The Georgetown Hoyas have a venerable basketball history known for a number of historical accomplishments, but the latest streak they’ve been running has been more notorious than notable. They had not won a game away from home since February 27, 2021, until they got 17 points out of Brandon Murray on Sunday for a 68-62 win over Butler in Indianapolis. Murray also grabbed six boards, while Qudus Wahab added 14 points and eight boards and Jay Heath contributed a dozen points and seven rebounds. Let’s take a look at a couple of quality College Basketball betting picks coming up on Friday night.
NCAA News: Top College Basketball Bets for February 24
Xavier Musketeers (-1.5) at Seton Hall Pirates (O/U 140.5) (7:00 pm ET)
Xavier (20-8) rolled out to a 15-3 start, with each of those three losses coming to teams in the AP Top 15. Then they followed that start up with a 7-0 run to open Big East play. However, since then, they have gone just 5-5 in conference play, including losses in three of their last four games. Those losses have come by a combined four points, including a one-point loss to Villanova on Tuesday in which the Musketeers let a 13-point lead evaporate in the second half thanks to 10 turnovers. Now the Musketeers are two games out of first in the Big East with three regular-season games remaining, but they will not have forward Zach Freemantle (foot) back until the conference tournament. Xavier is fifth in the nation in three-point shooting (39.4%), but they face a Pirate defense that ranks #13 in points permitted.
Seton Hall (16-12) started out with an 8-8 record, but then they went 7-1 after that, with their only loss in that stretch coming against Big East-leading Marquette. Dropping three of four since then has not helped their NCAA Tournament hopes as the Pirates beat Georgetown last Tuesday but lost by nine to Connecticut on Saturday. Kadary Richmond is questionable after he had to leave the Connecticut game with a back injury. He put up 17 points to lead the Pirates when they faced Xavier the first time, only made it seven minutes on Saturday. He knocks down 44.4% of his three-point shots, so Seton Hall would like to have him back as Xavier’s defense ranks just #190 in the nation in field goal percentage permitted. Seton Hall to cover.
Nevada Wolf Pack (-2.5) at Fresno State Bulldogs (10-17) (11:00 pm ET)
Nevada (21-7) beat Fresno State, 77-66, at home in their first meeting, covering as nine-point favorites. The Wolf Pack have won five of six, with their last loss coming at Utah State last weekend. They bounced back on Tuesday with a 66-51 home win over San Jose State, covering as nine-point favorites. Center Will Baker hung 18 on the Spartans, and forward Darrion Williams contributed 14 points and five rebounds. With a 15-5 assist-to-turnover ratio, the Wolf Pack had excellent ball security and distribution, and they shot 46.2% from the floor ast a team.
Fresno State (10-17) ended a three-game skid on Tuesday, winning at Air Force, 74-69, covering as two-point road underdogs. Since losing that first matchup with Nevada, Fresno State lost at home to San Diego State by two and Colorado State by three. The Bulldogs forced 21 turnovers against an Air Force team that is only averaging 10.6 turnovers per game in conference play. They shot 52.8% overall from the floor (despite clanking 11 of 13 three-pointers in the game). Center Eduardo Andrade put up 26 points and seven rebounds in a dominant performance in the paint. Nevada to win and cover.
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