Sport: College HoopsPick Selection: Fairfield Stags -2.5 -103
Manhattan Jaspers at Fairfield Stags 7:30 PM ET
Fairfield Stags -2.5 -103
Fairfield finally gets back to playing someone in its own league and it does happen to be its league opener. The Stags have played a brutal schedule thus far and are much more battle tested than Manhattan is. The schedule for Fairfield has included Boston College, Providence, Loyola-Chicago, Georgetown, Connecticut, Mississippi and St. Joseph?s. It doesn?t hurt by saying that all of those games were losses but all helped get the Stags ready for MAAC play.
The Jaspers have not played nearly close to the same toughness of slate and they have only two wins to show for it. A loss to Memphis last time out was certainly quality but defeats against New Jersey Tech and Boston U does not look very good. It is a big rebuilding year for Manhattan as not only is it replacing six key players but also its head coach. Despite playing a schedule that ranks 160 spots higher, the Stags have edges in some important statistical areas.
The biggest sure sign of a young team is how it takes care of the ball and that is something Manhattan has not done a good job of. The Jaspers turn the ball over 18.7 times per game, 41st worst in the county while their assist/turnover ratio of 0.59 is 32nd lowest in the nation. Considering that the Jaspers have played the 37th easiest schedule, those averages are even worse. Fairfield has a ratio of 0.79 which is nothing to write home about but with its schedule, it?s pretty solid.
Neither team is shooting or defending very well but the slight edge goes to the Stags on that one. They also have an edge at the charity stripe as Manhattan is hitting a woeful 63.7 percent from the line. Turnover of personnel is the cause as the Jaspers hit close to 70 percent last season. Fairfield is laying a very short price at home and should be able to take care of Manhattan by pulling away in the second half. Play Fairfield Stags 1 Unit
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