Friday college basketball games are often reserved for the Ivy League and other smaller-conference matchups, but the Big Ten has a game on that day this week. It’s a big one, as the Iowa Hawkeyes will host the Indiana Hoosiers.
There are also the regular collection of other matchups, including a nationally ranked Buffalo team hosting Kent State. Those are two of the contests to watch and there are several others that jump out when it comes to a gambling perspective.
Below are the best bets on Friday on the college hoops scene in NCAA men’s basketball betting.
We'll have NCAA men’s basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 season.
Odds Analysis
Iowa had its winning streak snapped last time out in a one-point loss to Maryland. Despite the loss, the Hawkeyes are still in the midst of an impressive season with a 20-6 record. Indiana also lost a close game last time out when Purdue got a late tip-in to escape with a two-point victory. The Hoosiers have lost four straight but their most recent win came over a ranked Michigan State team and they would love to knock off another foe in the polls. However, Iowa is the superior team and should be chosen on the moneyline because covering the spread is less certain.
Buffalo is ranked No. 25 in the country and will be a heavy favorite at home against the Kent State Golden Flashes. The Bulls have a 23-3 record on the season and they have won four consecutive games. This is clearly the best team in the MAC and Buffalo will flex its muscle once again. Even in a rout, though, beware of the backdoor cover. The Bulls figure to step off the gas late which will allow Buffalo to beat the spread.
Another interesting matchup pits the Davidson Wildcats on the road against the Rhode Island Rams. Davidson has the better record with a 19-7 mark. Rhode Island is only 12-13 on the year and 5-8 in conference, so it would seem like Davidson would be a comfortable favorite despite the location. However, the oddsmakers think this one is closer to a toss-up, as Davidson is only the two-point favorite. Don’t overthink this one. The Wildcats are the choice to both win and cover the spread.
Don’t forget about the scoring totals in the Friday games in addition to the spread. The matchup between Cornell and Princeton has an over/under of 136.5 points. Both of these teams average around 70 points per game, but the pace will likely be slower than that in this matchup. Consider the “under” as points will be at a premium in this showdown.
Free NCAA men’s basketball ATS Picks
The above wagers are all worthy choices, but there is one other that stands out above the pack when it comes to the best choice on Friday. The IUPUI Jaguars have fallen on tough times of late as they have lost four straight games. That pales in comparison to what their foe is going through, as the Milwaukee Panthers are 9-18 on the season and have lost seven consecutive games.
IUPUI is the much stronger program and gets this game at home. The oddsmakers are on the right track instituting them as the 9.5-point favorites, but it isn’t high enough. Take the Jaguars to cover this spread in easy fashion in NCAA men’s basketball betting.
NCAA Men’s Basketball ATS Pick: IUPUI Jaguars to cover 9.5-spread over Milwaukee Panthers
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