The 11th-seeded Marist Red Foxes (12-19) and 10th-seeded Saint Peter’s Peacocks (14-17) clash Friday in the semifinals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. Tip at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City is at 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPNews). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Marist vs. Saint Peter’s odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Marist is looking to be the Cinderella at Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The Foxes have advanced to this semifinal with wins over 6th-seeded Manhattan (61-50, Tuesday) and 3rd-seeded Quinnipiac (75-59, Thursday). A win Friday and Marist’s tourney win total would equal the team’s number of victories it earned from Jan. 20-March 4.
Saint Peter’s, which defeated Marist twice in that above January-March stretch, is looking to reprise its own Cinderella role from a year ago when it went it lost in the East Regional Final of the Big Dance. The Peacocks have defeated 7th-seeded Fairfield (70-52, Tuesday) and 2nd-seeded Rider (70-62, Wednesday) in this tournament.
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Marist vs. Saint Peter’s odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Marist -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Saint Peter’s -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Marist -1.5 (-105) | Saint Peter’s +1.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 120.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Marist vs. Saint Peter’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Saint Peter’s 68, Marist 63
Moneyline
Saint Peter’s has changed its offensive style a bit, and it’s paying dividends. The Peacocks were a poor-shooting 3-point team that took too many 3s for much of the season, but they have flipped that script of late. They’ve also managed to reduce turnovers while creating more drives to the bucket and earning free-throw opportunities.
SPU is strong on the offensive glass, and the Peacocks have won 4 straight games in this series.
TAKE SAINT PETER’S (-105).
Against the spread
PASS.
The above play comes with a high level of confidence, and the Over is likable as well. There’s no sense in spreading things out too thin.
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Over/Under
The Over is 5-1 in Red Foxes’ last 6 games following an ATS win and it has hit in 5 straight Peacocks games.
Marist figures to get a big share from distance that SPU can counter with possessions extended on the offensive glass and initiated off Foxes’ turnovers.
Both teams play at a slow pace, but figure this one getting into the 130s.
BACK THE OVER 120.5 (-105).
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