Friday night MAAC conference play tips off and we like another underdog to pull the upset as Canisius meets Fairfield. What do the odds makers placing on offer in this matchup, and where can we find the best value for our NCAA Basketball picks?
NCAA Basketball
odds makers made a mistake when posting this line, and the public has already
shifted it by more than two points.
Let’s breakdown this matchup and find out if there is any
more value to be found for our NCAA Basketball picks tonight, or has our
opportunity already passed.
Record 12-11-1 ATS. On a documented 4-0 run right now.
Match up
The early betting lines listed Fairfield as a 6.5 point
favorite, but that has fallen all the way down to 4.5 at shops such as 5Dimes.
Tip off is scheduled for 7pm EST. No total has been set.
Jim Baron changing the culture at Canisius
The last time Canisius won a MAAC championship was in 1996, but
they have been the laughing stock of the conference ever since. They received a
blessing in disguise when Rhode Island decided to depart with head coach Jim
Baron (who has brought two different teams to the NCAAS) and the Golden Griffs
scooped him up.
Baron has really started to turn this team around, and he
has turned this team into an offensive powerhouse. He's got the Griffs out
running and gunning, pushing the ball up the court, instead of their very slow
half court paced offense, which has them averaging 76 points a game(46th
in the nation) on 44% shooting and a 4-1 record to start the year.
There is another Baron making a huge impact
Not only did Jim Baron come over to coach the team, he
brought his son Billy Baron with him. Baron is a skilled ball player, averaging
18 points and 6 assist per game. In his last three games he has scored a
combined 49 points to go along with 17 assist. This kid could be a starter for
any team in a big time conference, but he chose to play for his father.
Baron isn't the only one lighting up the scoreboard though.
Senior Harold Washington, who paced the team last year at 20 points a game, is
doing damage again this year, dropping 17 a game. The inside, outside duo of Washington
and Baron is one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the conference.
6”10 forward Jordan Health is also averaging 11 points a
game and 5 rebounds.
Shut down Derek Needham, you just shut down Fairfield
Derek Needham is the best PG in the MAAC conference, make no
mistake about it, and just like his foe tonight, Billy Baron, he could be a
starter in any one of the big conferences in the country. Needham averages 15
points a game on 4 assist, and is the floor general for this squad. He runs the
offense to perfection, drawing constant double or even triple teams but has
such great court vision, he knows just where the open man is for an easy
bucket. He also has a dead eye when it comes to shooting the three ball.
The thing is that, beyond Needham, there isn't much talent
on this Fairfield squad. Aside from him, they do not have one starter that
averages in double digits scoring.
Take the Points
Right now you can still grab Canisius at +5.5 at Heritage
but get on this quick before you are left with a bad number, beating the
closing number is always important! Reason why this line opened so high is
because it is Fairfields home opener but betters have quickly dismissed that.
Look for Canisius to come out tonight and make this a
statement game. To prove to the MAAC conference they are no longer the laughing
stock of the conference and are a force to be reckoned with.
NCAA Basketball Picks: Canisius +5.5 at 5Dimes