We’re back with a Wednesday Free Play for everyone! So far this season we’re up 22.12 Units in college basketball. This week we’re off to a slow 1-4 start, but looking to add some more to the bankroll tonight with three games we like on the docket.
My Free play features the Radford Highlanders (14-9 Overall, 8-2 Big South) traveling to Clinton, South Carolina to take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose (5-18 Overall, 1-9 Big South). The line sits at Radford -5.5 with an Over/Under at 125. They will tip it off at 7:00 ET.
These teams are at opposite spectrums of the Big South Hierarchy. The Blue Hose have dropped eight in a row after getting a win in their first conference game of the season. Radford has won seven straight in Big South action after starting 1-2. Presbyterian struggles on offense averaging only 64.8 points per game. They are led by Freshman guard Jalen Forrest at 12.8 ppg. The Blue Hose are giving up 69.6 Points per contest. The Highlanders average 70.9 points per game while allowing 64.1. They will often roll with four guards on the floor at the same time and are led in scoring by Junior Guard DaQuan Smith at 12.9 points per contest.
The first meeting between these two teams this season was a 69-51 victory for Radford. The Highlanders were +9 on the glass in that contest and held the Blue Hose to 39.1% from the field while shooting 48.1%. Looking at tonight I think we will see much of the same trends. Presbyterian is dead last is effective FG% on both offense and defense in Big South Play. The unit on the floor that will decide this contest is certainly the Radford defense. They are in the top of most Big South defensive metrics and they should be able to suppress the Blue Hose offense again. Radford has also dominated the turnover metrics. They average 12.3 turnovers and 14.6 turnovers forced per game, that margin puts them first in the Big South and 51st the nation. The Blue Hose are 341st in the nation in quick points allowed off turnovers and if they don’t take care of the ball tonight the Highlanders will make them pay. This should be a slow paced game, but the Blue Hose just aren’t up to snuff in the half court against this Highlanders squad.
Take Radford -5.5 for 1.5 Units
