UTRGV vs Grand Canyon College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/5/21
UTRGV vs Grand Canyon College Basketball Picks, Odds, Predictions 2/5/21
2021-02-05 19:00:00 EDT
The Grand Canyon Antelopes and the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros meet Friday in college basketball action from Bert Ogden Arena.
Grand Canyon comes into this one at 12-3 so far. The Antelopes have won eight straight games and took out New Mexico State in their last appearance. As for the Vaqueros, they’re 8-3 this year. UTRGV has won three straight, most recently over Dixie State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Grand Canyon started out at 4-0 before losing three straight to Arizona State, San Francisco and Colorado. Since then it’s been eight straight wins over Tarleton State, Bethesda, Dixie State and New Mexico State, two victories apiece versus each team.
In Saturday’s 65-53 win over New Mexico State, Grand Canyon’s Asbjorn Midtgaard doubled up on 14 points with 10 rebounds, and Alessandro Lever added 12 points with four boards and two assists. Jovan Blacksher chipped in with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists as well.
Over on the Texas-Rio Grande Valley side, they kicked off the season at 5-2 with losses to Texas and Texas A&M. After another loss to Sam Houston State, the Vaqueros have since won their last three games versus St. Mary’s TX and twice against Dixie State.
In the 72-65 win over Dixie State on January 16, UTRGV’s Javon Levi put up 16 points with 11 assists and four rebounds. Sean Rhea had 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 21 minutes, and Chris Freeman posted 11 points with four rebounds and one assist.
The Vaqueros are 6-2 ATS in their last eight versus a team with a winning straight-up record and 5-2 ATS in their last seven as a home underdog. The under is 4-0 in UTRGV’s last four overall and 5-0 in their last five home games.
Meanwhile, the Antelopes are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 overall and 6-0 ATS in their last six versus a team with a winning straight-up record. The under is 4-1 in the Antelopes’ last five overall and 6-1 in their last seven Friday games.
PICK: I like Grand Canyon in this one. The Antelopes have been playing well over this eight-game win streak, notching 70 or more points in six of those outings. Grand Canyon has held opponents to 62 or fewer points in six of those outings as well, so they’ve been taking care of business on both sides of the ball. I think UTRGV will hang around for a while here, but Grand Canyon seems a better option on the cover.
