The college basketball weekend is shaping up to be a good one. But there are also some games on Friday night that are worth checking out, including a battle in the Big Ten. We’ve picked out our favorite betting lines for Friday, as well as a prop pick you’ll want to know about.
Army (5-4) at George Washington (8-2)
If you haven’t heard, Army has an important football game on Saturday. But the Black Knights are also in action on the basketball court Friday night. While just 5-4 on the season, the Black Knights have some standout players, including Jalen Rucker, who averages over 19 points per game, and AJ Allenspach, who is averaging 11.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. However, they have to hit the road to face a George Washington team that’s 8-2 and 5-0 at home. The caveat is that the Revolutionaries (yes, it’s a new nickname) are just 3-7 against the spread. They haven't been able to put away opponents the way oddsmakers have expected. With a double-digit spread to cover and a questionable assist-to-turnover ratio, we’ll give Army the benefit of the doubt in this game.
Pick: Army +11.5
Indiana (8-2) at Nebraska (6-2)
After losing their Big Ten opener by 37 points, the Cornhuskers are home favorites on Friday night. In fairness, Nebraska does have a win this season over in-state rival Creighton. On the other hand, the Cornhuskers are just 1-4 against the spread when favored. They are also shooting below 30% from the perimeter and don’t have a player who averages more than 2.6 assists per game. They lack a bonafide playmaker, meaning they have to rely a lot on winning individual matchups, which can lead to some subpar offensive outings. As for the Hoosiers, they’ve won four in a row, covering the spread in all four games. Indiana’s only two losses this season have come against Louisville and Gonzaga, so they’ve beaten the teams you’d expect them to beat. Granted, guard play isn’t a huge strength, but the Hoosiers can dominate the paint with Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo, which should be enough to knock off Nebraska on the road.
Pick: Indiana +4
Oumar Ballo (Indiana) Over 1.5 Assists
This continues to be my favorite player prop bet in the country. Ballo has registered multiple assists in six consecutive games, yet the oddsmakers still put his over/under at 1.5 assists. No matter the level of competition, Ballo keeps finding his teammates, collecting four assists in a game against Gonzaga and six in a game against Miami (Ohio). While Nebraska has some size inside, the Cornhuskers tend to play smaller lineups, so they may need to double-team Ballo in the post, opening up assist opportunities for him. Plus, passing the ball is clearly a part of his game that Ballo is emphasizing this season, so there’s no reason to doubt that he’ll continue to register multiple assists.
South Dakota State (8-4) at Colorado (7-2)
While usually a quality mid-major, South Dakota State suffered a 14-point loss to Nevada in its last game. Center Oscar Cluff, who is averaging a double-double, managed just six points and four rebounds in that game, struggling against better competition. That’s a red flag for the Jackrabbits without elite shooters or experienced guards. On the other side, Colorado has stumbled against Michigan State and Iowa State this season but won every other game, including an upset of UConn. The Buffs are also 4-2 against the spread when favored. On the season, Colorado is shooting close to 40% from the perimeter thanks to multiple players who can knock down open jumpers. The Buffaloes also have plenty of size in their frontcourt to contend with Cluff. If he struggles again, the Jackrabbits don’t have a great Plan B, which should allow Colorado to win this game by a comfortable margin.
Pick: Colorado -8.5
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