There are only nine games on the Friday college basketball schedule, including just one ranked team, but there are a number of interesting betting trends.
The nine games break down to four from the Ivy League and three from the MAAC. There is one each from the Horizon League and Atlantic Sun.
Note that road teams in MAAC play have gone 27-22-4 ATS this year (55 percent). The Ivy League started its in-conference season late with road teams covering at a 60 percent rate (9-6).
Rider Broncs at Loyola (MD) Greyhounds
7:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
Loyola (MD) is 16-5 straight up and 6-6-3 against the spread on the season. The MAAC mark is 9-2 SU, tied for first with Iona and Manhattan, with those teams hosting bottom dwellers Canisius and Marist respectively on Thursday (results pending).
The Greyhounds are sixth in the conference in scoring (68 PPG) and third in defense (64 PPG). They’re on a 4-game winning streak, tightening up defensively at 54.5 PPG. Playing the MAAC’s three lowest scoring teams (Canisius, Siena, St. Peter’s) has helped, but they also shut down a potent Niagara bunch (69-57 away). The ‘under’ is 5-0 in their last five games overall.
The Broncs (9-14 SU, 10-7-1 ATS) come into this contest on a 3-game winning streak. Those were home wins and covers as favorites over Canisius (89-65), St. Peter’s (90-55) and Siena (83-72), with the ‘over’ 3-0.
Rider will present some problems defensively on Friday, but averaged just 67.3 PPG the last three away, losing them all (1-1-1 ATS). It would be a big break if Loyola (MD) leading scorer Dylon Cormier (14.5 PPG) is out with an ankle injury. He’s questionable after missing last game.
This is the first meeting between the teams this season. The road team has covered each of the last six.
Cornell Big Red at No. 23 Harvard Crimson
7:00 p.m. (ET)
The Big Red (7-11 SU, 5-5 ATS) must feel like they’re going to the slaughterhouse. Not only are they playing the undisputed conference power, but they’re winless on the road (0-9 SU, 3-4 ATS).
The one Cornell road game in the Ivy League was at Columbia on Jan. 21. The 61-56 final failed to stay within the 3½-point line and went ‘under’ the 126-point total. The ‘under’ is 7-2-1 for Cornell this year, scoring (65.7 PPG) almost exactly the same as Harvard, but giving up 14 more points at 67.5 PPG.
The Crimson (18-2 SU, 9-6 ATS) have been making waves since Thanksgiving after beating Utah (75-47), Florida State (46-41) and Central Florida (59-49) on the way to the Battle 4 Atlantic championship.
Harvard is 4-0 SU (2-2 ATS) in the conference. Only one of those games was at home, 63-47 over Dartmouth on Jan. 7, failing to cover the huge 22-point spread. Harvard ranks third nationally in scoring defense (53.4 PPG) under coach Tommy Amaker. The ‘under’ is 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference (allowing just 44.8 PPG).
Harvard won and covered both meetings last year, winning 78-57 at home as 11-point favorites.
Cleveland State Vikings at Loyola (IL) Ramblers
9:00 p.m. (ET) on ESPNU
This is an interesting betting matchup despite Cleveland State (9-2 SU) leading the Horizon League and Loyola (IL) at the bottom at 0-11 SU.
The Vikings are 18-4 SU and 9-9-1 ATS, looking for just their third March Madness trip ever, most recently in 2009. They’re 6-1 SU and 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games, including a 69-48 win over Loyola (IL) as 14-point home favorites on January 7.
Cleveland State is not an explosive team at 67 PPG (199th nationally), but that’s good enough for third in this anemic conference. The last game was a 67-47 win at Youngstown State last Saturday, going ‘under’ the 132½-point total. The ‘over’ was 10-0 in the Vikings’ previous 10 games with a total.
The Ramblers are the nation’s fifth-lowest scoring team (54.5 PPG). It’s hard to imagine things getting much worse offensively, but second-leading scorer Walt Gibler (13.4 PPG) is questionable with a shoulder injury. They could only manage 41 points without him last Friday at Wright State, a 47-41 loss as 9-point ‘dogs.
Loyola (IL) has covered three straight, including losing 63-57 to Butler as 7½-point home underdogs on January 21. However, the team failed to cover in its previous four home games with a spread.
Cleveland State is 4-0 SU and ATS the last four meetings overall, winning 81-70 last year in Chicago as 3-point favorites.