The Houston Baptist Huskies and the New Orleans Privateers meet Friday in college basketball action from Merrell Center. Houston Baptist is 4-7 so far this year. The Huskies lost to Southeastern LA on Thursday. As for New Orleans, they’re 4-8 so far and coming off a loss to McNeese State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Houston Baptist went 3-5 over their first eight games this year, losing to Texas, Texas A&M, Denver, Oklahoma and Oral Roberts in that span. Since then it’s been a win over Ecclesia sandwiched between losses to Rice and Southeastern LA.
In the matchup versus Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, the Huskies were down 45-30 at halftime. Houston Baptist ultimately couldn’t catch up despite a 51-45 second half in the 90-81 loss. Top scorer Sam Hofman put up 22 points with four rebounds in the defeat.
Over on the New Orleans Side, they got off to a 3-4 start in their first seven games, beating Spring Hill College, Central Arkansas and VMI. Since then it’s been a 1-4 run with losses to Texas A&M, Louisiana, Utah State and McNeese State.
In Thursday’s matchup versus McNeese State, New Orleans fought back from a 42-31 halftime deficit with 40 second-half points and forced overtime. After two extra periods the Privateers ended up falling 92-82, however.
Houston Baptist is 2-5 ATS in their last seven neutral-site games and 2-5 ATS in their last seven versus a team with a losing straight-up record. The under is 5-2 in the Huskies’ last seven overall.
Meanwhile, the Privateers are 1-4 ATS in their last five overall and the over is 45-18-2 in their last 65 overall. The over is 20-5-1 in New Orleans’ last 26 neutral-site games.
PICK: I’m probably going to take a shot on Houston Baptist. The Huskies shot well versus Southeastern LA in their last game with 52.3 percent from the field. Trouble is, Houston Baptist allowed a whopping 60.4 percent from the floor and 64 percent (16-of-25) from 3-point range during the loss. I don’t doubt Houston Baptist can put up enough points to stay competitive here; they’ve hit 73 or more in each of their last five games. The Huskies really need to tighten the screws on defense, though.