MAAC foes will battle when the Quinnipiac Bobcats (5-9, 2-0 MAAC) square off with the Canisius Golden Griffins (8-7, 2-0 MAAC) at TD Bank Sports Center. The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 145.5 points with Canisius opening as a 3.5-point favorite. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on Friday, January 5, 2018.
Canisius Golden Griffins vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats Free Preview
The Golden Griffins beat the Iona Gaels in their last contest, 85-78. With 21 points and nine rebounds, Takal Molson had a good performance for Canisius. The Golden Griffins knocked down 19 of their 22 free throws (86.4 percent) and held the Gaels to an offensive rebounding percentage of 23.1 (below the 31.1 mark opponents have averaged against Canisius this season).
The last time the Bobcats played, they defeated the Siena Saints, 71-70. With 26 points on 4-for-12 shooting, Cameron Young was the games high scorer. Quinnipiac dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had a ridiculous offensive rebounding percentage of 41.9 (above their season average of 26.1) and a free throw rate of 0.423 (above their season average of 0.277). Siena was 13.6 and 0.163, respectively, for those same stats.
Half-court execution will be at a premium when a pair of the nation’s slowest-paced teams clash. Quinnipiac ranks 287th in possessions per game (67.9) and Canisius is 271st (68.4). Furthermore, the sweet-shooting offense of the Golden Griffins ranks 56th in effective field goal percentage (0.553), while the Bobcats are 42nd-worst in the nation at effective field goal percentage allowed (0.542).
Games including these teams have a tendency to finish under the O/U total. Canisius games have finished under 69.2 percent of the time, while 60.0 percent of Quinnipiac games have finished under. The Golden Griffins come into this game with considerably better straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) records. They are 8-7 SU and 8-4-1 ATS, while the Bobcats are 5-9 SU and 6-3-1 ATS.
Young has been playing at a high level over the last five games for Quinnipiac, averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
This is the first time these teams will go head-to-head this year, after splitting two games last season. The Bobcats won the most recent matchup 95-90. The Bobcats dominated nearly every facet of the game. They had a fantastic free throw rate of 0.529 and a fantastic effective field goal percentage of 0.667. The Golden Griffins had marks of 0.281 and 0.563, respectively, for those same stats.
Canisius Golden Griffins at Quinnipiac Bobcats ATS Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Canisius, ATS Winner – Canisius, O/U – Under
Betting Notes:
- The Golden Griffins rank 214th in rebounds per game (33.5) while the Bobcats rank 227th (33.0).
- Canisius is 3-4 ATS on the road with 6 unders and 1 over.
- At home, Quinnipiac is 2-1-1 ATS with 2 overs and 2 unders.
- Canisius averages 16.3 assists per game, which ranks 51st in the nation. Quinnipiac ranks 167th in assists allowed per game (14.4).
- The Golden Griffins rank eighth in blocks allowed per game (1.9) while the Bobcats rank 88th (3.4).
- Canisius ranks 21st in three pointers allowed per game (17.9) while Quinnipiac ranks 92nd (20.9).
Betting Trends:
- Quinnipiac is 3-0 ATS with 2 unders and 1 over in their last five games.
- Over their last five games, Canisius is 2-0-1 ATS with 2 overs and 1 under.
- The Bobcats average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 1.4, down from 4.7 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Golden Griffins have scored an average of 74.0 points per game (1.8 above their season average) and allowed an average of 67.0 points per game (3.0 below their season average).
