Richmond vs UMass College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/23/21

The UMass Minutemen and the Richmond Spiders meet Tuesday in college basketball action from Robins Center. 

UMass enters this one at 7-4 so far. The Minutemen have won consecutive games over Fordham and Rhode Island. As for Richmond, they’re 12-5 this year. The Spiders are 1-1 in their last pair and coming off a win over Duquesne. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

UMass started out the season on a choppy 2-3 clip, but then got three wins over La Salle, Rhode Island and Fordham. Since then it’s been a loss to Davidson and two victories over Fordham and Rhode Island for the Minutemen. 

In the 75-63 win over Rhode Island on February 6, UMass’ Carl Pierre put up 19 points with five rebounds and five assists. Cairo McCrory posted a double-double in that one with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes of work. 

Over on the Richmond side, they opened up the calendar year at 7-3 following a loss to St. Bonaventure, but have gone 5-2 since then. The victories in that stretch have come versus Rhode Island, George Mason, Saint Joseph’s, St. Mary’s MD and Duquesne. 

In the 79-72 win over Duquesne, Richmond’s Jacob Gilyard and Blake Francis each notched 17 points with a combined four assists and three rebounds between them. Tyler Burton chipped in with 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists in that one as well. 

The Spiders are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games and 1-4 ATS in their last five as a home favorite. The over is 7-2 in Richmond’s last nine as a home favorite and the over is 7-2 in their last nine home games. 

Meanwhile, the Minutemen are 4-0 ATS in their last four Tuesday games and 4-1 ATS in their last five road games. UMass is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 as an underdog and the under is 4-0 in their last four overall.

PICK: I’m going to stick with Richmond here. The Spiders had a dud outing against VCU but otherwise they’ve been scoring well lately with 77 or more points in six of their last seven. UMass has been at 65 or below in three of their last four, but did have a solid 75 points against Rhode Island a couple weeks back. Cover-wise I think Richmond has a better shot in this one.