It seems as though I have gone ice cold with my predictions. I am currently on a 3-game losing streak, the longest of the season but still have a 23-15-2 record to this point in the season and am picking 60% winners. I am hoping to turn that around, here is who I like in todays matchup between Georgetown and Connecticut.
BIG EAST CONFERENCE MATCHUP
#7 GEORGETOWN HOYAS (-2) VS CONNECTICUT HUSKIES
This Big East matchup is scheduled to tip-off at 7PM EST inside Harry A. Gampel Pavilion and will be nationally broadcasted on ESPN2. Georgetown (21-4) is trying to win their 10th game in a row tonight and stay atop Big East conference, while Connecticut (19-7) is looking for their 3rd consecutive victory and to make a push before the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately for Husky funs, I see them losing tonight, marking the third time this season they have lost at home against a ranked opponent.
Defense, Defense, Defense! That is what this game is going to be all about, and what the Hoyas do best. They are currently 10th in the nation giving up only 55.7 points per game, and across their most current winning streak they have only allowed two teams to score over 60 points against them. Which is something to brag about considering they have faced Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette, Cincinnati and Syracuse across that span. Telling me they should have problem shutting down this Connecticut offense that is averaging 71.1 points per game.
If the Huskies have shot at winning this game they will have to put up at least 65 points. I say this because out of their seven losses this season, in six of them they failed to exceed the 65 point mark. Not only do I expect Connecticut will fail to reach 65 points, but I don’t think they will encompass 60 points. This Georgetown defense is just too strong in all aspects for the Huskies to succeed. Connecticut relies on shooting a high percentage to win games, in their last four victories they shot 50.5% from the field as a team. Which they can’t expect to achieve against this Hoyas squad. Georgetown is 8th in the country limiting opponents to 37.4% from the field this season, and in their last ten games they have allowed only one team to shoot better than 40%.
Connecticut is going to have their hands full tonight against the Hoyas. I expect Georgetown to get the better of their Big East rivals and utilize strong defensive play to transition into points on offense. Keep all eyes on sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr for the Hoyas. He led Georgetown to their latest victory over Syracuse (57-46) putting up 33 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals; and is averaging 20 points per game across his last five. He will be the man to watch in this game and if the Huskies fail to cover him they can kiss this game goodbye.
Georgetown wins their 10th in a row tonight, solidifying their lead in the Big East conference.
TRENDS
GEORGETOWN
- 6-1 against the spread in road games this season
- 12-2 against the spread versus conference opponents this season
- 6-0 against the spread in february games this season
- 13-4 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record this season
- 8-1 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record after 15+ games this season
CONNECTICUT
- 2-9 against the spread when the game total is between 120-129.5 since 1997
- 2-3 against the spread after scoring 80 points or more this season
- 38-56 straight up as an underdog since 1997
FINAL SCORE – HOYAS 65 – HUSKIES 56