Posted on
1/8/2008 4:31:58 PM
NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Georgetown at DePaul
By Eric Williams
The Georgetown Hoyas, (11-1 SU, 4-5 ATS, 3-6 O/U) are one of the best teams in the nation – except when it comes to covering the spread.
The DePaul Blue Demons, (6-7 SU, 5-6 ATS, 7-4 O/U), once a national power under legendary head coach, Ray Meyer, are now a shell of the once powerful basketball program the school perennially fielded, both on the court and against the spread.
The seventh-ranked Hoyas enter tonight’s contest riding a three-game winning streak although they didn’t look particularly solid in beating Rutgers 58-46 on Saturday in the team’s Big East opener.
Roy Hibbert, the Hoyas’ 7-foot-2 senior center continues has been playing perplexing basketball to say the least. After going toe-to-toe with Greg Oden last season, Hibbert is averaging just 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, statistics that are down from his junior season when he averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
DePaul enters tonight’s contest riding a four-game winning streak – after dropping their previous five contests and has beaten two consecutive Big East opponents in Villanova, 84-76 last Thursday and Providence, 70-65 on Saturday.
Senior guard Draelon Burns leads the Blue Demons in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game on 40.1 percent shooting from the field.
The Hoyas have displayed an absolutely spectacular defense this season, holding every opponent in its 11 victories below 40 percent shooting from the field.
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NCAAB Betting FreePick.
Key Hoyas Trends
The Hoyas are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a ATS loss.
The Hoyas are 7-1-1 ATS in their last nine Tuesday games.
The Hoyas are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
Key Blue Demons Trends
The Blue Demons are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a S.U. win.
The Blue Demons are 4-1 ATS in their last five vs. Big East.
The Blue Demons are 15-4 ATS in their last 19 home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.
Key Totals Trends
The Under is 10-2 in Hoyas last 12 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game.
The Under is 5-1 in Hoyas last six road games.
The Over is 5-1 in Blue Demons last six home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
The Over is 5-1 in Blue Demons last six home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
There are no trends available.
Analysis: The Hoyas are clearly the better team in this matchup, but struggle immensely to score the ball, while the Blue Demons are starting to grow and should have a ton of confidence from their most recent two victories. While the outcome of this contest isn’t in question, something tells me the Blue Demons are going to cover the spread while giving the Hoyas a bit of a scare.
NCAAB Free Picks: DePaul +8.5 Points/Under 136 Total Points
09:00 PM EST NCAAB Betting Odds
Georgetown -8½ -110
Depaul +8½ -110
Over 136 -110
Under 136 -110
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