Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs. Butler Bulldogs 7:00 PM Eastern
Fairleigh Dickinson took the biggest loss of any game involving two Division I teams this season with getting crushed 120-45 by Illinois and it leads to the question of how much of that loss is Illinois being good and Fairleigh Dickinson being awful. Last season, Fairleigh Dickinson was 317th in points per possession on offense and 278th in points per possession allowed on defense and lost most of last season’s guards while Butler blew out Lafayette 96-60 in the first game of the coach Ronald Norad era with 44 of their 67 field goal attempts being 3-point shots, making 16 of them.
Butler -24.5 and Over 150.5 (Greg's Handicap Butler -27 and Total 155)
Longwood Lancers vs. St. Joseph's Hawks 7:00 PM Eastern
Longwood was 327th in turnovers per possession on offense and 310th in 3-point shooting percentage at 31.4% last season and face a St. Joseph's team that will likely take a step back with their interior defense with losing much of last season's forwards, but should be better in the backcourt with Jaiden Glover-Toscano returns after averaging 15.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 34.6% 3-point shooting. This game should also feature some pace after Longwood was 65th in total possessions per game last season and hung 123 on the board against non-Divisoin I Pfeiffer in their season opening win.
St. Joseph's -9.5 and Over 149.5 (Greg's Handicap St. Joseph's -12.5 and Total 152.5)
CS Northridge Matadors vs. Wichita State Shockers 7:30 PM Eastern
CS Northridge is not afraid to run as they ranked second in the nation in total possessions per game, but were just 229th in points per possession with being 232nd in turnovers per possession and 345th in free throw shooting percentage while the Wichita State defense was 38th in points per possession allowed and 44th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. The Shockers have a huge edge, figuratively and literally with 7-foot-2 Will Berg is back after averaging 8.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game for a unit that was sixth in offensive rebound percentage with 37.2% of their missed shots becoming an offensive rebound and fifth year guard Kenyon Giles should be eligible after averaging a team-high 19.1 points per game last season.
Wichita State -14.5 (Greg's Handicap Wichita State -16.5)
Northern Kentucky Norse vs. South Dakota Coyotes 8:00 PM Eastern
Northern Kentucky was 49th in 2-point shooting on offense and 35th in turnover per possession on defense in road games last season. South Dakota was 336th in home 3-point shooting percentage at 30% but should be much improved with 42.8% 3-point shooter Melo Sanchez entering from Central Connecticut and should get plenty of second chances to score against a Northern Kentucky team that was 252nd in defensive rebound percentage last season and did not add much size in the offseason. These two teams love to run too as South Dakota has ranked in the top 28 in total possessions per game each of the past two seasons and Northern Kentucky was 60th in total possessions per game last season.
South Dakota Moneyline and Over 158.5 (Greg's Handicap South Dakota -1 and Total 165)
Radford Highlanders vs. California Golden Bears 9:00 PM Eastern
Raford last season played at a very fast pace, ranking 11th in total possessions per game and allowed a lot of open looks from the outside, ranking 279th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and face a California unit that unleashed a very uptempo style against non-Division I Adams State in their season-opening 115-86 victory. Raford lost essentially all of last season's guards and it showed in their season opening 76-62 loss to San Francisco with the team committing 19 turnovers.
California -15.5 and Over 157.5 (Greg's Handicap California -19 and Total 161)
Queens NC Royals vs. Loyola Marymount 10:00 PM Eastern
An interesting scheduling spot for Queens NC with the team having played a game that tipped at 9:00 AM Eastern in South Carolina and now play a game three time zones over at 10:00 PM Eastern for a second game in three days. Queens was was 31st in points per possession on offense last season and were 344th in points per possession allowed on defense and is coming off of a 103-98 win against WInthrop to being the season while Loyola Marymount is playing their first game of the season after ranking 95th in points per possession allowed on defense and All Wright (his actual name) enters to elevate the backcourt after being a starter at Xavier last season.
Loyola Marymount -5.5 and Over 157.5 (Greg's Handicap Loyola Marymount -9.5 and Total 161.5)
