Soriano had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and A.J. Storr added 15 points, but those were the lone bright spots. The Red Storm can score in bunches, averaging 79.3 points per game, but their defense can be a bit generous, permitting 72.4. They turn the ball over almost 14 times per game, a number that could improve, but that can also be the result of playing at tempo. Villanova to cover.
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