MAAC: Canisius vs. Monmouth, 6:00 PM CST Tip-off
Current Record on Friday Free Play : 4-1: all documented on the site!
A monumental day has arrived in the great state of Louisiana: mobile sports betting goes live. Now, The Pelican State has the opportunity to bet on almost any game they want right at their fingertips.
To top this achievement off, we are going for our fourth straight FFP winner! Tonight’s Friday Free Play brings us to West Long Branch, New Jersey to the OceanFirst Bank Center, home to the Monmouth Hawks.
The Favorite
The Monmouth Hawks have been an absolute ATM for bettors this season, going 15-3 ATS. Led by one of the best names in the game in Head Coach King Rice, Monmouth is looking to further their position in the MAAC, trailing behind St. Peters and powerhouse Iona. The Hawks took care of Canisius in their previous meeting on December 5th, defeating the Golden Griffins by 14. A veteran laden group led by four Senior starters, the Hawks have some very impressive wins this season over Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
With Senior Guard George Papas leading the way with 15.6 points per game and help from Seton Hall transfer Shavar Reynolds and UNC transfer Walker Miller, consider the Hawks primed for a major conference run with hopes of getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
The Underdog
Canisius, led by Senior Forward Malek Green with 12 PPG, is coming off a huge win over conference rival St. Peters. With an unimpressive 6-12 record against the spread, the big question is can Canisius’ offense keep up with Monmouth? Judging by their 287th best Offensive Efficiency rating (per TeamRankings), it is not likely. A great stat when laying points is FT%, and the Hawks are in the Top 50 in this category. With the edge in Def. Efficiency and rebound rate, I see Monmouth not giving up many extra opportunities and making possessions count with points.
Canisius is 0-9 straight-up on the road while Monmouth is 4-2 SU at home. The Golden Griffins sit at 1-4 against the spread in their last five, while the Hawks possess a stingy 4-1record ATS in their last five. Canisius has the ability to keep games close with the edge in tempo, but Canisius has a major problem scoring, with a 325th ranking in Effective FG%. Bottom line is I see this game being tight early, but as time goes by, Monmouth will pull away with the more effective and efficient offense. Bart Orvik and Haslametrics also have this game covering the number, which makes me sleep better at night. Lay the wood with The Hawks.
THE PLAY: Monmouth -11.5 (Play to -12.5)
DISCLAIMER: There is an impending snowstorm coming in this weekend starting tonight. Be wary of postponement. Tip-off moved up once already, so next step is likely postponement or cancelation.