College Basketball Picks

Iona vs Rider 12/3/21 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

Rider Broncs (3-6) vs. Iona Gaels (7-2)
December 3, 2021 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Iona Gaels -13.5 ; Over/Under: 139
(Get latest betting odds)

The Rider Broncs and the Iona Gaels meet Friday in college basketball action from Hynes Athletics Center. Rider is 3-6 this year and fresh off a blowout loss to Ole Miss. As for the Gaels, they’re 7-2 so far. Iona beat Marist in their last appearance. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Rider managed a 2-1 start this year with wins over Coppin State and Delaware State. Since then the Broncs have lost five of six. Those defeats came courtesy of Bucknell, Buffalo, Middle Tennessee State, South Carolina and Ole Miss. 

In the loss to Ole Miss, the Broncs posted a 31-25 deficit in the first half and a 44-26 gap in the second for a 75-51 defeat. Mervin James led the team with 11 points and nine rebounds. Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson added 10 points with five rebounds. 

Over on the Iona side, their season began on a nice 6-0 run with wins over App State, Harvard, Hofstra, Liberty, North Alabama and Alabama. The Gaels lost their next two versus Belmont and Kansas, then took out Marist in their last game. 

In the Marist matchup, Iona had a 38-35 edge at the break and posted a 40-36 run from there in a 78-71 win. Quinn Slazinski put up 20 points with seven rebounds, and Tyson Jolly added 16 points with 11 rebounds and a block. 

The Gaels are 4-0 ATS in their last four at home and 21-8-1 ATS in their last 30 overall. Iona is 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 Friday games. 

Meanwhile, the Broncs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games and 1-4 ATS in their last five after a straight-up loss. The under is 13-5 in Rider’s last 18 Friday games.

PICK: I’m going to stay with Iona. The Gaels put up a much-needed win against a sketchy Marist team in their last outing, and it wasn’t easy to get. Iona shot a lukewarm 39.7 percent from the field but they were strong on the boards (41) and with team assists (18). Iona has scored 72 or more points in four of their last five outings. 

As for Rider, they shot 30.2 percent from the field with a 57-36 rebounding deficit against Ole Miss in their last game. Things shouldn’t be quite so lopsided here, but I still like Iona on a cover. 

Andrew's Free Pick: Iona Gaels -13.5

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Andrew

Andrew has been writing about college, professional and fantasy sports betting since 2013. Andrew's goal is to break down the complicated numbers and trends into a language that's easily accessible to novice sports bettors and seasoned professionals alike.

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