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Free College Basketball Picks Wednesday 2/19/2020 and Opening Line Report


by Jason Radowitz - 2/18/2020

Seton Hall Pirates forward Sandro Mamukelashvili

Wednesday's basketball action features some big games that could help shape up each conference tournament and their standings. Seton Hall and Louisville will look to get back on track after two straight losses each, while Auburn will travel to Georgia in what could be a bit of a scare for Tigers fans. Here are the early leans for the February 19 college basketball action.


  Butler vs. Seton Hall 2/19/20 (-6.5, 134.5)

Butler will travel to a Seton Hall team that has dropped three of their last five games after a long stretch of winning. Butler lost to Georgetown at home in their most recent contest. The Bulldogs have been a great defensive team all season, while Seton Hall has shown flashes of fantastic offensive basketball. That type of basketball has been good when Myles Powell has been good. Recently, Powell has hit a shooting slump, and the Pirates will hope he gets back to his usual self against a suffocating Butler defense. With two straight losses by a combined eight points, Seton Hall will absolutely be in this game. Seton Hall should be able to get back on track at home, where they've lost two straight uncharacteristically. While Butler's defense has been solid, they still don't get as many turnovers as you would think. Seton Hall will knock down shots at home and win this game against the spread.

 Key trends:  Seton Hall is 4-2 ATS after losing straight up this season.

Early lean: Seton Hall, Over

  Syracuse vs. Louisville 2/19/20 (-10, 148)

Louisville's offense has been nonexistent in their last two games. There weren't too many positives in their losses to Georgia Tech and Clemson on the road, except that now Louisville will travel back home, where they hope to find their shooting stroke behind the Louisville faithful. Syracuse, who has always been known for their defense, allows 68.8 points per game and has lost their last two games. Syracuse has allowed over their points against average in those two games as they've allowed an average of 79.5 points against. Look for Louisville to find their stroke again at home and win this game at home over Syracuse.

 Key trends:  Louisville is 8-7 ATS as a home favorite this season.

Early lean: Louisville, Over

  Auburn vs. Georgia 2/19/20 (+3.5, 150)

Auburn has had a pretty phenomenal season thus far. Auburn took a loss at Missouri, 85-73, but that doesn't wipe away their 22-3 record on the year. Auburn has found themselves in tight game after tight game but somehow always find a way. Georgia has lost four straight games, losing to Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas A&M. Georgia has the talent to hang with anyone. The Bulldogs lost to Florida by six and Texas A&M by five in their last two road games. In the loss to Alabama, Georgia lost a 105-102 home game in overtime. I like Georgia as the home underdog in this matchup.

 Key trends:  Auburn is 0-4 ATS as an away favorite this season.

Early lean: Georgia, Under

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  Duke vs. NC State 2/19/20 (+8, 149)

Duke has won seven straight games and just dominated a mid-tier Notre Dame team, 94-60, at home. In their last three road games, Duke has won games over UNC, Boston College and Syracuse. But the score hasn't been blowout material. Syracuse lost by nine, Boston College lost by eight, and UNC lost by two in overtime. In their last five games, NC State has allowed an average of 73.8 points per game. NC State averages 74.3 points per game, while Duke averages 83 points per contest. At home, NC State should be able to hold Duke below their season average. And if they're able to do that, NC State will escape as the home underdog in this one.

 Key trends:  Duke is 3-4 ATS as the away favorite this season.

Early lean: NC State, Under

  Villanova vs. DePaul 2/19/20 (+3, 141.5)

Remember when DePaul was the talk of college basketball at the beginning of the season? Now they've lost seven straight games in the Big East after getting obliterated by Creighton on the road, 93-64. Villanova is coming off a win at Temple in a nonconference showdown in February. We rarely see those anymore. Villanova covered the spread easily over Temple in that finish and defeated a very good Marquette previously. Villanova is starting to find a rhythm, while DePaul is hanging on to a 13-12 record that could be .500 by the time this game finishes up. Take the momentum and ride Villanova here.  

 Key trends:  Villanova is 3-2 ATS as an away favorite this season.

Early lean: Villanova, Over

  Tulsa vs. Houston 2/19/20 (-10.5, 128)

I called Houston's loss against SMU. Now I'll call a win for Houston at home over a very good Tulsa team that is 17-8 on the year. Before SMU, Houston's defense has been incredible, especially at home. Houston held Wichita State to 43 points and held Tulane to 62 points in two easy wins at home. Tulsa averages 69.4 points per game and plays at a very slow pace. Houston will destroy Tulsa on the boards and clean up enough misses to get this win at home over Tulsa.

 Key trends:  Houston is 3-2 ATS after a loss this season.

Early lean: Houston, Under




 

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