Princeton vs Saint Joseph's Odds
| Princeton Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -104 | 136.5 -115o / -105u | -115 |
| Saint Joe's Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -118 | 136.5 -115o / -105u | -104 |
There's one team in this game on the cusp of leaping to 10-0 on the young season — the Princeton Tigers. The Tigers coincidentally faced Drexel earlier this week (another team in Philly), while the Saint Joseph's Hawks grabbed their seventh victory over American.
Here's college basketball odds and a pick for Princeton vs. Saint Joseph's for Sunday, Dec. 10.
Princeton Tigers
I'm not sure anybody saw Princeton beginning the season 9-0. It lost its two best players — Tosan Evbuomwan and Ryan Langborg — from last year's Cinderella tournament run, and many thought it would have early-season struggles because of that.
Well, Mitch Henderson luckily had three players ready to jump into stardom.
Point guard Xaivian Lee is vying for Ivy League Player of the Year, averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The 6-foot-3 Lee can beat defenses in multiple ways, using his flashy ball handling to create space for jumpers, or by using his quickness for drives inside.
Lee's most important ability is his efficient scoring. He's shooting 49% from the field and 40% from downtown.
Matt Allocco joins Lee to form an elite backcourt shooting duo for the Tigers. Allocco is shooting a shockingly high 49% from downtown. Expect the duo to make a major impact on this game, as they have in the nine previous outings.
Princeton is 25th nationally in Offensive Efficiency, according to KenPom. That's the way Coach Henderson wants to win — on offense.
Even when the first shot isn't falling, Caden Pierce is terrific at generating second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Keep an eye out for Princeton's top-rebounder. His impact is noticeable without scoring.
Saint Joseph's Hawks
Billy Lange's squad has its games decided on the 3-point arc on both ends. Offensively, Saint Joe's attempts 3s on 50.7% of its field goals and shoots 36.3% on those jumpers. There's a stark difference on defense; it allows teams to take perimeter jumpers on 45% of field goals, but teams only connect 28% of the time, which ranks 28th nationally.
Moreover, I'm not sure Saint Joe's can sustain this level of success defending the perimeter.
Guards Erik Reynolds II and Lynn Greer III combine for a fire-and-lightning approach. Reynolds is a stone-cold killer from distance, drilling 42% of his 71 3-point attempts in nine games.
Greer is different than Reynolds in terms of style. He wants to drive and put pressure on the defense, leading to 3s for others or clean looks inside if nobody defends on the help side.
The scariest thing about Saint Joe's is that lockdown defense will keep it in most games when the 3s don't fall. And if the shots fall to pair with an elite defense? Good luck beating the Hawks.
Princeton vs. Saint Joe's
Betting Pick & Prediction
Princeton won't go unbeaten this year, but its first loss isn't coming on Sunday. The Tigers' ball movement and shooting prowess can combat Saint Joe's defensive strengths.
The Tigers are no stranger to beating top-140-ranked KenPom teams. It holds five (over Furman, Rutgers, Hofstra, Duquesne and Drexel).
Pick: Princeton -1
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