College Basketball Picks: Iona Gaels vs. Manhattan Jaspers

USA TODAY Sports

The Manhattan Jaspers are the hottest team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which is important to consider when making your college basketball picks on Friday night, when they host the Iona Gaels at Draddy Gymnasium.

Sports bettors will find that the Jaspers are 2.5-point underdogs in the NCAA basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 142.5 in the market.

With its resounding 62-40 victory over the Fairfield Stags as 9.5-point road underdogs last time out, Manhattan has won three games in a row, with the UNDER cashing in each of those contests.

Let's take a closer look at this matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way. 

Iona Gaels

USA TODAY Sports

The Iona Gaels snapped a three-game losing streak by picking up a 78-71 win over the Rider Broncs as 9.5-point home favorites last Saturday, while going UNDER the posted total of 150.5.

Sports bettors will find that the Gaels are 6-12-1 against the spread in February over the last two-plus seasons.

Manhattan Jaspers

USA TODAY Sports

The Manhattan Jaspers suffered a 78-70 loss to the Iona Gaels as 13-point home favorites on Jan. 6, but they've gone 3-0 against the spread when revenging a road loss versus an opponent during the 2012-13 college basketball season.

Sports bettors will also find that the Jaspers have covered the number in six of their last seven games versus a team with a winning record. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Manhattan Jaspers as one of their college basketball picks against the spread on Friday night, as they've gone 4-1 against the spread in their last five conference games. 

College Basketball Pick: Manhattan Jaspers +2.5

 

Follow Jeff Grant on Twitter