Free College Basketball Picks Friday 1/31/2020 and Opening Line Report

by Jason Radowitz - 1/30/2020

While Friday's action doesn't feature any Top-25 matchups, we've still got four games on the slate between teams above .500. These conference games will decide the top of the standings in respective conferences and will be exciting mid-major games to watch and bet on. Harvard plays Penn in an Ivy League rivalry, while Akron and Kent State fight for the top of the Mid-American. Bowling Green will play Buffalo to continue a seven-game winning streak, and VCU will travel to Rhode Island and play for the second seed in the A-10. Here are the early leans for some exciting mid-major basketball on Friday.

Harvard vs. Penn 1/31/20 (EVEN, 146)

Harvard has won eight straight games and is 13-4 on the season. They've defeated Dartmouth back-to-back by five and four points, respectively, in their last two games. Harvard has won most of their games by single digits, and Penn figures to stay in this game. Penn dropped three straight before taking on Temple and winning 66-59. If Penn's defense can hold on against Harvard, this game will, again, be a close one. Both teams are pretty similar except for the fact that Harvard has a little bit better defense where they allow less points and tally more blocks and rebounds. I'd take my chances with Penn to keep this game close and potentially even come out with the upset at home. The Ivy League is weird.

Key trends: Quakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.

Early lean: Penn, Over

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Akron vs. Kent State 1/31/20 (-2, 149)

Akron took a three-point loss to Buffalo at home and will now have to play a very good Kent State team on the road. Kent State had lost three straight but came back to beat Buffalo and Toledo on the road to start a two-game winning streak. This will be another game that goes down to the wire. Akron is 6-2 in the Mid-American, while Kent State sits one game behind Akron with a 5-3 record. At home, Kent State gets the advantage. Kent State averages 45.8 percent from the field, and at home, they'll be comfortable, especially with the momentum.

Key trends: Golden Flashes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Friday games.

Early lean: Kent State, Over

Bowling Green vs. Buffalo 1/31/20 (-4.5, 157.5)

Bowling Green is now on a seven-game winning streak but will have a tough time continuing the run against Buffalo on the road. Buffalo had lost to Kent State last week but have won four of their last five games. Buffalo plays a little faster than Bowling Green, and sometimes Bowling Green can become a little erratic. Buffalo allows four more points per game, due to more possessions, have more steals and blocks per game, along with an extra rebound. If Buffalo finds their stroke from the field, the Bulls will pull away late. Take another home team here.

Key trends: Falcons are 3-11-1 ATS in their last 15 games overall.

Early lean: Buffalo, Over

VCU vs. Rhode Island (EVEN, 141)

This is the matchup most college basketball fans will be watching on the night. VCU and Rhode Island will battle it out for second place in the Atlantic 10 behind Dayton. VCU has won four straight, while URI has won seven straight. If VCU wants to pull out the road upset against URI, they'll have to rely on their defense that has held opponents to fewer than 70 points in their last four games. URI is averaging near 80 points per game in their last three games. If VCU's defense can hold Rhode Island to less than 70 points, they'll get this win. VCU also averaging close to 10 steals per game. Take VCU on the road.

Key trends: Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.

Early lean: VCU, Under

Start:	November 22, 2024 @ 8:00 PM
Expert:	Vernon Croy
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Free College Basketball Picks Friday 1/31/2020 and Opening Line Report

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