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The Canisius Golden Griffins (9-19, 7-12 MAAC) welcome in the Niagara Purple Eagles (15-13, 10-9 MAAC) after victories in three home games in a row. It begins at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Saturday’s matchup between the Golden Griffins and the Purple Eagles features the Golden Griffins as 2.5-point favorites. The matchup’s point total is 134.
Canisius vs. Niagara Odds
Point Spread for Canisius vs. Niagara
The spread for this matchup is set at 2.5 points, with sportsbooks listing Canisius as the favorite.
Canisius vs. Niagara Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Canisius has -144 odds to pick up the win, while Niagara is listed at +121 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the over/under for the game is set at 134 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Saturday, March 4, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN3
- Location: Buffalo, New York
- Arena: Koessler Athletic Center
Canisius vs. Niagara Betting Trends
Canisius has played 27 games, with 15 wins against the spread. The Golden Griffins have been chosen as favorites in seven games this year and have walked away with the win three times (42.9%) in those games. Canisius’ games this year have eclipsed the over/under 15 times in 28 opportunities (53.6%).
Niagara has 14 wins against the spread in 28 games this year. The Purple Eagles have been the underdog on the moneyline 15 total times this season. They’ve gone 7-8 in those games. Niagara’s games this season have gone over the total in 14 of 28 opportunities (50%).
Canisius vs. Niagara Key Players to Watch
Canisius
Jacco Fritz paces the Golden Griffins at 6 rebounds per game, while also posting 2.5 assists and 8.6 points. Tahj Staveskie posts a team-leading 2.8 assists per game. He is also averaging 11.9 points and 3.1 rebounds, shooting 38.5% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game. Jordan Henderson posts 13.6 points and 2.2 assists per game — both team highs. He is also posting 3 rebounds, shooting 39.9% from the floor and 35% from downtown with 2 made 3-pointers per contest. Xzavier Long averages 6.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest, shooting 46.5% from the floor.
Niagara
Aaron Gray gets the Purple Eagles 12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He also puts up 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocked shots. Sam Iorio is averaging a team-leading 5.5 rebounds per contest. And he is producing 8.3 points and 1.3 assists, making 47.9% of his shots from the floor. Braxton Bayless is putting up 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, making 41.6% of his shots from the field.
What you need to know about the Canisius Golden Griffins
A total of 10 out of Canisius’ 19 MAAC games this season have hit the over. With 70.1 points per game on offense, the Golden Griffins are 213th in the country. Defensively, they allow 72.6 points per contest, which ranks 256th in college basketball. Canisius ranks 254th in the nation with 30.6 rebounds per game so far this year. Meanwhile, it ranks 242nd with 31.9 rebounds allowed per contest.
The Golden Griffins score 72 points per game at home, compared to 69.9 points per game in road games, a difference of 2.1 points per contest. Canisius is 56th in college basketball with 8.6 three-pointers per game this year. Meanwhile, it ranks 150th with a 34.9% shooting percentage from three-point land. The Golden Griffins rank 17th-worst in the nation with a 37.1% shooting percentage allowed from downtown. Meanwhile, they are allowing 6.8 three-pointers per game (126th-ranked in college basketball).
The Golden Griffins have gone 4-6 over their past 10 games, with a 7-3 record against the spread in that span. In its past 10 contests, Canisius has gone over the total seven times. Canisius’ offense has been improved over its last 10 games, putting up 72.5 points per contest compared to the 70.1 it has averaged this year. Canisius has been tougher on the defensive side of the ball lately, giving up 72.1 points per game over its past 10 outings compared to the 72.6 points per game its opponents are averaging on the 2022-23 season.
What you need to know about the Niagara Purple Eagles
Niagara has compiled a 10-9-0 ATS record so far this year in conference play. The Purple Eagles are the 25th-worst squad in the nation in points scored (64.9 per game) and 45th in points conceded (65.3). On the glass, Niagara is 326th in the nation in rebounds (28.6 per game). It is 52nd in rebounds allowed (28.8 per game).
At home the Purple Eagles are putting up 69.7 points per game, 10.2 more than they are averaging on the road (59.5). Niagara makes 6.4 3-pointers per game and shoots 34.6% from beyond the arc, ranking 286th and 165th, respectively, in the nation. The Purple Eagles are the 25th-best squad in the nation in 3-pointers conceded (5.8 per game) and 302nd in 3-point percentage defensively (35.9%).
The Purple Eagles are 5-5 against the spread and 6-4 overall in their past 10 games. In its past 10 games, Niagara has gone over the total six times. In its past 10 games, Niagara is scoring 65.2 points per game, 0.3 more than its season average (64.9). While the Purple Eagles are surrendering 65.3 points per game in 2022-23, they have been worse over their last 10 games, allowing 65.6 points per contest.
Canisius vs. Niagara Prediction & Pick
Our pick to win this contest is Canisius, and we project that Canisius will cover the spread (Canisius -2.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 134 points.
How to bet Canisius vs. Niagara
You can bet on Canisius vs. Niagara at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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