College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, February 13.

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6:30 PM Eastern 

Manhattan Jaspers vs. Niagara Purple Eagles

Niagara ranks 336th in points per possession on offense and 362nd in possessions per game, making it one of the slowest teams in the nation. But they have a golden opportunity for some scoring as they face a Manhattan defense that is 336th in points per possession allowed. Niagara shoots 39.8% from 3-point range at home versus 30% away from home, while on defense, Niagara is 280th in points per possession allowed.

Pick: Niagara vs. Manhattan Over 137.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 141.5)

7:00 PM Eastern

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. Rider Broncos 

It has been a struggle for Rider to put points on the board all season. The team is one of the slowest in the nation, ranking 344th in total possessions per game and 349th in points per possession. Mount St. Mary’s has not been much better, ranking 317th in points per possession due to an inability to take care of the ball. They are 364th out of 365 Division I teams in turnovers per possession, but have been strong with their interior defense. They are 41st in opponent 2-point shooting percentage, which really hurts a Rider offense that has no ability to generate points from the perimeter, ranking 362nd in 3-point shooting percentage at 27.8%.

Picks: Mount St. Mary’s -4.5 and Under 141.5 (Greg’s Handicap Mount St. Mary’s -7 and Total 133)

7:00 PM Eastern

Columbia Lions vs. Pennsylvania Quakers

Both teams shoot well from 3-point range, with Columbia 44th in 3-point shooting percentage at 36.7%, while Pennsylvania is ninth at 39.3%. That drops to 36.3% at home for Pennsylvania. Columbia has been one of the best rebounding teams in the country, ranking 12th in road rebound percentage. Pennsylvania is 192nd in rebound percentage. In a close game, Pennsylvania is 337th in free throw shooting percentage at home at 66.7%, while Colombia makes 74.6% of their free throws in games played away from home.

Pick: Columbia +3.5 (Greg’s Handicap Columbia -2)

Cornell Big Red vs. Princeton Tigers 

Cornell has been playing shootouts all season. They are fourth in the country in points per possession away from home and are 23rd in total possessions per game. Their defense is 351st in points per possession allowed in a game that should feature tons of made 3-point shots. Cornell ranks 11th in 3-point shooting percentage at 39.1%. Princeton shoots 36.9% from 3-point range at home compared to 32.3% away from home, while ranking 52nd in percentage of field goal attempts that come from 3-point range. Cornell takes 52.8% of their shots from 3-point range away from home, the fourth-highest percentage in the nation.

Pick: Cornell vs. Princeton Over 156.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 160)

Quinnipiac Bobcats vs. Siena Saints

Points have been at a premium in Siena games this season. Siena ranks 359th in possessions per game and 61st in points per possession allowed. Quinnipiac is 88th in points per possession allowed. Both teams do a solid job of generating turnovers. Siena is 90th in turnovers per possession generated on defense, while Quinnipiac is 101st. Quinnipiac is not allowing clean looks inside, ranking 33rd in opponents 2-point shooting percentage, while Siena is 315th in 3-point shooting percentage at 31%.

Pick: Quinnipiac vs. Siena Under 144.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 139)

Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers

Saint Peter’s is playing at a slow pace, ranking 319th in total possessions per game. They further reduced the number of clean possessions by ranking 22nd in turnovers per possession. Overall, they are 84th in points per possession allowed/ Sacred Heart is a mid-tempo team, ranking 196th in points per possession allowed. While the Sacred Heart defense is 306th in points per possession allowed, Saint Peter’s is 355th in road 2-point shooting percentage and 340th in 3-point shooting percentage at 29.7%.

Pick: Saint Peter’s vs. Sacred Heart Under 148 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 141.5)

Brown Bears vs. Harvard Crimson 

Harvard ranks among the slowest teams in the nation, 356th in total possessions per game. Brown isn’t pushing a fast pace, checking in at 243rd in possessions per game in games involving two teams that fail to give themselves second chances to score. Brown is 257th in offensive rebound percentage and 335th in points per possession. Harvard ranks 313th in offensive rebound percentage, but they are a solid 3-point shooting team, ranking 35th at 37.2%. Brown does a good job of guarding the 3-point arc, with teams making only 32.3% of their 3-point shots.

