College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Monday, December 15.
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7:00 PM Eastern
Niagara Purple Eagles vs. VCU Rams
Niagara plays at a very slow pace, ranking 341st in possessions per game, and isn’t making the most of them, sitting 335th in points per possession on offense and 297th in points per possession allowed on defense. They’ve also done a poor job of creating second chances, ranking 360th in the percentage of missed shots that become offensive rebounds at 17.6%. Meanwhile, VCU is 75th in turnovers generated per possession on defense and 80th in points per possession on offense.
Picks: VCU -29.5 and Under 141.5 (Greg’s Handicap: VCU -31.5, Total 139.5)
East Texas A&M Lions vs. Southeastern Louisiana Lions
East Texas A&M ranks 32nd in the country in turnovers generated per possession on defense in games played away from home, though they are 341st in turnovers per possession on offense themselves. They face a Southeast Louisiana offense that has struggled as well, with East Texas A&M ranking 319th in points per possession and Southeast Louisiana 317th. Southeast Louisiana is also 361st in 3-point shooting percentage at 25.5%, and on defense ranks 273rd in opponent 2-point shooting percentage.
Picks: East Texas A&M +5.5 and Under 140.5 (Greg’s Handicap: East Texas A&M -2, Total 136)
Wofford Terriers vs. Gardner-Webb Bulldogs
It’s been a struggle across the board for Gardner-Webb, as the team ranks 338th in points per possession on offense, 363rd in points per possession allowed, and 323rd in rebound percentage, with a loss to non–Division I North Greenville on the ledger. Wofford, meanwhile, has done a good job of not hurting itself, ranking 70th in turnovers per possession on offense.
Pick: Wofford -9.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Wofford -14)
8:00 PM Eastern
North Alabama Lions vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
North Alabama is playing at its slowest pace ever under coach Tony Pujol, ranking 294th in possessions per game, while Alabama A&M plays at a similar tempo, ranking 267th. Both defenses remain a work in progress, with Alabama A&M ranking 252nd in points per possession allowed and North Alabama 265th. North Alabama will look to maximize its edge on the glass, ranking 167th in offensive rebound percentage, while Alabama A&M is 313th, with just 23.1% of missed shots becoming offensive rebounds.
Picks: North Alabama -1.5 and Over 134.5 (Greg’s Handicap: North Alabama -6, Total 142)
Wyoming Cowboys vs. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Wyoming has sped up from a season ago, ranking 75th in possessions per game, with its defense becoming more efficient along the way at 46th in points per possession allowed. Both teams have been solid on the glass, with South Dakota State eighth in the nation in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to grab just 21.6% of missed shots as offensive rebounds, while Wyoming is 48th in this category. Under new coach Bryan Peterson, South Dakota State has dialed back the tempo, ranking 253rd in total possessions per game, and is 21st in points per possession allowed in road and neutral-court games.
Pick: Wyoming vs. South Dakota State Under 151.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 141.5)
McNeese Cowboys vs. Houston Christian Huskies
Houston Christian ranks 299th out of the 352 Division I teams that have played a home game against a fellow Division I opponent in points per possession at home and faces a McNeese defense that leads the nation in the percentage of defensive possessions generating a turnover at 25.8%. Houston Christian also plays at an incredibly slow pace, ranking 347th in possessions per game, while McNeese is 221st in this department.
Pick: McNeese vs. Houston Christian Under 139 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 131.5)
Incarnate Word Cardinals vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Incarnate Word is playing at one of the slowest paces in the nation, ranking 326th in total possessions per game, and will try to break through a TCU defense that ranks 19th in points per possession allowed. Incarnate Word’s offense has not been the same away from home, with its 3-point shooting percentage dropping from 38.1% at home to 33.1% on the road, while TCU has been pedestrian on offense, ranking 139th in points per possession.
Pick: Incarnate Word vs. TCU Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 141)
