College Basketball Picks: Saint Louis Billikens vs. Butler Bulldogs

The Butler Bulldogs are 82-12 at Hinkle Fieldhouse during the Brad Stevens era, which is important to consider when making your college basketball picks on Friday night, as they prepare to host the Saint Louis Billikens on ESPNU.

Sports bettors will find that the Bulldogs are two-point favorites in the NCAA basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 126 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Atlantic 10 Conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way. 

Saint Louis Billikens

The Saint Louis Billikens have won eight games in a row, which is the longest current winning streak in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Sports bettors will find that the Billikens are 0-3 against the spread as underdogs during the 2012-13 NCAA basketball season. 

Butler Bulldogs

The Butler Bulldogs have won five of their last six games, including a 68-49 victory over the Duquesne Dukes as 17-point home favorites on Tuesday night.

Sports bettors will find that the Bulldogs are 0-2 against the spread as home favorites of three points or less in their last two opportunities. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Butler Bulldogs as one of their college basketball picks on Friday night, as they've gone 13-4-1 against the spread in their last 18 home games versus teams with a winning road record.

College Basketball Pick: Butler Bulldogs -2 

Follow Jeff Grant on Twitter