Saint Louis Billikens vs. UMass Minutemen Prediction, Pick and Preview, January 20 (1/20): NCAAB

Saint Louis Billikens vs. UMass Minutemen Prediction, Pick and Preview, January 20 (1/20): NCAAB

Credit: photo by Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

 

Time 9:00 p.m. EST
SLU money line -170
SLU spread -2.5 (-110)
UMA money line +130
UMA spread +2.5 (-110)
Over / under 151.5

 

 
Preview

The UMass Minutemen will host the Saint Louis Billikens this Thursday evening.

The Billikens have started A-10 play with a strong 3-1 start, and they're coming off of a defensive showcase against Fordham. The Billikens held the Rams to under 34% shooting, and picked up the 63-45 win.

The Minutemen got off to a solid start during non-conference play, defeating Big Ten schools Penn State and Rutgers, but they've opened A-10 play with four straight losses. 

 

Saint Louis (11-5)

Gibson Jimerson is the key piece to this Billikens team. The third-year swingman is averaging a team-leading 16.7 points per game.

Yuri Collins has taken a huge leap in year three. After dishing out a career high 19 dimes in the win over Boston College, Collins nearly posted a triple-double against Auburn.

Collins scores 10.7 ppg, grabs 3.8 rpg, and leads the nation in assists (7.8).

Oregon transfer Franis Okoro has double-doubled in two of his last three games, and he leads the team in rebounding (7.6)

 

UMass (7-9)

Noah Fernandes has been the leader of this UMass unit so far. He had back-to-back 24-point performances against Northeastern and Harvard, and he leads the team in scoring (16.4) and assists (4.2).

C.J. and Rich Kelly join him in the backcourt. C.J., a 6'5 transfer from Albany, scored a career-high 27 points in the win over Rutgers and he's second on the team in scoring (13.9).

 

Penn State transfer Trent Buttrick lines up in the middle, and he's averaging 11.5 ppg and a team-leading 5.6 rpg.

 

Prediction

The Minutemen have given up 80.8 ppg since Atlantic 10 play has began, they can't defend anyone right now. Saint Louis is streaking in the right direction, and they'll have a good shot to cover for the second time in a row.

Take Saint Louis' spread for this A-10 matchup.

PICK: Saint Louis -2.5

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