Pick: Brown vs. Harvard Under 131.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 125)

George Mason Patriots vs. George Washington Revolutionaries 

George Mason has the edge on defense, ranking 60th in points per possession allowed, while George Washington is 136th. George Mason has been highly efficient on the road, ranking 28th in fewest turnovers per possession. They shoot 32.3% from 3-point range at home compared to 34.1% from 3-point range away from home. George Washington shoots 34.3% from 3-point range at home compared to 36.7% away from home and are 247th in turnovers per possession on offense.

Pick: George Mason +2.5 (Greg’s Handicap George Mason -1)

Iona Gaels vs. Canisius Golden Griffins 

Canisius has struggled on the inside this season, ranking 361st with their own 2-point shooting percentage on offense and 329th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage on defense. Iona’s stout perimeter defense is 33rd in the nation in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 30.3%. Cansius has been having a difficult time making the most of their possessions, ranking 328th in turnovers per possession.

Pick: Iona -5.5 (Greg’s Handicap Iona -8.5)

8:00 PM Eastern

Michigan State Spartans vs. Wisconsin Badgers 

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Second chances to score will be hard to come by in this game. Michigan State leads the country in defensive rebound percentage, with only 19.2% of opponents’ missed shots becoming offensive rebounds. Wisconsin is 26th in this category. Wisconsin takes 50.8% of their shots from 3-point range, the 15th-highest percentage in the country, but they now face a Michigan State defense that is 42nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 30.8% and is overall third in the country in points per possession allowed away from home. Michigan State shoots 39.9% from 3-point range away from home compared with 31.3% at home.

Picks: Michigan State -1.5 and Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicap Michigan State -4 and Total 142)

9:00 PM Eastern 

Ohio Bobcats vs. Miami (OH) Redhawks 

Ohio is at a significant disadvantage on the perimeter, with Miami (OH) 27th in 3-point shooting percentage at 37.7%, while Ohio is 339th at 29.8%. Ohio has struggled to guard the 3-point arc, with opponents shooting 36.5% from 3-point range, ranking 315th nationally. Miami (OH) has also been efficient inside, ranking second in America in 2-point shooting percentage. Miami (OH) has the edge in the turnover battle, ranking 75th in turnovers per possession generated on defense at home. On offense, they are 70th in fewest turnovers per possession, while Ohio is 160th in turnovers per possession on offense and 154th in turnovers per possession generated on defense.

Pick: Miami (OH) -9.5 (Greg’s Handicap Miami OH -15)

Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Akron Zips 

Massachusetts has one of the best perimeter defenses in the country, ranking 48th in opponents 3-point shooting percentage away from home at 31.2%. This will help contain an Akron team that ranks 20th in 3-point shooting percentage (38%) and sixth in points per possession on offense. They are unlikely to get many second chances to score, as Massachusetts ranks 19th in defensive rebound percentage, with opponents grabbing only 23.9% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds. Massachusetts is 88th in points per possession away from home and 73rd in overall 3-point shooting percentage at 35.9% in a game that should have a really fast tempo, with Akron 76th in total possessions per game. Massachusetts ranks 29th.

Picks: Massachusetts +13.5 and Over 160.5 (Greg’s Handicap Massachusetts +11.5 and Total 167.5)

10:00 PM Eastern 

UNLV Runnin’ Rebels vs. Boise State Broncos 

Boise State is not allowing teams to get second chances to score as they are ninth in defensive rebound percentage, with only 22.4% of opponents missed shots becoming an offensive rebound. While UNLV plays at a fast pace, ranking 47th in possessions per game, they’ve shown some offensive deficiencies: 160th in points per possession and 241st in 3-point shooting percentage at 32.6%. Boise State slows the game down, ranking 235th in possessions per game at home and 147th in points per possession at home.

Pick: UNLV vs. Boise State Under 156.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 150.5)

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