College Basketball Picks: Northern Kentucky At West Virginia

The end of the year is approaching, and that is an exciting time for college basketball fans, as it means that conference play is almost upon us. That is when we start to see the rivalry games come into effect and the level of play taking an upwards tick. Before we get there, though, every team will be jockeying for position so that they can head into those conference match-ups feeling good about what they have accomplished so far. One team that has to be very happy at the moment are the West Virginia Mountaineers, as they have started the season at 10-1, and are currently on a 6-game winning streak. The #11 Mountaineers have what looks like a bit of a tricky one on Friday afternoon when they welcome in the Northern Kentucky Norse. The Team from the Horizon Conference are 9-3 on the season, and are on a 6-game unbeaten streak of their own. This is a potential banana peel for West Virginia, but will they avoid the slip?

College Basketball Free Picks: Norse At Mountaineers

When: Friday, December 23 at 4 PM EST Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown Radio: FOXSPORTS1360 Live Stream: NCAA Live NCAAB Odds: TBA    

Why bet on the Northern Kentucky Norse

If the Norse are to get anything out of this game, they are going to have to rely heavily on sophomore forward Drew McDonald. The big man is averaging over 17 points per game, which is all the more impressive when you consider that Northern Kentucky as a whole are averaging 78.3 PPG. The Norse have been rolling over the past couple of weeks, but this will be a stern test for them, as it will be the first time that they will be facing a ranked team this season. The defense has been good, but they are going to need to be at the top of their game to slow down a potent Mountaineers offense. The Northern Kentucky Norse may be a decent bet, as they are 7-1 ATS this season.

Why bet on the West Virginia Mountaineers

The Mountaineers have been an offensive juggernaut this season, and they are coming into this one averaging 91.8 PPG, which is 5th best in the nation. They are also top 5 in PPG allowed at 58.0, proving that they are an exceptionally well-balanced team that is fully deserving of their #11 ranking. Their pride took a bit of a knock earlier this season when they went down to Temple, but they have responded well, winning 6-straight, including a sold win over then #6 ranked UVA. The Mountaineers are 4-2 ATS in lines games this season, and have been a dominant force in their own building. Their balanced scoring makes them a tough group to stop.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

While this one has the potential for an upset, the Mountaineers seem like a team on a mission at the moment. This thing may go back and forth a little in the early stages, but the superior offense of the Mountaineers will see them pull away.

Northern Kentucky Norse 68 West Virginia Mountaineers 85